The Biggest Blessing

I guess you could say that the biggest blessing in my life currently which has blessed me in years past, but most especially this year has been the concepts I've learned on FLYlady.  Oh!  You don't know about her?  Well let me back up to when I was introduced to her.

With 3 little ones, books, magazines, junk mail, papers, dishes, laundry, cleaning and simply time with my husband was an overwhelming struggle for me.  I'd look at things that needed to be done, start trying to get it done, but quickly became overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of it all.  I'd be full of anxiety and I'd shut down.

I was a part of an email group by the name of "Skinny Moms" when we were talking about organization among one of the many times we talked.  One dear lady mentioned FLYlady and I disregarded her suggestion for a couple months.  I thought to myself, "Just going to a website isn't going to help me."  I continued in the state where things were just overwhelming and tried my best to keep things moving.  I got so overwhelmed and just sat in the middle of the laundry room with piles 3+ feet deep around me, and I cried out to God for help.  After a few minutes of wallowing in self pitty, I got the laundry moving and went to tend to my kids.  I sat down at the computer and my friend who had suggested FLYlady before had sent an email about it (God's timing!).  I finally went to the website and started reading the first page.  My interest was piqued and I kept reading about this timer thing.

Do all that you can in one area in 15 minutes, then move on to the next area.  Do that 

for 3  separate 15 minute intervals, then set the timer one last time for 15 minutes,

 get a drink, put your feet up and relax.  Love yourself enough to bless yourself with

this time.  You've earned it!  Once the timer goes off again, start back at your 

beginning point, then do the rotation again until you've got everything 

done--dishes, cleaning and etc.  

Where to begin, though?  Well, since the kitchen is the heart of the home, she suggested starting by emptying the sink and shining it.  Not just a quick "swish" of everything, but getting the scrubbie, gel bleach scrub and going to town on every nook, crack, and cranny.  She told me/us that we needed to make sure our sinks were shined before going to bed every night.  This is such a simple beginning!  It was so silly and didn't make sense, but I did it anyway.  I did it for 3 days, adding to it each day.

then the towers fell....

Everything stood still.  We were fixated on the news for 2 months, doing just the barest of essentials just in case we heard anything else.

one day in November...

I slowly began shining my sink and doing things 15 minutes at a time.  I knew I needed to gain a semblance of control in our house with 3 young children and a husband to care for.  As the days went by, I was able to branch out because things got a little easier with cleaning and keeping things cared for.  

I started getting my Control Journal together and to this day it has gone through many changes, but the basics remain the same.  I stumbled upon an email in those couple of weeks about a Holiday Planning Journal.  It intrigued me, so I started it.  I planned weeks in advance to buy staples so I could bake cookies with my kids.  I planned for the menus for both Thanksgiving and Christmas, but forgot New Years.  The food was purchased way in advance for everything, except for the fresh veggies I needed that I planned to buy a couple days in advance.  I planned gifts to give to my children and family, started writing out Christmas cards mid-November and I've never looked back.  I've changed how I do things over the years, but essentially things are the same.

I begin planning on October 1st now.  I have a grocery list that I add the non-perishable things to each pay period so I'm not inundated with the massive amount of food to buy.  I pick out recipes and do shopping for those items weeks in advance.  I've also set aside one day each week for baking Christmas cookies.  I have in years past, set aside time each night to fill out 5 Christmas cards each night to make sure I have them done by December 1st.  I haven't done this in the past 5 or so years, though.  We've resorted to getting special cards for parents, uncles/aunts, brothers/sisters, nieces/nephews along with gift cards.

What about my plans for 2015?

I am already looking for patterns that I hope to get to make for everyone for Christmas 2015.  I would like to get started in January purchasing things, then in February and March during my recoup time, knitting on those things.  I have grandiose plans, but honestly, those plans could be changed by life happening. (holding my plans loosely)   Between March and the end of September, I plan to pack up everything to be ready to move.  I've already decluttered some of our books to sell and I'm packing up other books that I'd like to keep.  Amazingly, I have 6 boxes set aside to sell and half a box packed.

Once we're settled, I plan to get my Holiday Planning Journal back out, making adjustments as needed, and making different plans for being with family over the holidays--hosting and visiting.

Life's changes are always coming along, throwing us a curve ball, but the biggest blessing has been the daily routines.  I can always tell what throws my day off when the routines are not followed and it makes everything a chaos.  Then when I step back, look around, and realize I need to shine my sink, grab my timer and go, knowing that just 15 minutes will make a big difference.

On a side note, when my daily Bible reading and prayer time has been neglected, I can tell too.  When chaos reins, important things go by the wayside.

