Done

Well, I didn't intend to do it today, but I did it. I went into my principal's office on an entirely different errand and left having quit my job. He asked me if I had decided and I opened my mouth intending to tell him no i have not decided yet and what came out of my mouth was "I've decided not to return in the fall." I feel so light knowing the burden of juggling this particular situation is coming to an end. My spirits are not even dampened by the knowing that I do not have a plan for next year...

Contentment

I have always struggled with contentment. I have felt that while I love to love what I am doing, I never want to be complacent. At the same time I want to have the peace that comes from knowing that I am doing what I am supposed to be doing...

How does one separate goals and ambitions from restlessness and discontent? How do you reconcile your needs with your wants when they go in opposite directions? How do you discern what is truly God's path for your life?

Icicles and Fort Building

Pantry Challenge

The goal: by the end of the weekend to have a fully updated list of everything in the freezer and everything in the pantry.
The secondary goal: for the next month, only spend grocery money on necessities (eg. Milk) and reduce the food budget to $150-$200 for the month.
The ultimate goal: use the 'extra' money saved in the grocery budget to pay extra on the car. We are currently on track with our payoff schedule, paying it off early smacks of a challenge to me...

End date: end of February

Luther On Prayer

"First, when I feel that I have become cool and joyless in prayer because of other tasks or thoughts (for the flesh and the devil always impede and obstruct prayer), I take my little psalter, hurry to my room, or, if it be the day and hour for it, to the church where a congregation is assembled and, as time permits, I say quietly to myself and word-for-word the Ten Commandments, the Creed, and, if I have time, some words of Christ or of Paul, or some psalms, just as a child might do.

It is a good thing to let prayer be the first business of the morning and the last at night. Guard yourself carefully against those false, deluding ideas which tell you. "Wait a little while, I will pray in an hour; first I must attend to this or that." Such thoughts get you away from prayer into other affairs which so hold your attention and involve you that nothing comes of prayer for that day.

It may well be that you may have some tasks which are as good or better than prayer, especially in an emergency. There is a saying ascribed to St. Jerome that everything a believer does is prayer and a proverb. "He who works faithfully prays twice." This can be said because a believer fears and honors God in his work and remembers the commandment not to wrong anyone, or to try to steal, defraud, or cheat. Such thoughts and such faith undoubtedly transform his work into prayers and a sacrifice of praise.

On the other hand it is also true that the work of an unbeliever is outright cursing and so he who works faithlessly curses twice. While he does his work his thoughts are occupied with a neglect of God and violation of his law, how to take advantage of his neighbor, how to steal from him and defraud him. What else can such thoughts be but out and out curses against God and man, which makes one's work and effort a double curse by which a man curses himself. In the end they are beggars and bunglers. It is of such continual prayer that Christ says in Luke 11, "Pray without ceasing," because one must unceasingly guard against sin and wrongdoing, something one cannot do unless one fears God and keeps his commandment in mind, as Psalm 1:1-2 says, "Blessed is he who meditates upon his law day and night." "

A Simple Way to Pray by Martin Luther

Choices

Along with the new year comes choices. I have to choose my employment path for next year - at least with regard to my current position. What is the God-pleasing way to go? My husband wishes me to forestall doing anything permanent until I can obtain another position. I really don't think there is any need in waiting because I have decided that I do not wish to return either way and would prefer to homeschool as opposed to continue on where I am. There are, however, financial considerations. I intend to meditate on this subject as I begin reading Luther's book on prayer.

Snow Day!!

Happy New Year!!

I have so many goals for this new year. It is starting out crisp and clean and full of possibility. I am excited to take hold of this opportunity and make the most of it. To this end, I have a list of goals that I would like to achieve in 2011. I am not going to call these resolutions as resolutions go by the wayside within days usually. These are goals which, if achieved, will benefit me personally as well as my family.

1. Daily Personal Devotion
- To this end, I have acquired a book called "Faith Alone: A Daily Devotional" which is a devotional based on Martin Luther's writings. Thanks to the thriftiness and dedicated saving of my husband, I now have an iPad. I purchased the digital copy of this book which I can view on my computer at school or my iPad as well as my phone. That should be very beneficial in completing this goal!

2. Read the Bible cover to cover
- I have also purchased a digital copy of the Lutheran Study Bible which I have begun reading over Christmas break. I just finished Genesis and am ready to begin Exodus. I would like to do this by the end of the school year, but realistically I know that my time is limited so I am giving myself a year in which to finish it.

3. Pay off Dan's car
- We are so close to debt free (except the student loans, which I have a plan for, so they don't count!) The last thing in our debt snowball is my husband's car. We have a plan which - if we are able to stick to it - will have it paid off in 6 months. Awesome!!

4. Wellness...
- Over the last several months, I have made a healthy lifestyle a priority due to my part time job. (www.itworks.net/wingit) I managed to lose 45 pounds since last August. I managed to gain 5 of them back in the last two weeks of binge eating, chocolate, holiday parties, chocolate, late night snacking, chocolate, alcohol, chocolate, no exercise and chocolate. I am going to try and do the 6 week slim-down challenge to jump start this, but I really want a lifestyle change for myself and my family. We were doing very well before Thanksgiving and I plan to pull us right back on track!

5. Cleanliness
- I have a schedule and I intend it keep it... :-)
(How awesome that I have been cleaning like crazy for our open house and will start out Monday fresh with a newly clean house?!)

6. Frugality
- Using the words "I want" a little less often and using the words "I don't need it" a little more often. I have gotten much better with doing this with the kids, I need to apply it to grocery shopping and Walmart more consistently.

7. Intentional Living
- I want to plan my life a little bit better. My goal is to sit down every Sunday and go over my week. I will plan my menu as well as my goals to accomplish for the week. Organization leads to less stress - something we could all use around here.