Day 22 and 23—Developing a Workable Schedule and Dealing with Distractions

Well as a result of yesterday, I have found my schedule that I THOUGHT worked is, in fact, not realistic or workable at all! Haha—especially in this time of preparing for my husband’s upcoming deployment (6 days!!)…

I really let my building and home project frustrations stream out as I attempted get my ‘little idol’ (aka: schedule) completed yesterday. Andrew (who was trying to help me—I am not the best team player when it comes to projects) caught it as I was blubbering about my so-called priorities (relating to this study) and looking at my pitiful project I just royally screwed up on. He asked, “What are your priorities?” That question really hit harder than I thought as it haunted me throughout the evening. My convictions set in and I realized I was not giving my priorities proper ranking.

Thus, it is time to step back, reevaluate and develop a WORKABLE schedule that deals with distractions. Here are some suggestions that might help you that have helped me:


1. Sarah suggests we go back to that list of priorities we made at the very beginning of our study. Review it. Is there something from your time log you can see is distracting you from getting proper things done or paying attention to your husband or children? Is it the computer? Is it a project you just HAVE to get done in a certain time frame you have set for yourself (like me)? Set a time limit on it or schedule a special time for it.


2. Make sure you schedule a time for your hobbies. Yes, like we talked about above, it needs a time schedule too since we are running on a time budget of sorts. If you don’t, you might end up wasting that time or losing it all together.


3. Do what comes naturally. You have been given a different personality style and you need to do what works for you to accomplish these things. Look at your schedule too and log in consistent things (like lunches, activities and dinners). That will help you plan your day accordingly.


4. Write it down then stick it somewhere you will see it throughout the day. It’s like a little time accountability partner!! But it can and will change—so be flexible and DON’T make it an idol!!

5. Lastly, look at what is distracting you. What’s distracting you from God or your housework or doing good to your husband/family? Sarah uses the example of Dave Ramsey’s “gazelle and CHEETAH” exercise. He uses that to exemplify the fleeing we should do with financial distractions (like credit cards) so we don’t leave our goals ‘to collect dust on the bookshelf of good intentions’ (Sarah). If the distraction is something other than husband or children or other higher priority, you must yell ‘CHEETAH!’ and flee!

“Give no sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids. Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, and like a bird from the hand of the fowler.”—Proverbs 6:4-5

I hope this helps you just as much as I hope and pray it helps me. Thanks for your persistence in following this devotional. Remember, don't give up but try and try again!

Day 20 and 21: Time and The Importance of a Plan

Good morning world!

 (Ok, well it may not be good morning to everyone, but its morning here)

It’s Tuesday and time to get at time to get to our devotionals.


And I have changed our objectives a bit. Instead of cramming four devotionals in one, we are going to just double time until we are caught up—I want this to be applicable and not just an informative overload (see I am planning!). Thus, today’s objectives: Day 20-21.

Day 20 and 21: Time and the Importance of a plan.

Yes, we all feel as if we don’t have enough time in the day. I find myself saying it out loud all the time! But has is ever occurred to you that the reason you might feel you don’t have enough time in the day is that you may not plan your time wisely?

“So teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”—Psalm 90:12

I will be honest: until two weeks ago, I really never realized the importance of giving my day a realistic game plan. Not planning things well and putting a realistic spin in how I would go about accomplishing my goals, I would get to the end of the day and think ‘Where did my day go?’.

‘Those who make the worst of their time most complain about its shortness.”—La Bruyere

We are commanded to use it wisely (yes, using our time wisely is a command: Ephesians 5:15-15). God did not make a mistake when he created time.



“God has given you… sufficient time in each day for you to fulfill His perfect plan-including the interruptions.”—Chuck Swindoll

He did indeed create enough time for you and I to do what we have been called to here on the earth, even with the interruptions. It’s all about managing it well.



“Like a budget for money you need a budget for time.”—George MacDonald

That brings us to Day 21—the importance of a plan.

“6 Go to the ant, O sluggard;

consider her ways, and be wise.

7Without having any chief,

officer, or ruler,

8she prepares her bread in summer

and gathers her food in harvest.” --Proverbs 6:6-8

Ants are great at planning ahead! I struggle to plan for the future, but am very good to plan for the next day. Even though we need to start here, looking at the bigger picture really makes a difference as well. Designed with endurance equals a greater chance of long term success.


“Living wisely considers the unforeseen obstacles and prepares for them in advance.”—Darlene Schacht.