As we are an hour from 2015, I'm ringing in the new year watching Duck Dynasty with my family.  Tomorrow morning we'll get up and sand the plaster filled holes in the kitchen, wipe and reapply as needed.  I hope to be able to paint by Saturday.  Needless to say, we've discovered more that needs filled in and we're just taking care of it.  Once this is all done, we'll move on to the next room.  I'm hoping to have all this needful stuff done by the time my surgery comes along.  I'm hoping....  ;)

Have a lovely New Year!

God Bless,

A Change in Mega Shops

My Mr. G suggested last year that I change my Mega Shop days around.  It took me a while to wrap my brain around how I would change things around, but I've finally reached the change!

Let me back up a little to explain.  For my Mega Shop days, I go to as many stores as I possibly can to get everything that we need for at least 2 weeks.  Sometimes it is a matter of stocking things up for a couple of months, like Dove or Irish Spring soap, but whatever is needed dictates which stores we go to.  Many times that means 5-8 different stores with lots of turning and bending as well as walking on concrete floors.  When I'm working in the kitchen, I stand on a rug, but with shopping there isn't the cushy rug to absorb vibrations that go directly up to my back.  With a ruptured disc, my back has been more sensitive in this way, so perhaps it is time to listen to my hubby and change how I do my Mega Shopping. 

With all the planning that I put in to my Mega Shop days, I need to do some tweeking.  My husband's suggestion was to do a couple stores for the necessary items on my Mega Shop days, so I tried that.  I've found that to work well.  I usually go to a place called Sharp Shopper first.  I get so many things there so very inexpensively.  Their cheeses are the cheapest I've seen and I like their 2# bags of veggies, vs Aldi's 1# bag for a little more money (their prices are going up too).  They also carry bulk baking items, pasta, canned goods, produce, meats, some kitchen items, personal hygeine stuff and paper goods among other sundry items.  I like going to this store mostly because their tortillas are cheapest I've seen, bulk baking items are very good quality, veggies and cheeses.  After I'm done with Sharp Shopper, I head to Aldi's to get whatever I can't get at Sharp Shopper.  Between these 2 stores, we get the bulk of the necessity items in the food department and occationally the personal hygeine area.  I get the rest of our personal hygeine stuff at W*l-M*rt because none of the other stores carry what we use.  WM is a boon to me.  They've removed much of the bulk fabric and only yesterday did I see that they've brought back more sewing stuff like machines and even sergers.  I use to buy almost all of my fabric from there.  Now I'm forced to pay higher prices by going further away to Joann's, plus if I need something "on the spot" I can't really get the best price possible with using coupons and a discount card to my advantage.  Grrrr!

...Anyway...

My Mega Shop days have gone much smoother breaking things apart.  It takes just a little more stocking up.  For example, if there is french fries on the menu on Sunday and the french fries that we like are from WM, we have to make sure to cover those days or come up with an alternative.  I know, very simplistic example, but it is just an example.   lol  I returned home yesterday after going to 2 stores and I wasn't hurting.  I was in a good mood and had time to enjoy my family.  I don't like being in pain, not able to move for hours.  I enjoy being able to move around.  Go figure!  

What a blessing this has been for me.  Usually, regardless of how many stores we go to, WM is the last store.  This particular store is filled with people and their screaming kids by the time I get there.  Whew!   No wonder I'm hurting and in a bad mood when I get done there! 

The Solution:  There are a variety of appointments that occur throughout the week early in the morning which we do purposely so that it doesn't interfere with our family time.  My husband's suggestion was to do the WM stop when we did the appointment or run on another day.  One thing we've noticed about this simple change is this has brought us greater peace.  We like peace.  (Go figure!)  WM isn't crowded in the morning.  Imagine that!  So, we go at a better time, if we can.  :)  Finishing up Mega Shop in the morning is always a good thing.  :) 

Greater peace is always a wonderful thing.  Stress is not a good thing for me.

Sunday Happenings...

This morning started like any morning does...with the alarm going off at 7AM.  I awoke my precious daughter to let the dogs out and the boys to get their days going.  I finished my daily bathroom hygeine, vacated so others could use the bathroom and went downstairs to get some breakfast. 

By 9:00 everyone was ready, except Daddy who just got in to the shower.  We were leaving at 9:45, so he was right on time. 

