Bible School

At the beginning of January, I started doing something with my girls that they just love. I found tons of activity and color pages, thanks to Google, that I can use for teaching them stories from the Bible. I've organized them so that I can teach the same lesson to both of them and Ana has a color page and Aiva has an activity page that's harder for her level. When I get home, I put my stuff down and head to the kitchen where I start to get things ready for dinner. I call both girls in and tell them to get their art kits and I give them each a page. While I cook, I tell them the story. I'll have Aiva look up the verses in the Bible and have her read the kids version just to catch anything that I miss. I've even given her just the "address" for the verse and I'll have her write down the verse. It helps her get into the word and get excited about it because there are actual stories in there! I have to share what happened last night though. The lesson last night was on creation and what God created and when. Aiva just jumps at the opportunity to do anything that resembles homework so this was right up her alley. I printed out a sheet for her that had "Day 1-7" and the verses that corresponded to what God created for those days. She dove right into the Bible and wrote out what God created anon those days. She later asked if she could draw pictures of the things that He created and I of course told her to go for it. She loved it! It's really been a lot of fun to get this started and going. It's great for me because I don't have to hear them fighting when I get home. It's good for them becasue they're hearing the Word and getting into it. Plus, it's good for Nate because he gets a much needed 30-45 minute break before dinner. Here are a couple picks of what we've been doing:

Menu Plan Monday

Monday - Potato Soup
Tuesday - Taco's
Wednesday - Homemade Mac N Cheese
Thursday - Baked Ziti
Friday - PIZZA
Saturday - TBD (Nate's birthday)
Sunday lunch- Tortilla Soup
Sunday dinner - Meatloaf

Something BIG is about to happen!

Today was the first day of my bible study, Made to Crave. This is the second time I'm doing it so hopefully something will click...something will change...something big will happen (maybe I should say something small will happen). I'm done with being big but I'm not done with God doing big things! Praying he does amazing things through this study. I pray that I would crave Him instead of other things. I pray that I would turn to Him instead of food. I pray that I would trust in him instead of trust in the feeling of how I hope food will make me feel.

I went to zumba last night and it felt great but I sure didn't like the person who I saw in the mirror. The last time I was at zumba I looked great. I was 20 lbs lighter and my stomach was flatter. Long story short, I'm done with being big and I'm leaving the rest up to God!

Today I weighed in and it was the first time that I stepped on the scale since November. It was a scary thing but I did it. It was one of those quick step on, exhale/say a quick prayer, look, and then step off (like the action didn't happen). The number I saw was one I wasn't proud of but happy that it wasn't bigger. The number was 215.4. I'm in a size 16...it's time for a change! This is the last time I'm going to be this weight. The last time I will feel this way. It's time for me to do something big...with God's help, I know I can do it!

Start Afresh

Today is one of those days that I have to start afresh. On Monday in my small group, good ole' Beth Moore said that God can change my mood. I'm praying that he can do just that right now. With the power of the Holy Spirit, I really can Live Beyond Myself. Here are some things that I have to remember:

My purpose is beyond me...my seasonal circumstances are beyond me...my unrelenting daily demands are beyond me.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit I can...

do things I couldn't...feel things I didn't...know things I wouldn't.

We had a rough night with Ana. She had a bad asthma attack last night and we were in urgent care getting breathing treatments and steroids. We have to do this every so often and it really takes a hit on me. This is on top of an already stressful and mentally challenging day. I had to deal with someone that was just plain mean and not very grateful. God had all this up his sleeve when I heard that whole thing on Monday about God changing my attitude. He was preparing my heart for what was about to lie ahead.

To be honest, I really don't want to be at work right now. I don't want to be nice right now. I don't want to do anything now except be at home with my little girl. Instead I'm clinging to Isaiah 43:18-19:

18 "Forget about what's happened; don't keep going over old history.19 Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new. It's bursting out! Don't you see it? There it is! I'm making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands.

I'm praying that something good comes out of today...that it's brand new and it's bursting out. God...I need you to show up today and be big...really big!

MPM

I know it's Tuesday but it's never too late to start menu planning! I actually started this weekend but didn't get to post until just now. Here it is for the week:

Monday - Garlic Parmesan Spaghetti
Tuesday - Beef Enchiladas
Wednesday - Tortilla Soup in the Crock Pot
Thursday - Meatloaf
Friday - Pizza
Saturday - Breakfast Burritos
Sunday - BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

Hopefully by going this route, I will only have soda on Friday. Last weekend, we did really well! We only went out to eat on Friday, for pizza, and then out to dinner with my parents after church. Here's to a healthier me :)

2012

So every year I always do my goals for the year in January (colossal ideas, I know). I normally do the same amount of goals for how old I am, therefore, this year, I'm doing 34! Once I list my goals for this year, I'll update you on what all happened from last year. Here goes nothing:

#1 - MOVE...so excited to get into a house! It's been 5 long years!
#2 - Build our savings
#3 - Do more craft stuff
#4 - Make more jewelry
#5 - Make more jewelry for others
#6 - Make another quilt
#7 - Do a garden
#8 - Send more cards
#9 - Bless others more
#10 - Spend less time on the computer when at home
#11 - East out less on weekends
#12 - Be consistent with menu planning thru the week
#13 - Work with my kids more on reading the bible
#14 - Do a date night with each of my girls by themselves
#15 - Pamper myself more
#16 - Call my dad more
#17 - Organize my paperwork
#18 - Get rid of old jammies
#19 - Go to bed earlier
#20 - Take a lunch more often
#21 - Get my pictures organized
#22 - Go on a family vacation to Chicago
#23 - Having to buy all new clothes because they're too big (ok, maybe more of a dream :) )
#24 - Have no warning lights shining on our car
#25 - Have a table at a craft show
#27 - Be on time to work
#28 - Have a set quiet time
#29 - Read thru the Bible
#30 - Working with the girls on allowance
#31 - Teach the girls how to save and tithe
#32 - Be patient with my kids
#33 - Drink less caffeine
#34 - Be patient with Nate

