Being snowed in is the best. Especially the weekend after Spring Break.
That is all.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Just another thought
I read a great blog post today - it was a response to the "To The iPhone Mom" post. You've probably read it, or at least seen it shared on Facebook. (If you haven't, just Google it.) It was really good, and I resonated with it deeply.
And when I went to "share" it on Facebook, it dawned on me that I, too, have a blog. Not that anybody would know it, since I mainly only use it to share pictures, but that's neither here nor there. So I clicked over here to Blogspot and signed in. The last time I posted anything on here was over a year ago. A year! For someone who claims to love writing, I have done a pretty terrible job of keeping up with a simple little blog.
Then that got me thinking... yes, my trains of thought are often quite jagged and I jump from one place to another at lightening speed... Why? Why don't I blog more often? Well, for one thing, Facebook makes it so that I don't HAVE to blog to keep our loved ones up to date on our goings-on and such. I also would have to dedicate time to it, which is a resource that I don't have much of these days. At least not for something like this.
Wait, "something like this?" Something like what, exactly? Unproductive? Useless? Pointless?
And there is my dilemma. Yes, a blog these days, for us regular folks with kids and jobs, can be considered pretty unproductive, useless, and sorta pointless. I SHOULD be dusting, vacuuming, laundering something, or scrubbing bathrooms when I have free time. But I love writing. I do. So is it okay to do something that I love.... just because I love it? Is it a waste of time if it is purely for pleasure and no other reason?
I started reading "Eat, Pray, Love" this week, and while Ms. Gilbert and I disagree on most things spiritual (at least so far - we're still in the "eat" session in Italy), one thing that I am coming to realize that I agree with her on is that we, as human beings, should allow ourselves to spend time doing things which bring us pleasure, even if they are unproductive. And we shouldn't be ashamed of doing so. My personality is one that cannot stand "wasting" time. I always find the fastest route from Point A to Point B, and don't bother finding another way. If there is no point, I don't do it. So giving myself permission to sit and just write gives me inner conflict that I have dealt with by simply NOT doing it.
I want to change that.
I think God gave us each different passions and desires, and if we love doing something, that is the thing that we must do. Even if there are other tasks that need to be done. Even if life tries to get in the way. Writing is one of very few things that brings me back to my true self. I want to start releasing the guilt that creeps in whenever I start doing something just for me and my own enjoyment, and the embarassment that someone might judge me for writing a silly blog. I hate that these things bug me, but they do.
So I'm just going to do it. I'm going to write whenever I can. Maybe on this blog, maybe in my journal. Because I like doing it and that's okay. No, writing won't get dinner on the table or wash a load of laundry, but it will center me and remind me of who I am and what I'm about, while giving me release of the tornado of thoughts and feelings that whirl around in my mind everyday. And that makes it worth it.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Merry Christmas!
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Friday, September 17, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Well life continues to chug along! Tim is working part time at Eastview and working as a substitute teacher part time. He actually doesn't mind it at all, and is wondering if teaching might be something he'll want to do someday. And he always comes home with the FUNNIEST stories about a high schooler who was trying to act tough, but really just made a fool of himself/herself, or an auto mechanics co-op class full of country boys that invite him to go crap shooting after school. :) So funny.
Jack is almost 3 and so uninterested in potty training that I'm wondering if he'll ever use the toilet in his whole life. At this point, it's not looking good. I realize that most kids don't start until after they're 3, but Jack is so smart that we had hoped it would be easier than this! But I try to remind myself that even though he IS so smart and has the vocabulary of an older child, he is still 2, so our expectations shouldn't be higher than they would be for the average 2 year old.... I'm just so tired of changing poopy diapers...
As for me, my counseling degree has been put on hold. It ended up being too much for me to handle at one time. I wish I could just take one class at a time, but you don't get loans for that option :( And we can't afford to pay for each class at this point in time. I'm fine taking some time off. Tim is still trying to decide if/when he wants to start taking classes again, and I want to hold off on making decisions about my own degree until he has settled into what he wants to do. I'm learning a lot about patience!
We still love our house, but as Jack gets bigger and wants to run around more and more, it has started feeling smaller and smaller. I've been dreaming of getting a house... and for now it will just remain a dream :) Someday it will happen!
I've been working lately on being content with what I have - not just content, but joyful! I so easily get stuck in ruts where I feel like everything is annoying or irritating and everyone is just so selfish and thinks only about themselves. Well... that would make ME all of those things, too, wouldn't it?!? I get so inside my own head and could stay there for days if I didn't make the conscious effort to try and think less about myself and focus on others. This sounds bad, doesn't it?? Well that's my struggle. I THINK too much. Life would be so much better if I could just quit thinking about stuff. Just invest in others - love on others, and life would be easier to take, I think. There I go... thinking again!
