Early Morning

I usually go back to bed after james leaves for work. Usually because I always feel woefully behind in sleep. This morning though I feel a tad bit caught up. We will see if it lasts and if I give in to a nap later.

I feel as if I have been busy all week but still have so much to do. I guess it will always feel that way to a certain extent.

I have been inspired lately by a few websites that focus on how to live with less and on less. The Lord has blessed James and I so much in spite of ourselves. James earns a good income and outside of our home we have no debt. I'm afraid this knowledge has tempted me to be a little too carefree with the household spending.  I was appalled when James told me that he had averaged our grocery spending over the last 6 months and that it was . . . let's just say out of control.  Part of this was due to the fact that we moved, and have had a pretty needy baby. I have used this as an excuse to buy more convenience type foods rather than cooking from scratch. No more. It has to stop.

One of the things I have been doing to avoid over spending is planning a menu and sticking to it. Here is a link that has a lot of free downloads - menu planning forms and much more. I have also been writing down everything i spend. Trying my best to itemize and keep track of what each item costs (on sale, at different stores etc.)

I am also exploring the idea of couponing but have yet to actually implement it.

SimpleMom is also a great website for not only money saving ideas but for just creative ways to simplify life. And I'm all about that!

Today

Today is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it. 

Those are such simple and familiar words but ones I need to repeat over and over to myself. Everyday is a new opportunity; to serve; to minister.  Life can seem pretty bleak when your 6 month old baby girl is teething and nothing you do seems to help her feel better. The two of you haven't slept much and the house is a wreck and you wonder how it will be possible to ever have another child since you can't even manage the current chaos very well.

Everyday isn't like this though. Most days she naps when she's supposed to and sleeps decently through the night.  On those kinds of days I forget to rejoice. I take for granted to the blessings of that day and go about my merry way thinking what a wonderful mother I am that my child is so happy and contented today. The truth is I am not such a wonderful mother at all. I am completely dependent upon Christ everyday whether I acknowledge it or not. 

So today, the tough day, I will rejoice and be glad because God has given me a precious little girl and the opportunity to minister to her though her pain. He has given me the opportunity to grow today to be more unselfish and more giving.