Hello, you dear people who read these words I write!
I have a bit of news... I've been called for jury duty and the trial is expected to last at least two weeks. So my free time is going to be far less than usual, which means blogging won't happen like I want it to. I'll try to write a little bit as often as I can, but don't expect any big, exciting posts in the next two weeks-- except that I WILL have a very exciting announcement for you soon! The reason for that announcement is also the reason that I won't have time to blog much in the next two weeks. (And NO, I'm not pregnant, before you wonder!)
I would ask that you keep me in your prayers for the next couple weeks, with these two major responsibilities-- in addition to being a wife and homemaker. My husband is being incredibly supportive and encouraging, and I will be in prayer and in the Word a LOT, but I'll need all the prayers I can get!
Thank you so much for being loyal and wonderful!
One more thing... by the end of the day yesterday, I was amazed to re-read the words I wrote yesterday morning, before the first day of the trial. God definitely led me to write something that I would need for my own encouragement--how cool is that?!? Stop by and read yesterday's post if you haven't yet. Have you ever had that experience of needing to teach yourself something more than teaching it to others? That was definitely me yesterday!
Showing posts with label responsibility. Show all posts
Showing posts with label responsibility. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Friday, January 11, 2013
{Focus} On My Schedule
Most of my childhood, my days were fairly unstructured. There were, of course, expectations for each day-make bed, do schoolwork, help around the house--but we were never on a rigid schedule. That lasted through high school (one of the lovely benefits of homeschooling!), but college changed my lifestyle considerably. Now I have to be in classes at specific times each day and I have a set work schedule. This all changes every semester, so each semester we have to adjust our daily schedule at home a little.
I was talking to a friend yesterday, lamenting how we haven't been very productive over Christmas break simply because we have no schedule (although classes start again on Monday). I realized that if I had given myself a schedule--not necessarily rigid, but at least some structure to a day--I could have gotten a lot more done over break. So I've decided that, for this semester, I'm going to give myself a schedule for while I'm at home, not just at class and work.
I also want to make goals when it comes to housework. I have a hard time getting caught up on housework once life gets busy with school and other commitments. This semester I want to stay on top of the cleaning so it doesn't get out of hand. I know that if I don't set small goals for myself I tend to get overwhelmed and don't feel like doing anything at all, so I'll do one or two easy cleaning jobs a day, and that way I know it will all get done.
My class schedule this semester is fairly easy; I don't start classes till noon on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. My Tuesday/Thursday classes start at 8. I want to get up at the same time every day, so I'll be getting up "early" on MWF and, ideally, have time to get a lot of things done those mornings. Joshua has to be at class at the same time every day, 10:00.
An ideal morning for me this semester will look like this:
6:00 out of bed, get in shower
6:15 get dressed, do hair/makeup
6:30, get tea or coffee brewing, read my Bible at the kitchen table (this will give me incentive to get the kitchen all cleaned up before I go to bed)
7:00 start breakfast (I generally make quick breakfasts--oatmeal, eggs, or something I've prepared the night before). On MWF I'll have time to make a bigger breakfast; probably on Tues/Thurs I'll eat by myself since Joshua doesn't have to leave as early as I do.
7:30 Tues/Thurs, get ready to leave for class. I still plan on walking/biking a lot to school, even though we have the car now, but it's a 20-minute walk or a 10-minute bike, so that will give me time to get my backpack ready.
Mon/Wed/Fri: 7:30, write/publish a blog post.
8:30, pack lunch, finish tidying kitchen.
9:00, Wednesdays, get ready to leave (we'll go to chapel together on Wednesdays).
9:00, Mon/Fri, housecleaning and homework.
11:30, get ready to leave for class.
What I am NOT going to put into my schedule is any computer time other than blogging. This weekend I'm planning on reorganizing my desk so I can put my computer away when I'm not using it, and thus cut down on the temptation to be on it so much. I have plenty of free time during the day, when I'm already at school, to check email and Facebook.
The chores I want to accomplish weekly are:
-clean the bathroom
-clean the kitchen floor
-dust/declutter/vacuum the living room
-dust/declutter/vacuum the bedroom
-pick up/organize the closet
Daily chores will include getting the dishes all done and kitchen cleaned up, tidying my desk, and basic wiping down in the bathroom.
