Getting Started

My family saw a lot of changes in 2010.  A new house (yay!), a new baby (surprise!), a new job for hubby, and no job for me.  I let go of some old friends, and made great new ones.   I ended the year knowing that there were still a lot of changes to come for my family in 2011.

I began this year with a few small changes, not realizing where they would lead.  In an effort to save money (see: no job), I started cooking a lot.  We used to eat out at least 3 - 4 nights a week, and that was one of the first things to be cut from our spending.  I started baking.  I started making a lot of food from scratch, because I had more time than money, and it ended up being so much cheaper since I was buying most of my staples in bulk.  A nice bonus to making everything from scratch was that I knew exactly what ingredients were going into the meals I was feeding my family.  This led to making my own baby food.  Which led to using cloth diapers.  Oh, and somewhere in there I also learned how to make laundry soap (it cost about $0.60 to make 1 batch, which has lasted me 6 weeks).  I will be posting on all of these projects later on. 

I also now have zero tolerance for the clutter in my house.  I have to admit that a good portion of it is from me.  I'm a saver - because when I do toss/sell/give away something, I end up needing it a week later.  But, it's time to get rid of the clutter and keep only what we need and use.  I have come across some great blogs about organizing, and I will be following the 52 Week Challenge from I'm An Organizing Junkie - although since I'm starting late, I guess it's actually going to be my 44 Week Challenge.  Expect pictures and updates weekly.

I have also been attending church regularly.  I really have missed it.  And the whole family is going, which I am so so happy about.  In my effort to become more faithful, I have been participating in Maximize Your Mornings from Inspired to Action.  I'm not following to the T, but I'm doing it and making it work for me.

There are so many blogs that I've come across the last few weeks that are a big inspiration to me.  I will be sharing links to all of them as I work through my projects.  

When I look at everything that I'm taking on, it seems like so much.  But I really am just taking it one day at a time.  I'm blogging to share my journey, in case anyone cares to know about it.  I'm not a writer, so let's not expect any prize-winning material here.  Just my experiences, good and bad, struggles, achievements, and things that I learn along the way. 

Let the journey begin!

Thursday Thank You - Mom & Dad

There are so many things in my life that I am thankful for.  Little things...big things...I'm just filled with gratitude every single day.  So, every Thursday I will blog about something that I am grateful for.  These will be my "Thursday-Thank-You" entries. And yes, I know I'm posting this on Friday, but I wrote it yesterday.  What with the birthday festivities and all I was just toooooo tired. 

Today is my birthday.  And today I am especially grateful for my parents.  Without them, I would not be here today; or anywhere, for that matter.

I think it's funny that I'm the one who gets all the birthday wishes.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to turn down a birthday cake (that would just be rude).  But all I did was show up to this world.  My mom is the one who carried me for 9 months, endured a 19-hour labor only to have an emergency c-section. I was stubborn from the get-go and I was not going to do things the easy way.  Well, that, and probably my big ol' head wouldn't fit.  Sorry, Mom.  And my dad was there holding her hand...gone were the days of the men-folk sitting in the waiting room while mom delivered.  Nope, he was right by her side helping her through.  But finally, after all that, here was a perfect little angel daughter. Ahem...
 

Me - 7 Months

So let's skip ahead to raising me.  I don't think that I was really a difficult child.  Really.  But I guess I wasn't exactly perfect either.  Maybe I caused 1 or 2 gray hairs on my parents' heads.  But you know, they probably deserved it.  They were mean parents.  They had rules.  They had expectations.  They were involved in my life and asked me questions about what was going on with me. It was terrible.  

But, as it turns out, they actually were and ARE amazing parents. I am so thankful now that they loved me enough to make rules, set boundaries, hold me responsible for my actions.   So, here are a few things that I would like to thank my parents for:

Attending every school function & field trip
Reading to me at bedtime
Dinner as a family every night
Knowing where I was and what I was doing at all times
Making me think that my ideas were wonderful
Teaching me right from wrong
Teaching me manners
Supporting my decisions - the good ones, the bad ones, and the really bad ones
Sometimes letting me learn the hard way (see: really bad decisions)
Having all the answers. Always.  (Again, see: really bad decisions)
Teaching me about being frugal, and how not to be wasteful
Teaching me to recycle (before it was cool)
Teaching me to change my own tires and oil
Family vacations, camping, sailing
Giving me a bedtime, and sticking to it most of the time
New Years Eve with homemade Chex Party Mix and Martinelli's Sparkling Cider
Unconditional love for me
Loving each other

This definitely isn't everything - There are a million more things to put on this list.  


Mom & Dad - thank you for being wonderful parents.  For instilling values in me that guide me through my life every day.  I only hope that I can do as well raising my children. I love you both so very much. 

:-)

Mom & Me

Dad & Me (Wonder where my babies get their chubby cheeks??)

Journey to a New ME

Hi there.

My name is Rebecca and I will be 32 years old tomorrow.  I have 3 kids (12 years, 5 years, and 6 months) and a wonderful husband (who is not 32).

It may appear that I have it together, but I'll let you in on a little secret...I actually really kinda don’t.  I throw stacks of mail into closets when guests are coming over, my laundry pile is a mile high on any given day, and I have boxes from 2 houses ago that I still haven’t gone through.  My kids miss birthday parties because I forget, I miss church because I’m too  tired, and my bills don’t get paid on time because I procrastinate (and also maybe because I forget about the mail that I've stashed in the closets).  

This is about my journey to a new me – the me that really does have it all together.  The me that has no clutter – emotionally or physically.  The me that recycles, exercises, and prays every day.  Oh, and gets bills paid on time.  The me that does not procrastinate but lives intentionally.   It's only February and I've already made a lot of changes.  I'm looking forward to the rest of 2011.

This is my world, thanks for letting me share it with you.

:-)