Jack is almost 3 and so uninterested in potty training that I'm wondering if he'll ever use the toilet in his whole life. At this point, it's not looking good. I realize that most kids don't start until after they're 3, but Jack is so smart that we had hoped it would be easier than this! But I try to remind myself that even though he IS so smart and has the vocabulary of an older child, he is still 2, so our expectations shouldn't be higher than they would be for the average 2 year old.... I'm just so tired of changing poopy diapers...
As for me, my counseling degree has been put on hold. It ended up being too much for me to handle at one time. I wish I could just take one class at a time, but you don't get loans for that option :( And we can't afford to pay for each class at this point in time. I'm fine taking some time off. Tim is still trying to decide if/when he wants to start taking classes again, and I want to hold off on making decisions about my own degree until he has settled into what he wants to do. I'm learning a lot about patience!
We still love our house, but as Jack gets bigger and wants to run around more and more, it has started feeling smaller and smaller. I've been dreaming of getting a house... and for now it will just remain a dream :) Someday it will happen!
I've been working lately on being content with what I have - not just content, but joyful! I so easily get stuck in ruts where I feel like everything is annoying or irritating and everyone is just so selfish and thinks only about themselves. Well... that would make ME all of those things, too, wouldn't it?!? I get so inside my own head and could stay there for days if I didn't make the conscious effort to try and think less about myself and focus on others. This sounds bad, doesn't it?? Well that's my struggle. I THINK too much. Life would be so much better if I could just quit thinking about stuff. Just invest in others - love on others, and life would be easier to take, I think. There I go... thinking again!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
Weekends!
So, long story short, Tim no longer works at State Farm. This has been both a relief and a struggle at the same time. Financially there is a pretty big gap between what he was making and what he is making now. Nonetheless we are able to pay all of our bills and still have enough to buy groceries, gas and diapers (hopefully not too much longer for these though!)
But - for the first time in our marriage - Tim doesn't have to work on the weekends anymore!!! I cannot even begin to tell you how exciting this is. I had an idea, but I didn't fully realize how much we were missing out on "us" time. We had pretty much become like ships passing in the night as far as us each needing to be at work at opposite times, so we'd pass off Jack duty to one or the other as we walked out the door for work or another evening activity. Rarely were all three of us at home at the same time for any longer than a night's sleep.
We are having a blast - we took Jack to the zoo today, and tomorrow we'll hang out some more! It is definitely worth having less income to have weekends all to ourselves now. God has always taken care of us, and He will continue to do so, but with the added bonus of more quality time together! Yay! Let the good times roll :)
But - for the first time in our marriage - Tim doesn't have to work on the weekends anymore!!! I cannot even begin to tell you how exciting this is. I had an idea, but I didn't fully realize how much we were missing out on "us" time. We had pretty much become like ships passing in the night as far as us each needing to be at work at opposite times, so we'd pass off Jack duty to one or the other as we walked out the door for work or another evening activity. Rarely were all three of us at home at the same time for any longer than a night's sleep.
We are having a blast - we took Jack to the zoo today, and tomorrow we'll hang out some more! It is definitely worth having less income to have weekends all to ourselves now. God has always taken care of us, and He will continue to do so, but with the added bonus of more quality time together! Yay! Let the good times roll :)
Friday, February 13, 2009
Messy Us
Life has been really great lately. Tim has found his passion at seminary, studying apologetics and theology, and at work, as an associate junior high minister. I've been able to (barely, at times) stay afloat between work, school, and home life. Jack is the biggest joy of our lives. Even as a 2-year old, he manages to make us laugh our heads off every single day.
But while we are thriving, I have a confession to make. Our house is a MESS! It is the one part of our life that we simply can't keep up with. The main level gets cleaned the most, because that's where we spend the most time, but our bedrooms and the basement sit completely trashed 24/7. We moved into our new home vowing to keep it nice and treat it as the blessing that it is, but so far we have failed miserably.
I'm having trouble deciding if this is something that I should be concerned about. One of my counseling professors talked with me and my in-class client once about my client's huge amount of stress over working full-time, being a mom to a 5-year old, and trying to do all of the housework, thanks to her deadbeat husband (in her opinion). My professor's take on it was, what's the worst that could happen if you just accept a messy house? If it lowers your stress level to minimize the cleaning and housework, then why not just let it be? Worse things could happen than having a messy house. I liked that.