Monday mornings: bathroom, and kitchen floor
Tuesday afternoons (I'll get home around 4:15): pick up/organize the closet
Friday mornings: dust/declutter/vacuum living room and bedroom
This weekend I'm going to make a master chart with both of our daily schedules on it. This will keep both of us on task, and that way we'll always know where the other one is going to be.
I'll keep you updated on how I do with this! I'm excited and a little nervous, but I know how satisfying it will be if I can accomplish this. My main reasons for setting this schedule for myself are so that I can {Focus} more on being in the Word, {Focus} on being a better homemaker, and {Focus} on using my time more productively. I hope that this will also reduce my stress!
Please be praying for me and Joshua as we start this new semester!
I was talking to a friend yesterday, lamenting how we haven't been very productive over Christmas break simply because we have no schedule (although classes start again on Monday). I realized that if I had given myself a schedule--not necessarily rigid, but at least some structure to a day--I could have gotten a lot more done over break. So I've decided that, for this semester, I'm going to give myself a schedule for while I'm at home, not just at class and work.
I also want to make goals when it comes to housework. I have a hard time getting caught up on housework once life gets busy with school and other commitments. This semester I want to stay on top of the cleaning so it doesn't get out of hand. I know that if I don't set small goals for myself I tend to get overwhelmed and don't feel like doing anything at all, so I'll do one or two easy cleaning jobs a day, and that way I know it will all get done.
My class schedule this semester is fairly easy; I don't start classes till noon on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. My Tuesday/Thursday classes start at 8. I want to get up at the same time every day, so I'll be getting up "early" on MWF and, ideally, have time to get a lot of things done those mornings. Joshua has to be at class at the same time every day, 10:00.
An ideal morning for me this semester will look like this:
6:00 out of bed, get in shower
6:15 get dressed, do hair/makeup
6:30, get tea or coffee brewing, read my Bible at the kitchen table (this will give me incentive to get the kitchen all cleaned up before I go to bed)
7:00 start breakfast (I generally make quick breakfasts--oatmeal, eggs, or something I've prepared the night before). On MWF I'll have time to make a bigger breakfast; probably on Tues/Thurs I'll eat by myself since Joshua doesn't have to leave as early as I do.
7:30 Tues/Thurs, get ready to leave for class. I still plan on walking/biking a lot to school, even though we have the car now, but it's a 20-minute walk or a 10-minute bike, so that will give me time to get my backpack ready.
Mon/Wed/Fri: 7:30, write/publish a blog post.
8:30, pack lunch, finish tidying kitchen.
9:00, Wednesdays, get ready to leave (we'll go to chapel together on Wednesdays).
9:00, Mon/Fri, housecleaning and homework.
11:30, get ready to leave for class.
What I am NOT going to put into my schedule is any computer time other than blogging. This weekend I'm planning on reorganizing my desk so I can put my computer away when I'm not using it, and thus cut down on the temptation to be on it so much. I have plenty of free time during the day, when I'm already at school, to check email and Facebook.
The chores I want to accomplish weekly are:
-clean the bathroom
-clean the kitchen floor
-dust/declutter/vacuum the living room
-dust/declutter/vacuum the bedroom
-pick up/organize the closet
Daily chores will include getting the dishes all done and kitchen cleaned up, tidying my desk, and basic wiping down in the bathroom.
Monday mornings: bathroom, and kitchen floor
Tuesday afternoons (I'll get home around 4:15): pick up/organize the closet
Friday mornings: dust/declutter/vacuum living room and bedroom
This weekend I'm going to make a master chart with both of our daily schedules on it. This will keep both of us on task, and that way we'll always know where the other one is going to be.
I'll keep you updated on how I do with this! I'm excited and a little nervous, but I know how satisfying it will be if I can accomplish this. My main reasons for setting this schedule for myself are so that I can {Focus} more on being in the Word, {Focus} on being a better homemaker, and {Focus} on using my time more productively. I hope that this will also reduce my stress!
Please be praying for me and Joshua as we start this new semester!
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
The Privilege of Being His Witness
Joshua and I read in Matthew for our devotions this morning. Part of the passage was the Great Commission in Matthew 28:
Being Christ's witnesses doesn't necessarily mean going to Africa or China or Russia to be a missionary.
It means sharing our faith in our daily lives, everywhere we go.
No believer has an excuse for NOT being a witness.
And no believer has to despair that they don't have the time, money or resources to become a missionary to a foreign country.
We are witnesses in the places and vocations in which God has placed us.
