A Woman Who Fears the Lord #12

The Woman Who Fears the Lord

 

A Study of Proverbs 31

Verse 21

 

"She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet."

This woman, our lovely role model and friend, Mrs. Proverbs has it all together.  I can't imagine that she had piles of clothes that her children have outgrown sitting in her basement.  I'll bet her son didn't walk around with a shoe that had broken open... for a week.  I'm positive that her husband's work clothes weren't stained and coming apart at the seams from years of wear.  I'm sure her clothes didn't have bleach stains all over them from work and half of her closet didn't fit her right anymore.

It's doubtful that she dressed like a biblical supermodel, but it's pretty clear from the other verses in this chapter that she dressed well.

Here's another verse where I fell like an epic fail at being a Proverbs 31 woman.  I'm trying to get better but with everything we have going on in our lives now, clothes are typically the furthest thing from my mind.

Which leaves me to ask, what can I learn from this verse?

We may not be the most fashionable family, but I try to have us dress in clothing that flatters us.

We may not spend a lot of money on clothes, but I search high and low for great deals.

We may not have outfit upon outfit to choose from, but we're fully clothed when we leave the house.



If God cares most about what is on the inside, why does this verse point out what is on the outside?

Our God provided for her and for her family. 
Using the resources available to them, they were well taken care of.


I'm not sure exactly where this verse fits in this season of our lives, but I'm determined to find out.

For more posts about Proverbs 31, click on the following link: Proverbs 31
 

Weekly Goals: November 4, 2013

It's incredible how fast the last month has gone.  While I was working, time seemed to stand still and now that the season is over, time is in hyper-drive.  I'm still searching for a balance in our schedule.  I'm overwhelmed by housework, wanting to spend more time with the boys without being distracted, and needing to find a healthy way to fit the two news businesses into our daily lives. 

Last week was a little whacked.  My youngest, Liam's, 3rd birthday, Trick-or-treating, a trip to a local pumpkin patch, working on getting one of the businesses off the ground, learning activities with the boys and day-to-day/mundane/drive me crazy if they're not done tasks commanded my schedule.

Weekly Goals, October 28, 2013

1) Write down an outline for balancing children's activities, housework, blogging and business goals.  In Progress 

 

 

2)  Save, give and spend jars.  Not Complete

 

 

3) Walk  Does Trick-Or-Treating 3 Times Count?

 

 

4) Read  I started two books for me and am reading the 2nd Harry Potter book with Matthew.  Add these to the picture books for Liam and I would say this goal was done.

 

 

5) Knit  Done

 

 

6) Organize Liam's 2 year old photos.  Not Done

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weekly Goals for November 4, 2013-

 

Housework throws me off balance.  The work will never be done and ignoring it doesn't work for me.  Trust me, I've tried.  I get really, really grumpy when the house is a mess.   For the next four weeks, I'm going to try following a simple daily and weekly schedule for the housework.

 

Daily- Dishes, One Load of Laundry, Wipe Counters, Sweep Floors, Spend 5 minutes Removing Clutter.

 

Monday- Sweep and Mop Floors

 

Tuesday- Vacuum

 

Wednesday- Bathrooms

 

Thursday- Kitchen

 

Friday- De-Clutter

 

 

 

1) Save, Give, and Spend Jars

 

2) Start a Notebook for Business Account to keep track of money spent and money earned.

 

3) Read

 

4) Knit

 

5) Walk

 

 

The Lessons Learned From Our Spending Freeze Challenge

Two months have passed since my husband and I challenged ourselves to spend no extra money and to spend bare minimum on what is absolutely necessary.

We had some great results.

- We've saved money for the earnest payment when we go to purchase a home.

- We have half of our emergency fund saved.

- We cut out our satellite television.  So far, this has saved us over $160.00.

- I am more purposeful in what we do and how often we do it.

- I'm really happy with being at home and staying home saves us money.

- We don't need most of the things we think we do.

