A small step : (1 of 12) ~ 11 more to come

Have you ever pretended to be serious about something, but were really not serious?  Maybe you did not realize that you were not super serious, until, well, until you got SERIOUS!!

That is my life these days.  We have tried to be serious about our money.  Once upon a time we were debt free.  Then, well, then, life happened, no job, no money, lots of mouths.  Then sold a house (for too little) bought a new house that needs lots of work….

long story…..

and today..well, I am serious about our money.  I have never been this serious before.

Let me share how serious we are….

we pay cash, for almost everything.  We budget every dollar we bring home before we spend any of it.  We do not have cable.  We do not use credit cards – at all.  We do have internet and a phone and are thinking about cutting back the phone – but just thinking right now.

The big indicator of how serious we are is that we made a commitment to not eat out in 2011, unless someone else was paying.  This is a bigger deal than I expected, even though we rarely ate out any more.  But knowing that we cannot changes everything.  But you know what?

so far, WE DID IT!!

We have made it one whole month, without eating out.  1 down – 11 to go!! A step at a time – I have confidence that we can do this!

So, we continue on this journey – our goal is to be debt free again!  And it will happen, or so Robert tells me.   It may take longer than I like, but you know what?  It does not matter.  We will get there.

So Happy February 1st – and thus begins our next month of not eating out!  Woo Hoo!!  It is now becoming a challenge of sorts!

Sunday Summary

Today we were blessed to have sweet friends over to play, eat and talk with!

We enjoyed our slow-cooked pork loin as pork tacos, Spanish rice, and even some homemade tamales!  I may have to post some pics from those and my recipe.  They were not as superb as the ones I made in November with my mom and Louie, but they were okay.  Our friends thought they were great, that inspires me to make some better to show them I really can make some decent tamales.

Thought I would organize my week tonight and look back over my meal plan, get my oatmeal in the crockpot tonight for breakfast in the morning and get some beans soaking too!

Here is my meal plan for this week {nothing fancy – but cheap}

24 ~ Monday: Beans & Rice

25 ~ Tuesday: Meat Loaf

starting anew

2010! Wow! What do you have in store for me and my family?

That is what I have been pondering these past few days. But first, can I share a few of my favorite pics from 2009, these are not the best of smiling kids, but I love these, they are treasures...

Okay, thanks. These 3 are just 3 of many, but they make me smile. I see God in each one, do you see him? I hope so!

So, after some soul searching, some family discussions and some prayer and Bible time I think I have a handle of my plan for this year, on where I want to go in 2010.

My Theme this year is : To Follow & Serve Him

Follow Him : Around the World in 360 OR 10 in 10 – this is a challenge from Manna Church in Fayetteville – to spend 10 minutes in prayer each day and 10 minutes reading the Word each day. I heard someone say how the Bible is like God waiting to reveal something to us, anxiously – but we have to open it and read it to receive it. When we do not open it we do not receive it – not sure about you, but I need all I can get from Him!! I hope to inspire my children to read the Word as well as they see how it radiates from me. I realize that I cannot follow someone who I do not spend a great deal of time with!

I am going to join a blog titled Extravagant Grace for scripture memory – 24 verses in 2010 – 1st and 15th of the month. Who cannot use a little extra scripture memory in their lives, and I can always use a little more encouragement too! So my first verse of 2010 is:

Blessed is the man …[whose] delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Psalm 1:1-3

Be Intentional : Less computer time, less unintentional time spent, less distractions when I am “working” (i.e. teaching my children, reading the Word, or working in my home). This means no more Facebook games, no more facebook checking & updating while schooling, no more phone calls during school, and no computer in general until school is over. This is going to be so good for me and my children!!

I want to plan better, my time, my money, my energy. I hope to stay ahead of meals and ahead of my time. So far, I feel like I have a plan to help me stay ahead, but I know it can slip away so quickly!! Be intentional with my words too, with regards to gossiping, but also anything I say – I hope to control my tongue! My children are listening, but more importantly, He is listening to my heart, what is it saying today?

Find moments of peace to ponder and listen. I believe this will lead to new perspectives and new insight that without taking a break and a moment to listen we will miss!

Serve Others : I want this to be a year of Yes! So I hope to say yes more and when I cannot say yes to a certain request, I hope to find something I can say yes to. Thank you to Holy Experience for this idea. Like her, I am a mom of no – and I do not want to be that mom. I hope to use this philosophy as a way to serve my family, but I hope to encourage my friends and family this year too, more.

So I am excited about 2010 – so many great memories and great things lie in front of us! I pray that I learn to be a better follower of my Lord and that I spend this year serving him as I grow closer to him! What are your goals for 2010?