So let’s look back at these two chapters for application:

1. Appraise your time: If you don’t manage your time well, try doing an exercise of writing out all the hours of your day and keeping a log of what you actually do then. Be specific! Once you figure out what your day actually goes to, you can pull the weeds of wastefulness out of it and work towards being more productive, planning a wiser time schedule.

2. Envision the goal: For example, if you want to have a ‘Martha house’ by the end of the month, you will need to determine what that finished work will look like.

3. Formulate a plan: This will allow you to break one big task into smaller ones, while at the same time, keeping you on schedule. It will also help you to determine the cost of the task before you commit.



4. Do the necessary work: The important things in life (like family and faith) deserve our attention. Make sure your goals don’t cause you to neglect the eternal souls in your care.

Well, as the picture shows, I am formulating today's plan and giving it a whirl ;) My prayers go out to you who are also trying to follow the will of God and make the best use of your time. Blessings!!



Alaskan fun and Day 16-19

Happy Monday!

I am hoping you had a wonderful weekend like us—though I pray yours was not as chaotic!!



I shouldn’t use words that relate to negativity when we really did have a wonderful weekend. We really did have a great time—it was just slightly too packed together for my liking. If any of you know me, I like busyness. But too much craziness without a small break to myself to process life, no alone time and spending little time communing with the Lord really wore me down.


We had good reason for going about our weekend the way we did: we both will be gone for the summer, missing out on all Alaska has to offer. Thus, we are squeezing it in now!


Alas, it is now Monday. And though I really haven’t slowed down much, I just feel a little more refreshed by taking my time to get out of bed, do some small things for my husband and get some time to catch up blogging :)


Thus, let me begin with my objectives for this blog:


1. Catching up on Days 16-19 (next blog, I will catch up us up to the day we should be on!)2. Recapping our first all-outdoor weekend in Alaska
 So let’s begin!


Day 16—Willing Hands


We are being brought back to Proverbs 31 again:


“She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.” (13)


If you were to evaluate your heart today, would you see a ‘willingness’ attribute hidden within? The proverbs remind us that we need willingness to see things be accomplished in our lives. Not perfect accomplishments, but merely accomplishments done to the best of our abilities. This encourages me to spur you to practice self-discipline.


”27But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”---1 Corinthians 9:27


We should discipline our bodies so our messages about Christ are effectively relayed and our lives line up with our words (our preaching). If we practice this kind of willing discipline, then we can endure the race that we run! (Hebrews 12:1)


Speaking of self-discipline, that brings us to Day 17 and 18 where we practice our cleaning styles in the manner that works for our personalities.


According to Psalm 139 (one of my favorite psalms), we are reminded by the Lord that we were all formed uniquely and with much love:


“ 1O LORD, you have searched me and known me! 3You search out my path and my lying down


and are acquainted with all my ways. 13For you formed my inward parts;


you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.”


Isn’t it encouraging knowing that you have a personality unlike everyone else’s?? In that perspective, look at that with much awe and reverence, not comparing or envying. This can distract us from our goals to glorify Him in the way we function.


Sarah Mae then helps us evaluate which personality type we are from the following and how to find appropriate motivation to meet our goals:


• ‘D’ Style: You are result oriented and like the bottom line, the fastest way to get things done and thrive on challenges. You are a great motivator. Your motivation? To be challenged. Make a goal for yourself and form a challenge to accomplish it.


• ‘I’ Style: Do anything but clean! You are super fun and people oriented. Your motivation? Positive feedback and fun. Try rewarding yourself after meeting tangible goals. Have some fun with cleaning (play music and dance) and set a time to have guests over so you have motivation to clean your house for their arrival!


• ‘S’ Style: You are friendly and soft; extremely loyal and supportive; you need security and stability; someone’s guidance comforts you. Your motivation: affirmation. Ask your friends/husband for affirmation in your job so you can continue to be effective in your work. Affirm yourself too! It’s good to do this by remembering the promises of God and seeing how they are being carried out in your life. If you need further motivation, tyr a program to guide you (like Flylady!)


• ‘C’ Style: super detail oriented, loving structure and quality. You are a natural organizer, though this can lead to criticism and perfectionism. You seek facts and want the most systematic way to get things done. Your motivation? Structure. Set some realistic expectations, shoot for excellence in all you do (but not absolute perfectionism) and be satisfied in the end product.


Try out some styles and motivators if you are not exactly sure with which catefory you fall into! It’s worth the effort.


Day 19 is about finding our joy in a self-disciplined life. How do you do that? By seeing the accomplishments of living a self-disciplined/self-controlled life. It results in peace instead of chaos.