We had a lovely time visiting a new church, given much to ponder and pray about.  After getting home to down some lunch, Mr. G and I sat at the table having our lunch together and discussing a few things about this morning and some physical issues he had with the pews.  So far, we both liked the church, but would like to visit others in the area to get a better comparison.  Next week, it'll be a different church to visit for 2 Sundays.  :) 

After Mr. G left for work, the children ate what they could quickly and we were off to piano lessons.  They're all progressing quite nicely and doing so very well.  :) 

This afternoon was very strange!  So strange in fact, that we finished our Mega Shopping.  How strange to be doing our Mega Shopping on a Sunday afternoon!  So many times we get it done on Friday mornings and then it is done and we don't have to worry about it.  This time, though, the big Sub was making funny noises on our way to "Harp Hopper" (as JL use to call it), so we went home and didn't finish.  The big Sub is running rough, so Mr. G is going through a list of things it could be, fixing this and that as well as seeking wise counsel from a friend of his or two who use to be mechanics.  Prayers for healing on the big Sub would be appreciated.  I know....it is an inanimate object, but it is an integral part of the running of our home.  ;) 

After reassurance from Mr. G that it won't just quit on me, I confidently completed our Mega Shopping and came home.  What a blessing! 

Now, here I sit with my feet up, fighting going to to sleep because I'm exhausted.  I just finished talking with the dear friend who I'll be co-teaching with tomorrow about teaching the young ladies in the Keepers of the Faith class.  We're teaching the girls how to knit and crochet.  I've sent my daughter up to clean her room.  DA asked to play a computer game.  JL is getting his lunch put together for tomorrow's home school class day.  After they're done, they'll do some tidying up for a guest to come stay the night tomorrow after home school class day. 

I am so very thankful for so many things the Lord has given to me!  I know that some of my bloggie friends are doing a 1000 thankful things.  I'll have to find out more about that, but I guess I'll start now.

#1--Jesus my Lord and Savior
#2--My husband--Mr. G [adding more detail as I go along]
#3--My oldest son DA
#4--My daughter HJ
#5--My youngest son JL
#6-13--All of our sweet bebes in heaven
#14 & 15--Our dogs Biscuit & Rustie who keep us laughing every day
#16--A warm home with a roof over our heads
#17--Clothes and shoes
#18--All the papers that adorn my coffee table that show the learning and growing of my children
#19--Morning snuggles with my beloved
#20--Laundry to do that shows my family is happily busy with life and all it entails.
#21--Laughter and fun thinking of loved ones and how to spoil them for Valentine's day.
#22--Gardening catalogs

And last, but certainly not least...

#23--My beloved's CPAP machine that helps him breathe at night.  Praise God!  [Complete with Darth Vader sound effects!  LOL]

Mega Shop Day Preparation

This is a post that I had already written about my Mega Shop days, so I thought I would post it here today.  The work had already been done, so why redo all of it? 

Mega Shop is a term I picked up from copperswife on her blog. What a wonderful wealth of wisdom she is!

I've always mega shopped, even long before reading it on her blog. The term just clicked and seemed to fit. After years of trying desperately to get organized with my shopping, I've come close to something that makes me feel so very comfortable with my shopping organization now. It is not without other steps, though, so please don't think it does itself. LOL



This is a sample of my shopping list. I'm not sure if you click on it that it will get any bigger than what you see above. I have 4 pages that print out with everything under the sun that we could possibly need in town. My ultimate goal is to not "need" to do any shopping between Mega Shops. I am not one who enjoys going shopping for hours and hours. I never have been. I am one who currently has a plan: Go in, get everything written down on my list and get out as quickly as possible. Now, the things that are needful to me is teaching my children the value of not just thrift, but also health. We spend some time on these things each time we go to the store. We recently found a very nice place to go to get our shredded cheeses at $2.50 cheaper than W*l-M*rt. It turns out to be $2.64/pound instead of $3.89/pound. I also found vegetables, tater tots and french fries cheaper at this particular store than at Aldi's! Since I no longer use a price book, I can easily see simply by knowing what things cost by going through our receipts every 2 weeks. I know that I want to scale back on price without sacrificing taste and quality.

Now, one may laugh at this, but I organize my shopping list in the same format that W*l-M*rt lays out their store. This is so much easier for me! I don't like W*l-M*art, but it is the least expensive place where were we can buy things we absolutely need. I've tried substituting other places for WM, but found that I'm paying more money for it. I don't like that! We are pretty limited here where we live to take advantage of the things that are close to us or pay lots of money driving to places where we can find it elsewhere. I rather enjoy the time I'm able to spend with my family, so I try to organize my trips all in one day.



There are a few more steps in preparation before walking out the door that are needful. One is to make a menu plan. I plan for everything from my husband's days off to company, lighter meals for when we have heavy errand days, convenient meals for when I know we'll be exhausted, picnics, pot lucks, family gatherings, snacks and anything else that comes our way.



