Friday, March 18, 2011
Sometimes being a Grown-up is HARD!
I got my REWARD check today (a salary supplement in OK for child care providers in early childhood). I wanted to do something fun that I haven't been able to do in quite a while with some of it, but I chose to be a grown-up instead. LOL. We had our baby EF up to around $300 but some repairs on the Honda wiped that out. So I'm putting most of the money in the baby emergency fund. 10% I'm giving away, 10% we're using for a date night to thrift shops and supper, some of it goes to Tasha to pay for her prom dress (I had told her if she would pay for it, I would pay her back out of this check). Sometimes it's tough being a grown-up!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Just for Today
This is from the book I've been reading, he attributes it to Sibyl F. Partridge:
1. Just for today I will be happy. This assumes that what Abraham Lincoln said is true, that "most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be". Happiness is from within, it is not a matter of externals.
2. Just for today I will try to adjust myself to what is, and not try to adjust everything to my own desires. I will take my family, my business, and my luck as they come and fit myself to them.
3. Just for today I will take care of my body. I will exercise it, care for it, nourish it, not abuse it nor neglect it, so that it will be a perfect machine for my bidding.
4. Just for today I will try to strengthen my mind. I will learn something useful. I will not be a mental loafer. I will read something that requires effort, thought, and concentration.
5. Just for today I will exercise my soul in three ways: I will do somebody a good turn and not get found out; I will do at least two things I don't want to do, as William James suggests, just for exercise.
6. Just for today I will be agreeable. I will look as well as I can, dress as becomingly as possible, talk low, act courteously, be liberal with praise, criticize not at all, nor find fault with anything and not try to regulate nor improve anyone.
7. Just for today I will try to live through this day only, not to tackle my whole life problem at once. I can do things for twelve hours that would appall me if I had to keep them up for a lifetime.
8. Just for today I will have a program. I will write down what I expect to do every hour. I may not follow it exactly, but I will have it. It will eliminate two pests: hurrying and indecision.
9. Just for today I will have a quiet half-hour all by myself and relax. In this half-hour, sometimes I will think of God, so as to get a little more perspective into my life.
10. Just for today I will be unafraid, especially I will not be afraid to be happy, to enjoy what is beautiful, to love, and to believe that those I love, love me.
1. Just for today I will be happy. This assumes that what Abraham Lincoln said is true, that "most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be". Happiness is from within, it is not a matter of externals.
2. Just for today I will try to adjust myself to what is, and not try to adjust everything to my own desires. I will take my family, my business, and my luck as they come and fit myself to them.
3. Just for today I will take care of my body. I will exercise it, care for it, nourish it, not abuse it nor neglect it, so that it will be a perfect machine for my bidding.
4. Just for today I will try to strengthen my mind. I will learn something useful. I will not be a mental loafer. I will read something that requires effort, thought, and concentration.
5. Just for today I will exercise my soul in three ways: I will do somebody a good turn and not get found out; I will do at least two things I don't want to do, as William James suggests, just for exercise.
6. Just for today I will be agreeable. I will look as well as I can, dress as becomingly as possible, talk low, act courteously, be liberal with praise, criticize not at all, nor find fault with anything and not try to regulate nor improve anyone.
7. Just for today I will try to live through this day only, not to tackle my whole life problem at once. I can do things for twelve hours that would appall me if I had to keep them up for a lifetime.
8. Just for today I will have a program. I will write down what I expect to do every hour. I may not follow it exactly, but I will have it. It will eliminate two pests: hurrying and indecision.
9. Just for today I will have a quiet half-hour all by myself and relax. In this half-hour, sometimes I will think of God, so as to get a little more perspective into my life.
10. Just for today I will be unafraid, especially I will not be afraid to be happy, to enjoy what is beautiful, to love, and to believe that those I love, love me.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Enjoying a day off
Today I am enjoying one of my Spring Break days off. Josh is leaving for work in a bit, Tom's at work, and Tasha's in Norman so I get the house to myself for a while this afternoon. What exciting things am I doing on my day off? Well, I"m defrosting the freezer. LOL! I also went to Medford to take care of some business. We had never filed homestead exemption on our home and that can save us some $'s on our property taxes, so I finally did that. Gotta save those $'s where we can! I work Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, then I'm off again on Friday.
Goals for this week:
Get Tasha's financial aid paperwork submitted to the college
Work some more in the office, how does it get to be such a mess? UGH!
In other news, the Honda is back and we're waiting on news to see how much Josh's truck will cost to fix. He will pay for most of it, but we may have to help him out, depending on how much it is. I've been reading the Dale Carnegie book on worrying all weekend and will try to post some more wisdom from it this week.
Goals for this week:
Get Tasha's financial aid paperwork submitted to the college
Work some more in the office, how does it get to be such a mess? UGH!
