So today's been a little crazy but I wanted to share something that I've been pondering and see if anyone else had thoughts to share.
I think most parents would say that they want their children to have a great education. If they think that's possible or not is a topic for another day but the question is this - What would a great education look like to you? How would it be organized? How would you measure it? What standard would you judge it by?
I'll share some of my ideas tomorrow!
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Conquering Finances Part 2: Creating a Budget Worksheet
So last week's goal was to figure out what our income is and what our expenses are. Now we need to get that information into a format that helps us to look more closely at what we are doing and keep track of everything.
Here is an example of a spreadsheet that I've set up and how it would look at the beginning of the month before any money has come in or gone out. I tried to use some standard figures for incomes and expenses in the United States.
As you may notice this budget isn't balanced yet. The important thing is that now we can look at it and recognize that it isn't balanced and know how much we need to cut. We also now have the areas of expenses listed so we can see which ones we might be able to cut some from in order to make it balanced or how much more we need to make in income.
The categories I have listed are ones that I've found useful. Your family may want to divide things differently. Another thing that we've done in our family is to divide up which expenses will be paid by whom. For example EC takes care of most of our fixed expenses that don't change much like our Mortgage, Insurance, etc. I take care of some of those flexible ones like food and clothes. Doing so has helped us not worry that the bills haven't been paid or that we're going to double up on something and overspend.
Another thing about the way that I've set my budget up that I've found to be useful is the "Carryover" category. It's basically my cheat version of a savings account. If I get to the end of the month and have extra in a category I can save it to help with the following month's expenses. This has been really helpful in planning ahead for bigger purchases and expenses so I know the money is already there instead of trying to squeeze the whole cost into one month's budget.
If anyone is interested in using the spreadsheet that I've made or having me modify it for them for free please e-mail me at deliberatelydeborah@gmail.com. There are also tons of free budget worksheets and templates online that you can find with a Google search!
Here is an example of a spreadsheet that I've set up and how it would look at the beginning of the month before any money has come in or gone out. I tried to use some standard figures for incomes and expenses in the United States.
The categories I have listed are ones that I've found useful. Your family may want to divide things differently. Another thing that we've done in our family is to divide up which expenses will be paid by whom. For example EC takes care of most of our fixed expenses that don't change much like our Mortgage, Insurance, etc. I take care of some of those flexible ones like food and clothes. Doing so has helped us not worry that the bills haven't been paid or that we're going to double up on something and overspend.
Another thing about the way that I've set my budget up that I've found to be useful is the "Carryover" category. It's basically my cheat version of a savings account. If I get to the end of the month and have extra in a category I can save it to help with the following month's expenses. This has been really helpful in planning ahead for bigger purchases and expenses so I know the money is already there instead of trying to squeeze the whole cost into one month's budget.
If anyone is interested in using the spreadsheet that I've made or having me modify it for them for free please e-mail me at deliberatelydeborah@gmail.com. There are also tons of free budget worksheets and templates online that you can find with a Google search!
Monday, January 13, 2014
Monday Gospel Musings: Learning to Love the Old Testament
So for Latter-day Saints in Sunday School this year we are studying the Old Testament. I have a bit of a confession and I know it may seem unbelievable but I've never really liked the Old Testament. I just never could wrap my head around it and figure out what it had to do with me. Sure some of the stories are great but I would kind of stick to the basic Primary versions of what I knew and leave all the rest of that non-sense for another time. I just simply as a whole never thought of the Old Testament as the really spiritually nourishing food for thought that I found in the other books. I mean seriously I never figured out what was going on with half of the people in there - I mean Jonah and Sampson and David and well, pretty much everyone if you really start getting into their stories had some deep issues and it just didn't make sense!
Well back in October I started in on the challenge from Heather at Women in the Scriptures to read the standard works in a year specifically looking at women in the scriptures. You can check it out for more details on her blog. Anyways, I started off in the Old Testament and something amazing has happened. I finally am learning to love the Old Testament. Really love it!
Some of the history and customs and stuff still confuse me and because of the challenge it's not my intent to really dig into those this time around although I look forward to doing so sometime in the near future after I'm done with this. Like I said, a big part of my avoidance of the Old Testament is that I never really understood how so many of these people are considered heroes and role-models when it's obvious that they did a lot of bad things. This time I think I'm beginning to understand. I think perhaps age has gifted me a lesson that I desperately needed to learn.
