Flying Through Books in January

I'm excited to report that I got a great start on my 2012 reading list in January!

• Eat That Frog:  21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time by Brian Tracy. While the primary audience for this book is business people, there are definitely principles that anyone can apply.  The foundation of the book is a concept that I am trying to teach our children - do the hard things first!  By setting priorities, planning your day, breaking large tasks into smaller steps, and sticking with the task until its done, you can be much more effective with your time and energy.  A great and easy read!
• Debt-Proof Your Kids by Mary Hunt.  The author shares how she taught her children to be financially responsible by showing them how to handle money while they were young. You can read my review of the book here.
• 365 Thank Yous:  The Year a Simple Act of Daily Gratitude Changed My Life relates how the author, John Kralik, set out to write 365 thank you notes in a year.  It details the changes in his perspective as he looked around for people and situations for which to be grateful.  This is not a Christian book, but the emphasis on making thankfulness a part of your daily routine is vital.
• Ordering Your Private World by Gordon MacDonald. While this one was a bit slow in the beginning, I enjoyed the second half of the book.  I was motivated to begin my devotional time each morning by journaling, something I haven't tried before.
• Organized Simplicity by Tsh Oxenreider.  I'd been wanting to read Tsh's book, so when I saw that the Kindle version was free, I downloaded the Kindle for PC to my laptop at no charge.  I enjoyed the book immensely and will be reading and referring to it again.  (Since I don't have an actual Kindle, I was amazed at how many books were free!  I'll be reading lots of books through the Kindle for PC in the future.) 
• The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin.  I read this one through Kindle for PC as well and it was interesting and informative.
• The Attributes of God (Volumes 1 and 2) by A.W. Tozer. I read just a chapter a day in these books because there was so much to meditate on.  I definitely need to read these books again.  It reminded me just how great our God is!
• The Justice Game by Randy Singer. This was a Christian fiction legal story that was fairly entertaining.
• Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss.  This was my second - but definitely not last! - time reading this book and I enjoyed it and learned from it just as much as I did when reading it the first time.

The girls and I finished The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare and it is a new favorite.  We all cried through the last chapter!

What have you read lately?

Am I Old Enough To....

Since our girls are getting older, we sometimes hear questions that begin with the words, "When can I...." as they seek permission for new privileges.

From painting their fingernails to getting their ears pierced, they want to know how old they have to be to do certain things.  They know that my husband and I have set specific ages for many of these activities.

I can't give you a Bible verse about why we chose a particular age to allow them to wear lip gloss in public (as opposed to wearing it to play "dress up.")  However, a principle I learned from my dad is that it's wise to give children things to look forward to as they get older.  If at the age of nine I'm allowing them to have privileges that a teenager might have, there won't be much new (that's appropriate) left for them to do as they get older.

These are personal decisions that each family makes for themselves.  We've just decided that we want certain activities to be celebrated milestones, from having their own cell phone (not happening for awhile yet!) to wearing makeup (no, not that one either!!).  It's a delicate balance between giving them age-appropriate freedoms and not allowing them to move ahead too quickly. 

I'll be the first to admit that I don't have it all figured out yet (nor will I ever!), but I hope that our daughters will always know how much we love them and that we have their best interest at heart.

2012 Goals Update

I recently heard the following:  "You don't grow old; you just wake up one day, and you are."

If time continues to pass as quickly as January did, I'm afraid I'll be old any day now!

While the month passed quickly, I was pleased with the progress I made on many of my goals for the year.  I've listed the goals below, followed by my progress in bold.

Spiritual

1. Memorize "one another" passages.  I've made it through verse 6 of John 15:1-14.
2. Complete our "others" projects.  In January, we chose to share our faith in some way at least once a week for four weeks by giving out a tract, inviting someone to church, etc.  I updated this goal yesterday.
3. Highlight one prayer request per week and pray for it throughout the day for seven days.  I have not been faithful with this yet.  Yesterday I wrote down my request for the week on a 3x5 card and placed it in a very visible spot in the kitchen.  Hopefully this will help me remember to pray for it throughout the day.

Physical

1. Reach goal weight.  This could take all year!  No weight lost yet.
2. Exercise for twenty minutes at least four days a week.  This has been an easy goal to reach since my husband and I have been walking together in the evenings.
3. Eat only one sweet/baked good per day. (This one may kill me...)  I failed miserably with this at the beginning of the month, but was successful most of last week.  Maybe this sacrifice will show up in weight loss soon.

Intellectual

1. Read through my book list.  I got a great start on this, reading six of the twelve books this month!  I'll post more details later in the week.
2. Study my camera guide and learn how to take better photos.  Well, I've been thinking about getting out my camera guide...
3. Write an e-book. 

Family

1. Visit five new restaurants this year.
2. Plan at least one "fun" homeschool day each month.  Last Friday we celebrated the 100th day of school.
3. Find a volunteer opportunity we can do as a family.  My husband has a lead on this; we'll see if it works out.

Did you set goals for 2012?  If so, how are you doing so far?

