Making Some Changes

Just like this little guy, I can change too.

I hesitated before I made this pubic knowledge, but accountability is the best policy, right?  Here at Busy At Home, we are making some changes.  (That sounds kind of like a business stating they are making a policy change, now that it is written.  But actually, it is a bit of a policy change that I am making.) 

As this family's Head of Homemaking, I see some changes that need to happen in the eating department.  Refined flour and sugar consumption have slowly been on the rise for some time causing an equal rise in some of our waistlines, three of us to be exact.  No one is pointing fingers.  It is just a fact.  All five of us need to eat better.

Therefore, our liberal dessert policy is being revoked.  We are limiting sweets to certain celebrations or holidays.  As much as it might pain us, it has to be done.  I will be researching and developing healthier alternatives.  Anyone have any healthy treat recipes to share? 

I have already made some good changes, for instance, I stopped buying sodas, awhile ago, even diet ones.  A certain addicted someone can get his at work.  :-)   We are eating less meat, too.  I tossed out all the refined flour crackers, pasta, and flour.  (Don't worry, it really wasn't much.  The kids eat it as fast as I bring it home.) 

Whole grains, lean protein, fresh vegetables, fruits, water and a lot less sugar will be our staples. We are also trying to move more by riding our bikes and taking walks as the weather allows.

It's not going to be easy. I've tried before and failed, several times.  So ask me how we are doing, in about 6 months.  I really want our family to eat better, to live better.  I am the family's gatekeeper.  I allow the junk in the house.  I can keep it out as well.

A Whole Lot of Star Trek Going On

The Captain and his crew.

He's not just another Red Shirt. 

Lego phaser.

And another phaser.

Scanning for data on the  Tricorder.

Yep, there is a whole lot of Star Trek going on here these days!

Write it Down

One of the best ways I've found to cope with feeling "poor" is what I call the Write it Down Technique.  

I don't know if this happens to you or not, but sometimes my thoughts go so fast that I get overwhelmed trying to keep track of everything, mostly things I think that we need.

For example, let's say I am moving through my house and as I see things that we need to update or have run out of, I start to compile a mental list.  Then I start to think of things that I want to do that cost money like start a garden, sign the kids up for archery at the park, and buy curriculum.  Oh, don't forget the Jeep needs tires and the kids need to see a dentist and the cat could use a vet visit!  Do the kids have any clothes that will fit this summer?

Now at this point, I have a jumbled mess in my head with confusing priorities.  And I start to feel poor because there is no way on earth we can pay for all of this.  Credit card debt is not an option, so I start to feel poor.  Poor me.

This way of thinking is not very helpful, nor is it true!  Thankfully, I've learned to calm myself down by simply writing it all down on paper.  Then, I mark each item as either a want, a wish, or a need and how important it is.

It is so freeing to see this list.  I pray over it for the next several months.  I watch it change.  I see things marked off because they've been provided for.  I see things marked off because they were not really needed.  All the while my mind is clear, a burden has been lifted.  My heart is fixed on the things I need to think on.  I see provision.  I have hope.  I am content because I know that my Father knows what I need before I even ask him. 

Philippians 4:8 (ESV)

 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Weekly Wrap-Up

In which the ups and downs of life find us. 

On the Heart and Mind:

This week has had many twists and turns, ups and downs.  It began on Sunday with a delightful trip to see my grandma with my mom and daughter.  We brought her lunch.  Grace had made her Rice Krispie Treats.  We did her nails.  We watched Little House on the Prairie. We had fun.

Grandma and her kitty.

We were running around on Monday, as usual, enjoying some social time with other homeschoolers.  Gym class at the community center has turned out to be a nice opportunity to meet other homeschoolers.  Grace is also getting anxious about her dance recital next Monday.  I am not sure how to help her.  I would be anxious, too! 

And we all worked hard on Tuesday to get ready for my Bunco group expected that evening.  That is when the "downs" started to appear!  Only 3 of 11 invited friends could come. It was still nice, but not the same, a bit of a disappointment.  I decided to focus on the bright side.  My house was clean and I had a good conversation with 3 other ladies.  Plus, there was a little chocolate cake that tasted really, really good!

Wednesday brought the news that my grandma was being taken to the hospital for severe dehydration and a high fever.    She became more stable after some IV fluids, so I am hopeful that she will be back to normal soon.

Thursday was shopping day, a chore I find tedious.  I used to enjoy spending money.  Now I just try to endure.  And I focus on being thankful that I have the money I need to buy groceries and other things we need, like forks!  Just an aside, but it seems we've lost 10 forks since we've been married.  Where are they?
  


Life and Learning:

We started a biography of Mary Slessor, missionary to the Calabar area of Africa.   So far we are loving this book!  Actually, there is never been a book about a missionary that we did not just love.  Mary is the typical missionary.  She is just an average, poor working woman who felt a very strong call to Africa.  I love reading how God uses unskilled people.

Science Treasure Box.

We started and completed a little book set in South Africa during their oppression called, Journey to Jo'burg.  This little book is a quick read and very well written.  I wish it had been longer.  The characters are well developed and just begging for more.  It is the story of two young Africans who set out to walk to their mother who works in Johannesburg because their little sister is very sick.  Along the way they learn exactly what it means to be a non white person. 

