2012 Resolution Keeping: Bible Reading Plan for 2012

On my previous post, I outlined a plan for keeping my resolutions in 2012. This is part two of a series that will track my plans and progress on keeping these goals. I'd love to hear from you on how you keep your resolutions. This week, I am focusing on have a daily devotion time and growing in God's word.

The Challenge: I seem to constantly be on the go, so to have a daily quiet time is often a struggle for me however, it is the most important time I can spend each day. Starting your day with God is so important that my company begins each week in a time of staff devotion. But setting aside this time for myself requires discipline and a plan of action.

Last year, I found a Bible reading plan online which provides a document with four, two-sided bookmark guides for reading through the Old Testament and New Testament in a year. The plan calls for two New Testament and two Old Testament readings each day. Well, last year I intended to laminate these bookmarks and begin, but the worksheet stayed in my daily action folder for weeks before I finally gave up.

The Plan: So this year, my plan was to get up early each morning and use these bookmarks to direct my Bible reading as I drank my morning coffee. I did well the first few days, but I struggled to get all four readings in before I had to turn my attention to getting three kids ready for school, two dogs cared for and myself off to work. If I missed a day, I felt pressured to "catch up" and read the previous day's readings as well as the present day readings the following morning. I realized that I was rushing through the readings instead of meditating on the Word and I might not be able to keep up with this set pace. So, I gave myself some slack.

The Revision: My Realistic Bible Reading Plan for 2012

Moving forward, I am going to focus on the Old Testament readings each day. I chose the Old Testament because I am reading The Story with my daughter, which begins in the OT. The Story is a concise, 31-chapter abridged chronology of the Bible, presented as one continuous story from beginning to end.They have versions for toddlers, young children, youth, teens and adults so it is a great family devotional experience.

By narrowing my focus, I have less a chance of feeling overwhelmed and will more likely stick to my goal.

I have made two copies of my bookmarks so that I can have them in my Bible at home and in my Bible at work. That way, if I miss a morning session, I can read during lunch at the office. In fact, I might just make a PDF of each bookmark to have on my iPhone so I can use my Bible Gateway App to read from my iPhone while on the go.

Hopefully, by setting realistic expectations, identifying a daily reading time (as well as back ups) and equipping myself with my reading plan in multiple locations, I will meet my goals but more importantly, I will grow in the knowledge of God's plan for us and increase my understanding of God's will and plan for my life.

Three Steps for Keeping Your Reslutions in 2012 - It's Not Too Late

As the New Year dawned, I made my list of resolutions like many others. I prefer to refer to them as goals. A natural goal setter, I like to know what I am aiming for. Sometimes I hit the mark, sometimes I don't. I like beginnings - the start of a new year or a new season - because they are a good and natural opportunity to take stock in where you are and where you are going and decide if that is really where you want to be. It is a time to reflect back, analyze the success, failures and surprises of the past, and make adjustments to your goals, plans and dreams. 

But goals are meaningless without a strategy for achieving them and a structure for accountability. It is great to have a goal to lose weight but I know from years of experience, if you don't have a detailed plan to accomplish that goal the first temptation is going to derail you before you even get started.

So, I'd like to share with you some ways I am being intentional about keeping my resolutions this year. Hopefully, they will help you accomplish your goals.

First, you have to identify your goals (as Yogi Berra says, “If you don’t know where you’re going, you might end up some place else.”)

• My goals for 2012

• To make home life as organized and peaceful as I can
• To better meet the needs of my husband and each of my children 
• To grow deeper in God's word with a daily devotion time
• Of course, to lose 20 pounds (My 20th High School reunion is in November, I have incentive)
• To build our emergency savings fund
• To have a monthly date night with my husband
• To try one new recipe per week
• To stay up-to-date with my 2012 Project Life 
• To learn to sew
• To have a weekly devotion time with my kids
• To do a minimum of 15 minutes of exercise a day
• To improve my photography skills
• To keep track of my car keys! (Those who know me well, understand this is a huge area of weakness for me)

Okay, so some might say I am an overachiever. 
 

Next, you need to have a plan in place for each goal.

Then you have to evaluate how you are doing along the way.

My next several posts will break out individual goals above and discuss my plan of attack as well as the accountability system I have set up to make sure I don't lose sight of these goals amidst the craziness of being a full-time working mom in a time intensive career with a long daily commute, taking care of three children (one with special needs) and volunteering as a Girl Scout leader and a member of the board of the Down syndrome Association of Atlanta. 

I will not be perfect and may have missteps along the way (like leaving my keys in the car and the car running in the parking deck for an entire day while I worked) and I'll share those with you. Maybe it will bring you a chuckle or you'll be able to apply something to your busy life.

Happy goal setting and Happy New Year!
 
 

Project Life

Happy New Year! A few years ago I began an intentional journey to capture the every day moments of life through photography and scrapbooking. Though I have been a scrapbooker and photo taker since I was a kid, most of my albums capture the big events in life. Now I want to also cherish the daily details that make up who we are, how we think - the stuff of life. My first project was A Week in The Life inspired by Ali Edwards in 2006. I am looking forward to doing that album again because our life has changed so dramatically since then including two additional children!

