How Time Flies and Setting October Goals

I can't believe that October is right around the corner. No matter what people say, time really does go faster when you get older. This whole year has just flown by incredibly fast.
I'm setting some reasonable goals for myself for the month of October. The reason I say reasonable goals is that I have a tendency to make up very long to do lists and then feel bad for not getting them done.
My goals for this month are:

Spiritual: Daily Bible Study
Physical: Exercise 5 days a week
Lose 8 pounds
Family: Make sure we eat at least one meal together each week
Home Org. :Create a "chore" plan
Organize garage
Plan/create garden boxes
Financial: Start a change jar
Set a 'use it for what?' goal

Fall Into Reading Booklist 2009

I’m going to participate in Callapidder Day’s Fall Into Reading 2009 Challenge. Since getting a computer I’ve found myself not reading as much because it seems I never seem to have the time. I know I’m missing out on some really good books out there so the plan is to make time for reading.
I’ve chosen some fiction and some non-fiction books, two bible study books and some read-alouds to read to M., age 2yrs 4mo. Some will be for my own personal reading and some will be for book reviews for Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Non-Fiction
Made From Scratch by Jenna Woginrich
http://www.amazon.com/Made-Scratch-Discovering-Pleasures-Handmade/dp/160342086X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253678230&sr=1-1
What’s He Really Thinking? By Paula Rinehart (Book Review) http://www.amazon.com/Whats-He-Really-Thinking-Relational/dp/0849918804


Fiction
Left Behind (Book 1) I was given the whole series from a Freecycler and have decided to read them again.
http://www.amazon.com/Left-Behind-Novel-Earths-Last/dp/0842329129
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (waiting to get from the library)
http://www.amazon.com/Hunger-Games-Suzanne-Collins/dp/0439023483/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253677674&sr=1-1
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (waiting to get from the library)
http://www.amazon.com/Catching-Fire-Second-Hunger-Games/dp/0439023491/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253677674&sr=1-2

Bible Study
The Power of a Praying Parent and The Power of Praying for Your Adult Children by Stormie Omartian ( I love her studies!)
http://www.amazon.com/Power-Praying%C2%AE-Parent-Deluxe/dp/0736922067/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253677750&sr=1-1

Read-Aloud (with M., age 2yrs 4mo)
Elmer by David McKee
Elmer Takes Off by David McKee
Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems
The Monster at the end of this Book by Jon Stone

Small Thing

Today's Small Thing over at Home Sanctuary was to take care of our Physical Nature Call Center and give our potties a scrub. Now that we are in our new place we have one bathroom instead of two. Can I mention that the small inconvenience of having four people using one bathroom is almost made up for because of the ease of cleaning only one bathroom? At our old house both bathrooms were small and it was a major challenge to get to the backs of the toilets. Because of that...they didn't get cleaned as much as they should have. Ew. At our new house there is space around the toilet and I can get to the back easily...even with my creaky knees...

Menu Plan Monday

This weeks menu will include:

Monday: Ground turkey, rice,veggie
Tuesday: Stirfry with pork, rice, veggie
Wednesday: DD23rd b-day (out to eat)
Thursday: Pasta, veggie
Friday: Pizza (ordered from Little Caesars-ds15's fav)
Saturday: Can I say I have no idea? We have a friend visiting from Seattle and we might just go out to eat. Still waiting to talk to her....
Sunday: Baked chicken, mashed potatoes, green veggie,bread

Small thing: Bathroom Junk & Paper Clutter

I'm still playing catch-up with the Small Things. Yesterday and today were about dealing with bathroom junk and paper clutter. When we moved in I filled a cabinet(not a drawer) with toiletries. Even dd22 (who has a ton of toiletries) couldn't believe how much I had...neither did I. The problem was it was stored in a storage room and kept getting forgotten. Now it's all in the bathroom cabinet and getting used. However....I don't need to buy another toiletry item for another year or two...or maybe three.....

As far a paper clutter goes...I'm shredding away. We still have a lot of boxes in our garage. I'm just not sure I want this stuff to come in to the house. We are all really enjoying the minimalist look.....

Small Thing

Now that we're moved in I want to get back on track with the Small Things.
I'm going to backtrack a few days. So far I've dusted a lampshade in one room, am creating some order in my home by unpacking a few more boxes, and used some 'pockets' of time (I can do a lot of things in 10 or 15 minutes).

Menu Plan Monday

Monday Spaghetti, salad, bread

Tuesday Scrambled eggs, rice, veggies/fruit

Wednesday Macaroni and cheese with hot dogs, veggie

Thursday Leftovers (it’s my bunco night)

Friday Pizza

We are in!

We have officially moved in to our new place and really loving it. It's interesting how you can move into a house and it very quickly feels like HOME. It's a very good fit for our family. Of course we still have a lot of unpacking to do and we will be starting from scratch with the very BIG backyard. But, I'm looking forward to the challenge.

I want to be Fearless: Book Review

I was able to get an advance copy of Max Lucado’s book Fearless and I want to tell you I was impressed. I’ve never read any of his books before even though I’ve seen them on the bookshelves. I tend to stay away from prolific authors because a lot of times it’s just the same-o same-o, know what I mean? It took me less than two days to finish the book…even with moving and unpacking. It was an interesting read.
I am the worrier. I worry for myself. I worry for my family. I worry for the people at my job. Fear and worry run along the same vein. Lucado said on page 10 “…fear feels dreadful. It sucks the life out of the soul, curls us into an embryonic state, and drains us dry of contentment.” How true is that! I’ve been working very hard on giving up my worries to God. The book is filled with passages calling us to be courageous and not filled with fears over our children, our finances, things happening in this world…of dying. It also has a discussion guide for individuals or groups.
Definitely a good book to read.