Being a hero doesn't mean that you are perfect. God calls imperfect people all the time. As Elder Holland said in the April 2013 General Conference - "Except in the case of His only perfect Begotten Son, imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. That must be terribly frustrating to Him, but He deals with it. So should we. And when you see imperfection, remember that the limitation is not in the divinity of the work."
These people weren't perfect. David was considered an adulterer and murderer. Sampson had women issues. Rachel stole idols. Sarah laughed. Pretty much everyone had their problems that they had to work through. We don't get to see a lot of those behind the scenes moments that help us to sort out the different sides to their story but what we can see is that the Lord took these imperfect people and accomplished great things through them. He did it because He loved them and He wanted the very best for His people. He looked beyond their limitations and tried to help them see something greater in themselves. I think we know these people as heroes now not because they were perfect. We know them as heroes because even with all of their faults and failures they did their best to love God and let Him work through them, and were able to be blessed and bless others because of it. That's something that I can feast on with joy.
What are some of your favorite Old Testament stories and people?
Well back in October I started in on the challenge from Heather at Women in the Scriptures to read the standard works in a year specifically looking at women in the scriptures. You can check it out for more details on her blog. Anyways, I started off in the Old Testament and something amazing has happened. I finally am learning to love the Old Testament. Really love it!
Some of the history and customs and stuff still confuse me and because of the challenge it's not my intent to really dig into those this time around although I look forward to doing so sometime in the near future after I'm done with this. Like I said, a big part of my avoidance of the Old Testament is that I never really understood how so many of these people are considered heroes and role-models when it's obvious that they did a lot of bad things. This time I think I'm beginning to understand. I think perhaps age has gifted me a lesson that I desperately needed to learn.
Being a hero doesn't mean that you are perfect. God calls imperfect people all the time. As Elder Holland said in the April 2013 General Conference - "Except in the case of His only perfect Begotten Son, imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. That must be terribly frustrating to Him, but He deals with it. So should we. And when you see imperfection, remember that the limitation is not in the divinity of the work."
These people weren't perfect. David was considered an adulterer and murderer. Sampson had women issues. Rachel stole idols. Sarah laughed. Pretty much everyone had their problems that they had to work through. We don't get to see a lot of those behind the scenes moments that help us to sort out the different sides to their story but what we can see is that the Lord took these imperfect people and accomplished great things through them. He did it because He loved them and He wanted the very best for His people. He looked beyond their limitations and tried to help them see something greater in themselves. I think we know these people as heroes now not because they were perfect. We know them as heroes because even with all of their faults and failures they did their best to love God and let Him work through them, and were able to be blessed and bless others because of it. That's something that I can feast on with joy.
What are some of your favorite Old Testament stories and people?
Friday, January 10, 2014
Food for Thought Friday: Crockpot Cooking Pintrest Reviews
We tried this recipe for CrockPot Chicken and Dumplings this week. Personally I thought it could have been more stew-like but overall everyone really loved it and it was pretty easy so I'll give it an 8 out of 10.
This one I tried on a chance just for me. I actually figured I'd end up with the kids wanting to have something else. Monkey tried it and declared it passable although she wasn't too impressed. Tiger who is usually my pickiest eater was nervous at first but after he tried it he gobbled it up and asked for more. Yet again, another super easy recipe to make as well. Another 8 out of 10.
This one I've made a couple of times now. I can't have sweets really so I'm relying on the general family opinion and hands down they love it! Actually Monkey and Tiger asked if I could make some today while they're at school so it'll be ready when they get home. Can't go wrong with biscuits covered with cinnamon, sugar, and butter! 9 out of 10
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Conquering Finances: Part 1 - Starting with a budget
I'm a stay-at-home Mom. I've done a few things here and there to try and help us out financially but in reality pretty much everything we have is based around my husband's paycheck. My husband isn't some big-shot CEO or stock-whiz-kid. He's got a pretty average paying job in i.t. So things are tight. Right now the economy is set up where expenses are based on a two-income home for families.