The point for planning all of these meals is not to overwhelm oneself. It is simply to make sure that you have everything you need at a moment's notice just in case you need to make adjustments, or you forget to take out pork chops to defrost. You can easily flip another meal from the menu and make it instead remembering to take the pork chops out for tomorrow's dinner. Things happen and we have choices of how to act or react to certain situations. I was getting very tired of my own reactions being one of stress and angry at myself for not preparing ahead of time. I had made this a matter of prayer for a long time and the system I'm presenting to you now is the product of lots of prayer, putting it all to practice and planning.

Another reason I do all of this is to simply be a blessing to my husband. He works so very hard at work, going through such overwhelming stresses every day along with paperwork out the wazoo that he just does not feel like dealing with more papers and planning when he gets home. I "wised up" to that and just organized my own system while he was at work and you are beginning to see the fruits of that work. :)

As you can see, Mega Shop day for us is like the big performance that one must get prepared to perform long in advance to make sure it progresses smoothly.

I've found that taking a large cooler for all the meats and dairy is a must. I have one child in charge of getting the cooler wiped out and put in the back of the vehicle. I have another child making our sandwiches to put in to a lunch bag. I have another child gathering spoons and napkins as well as filling water bottles. All this while I dry my hair and review the shopping list for the 100th time, then present it to my hubby to review and see if I'm forgetting something because invariably, I do. LOL

We usually head to the bank first and get our banking done. Since starting the Dave Ramsey program in 2009, we've done things quite a bit differently. Lots of planning, discussing and calculators are included! :) Speaking of planning, my husband and I were discussing knowing exactly how much we spend in each grocery category. Up until the end of 2010, neither of us knew exact amounts. With the aid of Quicken, we've been able to more accurately pinpoint expenses in each category. What a blessing! We know where we have room to nip and tuck! A representation of the categories are below~



When I go shopping at Aldi's, this is pretty close to what the category split is. When I made these categories for Quicken, I just used my Predictable Shopping List as a guide. This helps me to be able to show my beloved how much we're spending in each area. Why be so detail oriented about this?

Pro 31:11-12 "The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. (12) She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life."

Pro 31:14 "She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar."

Upon returning home, everyone helps to get everything put away, before we relax. The point is "all hands on deck" and everything gets done much faster! We have trained the children to put things away properly in the freezers and in the pantry in the basement. We've repeated the lessons with them on numerous occations, taking the opportunity to retrain when necessary. While things are not "perfect", they are relatively neat. Yes there are times when we have gone to quite a few places and we're all pretty exhausted. Those are times when we just put the perishables away, grab something to eat and just put a movie in to relax. We are so very glad to be home and amongst the peacefulness of our home that it is just a relief to be away from all the rush of the stores. Many times my children remark about how other children behave so badly or they're just crying and whining in the stores so much it seems. It just happens that they may be on the same track that we are on and their shopping takes them in to our viscinity all through the store. This is stressful to all of us, but so very needful for my children to hear to help reinforce the verse,

Pro 19:18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.

The teachable moments are many, but the sheer stress from days like this really gets to their spirits. There is greater peace when we get in to the vehicle, talk a bit about the occurances of the day and put on some praise music to sooth our spirits and give us more peace until we get home. These instances, usually, we just put away the necessary items and then go rest and regain our sense of peace. This is a necessary thing, in my opinion, for the greater peace of our entire home. Other times when it is needful to just put away the necessary things is just simply because we're not feeling the greatest. This is when we need to grant ourselves grace and mercy due to our own physical needs. The canned goods will keep and so will the pasta. It wouldn't hurt to put them away the next day.

Dinner on Mega Shop night is usually boxed pizza, canned soup, egg rolls or something similar that doesn't take very long to make. Even through all the preparations and shopping, it is truly exhausting WORK. My husband has asked me in the past why I don't split up the work in to a couple different days. I just tell him that I would much rather do all this work all in one day so it is behind me and I can spend time with my family. Time is such a precious commodity that once it is spent, you can never get it back again. We have such a very short time in the grand scheme of life with our children while they are growing up and I would like to spend as much of my time loving, growing deeper as a result of having them in my life, and being richer by having the priviledge of knowing such wonderful people God is growing them to be. I guess you could say that this is the biggest reason I do all the preparations and work for Mega Shop day~so I can be blessed by my family on all the other 13 days in peace at home, at work, at play, or running around town. It helps me to know that I don't have to worry about feeding my family because that's already been thought of, prepared for and that it takes very little time to get ready with a little preparation.



Blessings,