My resolution is not resolute!

Apparently, since it is February, I am not making any new year's resolutions....

Maybe it is because I have an aversion to following ALL the rules, or maybe it's just one of my many quirks.  For example; I hate the word Budget.  I won't call it a budget.  I call it a Spending Plan.  Something about a spending plan written in spreadsheet form makes me happy... a budget makes me think of work.  Which leads me to my newly titled Resolutions:  Living Plan: (yeah, that's better!)

• Live Intentionally.  This includes all those spreadsheets I like (including my calander, which I need to make up with ~ we weren't really on speaking terms the last couple months of 2009.  I may not like writing everything down, but yes, I need to in my crazy home / work / church / overcommitted life).  In other words - plan the plan.
1. Spending Plan:  Hubby and I took a bible study course four years ago called Crown Financial and it changed our lives!  I have been using the spreadsheets created by them since then and we have become better stewards of all we have been blessed with.  I decided to kick it up a notch this year and use their on-line program called Mvelopes.... love it!  Oh, the lovely reports you can generate with the click of a button!  A little slice of spreadsheet heaven!
2. Health Plan: Keep running! I need to keep signing up for races or I will find reasons not to run, which is silly because I feel wonderful when I run and grumpy when I don't.  And yes, log my runs so I can add up the miles!  I need to keep eating heathy, too (no candy ~ boo hoo).  I favor the medeteranian diet, but have a challenge getting four children to all eat without grumping.  So my goal is to make two kids happy for every meal.  The other two can go hungry (yeah, right) till the next meal that I plan for them to like!  Which reminds me, I must remember to post the weekly menu on the fridge.. they all do so much better when they know what is coming for dinner!
3. Reading Plan:  I don't really need a plan for reading, I just love it so much!  I do need to blog about books read, though.  I read tons of classics last year (a big thank you to the library for saving me lots of money with that one!) and wish I would have jotted down my favorite parts, overall thoughts on the book and memorable quotes from each.  So I will start now, better late than never, right?
• Love Intentionally.
1. Speak kindly to others and of others.  Enough said.
2. Give more than I get.
3. Call my friends and family instead of waiting for them to call me.  Facebook has been my lazy way of keeping in touch, but a voice over a phone line would be so much better.  Skype!  I should skype! 
4. Pray without ceasing for those I love, and yes, even those I don't. 

Well, that about does it for now.  I can think of fifty more things I should add (crafting, home improvement, service in the community, volunteering at church......), but my final goal is to KISS!  (Keep It Simple, Stupid!) Although the Love Intentionally goal is getting me thinking, Hubby is in the other room, maybe I should just go kiss him instead!  SWAK!

Blogging - My Rules & Regulations

So..... hello to all you bloggers and followers of blogs! Is there a name for ya'll; like maybe blog-sters, blog-spotters or blog-stalkers? I like the last one myself, and am all for reading other people's random thoughts on a regular basis from the comfort of my own home!



I am joining this "blog - thang" a little hesitantly. This is because I am not one prone to addictions of any sort. No smoking, drinking (ok, not to excess - don't get crazy on me), gambling or chocolate benders in my recent past. That was, until Facebook came along. Innocently invited by friends to join, I have learned that I have to limit my time and only check once (ok, maybe twice) a day and not get to interested in people's lives that I haven't actually even seen since my High School Graduation. So here goes, I am now officially listing my own terms of agreement to use this site:



1. Posts will only be made on Sundays, as this is my official "Day of Rest".

Day of Rest from what, you say?

Chores, home improvement, hard labor and any organizing of any kind. Church attendance and taking a nap are the only requirements of the day, and only because these are the things I WANT to do on my day of rest!

Of course, this explicitly excludes:

• the preparation of meals,


• washing of laundry beginning at 6:00p.m. when I realize I have to work the next day and have nothing to wear,


• bathing of dirty babies so I am not embarrassed to send them to school,


• signing of school work to be returned to teachers,


• enforcement of chores to be done by my children,


• referee duties of said children to get the REAL story of who did what to whom.


• tucking in and commencement of The Bedtime Routine.

Whew.... I need a day off! Ok, maybe I can post any day, because my day of rest is officially full!

2. Blogs will only be of something interesting to other people who may read it.

Wait. just. a. minute.

This is my blog. If you don't like it, make a comment! I love feedback, but be prepared to hear about how fabulous my kids are, or how they drive me crazy (all in the same day!). This is a place for random thoughts, yes? Ok. So be it. Randomness to follow, I promise!

3. Blogs will be honest, and reflect who I am right now.

Right. People will be reading this!

As a Wife, Mother, Career Woman, and Co-Manager of the Q-Crew, I will have my moments. Please bear with me. I love my Jesus, Family & Career.... but I am also a little girl at heart with big emotions & in need of some TLC! So, honesty is my policy. Thank God for GRACE and no need for perfection here!

4. No need for rules, since I detailed all the reasons my rules don't apply! Blog is a go!