Determination

Yes, it is going to be a Good Morning! It is going to be a Good Day, and a Good Week! I even capitalize them because I am so sure of it! I may have to work at it a lot, but I am determined to keep my attitude positive in the midst of the things working against me. By "things" I mean these items in particular:

• The ever increasing cold weather, which in itself is good for the land...but that's about all I can figure.


• The mountain of paperwork I have neglected and must file/organize today. (Yes, this is me working against myself!)


• The cold, (yes, it is a theme) unheated, unfinished basement where I need to do most of the organizing and prepping for the next two weeks.
  

In order to honor my husband this week and get to the priorities he has set before me I am checking my attitude at the door (I should clarify: It's not an attitude towards him...just the hinderances in general) and getting to the work with at cheerful heart. I guess I need to restock my spiritual pantry and revist this post I wrote nearly a year ago!

Watching the Sunrise

I was up with the sunrise this morning. Just as it was beginning to show the tiniest amount of color. I didn't get a picture because it was just too cold to step outside. It was wonderful...now hopefully the rest of the day will stay somewhere near the schedule. We are practicing hospitality this evening and will have friends over for a meal and evening together. Time to get the kids up and going and disperse the chores...mainly my own!

Getting Back in Routine: Update 1

OK...so the rising at 6:30 to feed the little one hasn't been really getting me up and at 'em. She has been wanting to sleep until closer to 7:30...and I have let her. Or, when she has risen at 6:30 my dear husband has fed her. I have to admit, I am not a morning person, even when I have a schedule right in front of me telling me what to do. And yes, it is because I am going to be too late for my body to get enough rest by 6:30. I am definately going to take Crystal's advice here to heart and work towards this goal of mine of rising at 6:30 each day. Even more so is the self-discipline to not dawdle in the mornings just because I can. This is why I get to bed later...the same amount of stuff has to get done each day and I just put it off.

My eldest is nearly eight. We were given this toy as a shower gift. It is called the "Smoochie Poochie" and is by Sassy. It has been through a cycle of slobber and washings since he was only a couple of months old. Our next child loved it as well. So much so that I thought it might not make it through without some damage. It did great. Now, the third child, five years after the second, has deemed this one of her favorite toys as well. I am contemplating putting one away for each of them for when they have children of their own. All this joy for three children for only $5.99. I'd say that's a great deal!

Getting Back in Routine

What a timely post this was...coming only hours after I penned a new schedule for myself and the kids. We really needed one now that the baby is 4 1/2 months old and on a solid routine herself. I am even more encouraged to stick with it and am posting the morning routine for all to see just for the accountability alone! While I am contemplating what "live frog" to eat each morning I am going to work through this morning routine:

• 6:30 Wake and feed Meara and have coffee with Eric
• 7:00 Quick check email and create new posts
• 7:30 Kids up, breakfast & laundry in
• 8:00 Shower, get ready, switch laundry, Meara to nap
• 9:00 Start school with Bible

Thanks for reading and feel free to ask how it's going! My husband and I are hopefully working through our personal and family goals this weekend, another post for accountabiliby.

Photo Courtesy of AllPosters.com

New Baby + New Year = New Schedule

Still only 24 hours in the day

For some great links on how to make it all work, check these out:

$5 dinners and links to great deals

Encouragement for the homekeeper

Someone else with a new little one

Happy New Year!

Meaningful Advent Fun

My husband and I are currently planning an Advent Event for our church entitled "24 Reasons to Celebrate Jesus." He is the part-time pastor of Family Life and has been working on events to bring the church family together. At this event we will be providing 24 ornaments and a devotional for each family for $10, with a soup supper. Some of the ornaments will be ready-made, and some will be embellished or created at the event. I will post more as the items come together. The ornaments focus on a characteristic or name of God, which can be tricky to come up with ideas for! I am down to trying to find two more ornament ideas...any ideas for: God with us, or Counselor???