Here are six tips you can take with you for leading a self-disciplined life:


1. Commitment—submission to the Spirit is one way of opening yourself up this practice. It is a fruit of the Spirit that God is willing to give us if we loosen up our control and commit ourselves to God’s molding and changing us.


2. Set up and complete goals-- start small and realistic so you can see your goals be accomplished, thus spurring you on to endure in this practice. Take one step at a time and tons of grace!


3. Do what you say you will do—integrity and trustworthiness forms the foundations to your walk in self-discipline.


4. Learn to say no—if it interferes with your main priorities, it will end up just stressing you out unnecessarily. Pray about the opportunities that come your way. Sometimes they can be said yes to, but if you know you can’t manage, you should practice saying no gracefully. You will find you have more free time to manage your priorities more effectively!


5.  Learn to say no—if it interferes with your main priorities, it will end up just stressing you out unnecessarily. Pray about the opportunities that come your way. Sometimes they can be said yes to, but if you know you can’t manage, you should practice saying no gracefully. You will find you have more free time to manage your priorities more effectively!
 


5. Practice—Yes, you have heard it many times: practice makes perfect! And it takes hard work. So learn to endure with your goals by starting small and pressing on, one day at a time.


6. And DON’T GIVE UP!


“ 9Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."—Joshua 1:9


For this is our goal:


“22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”—Galations 5:22-23


I hope these encourage you to keep pressing on to form these practices in your life! There is fruit in the end if you trust and endure.


Now on to the weekend!

On Friday night, we went on a picnic with friends to Eklutna Lake. We took two other couples (the Hasslers and the Adams) and our two crazy dogs: Eli and Hank! Here are some amazing pictures Andrew took of them playing in the freezing cold water!

Bye Eklutna Lake!!

On Saturday, we went fishing at Montana Lake with the Hasselers and the Whites. I tried to take some pictures of the guys fishing, but they were too far away-- I did get a cute picture of Lacy and Annelyse playing!

Me, Cynthia and Lacy!

(That white hate really makes me look like I have a GIANT head! haha!)

We can say that Lacy caught the only fish that day-- and it happened to be a big black furry one! Poor Hank!

On Sunday, we drove with a group to Whittier and went sea kayaking. TONS of fun!

Here is on our drive to Whittier:

Glacier: 

The tunnel we went through is 2.5 miles-- its really crazy! 

Here is the island we had lunch at:

Matt and Lindsey:

Oh! And Lindsey and I saw a moose in the neighborhood after we left Bible Study! Super cool!!

And yes, little Taylor Rose turned two and had a great time at her bouncy birthday party!

Well, that is all I have today. Time to attack the day and stay disciplined by God's grace!

More furniture building to come ;)

Blessings!

I haven't forgotten!!

I promise I have not forgotten you guys!! I have been trying to apply Sarah Mae’s study and FINISH what I can—and the blogging has just not taken priority lately…
However, just so you don’t think I have been slacking off, I am posting pictures of some of the things I have gotten done so far--- and am still working on (and then on the next blog, we will catch up with the devotional!):

Here is the customized bench I made for upcoming baby days. I am using it now and am LOVING it! It also prevents clutter from entering the kitchen scene.

The kitchen got a bit of a makeover as well. First, I build a matching bench to accommodate more people at our table—which has worked fantastic! Then, since Andrew always seems to hit his head on our dining light, I raised it a bit and hung lanterns from it to complete the farmhouse look I am shooting for. Looks MUCH more home-like now!

Before:

After:

The next goal was to do something with our sitting space. We added the big brown chair from downstairs to make company feel closer and an area rug (man, do these things make a difference!). I also added a coffee table top to the coffee table we already had, but never really used. The plant pot on top was a clay pot that I painted to match the area! We covered the plaid couch that we received from his Mimi  and added a dining room organizer/buffet table. I wanted to make the rustic workbench from the Pottery Barn magazines, but I decided it would be too costly and we still had pieces of furniture around the house that had no function… thus, I gave them a job! The top of the buffet table is the pottery barn piece I love so much (I just need to find it a handle) and the bottom is our old blue desk from childhood. Nobody could really use it for a desk though because it was too small, but it functions great this way!

Before:

After:

I finally figured out what to do with this shadow box! Haha!

And here is the intended media center. Our TV does not fit it, so we decided just to use it as a display cabinet until that day our TV does give out and we get a flat screen—works great for now though! Only question is…. What do I do with the TV area now? Any suggestions?

Here is that beautiful coffee table I covered!

Here is a close up of the buffet table:

And here is where I got the idea for the top (and duh, the pottery barn one looks better, but I personally feel mine hides more clutter than this does ;) )

These need color: Any suggestions??

