What is the Real Cost?

There is a cost to most things you have, though often it is hidden.  I’m sure you can think of more but some of the costs that spring to my mind immediately are:

• Initial cost
• Operating costs
• Time Investments
• Space
• Priorities

We have a large home, over 3000 sq ft not including Nana’s 1000+ apartment. We paid for the house, then we pay higher taxes, utilities etc. to operate it. There is also the time investment with cleaning and maintenance. I spend a lot of time cleaning the house. We’ll be downsizing soon and I am excited about that because the cost of a large house is no longer worth it to us. We would rather have a smaller home that costs less to buy, less to run and less time investment to keep orderly and clean.

The same goes for possessions. To determine if they’re worth the cost, looking beyond what I paid for it and I’m asking myself:

• Have I used this recently?
• Will I use it again?
• Do I like it, love it?
• Is it useful to me or beautiful to me?
• Are my children REALLY going to thank me for saving this or is it something they will feel saddled with because “mom saved it all these years, I can’t throw it out now.”
• Is it worth the space in my home?
• Is it worth the time it takes me to dust it, clean around it etc?

I’m not held captive by my stuff, whether it is useful or simply just clutter. Though the object may have sentimental value or memories attached to it, I don’t have to keep it. Crafts and pictures were quickly taking over our home a while back until we came up with some creative solutions to storing, displaying and parting with children’s artwork. I also had some childhood and high school memorabilia that I purged, taking a photo of anything important. You see, I still have the memories and now, if needed, the photo of the items to spark that memory. I enjoyed A Helpful Guide to Owning Fewer Toys this week as well since that is another area where we feel quality in terms of the product and the skills it teachers are far better than a large quantity.

A Commitment to Travelling Light

When I was in youth group, we’d go on canoe trips with a portage or two. {For those of you who aren’t sure what a portage is, it’s when you carry your canoe and gear from one lake to another or from the top of the rapids to the bottom or vice versa}. Knowing that we were just going for a couple of days, it was easier to pack just the essentials and a few basic comforts {we didn’t ‘rough it’ too tough!}. The lighter we travelled, the less encumbered we were, the easier the journey was.

“This world is not my home I’m just a passing through
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue”

~Jim Reeves

Those song lyrics run through my head. I don’t remember where I heard the song but it’s stuck with me. I don’t want to be laying up treasures here; spending my precious-never-to-get-back minutes hoarding, storing, cleaning and moving stuff around. I’m here temporarily and with that in mind, it makes it a little easier to travel light.

It stands to reason that less stuff makes it easier to pack up and go, easier to clean your home, quicker to do a fast tidy for company and more free space {they say less visual clutter=less mental clutter}. The Lord talked about possessions a fair amount in the New Testament. I’m seeking to live with my priorities on the eternal. I’m sure you can come up with a good many more perks to travel light.

But I think the real ticket to travelling light is to recognize that it is an ongoing endeavor. The minute you (I!) forget to be intentional about it is about the time that the “extras” will begin to sneak in to your (mine!) life and home.

More isn’t better. It’s just…more.

~Steady Mom

So I share this with you as I begin in earnest, to travel light{er}! I’d love to hear one or two ways in which you strive towards living light{er}.

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Jenn is wife to one, mother of three and above all, a humble servant seeking to honor the Lord with her life. Travelling Light is a post from Beautiful Calling.

Quitter.

The word brings to mind negative thoughts along with feelings of failure, of lacking in determination, of giving up and being defeated.

I became an Epicure Consultant. That took courage. To take that first step and sign up then to plunge in wholeheartedly; leaving my comfort zone far behind. I’m not always a people person. I have issues {huge ones} with public speaking so this was a stretching experience to say the least.

I did that first party, then another, then another. I did well. I met many new people, earned some income, gave 20% of that income to our church missionaries; which was exciting for me to do. I want to contribute financially to our family, to give to the church  and honestly? I want to be good at something; to be recognized, to be a part of something. Epicure Selections is a great way to earn extra money; either as a full time job or a little extra to cover that one bill. The Epicure family is a great place to belong; full of encouragement and recognition for a job well done. It’s an amazing opportunity.