In 2010, I embarked on the Project Life method of capturing life's daily moments created by Becky Higgins. The first year I did a handmade version because her kits sold out. The second year I got a kit and have almost completed 2011 (got behind in journaling on the cards). I am excited to launch 2012 and will use this blog to share my progress.

My goals for Project Life 2012 are to stay up-to-date, to include my family in the picture taking and journaling, to use it as a tool to better my photography skills using the photo-a-day method and to tell the story of our lives one day at a time.

I will still capture the big events through full size pages and each of my child's albums, but I will intentionally focus on creativity every day (or at least every week) with Project Life. In upcoming posts, I will share organization tips, photo inspirations, journal prompts and a peek at my Project Life. Stay-tuned!

Craft Room Envy

So I must confess Pinterest is my new obsession. I have been on it for two weeks now and have a complete surge of creative energy and a notebook full of projects to try! Just a few more days and I will be glad to be out of the office for a week and in my scrap room!!! Before I let the creativity commence, I plan on doing a little craft room organization.

We moved in our home in August and I am not totally satisfied with my room set up. I also have a whole 1-1/2 shelving units of stamp sets to somehow incorporate in my room. This weekend, I found these cute crates at my local dollar store and scored almost 30 of them for my room. I will likely need more.

I plan to store sets by category in each crate, take a picture of each set and make a label as well as a proof sheet for each crate. Then I will use this catalog system using a paper towel holder and some rings (found on pinterest), so I can easily locate the set I need.

My colors will be teal, green and black and I cant wait to get started. In my search for ideas, I came across this amazing room! I am so inspired to use things on-hand in new ways! Sew Many Ways...: Sewing/Craft Room Ideas and Updates...

If you have any craft room organization ideas, please share!

Must-Have Items to Winterize Your Car

Time to Winterize!

Well, the halls are being decked and the mistletoe hung but don't forget your car!

With the weather getting colder, you'll want to add a few items to your must-have in your car list: 

 

1. Hats (for each family member)
2. Gloves (for each family member)
3. Scarfs (for each family member)
4. Boots or shoes (for each family member)
5. Coats or sweaters (for each family member)
6. Ice Scraper
7. Ear muffs
8. Air pressure gauge
9. Wind Shield Wipers (spare)
10. Bag of abrasive material such as sand, salt or non-clumping kitty litter, which can provide additional traction if a tire gets stuck in snow
11. A small shovel  
12. Your favorite holiday music (my favorite album is All I Want for Christmas is a Real Good Tan, by you guessed it - Kenny Chesney)

Top Must-Have Items for Your Car

Let's face it, as a mom you spend a lot of time in your car. Whether I am commuting or carting around kids, we spend a lot of time in the car. It is a challenge to keep it clean and organized. Over the years though, I have found you can save a lot of time and money by keeping a few key items on-hand in your car (though I wish I had chosen the mini van with the stow and go seats and floor panel storage compartments - sigh).

Top 20 Items To Have In Your Car at All Times:

1. Ponchos for everyone
2. Umbrella
3. First aid kit
4. Blanket(s)
5. Notepad & pencil/pen, coloring book and Crayola Twistable crayons
6. Notecards with envelopes, tape, scissors, tissue, bag (for last minute gift-giving)
7. Tissues, paper towels and wipes
8. Gallon size or larger zip lock bags
9. Sunglasses
10. Towel(s)
11. Spark plugs
12. Hair brush and pony tail holders
13. Change
14. Chargers for phones and other electronic devices including a USB adaptor
15. Cups with lids
16. Flashlights
17. Spare clothes for each child (don't forget shoes and socks)
18. Bottled water
19. Envelope with restaurant and other entertainment coupons
20. Bags (reusable grocery bags, plastic grocery bags for trash, one gallon-size bag and a foldable tote)
    

What are the must-have items that you keep in your vehicle? How do you store them and keep them organized?

A Remedy for A Dirty Task?

Testing Scrubbing Bubbles One Step Toilet Bowl Cleaner

I was recently selected to test Scrubbing Bubbles One Step Toilet Bowl Cleaner. No one likes to clean dirty toilets. This product allows you to clean every time you use the toilet by just stepping on a pedal and letting those cute scrubbing bubbles do all the dirty work - in theory. My daughter and I put it to the test (see video). 

The results? We give one thumb up and one thumb down. It certainly refreshed the toilet after use and was good for quickly cleaning messes. But the hard water line stain came back and could only be cleaned with a good old fashioned scrub brush. I noticed that that water line is a particular problem in this house and was not such a easily recurring issue in my previous house so it must be the water. But the box says this product could take care of those stains and they did not. I would recommend it for daily cleaning and upkeep, but you would still need to do a good cleaning at least once every two weeks. What good cleaning short cuts do you suggest? Please post your comments here.