So how do we do it? Well, there's a couple of things that have helped. I'll be honest that our families and others have helped us out in the past and still do in some ways although thankfully as time has gone on we've been able to do more on our own. Another thing is that thankfully neither of us are big spenders. Two of the biggest things though I believe are that we follow the commandment to pay our tithing first and that we've learned to make budgets and stick with them.
I've seen a lot of tips and tricks and such for dealing with finances but over the next while I'll be trying to do a post a week about the lessons we've learned along the way in hopes that it can help another family out there too!
The goal for this week is pretty simple. For this week go ahead and figure out what your family earns in a month. Then figure out what your family spends in a month. Right now you might not have a detailed accounting of what money goes to food, gas, entertainment etc. Don't worry about that if it's not there - go with what you do know. You probably can find power bills, phone bills, credit card statements and the like without too much problem. Write all of those things down somewhere or enter them into a database. Once you've done that, it should make it easy to find out if you're making more than you are spending. If you are - don't worry, we'll get there! The important thing for this week is just simply to learn where you stand right now!
So how do we do it? Well, there's a couple of things that have helped. I'll be honest that our families and others have helped us out in the past and still do in some ways although thankfully as time has gone on we've been able to do more on our own. Another thing is that thankfully neither of us are big spenders. Two of the biggest things though I believe are that we follow the commandment to pay our tithing first and that we've learned to make budgets and stick with them.
I've seen a lot of tips and tricks and such for dealing with finances but over the next while I'll be trying to do a post a week about the lessons we've learned along the way in hopes that it can help another family out there too!
The goal for this week is pretty simple. For this week go ahead and figure out what your family earns in a month. Then figure out what your family spends in a month. Right now you might not have a detailed accounting of what money goes to food, gas, entertainment etc. Don't worry about that if it's not there - go with what you do know. You probably can find power bills, phone bills, credit card statements and the like without too much problem. Write all of those things down somewhere or enter them into a database. Once you've done that, it should make it easy to find out if you're making more than you are spending. If you are - don't worry, we'll get there! The important thing for this week is just simply to learn where you stand right now!
Monday, January 6, 2014
Monday Gospel Musings: Made of Clay
There was a song back when I was in my teen-age years that we used to love in Young Women's (the LDS church group for girls aged 12-17). I can't remember all of it now but I think it was called the Masterpiece. Part of it went something like this
One of my gifts in life is that at an early age I was taught the power and need for obedience. I wanted to be that clay that so willingly lent itself to the Master's perfect hand. Even still, if someone I trust tells me to do something more likely than not I have no problem following orders (or at least trying to until my procrastination kicks in, but that's a different story). Overall this gift has worked out pretty well for me over the years. Sometimes though it's proved a bit problematic- mostly in my teens as the people I thought I could trust weren't always as trustworthy or reliable as I had thought they were.
Now as an adult, a wife, and mother, and daughter of God I'm finding a whole new layer to the problems that this can cause. Because I am so used to relying on the judgement and wisdom of others I often second-guess myself. I want to wait until someone tells me I'm right before I move ahead with any serious decisions. When something big looms before me I feel like unless someone else tells me exactly what to do that I am going to mess it up.
Our family has had a lot of big changes in the past while and we're looking at more. I'm at a point now where I am rethinking a lot of how I view my life and deciding what I want my future to look like. It's exhilarating and frightening all at once. It's exhilarating because I feel like there's so much hope and possibility in these dreams. Frightening because those doubts keep telling me I'm crazy and I should really consult with someone who will give me an honest opinion of my sanity before I really do go off the deep end.
Well I've been praying and reading and searching for those extra conformations that what I'm doing is right and mostly I've felt very at peace. Then I return again to my doubts and want even more proof that I'm not just imagining it because that's what I want to feel. A bit neurotic but like I said, the blessing of obedience has it's challenges.
Finally this past weekend the peace has really started to sink in. Here's what I realized. I am right - to an extent. Here's the thing about clay - the land that we used to own was full packed with fields of clay that were dry and hard and totally unsuitable as it was for being able to craft anything from. Clay can be too yielding though as well. If the clay we work with is too wet it can't hold a form. The coils have to be made out of something that still hold its shape without being too tough.
