Today, Yesterday, Tomorrow

Today......... I relaxed with the family at home. Thursdays is the only day of the week where Andy hasn't worked the night before and nobody has to be anywhere. Lily doesn't have school, there is no gymnastics, I don't usually go grocery shopping  on that day, Henry's schedule is wide open as usual.

We cuddled on the couch, watched cartoons and The Price is Right. I sat on Andy's lap to cuddle with him, Lily was on top of us in less than 30 seconds. Henry was not far behind.

We were a human pretzel.

It was awesome.

Then Henry poked me in the eye. I mean, really poked me! He thought it was hysterical.

It kinda was.

Yesterday.......... I went to Target and didn't buy a single thing from the dollar bins. Not a thing!

If you remember my last post, my New Year's Resolution is to Find My Happy Place, to declutter my life of the "stuff" that's not needed, (That starts with my spending habits.) to Simplify.

I was going to skip the dollar bins altogether, really I was. They sucked me in, though. I just couldn't resist.

Old habits are hard to break.

With each little do-dad that caught my eye I asked myself, "Do I really need that? Will I use this today? Or will it get stuck on a shelf or in a drawer somewhere? Will it make me happy, will I use it? Or will it just frustrate me later because it's become clutter?"

I'm happy to say I left with an empty basket.

I then proceeded to fill it with other things. I did stick very, very close to my list, though. Yay, me! Hopefully this is the first of many frugal shopping trips.

Tomorrow........... Is supposed to be cold. Tonight it's supposed to drop below freezing. Yikes! Tomorrow morning is going to be in the 20's. Double Yikes!! Where am I anyway, Nebraska? I'll be sure to get the gloves and scarves out tomorrow.

Psalm 118:24

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Simplify- Saying No To The Dollar Bins

First off, the New Year is in full swing and I feel very lazy (as I write this in my flannel pj's at noon).  I just haven't had that get up an go gumption I usually have at the beginning of a new year. Perhaps it's because we are still on Christmas break and the normal routine hasn't started up yet. Despite the fact that our Christmas tree is still up, decorations adorn the house and the Christmas cards are still on the kitchen door (How long do people keep those up for anyway?), I've really been pondering my New Year's Resolution to Find My Happy Place.

I'm 3 days in to the new year and this resolution has already proven to be perhaps the hardest resolution I've made. Yet, I am determined!

Many thoughts have been swimming around in my brain; but two keep floating to the surface......Simplify and Saturate. Saturate will take some explanation at a later date. Simplify is kind of self explanatory. My life is filled, as is probably true for many of us, with too many things that I don't need.  Stuff. Junk. But I think simplifying, for me, goes so beyond the physical stuff. Without realizing it other areas of my life have been filled up with "junk", not leaving room for the things or people that should be filling it.

To name a few:

Worries and Unfounded Fear
Unhealthy relationships
Depending on things/other people for comfort instead of God

How can I truly enjoy the life God has given me with all of this "junk" getting in the way?!? Now this is not to say I never enjoy my life.  I have a loving family, I live in a beautiful place, I have sweet friends, an awesome church family, and I'm healthy. My life is filled with laughter and funny moments. I just know there are far too many moments wasted on "junk". I know it doesn't need to be this way.

Going back to the "physical stuff" that is junking up my life...........a harsh and convicting truth was slammed in my face last night as Andy and I did our yearly "revisit the budget" ritual. This year was really no shocker. We hadn't done a super job of following a budget or saying no to things. What made me sad was admitting that we could have been better stewards of our money.

There are two obstacles in our way to becoming better stewards: 

Obstacle #1  I can't just go back to work and make more money. I have an 18 month old and a husband with very odd working hours. I don't have a close family member/friend that is able to or I feel comfortable with that can watch Henry on a regular basis. The money I would pay for childcare on top of paying for my 5 year old's school just cancel out any money I would make.

Obstacle #2  And this made me cringe..........I have to stop spending money!!! I have to do without. I have to say no. I have to give up things. I know, Poor Jen! Boo hoo for me. Cry me a river!

So after a day of moping, yes, a whole day, and thinking of all the things I couldn't do or have, I gave myself a kick in the keester. I told myself to buck up and quit being a baby. It's worked.....for now. Crying and fretting about it doesn't solve a single thing.

Good news is, we aren't destitute. We talked about ways to cut back and we have a plan. If we stick to the plan, learn to do with what we have, make some sacrifices and ask God for wisdom, we can do it.

I don't at all think the road to simplifying our budget and spending habits will always be easy. In fact, many times I'm sure it will be very hard. It will probably make for some interesting blogging and I'm trusting that God will provide in miraculous ways.

The first step we made to budgeting bliss was really utilizing a tool we already have. Mint.com  The key is, we need to keep up with it on a regular basis and I can't let my fear of technology keep me from using it. Andy can't be the only one keeping an eye on the budget. It's time for me to roll up my sleeves and participate. We need to be a team.

Of course, today I saw a post on facebook by Dave Ramsey, budgeting guru, that gave me that little nudge I needed for today. He said, "Until you accept that STUFF does not equal CONTENTMENT, your finances will always feel stressed." His daily tip was, "The most important financial principle is contentment. It brings peace not apathy."

Does this mean I have to skip the dollar bins at Target when I go shopping?

I'm afraid so, at least for awhile. This is hard core, baby! I'm sure I can do without the tiny dog bone cookie cutters (I bought one not too long ago.) and colorful bins.