Focusing on Others in 2012: January Project

As I share our first month of focusing on others in 2012, please understand that I am not seeking attention for what we've done.  As Katie mentioned in a comment on my original post on this subject, these acts of service are done first of all to glorify God, and secondly, to help us develop a more Christ-like mind.  I share our efforts here that I might have accountability for reaching these goals and in hopes of encouraging readers who seek to have the same focus.

In January, we chose to find ways each week to share our faith. Here's what we were able to do.

• Made brownies, which we put in a basket and delivered to a family that moved in down the street.  We gave them a tract with information about our church and invited them to visit.
• Left a gospel tract at a bookstore and at a mall in a place where people could easily find and read it.
• As part of a church-wide visitation program, we delivered "welcome" baskets (filled with pre-wrapped crackers, cookies, candy, etc., along with information about our church) to homes of people who have recently moved into the area.
• Our nine-year-old invited several neighbors to a special Friends and Neighbors service we had at our church on the 29th.

One of the lessons I am learning is that even my efforts to minister to others can become self-centered.  As I looked about for people to reach out to, I found that my motivation was to accomplish the project when I should have been concentrating on the other person and their needs, especially spiritually.  I need to continue asking God for His help in getting my focus right.

As we were leaving a small homeschool activity a couple of weeks ago, I asked our daughters if they had made any new friends or found a way to be helpful.  Our nine-year-old told how she had helped another girl, then said, "I just did it, and didn't even really think about how I was being kind."  That, I told her, is our goal - that helping others will become such a natural part of who we are that we do it without even thinking.

We'll be choosing another project for February, so watch for another update at the end of next month!

Saturday Salutes

Carrie encourages us to get rid of clutter in 5 Ways Getting Rid of Stuff Will Save You Money.

Being thankful through trials is what Jessica Lynette seeks to show her children in Teaching the Habit of Thankfulness to Children by Example.

If you made some goals for 2012 as I did, Lacey reminds us of The Power of Review in her guest post at Money Saving Mom.

I was convicted by Amy's post on Complaining:  The Heart of the Matter.

The girls enjoyed celebrating our 100th day of school yesterday!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Cooking Class

Since I want our girls to be comfortable in the kitchen as they get older, I know that I need to involve them more in the preparation of our meals. Therefore, I've decided to schedule once-a-month "cooking classes."  While both girls have helped with some of these tasks before, I want them to master these techniques.  Since January is almost over, we will be tackling one of these in the next few days!

1.  Peel, chop, and roast potatoes.

2.  Prepare pasta and sauce for homemade macaroni and cheese.  (This includes a basic white sauce.)

3.  Make and bake homemade bread.

4.  Scramble eggs.

5.  Brown ground meat.

6.  Independently follow a recipe to make chocolate chip cookies.

7.  Prep all vegetables for a salad.

8.  Peel and slice apples and prepare filling for an apple pie.

9.  Help make homemade chicken broth in the slow cooker.

10.  Cook grilled cheese sandwich in the frying pan.

11.  Soak and boil dry beans.

12.  Prepare and serve one of their favorite meals, Cajun Chicken Pasta.

Do your children enjoy helping in the kitchen?  What other skills would you suggest adding to the list?

Let Me Know

One of my desires is that my blog would be a ministry to the Christian women that God brings across its path.  As I write, I am always interested in knowing what topics are most relevant to my readers. 

If you could, take just a minute to fill out the survey below.  It will help guide me as I schedule future posts.  If there is a topic you would like to see covered that's not on the list, please leave it in the comments.  Thanks so much for your input!

I'll Always Be His Little Girl

Photo Source

I love my dad.

He was my first hero, the first man to ever treat me like a young lady.  He listened when I talked, and, when asked for it, gave wise advice.

On my wedding day, as my dad walked me down the aisle, we stopped near the front of the church and a male soloist sang this song.

She skipped across the room in her pretty new dress
Did a ballerina turn in her patent leather shoes
And to say the very least
I was impressed
She was my little girl

And we played our little game again
I said "Who's the only man in your heart?"
And she smiled as we held each other's hands
And she said, "Daddy don't you know?
Daddy don't you know?
You're the only man in my heart"

A few years later in her life
I saw her walking home from school
She had her books in her arms
And a young man at her side
And I felt a jealous pain
And I felt just like a fool
But when the young man told her bye
I said, "Can I walk with you?"

And we played our little game again
I said "Who's the only man in your heart?"
And she smiled as we held each other's hands
And she said, "Daddy don't you know?
Daddy don't you know?
You're the only man in my heart"

Now it's hard to believe this day has come and gone
He put a ring on her hand
That held her Daddy's heart
And I'll always remember as they played her wedding song
The words my little girl said to me

"Daddy, can we play a little game?
Who's the only little girl in your heart?"
And I cried as I softly called her name
And I said, "Honey don't you know?
Honey don't you know?
You're the only little girl in my heart"

"You'll always be that little girl in my heart"

You're The Only Little Girl
© 1986 Steve & Annie Chapman / Shepherd's Fold Music

These days, my dad's heart holds other "little girls" as well - my younger sister and my two daughters. In my eyes, He is still the hero from my childhood days and I am blessed by how he continues to build precious memories with my girls.

Happy Birthday, Dad!  I love you.

If you'd like to hear Steve Chapman sing this song, check out the video below.  He begins the song about 1:45 into the clip.