I think that Heavenly Father wants us to be like the clay. We need to be moldable and ready to be worked with, but a part of that comes as we are ourselves and are able to be more than just a muddy puddle. He wants us to have ideas and interests and dreams that are our own and bring those things to Him for perfecting. Sometimes we may be off base in what we are hoping for and He may have to craft us differently than we had planned but what He's doing isn't necessarily making what's there good but rather finding the best way to use the good that's already there.
There's a scripture in the Doctrine & Covenants Section 58:26-29 that says
When we are damned we are stopped from progressing. I think it's interesting that He says that we already have the power within us to do good and unless we learn to use that and do good things because we want to and not because someone's told us it's what we need to do we stop our progression in being like Heavenly Father. The major requirement for progress is a desire to do something good.
For me still, yes sometimes I think it would be a lot easier if life came with blueprints of all the choices to be made so we could always trust that what we were doing was good. Seems as though that fits more with what Lucifer had in mind and I already rejected that plan for a better one. Guess I need to take those next babysteps into the darkness, give the Master the very best of me, and trust Him to do His work.
"Simple clay in a potter's hand
an empty page and an author's pen
an artist's brush to a canvas white
and a work of art, comes to life
"Marble raw but the Master sees
the masterpiece that lies beneath
the rough hand of the Master's touch
can change this life into a work of love
"So everyday I pray,
He'll write His will upon my heart
mold my soul to His design
with refining floods and flames
He's smoothing edges and the seams
and in time, time, time,
oh this simple life, will be
a masterpiece."
One of my gifts in life is that at an early age I was taught the power and need for obedience. I wanted to be that clay that so willingly lent itself to the Master's perfect hand. Even still, if someone I trust tells me to do something more likely than not I have no problem following orders (or at least trying to until my procrastination kicks in, but that's a different story). Overall this gift has worked out pretty well for me over the years. Sometimes though it's proved a bit problematic- mostly in my teens as the people I thought I could trust weren't always as trustworthy or reliable as I had thought they were.
Now as an adult, a wife, and mother, and daughter of God I'm finding a whole new layer to the problems that this can cause. Because I am so used to relying on the judgement and wisdom of others I often second-guess myself. I want to wait until someone tells me I'm right before I move ahead with any serious decisions. When something big looms before me I feel like unless someone else tells me exactly what to do that I am going to mess it up.
Our family has had a lot of big changes in the past while and we're looking at more. I'm at a point now where I am rethinking a lot of how I view my life and deciding what I want my future to look like. It's exhilarating and frightening all at once. It's exhilarating because I feel like there's so much hope and possibility in these dreams. Frightening because those doubts keep telling me I'm crazy and I should really consult with someone who will give me an honest opinion of my sanity before I really do go off the deep end.
Well I've been praying and reading and searching for those extra conformations that what I'm doing is right and mostly I've felt very at peace. Then I return again to my doubts and want even more proof that I'm not just imagining it because that's what I want to feel. A bit neurotic but like I said, the blessing of obedience has it's challenges.
Finally this past weekend the peace has really started to sink in. Here's what I realized. I am right - to an extent. Here's the thing about clay - the land that we used to own was full packed with fields of clay that were dry and hard and totally unsuitable as it was for being able to craft anything from. Clay can be too yielding though as well. If the clay we work with is too wet it can't hold a form. The coils have to be made out of something that still hold its shape without being too tough.
I think that Heavenly Father wants us to be like the clay. We need to be moldable and ready to be worked with, but a part of that comes as we are ourselves and are able to be more than just a muddy puddle. He wants us to have ideas and interests and dreams that are our own and bring those things to Him for perfecting. Sometimes we may be off base in what we are hoping for and He may have to craft us differently than we had planned but what He's doing isn't necessarily making what's there good but rather finding the best way to use the good that's already there.
There's a scripture in the Doctrine & Covenants Section 58:26-29 that says
"For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.
"Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;
"For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.
When we are damned we are stopped from progressing. I think it's interesting that He says that we already have the power within us to do good and unless we learn to use that and do good things because we want to and not because someone's told us it's what we need to do we stop our progression in being like Heavenly Father. The major requirement for progress is a desire to do something good.
For me still, yes sometimes I think it would be a lot easier if life came with blueprints of all the choices to be made so we could always trust that what we were doing was good. Seems as though that fits more with what Lucifer had in mind and I already rejected that plan for a better one. Guess I need to take those next babysteps into the darkness, give the Master the very best of me, and trust Him to do His work.