I am proud of myself for taking those steps; of trying something new and stepping out. It took courage. I grew as a person and learned a lot. It also takes courage for me to stand up and say, “I quit”.

It is an amazing opportunity, but I have come to realize that it isn’t the right fit for me at this time. We made the decision for me to be a stay at home mom. Right now, my focus is my family and my home. Each day, {especially now that I am battling fatigue and morning sickness} I am realizing that I am not super woman. I can’t do it all and I have very real limitations. I have to be selective in what I choose to pursue and invest my time and energy in; for both are limited. Epicure is a good thing, earning income from home is a good thing, but in this season of life, neither of those is best for my family. How can not earning money from home be best for my family? In this season for us it just is and I am embracing that.

So with that being said, I say goodbye to my career as an Epicure Consultant. I say “I quit”, confident that it is the right decision and looking forward towards the freedom of releasing myself from the guilt of failure because sometimes it takes more real courage to be a quitter!

I wrote this over a month ago but rather than publish it, I thought I would take the extra time to pray and consider it before making a final decision. After reading Time Management 101: Create a Time Budget, I know that {in this season at least} that this, and other things, need to go!

Do you struggle with taking on too much?

• This post is part of the 30 minute blog challenge @ Steady Mom. This week is the final challenge. I’m a little sad; I will miss it and visiting the other 30 minute posts however, we have to be selective with our time and activities and quit when it no longer benefits us, furthers our goals or is appropriate for our season. Good bye 30 minute challenge; I’ve appreciated your challenge!

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Jenn is wife to one, mother of three and above all, a humble servant seeking to honor the Lord with her life. I Quit! is a post from Beautiful Calling.

Do you want more order in your world? I know I do. I also know from experience that lists help me to do that! I became aware of the importance and helpfulness of lists as a child watching my mother make lists for everything from chores and groceries to camping and vacations. As an adult, I put those same principles to use to make my own life simpler.

I think I am a pretty good list maker. When planning a trip (camping, hotels etc.), I start weeks (or months!) ahead of time creating my lists of what we will eat, what we need to pack etc. I try to envision every possible scenario and what we will need to see it though; it works pretty well. I know my mother did this well and to my knowledge, we were never missing anything critical. I do remember going on a teen canoe trip with dad (I think he writes “mental lists”) and watching him try to make pancakes on tinfoil over a fire, having forgot the frying pan.

What is ListPlanIt?

Regardless of how great a list maker you are (or aren’t), ListPlanIt wants to help you make your life easier!

Launched in 2007 by Jennifer,  wife, mother and list-lover, she created ListPlanIt to be a “place where those who simply love lists and those in need of a little assistance in mental organization can both find what they need.” The wonderful thing about it is that each list was created by a wife and mother who was (and is!) where we are so you will find the lists relevant to your everyday life!

ListPlanIt is an extensive online data base of lists; they are available to print or download. You can use them as they are, or type information right into them; customizing them to meet your exact needs! How awesome is that? They have hundreds of lists for absolutely anything and everything in your life!

(A print screen of the category list and each has many lists associated with it!)

What Caught My Eye?

After logging in, I began to browse through the extensive list collection and quickly realized that there was no way use, look at or even mention them all. The few things I mention here are but the teeniest fraction of the vast resources available at ListPlanIt!

Travel was the one I visited first since my need was immanent. This week I am flying to Calgary for an Epicure conference. I’m not taking my little ones. ListPlanIt has a list for leaving littles behind while travelling. Since this is a first for me, I headed to that one. I am only leaving them with my mother though! In May we are heading to Paris for a week and then Africa! While packing for a 5 day conference is well within my list-planning capabilities; planning for a 3+ week trip to another continent (or two!) with two tots in tow and 2 x 9 hour plane trips? Suddenly, I was beginning to doubt my list-planning abilities. ListPlanIt, has lists for setting up your itinerary, regular packing lists, packing lists for travel with children and also lists to draw up your budget. There is so much information here. I can’t wait to get our trip all organized {thank you,  ListPlanIt!}. I look forward to sharing with you more details about organizing our big trip a little later!

