Back to work...

Where did the summer go? I look back on the summer and the beginning feels like a hazy blur that happened years ago... but I still feel like there is no way this summer should be over.  Two weeks from now I will be getting ready to start my second day of school! Yesterday I went back to my classroom, which was completely in boxes to prepare.

A lot of it is still in boxes... so I am trying not to get overwhelmed.  You see, there is a funny pressure this year, that I like to call pintrest pressure.  

This picture is my pinrest pressure... I want my class to be as cute as this pic from the two sisters blog. I mean for me as a teacher, I see so many cute pictures on pintrest and think two things: 1. When do the teachers have time to be that cute? 2.  When do teachers have time in class to do such fun things? As a teacher these days, I feel like I work at a break-necking pace... there is no extra time.  I don't remember school being like that when I was a kid, but it is the system we have to work with now.   I think the key is that I have to let go of the whole appearances thing.  In whatever I do we want to look like we have it together.  I want to look like the best.  I want the cutest most organized class in the school.  I forget what is more important than appearances.  It is more important that I show these kiddos love and teach them.  So that is my prayer today... that while I need to get things done, I will focus on the important impact of my job:)! Linking up with Bits of Splendor :) <

Money Day...

One thing that Andrew and I try to do once or twice a year is what I call a money day.  For us this is just a day where we just think about the resources that we have, and what we should be doing with them.  This is the schedule we use...

1. Prayer and Scripture- We always start the day here.  We want this to be something that is glorifying to God.  We want to be good stewards of what he has given us... not focus on accumulating as much money as possible.
2. Short Term and Long Term Goals- Since we have done this periodically before, we look back at what we have done before, see how we are doing, and revise.  We also spend some time praying over these goals as well.
3. Find Better Deals-  We look through all of our bills and see if there is anything we are not using or don't need to cut.  Some good things to look through are your cable bill, cell phone bill, bank account, and your insurance provider (can you get a better deal somewhere else with similar coverage?) 
4. Get Creative- Are there any other ideas that could save us some money?  What are some things we can do around the house to save money?  How can I drive less?  Things like that.
5.  Revamp Budget-  We look over and edit our budget each month.  It does not take long, but each month has different needs, so we change our budget based on that.  During this time we just look over and adjust the basics of our budget worksheet to reflect any changes we have made throughout the day.
6. Go Back to Financial Goals- Revise and talk about how to keep up with them.
7. Prayer and Scripture- Start our time here, and end it here :).

This is just the basics... and we and no way claim to be experts.  Has anyone else tried something like this?  Any suggestions for additions to our schedule???

Quick to hear...

I laugh when I look at this picture. The words "I need this" are actually years old.  I laugh because God taught me this before, he is teaching it to me know, and he will probably teach it to me again.  I am a slow learner... huh?

This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger

James 1:19 NASB

You see, for me it all to often goes more like this: Quick to anger, quick to speak, and slow to hear.   This comes from my selfishness.  For instance when I think about anger and speaking, both of those things are focused on myself, while listening or hearing is focused on other.  It makes me wonder, Am I really that focused on myself?  And this is the human condition, the flesh, what we as human beings fight every single day.

So I am trying now to give this up to God.  He reminds me that everyone does not need to hear my opinions and emotions all the time, especially if I have not heard theirs.

It reminds me of how I need to be with my husband.

And hugely reminds me of how I should be with my kiddos at school.  Three weeks from yesterday, they will wonder in my room.  And if you have ever thought you had this verse together, you probably have not taught a class of third graders... trust me I have been broken and surprised at myself (not in a good way).  But I am reminded now of how much taking this verse to heart will show my kiddos Christ.  

So I focus now... I pray this verse

quick to hear

slow to speak

slow to anger

Updated Bucket List 7.22.12

Here is what we have been up to the past week!

My bucket list progress...

• I was blogging this week... here is what God is teaching me, my organized "office," and a giveaway I won!

• There was CRAZY rain in New Orleans this week... I had to wear the rain boots everywhere.  I took a picture of the flooding waters eating another car... I know it is not very good, but you get the picture.

• A friend of ours celebrated his 30th birthday.  We ate dinner together and saw that new Batman movie.  I hate to say it but for the life of me I still can't remember the name... that might be because I slept through the movie. Late night movies are no good for me.  Here are the ladies and I holding are place to get good seats!

• Also two new placed opened in Metairie this week.  So excited!

Things I would like to read progress...

• Coraline by Neil Gaiman- Ever since I saw the movie I wanted I wondered if it was just Tim Burton's odd take on the book... but I realized the book is just as odd.  I mean... just check out the cover.  Don't get me wrong I really enjoyed it... but it is definitely different. I actually listened to it on CD as I drove around... I don't think that is cheating:).
• The Book Theif by Markus Zusak - Just started listening to this on CD... 13 CDs... it might take a while!
• Divergent   by Veronica Roth- This is the perfect book for anyone who loved the Hunger Games, but already read the whole series.  Same post apocalyptic idea.  
• Insurgent by Veronica Roth- Started reading this the same day I finished Divergent:).

