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Sunday, September 25, 2011

Stockpiles were made for times like these…



Have you ever seen that show Extreme Couponers.  They have stockpiles that are insured for tens of thousands of dollars, that stretch into all rooms of their house, and look like a small convenient store.  Is it really good to have a stockpile like that?

My answer is no.  First of all someone could really use all of that stuff… donate some of it.  Second of all stockpiles were made for times of need.

Until recently I only thought that our time of need would be a financial one… or because we were moving.  But I found another time of need to reach into that stock pile: TIME. 

We all have busy times in our lives.  For students and teachers like Andrew and I the beginning of the school year is that time.  I can barely get enough sleep, exercise or go grocery shopping.  Since school started we started school in August, we have been leaning on that stockpile for toiletries and meals.  We are depleting our stock pile since I don’t have time to shop.  At first it bothered me… but then I realized THAT IS WHAT IT IS THERE FOR!  Why else have a stockpile except to eventually use the stuff in it?

And what if we use something up… that is okay too.  I have realized that with toothpaste.  We just used our last bottle of toothpaste in our stockpile.  I had to buy a bottle of toothpaste, and I have not actually bought a tube of toothpaste in two years.  Did it bother me… a little.  Does buying one tube of toothpaste kill our budget or negate the savings we have made over the past two years… no!

Whether it be a time that we feel financially or time burdened… go ahead and use the stockpile, that is why it is there.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Balancing time...

I may not work during the summer... but I work ALOT during the school year.. enough to make up for the breaks that teachers have.

My thoughts this summer were:
"If I get blogging this summer... I will be able to continue in the school year."
How far from right I was (as usual).  Barely able to keep up with budgeting ways, especially in a time sense.

 Today I have really been reflecting on that.  What does it mean to be a good budgeter of time?
To have every moment planned?  Or be flexible?
To work hard? Or to have plenty of time for leisure?
To give everything you have? Or to leave a little in the tank just in case?
To sleep? To exercise? To get on facebook? To get into The Word? To cook?  To go out?

So where does that leave me now.  I am not exactly sure because I am still reflecting on it as I write.  I guess that for me it is the value in reflecting on how we use our time.

Is what I use my time for valuable and important?  Does it cause growth in my relationship with Christ?  Does it make Christ known around me?  If it is not I must work to adjust that...