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Hello Mornings Challenge Update

February 22, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I’ve been participating in the Hello Mornings Challenge for over a month now.

I am reliably getting up earlier, at least on days when the baby doesn’t get up more than twice.

I can’t say that my morning quiet time is established like it used to be, but I may just need to accept that at this stage in my life, it’s not going to be. Most days I’ve got company, so I do my Bible reading to the background sounds of the TV playing a cartoon to keep that company occupied.

My group had a meetup earlier this month, and that was a lot of fun, putting faces to names and getting to know everyone a little bit better. We’re hoping to do it again next month, and I really hope I’ll be able to go.

Filed Under: Faith, Personal

The Cash Experiment

February 21, 2012 By 1 Comment

Recently I read a post by Crystal Paine on the four reasons she uses cash, and it’s given me an extra push to try an experiment.

International Money Pile in Cash and Coins
(photo credit: epSos.de)

I’ve used credit cards for *years* and really have treated them like cash, always paying off the balance every month and never carrying a balance (I’m a careful about budgeting and keeping track so there’s never a surprise in the mail).

If we don’t have the money for something we don’t buy it, even though technically we could using credit cards. I’ve got a spreadsheet that tells us how much we’ve got in our various sinking funds so we know if we can afford an item.

But, I’ve read enough articles about studies showing that credit card users spend more that I’m thinking about giving it a shot for a month or two to see what happens when buying groceries & household supplies or eating out. Everything else we use a credit card for is a set amount that is not going to vary if it’s cash or not (filling up the truck, paying for prescriptions or doctor copays).

It’s my own experiment, so I think I’m going to start only with groceries because that’s the category that I more or less control all on my own.

One of the biggest reasons I think I’ve haven’t tried it before is that I’m lazy and using cash requires getting cash. Mr. SJ’s paycheck is direct deposited into our credit union, so to get cash to buy groceries I’d have to make a trip to the credit union to withdraw some cash.

Writing that makes me think that’s a pretty weak excuse for not doing something that might save us money that could go towards other uses. It’s not like the credit union is that far away, and it’s certainly not far away from some of our regular stops when we run errands. It’d just require some planning.

Do you use cash for any of your purchases? Have you found that it makes a difference in how much you spend whether you use cash or credit?

Filed Under: Finances

Romans 8 Memory Challenge: Week 16

February 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Last week’s verses weren’t too bad, but I still wouldn’t say that they’re solidly memorized. With a hint as to how they start I’ve got them, but without that hint I can’t say them.

The end is in sight as far as new verses go, but I’m still far from being able to recite the entire chapter from memory.

Romans 8:32-33
32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.

Previous verses:

Romans 8:1-31
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,
4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.
8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
17 and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.

20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope
21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.
23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?
25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because1 the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Filed Under: Scripture Memory

p52 Week 7: True Love

February 16, 2012 By 4 Comments

The obvious photo for this would be of me and my husband I suppose, but instead I’m focusing on my daughter (I’m still not completely used to saying that – my daughter!) and her deep love for her squeaky giraffe.

IMG_9043-1

Who knew a toy could inspire such devotion? Happily for us, it’s small enough that it generally lives in the diaper bag and only comes out when we’re at a restaurant or somewhere we need to keep H content and semi-quiet. She is so thrilled to see the giraffe that she virtually attacks it and proceeds to gnaw on it for ages. I had to pull it out of the diaper bag in order to photograph it, and then I had to make sure I got it back into the diaper bag so that we’d have it the next time we’re out-and-about.

Why it kind of makes me laugh is that this toy, like so many of them, is a hand-me-down from her brother. And he was pretty indifferent towards the giraffe. He gave it a few nibbles now and then, but he had none of the eyes-light-up-with-joy love for it that she does.

True love. Between a girl and her giraffe.

For more p52 pictures, visit my3boybarians.

