The Start of Something New

I've found that new beginnings don't always start with a new concept or situation.  Sometimes it has more to do with refining what we already know.  Starting over.  Getting a do-over.  Wiping the slate clean.  Or sometimes just taking what we know to a new level.  I feel like this year will be more of the latter.

A few weeks ago our Pastor spoke to my husband about our willingness to present a Financial Freedom class at our church.  We have had a lot of experience with Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University course.  We've taught it to individuals in our home and led a class a few years ago at church.  We accepted the responsibility to present the material.  We aren't financial gurus, we're just people who failed at this money thing and learned something in the process.

Our Financial Story

Nearly five years ago, our family went through a financial crisis.  My husband lost his job in a down-turned economy shortly after buying a house.  His masters degree in information technologies made no difference.  He was forced to work at McDonald's for nearly 10 months.  At minimum wage, we were no longer able to make our mortgage payments.  By the time my husband got another job that would cover the bills, the house was too far behind.  We were ignorant of how to handle such situations and ended up going through a foreclosure.

The foreclosure was handled by an unscrupulous attorney's office who was not forthcoming with information.  The sheriff served us with papers saying that we had 48 hours to vacate the premises one day before we received a letter from the attorney's office stating the foreclosure was complete.  It was a scary time.

Thankfully, in the time that my husband was working at McDonald's, I came across a book of Dave Ramsey's called Priceless at Goodwill.  I recognized the name but really didn't know anything about him.  When I flipped though it, I noticed that there were scriptures included and that Dave was interested in handling money God's way.  I bought the book for 99 cents.  It revolutionized my way of thinking.

It wasn't long before my husband jumped on board with the new ideas and we started implementing Dave's and the Bible's teachings on money.   When we were forced to move, we had money set aside that made the transition much easier.  We also had the knowledge to not make the same mistakes twice.

Since that time, we have been eager to share our story and the information that we've found with others that are in similar situations.  There are a lot of people who are hurting financially simply because they don't have the knowledge to handle it better. It is our privilege and our way of giving back to present the information that we have learned to others. Our first class was Tuesday.

I don't have it all figured out.  It's easy to slip back into old habits.  That's why teaching these financial classes are so good for my family.  It causes us to readjust and get motivated again.  So this year, I'm going to use what I already know and take it to a new level.

What is it that you want to improve in your life this year?

Almost Heaven

When we were at Goodwill just before New Year's Day, I went looking for a nice puzzle for our New Year's Eve tradition.  I came across a 1000  piece Thomas Kinkade puzzle with the picture of a man fishing alone in the middle of a beautiful mountain scene.  Immediately the image stuck me as perfect.

It took 3 days to complete the puzzle.  It nearly consumed me.  Every piece that clicked into place was a personal victory.  As the image started to take shape, I couldn't help contemplating the man in the picture and how he related to me.

Strange.  I know.

To be honest, I don't think the painting is one of Kinkade's best works.  The colors are very muted.  Almost boring.  The pink sunset blended with the heather mountains that blended with the clay rocks that blended into the stream that reflected the sunset.

So why did this image strike a chord with me?

It was the fisherman.  Wearing his red plaid shirt, he was the only spot of color.  He was alone in the vast expanse of beauty.  He was there because he chose to be.  Because he enjoyed taking a few minutes to be alone with his thoughts.  To be inside his own head for a while without any interruptions.  Maybe fishing wasn't his passion.  Maybe it was his excuse to get away from the noise.  Maybe this is how he recharged so he could face another day. He's an introvert like me.  This man in the painting.  Who has never lived a day.  I know him.

I did a quick Google search and found the name of this painting is Almost Heaven.  Fitting, I think.  A quiet place where I can relax without any demands on my time or energy is almost heaven for me.  However, I have a few extroverted friends that, though they would enjoy the beauty of a place like this, would be bored to death in about 2 minutes.  They suffocate in quiet.  I suffocate in noise.

I left the puzzle up for a day after it was finished.  More because I wanted to celebrate my perseverance and introversion than because I liked the picture.  I don't really.  It's not my style.  But I did enjoy the time of introspection.

The puzzle is in pieces again and will likely go back to Goodwill.

Giving of Time

I know most of us suffer something called "time poverty."  There just aren't enough hours in a day to accomplish all that we need to do, or think we need to do. We are always looking for time management techniques just so we can "make" more time.  I'm one of them.

On my way to clean my friend's house!

And sometimes I'm not.

I enjoy a lot of flexibility in my life.  I do run a household and school my children.  Both things could easily be a full time job on its own.  Our schedule is not etched in stone though, and I can squeeze time out of most any day.

Recently, I was asked by some very good friends, who are going through a tough time, for some help.  They both work full time and are in the process of selling their house.  The house is empty and needed to be cleaned before it could be shown.  However, neither of them had the time.

I'm very happy that on the first day of 2015 I was able to share some of my time with someone else.

Though it is true that each one of us only gets 24 hours each day, we can add time to someone's day by giving of ours.  I did the cleaning.  They checked it off their to-do list.