- The little choices have big results.

We're still learning.

- It only takes a day or two of careless choices to throw us off track.  I feel like most of this falls on me when it comes to the biggest added expense--- eating out.  If I don't plan ahead, have food available and remember to take or send the food, we eat out.  I'm still working on this area.

- I have to spend a little money to save a lot of money.  Shopping ahead and finding sales are not areas I excel in. 

- I have to go to the grocery store to buy food.  This will prevent last minute purchases, unnecessary trips to the store and paying more for things.  I really don't like shopping but I need to put my big girl panties on and get over it.

- The little choices have big results.

This month I am going to be working on doing our main grocery shopping every other week.  We'll see if a little planning, a busy shopping day and hunting down the best sales will help us or hurt us.

Week Eight of the Spending Freeze Challenge

My husband and I have set out on a mission to change our financial future.  It all began when a mix-up with the mortgage company caused an additional probe into our finances and we were turned down for the mortgage... a week before we were scheduled to close.

We've fixed our end of the problem, saved again for the earnest money, enrolled and began taking classes for Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University and are now just waiting.  Praying.

Some habits die hard, but my will is even more stubborn.

We spent $104.72 on groceries for the last week. 

My seasonal job is over and the two new businesses I have started will take a while to take off.

Hubby has picked up overtime to help us meet our bare minimum needs without dipping into savings.



Last week I spent money on our youngest son's birthday party.  He had been asking to go to Chuck E Cheese for his birthday.  I looked into the party package and it was way above our limit.  So, I simplified.



The first thing I got rid of was the goodie bags filled with toys that will break and not hold children's interest for very long.  I figured the prizes the children would get from the tickets they earned could easily take the traditional goody bag's place.  I invested $2.38 in bags, brought my own sharpie and created a new tradition.

We cut our guest list way down.  It meant not inviting all of MY friends but my now 3 year old had a blast with the 5 of his friends that came.

I printed off coupons from their website, remembered to bring them and remembered to use them.

I drank water.  I know, sounds kind of silly.  What's $2?  Well, it's $2 and if you add it with the little bit I saved here and the money I saved there, the total saved or not spent in this case, can be a lot.

Here's some info on the two businesses I have started and the blog post that inspired me to question my beliefs and give me strength to think outside the box.

The Woman Who Fears the Lord #7

My Simply Fun Website

Daly Photography Facebook Page

Weekly Goals: October 28, 2013

Last week I felt a little like I had ADHD. 
I think it comes with the role of parenting two young active boys, trying to be an involved and caring wife and starting two new businesses.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

 

Last weeks goals and the progress I made.

 

Weekly Goals: October 21, 2013

 

 

 

1) Read...  I read with the boys but did no personal reading.

 

2) Knit... I got two sections of a scarf done.

 

3) Commission Charts for Boys... Done.

 

4) Save, Spend, Give Jars... Not completed.

 

5) Try one New Recipe... Done 

 

http://arentedkitchen.wordpress.com/2012/12/05/banana-apple-bread/

 

6) Make Laundry Soap... Done

 

http://seekhispurpose.blogspot.com/2013/06/homemade-laundry-soap.html

 

7) Write Down Goals for Extra Money... Done

 

8) Walk... Done

 

 

 

Weekly Goals: October 28, 2013

 

 

1) Write down an outline for balancing children's activities, housework, blogging and business goals.

 

 

2)  Save, give and spend jars.

 

 

3) Walk

 

 

4) Read

 

 

5) Knit

 

 

6) Organize Liam's 2 year old photos.

 

 



 

Weekly Goals, October 21, 2013

To say I got slightly off track on last week's goals is putting it lightly.  When you see what I got done on my list, you may think that I sat around eating bonbons and watching soap operas all day.  (Old family joke.)  I felt like it was a productive week until I came back to my list...

