Change is Inevitable!

Things change all the time.  The grocery store or manufacturers change the prices. Places change their policies. Job descriptions change. Our tastes and likes all change all the time. The challenge in life is to not get hung up on the changes and just roll with it. One thing I've learnt as a parent is if it's not working, try something else. I see people all the time who are scared to death of change, but miserable in their current situation., stuck and unhappy with the consequences of their actions but unwilling to accept that something has got to change.

For the last couple years I have been constantly working to change myself and become who God wants me to be and be a person that I can be proud of all the time. I realized that I needed to change from the inside out. I realized that I kept doing things and acting ways the same way every day and expecting a different outcome. Isn't that the definition of insanity? To keep doing something the exact same way over and over again expecting a different outcome?  I realized that I kept eating the same way and expected to be thinner. I kept the same routine day in and day out and expected to be more organized and less forgetful.  I treated everyone around me the same way and wondered why they don't treat me with respect in return.

Then one day I realized that I wasn't living the same principles that I was trying to teach my children. I tell them all the time that they are responsible for their own actions and if they treat others better then others will eventually start treating them better. Once I realized I had to take responsibility for every action I make every single day I began to make changes.

I've been gradually changing my diet and my activity levels and began very, very slowly losing weight. I've been room by room and drawer by drawer cleaning and organizing my house. I've been looking for and implementing ways to keep me focused and on task and low and behold my life is becoming less hectic and more organized even though I've actually taken on more responsibilities. (amazing how that happens!!) I've always been a pretty laid back person, or so I thought. I am finding out that I actually thrive on routine and structure and become very agitated and stressed with chaos. Who knew?

So, I finally feel like I have a hold of this homeschooling thing. I can handle the house-cleaning. I am becoming the person I want to be instead of wishful thinking. The flip side of the responsibility coin is that I can take credit for doing something about it. I can be proud........and thank God for his provision and guidance of course.  Are you afraid of change? Or are you fed up with who you are today?

Couponing Haul for July

Last year I began couponing and stocked up on some necessities like body wash and toothpaste and once I had several months worth I stopped couponing. It's been over a year and that supply is long gone. Recently with the rising costs of goods pushing my budget to the limit I decided to get back into it and really focus on saving money. My goal is to stock up on as many items that I can get for free or almost free and make my weekly grocery/household budget stretch even further.

I want to start showing my scores and what I saved and spent so that I can track how well I am doing.

Here is last year's article I wrote on couponing. I still need to go back and finish Part 2.

http://therealmamat.blogspot.com/2010/06/saving-money-rocks-i-am-sure-that-most.html#links

Here's my finds from this week. I suspect that next weeks hauls may be better at the pharmacy but we will see.

Target

3 Vitamin Waters
1 Nexcare Shrek Waterproof Band aids
3 trial size St. Ives Body wash
1 pkg of Paper Mate pens

 Paid $2.47 OOP

CVS

2 Oral B Indicator Brushes
2 Crest Cavity Protection Toothbrushes

Pd $5.00 OOP
GB $4 in extra care bucks
Makes my cost $1

Walgreens

1 pkg Expo Washable markers
3 pkgs Carefree pantyliner
2 boxes ct of 10 number 2 pencils
2 Mitchums Women's Deodorants

Pd $8.65 OOP
GB $4 in extra care bucks
Makes my cost $4.65

That's a total of just over $16 OOP that I spent this week on a whole bunch of items that I actually needed and I got back $8 in rewards to use at a later time. That brings my total cost down to $8.12 for the week on 20 items.  Not too bad if I say so myself.

How are you doing with couponing?

The End of Homeschooling?

Here is an interesting article I found on the End of Homeschooling?  This probably doesn't mean what you think it means.  It's a little long but has some great information on the history of mainstream schooling through history.

The End of Homeschooling

Read the article, then tell me what you think. Are you HOME-schooling or home-SCHOOLing?

Damaging, Words of Death: Gossip

A recent situation in my life has me praying and reaching for the bible even more than usual. In researching some key bible verses online, I came across this site about Gossip and doing the devil's work for him. It has some great information in it.

http://www.towards-success.com/dejnarde_files/bible_study_gossip.htm

The whole article was quite an eye opener for me. Here's the most pertinent part for the situation in my life.