It worked for me for awhile, trying to convince myself that it's okay to just leave my home a wreck. As long as it doesn't become unhealthy or anything gross like that, I had to remind myself each morning as I stepped over toys and sippy cups and old mail, then it's okay to just let it go and worry about it when I have the time and motivation. But the fact that I had to try and convince myself of this daily convinced me of something else: I am definitely NOT okay with a messy house. I certainly don't require perfection, but I can't live in a mess. I just can't - the mess stresses me out almost as much as trying to keep up with cleaning it.
So, my last few weeks have been trying keep up and clean whenever I have a chance, even if it's just a few small messes at a time. I'm still really bad at keeping up with the laundry in our bedrooms, but I have managed to have small victories, like making the bed every day (for the first time in YEARS!), and keeping the three of us in clean clothes, even if that means washing three outfits the night before we need them. I've also been running the dishwasher more often, even when it's not completely full. (I am all about efficiency, so I have a hard time running it when it's not completely stuffed full of dirty dishes. But, if it means taking dirty dishes off of the tables and counters and getting them clean, I will do it now. Otherwise they'll sit in there for a long time.)
I'm trying to do better. I think I missed the memo about how to be a good cleaner, or about why I should be motivated to clean my house. I absolutely hate taking the time to clean. If I have a rare free moment, I want to plant my booty on the couch and relax on facebook or watch my DVR'ed reality shows. But I guess if I hate the mess, I should do something about it. It's kind of the same thing that I've always thought about if I hate feeling fat, I should do something about that too instead of just complaining about it.
So anyway, if you come to my house and you notice I haven't swept the floor or dusted any piece of furniture in what looks like a long time, I probably haven't. But I'm working on it. I do want to take pride in my home, I really do. I just... am working on it :)
But while we are thriving, I have a confession to make. Our house is a MESS! It is the one part of our life that we simply can't keep up with. The main level gets cleaned the most, because that's where we spend the most time, but our bedrooms and the basement sit completely trashed 24/7. We moved into our new home vowing to keep it nice and treat it as the blessing that it is, but so far we have failed miserably.
I'm having trouble deciding if this is something that I should be concerned about. One of my counseling professors talked with me and my in-class client once about my client's huge amount of stress over working full-time, being a mom to a 5-year old, and trying to do all of the housework, thanks to her deadbeat husband (in her opinion). My professor's take on it was, what's the worst that could happen if you just accept a messy house? If it lowers your stress level to minimize the cleaning and housework, then why not just let it be? Worse things could happen than having a messy house. I liked that.
It worked for me for awhile, trying to convince myself that it's okay to just leave my home a wreck. As long as it doesn't become unhealthy or anything gross like that, I had to remind myself each morning as I stepped over toys and sippy cups and old mail, then it's okay to just let it go and worry about it when I have the time and motivation. But the fact that I had to try and convince myself of this daily convinced me of something else: I am definitely NOT okay with a messy house. I certainly don't require perfection, but I can't live in a mess. I just can't - the mess stresses me out almost as much as trying to keep up with cleaning it.
So, my last few weeks have been trying keep up and clean whenever I have a chance, even if it's just a few small messes at a time. I'm still really bad at keeping up with the laundry in our bedrooms, but I have managed to have small victories, like making the bed every day (for the first time in YEARS!), and keeping the three of us in clean clothes, even if that means washing three outfits the night before we need them. I've also been running the dishwasher more often, even when it's not completely full. (I am all about efficiency, so I have a hard time running it when it's not completely stuffed full of dirty dishes. But, if it means taking dirty dishes off of the tables and counters and getting them clean, I will do it now. Otherwise they'll sit in there for a long time.)
I'm trying to do better. I think I missed the memo about how to be a good cleaner, or about why I should be motivated to clean my house. I absolutely hate taking the time to clean. If I have a rare free moment, I want to plant my booty on the couch and relax on facebook or watch my DVR'ed reality shows. But I guess if I hate the mess, I should do something about it. It's kind of the same thing that I've always thought about if I hate feeling fat, I should do something about that too instead of just complaining about it.
So anyway, if you come to my house and you notice I haven't swept the floor or dusted any piece of furniture in what looks like a long time, I probably haven't. But I'm working on it. I do want to take pride in my home, I really do. I just... am working on it :)
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
We are so ready for Thanksgiving. This week has been crazy between Jack's sinusitis, both of us working, and my rehearsals every night so far (including tonight!) for the Christmas Concert.
We are so lucky to have the rest of the week off. Tim and I both have tomorrow, Thursday, and Friday off, then he has to work Saturday. Thank goodness for holidays! We definitely need this one!
