Tuesday, February 28, 2012

To Organize or Not To Organize

That is the question in my life right now.  Ok, it has been a huge question in my life for my whole entire life. 

I actually believe that organizing comes somewhat naturally to me.  If I walk into someone else's house, I could easily suggest a few ways for them to get more organized.  Maybe it's not natural and maybe it is actually that I have read tons of organizing books, blogs, tips, etc. because I feel so illequipped for the job. 

We are planning to move around the beginning of July.  I am so totally excited, but also so totally devastated to be leaving my amazing neighbors.  Back to my point.... I am unorganized.  Completely.  My new problem is that I am have been so unmotivated to work on this house at all, because why?  Why do I want to get this one awesome and customize things for this house when I am leaving in a few months?  My attitude has been that my poor husband can just suck it up for a few more months until we move.  Then our new house will complete with me organizing it for the first few weeks until it is amazing! 

Well, that is kind of a not so great idea.  Really, the last thing I want to do is move a bunch of unorganized junk into my next house, where I will just have to take the time to organize it all.  Sooo.... I am going to get organized or somewhat organized.  I obviously am not going to make any permanent changes to our house now, but I just want things to be much more simple when I have to organize our next house. 

Reasons why I have not ever become as organized as I would like to be:
-Money... everything seems to just cost money.  I know it will cost some money to organize our house but we are in a place now where being unorganized is costing us more money than getting organized would cost.
-Not being anywhere very long... we have moved alot.  Let me count... 14 places of residence in 7 years... yes that was a lot of fun and quite embarrassing to write on all of our fostering documents!  We have been in this house for 2 years now and I have actually never fully unpacked or made this a home.  Yes, walls were painted and pictures were hung, but it's not how I would want it if we were here forever.  Our new house will hopefully be it.  IT!  As in, our house forever.  Daunting to find and yet so exciting at the same time!
-I'm kind of a pack rat.... I see a use for almost anything and if I don't know how to use it at the moment, I am sure that I will find a way soon! 
-Not knowing where to start... I actually heard something very profound for me a while ago on the Nate Berkus show with Peter Walsh, who is an awesome organizer.  He said that we should visualize what we want the space to look like, how we want it to feel, what we want to do in the space, etc.  I'm a big dreamer and visualizer so for me this was huge!  Definitely on my to-do list, which brings me to my...

To-Do List:
-Visualize and imagine my spaces: bedrooms, bathrooms, closets, kitchen, pantry, office, homeschool area, living room, dining room.  Write down any ideas or thoughts.  Gather or mark any pictures, quotes, feelings, etc from my Idea Book.
-Organize my office.  Get rid of clutter.
-Buy lots and lots of plastic storage tubs.  Label them and fill them!
-Take one weekend to organize everything in the attic into the appropriate bin, which oh my goodness will help so much with the packing we always leave for the last minute!!

I will post some before and after transformations, which will help keep me accountable and will maybe help some other poor, lost soul like me :)

Monday, February 27, 2012

Maybe the ABSOLUTE biggest news ever!!!




I AM PREGNANT!!!!  FINALLLLYYYY!!! 

I just found out yesterday morning.  I took 2 tests... the digital kind, which are now turned off?  After the first one, I sat there bawling.  I actually felt so undeserving and still feel so immensely blessed.  I took the next test and then ran to the store to buy a third of a different brand.  I also bought some iron-on letters for my daughter's shirt as I have been planning on how to break the news for umm... ever!! 

When I got home, I took the 3rd test, which was also positive.  Then I started making her shirt.  Once I finished, I should my husband, who did not really get it right away.  I wish I had videotaped it, but once he got it he could not stop saying, "No, way!" 

We agreed to show our daughter and she got it pretty quickly and yelled, "You're pregnant?!?!"  We immediately took a picture like the one above and texted it to everyone, except for a few people.

My dad was the first to call and he said, "So, I got a text from you... (long pause)... are you pregnant?"  I said yes and he started crying and crying, which of course made me cry and cry.  It has been a long and difficult journey to get to this place. 

Everyone was so excited to get the news and I was called with screaming sisters and a mom, who were all thrilled that it had finally happened for us!! 

There are so many emotions that I feel, not because of my hormones, but because I am here... I am actually pregnant.  Now that I am back with a computer and can blog, I can hopefully share some of those feelings. 

P.S. I watched 2 episodes of A Baby Story this morning for the first time since I had Kassidy.  I have actually been consumed with jealousy at even seeing the title of those shows.  Now I am watching....

Sunday, February 26, 2012

I'm Alive!!

We got a computer!
We got a computer!
We got a computer!
Hey!
Hey!
Hey!
Hey!


Yes, I am ecstatic... thrilled... beyond excited!!

I have realized how much I missed reading all of the (too many) blogs I follow and how much I missed sharing random thoughts, ideas, opinions and memories!!!

So, now I am back.  But... I have learned how to spend time away from my computer!!  Shocking, I know!  There will definitely be limits to my online time and I am grateful for the break to take me away.  Ohhh, I'm back and ready for action!!

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Book Review: The Beautiful Wife

Enter Today and Save the Date-3/8!