And here is our personal favorite: the coffee center! I am LOVING this! ESPECIALLY the cow creamer!! SO CUTE! (you can get him at Pier 1)

So that is all I got right now! Like I said, I will catch up on the devotional soon, but for now, I have got to scoot! Andrew and I have a deployment luncheon and I do not want to be late!!

Until next time, rest in the peace of God :)

Mother's Day weekend and Day 13-15: Tiredness, energy tips and cleaning

Our Mother's Day weekend hike!

 Ok, so the main reason for this hike was to help a friend (Brent, featured on the right in the picture) find his phone that went M.I.A. Friday, following his very long hike with his cousin. Being very sure it was still up there, on the peak of this very tall mountain, he made plans to climb it for the second time in a row... (we did not end up making the whole journey with him, but we did however rejoice with him as he called us from his cellphone once he got to the top! A happy ending to a long and tiring hike!)

 Yes, Eli is already exhausted in this picture.. in fact, he hasn't moved this morning (he is still in bed). That hike must have really worn him out!

                                         Isn't this beautiful?? I really love this scenic picture :)

And man alive….I have never had so many sleeping issues in my life since being Prego!


Ok, so thats only partially true--- but it has been a lot more difficult since carrying this little one. I wish I could be like my other prego friends and just be completely exhausted where all I can do is sleep. However, God made me the more high strung variety that must learn to function on little to NO sleep. Haha… Thus, I shall rely on my Savior more.


It’s funny the devotional for Day 13 was about ‘Fighting Fatigue’. She gives us energizing tips like: move (sine inactivity makes you more tired), only get the sleep you need (anymore might make you sluggish), do not become overwhelmed (stress makes you tired—refer to Day 10 to minimize it), increase your magnesium (yes, its true; it works), have a healthy whole grained snack, and CAFFEINE (if you can). Or if you are like me, get some exercise and LET YOUR 'TO DO' LIST REST UNTIL TOMORROW! AH!


Day 14, Sarah speaks of more energizing tips. She encourages us to find something that “gets you all jazzed up.” You will find yourself more effective than you had been without it. This used to be running for me, but I will have to find something else to incorporate into my week…


Now Day 15 is where I can relate today: ‘I’d rather do anything but clean’. Yes, I feel you Sarah Mae—usually, I do enjoy cleaning just because I function better in a clean house, but with so many projects and rearranging happening lately, its hard to feel motivated. Sarah suggests we read over our mission statement we made on Day 1, put our sneakers on (which makes us feel as if we should move!), do the hardest things first, play some music and remind yourself why you do it (like to serve my poor tired husband, exhausted by his paper pushing job...and definitely for an eternal cause). This sure is motivating for me: I am now ready to get my laundry on, despite my little sleep intake!


Besides reading through the 31 days to clean devotional, I have also been reading through the book of Isaiah. The Lord really wrapped my heart up in the comfort of his love for me today and I want to share some of his word with you:

"But now hear, O Jacob my servant,



Israel whom I have chosen!"--Isaiah 44:1


We have been chosen! I love all the verses that also speak of his forming us from the womb! Just makes me think how God is taking care of my little one right now—44:2, 44:24.


Idolatry is also is a large theme through this book and chapter 44. And even though we wouldn’t think it we have idols like they did back in the biblical days, we definitely go about the same kind of worship—just in a less evident observable way.


For myself, I know it’s my never ending to-do list, my house and projects. Even though a lot of them are necessary, they can become an idol that my heart rests upon for satisfaction and worth. I can bow down to them to measure my days’ worth and continue to be slaved by their demands. There is nothing that these idols are going to do for me… except continue to demand that empty satisfaction I will never get from them. They will leave me weary and tired. Kind of like today…


But we have a Savior that draws us to Himself, to refresh and guide us; to redeem and equip us for life’s hardships (44:22, 45:5-7). We will not seek him in vain (45:9), but he will accomplish his purpose with us and his counsel he gives us will stand for his glory—for our good (46:11). How refreshing…. What a wonderful God we serve.

 Yet we look at His ways as burdensome (44:23). Why do we think a God with a love like that for us is a burden??


Because of our idols…


Time to fight back—for our soul’s sake.

I plan on fighting for the order of my priorities; fighting tiredness, but embracing rest; and learning to weed out idols before I let them consume the things that matter most in life. I will let you know the result tomorrow.

Until then, I pray you find you are reaping your strength from him and learning to let him rule your heart, because he only wants your ultimate good:)