For me, that means I am a witness at home (yes, to my husband, even though he is a believer!), at school, at work, in my little town, and to my friends, acquaintances and others who read what I put on the internet every day.
(Have you ever thought of that? Your Facebook posts, tweets, and blog posts are all part of your Christian witness! How are you sharing the love of Christ through your online presence?)
These passages in Matthew and Acts are always a wake-up call for me. It's a conviction: I need to be aware of how I'm witnessing Christ, and be intentional about it! And it's also an encouragement: I have been given the incredible privilege of representing the God of the universe, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to every person I see each day.
How incredible is that?
My encouragement, to myself and to you, today is this:
Look for ways God has given you to witness him.
Be intentional at least once today about speaking the Gospel and the name of Jesus to someone you normally wouldn't.
Remember--God will give you the words to say, because His Holy Spirit is in your heart.
Linking up with these lovely ladies:
The Houtz House Party; New Life Steward; A Wise Woman Builds Her Home; Deep Roots at Home; Women Living Well
"Then Jesus came to [the disciples] and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'"
Matthew 28:18-20The account of Jesus' ascension in Acts 1 adds some more insight:
"[Jesus] said to [the disciples]: 'It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power then the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'"
Acts 1:7-8We are called to be Christ's witnesses, making disciples "of all nations." For some Christians, that means going to faraway countries to preach the Gospel. For others, that means witnessing for Jesus in our neighborhoods, workplaces and towns. Jesus told the disciples they would be witnesses in Jerusalem--the city they were in at the time--and in Judea--the country where they were.
Being Christ's witnesses doesn't necessarily mean going to Africa or China or Russia to be a missionary.
It means sharing our faith in our daily lives, everywhere we go.
No believer has an excuse for NOT being a witness.
And no believer has to despair that they don't have the time, money or resources to become a missionary to a foreign country.
We are witnesses in the places and vocations in which God has placed us.
For me, that means I am a witness at home (yes, to my husband, even though he is a believer!), at school, at work, in my little town, and to my friends, acquaintances and others who read what I put on the internet every day.
(Have you ever thought of that? Your Facebook posts, tweets, and blog posts are all part of your Christian witness! How are you sharing the love of Christ through your online presence?)
These passages in Matthew and Acts are always a wake-up call for me. It's a conviction: I need to be aware of how I'm witnessing Christ, and be intentional about it! And it's also an encouragement: I have been given the incredible privilege of representing the God of the universe, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to every person I see each day.
How incredible is that?
My encouragement, to myself and to you, today is this:
Look for ways God has given you to witness him.
Be intentional at least once today about speaking the Gospel and the name of Jesus to someone you normally wouldn't.
Remember--God will give you the words to say, because His Holy Spirit is in your heart.
Linking up with these lovely ladies:
The Houtz House Party; New Life Steward; A Wise Woman Builds Her Home; Deep Roots at Home; Women Living Well
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Marrying Young
This is another topic that is near and dear to my heart, like education and vocation (see my last post). I met my husband at the age of eighteen, and we were married just before I turned twenty. He was almost twenty-one.
Our plan to marry young was met with mixed reactions from our family, friends and acquaintances. Most of the people closest to us were very supportive and encouraging. Some of our family compared us to older, "more settled" adults they saw marrying--people in their thirties, out of college, holding steady and well-paying jobs, owning their own house. (Unfortunately, a few couples like that were living together before they were married.)
Joshua and I believe that following God's directives for our lives is always the best idea, and that includes marriage and relationships. We wanted to remain virgin till marriage, which we did, by the grace of God. We did not intend on living together before marriage, which we did not. We wanted to live our lives in a way that would best honor and glorify God, and we believe that they best way to do that was to marry sooner rather than later.
It was difficult enough for us to wait as long as we did. We both strongly desired to be married for a variety of reasons. We both feel that we can serve God better together than apart. And we wanted to honor him with our bodies. For those and other reasons, we chose to marry young.
Now, there are several good reasons why we should have waited to get married until we were older.
-We would have been out of college and (at least mostly) done with our education
-We would have had careers, steady jobs, and a more substantial income than we do now
-We would have been free to explore other activities and opportunities that college offers
-We could have enjoyed the benefits of remaining our parents' dependents for longer
-We could have become more mature and sure of ourselves
But there are many good reasons why we did marry when we did.
