Financial Peace

Well, yesterday was the first day I missed blogging...but since Tofer was a guest blogger on a day that I already blogged, I decided it was ok to take a day off!  :) 

Tonight is our second budget meeting.  We had our first 'general' budget meeting a few weeks back to set some amounts and to clarify some things, but tonight, I 'present' Tofer the budget that I have come up with for our family.  He has had input, I'm just the one working with the numbers and plugging them in on a budget form so that we know down to the penny, how our money is being spent.  Now, let me just say this is a work in progress.  I have already made changes to the budget in the past 4 days.  However, I have to say that having a budget and knowing where each penny goes, makes me feel in control...and you all know what a control freak I am.

We began our 'budget journey' by taking Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University a couple of years ago.  This 'program' opened our eyes and changed our way of thinking about money.  It is WAY more than budgeting, but that is the beginning point for us.  I encourage you to check into the program if you haven't already.  Our church is offering it right now and tomorrow is the visitor's night from 6:00-8:00.  If you're interested in attending tomorrow night to see what it is like, let me know and I'll put you in contact with the facilitator.  You won't regret it.  :)

Meal Planning

OK blog friends...I want your input.  Every Sunday night I sit down and try to plan the meals for the week.  I try to use things that are in the freezer and the pantry, but sometimes I come up BLANK!!  How do you do it?  Do you make a meal plan and then shop, shop and then plan, use a website, etc...????  I struggle because I want to have a variety and I also want to cook healthy.  Any ideas? 

The question of the weekend

I shared with some of my friends that Kristofer was going out of town for the weekend and the question that almost everyone has asked me is, "What are you going to do??"  Well, let me tell you what I have done so far:

• I have controlled the tv remote control
• I slept as late as I wanted
• I left a few things out of place when I left the house to go run an errand
• I slept in the middle of the bed
• I walked from the kitchen to the bedroom and didn't have to explain where I was going to anyone
• I rented a movie with a handsome actor and am about to settle in and watch it (Taylor Lautner)

Don't get me wrong, I love sharing my life with Kristofer, but it is nice to have a weekend to myself.  I also think that distance makes the heart grow fonder.  So here's to a relaxing evening and a productive day tomorrow.  :)

Girlfriends

My stepdaughter, Ana, asked me a while back how long I had known some of my girlfriends. She was interested in the length of time I had known my bridesmaids in our wedding, friends from church, and other women I spend time with. I told her about my best friend Denise, and how we met about 12 years ago, my childhood friend, Shannon, that I've known since girl scouts, my co-worker, Samantha, who I've know almost 2 years, and many more of the friends that are a part of my life. Ana was amazed at the years I have maintained some of these friendships. She explained to me that she has never really seen her mother have lasting friendships with other women. She hasn't had many examples of friendships between women and she said she admired the friendships I had with the women in my life. Later, Tofer shared with me that Ana's mother had difficulty getting along with other women and that he hoped Ana would learn how to be a friend to other girls. I decided at that time that I was going to try my best to set a healthy example for Ana so that she might develop friendships with girls that would be long lasting. I often find Ana watching me interact with my friends and especially how I interact with my mama. I pray I set a positive example for her.


Tonight, I had a thirty-one party at my house. My home was filled with many of my friends...some I know from work, some from church, one from the neighborhood I grew up in, one from adoption class, and of course, my mama. We had a fantastic time eating, laughing, sharing, and looking at the awesome thirty-one products!! As I sat there, I thought about how blessed I am to have so many wonderful connections with all the amazing women in my house. It saddens me to think that there are people out there who are lonely and don't have a group of friends to spend time with. I am so very blessed with the women in my life. (I also have wonderful men in my life, but this is about my girlfriends!!) To all my friends~thank you for being a part of my life. I can only pray that I have added a little happiness to your life and that our friendships will continue to strengthen over the years.

Lots to do...

What a busy night!!  I worked until 6:00, came home, and left about 7:00 to go grocery shopping with Kristofer for his "guy's weekend".  He is going on a fishing trip with 3 other guys he works with and they are as excited as kids are at Christmas.  Not only are we getting him ready for an out of town weekend, but I'm also getting ready for a thirty-one party that I am having at the house tomorrow night.  I have had about 25 people say that they'll be here, so I have been planning the 'menu' of appetizers as well as trying to figure out how we're all going to fit in here!  I'm very excited about having a house full of friends!!


I have had one of the most amazing weeks of teaching this week.  I came back refreshed, organized, and feeling productive.  My students are thrilled that we are beginning multiplication and are very excited that I have been chosen as one of the teachers to pilot the iPad in the classroom.  I'm pretty sure my students know more about the iPad than I do!  All in all, it has been a great first week back and I am very happy to be back to my routine.  I have said it before, and I'll say it again...I feel blessed to be able to do something every day that I love and am passionate about...I realize that not everyone loves what they do and that I am blessed to be one that does.


Heading to bed...

What a sweet story....

We all need friends like this.
 

Lily is a Great Dane that has been blind since a bizarre medical condition required that she have both eyes removed. For the last 5 years, Maddison, another Great Dane, has been her sight. The two are, of course, inseparable. "People will forget what you said; People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel."

Pet Peeves

So, I decided to vent a little about my pet peeves...I know, I should write about all the things that make me happy, but there is some value to venting, right?  Here goes:

• popping gum
• loud crunching
• having to repeat myself because the person I was talking to didn't realize they wanted to listen to me until I was almost through with what I was saying
• when I am busting my behind to get dinner on the table, the dishwasher unloaded, the dog fed, and the kids are sitting on the couch watching tv
• people who say "I" when they should say "me"
• people who use your and you're incorrectly
• people who wear sunglasses inside who don't have a medical condition (sorry Tofer)
• people who talk harshly to their children in public (I'm all for discipline, but don't call your child stupid in WalMart...don't call them stupid at all)
• people who tell endings to the end of movies
• people who talk during movies or tv shows

Wow!!!! I'm just full of things that bother me.  I guess I'll have to write about rainbows and flowers for a few days to make up for my negativity today!  Feel free to comment and add your biggest pet peeves...come on, it'll make you feel better.  :)