My Summer Bucket List...

• blog twice a week- in progress
• deep clean house- in progress
• learn to sew-  in progress
• take more pictures again-  in progress
• research next car purchases (we are not ready to buy, just so we are ready when my car stops working)
• money day with Andrew (where we just talk through our finances and review our goals)
• go to the pool often
• go to the beach
• see my grandparents in Annapolis
• see my grandparents in Ohio
• have a cookout
• watch Downton Abbey on Netflix

Things I would like to read...

• Millionaire Teacher by Andrew Hallam
• Coraline by Neil Gaiman
• The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks
• The Vow by Kim Carpenter
• Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas
• The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer-  in progress
• The Book Theif by Markus Zusak- in progress
• Crazy Love by Francis Chan
• Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey- in progress
• The Christian Atheist by Craig Groeschel
• The Little Book of Common Sense Investing by John Bogle- in progress 
• Divergent  
• Insurgent by Veronica Roth- in progress
• Choose Joy by Kay Warren
• The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

I am possibly reading to many books at once....

Have you crossed anything off your list???

A friend loves...

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Proverbs 17:17 

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

Proverbs 27:17

Last weekend I was BLESSED to get to spend the weekend with two friends from high school.  We just decided that it was high time we get together, catch up, and chill at the lake.  These times are few and far between for us.

During our time together I realized how BLESSED I am to have friends like these.  Friends that share in joys and fears.  Friends that are fun and are serious.  Friends that in encourage me in my relationship with Christ.  Friends are a BLESSING (I know, I am being repetitive).

Treasure the friends you have.  

Connect to old friends.  

Invest in new friends.

What is God teaching you???

New blog design!!!

This summer I have been researching getting a new design for my blog.  Well, really my first thought was I was going to do it myself... but after a little research I realized I nowhere near had the knowledge to pull it off.  Learning how to do that might be an adventure I tackle in the future... but not today :).
So I searched the internet and some other blogs that I read... and I discovered kinch designs .  I liked her designs so I emailed her on MONDAY.... and it is THURSDAY and my design is already done!  I could not believe how quick she worked to meet my needs.  There might be a few links/kinks/pages I am working out here and there... so be patient with me.  
All that being said I hope you enjoy the new design... I know I am! :)

Organizing our "office"...

Okay... so we don't really have an office so we have had to improvise with this little shelf behind our couch.  It is slightly visible in our "great room" so we really should keep it clean and organized.  Here is the problem: get a piece of paperwork we say, "oh, we will file it later."  One piece of paperwork turns into a pile and kaboom... our before picture.

First I just sifted through it... and used my typical piles
trash
goes here
goes somewhere else.

Then I thought it might work to create a file that just simply says "to be filed" that is easily assessable.  So even if I don't file right away... everything should have its place!

So glad this is organized... it makes me feel like I can start the school year... kind of :)

What have you been organizing???

Updated Bucket List 7.15.12

Here is what we have been up to the past week!

My bucket list progress...

• I was blogging this week... here is what God is teaching me.

• I also blogged about our deep cleaning journey... this week was our living room storage.

• Won my first blog giveaway! A sweet friend Charlotte on her wonderful blog Yellow Brick Life, picked me to win this cute flower.  The flower is from the Silly Happy Sweet Shop.  I always tell my husband I don't need expensive jewelry as gifts... just fun and cute... and under $30.  That is the epitome of this shop!

• My dad and the girls came in this weekend to visit!  We fully took advantage of this by visiting all of the places we have wanted to go... but are actually best for kids.  We went to the zoo, the aquarium, the insectarium, and saw an imax on coral reefs.

Things I would like to read progress...

or lack there of this week.  I am full of excuses this week, we were sick, we had visitors, and our dog ate my books (one of those is not true... I will let you figure out which! :))

• The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer- in progress

• Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abby- in progress

My Summer Bucket List...

• blog twice a week- in progress
• deep clean house- in progress
• learn to sew-  in progress
• take more pictures again-  in progress
• research next car purchases (we are not ready to buy, just so we are ready when my car stops working)
• money day with Andrew (where we just talk through our finances and review our goals)
• go to the pool often
• go to the beach
• see my grandparents in Annapolis
• see my grandparents in Ohio
• have a cookout
• watch Downton Abbey on Netflix

Things I would like to read...

• Millionaire Teacher by Andrew Hallam
• Coraline by Neil Gaiman
• The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks
• The Vow by Kim Carpenter
• Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas
• The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer-  in progress
• The Book Theif by Markus Zusak- on hold at the library
• Crazy Love by Francis Chan
• Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey- in progress
• The Christian Atheist by Craig Groeschel
• The Little Book of Common Sense Investing by John Bogle
• Divergent and Insurgent by Veronica Roth- on hold at the library
• Choose Joy by Kay Warren
• The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

What have you crossed of your list???