Filed Under: Photography

Romans 8 Memory Challenge: Week 15

February 12, 2012 By 3 Comments

Last week I wondered if verse 28 would be easier because it’s familiar, or if it would be harder because I previously memorized it in the NIV translation.

The verdict? Definitely harder. Trying to get the differences makes my brain feel fuzzy.

This week’s verses seem pretty easy however, so I’m hoping they are and that allows me to continue reviewing some of the earlier week’s verses that aren’t memorized well.

Romans 8:30-31
30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Previous verses:

Romans 8:1-29
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,
4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.
8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
17 and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.

20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope
21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.
23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?
25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because1 the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Filed Under: Scripture Memory

Seven Quick Takes: Kid Edition

February 10, 2012 By 2 Comments

— 1 —

One of the funniest parts of being sick this time was that the baby doesn’t like it when I coughed. She cried these awful sobs when I did, because when she tried to nurse and I coughed she couldn’t hold on and so she’d get angry. Then I guess she started associating my coughing with bad things because she would cry when I coughed even if she wasn’t trying to eat. So once again I felt somewhat like an awful mom, laughing at my crying child.

— 2 —

G-man is loving his trampoline, especially when someone new is around to watch him jump. And by “new” I really mean “other than mom.” He also likes to count while jumping, and then announce “good counting!” when he’s done.

His counting is good too, but he does always skip 14 and 15. And often 16 too. He also likes to count down from ten to zero, and then yell “BLASTOFF!” I’d love to get it on video, but he’s old enough to know what I’d doing with the camera and instead of continuing on with whatever I was trying to film, he runs over to “see pitchers!!”

— 3 —

The baby kicked off February by pulling herself up into a standing position. She’s been practicing that new move ever since and is getting really good at both the initial pull-up, and also just holding herself in a standing position. Once again it’s time to expand the baby-proofing to end tables and coffee tables, and other low surfaces.

IMG_8833-1

— 4 —

I need to pack away G’s 2T shirts, but he keeps spotting them and wanting to wear them. One of these times I’ll manage to whisk them away after they’re washed and dried, but so far he’s been astonishingly good at finding them in the clean laundry. Although I’ll admit, a lot of it has to do with the fact that I don’t care enough to make a huge effort to get them into storage. So they’re 3/4 length sleeves – just means I don’t have to tug up long sleeves quite so much when he eats. And if his belly hangs out when he lifts his arms, it just gives easy access for tickles.

— 5 —

The baby’s sleeping routine took a huge step backwards when she got sick, but I am thrilled to report that she’s back sleeping for long stretches and has even moved into the crib in her room. No more pack & play in our room! She’s been getting up at 6 to eat, but then goes back to sleep easily until 8:30 or 9:00. I really hope I didn’t just jinx myself by writing that.

— 6 —

I had a babysitter watch G for two hours last Wednesday afternoon. TWO HOURS! It was wonderful. I used the time to pay bills and start on taxes. And yes, it was still wonderful, even using the time for something so mundane.

— 7 —

I am going to do everything I can to squeeze our budget to find the money to have her watch G & maybe H too for a couple of hours a week. Mama needs a sanity break. Thankfully highschoolers are fairly inexpensive.

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary or Betty Beguiles for this week!

Filed Under: Parenting, Quick Takes

p52 Week 6: Drink Up!

February 9, 2012 By 2 Comments

After the challenges I had with the self-portrait for week 4, and shadows for week 5, I was expecting week 6 & Drink Up! to be easier.

Except I underestimated the creativity-draining nature of exhaustion. I am really looking forward to seeing all the other participant’s shots, because I felt like my success in composing an interesting picture was at zero.

Maybe that’s an advantage to the deadline – it forced me to finally admit that, as sad as it is, this is the best I’ve got this week and I’ll try again next week. Otherwise I might beat my head against this brick wall forever trying to force something interesting to come to mind. And I doubt that would be super effective anyway.

But, the deeper meaning behind this photo is that, in just a couple of hours (after I hit the “publish” button), we are supposed to close on our old house. As in, it will be sold and no longer our responsibility. As in no more extra mortgage payment. No more utility bills on a vacant house.

