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.

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Hello Mornings Challenge Update originally appeared on Seasoned Joy on February 22, 2012.

(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?

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The Cash Experiment originally appeared on Seasoned Joy on February 21, 2012.

Project 18, Get More Sleep, just seems like a cruel joke to this mama who would like nothing more than to do exactly that.

So, if someone could please convince my daughter to sleep through the night that would be great. Thanks.

My son doesn’t nap anymore, so getting a nap during the day isn’t an option either. I already go to bed after the kids do, and sleep as late as I can, so at this stage I’m not sure that there is much more I can do.

Someday…

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One Bite at a Time: Project 18 originally appeared on Seasoned Joy on February 20, 2012.

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?

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Romans 8 Memory Challenge: Week 16 originally appeared on Seasoned Joy on February 19, 2012.

— 1 —

Apparently my books expanded while they were packed away, because I have NO IDEA how I fit them all onto the available bookshelves at the old house. And now I need to go shopping for some more bookshelves but I think Mr. SJ might object to that. It’s not quite reached the level of towels, but it’s close (Warning: That link is so not safe if you object to profanity. Because there is a lot of it, but oh it makes me laugh.)

— 2 —

I think I’ll blame the ever-expanding children’s library on my need for new bookshelves, and it really won’t be much of a stretch now that I think about it. THREE of my bookcases are now housing assorted kid stuff instead of books. No wonder I can’t fit all of my books on what’s left to me! Part of the issue is that the closets in the kids’ rooms are practically useless – they’re really tall, and have one shelf above the hanging bar that’s too high for me to reach. I want SHELVES, not lots of wasted hanging space, so I moved a bookcase into each closet and use it for diapers, wipes, blankets, and that sort of stuff. The other bookcase is holding the kids’ books.

I think I’ll start with trying to convince Mr. SJ that we should add shelving to the one side of the kid’s closet, and then I can have two bookcases back. That would probably be enough, since I am trying to purge my book collection.

— 3 —

We had a super romantic Valentine’s Day lunch out at Chick-Fil-A. As I told Mr. SJ while we were eating, this is what counts as a romantic meal out when you have two children and you’re too cheap to pay for a babysitter. But it was a tasty lunch.

Our day was completed by having breakfast for dinner, and all I had to do was chop the onions and potatoes and crack the eggs. The rest of it was prepared for me, so all in all, it was a great Valentine’s Day as far as I’m concerned.

— 4 —

Over the last couple of weeks Mr. SJ has been finishing lots of small projects around the house. Things like hanging a mirror for me, and some hooks. Putting together some shelves for the basement. Running stuff to the hazardous waste disposal. Nothing that’s really exciting, but it all makes me happy to get it done.

— 5 —

One of our bigger projects this spring will be to get an electrician in to do some work. I’m excited to get some ceiling lights added to the kid’s rooms (well, we’ll actually install the lights, but we need to get it wired so lights can be added). There is also something with the outlets in the basement that I don’t remember the specifics (it’s in the house inspection report). The outlet on the kitchen island isn’t working and that would be nice – not something important enough that we’d get someone out just for that, but since we’ll already get someone for the other work, we’ll add that too.

— 6 —

One of these days I really need to finish our taxes, but I think it’ll have to be a time when Mr. SJ takes the boy out somewhere during the baby’s naptime. If G is inside, he wants to be near me. If H is awake, she wants to be near me. If they’re near me, they’re disruptive enough that it’s hard to concentrate, and taxes are kind of something I want to concentrate while working on. In order for me to have enough brainpower to feel confident about what I’m doing, I can’t do the taxes after they’ve gone to bed.

— 7 —

We’ve started going to a different grocery store (same chain, different location.) The deli is much nicer, and Mr. SJ prefers it, but I have never once found any meat marked down there. I find it all the time at the location we used to go to. I may have to convince him that we should still shop at the original one at least every now and then so I can check out the meat deals.

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

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Seven Quick Takes originally appeared on Seasoned Joy on February 17, 2012.

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.

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p52 Week 7: True Love originally appeared on Seasoned Joy on February 16, 2012.

(Bye house! I loved you but I’m very happy you’re someone else’s responsibility now!)

We have an emergency fund again. And our cash flow has improved dramatically.

Our sinking funds are refunded too, enough so that Mr. SJ bought the TV he’s been wanting for his new man cave. We’re prioritizing the other things we want to do around the house as well, so we can start saving for them (like replacing the kitchen counters).

I thought it might be bittersweet, saying goodbye to our first house, but I think because it took so long there were no mixed emotions.

What do I want to get first for the new house? I have no idea! It should be curtains, but buying curtains stresses me out. I struggle to decide which ones will look the best. Yes, I am decorating-challenged.

We’re planning on hosting Easter so we do have a bit of a deadline to try and have things ready for a crowd.

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The House Has Sold! originally appeared on Seasoned Joy on February 15, 2012.

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Happy Valentines Day! originally appeared on Seasoned Joy on February 14, 2012.

Project 17, Create an Essential Papers File, is one I should have started ages ago.

Both because I should have it, and because it’s going to take more than a week to get it done, so I’m not yet finished with it.

I will be *so* happy to have it done however, because it’s one of those nagging things in my brain that I know I need to do, but just needed a final push.

I’ve started with the simpler stuff – I already had a file which included things like passports and birth certificates, so I’ve used that as a starting point.

I’m working my way through compiling all the financial info into an easily-usable form for Mr. SJ. I do all the bill-paying and taxes and everything else dealing with financial paperwork, so if something were to happen to me he’d have a awful headache trying to figure out what we’ve got where.

And, I’m embarrassed to admit this, considering that we have two small children, but we don’t have wills. It’s one of my goals for the year, to get that done and a guardian officially named. We did do-you-own wills several years ago, but neither of us are entirely sure that they’d be valid, so they’d probably be nothing more than a hint as to our wishes, and wouldn’t be binding.

Being a responsible adult is so not fun sometimes.

Part of our deal with not taking care of it sooner is the whole how do we find an attorney issue. So, if you’re in the central Indiana area and have an attorney recommendation for putting together a will, can you leave a comment or send me an email? We don’t have any sort of complicated situation or anything, but we do want to make sure our kiddos are taken care of if anything were to happen to us.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

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One Bite at a Time: Project 17 originally appeared on Seasoned Joy on February 13, 2012.

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.

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Romans 8 Memory Challenge: Week 15 originally appeared on Seasoned Joy on February 12, 2012.