Revisiting my goals for 2009

1. Organize my office in January (perhaps going into February) and keep it that way throughout the year. Okay so I am definitely going into February but I did make progress. At the first of the year I had fun making 100 plus cards all using various paper scraps that I had saved. I also made a big silk floral arrangement for church which used up a bunch of odds and ends that I had (I also bought stuff for it.) and I got a bunch of mending done and went through and got rid of some magazines and papers.
2. Live in the moment. This actually went pretty well for a lot of the month. We were able to stay at home a lot (slowing down and living a less stressful life) and I had a ton of fun just living with my family!! I also did a better job of really listening to my kids, though that area still needs some work! We also enjoyed having a fair amount of company and getting to really spend time with friends.
3. 
   Have a Joyful year! We have had a pretty joyful year so far but that is something I still want to do a lot of work on. I want to do more singing through-out the day. Something I have really enjoyed this month is listening to Aaron whistle. He is constantly amazing me with the tunes he will whistle. Mostly he whistles hymns and some that I will hear I am amazed that he even knows as we have hardly ever sang them at church. I think whistling is pretty joyful. :-)
4. Stop raising my voice or speaking in a cutting manner with my children. This goal has gone pretty well. I have been praying about and also slowing down has helped a lot. My study of Ephesians 4:25-32 was also helpful. I still have a lot of work before I am perfect in this area. The last couple of weeks have gotten busier again with the watching of baby boy (in place of my sister who is out of town) and I have struggled again in this area. So I need to really work on speaking gently even when I feel under pressure or don't feel good.
5. Really having fun with my husband. We have had a fun month. There has been lots of laughter in our relationship. I still haven't sat down and watched a football game with him however. We had company over for the Superbowl but I spent my time chatting with other ladies. I have watched a bit of "who wants to be a millionaire" with him though and we have decided we are ready to go on that show. :-) We even have figured out who we would want for our "call a friend" lifeline.
6. Get all my photos organized. Not a lot of progress here, but a little. I went though all my pictures on the computer and ordered (with the last good deal from Walgreens) all the pictures that I wanted printed out. I did also work on our wedding scrapbook and made a whole scrapbook of floral pictures for my business.
7. Spending an average of $250 or less each month on our groceries. Okay, I didn't do well on this goal this month. I wasn't keeping track very well and spent quite a bit more. This month I have a goal to spend a lot less and so hopefully we can get to the average of $250.
8. 
   Doing the flowers for twice as many weddings as I did in 2008. This is looking promising. I already have several booked, several more are in the works and I have another bridal show next month and all the names of brides from the last one to contact.
9. 
   Be more consistent in child training but also be patient, loving and kind. This is going fairly well but I need to actually think about this and concentrate on it more.
10. 
    Being even more concentrated on the ministry that God has given to me of reconciliation. January was an exciting month in this area. I was blessed to be able to study with a friend that has been coming to church and has been talking a lot with others as well. She decided to totally turn her life over to God and was baptized into Christ 2 Sundays ago. It is always thrilling to see anyone turn their life over to God and when you have had a chance to share with them some before hand it is even more so. I am looking forward to letting God use me in whatever ways He wants to do His will.

How are your goals for the year going? I hope you are also encouraged and inspired to keep working away and striving to be more what God wants you to be.

A doll's bunkbed

For Thrifty Green Thursday I thought I would show you one of Mara's recent projects. She wanted a bunk bed for her doll Sarah and another doll that she is saving money to buy (though right now Megan's doll Sara gets to share the bunk bed) so she decided to make one. It was made out of all recycled objects.

She used a big shoe box that I had gotten boots in, using the box for one bed (on top so there would be rails) and the lid fir the bottom bed. For the legs she used peanut butter jars and paper towel tubes. It isn't the most sturdy bed ever but it works and actually isn't as flimsy as I thought it might be. She glued (with some help from me) everything together with hot glue.
She has plans to paint it put we haven't checked out what we have to use yet. For now it works as is.

For more Thrifty Green Thursday posts visit Green Baby Guide

Notecard giveaway

Today I am giving away a set of note cards that will be especially loved by Cat lovers. This is a set of 10 cards made by me with matching envelopes.

To Enter leave a comment with a favorite Bible Verse or Quote.

For a 2nd Entry become a follower of my blog (or if you already are a follower) and leave another comment.

I will randomly chose a name on Friday, February 6th, 2009. Please follow entry instructions above and leave me some way (e-mail or blog address) for me to get in touch with you to have a valid entry. This giveaway is open to everybody no matter where you live. :-)

25 random things about me

This "note" has been going around facebook (which I have an account in basically to see pictures from friends and family that don't blog, or don't blog very much. I personally like blogging much better. ) and after it had been sent to me a bunch of times I thought I had better join in. It was rather fun to come up with a bunch of random things about me (You might notice I like to talk!) and it has been fun to read everybody elses and so I thought I would share it here too.


1. When I was little I wanted 24 children, Then I wanted 12 (Cheaper by the dozen you know! I loved that book.) But my Ken talked me into just 4. I am okay with that and love them dearly!