We are so lucky to have the rest of the week off. Tim and I both have tomorrow, Thursday, and Friday off, then he has to work Saturday. Thank goodness for holidays! We definitely need this one!
Friday, November 7, 2008
Brief Update
News on the homefront:
Lisa - I have celiac disease, so I'm having to completely change my diet. It's not as hard as I thought it would be, especially since my sister was diagnosed a year ago and already knows a lot about living gluten-free. I'm also still working full-time and going to graduate school.
Tim - Just took a part-time job at our church as Associate Junior High Pastor!! He has changed his State Farm job to a part-time position, and will be working both part-time jobs for now. He is THRILLED!!! He is also seriously considering starting back up at seminary in the spring.
Jack - Hilarious kid, growing and talking more and more every day.
Lisa - I have celiac disease, so I'm having to completely change my diet. It's not as hard as I thought it would be, especially since my sister was diagnosed a year ago and already knows a lot about living gluten-free. I'm also still working full-time and going to graduate school.
Tim - Just took a part-time job at our church as Associate Junior High Pastor!! He has changed his State Farm job to a part-time position, and will be working both part-time jobs for now. He is THRILLED!!! He is also seriously considering starting back up at seminary in the spring.
Jack - Hilarious kid, growing and talking more and more every day.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Mini-Van Momma
Yes, friends, it is true. We traded in Tim's Mitsubishi Galant for a mini-van - a Chevy Venture to be specific. It has no bells and whistles, I have to actually open all the doors myself and the seats do not fold into the floor. But it is a mini-van with plenty of space.
It was actually Tim's idea, too! He even drove it to work this morning (which, I must say, I was looking forward to driving it today, so I am rather jealous.)
After talking with the folks at the shop, we found ourselves in a place where neither of our cars were highway safe. And since I will be driving to Lincoln many many times in the next few years, we needed something that I would be safe driving down there. So now, we still only have one car payment that is less than $100 more than we were paying on the Galant, we are paying less in insurance, AND we have a highway-safe vehicle. Good deal all around.
My only complaint is that none of the seats in the van have arm rests!! What is up with that ??!!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
New house!
Well, we are (almost) officially homeowners!!!
We bought the townhouse, and are so anxious to move in. We will have a full finished basement with a laundry room!!! We may even get a kitten, to complete the picture :)
Hopefully we will be closing on August 8th, but it could be as late as the 15th. Can't wait!!
Here are some photos that the previous owners posted on the realtor's website:
We bought the townhouse, and are so anxious to move in. We will have a full finished basement with a laundry room!!! We may even get a kitten, to complete the picture :)
Hopefully we will be closing on August 8th, but it could be as late as the 15th. Can't wait!!
Here are some photos that the previous owners posted on the realtor's website:
Saturday, July 5, 2008
I'm horrible at keeping up on here.
Life has just been grand lately! We just got back from a little mini-vacation at Tim's parents' house, who are in Washington D.C. right now so we had the whole place to ourselves. We spent a lot of time napping, reading and playing with Jack at the park and it felt wonderful to just be away together. We realized that it was the first time the three of us had gone anywhere over night just with ourselves - we're usually with other people. It was lots of fun.
Other fun thing is that this week Tim VOLUNTARILY quit the computer game that he had been playing religiously for a year and a half now. He decided that there is more to life than sitting in front of the computer, and I definitely agree :) He bought a brand new Taylor guitar and has been spending his free time getting back into learning songs and playing old worship tunes. (And writing a song for Jack called "Juice" - it's funny.) I am so happy for him - he is by far a happier guy these days.
Work is the same ol' same ol' for both of us. I'm getting adjusted into the Children's Department and working full-time, and Tim is still doing the same old thing. I'm trying to enjoy this last month or so before my life blows up with busy-ness with the start of my Seminary classes, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't excited to go back to school. (Around December I'm sure I will take that sentence back, but oh well.)
Regardless of what job I end up with (I'm still not even sure that I want the typical "counseling" job!), I think that this experience at Lincoln Seminary will be good for me in lots of ways. The people, professors, and classes will be a new environment to me and I am really looking forward to it.
We could really use some prayer, though, in deciding on where to live. We are currently renting a pretty cruddy townhouse in a pretty cruddy neighborhood in Bloomington with a pretty cruddy landlord, and I am dying to buy a house. But with Tim currently in limbo with when and where he'll want to get back into ministry, buying a traditional house would be silly. So, the ever-determined person that I am, I discovered these townhouse/condos in my brother's neighborhood that have tended to sell pretty quickly in the past. The price is in our price range, we wouldn't have to take care of the lawn, and it's in the school district that I would want Jack to go to if we live here that long. Not to mention they are fairly new and really super nice on the inside. It would also be nice to have something TO sell when the time comes to move, as opposed to what we're doing now - renting - where we'll get nothing when we move out.