In other news, the Honda is back and we're waiting on news to see how much Josh's truck will cost to fix. He will pay for most of it, but we may have to help him out, depending on how much it is. I've been reading the Dale Carnegie book on worrying all weekend and will try to post some more wisdom from it this week.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Living in a Hee-Haw Song
I swear, I'm living in that Hee-Haw song:
Gloom, despair, and agony on me,
Deep dark depression, excessive misery.
If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all,
Gloom, despair, and agony on me.
We sent the Honda to the shop to get a tune-up, but of course, it couldn't be that simple. Going to cost more than we thought it was. And the same day Josh's truck acts up and needs work on the rear-end.
I'm so glad it's Friday and I have a 3 day weekend without anywhere to go (except church).
Gloom, despair, and agony on me,
Deep dark depression, excessive misery.
If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all,
Gloom, despair, and agony on me.
We sent the Honda to the shop to get a tune-up, but of course, it couldn't be that simple. Going to cost more than we thought it was. And the same day Josh's truck acts up and needs work on the rear-end.
I'm so glad it's Friday and I have a 3 day weekend without anywhere to go (except church).
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Solving Worry Situations
Last night, I started re-reading the Dale Carnegie book: How to Stop Worrying and Start Living. I highly recommend this book! Anyway, in it, he has a chapter on solving worrying situations. The thing is, when one is worrying, it's harder to focus on a solution.
Step 1: Ask yourself: "What is the worst that can possibly happen?"
Step 2: Prepare to accept it if you have to.
Step 3: Then calmly proceed to improve on the worst.
Okay, so what's the worst that could happen with the lawsuit? We lose and have a judgment against us and they garnish Tom's paycheck. That's pretty bad, but we could somehow survive. With Tom's hours the way they are, he could possibly take an evening job. I could take evening or weekend kids or look for an extra job if the worst happens. How can we improve on it? We can talk to the lawyers and try to work out a payment arrangement that is satisfactory to both parties.
As for what we can do RIGHT now. We've done that. We responded to the summons, now we pray and work on the next step.
Our main business is not to see what lies at dimly at a distance, but do do what lies clearly at hand-Thomas Carlyle.
Step 1: Ask yourself: "What is the worst that can possibly happen?"
Step 2: Prepare to accept it if you have to.
Step 3: Then calmly proceed to improve on the worst.
Okay, so what's the worst that could happen with the lawsuit? We lose and have a judgment against us and they garnish Tom's paycheck. That's pretty bad, but we could somehow survive. With Tom's hours the way they are, he could possibly take an evening job. I could take evening or weekend kids or look for an extra job if the worst happens. How can we improve on it? We can talk to the lawyers and try to work out a payment arrangement that is satisfactory to both parties.
As for what we can do RIGHT now. We've done that. We responded to the summons, now we pray and work on the next step.
Our main business is not to see what lies at dimly at a distance, but do do what lies clearly at hand-Thomas Carlyle.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Responding
We have prepared a response to the lawsuit (basically a request asking for them to provide proof of the debt, etc.). We will be mailing that out today and then we'll go from there.
I am angry and tired. I am angry at myself for living like this and I am tired of living like this. We have dug ourselves out of holes before only to end up back there in a bigger one. It's like every time I lose weight, I gain it back. Then I feel kind of stupid, why can't I learn? And I wonder what the point of even trying is. Then I realize that everyone messes up. Obviously, some of us more than others. The only real failure is to give up. So I pick myself up, keep praying about, and keep trying. Dave Ramsey says you have to get really angry before you'll get yourself out of your mess. Well I'm angry! Now it's time to get to work.
I am angry and tired. I am angry at myself for living like this and I am tired of living like this. We have dug ourselves out of holes before only to end up back there in a bigger one. It's like every time I lose weight, I gain it back. Then I feel kind of stupid, why can't I learn? And I wonder what the point of even trying is. Then I realize that everyone messes up. Obviously, some of us more than others. The only real failure is to give up. So I pick myself up, keep praying about, and keep trying. Dave Ramsey says you have to get really angry before you'll get yourself out of your mess. Well I'm angry! Now it's time to get to work.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Joy in the face of Adversity
Last night in Discipleship training classes at church, we were reading about Paul when he was writing to the church at Philippi. Paul was in prison, but still managed to have joy because his heart was centered on Christ. In fact, Philippians is the site of one of my favorite Bible passages, chapter 4:11-13
11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
See, that's what I want. I want to be content whatever my circumstances. I don't want to be rude and hateful to my husband because we're in a stressful situation.
11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
See, that's what I want. I want to be content whatever my circumstances. I don't want to be rude and hateful to my husband because we're in a stressful situation.
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