Home Management was the next category I began to explore. I want my home to be well organized and our daily routine to flow smoothly. Why? Because I want our home to be a welcome, warm and loving place where my family (and others!) long to be and it takes organization to make that happen. I have a basic household notebook but look forward to expanding it (a little at a time!) to incorporate some really great things like a monthly cleaning schedule (which comes prefilled in or blank to create your own), a spring cleaning schedule, clothing inventory lists (of what you have for your littles and what you will need for upcoming seasons and in what size), and so much more!

Skeptical?

So was I. What is so hard about making a list? I (and maybe you?) make lists on a regular basis. What makes this so different?

I think the number one thing is that ListPlanIt, no doubt, contains or (or more!) lists you didn’t know you needed. I think it reinforces that there is a list for everything. By creating lists for everything and having it written down, it really frees up your mental space {something I am in dire need of LOL}.

Uniformity is another pro. By having all your lists look similar and of the same size, it encourages you to put them in a binder all together; organized, in one place, easy to find. It encourages me you people in general (those unorganized ones!) to stop writing on little pieces of paper that you may lose.

I liked that many lists were blank with tips for use and then others were prefilled in with suggested items. Two examples would be the travel list where there are suggestions filled in vs. a blank one. Now I will use the blank one myself to completely customize it for what I need however I thought that the prefilled one was a great place to get ideas and to ensure I didn’t miss anything when I made my list.

The duration of a membership is a year so that you explore, see what works for your individual family. You can implement one at a time, gradually easing in to it if you’re new to list making or that you can jump right in.

Buy It or Try It!

I encourage you to check out their trial resources. Looking for more organizational help? Follow their blog or subscribe to the L.I.S.T. Newsletter or become a fan on facebook. Wondering how to get started now? You can read their instructions, become a member and get organized today!

(Hey mom, a camping checklist!)

Win It!

One lucky reader will win a year membership to ListPlanIt!

How to Enter:

1. Leave a comment sharing how ListPlanIt would help you. (1 entry)
2. Subscribe to the L.I.S.T. Newsletter. (1 entry)
3. Follow the ListPlanIt’s blog. (1 entry)
4. Blog about this giveaway linking back here (2 entry).
5. Put a link to this post on your facebook status (1 entry).
6. Subscribe via RSS to Beautiful Calling (2 entry).
7. Subscribe via email to Beautiful Calling (2 entries).
8. Grab my Button (2 entries).
9. Become a Facebook Fan of Beautiful Calling (1 entry).
10. Become a fan of ListPlanIt’s facebook page. (1 entry)

• Ends April 27, 2010
• Open worldwide. Spread the word!
• I received a membership to ListPlanIt in order to write this review but all opinions expressed here are solely mine.

ListPlanIt Winner is Rachel from Alberta, Canada

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Jenn is wife to one, mother of three and above all, a humble servant seeking to honor the Lord with her life. ListPlanIt Review & Giveaway CLOSED is a post from Beautiful Calling.

Source

If you were hoping to read a post about how to get it together, you will be disappointed. This post is more about “getting it” together; an invitation to join me as I (once again!) embark on that journey. Let me explain!

Every so often, I really do feel that I have it all together. I’m sure you do too. You look around and find that your home is mostly in order, your to-do list is relatively small, your days have fallen into a routine, you’ve mostly figured out how to juggle all the responsibly you have. We do that, smiling to ourselves…and then **bang** a new ball is tossed our way. While we may have graduated from the beginners class at juggling school, this new ball throws us off.