-We did not want to risk falling into temptation
-We can "finish growing up" together instead of separately
-We can begin learning how to be a good spouse now instead of later, when we might have learned bad habits
-We can enjoy the comfort and companionship of marriage now instead of desperately desiring it for any longer
-We can support each other in our faith and our walk with God much better
-We can start early in being independent and self-sufficient
-We can enjoy having relatively few responsibilities while we are still in college, and yet have the benefits of being married and independent
-We are learning responsibility, resourcefulness, and selflessness much better than if we were single
-We are saving money by living together off-campus and having jobs to support ourselves
-We have more years to enjoy as a married couple before children come to bless us
-Most importantly, we can serve God better together and seek to honor him in new ways that have become available to us
I could go on! I will never regret the decision we made. Our parents supported us completely, and we felt totally at peace with the decision we made. That was enough to make me sure that our choice was the right one.
I have several friends and acquaintances who also chose to marry before they finished school. I am so proud of them. But please don't take this post to mean that I think it's wrong to wait to get married! Every couple has to make the choice for themselves, and whether it's right or wrong depends on the couple. I just believe that it's often beneficial to marry young, rather than waiting to finish college/grad school/whatever.
And I wanted to write this in order to be an encouragement to others, and to explain why we chose the life we did.
I wouldn't have life any other way.
{8/10/12 edit: Linking to the Perspectives on Life and Love Carnival at Modern Mrs. Darcy!}
{Linking up with all these fantastic blogs!}
Our plan to marry young was met with mixed reactions from our family, friends and acquaintances. Most of the people closest to us were very supportive and encouraging. Some of our family compared us to older, "more settled" adults they saw marrying--people in their thirties, out of college, holding steady and well-paying jobs, owning their own house. (Unfortunately, a few couples like that were living together before they were married.)
Joshua and I believe that following God's directives for our lives is always the best idea, and that includes marriage and relationships. We wanted to remain virgin till marriage, which we did, by the grace of God. We did not intend on living together before marriage, which we did not. We wanted to live our lives in a way that would best honor and glorify God, and we believe that they best way to do that was to marry sooner rather than later.
It was difficult enough for us to wait as long as we did. We both strongly desired to be married for a variety of reasons. We both feel that we can serve God better together than apart. And we wanted to honor him with our bodies. For those and other reasons, we chose to marry young.
Now, there are several good reasons why we should have waited to get married until we were older.
-We would have been out of college and (at least mostly) done with our education
-We would have had careers, steady jobs, and a more substantial income than we do now
-We would have been free to explore other activities and opportunities that college offers
-We could have enjoyed the benefits of remaining our parents' dependents for longer
-We could have become more mature and sure of ourselves
But there are many good reasons why we did marry when we did.
-We did not want to risk falling into temptation
-We can "finish growing up" together instead of separately
-We can begin learning how to be a good spouse now instead of later, when we might have learned bad habits
-We can enjoy the comfort and companionship of marriage now instead of desperately desiring it for any longer
-We can support each other in our faith and our walk with God much better
-We can start early in being independent and self-sufficient
-We can enjoy having relatively few responsibilities while we are still in college, and yet have the benefits of being married and independent
-We are learning responsibility, resourcefulness, and selflessness much better than if we were single
-We are saving money by living together off-campus and having jobs to support ourselves
-We have more years to enjoy as a married couple before children come to bless us
-Most importantly, we can serve God better together and seek to honor him in new ways that have become available to us
I could go on! I will never regret the decision we made. Our parents supported us completely, and we felt totally at peace with the decision we made. That was enough to make me sure that our choice was the right one.
I have several friends and acquaintances who also chose to marry before they finished school. I am so proud of them. But please don't take this post to mean that I think it's wrong to wait to get married! Every couple has to make the choice for themselves, and whether it's right or wrong depends on the couple. I just believe that it's often beneficial to marry young, rather than waiting to finish college/grad school/whatever.
And I wanted to write this in order to be an encouragement to others, and to explain why we chose the life we did.
I wouldn't have life any other way.
{8/10/12 edit: Linking to the Perspectives on Life and Love Carnival at Modern Mrs. Darcy!}
{Linking up with all these fantastic blogs!}
Monday, October 10, 2011
Lately I've Been Learning...
I've been learning lately that the ways I sometimes choose to love my husband aren't always the ways he needs to be loved. He feels loved when I love him in the way he needs to be, not the way I think he needs to be.
