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Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Adjusting

I'm still adjusting to a major lifestyle change and this blog is the last thing on my mind. I feel sorry for not posting but in the overall picture of my life, this blog has very little priority. Last week was our Week 13 and I didn't do a report because it was a very light week. There wasn't many pictures to take.

The reality is that we have not done a nature walk since Thanksgiving. It seems whenever I have a day off from work, the weather is threatening rain or I have errands to do...or I'm so tired I need to rest. I just finished reading The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey and now I have 'gazelle intensity' to go through the steps. If you're familiar with the book, I will have Baby Step One completed by the end of this month, and the forecast is that by next Christmas, Baby Step Two will be accomplished. When I say that, I mean personally, not household wise. I'm so glad to find out that Camille's dad (my ex) is also going through his own TMM and is further along in the steps than I am. I'm thrilled for both of us!

I'm also reading Parenting With Love and Logic, but it's hard to read two fabulous, life-changing nonfiction books at once so I put it down to finish TMM. I just finisheed TMM last night so I will pick it back up again. I haven't read any fiction since reading the Twlight series back to back in a weekend but I sense a need for a little fun reading coming up.

On the homeschooling front...
We are on Week 14, we started Writing Tales 1 this week, The History of Medicine by John Hudson Tiner in science and we have dropped piano lessons. Dropping piano was a hard decision. Camille enjoys playing but she's not enjoying the lessons and not showing enough dedication to continue paying for lessons. She wants to participate in a sport but the reality is, both her dad and I work nights. This may be an area of sacrifice for a little while.

Lately, I've been questioning how effective I can truly be as a teacher while working and going to school myself. My mind and heart is now open to the possibility that public school may be the better option for the short term but I'm not quite ready to give up yet. Danny has been tested and I'm calling the special education department to learn more about his test results today, they noted he has some delays and I want to find out exactly what they have concluded those are. I have a strong feeling he will benefit from doing kindergarten at public school instead of at home. Usually at this time of year, I'm clamoring to purchase next year's curricula but this year I want to wait.

I will do a weekly report this week regarding what Camille and I are doing this week.

Let's see, is there any other news to report?
Hmm. Oh, yeah. I've lost 12 lbs! From the beginning of December, which is when I started working to now, I have lost a total of 12 lbs. I'm in the process of adding more physical activity to my life, including finding a DVD workout that I enjoy, bike riding more (including to work, possibly) and doing a lot less sitting at the computer.

The only problem with riding my bike to work is that I don't want to show up to work all sweaty and have to leave the house so early. It takes me 10 minutes of steady pedaling to get from my front door to work which is GREAT but I would have to change clothes once I was at work and put my makeup on(?) and I wonder if the logisitics are worth it. Plus, I'd be riding home at 10:30pm and even though I'm not afraid of that, I do not wish to get sick from riding in the night air.

So if I did ride my bike to work- I'd have to leave the house 30 min. before I needed to be at work (10-15 min ride, 15 min freshen up at work), I'd carry a backpack with my clothes and makeup, a jacket for the night air and leaving work to go home for dinner would not be an option, so I'd be paying for my dinner at work unless I packed a dinner. I'd have to buy accessories to outfit my bike for commuting - like a headlamp, preferably a basket or backend platform. I'd rather pack my lunch than buy it at work, at least most of the time and that means I'd have to carry it too. I don't wish to carry my lunch in the same compartment as my work clothes, know what I mean? This is the kind of mental exercise I don't need right now so I've put off doing this until the weather is a bit more stable. Not 50° one night and 70° the next.

I'm so stinking excited about my own TMM! I am working on the household budget too but I can't do too much with it, esp. since dh doesn't wish to have a budget, see a budget or even consider a budget. I'm doing what I can within the perimeters I have but I have paid off two of his medical bills and will apply the debt snowball to paying off the rest. I have two bills in my name, a medical bill and credit card. Those are what I will be working on within my own TMM. Everything else is in dh's name.

I don't think I have much else to report other than little happenings so I'll end this post here.

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11 comments:

Sarah said...

