Managing Time

One thing I am struggling with lately, is learning how to manage my time effectively. Sure I have a schedule all written out. That's the easy part! The tough part is actually following my written schedule. So far I haven't been able to tackle that.

The only part I am consistent with is my coffee in the morning. After that, it's all down hill from there. I have to admit that I get very easily distracted and I'd rather do things that entertain me, than to do what's important, or as we call it in our home "first things first". There have been quite a few days wasted because I wanted to watch just one more episode of Star Trek, or I wanted to check my e-mail and facebook "really quickly". It never was "really quickly". Time flew by before I knew it and my day was pretty much gone. Dishes still needed to be washed and laundry still needed to be folded.

To be completely honest, I've also neglected to spend a lot of quality time with my man due to my distractions. He tries to let it roll off his back, but I can see that he sometimes gets hurt by it and I don't blame him! I'd be really hurt too if he'd rather spend his time doing other things than spending time with me. I'm really a blessed women to have a husband who treasures our time together and desires to spend time with me. His love language is quality time my goal from here on out is to show him I love him through his language (as a note, I'm writing this post while he is at church for worship team practice).

My other main goal from here on out is to get rid of my distraction and get my life back in order of God first, Husband second and home third. I'm looking forward to seeing the new blessings in my life as I work through this!

I'm ready for Spring

I don't know about you guys, but I'm ready for spring. As much as I do enjoy the cooler weather, I absolutely HATE the wind that comes with it. When the wind picks up here, my allergies get so bad and my skin dries out. I'm also ready to break out my cute skirts and spring-y outfits. I'm ready for warmer weather.

Things haven't changed much in our home. My husband is still out looking for work. There was a moment where something sounded promising, but it never panned out. Well, at least it seems that way. If God has that job in mind for Eric, it will happen. I have to admit, I am losing patience. Not with Eric, mind you, but with the whole process. With the whole country in a major recession, it just does not seem likely that Eric will find a job any time soon. I do get discouraged at times, but I just need to focus that God is greater than this and something bigger than we could ever imagine will come our way.

My job is okay. It's definitely not what I want to do at all and I often find myself getting discouraged at my situation, but I still remind myself that is a million times better than my old job and that my paycheck is really helping pay the bills. My only source of hope is that once Eric is in a steady job, I can quit this job and stay home. Finally! Looking back, I realized that I could have always stayed home. We are living on so little and and can still pay our bills and eat. I don't know why we never realized that to begin with!

As far as my baking adventures go, Eric and I and a friend of mine tried our hand at scones and lemon curd the other day. Eric worked on the lemon curd while my new found friend and I worked on the scones. They were so delicious! We will definitely be making those again. It's so fun to be able to be hospitable without spending a ton of money.

Well, that's it for now I guess. I will leave you guys with a cute picture of my snuggle bug, Stella.

A closeup of her sweet face!

I Got a Job!!!

God is so good.

I got a job as a part time office manager at an insurance company. The hours are great and I will still be able to take care of my home and still get some income for our bills. I'm so stoked! I will also be working for an awesome Christian man who treats his employees really well.

At first I wasn't sure if I should take the job. When we got laid off I really thought that this was God's way of getting me home. I was convinced I would not ever be returning to work. Eric however, didn't feel this was the time. He feels I will be home someday, but not now. He didn't want to crush my hopes, but after much praying and searching God's word, he still wasn't convinced.

We met with one of our pastors on Monday to get some direction. This pastor also happens to own the insurance company I will be working for. He prefaced the meeting by saying he has a job for me if I wanted it, but to not let that sway our decision. He told us to look over and pray over our budget. If we could really live on one income, he would understand if I didn't take the job. He had other people he could hire, but he wanted to give me the opportunity first, since I have 8 years office experience. He gave us a couple days to pray over it and get back to him.

Eric and I went home and looked over our budget. Even if Eric got a great paying job, it would be tight. We have already cut many things out of our budget (cable, Netflix, cutting back the cell phone plan to the bare minimum) and it would still be tight. We prayed over it and the more we prayed, the more we felt that I should take the job. For one, it will pay more than unemployment and two, if Eric did get a great paying job, we could use my income to pay off our debt in half the time. I called the pastor the next day to tell him I would take the job and he wants me to start my training on Monday!! That job is such a blessing.

I had mentioned to Eric that I have never looked for a job. Every job I have had has come to me. I know this is a God thing. There is no other explination!

Four in Row?!?!?!

I'm really taking advantage of being caught up at the moment. I know when I come back to work on Monday, I will be overwhelmed. When I have a down time, my brain just goes and goes, so I thought I would post on what's in my head.

Is it okay to have a change of heart? Just a couple months ago all I could think about was staying at home and having a baby. I think I was just so unhappy at work, anything sounded good to me. Now that I'm happy, I really feel that I could wait a few more years till I have a kid (sorry mom!). I'm only 26, so I can wait a couple more years. Many women have kids in their 30's and it works out fine! Eric and I both enjoy our time together and we don't feel the need to have a kid right now. We like the idea of being able to go where we want, when we want and not have to worry about a babysitter, or lugging a bunch of baby stuff everywhere. We like sleeping in on Saturdays and having an occasional "lazy day" here and there. Okay, I admit it, we are spoiled and we like it that way.

Now, if God has other plans in mind for us and I got pregnant before we felt we were ready to have a a baby, we would be fine with that because we know God has better things in mind for us. I'm always open and ready for God's will and we would make it work if I just so happened to get pregnant.

I don't know. I'm just really happy with the way our lives are going right now and I want to keep it that way. I don't feel the *need* to have a kid, so I'm not worrying about it.

I've pretty much stopped reading some of the "mommy blogs" I used to. Some of them were so anti working women I just started to feel discouraged and I questioned weather or not I was a good wife. After Eric assured me I was a great wife, I re-evaluated a few things and prayed over what makes a wife good helper, and I realized (with the help of my man) that I AM helping him by working.

I shouldn't have to feel sorry about that. I shouldn't feel discouraged because I enjoy working. I shouldn't feel like an awful wife because I only do laundry and clean my house on the weekends instead of every day, or make a fancy dinner every night (or ever). I should feel like a good helper because I'm serving my husband in the way that he wants. Not the way that other women serve their husbands.

All in all, I know I am at the place where God wants me. Shouldn't that be what matters most?