Detect gossip. To stop gossip, you must recognize it. But how? God has provided you with a gossip-detection system. Let's take a look at that system, described in Bible verse Philippians 4:8. The first criteria for proper communication is that it be true. You should not listen to or say anything that is not true. In fact, you or the person telling you should be able to prove that it is true. "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good" (Bible verse I Thessalonians 5:21, KJV). If it can't be proven, it shouldn't be listened to or spoken of.

But what if it is true? Should you get involved? Not unless it's noble. The information should not in any way tarnish the character, name or reputation of another person. Any hint of disrespect should set off an alarm in your mind that shouts "Gossip!" Paul goes even further by declaring that the information must be just. This means you should not discuss or listen to discussions about the sins of others. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," says Bible verse Romans 3:23. "He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates the best of friends" (Bible verse Proverbs 17:9).

Another important part of our gossip detection system is purity. The words must be pure. In our sick society, blasphemy and profanity almost have become proper etiquette. "Their throat is an open tomb... whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness" (Bible verses Proverbs 3:13-14).

Keep your ears and mouth pure. Accept only lovely things into your mind ---- things that effect you and others in a positive, uplifting way. Make sure the words you speak and hear are of good report. Bad news bombards us constantly. Human nature seems to thrive on bad news. "For their heart devises violence, and their lips talk of troublemaking" (Bible verse Proverbs 24:2). Paul tells us to avoid bad reports.

Use the gossip detectors of truth, honor, righteousness, purity, loveliness and good reports to stop gossip.

Speak to edify. In the same Bible verse 8 of Philippians 4, Paul says that we should speak words of virtue. Virtuous words are words of excellence and value, words that produce good fruits, that build up the speaker, listener and everyone else.

Speak words of praise ---- words that praise the great works of God. Talk about His great creation in all of his wonderful glory. Talk about God's Work on earth today ---- the Work that's spreading the good news of the Kingdom of God. Speak words of praise about the good in other people. Encourage others to do their best. Comfort other people when they are discouraged.

In short, use your tongue to bring life ---- not death!

What does "Friendship" mean to you?

What does it really mean to be a friend to someone? My sister and I have been having some interesting conversations lately about friends. I guess as I am getting older I am just finding out who my real "friends" are and it's shocking to realize that it's not who you thought.  We were discussing who in our lives we thought we could count on and as we get older and wiser the list continues to get shorter and shorter. Sometimes it can be a hard pill to swallow.

I've always tried to be the best friend I could be and I am examining my actions and motives as well. I don't want to let any one down either.

Here's one quote that kind of resonated with me a little more than usual.

"True friendship isn't about being there when it's convenient; it's about being there when it's not.”

So what does being a TRUE FRIEND mean to you? What do you look for in a good friend? How do you think you've been a good friend?  (answers coming soon and we will revisit this in more detail)

Spring Break!

It figures it would take Spring Break to get me blogging on here again.  The kids are out of school, that includes my homeschooled girls. So no curriculum planning this week. Wahoo! However I do have some papers to get graded before the end of the week.

Since I have a somewhat lighter load this week I am running down my list of spring cleaning and yard projects that I normally don't have time to get done. It's kept me busy....physically so I am getting my daily exercise in... and mentally as well so I am not stressing about some things we have going on in our lives at the moment.

Some of the things I have gotten done this week:

starting my garden, completed my second raised bed, tilled both garden beds
sprayed for bugs around our house
sprayed for weeds around the house
cleaned out the hot tub
bathed the dog
built a shoe rack for our coat closet
completely emptied and cleaned our fish tank (first time in 2 years)
got rid of a lot of clutter around the house
fixed 4 broken sinks in the house by myself
steam cleaned our carpet on the stairs

Still on my list to do this week:

start the seeds for the garden
refinish our kitchen table
clean and paint our kitchen chairs
paint the kids' bathroom
touch up paint in other rooms
repaint baseboards and molding in other parts of the house

That's a lot of things to do.  I don't know. Do you think I will get them all done?

Why do Churches hate on other Churches? Aren't we all on the same team?

This has been bothering me for some time. I see it all the time. I hear the comments and insults. And it doesn't stop with me. My children are even subject to the criticism. You see, I am an Elevator. I go to Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC. I have attended Elevation for more than two years now, since January 2009.


I credit the Lord, Jesus Christ, with my salvation and for moving heaven and earth to get me where I needed to be during one of the hardest seasons in my life. But beyond that I can say that Elevation and Pastor Steven Furtick are the reason that I am here today and that all 5 members of my family are saved by the Grace of God and have all been baptised. God is first, but Elevation was the tool that he used to change our lives.