I really like what you said. "I feel sorry for not posting but in the overall picture of my life, this blog has very little priority. " This is exactly how I feel some times. I see blogging as a possible avenue for me to bless others but at times I need to remind myself of my priorities.
I have been reading your blog and learning loads. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

wow, you are really going through alot ! I will continue to pray for you.

If you do send your kids to public school next year. Don't fret, they will be in the Lords hands. I know a ministers wife who they send their children to public school and she has a prayer group that meets once a month and the moms pray for their kids, other kids, pray for teachers, principles and pray about situations that come up. I just think that is so wonderful and maybe you could find a similar group. I know there is a national group that does this I heard about it on Focus on the Family. I just can't remember the name of the group.

Continuing to pray for you and all these adjustments and changes.

G said...

I'm on step one of TMM too! And it is very exciting!

I just wanted to let you know I sympathize with how difficult it is to balance everything. I am in school full-time, work 24 hours (4 evenings) a week, and I have two kids similar in age to yours. It is truly a LOT to manage. I hope you find the path that works for you - mine only happens with help from others.

Tracy said...

Congrats on the weight loss!

ChristineMM said...

Great job on the weight loss and in such a short time period. Amazing.

Riding a bike to work. Not something I ever thought possible especially at 10:30pm. Give yourself a break on this one please.

I don't know Danny's birth date or your state rule for admission to Kindergarten but here in Connecticut there is a lot of red-shirting going on. That means for late birthdays in the year a lof of parents are keeping their boys out of Kindergarten if they are still 4 in September or even very shortly after turning 5. They wait a year so their boy is not at the bottom of the developmental curve and either gets low self-esteem or is labeled with an LD when in fact it just might be 'late bloomer' or if the kid is a little fidget-y and may be mislabeled with ADD.

I don't know if you saw my blog posts on Peg Tyre's lecture or her book...

Consider skimming or at least watching the YouTube video of Peg Tyre talking on her book The Trouble with Boys which began as a cover story on NEwsweek a couple of years ago.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10965522/site/newsweek/page/4/print/1/displaymode/1098/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gEqI86KRAA

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/on-parenting/2008/9/15/the-trouble-with-boys-what-parents-can-do.html

Sounds like you are on a right path. Good luck Jessica.

No pressure on posting to the blog. When you have time and post we readers will be here to read...

Jenileigh said...

Wow, hun you have a lot on your plate. Praying for you! Sorry I have no wise words. But here a big hug...((((((((((Jessica))))))))))))

Anonymous said...

Good luck with all the decisions... we recently decided to send our daughter to kindergarten for the first time, starting right after Christmas break. She has all kinds of sensitivity issues and possible Asperger's and public school is doing wonders for her behavior - I definitely think it has benefited her so far. I struggled so much with that decision but she wanted to go and it seemed like the right thing to do. Wishing you all the best!

Jennifer said...

Jessica, it has been awhile since I have read your blog... I use to be an avid reader of your blog, but put my kiddo's in public school this year and had to just stay away from homeschool blogs for awhile. I just wanted to encourage you in this season. If you have to put them in school, please don't feel bad. I hated to put mine in school...(ages 13, 12 and 9 plus a 4 and 2yo still at home) BUT... they all 3 LOVE it!! Go figure... they really are so glad they are at school now. Yes, we do get tired at times, but they love everything they do there and they love the social aspect of it too. Hang in there... and remember the Lord is with you and He will NEVER forsake you:)
Blessings,
Jennifer

Rev. K.T. said...

I know what you mean about balancing everything. I started a blog about my experience with homeschooling and working while my husband was in school full time. http://homeschoolingwhileworking.blogspot.com/ It's not been easy. In fact, my husband is now taking time off from school to be home with the kids. And good for you for doing TMM! I love Dave Ramsey!

Anonymous said...

The prayer group Nancy referred to is "Moms in Touch." They meet together to pray for teachers, administrators, and students, as well as provide treats and encouragement for teachers and staff in the local public elementary schools.
Praying for you Jessica as you discern God's will for your present situation.
Blessings-

Jolanthe said...

TMM was a huge help to us. It started us out and then we eventually helped lead a few of the Financial Peace classes. We paid off $65,000 in debt.

Feels good!! :)

Jolanthe