There are days when I don't have time to spare.  There are days when others share their time with me.  Time is one of the most precious gifts.  Often, it's the most valuable asset we have.

Welcome 2015!

Happy New Year to you all!

We rang in the new year about like we always do.  My husband went to bed by 11pm, my daughter fell asleep on the couch and my son and I stayed up putting together a puzzle.  When the clock turned over to midnight, we wished one another a Happy New Year, brushed our teeth and went to bed.  I suppose it's not the most exciting way to celebrate, but at least I can say that I saw 2015 tiptoe into our lives.

To kick things off today, I'm putting together lists of things to do this year.

 First is my book list.  You'll find it to the right of the page.  I'm a firm believer that if you want to make the best of life, you must obtain knowledge.  Books are key.

I've also found a 52 Weeks To An Organized Home list on Pinterest. It's not 100% fitting for my home, but close enough to be a good start. I'll start with my kitchen counters and sink today.  One organizational project a week should be doable.

I started a daily Bible reading program this morning.  I found a copy of The One Year Bible (New Living Translation) at Goodwill a few weeks ago.  It's set up with a passage from the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs daily.  And the Living translation will keep the reading light.  Generally I use the King James Version for my studies but I know myself, and "easier" will keep me engaged longer.  Preferably, for the whole year.

As far as typical resolutions, I guess I don't have any.

I really just want to continue doing the best I can every day.  Looking for better ways.  Implementing new ideas.  Being open to people.  Being frugal.  Reading.  Helping.

Our pastor recently spoke on considering what we can contribute to the church and the work of God and not just on what we get from it.

When Mary poured expensive perfume over Jesus' feet, she was taking the best she had, probably what would have been passed on when she died, and gave it to the Lord.  (John 12:3)

The message was to offer the best of our talents to God now and not have them still setting on a shelf when we die.

So this year, 2015, I'm giving the hashtag of #DoLifeBig and using Jamie Grace's song, Do Life Big, as my theme song.  I want to make sure I'm not holding back my best just for the sake of holding back.

So here's to a new beginning.  To doing my best.  To doing life big.  To new changes...  Of course, today is the first of the month and some things don't change.  Rent is due.  Oh, well. #DoLifeBig

Happy Thoughts for the New Year

It's New Year's Eve.  2014 is coming to a close tonight.  This time of year always causes me to pause and reflect.  I'm not one to make grand resolutions.  I've read the statistics and most resolutions don't last beyond Valentine's day.

I refuse to be a statistic. 

Instead, I look back over last year and think of the fun times, the difficult times, the things that worked well, the things that didn't work so well.  I take note of these things and then gather up my experiences and invest them into the new year.  What have I learned that will help me achieve some new goals in the next 365 days?

New beginnings can happen at any time of the year.  Any life change is a great time to reflect and start anew.  Marriage, divorce, birth, death, sickness, graduation, mountains, valleys.  It's refreshing to give yourself permission to start over.  To clear the slate.  Put the past where it belongs and look forward to possibilities.

Here's a few events that happened to me in 2014.

• January - Studied minimalism and got rid of tons of stuff.  Went all natural with my diet.
• February - Made all our food from scratch.
• March - Celebrated weddings and babies with our friends.  Suffered large amounts of snow and cold.
• April - The flu overtook us and the first signs of spring emerged.
• May- Closed the school year. Went to family reunion. Planted a garden.
• June - Celebrated 14 yr anniversary. Entertained lots of kids. Another family reunion. My best friend moved away.
• July - Feeling very lonely.  Withdrew to only spend time with my family.  Started our 2 week vacation.
• August- Enjoyed an incredible vacation to Kentucky! Didn't want to come home.
• September - Still in a funk.  Started the school year.
• October - Threw a fancy spa party for my daughter's 10th birthday.  Met the governor of Maine.  Organized a fall party for the children at church.
• November - My sister got divorced and my brother had brain surgery.  Thanksgiving at our house.
• December - Celebrated my son's 13th birthday. Heavily involved in Christmas events at church.  Trying to remain sane.

Some good, some bad.  I eventually came out of my funk.  I'm pretty sure I've traced it to hormones in the birth control I started taking in March.  I gave it 6 months to even out and it didn't.  So I went off again.  Nice try.  My all natural diet didn't go so well either.  Too much change gave me abdominal pain for months.  My sister's divorce has been painful to watch.  I'm hoping the new year has better things for her.  My brother's surgery was a success.  The entire tumor was removed and was not cancerous.  He has a long recovery ahead.

At the beginning of this new year, I'm already focused on how it will end.  I want to remember all the good that I possibly can.  I remember major events from last year, but I know there were lots of little things that made every day special.  So, for this year I have created a Happy Thoughts jar for my family to write down little things that make us happy.

I painted some labels with several coats of chalkboard paint and let them dry.

Then placed two labels on an empty candle jar and wrote Happy Thoughts on it with chalk.

I'm excited to watch the jar fill up.  I hope I'll need to get a bigger jar.