About the book:

The Beautiful Wife uses these inspiring stories along with biblical principles to guide and encourage any wife looking for God's best in her marriage. The Beautiful Wife answers serious questions women have about their roles as wives. Discussing everything from romance and money to beauty, communication, and sex, Sandy challenges women to open up and share their journeys so that together they can see God's plan for their marriages. "It is my passion to help women discover God's heart for their marriage, just as the other women helped me," writes Sandy. "When women share with each other the details of their journeys with God as wives, it's a beautiful thing indeed." The Beautiful Wife has two companion resources - Prayer Journal and Mentor's Guide.
About Sandy Ralya: 
Sandy Ralya is the founder and director of Beautiful Womanhood, a marriage mentoring ministry based near Grand Rapids, Mich. Her marriage testimony was the focus of a popular three-day interview on FamilyLife Today, TV's Walking by Faith, and Time Out for Women. Sandy is a sought-after speaker, presenting Beautiful Womanhood seminars to hundreds of women each year at MOPS groups, women's retreats, and church leadership conferences across the country and in Canada. Sandy and her husband Tom have been married since 1980, and have a growing number of grandchildren.  http://www.beautifulwomanhood.com/

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Win a Kindle Touch and RSVP for FB party 3/8!

Enter Today and Save the Date-3/8!
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Celebrate with Sandy by entering her Kindle Touch Giveaway and coming to her "Beautiful Womanhood" Facebook Party {3/8}!





One beautiful winner will receive:

  • A Brand new Kindle Touch with Wi-Fi
  • The Beautiful Wife By Sandy Ralya
  • The Beautiful Wife Prayer Journal and Mentor's Guide
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 3/7/12. Winner will be announced at Sandy's "Beautiful Womanhood" Facebook Party on 3/8. Sandy will be hosting an evening of chat, laughter and encouragement - bring your friends! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, prayer journals and a live chat with Sandy for your Bible study or small group!



So grab your copy of The Beautiful Wife and join Sandy and friends on the evening of March 8th for an evening of fun.

Enter via E-mail Enter via FacebookEnter via Twitter
Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on March 8th!


My Review:  I loved this book!  When I first recieved it, I was amazed at all the time and preparation it took to create the book, the Prayer Journal and the Mentor's Guide.  I did not use the Mentor's Guide, but I would now love to do a small group study on this book.  The Prayer Journal was wonderful and such a great tool that I wish more books would come with.  I really appreciate all of the time that was put into the three books and how wonderfully they all worked together. 

Besides being impressed with the efforts put into the book, I was impressed with what was written in the book!  It actually came at a challenging time in my life... ok, not challenging... I was just really frustrated with my husband.  This book reminded me, again, about what being a Godly wife is and the work that it does take to make marriage work.  I know that I cannot change my husband, but I can change myself (with the help of God) and I can be the wife that I was created to be.  This book is a great resource and I definitely recommend it to women who are married or who are soon going to be!!

Monday, February 20, 2012

Book Review: Embraced by God

Enter Today and Save the Date-3/6!



Embraced by God is a 21-day encounter that shares the unconditional love of God. "If you watch what the media says as to where we should find our identity--" says Babbie, "--money, beauty, power and technology--you'll just be confused about who you are and what your purpose is. As a culture we are trying to buy or sell what can only be administered to the soul by Jesus."



Celebrate with Babbie by entering her Nook Tablet Giveaway and coming to her "Embraced Facebook Party {3/6}!





One beloved winner will receive:

  • A Brand new Nook Tablet with Wi-Fi
  • Embraced by God by Babbie Mason
  • Babbie's Embraced by God Music CD
  • Babbie's Embraced by God Note cards
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 3/5/12. Winner will be announced at Babbie's "Embraced" Facebook Party on 3/6. Babbie will be hosting an evening of chat, music, laughter, and encouragement - bring your friends! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, Embraced by God music CDs and Note cards, and a book club prize pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club.)



So grab your copy of Embraced by God and join Babbie and friends on the evening of March 6th for an evening of fun.

Enter via E-mail Enter via FacebookEnter via Twitter
Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on March 6th!




About the book:

Have you ever wondered, "Does God really love me? Do I really matter to him?"

HE LOVES YOU.

As a matter of fact, God loves you just as much as he loves His own Son.

In the pages of this heartwarming, thoughtful and life-affirming 21-day journey, award-winning gospel singer, songwriter, and teacher Babbie Mason reminds you, when you know you are loved by God and that you are in His eternal plan, you’ll never again wonder if your life matters.

 
About Babbie Mason: 
 
Babbie Mason is a Dove Award-winning and Grammy nominated gospel singer, songwriter, author, creator of the Embrace: A Worship Event for Women ministry, professor of songwriting at Atlanta Christian College and Lee University, and a television talk-show host. She was inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame in 2010 and has appeared on numerous national television and radio programs. Babbie has been honored perform for Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, Lady Margaret Thatcher, Colin Powell, Steve Forbes among many others. Babbie performs a holiday special at Carnegie Hall every year. Babbie lives near Atlanta on a farm with her husband Charles. 
 
 
 
My Review: This beautiful book was written as a 21-day journey to help you strengthen your relationship with God.  I did not have 21 days to read this book so I read one chapter a day and skimmed over the rest.  I will definitely continue reading this book.  It seems to be more geared toward early believers or people who need to be reminded again about our Father's love for us.  We all need that reminder every once in a while. 
 
Each chapter starts with a Bible verse and a powerful quote.  The chapters end with a section on how to incorporate what was just read into your daily life.  I really enjoyed this part of the book.  The ideas were fresh and new and seemed different from other books I have read.  I definitely recommend this book to anyone needing a good pick me up and/or a strong (and long) daily devotional!
 
 
I did recieve this book free in exchange for my honest opinion.