If that’s not worth celebrating with a beverage I’m not sure what is.

So, cheers to us for being a one-house family again. What a relief!

IMG_8958-1

For more p52 pictures, visit my3boybarians.

Filed Under: Photography

Second Blog Thoughts

February 8, 2012 By 2 Comments

I’ve been debating with myself about starting a second blog that’s food-focused, or adding regular food posts to this blog.

Red Raspberry Fruits / Ice Frozen Food in Winter
(photo credit: epSos.de)

Pros to having a separate blog:

  • Can keep it tightly focused (definitely not my strength on this blog)
  • Anyone interested in food can just read that one, and not sift through other posts here

Cons to having it as a separate blog:

  • Setting up another blog design (I’d love to get a designer to help with some graphics for this one & the other one). But honestly? I don’t think this is that big of a deal. Certainly not worth not doing it just because of that.
  • Time – will I want to spend the time keeping up with content on two blogs? I’m thinking about posting 3 times a week there, and might drop to 4 here.

I’m really leaning towards starting the other one, but could be swayed towards keeping everything here.

If you’re a regular reader here, or even if this is your first time visiting, would you let me know your thoughts on if I should split all the food topics out onto their own blog, of if I should just integrate them into this blog?

Filed Under: Blogging

January Goal Review and February Goals

February 7, 2012 By 2 Comments

I recently posted my goals for 2012, but I’m going to change my plans. I’m going to focus on some smaller, monthly goals instead.

My January goals were:

  1. To get up 30 minutes before the G as part of Inspired to Action’s #hellomornings challege. (Well, I got up earlier. He’s just gotten up earlier too. :( So this was actually a bad goal because I couldn’t control it completely.)
  2. Take a daily walk with the kids, weather permitting (yes, with the other exception of health permitting as well. There was a rough week and a half in there that didn’t allow for walking.)
  3. Move the rest of our belongings, pending the sale of our home. Substitute goal if the sale doesn’t go through: Deal with the paper explosion upstairs. File, shred, recycle. (No substitute goal needed. The sale is still on to close this week, and the house is empty. Woo-hoo!)

January reading goals:

  1. Close Enough to Hear God Breathe(Read and reviewed)
  2. Don’t Make Me Count to Three(Read)
  3. Simple Blogging(In progress; taking time to think about each chapter as I finish them)
  4. Moonwalking with Einstein (Read)

February Goals
Personal Goals:

  1. Be in bed by 11:00. As in, lights off, head on the pillow, eyes closed. Hopefully this will help me continue on with my HelloMornings challenge, and this is controllable by me in a way that getting up 30 minutes before the boy is not.
  2. Taxes ready to be filed. And then wait 48 hours to file them in hopes of avoiding the mistakes I’ve made the past years.
  3. Guest room put back into working order.
  4. Basement shelving put up and items unpacked onto it.

(Four because those last two are both pretty easy)

Reading Goals:

  1. Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches
  2. Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?
  3. A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: How I Learned to Live a Better Story
  4. The 100 Thing Challenge: How I Got Rid of Almost Everything, Remade My Life, and Regained My Soul

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Filed Under: Goals, Reading

Romans 8 Memory Challenge: Week 14

February 5, 2012 By 1 Comment

Another not-so-great week as we continued to recover, and catch up on everything that got ignored while we were sick. And finish getting our belongings out of our old house in preparation for closing on it this week.

I’m not sure if this week will be easier because verse 28 is so familiar, or if it will be harder because the verse I’ve memorized in the past was the NIV translation. It’s not exactly the same, so will it make my brain explode as I try to adjust to the slight differences? I guess I’ll find out!

Romans 8:28-29
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Previous verses:

Romans 8:1-27
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,
4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.
8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
17 and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.

20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope
21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.
23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?
25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because1 the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Filed Under: Scripture Memory
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