We were once skeptics of the larger church too. We thought we wanted to be involved in the more traditional church. We thought that we wouldn't like the loud music or the contemporary feel of the large church. Boy, were we wrong. My kids love it, asking to go back every Sunday. Since our journey began with Elevation two years ago I can count on my hands how many times we have missed a service. We look forward to hearing the Lord's word every Sunday and renewing our spirit in fellowship and worship. My whole family has volunteered and my husband is regularly involved in running lights during Sunday morning services.

Here is my issue. We hear all kinds of comments made about Elevation and the worst comments come from other Christians who attend other churches, or worse, from other Pastors. We've heard that Elevation is a cult because of it's magnetic effect and how it draws people to it. We've heard that Elevation has too much money. We even had a man make a comment that he didn't realize we were christian because we attend Elevation. I've heard that all Elevation does is give out t-shirts to the kids. Why would you make such comments? Why do we continue to tear down others instead of building them up? Aren't we all on the same team? Isn't our goal to bring the lost to Jesus? When did we decide that other churches must be wrong because they don't do things the same way as we do?

I am saddened by these comments and its been on my heart for awhile now. We are on the same team people. If people are leaving your church in droves to attend Elevation, don't blame Elevation. Maybe it's time to examine your method. If Elevation's membership each week is increasing exponentially, shouldn't that inspire you to do something to increase membership at your church, not point fingers because your membership is dropping? The money thing irks me. Elevation has too much money? We give to God and he uses Elevation to do amazing things with our money. It inspires us to give more and give sacrificially. Isn't that what God tells us to do? And the t-shirts. Yes we give a t-shirt to each first-time guest. After that you have to volunteer your time with the church to get a shirt that corresponds with the sermon series at that time. Yes the kids and teens really like to get the t-shirts and they collect them like badges or pins of pride, but it gives them something to show for their hard work and volunteer hours. It's a great conversation piece when you are in public and someone asks you about it. No the shirts aren't necessary to teach the Gospel, but it's no different then having a festival or play at church hoping to draw in some non-believers. They aren't necessary either but most churches host them.

It's time to put aside our differences and rejoice in our Saviour. He is the reason and the light. We don't care if you attend Lee Park, Southbrook or any other church. Each Church fills a need in the community. Maybe your calling is different from Elevation's, but that doesn't mean that Elevation is doing something wrong. We are doing what we were called to do. We don't criticize your church or your Pastor, please don't criticize mine or make disparaging remarks about my faith. I am Christian. I love my Lord God with all my heart. I do the best that I can do to walk the straight and narrow though I often fail, but isn't that what God's Grace is all about?

Pastor Furtick is teaching an awesome sermon series on Honor that you should hear. It's called Honorology. It's about giving Honor to those that God tells you to Honor regardless of whether we feel that they've earned it and that there is a difference between honor and respect. Maybe you should listen to it sometime. Maybe we should be honoring our community churches and their Pastors instead of criticizing those who don't do things exactly like us. Pastor Furtick recently did a video called Hey Haters. I have read the comments online that he's Hating on the Haters. If that's what you got out of that video, then I feel sorry for you. The whole point is that we are not going to let haters stop the momentum of this church to reach those far from Christ. He's talking about the ones who nitpick at churches about every little thing from the volume of the music to the colors of the flowers on the pulpit. You know, the ones that church hop from one to the next because the Pastor wouldn't give in to them. He's talking about those that will take one comment out of context and then twist it to mean what they want it to mean instead of listening to the entire message. He's talking about those who judge others before examining their own motives for doing so. What is your motive?

Elevation is doing something amazing in my community. Pastor Steven Furtick is changing lives every day and sticking to his calling, So that people far from God will be filled with life in Christ. Isn't that the point of it all?

Here is the Hey Haters video

Here is the Honorology Series


I hope that maybe this struck a chord with some of you and that I've conveyed my thoughts as I have intended. Lord knows if I haven't, there will be a Hater out there to let me know

Angel of Melody is finally in kickoff mode!

This post is rather long but please bare with me until the end. We need your help!

Angel has had to work hard for all that she has accomplished and though we have a roof over our head and food on the table, we don't always have the money to devote to Angel's music. Music lessons are out of our reach financially and Angel made payments on her second guitar so that she could purchase it. When she decided to attend Camp Electric last summer she had to find a job and make the payments herself so she could attend. We have to find sponsors when we travel for a competition. It doesn't come easy. So out of the realization that others have it even more difficult, Angel of Melody was born.