I've been learning lately that communication doesn't just mean talking. That's true for all of my relationships, not just marriage.
I've been learning lately that as frustrating my life seems sometimes, I have SO much to be thankful for. A lot of people out there have much less than I do.
I've been learning lately how gracious and loving God is, and how much of a sense of humor he has, even when disciplining me. (In church yesterday I was being judgmental of how the reader was reading, whispering to Joshua how I could read it better, and then they read the words "Always consider others better than yourselves." Zinger.)
I've been learning lately that I am much more relaxed when I have a clean house. A few minutes of cleaning equals a happier me. (So why is it so hard to get off my duff and do it??)
I've been learning lately that I really enjoy working out. I like how it makes me feel. Who knew?
Constantly I'm learning how to trust God...learning that he loves me unconditionally, just as I am...how to love my husband better...that he loves me for the person I am and not the one I want to become. And at the same time, both of them encourage me to grow.
I've been learning lately that communication doesn't just mean talking. That's true for all of my relationships, not just marriage.
I've been learning lately that as frustrating my life seems sometimes, I have SO much to be thankful for. A lot of people out there have much less than I do.
I've been learning lately how gracious and loving God is, and how much of a sense of humor he has, even when disciplining me. (In church yesterday I was being judgmental of how the reader was reading, whispering to Joshua how I could read it better, and then they read the words "Always consider others better than yourselves." Zinger.)
I've been learning lately that I am much more relaxed when I have a clean house. A few minutes of cleaning equals a happier me. (So why is it so hard to get off my duff and do it??)
I've been learning lately that I really enjoy working out. I like how it makes me feel. Who knew?
Constantly I'm learning how to trust God...learning that he loves me unconditionally, just as I am...how to love my husband better...that he loves me for the person I am and not the one I want to become. And at the same time, both of them encourage me to grow.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Humility and Perspective
So it was one of those mornings today. Where it seems like one thing after another goes wrong. To make it even more frustrating, most of the difficulties resulted from my own lack of responsibility. (I didn't order new contacts in time, so after having lost one I'm stuck with wearing just one until I can get more. I don't feel like I did very well on a test because I didn't study as much as I should have. And so on.)
It was very humbling to realize that the frustrations of today were basically all my own fault. There's no one else to blame.
It was also humbling, while I was alternately feeling sorry for myself and mentally kicking myself, to remember that compared to a lot of people, my troubles are really not very troubling. A lot of people would be thankful for even one contact lens to help them see better. (Kind of a corny example, but oh well.) Even more people would be thankful for the opportunity to get any kind of education, and here I am at an excellent university.
Millions of people won't be going home tonight in a car that works, to a nice home with electricity and water and heat, to eat supper out of a fridge and cupboards full of food.
When I think of how much I have, it's a lot harder to feel sorry for myself about the things I don't have. (Especially when it's my own fault I don't have them!)
Also, a missing contact and a low grade on a test are not the end of the world, not by a long shot. I was quite cheered up by two lovely friends after class, and I will be very grateful to be able to see clearly out of both eyes when I get more contacts. Never taking them for granted again, I hope!
Meanwhile, it's the weekend, the weather is gorgeous, I have an amazing husband with whom I get to hang out this weekend, and I have a God who teaches, reprimands, loves and forgives me.
What more do I need? :)
It was very humbling to realize that the frustrations of today were basically all my own fault. There's no one else to blame.
It was also humbling, while I was alternately feeling sorry for myself and mentally kicking myself, to remember that compared to a lot of people, my troubles are really not very troubling. A lot of people would be thankful for even one contact lens to help them see better. (Kind of a corny example, but oh well.) Even more people would be thankful for the opportunity to get any kind of education, and here I am at an excellent university.
Millions of people won't be going home tonight in a car that works, to a nice home with electricity and water and heat, to eat supper out of a fridge and cupboards full of food.
When I think of how much I have, it's a lot harder to feel sorry for myself about the things I don't have. (Especially when it's my own fault I don't have them!)
Also, a missing contact and a low grade on a test are not the end of the world, not by a long shot. I was quite cheered up by two lovely friends after class, and I will be very grateful to be able to see clearly out of both eyes when I get more contacts. Never taking them for granted again, I hope!
Meanwhile, it's the weekend, the weather is gorgeous, I have an amazing husband with whom I get to hang out this weekend, and I have a God who teaches, reprimands, loves and forgives me.
What more do I need? :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)