Weekly Goals- October 14, 2013

 

Errands:

 

1) Pick Up Yarn For Christmas Gifts and Scarf Order  Check

 

Home Management

 

1) Make Liam's Costume  Check

 

2) Make Laundry Soap  Thought I had the soap and when I went to do it, realized I did not.  I had already been to the store that day and WAS NOT going back.  Have I mentioned that I don't like shopping????

 

3) Make Chocolate Syrup  Check

 

Homeschool:

 

1) Bulletin Board for Children's Goals, Memory Verse, Chore List and Calendar  Worked on, but not completed

 

2) Research Pumpkins, Take a Trip to the Pumpkin Patch and Carve Jack-o-lanterns  Got sidetracked with life and the field trip we had planned got rained out.  :-(

 

3) Morning Devotions  Looking for a good devotion book

 

4) Go For Walk x 3  Once

 

5) Spend, Save and Give Jars  Undone

 

Personal:

 

1) Go For A Walk While Husband Can Watch the Boys x 2  Undone

 

2) Begin reading "The Ministry of Motherhood"  Undone

 

Marriage:

 

1) Complete Home Work for Dave Ramsey Class  Undone

 

2) Set Goals for How To Use Extra Money  Undone

 

 

 

 

I am not a goal reaching failure.  I am not a goal reaching failure. 

I am not a goal reaching failure. 

 

Okay, new week and new plans.  Simplified

 

1) Read

 

2) Knit

 

3) Commission Charts for Boys

 

4) Save, Spend, Give Jars

 

5) Try one New Recipe

 

6) Make Laundry Soap

 

7) Write Down Goals for Extra Money

 

8) Walk

 

 

As I tucked the boys into bed tonight, Matt asked if we could do one more thing.  My answer was no, because it was late.  Then I said "One day we'll get our routine together and things will run like a well oiled machine.  But, today is not that day."

 

Week Seven of the Spending Freeze Challenge

We met a major goal this week.  We now have enough saved to put the earnest money down for a house.  Plus, we have extra money.

 

 

 

 

Let me tell you a little secret about myself.

 

When I do things, it's typically all or nothing.

 

 

A clean and organized home or a messy, disorganized one.

 

Eliminating a certain food or drink from my diet or just not caring at all.

 

Not spending anytime on the computer or constantly checking facebook.

 

Stay home all the time or plan so many things, I'm never there.

 

Spending no money at all whatsoever or purchasing everything we want and need.

 

 

Which brings me back to the money we've saved and continue to save.

 

I'm a teeny tiny bit controlling when it comes to our money.

 

Easy for me when we have to squeeze every single dollar

out of our budget to reach our goal, but what then?

 

What now?

 

MAKE A NEW GOAL

(and breathe)

 

I'm going to sit down with my husband so we can discuss what our new goal is.

 

My ideas so far are to put money aside for the emergency fund, moving expenses (fingers are crossed) and a frugal Christmas.

 

We'll need money for all these things but I would like to plan with my husband on them.

 

That way, we can reach the goals, have a little wiggle room and keep each other accountable.

 

 

Last week I went way over budget for our groceries, spending $127.09 instead $100 or less.

 

On a good note, we didn't run out of food.

 

 

Here are a couple of things I did to save money last week on the things we needed:

 

I shopped at goodwill to make the boys costumes.  My sister had most of the key pieces I needed for Matt's costume and the only thing I paid retail for were his glasses.

 

 

It cost me less than $21 to make and put together both costumes.

 

 

I needed yarn for a knitting project and so I used the 40% off coupon for one of the items.

 

Combining trips and staying home helped me get through this week

without needing to put gas in my van.

 

We met friends at Texas Roadhouse an evening this last week.  To save money, we ate dinner at home and then just got drinks, a snack and dessert at the restaurant.

 

 

Instead of saying no to everything, I'm trying to choose where our money will go.

 

Balance.

 

It's an unfamiliar concept, but I think it just may work.


Follow this link to read about our challenge from the beginning and other frugal ideas:
Frugal Living