Angel and I have been brainstorming about this for over a year now. Angel would like to offer scholarships to underprivileged children so that they can attend summer music camps. She wants to help struggling musicians with entrance fees into competitions and maybe even provide instruments for them. We may even form partnerships with music teachers to provide music lessons for those who normally wouldn't be able to afford them.

In our travels with Angel we have seen some amazing talent in our region. There are some incredibly talented kids out there but unfortunately most have no idea how to promote themselves or get their name out there. They need help and direction  and of course encouragement. There goes the second purpose of Angel of Melody. Angel and I would like to have it as a talent listing service that showcases young talent and helps them find an outlet for their talent. This would not be an agency, though that could change in the future. A portion of all proceeds will be put into scholarships and such for needy kids.

We have also discovered that honest to goodness singing competitions are few and far between and even harder to find for those under the age of 18. Angel has competed in many competitions. She always has fun and enjoys the experience. We try to focus on the positive and remember that each time she's on stage she gets a little more comfortable. The issue we have encountered though is that most competitions are created with specific agendas such as finding talent for a local dinner theatre or play. They may be looking for someone with more of an opera or broadway type voice. Even open talent competitions are biased this way. Some even show preference to those who have competed before. Angel competed in 2 different competitions this weekend. Both were affiliated with theatres and both showed obvious preference to those who participated in their productions rather than to true talent or vocal ability.She did great, even going to semi-finals in one, but in the end the prize will go to an actress/actor/singer. We have plans to have a true singing competition, with awards given on vocal talent and not on prior affiliation with the group hosting the contest.

With all this being said, Angel of Melody is finally in it's beginning stages. We have started the Angel of Melody Talent page on Facebook to begin showcasing young talent. We will have our first meeting for the charity this month as well and hopefully form our board of directors at that time.

What can you do to help?  Do you know of any young talent out there that might need help promoting themselves and finding venues to perform at or use their talents? Send them over to http://www.facebook.com/angelofmelodytalent .  Do you know of someone who might be interested in joining us in our cause with the charity? Young adults and mature teens are welcome. This would make a great way to get in your community service hours. Please contact us at angelofmelodytalent@yahoo.com . We need your help! Even if you don't fall into one of those two categories, you can really help us out by going to the Facebook page for Angel of Melody Talent and liking it. Share it on Facebook and help us get the word out. We can't do this without you.

So much for back to routine.

Things got really crazy around here this month. Even more crazy than normal. My sister was in the hospital and I spent lots of time with her and my Mom. Things just settled down when she came home last week. Then we had Angel's 16th birthday party. Since things had been nuts, her actual birthday passed without much fanfare. So after the fact, we decided to orchestrate a surprise party. Things went well and we all had a blast. Thanks so all who came out and surprised her.

We are going into busy season with Angel and all her performances and competitions so that will make things fun around here. However I am trying to get back into routine. Homeschooling has been really simple the last few weeks. The girls were working on a project that incorporated both History and Communication Skills so starting Monday we will be switching over to Math and Science. The project was something I had been wanting to do with them and it made it easier for them to work on their own and freed my time to be at the hospital. Now it's buckle down time with the Math. I also really need to think ahead a little and order testing materials for the girls. Alyssa plans to apply to a local Magnet high school for next year so I have to have the testing on time.

Hope your month has been good and that you and yours are healthy and well.

What does "I'm Sorry" mean to you?

I was just writing a condolences message to a classmate that lost a sibling unexpectedly and I was thinking about the phrase "I am sorry for your loss."  This made me think about how people have such a hard time saying "I'm sorry" when they've done something wrong, but they say "I'm sorry for your loss" even when they don't have a clue what the person is going through or even if they know them at all. I think that "I'm sorry" should be more used in our daily conversation. We need to change what it means to us. It shouldn't be just an admittance of guilt or wrong-doing. That's what makes it so hard to say. We need to change our perspective of the words. When you are giving your condolences to someone you are saying "I am sorry for the way you are feeling," even though I had nothing to do with what made you feel that way. I sympathize with your pain. Even though sometimes I think we NEED to admit our own short comings and admit that we messed up, I think we need to change our perspective of the words. We need to focus more on the other person's feelings and remember that it's all about them. I am sorry for the way you are feeling. That wasn't my intentions. I sympathize with your pain. It's not about me. Then "I'm sorry" may come alot quicker and more often in our day to day lives. What do you think? What does "I'm Sorry" mean to you?