Friday, January 3, 2014
Lessons I've Learned from Winter
 |
| A Snowy Winter Sunrise from my Window |
Well, then my EC and I moved to New England. It's now my 10th winter here and there are some things that experiencing a real winter has taught me.
- There is absolutely no substitute for a White Christmas.
- Hot chocolate and warm apple cider can only be really appreciated after a good long romp in the cold.
- Half the fun of playing in the snow is the falling.
- In New England you spend 6-7 months with cold and snow. You spend the other 5-6 months trying to get ready for it.
- Heating with wood warms you up twice - once when you chop it and then again when you burn it!
- There's nothing quite like a cozy fire on a cold snowy day.
- NEVER tick off someone who drives a plow. (not that I've done it but seriously these are the guys that you want to be friends with!)
- Keep the shovel close to the door.
- When waking on snow be careful where you step, you never know when you might sink in up to your hip!
- A small patch of ice can take down just about anybody so watch your step there too!
- The coldest and harshest things of life can also be the most beautiful.
- Snow really is like magic fairy dust for kids. It makes them light up in excitement.
- Kids have nothing on teachers when it comes to waiting anxiously to hear a snow day announcement.
- Sometimes no matter what you wish or how hard you work the snow keeps coming and all you can do is keep on shoveling.
- Be prepared for the worst and you won't have to worry. (or face the crowds at the stores of everyone else rushing at the last minute to stock up before the storm)
- There's something amazing about going to sleep and waking up with everything covered in white.
- There comes a point in time where you just have to stop looking at the thermometer because all in all it's just plain cold.
- You can listen to all the weather forecasts and updates you want but Mother Nature will still do as she pleases and surprise you.
- No matter how long, how cold, how deep the snow, spring eventually comes in all its glory. Then again before you know it, winter will be back again too :-)
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
A Fresh Start
Just a few thoughts as we begin the new year. I've really enjoyed the past month or so with not really doing anything with the blog. Still, it's a new year and a fresh start. The snow outside my window has dusted everything in the white of a new beginning. I kind of like how winter starts the year. The slate seems wiped clean and ready for all sorts of grand adventure.
Just for fun here are some of my guides as I begin this year.
- Do it now! - I'm really bad about procrastinating everything and I've come to realize over the past year just how much this has effected my life in a negative way so I'm making a guide goal of if I can do it now I go ahead and get it done.
- Today there is Only Love. - I really think that if we base all of our actions on Love of God, Love of ourselves, and love of everyone around us that a lot of the problems that we face and that the world faces just kind of melt away.
- Bit by Bit, Line upon Line. - Another thing that I think I've had a problem with in the past is that I tend to look at things from a really far distance and only look at the big goals and forget that the only way to get there is little bit by little bit and something as simple as 15 minutes a day working toward a goal can really add up in the end.
- Don't Give Up When a Step is Missed. - I love watching the Olympics. One of the big things I saw as I watched those athletes growing up was that sometimes the beauty was in a "flawless" performance. Often it came though as an athlete fell, picked themselves up again and just kept going with all they had. It's another lesson that's hard for me - it's okay to make mistakes as long as you don't give up.
Happy January First!
Just for fun here are some of my guides as I begin this year.
- Do it now! - I'm really bad about procrastinating everything and I've come to realize over the past year just how much this has effected my life in a negative way so I'm making a guide goal of if I can do it now I go ahead and get it done.
- Today there is Only Love. - I really think that if we base all of our actions on Love of God, Love of ourselves, and love of everyone around us that a lot of the problems that we face and that the world faces just kind of melt away.
- Bit by Bit, Line upon Line. - Another thing that I think I've had a problem with in the past is that I tend to look at things from a really far distance and only look at the big goals and forget that the only way to get there is little bit by little bit and something as simple as 15 minutes a day working toward a goal can really add up in the end.
- Don't Give Up When a Step is Missed. - I love watching the Olympics. One of the big things I saw as I watched those athletes growing up was that sometimes the beauty was in a "flawless" performance. Often it came though as an athlete fell, picked themselves up again and just kept going with all they had. It's another lesson that's hard for me - it's okay to make mistakes as long as you don't give up.
Happy January First!
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