2.I am very ticklish. (Ask Ken, he recalls getting punched early on in our marriage when he tickled me too much.)

3. I have a tendency to be cold a lot. At least according to Ken who is hot most of the time.Ken finds my teeth chattering to be quite humorous.

4. I really enjoy canoeing and as a teen, shooting rapids. I want to go again but am afraid I might be more of a chicken now that I am a mom.

5. I love music, especially good close harmony! I am so looking forward to a lot of good harmony singing in heaven.

6. I think I have the best job in the world! Being a wife to my fun and loving man, getting to raise and homeschool 4 bright and beautiful children and also have the job of managing our home along with teaching music lessons to some fun students and helping make weddings beautiful with flowers. Life is so much fun!!

7.I like to eat peanut butter by the spoonful and I have taught my kids to love it too.

8. I have a tendency to go crazy when I am asleep and the phone rings or an alarm clock buzzer sounds. Ken thinks I have the world record for jumping up to answer the phone. As far as the alarm clock goes I have had the opportunity to share a room with two people (Ken and his cousin Christy- my roommate in college) that don't seem to hear a buzzer. Therefore I have had to climb over them (in Ken's case) or turn the alarm off and manually shake the person awake (in Christy's case) so I didn't go crazy.

9. I have been known to walk and talk in my sleep. Ken finds it quite hilarious and likes to try to ask me questions which usually wakes my up and leaves me feeling confused and irritated.

10. I love to try new things whether it be a food, driving down a new road (I love trying different routes), playing a new instrument, you name it.

11. I am rather addicted to blogging.

12. I love being part of the Body of Christ! It is so much fun and there is no greater body to be a part of.

13. When I was in college, one evening a bunch of us were at a park and it started raining and there was this beautiful muddy slope. My future B.I.L. (Derek) and I thought it would be great fun to slide down. All the other guys joined us but the other girls stood at the top and watched. We had a blast but I found out later that Ken (who wasn't there but who secretly liked me at the time) was quite disappointed that I would be so unladylike. He still doesn't care to hear this story. I think I must have an inner liking for mud however as I have some great memories of playing in the mud as a child with my older siblings.

14. I have the horrible habit of procrastinating. I am trying to stop doing it so much but it is hard.

15. I tend to be a little bossy!

16. I really dislike trying to follow anybody in the cities when I don't know where I am going. That is one of the easiest ways to drive me to tears. If I do have to follow anybody, please let it be my dad!

17. When I was 16 I broke my nose (in trying to show off to my younger siblings). I totally enjoyed the whole process of being prepped for surgery, being put out, etc. I thought it was pretty fun to experience it all.

18. The worst pain I have experienced is having shots in my mouth to prepare for teeth pullings. They say they numb the area with rub on stuff but I don't think so!! I think that pain is way worse than natural childbirth. For bad long lasting pain I found Kidney stones fill the bill.

19. I dream of being a beekeeper some day.

20. I really enjoy Artsy/crafty things. The list of my "hobbies" is about as long as my arm. :-)

21. I enjoy multitasking and figuring out the most efficient ways of doing things.

22. I do not like being in the hospital! With my first 3 kids I pushed to get out of there as fast as possible. (I was roaming the hallways looking for the right person to sign the papers and with Jonathan I had to sign a form that said I was leaving against Dr's. recommendations.) I was so happy to be able to stay home to have Megan!! I felt so much more comfortable.

23. I pretty much never follow a recipe as written. I find cooking and baking more exciting when I can change things. Also I like to make things healthier so I do a lot of substituting in that way.

24. When I was little I had Alopecia Areata. Thankfully I grew out of it.

25. I love finding new friends. :-)

Giveaway Winner!

The winner for the hotpad and bag holder giveaway is Ally (expressogirl). Ken chose the winning number this evening after the Super bowl was over. :-) I have contacted Ally but if I don't hear from her by Tuesday evening I will choose a new winner.

Stayed tuned for giveaways, I have another one planned for Tuesday (as long as I remember to get it up!). I had planned on doing it as part of the bloggy giveaways but didn't get it done so I will have it this week!

Using our speech to build up others

I have been going through Ephesians 4 in my morning devotions lately and I have found this section of scripture very encouraging so I thought I would share it with you. I am bolding the sections that are really jumping out to me right now.

Ephesians 4:25-32

"Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth, each on of you, with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.

Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.

Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have something to share with him who has need.

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you."

What jumped out at me on the first section I bolded (vs 28) is that the reason we want to labor is not just to take care of our own needs but so we will have enough to share with those who are in need. Giving is something that has really been on my heart lately and I want to work harder so that I will be able to share with those in need more.

The second section (vs 29) really goes along with my goal for the year to speak gently with my kids and not harshly, cuttingly or with my voice raised. I really started thinking about ways I can build them up with how I talk. I, with the Holy Spirits help, have really been working on this and it has really made a good difference in our home.

The other things I bolded also fit in very well with how I deal with my kids and just everybody.

What jumps out at you from this section of verses?