From 2011...what is green is something I've accomplished or I'm working on and what's in red are items that I didn't do:

#1 Since I'm turning 33, the same age that Jesus was when he was crucified, I want to live more like Christ.
#2 To be 33 pounds lighter (I'm giving it another go)
#3 To pay off our car
#4 To make three new friends
#5 To learn to make my own laundry detergent - thanks Nicole for getting me excited
#6 To pray more for my brother
#7 To drink more water than Dr. Pepper :)
#8 To eat more at home instead of eating out
#9 To build our savings account
#10 To make something special for my girls this Christmas
#11 To go on a once in a lifetime trip on 11/11/11 in Montana
#12 To start making jewelry with Ana & Aiva
#13 To learn how to better communicate with Aiva
#14 To show Nate more affection
#15 To encourage my dad
#16 To visit my Nana & Grandpa more
#17 To give blood once this year (I'm scared to death)
#18 To eat a star fruit
#19 To make something for someone
#20 To get to bed at a decent time
#21 To work out
#22 To play with the girls instead of having something else entertain them
#23 To make more time for Nate
#24 To make more time for myself
#25 To read more to the girls
#26 To take time out for Ana and spending time with just her
#27 Try to eat more vegetables (yuck)
#28 To appreciate the things we have instead of what we don't
#29 To think outside the box more
#30 To enjoy the girls laughter instead of telling them to be quiet
#31 To be a friend to someone who needs one
#32 To be quiet and listen to God
#33 Take more pictures to capture life

Financial Updates

Baby Step #1 - Save $1000 in an emergency savings plan

USED IT ALL TO PAY FOR AIVA'S TONSILS

Baby Step #2 - Get out of debt with the debt snowball

AGAIN...AIVA'S TONSILS

Baby Step #3 - Start saving 3-6 months of expenses in savings

STARTING Hopefully in the summer

Baby Step #4 - Invest 15% in a Roth IRA

CURRENTLY DOING 8% IN MY ROTH

Baby Step #5 - Future funding for kids

SAVING $100 PER CHILD PER MONTH

Baby Step #6 - Pay off home early

Baby Step #7 - Build wealth & give

Christmas Projects & Rings

As I blogged before, there were a lot of projects that I was working on and needless to say, I didn't take pictures of a lot of them. That's one thing I want to change in 2012. Projects that I make need to be photographed. I think it helps a person see that they've accomplished something! Plus, it's fun to see people's comments and helps give my readers some inspiration to try something new :) OK, so I think I've shown you a few of the things that I made so here are a couple of the others:

This one was definitely one of my most favorites. This was the project that I had worked so hard on for many months. I made it for my mom. She bought me a sewing machine and it sat in my bedroom for two years before I had the courage to use it. Not saying it to brag...well, yea I am...I hand stiched just about the whole things. Guess I really didn't need the machine after all! I used the machine sewing the squares together and doing the binding but n the actual quilting my sewing machine kept bird's nesting and it was easier to actually hand stitched than get frustrated and quite. I wanted tears out of my mom but got nothin! At least my dad cried when I gave him a sneak peak the week before Christmas. At least one of my parents is sensitive like how I am! All in all, this was a hard project and one that I will keep reminding my mom of! I told my co-workers that she better have this thing attached to her hip at all time because of the time that was spent on it! Of course I'm joking...kind of! LOL

This was another fun gift that I made! This is my sister in law, Amy, and she's fun and crafty like I am. When I saw this idea on Pinterest, I immediately thought of her. I have fallen in love with buttons recently and knew I wanted to do this project for her. It was actually a piece of cake. I printed out the letter S at work on card stock in black ink. Used glue dots to attach the buttons (color: black, gray and white) and got a frame at Michael's to finish it off. She loved it along with a necklace I made for her. I didn't get a pic of her necklace, earrings, and bracelet but it was one of my favorites that I've made. I love the pendant and again, wanted to keep it for myself but gladly handed off to her.
This is a shirt that I designed for my dad. My dad is a hard one to buy for so when I thought of things that described my dad, this is one of the things that came to mind. My dad owns his own company and he has a few phrases that he ALWAYS says...from the time my brother and I were little to present day, he has always used this phrases. Price, Quality, Time...You can pick two but you can't have all three. When he saw it he let out a big laugh and yes...I think I did see a tear in his eye (MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!). He says it's one of my favorites! It leaves me so proud thinking that all the hard work I put into a meaningful gift was not wasted!

This is my mother in law who got the family gift that I already shared with you. I loved this gift. It was personal and quite easy to make. I think I already shared with you how I made it. Thanks to my friend Aubre for stopping at AAA to pick up the maps for me. You are a gem for helping me when I was in a bind! My MIL loved it! No tears were shed but "family" was passed around and everyone wanted a piece of the goodness!

Recently, I've been making my own jewelry because it's so much cheaper than buying it somewhere. Ever since I was in Nashville at Christmas and saw my sister in laws ring, I've wanted to start making rings of my own. Hers didn't look hard to make so I embarked on the ring making journey. Needless to say, I'm addicted and I'm not sure why I didn't do rings before this. Here are a few of my new creations :

I think that's it for now. Stay tuned for what's coming up in 2012! Can't wait for a brand new year!