I’m sure some of you are nodding right now. You know just what I am talking about! For those of you who are scratching your heads thinking, “she went to juggling school?” I didn’t really. It’s my sad attempt at an analogy.

Anyway, life is running smoothly and then you:

• Change jobs
• Move
• Get married
• Have a baby
• Experience a loss
• Move to a different phase in life
• Or your little (and not so little) ones move to a different phase in life
• You accept new responsibilities
• Your finances change
• and the list goes on…and on…and on..

Suddenly, (back to the juggling analogy) with that new ball thrown at you, you’ve either

1. Caught it no problem and are expertly managing just dandy or
2. You’ve dropped them all and are looking around, bewildered and wondering how to get back into the game or
3. You caught it but you’re precariously throwing the balls with no sense of rhythm and are in danger of dropping them all.

I’m number three. After John was born in the summer of 2008, it took me a while to get back into a routine and adjust to being a mom of two. I did find my groove though. As the little ones grew and I accepted different responsibilities and tasks, my routine changed as well and I embraced it. I’m not sure what happened in the past several weeks but suddenly I find myself with new opportunities, responsibilities and tasks but no routine, no plan and I’m starting to flounder…

Step One – STOP

Stop. Don’t run in circles, or paralyze yourself with defeating thoughts. Just stop. Breathe. Have a nap, go for a walk, eat some chocolate, pray, read your bible or a good book. If you have littles, utilize nap time for yourself or snuggle up with them and read.  When you get too busy, your calendar and to-do list too full, sometimes it is easy to become overwhelmed and defeated. Take a break. I’m not saying a long one but give yourself permission to just stop. Whether it is 10 minutes or a whole afternoon just do something nice.

Step Two – EMPTY YOUR HEAD

Brain Dump. No idea whose idea this was originally but it isn’t mine I’m sure. I think I heard it for the first time listening to the workshop tapes from Graceworks though I think it was called something else. Anyway, write a list of everything that is in your head. Write down your grocery store shopping list, upcoming doctor visits, birthdays, your daily household duties, the tasks your husband asked you to get done this week, the commitments you made for church…absolutely everything! Don’t worry about rhyme or reason. We’ll sort it out later. And keep that list handy and  running. Often as we go about our days, something else will come to mind. Add it to the list too!

Step Three – FILL YOUR HEART

When things get hectic and crazy, often devotions are the first thing on the chopping block because we (me!) don’t have time but the truth is we don’t have time not to! While we (I) will eventually share more of what my schedule will look like and how I will (Lord-willing!) get everything done that I need to, for now we want to empty our heads (step 2) and fill our hearts. The first thing to make sure is that I start my day with quiet time. Now I say start but my day always starts before I have quiet time, I just try not to let it move on too much before I sit, pray and read my bible. I am not one of those who can get up before my family to have my alone time with the Lord. It is something that I always aspired to and felt guilty about not accomplishing because that is what good Christian wives and mothers do isn’t it? Well, that may be what good Christians do but often real mothers just can’t get quiet time first. (Side note: Passionate Housewives Desperate for God is a must-read that talks about this!) Most times my quiet time isn’t as quiet as I would like or as long as I’d hoped or as alone as I’d like. But that is my season. God can (and does!) use every little bit of my time that I commit to him. A bonus? My little ones witness first hand their mommy spending time with the Lord. Some mornings I shower, get Chloe and I dressed and then have some QT but other mornings, depending on John, it may not be until after breakfast. I always most days try to get it in ASAP. As I seek to bring back the elusive order and routine, I will first seek Him!

That’s it for this week folks. Take a little break and make a list. Make the Lord a priority this week. We can do that can’t we? I’d love to hear how and when you have quiet time!

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Do you have a tune-up you are working on or completed? Link up (directly to your post) or share a comment! If you could mention TUT and link back so others can join in too, that would be appreciated!

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Jenn is wife to one, mother of three and above all, a humble servant seeking to honor the Lord with her life. Get It, Together! is a post from Beautiful Calling.