So anyways, this is our current dilemma. To buy or not to buy?
I'll try to keep up more often, I promise!
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Just something I read today...
I liked this:
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not shouting 'I'm clean livin'.''
I'm whispering 'I was lost, Now I'm found and forgiven.
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.
When I say.. 'I am a Christian' I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not claiming to be perfect.
My flaws are far too visible, but God believes I am worth it.
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I still feel the sting of pain..
I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not holier than thou.
I'm just a simple sinner Who received God's good grace somehow!
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not shouting 'I'm clean livin'.''
I'm whispering 'I was lost, Now I'm found and forgiven.
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.
When I say.. 'I am a Christian' I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not claiming to be perfect.
My flaws are far too visible, but God believes I am worth it.
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I still feel the sting of pain..
I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not holier than thou.
I'm just a simple sinner Who received God's good grace somehow!
Monday, March 17, 2008
Health insurance!
I am (almost) officially a full-time employee at Eastview!!
I have yet to sign the contract, but I have been asked to take over for a retiring administrative assistant in the children's ministries department!
This is my first full-time job, complete with benefits. Very exciting stuff! I never thought I'd be so thrilled about medical insurance and 401k's!
I admit - I am a little nervous about how my schedule is going to look. That's a lot more time away from Jack. But I'm pretty sure that I'm still going to have Fridays off, so I'll still get my three-day weekends with him, which is more than regular full-time working moms can say.
I won't be starting until May 1st, so I'll have the rest of this month and April to enjoy my part time hours and a VACATION! before starting up.
This means that, come August, Tim will be able to reduce his State Farm hours to part-time status and dive into his seminary degree full time, which is awesome! I am so happy for him! And I will be able to start too! Just one night a week of class, which isn't bad at all!
I know we're going to be busy, but - it's worth it. We're going to be busy pursuing our passions, so it's all good.
Now I'm just ready to get started... I hate waiting!
I have yet to sign the contract, but I have been asked to take over for a retiring administrative assistant in the children's ministries department!
This is my first full-time job, complete with benefits. Very exciting stuff! I never thought I'd be so thrilled about medical insurance and 401k's!
I admit - I am a little nervous about how my schedule is going to look. That's a lot more time away from Jack. But I'm pretty sure that I'm still going to have Fridays off, so I'll still get my three-day weekends with him, which is more than regular full-time working moms can say.
I won't be starting until May 1st, so I'll have the rest of this month and April to enjoy my part time hours and a VACATION! before starting up.
This means that, come August, Tim will be able to reduce his State Farm hours to part-time status and dive into his seminary degree full time, which is awesome! I am so happy for him! And I will be able to start too! Just one night a week of class, which isn't bad at all!
I know we're going to be busy, but - it's worth it. We're going to be busy pursuing our passions, so it's all good.
Now I'm just ready to get started... I hate waiting!
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Friday, February 29, 2008
Big week!
This week has been a long one - work wasn't too fun because most of the people I sit by were at a conference, and all kinds of people were having problems and issues with mission trips.
Here's a breakdown of other things that happened this week:
Tim was asked to help out with the jr. highers at church on Wednesday nights.
There were more hints at work that my job will probably be going full-time, but still nothing certain.
The seminary class schedule came out, and I discovered that I can take 9 hours in the fall by only going to class one night a week.
Jack and I were invited to go to Florida in April!! (This one I am super excited about... I need a vacation very badly.)
And finally - our tax refund was deposited into our bank account this morning, so at lunch time today Tim and I are going to pay off 4 big bills, and bring our savings account up by a lot. That is such a great feeling!
So we have lots to ponder and plan at the moment - but all good things!
Here's a breakdown of other things that happened this week:
Tim was asked to help out with the jr. highers at church on Wednesday nights.
There were more hints at work that my job will probably be going full-time, but still nothing certain.
The seminary class schedule came out, and I discovered that I can take 9 hours in the fall by only going to class one night a week.
Jack and I were invited to go to Florida in April!! (This one I am super excited about... I need a vacation very badly.)
And finally - our tax refund was deposited into our bank account this morning, so at lunch time today Tim and I are going to pay off 4 big bills, and bring our savings account up by a lot. That is such a great feeling!
So we have lots to ponder and plan at the moment - but all good things!