Time to take off the pj's and maybe get something done. Or maybe just read a book. Vacation's not over yet!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!! 2013 is here and I'm so excited. The last 3 years of our lives here in Bauerland have been amazing, crazy, eventful, fun, overwhelming, surprising, scary, at times heartwrenching, hard, and so beautiful. I've come to realize that life will never go back to being the somewhat calm life we had before. With an almost 5 year old, a 18 month old and the adventures God has in store for us, this crazy, wonderful life IS our normal. 

2012 proved to be a bit more calm than the previous 2 years. A change we welcomed with open arms. Having baby number #2 turn into a very mobile little guy, moving to a new house and truly transitioning into being a SAHM still made it a busy and memorable year. God has been working on my heart in many ways and teaching me a lot about myself. At times this year was challenging; but the wonderful moments outweighed the hard ones by far!

In my determination to embrace my new phase of life, getting older and having little kids running around the house, I'm going to start my New Year off a little differently. 

I love to write New Year's Resolutions!! Love, love to. 
Lose 15 pounds.
Read 1 book a month.
Exercise 4 times a week.
Scrapbook Lily's first 5 years.
Do this. Do that. You get the picture.

All these things that I think will make my life better (and some of them would) are things I have never done!!!!! I absolutely love to write the lists, but rarely follow through. So I'm throwing the list out. I'm crumpling it up and scoring two points in the trash can. This year my New Year's Resolution is simply this...................................

Find My Happy Place

There will be some list making I'm sure. It's what I'm putting on those lists that will change.

What is truly going to make me and my family happy? And by happy, I mean content. It may not be what I've thought in the past. And I'm okay with that. I want to find out what it will take to get to that place of contentment I know the Lord desires for me. That I desire for me.

I've been thinking and praying a lot about this idea of contentment lately and I'm planning on lots of blog posts in the future on this very subject.

Though, I'm very excited to start the New Year, I'm equally excited to reflect on the past year and all the wonderful, silly, special, and happy moments God gave to our family. Thank you, 2012, for the  great year. I can't wait to see what 2013 has in store!

What I'm Loving Wednesday

With everything that's happened lately in our country, I've really been thinking of what God's given me, what I have to be thankful for, and what I cherish most.

What's more perfect to post than a What I'm Loving Wednesday post? I've been reading Jamie's blog for awhile; but this is the first time I've linked up with her.

I am absolutely loving some of our Christmas holiday traditions this week like...........

Looking at Christmas lights with the family earlier this week.

Watching a Christmas movie at our house with friends. This year it was Holiday Inn. My friend, Christine, and I actually stayed awake through the WHOLE movie. Which is a feat in itself.

This is new. I made some really easy and yummy appetizers, thanks to the Pioneer Woman. Club crackers topped with either brown sugar or parmesan cheese, wrapped in bacon. Yes.............bacon.................

 

All the lights off in the house except for our Christmas tree. Beautiful.

Reading Christmas stories to Lily.

Watching White Christmas tonight with the hubs after the kids go to sleep. My favorite holiday movie.

That's what I'm loving on this crisp, cold December afternoon.

Oh What A Night!

Chili and Corn Pudding

Bundling up and looking at Christmas lights around town

Dancing with Andy and the kids to Christmas music

Making a gingerbread house and frosting cookies

Making memories with my family

What a night!

What I'm Loving Wednesday

This is what I'm loving on this rainy Wednesday.........

I'm loving that my sister is here from Colorado and that today we are just hanging out, sista style.

I'm loving Sift Bakery and a little girl's time I had with my mom, sister and, of course, my sweet Lil.

The Limonatta is my absolute favorite. I love any and all things lemon. This, my dear, rocks the house. Each bite is Heaven.

I'm loving that I was able to have lunch with friends today. My friend, Steph, is visiting from Wichita and she introduced me to Chloe's Cafe. The Curry Chicken Sandwich is Yummy. Definitely worth a second visit.

I'm loving this verse.....

       Above all else, guard your Heart, for everything you do flows from it.           
                                                Proverbs 4:23

Happy Wednesday, everyone.

Advent Calendar

Happy December! This post is mainly about how we are doing our advent calendar this year; but I have a couple of random thoughts to blog out first.

Thought #1: We are sick again! ARGHH!!!! We began having the flu 2 days before Thanksgiving and just as that cycled through the fam, I caught a really bad respiratory cough/cold/sore throat combo. It was nasty and today is the first day I actually feel good again. PTL! (Thank you cough medicine with codeine.)  But now Andy has the cold and Henry has pink eye. Another Sunday at home.

I had been very blue because I had been feeling so crummy and stuck in the house with the kids for soooo many days. I am determined to not be bummed out!! I may continue to be stuck in indoors and this may just be our year to be sick. So I must find joy in my circumstances, right?

Thought #2: My sweet MIL took Lily to church this morning. Amazingly, Henry slept in just enough to let me sit quietly in my rocking chair, gaze at my twinkling Christmas tree, listen to the rain and have a little bit of quiet time with God. That's a good way to start my day.

Now on to our advent calendar. Last year was the first year we attempted to do an advent calendar. We never actually completed all the days. This year I found a website with all the verses ready for me to print and cut. I went to Target and purchased some small items to put inside each little door. I really wanted to get away with putting in a piece of candy like we did last year. The girl has so much as it is! So I picked out about 4 pieces of candy from her Halloween stash to use. The rest of the items are sugarless gum or non edible items. I didn't just want to give her more junk, though. I also didn't want the tiny "gift" to be the focus of each day. So, with my sister's help, I think we came up with some cute ideas.

She loved the sticker earrings that she got on day one.

    I got googly - eyed snowman stickers, earring stickers and glittery ornaments.

Her eyes lit up today, day two, when she saws the glittery ornament. We are decorating a small tree with those throughout the month. 

Looking forward to 23 more days of our Advent calendar.