I spent a little time clearing out our homeschool shelf and found a treasure, an old science kit we had bought at our first homeschool convention.  We had completed the kit back then and I decided to save it for another day.  It was fun to get it out and read the books again and do a left over craft.  It also reinforced the learning we had done about butterflies long ago.

Grace's Butterfly.

Grace started Teaching Textbooks, 5th grade!  I think it is a good fit for her.  I plan to have her do a lesson each day, even through the summer so that she can do some catch up work.  Hopefully she can like math again.  We will continue to use the Mathtacular as well. 

Ryan's Star Trek Creation!

Around the House:

I feel like we made great progress in decluttering this week.  I took a bunch of  stuff to Good Will.  I managed to clear off two" hot spots."  Now to just keep it up!


In the Kitchen:

The only major thing that happened in the kitchen this week  was getting a counter cleared off!  I plan to bake some cookies sometime this weekend. 

Trevor's Western Night Get Up.

On the Nook:

Renae gave me a great book suggestion this week, Mary Jones and Her Bible.  (Thank you!)  I am almost done with it. What a great little true story of a poor  girl who saves her money for 6 years and walks 50 miles round trip to buy a Bible!  Wow, kind of makes me think we take our Bibles for granted! 

     "We sometimes see - and particularly in the case of young people - that great eagerness for the possession of some coveted article is followed by indifference when the treasure is safely in their hands. " 


How many times have I seen this in my own children's lives?


Scripture Memory:

This may seem like an odd verse to memorize, but it helps to remind me that my graying hair is biblical!

Proverbs 16:31
"Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life."



Picture the Week:

Do they make mute buttons for older children?

I hope you've had a great week, too!
~Jenn

I'd Fall For It...Would You?

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Read more about this cake at Not Martha.

Delayed Gratification

Delayed gratification is not so very popular in mainstream America.  I am sure it is one of our biggest faults as a nation.  We want it now.  We want it how we want it.  We don't care if we cannot afford it.

I had been a slave to this kind of thinking, myself.  It caused a lot of problems.  I can remember thinking I needed a NEW car every two years.  Since I could not afford one, I leased.

I can remember thinking I needed a BIGGER house.  We bought one thinking my husband's paycheck would keep going up and up as it had before.  Then came recession.  We had to move.  I learned to never make a financial decision based on hopes.

I've learned a new kind of thinking over the last 5 years it took us to get debt free.  It was not really new, but new to me.  I learned to say no to myself.  I learned to make do with what I had, not rushing out to a store without trying to make do or just do without until I could afford whatever it was I thought I needed.  I learned to delay my gratification.

I've been thinking about how to encourage someone who is deep in debt and wants to change.  It is so very hard, but not impossible.  The first thing you have to do is face the fact that you have a problem.  Add up those numbers and be brave.  Take a good look at the total.  You promised to pay this money to someone who trusted you to pay them back.  It doesn't matter that they are an impersonal bank in some other city.  You owe them the money.  Debt is a serious matter. 

After you face the total, tear up your credit cards and write a real budget.  Stick to that budget no matter what.  Because there really is no alternative.   Start paying back the money you owe.  You might have to get some help here and set up a payment plan.  It might take you 5 years.  That's really OK.  In those five years you will learn many lessons that only time can teach you! 

I remember thinking it would be impossible to live without credit cards.  What would we do in an emergency?  It forced us to spend more carefully.  We started saving for an emergency fund.  We prayed!  When we hit bottom, it was very scary.  We lived on "fumes" for four years.

Emergencies do happen.  One of the reasons we choose to rent at this time is to manage our risk while we regroup.  Part of this regrouping time is working on saving for 2 months living expenses. Houses can be money pits.  We figured we can save more if we don't have the risk at this time. 

If you are serous about getting out of debt, it will happen.  It will take time.  It will not be fun.  But when you are debt free, it will have all been worth it.  I know that most people who read my blog are frugal and debt free already.  And I applaud you.  I also know there are some people in debt through no fault of their own reading this.  Know that I am not writing this to discourage you.  I am talking to people like me who were spending money they had no right to spend. 

But, if you need some encouragement in this area, I am here to offer some. It is still easy for me to be discouraged in this area.  It is one step forward, two steps backwards at times.  I wonder if we are trying to do too much.  We are living within our means, but we need to be saving more.  There is no end to the ways I can be overwhelmed when I think about all we need to do.  That's where my faith in God helps.  I know if I am doing my best, He can do the rest.  

~Jenn

Hair Update

I keep meaning to write a follow up post to my other post about going "No Poo".  So far, I am very happy.  It did take three weeks to adjust, but the adjustment was very mild.  Now on the second day, my hair is no longer oily.  I have found that it helps to rinse my hair with water on the days between the washings with soda.  I also read that you can let those washing go farther between as your hair adjusts.

One day I skipped the vinegar rinse because I forgot to make more before I was already in the shower.  Boy, was I surprised at how tangled my hair was afterwards.  The vinegar rinse really does work.

I only have one other family member joining me on this journey, so far.  The others might have to join by default, as they are soon to need shampoo and I just might not buy any! 

Again, I am just so pleased with my hair.  I have no reason to go back. 
~Jenn