Friends

I have the greatest friends. I've been truly blessed with my friends and my family. My friend, Mindy, is watching my son today because he is out of school...Columbus Day. So, he's hanging out with her and her hubby, Jeff (Drew adores both of them!) Mindy snapped this picture of the boys and I just had to share...
Aren't they adorable! Thanks a ton, Mindy for helping me out! You guys ROCK and I love you dearly.

I've also been having some car issues. Well, the one shop I took it too told me it was going to be about $700 to fix everything...I don't have $700 laying around right now. Luckily, my buddy Karen talked to her hubby, Keith about it and he is sending me to another shop. Plus, he told me at this moment, don't stress about it. It's great having people who can help you out.

See, I have the greatest friends!!!!!

Stepping up to the challenge...

I've been struggling with creating and sticking to my budget. It seems that I always have more money coming out than I do coming in (as Dave Ramsey would say, I have more month left at the end of the money!). I know, I'm not alone in that feeling. Well, one of the bloggers I follow, Spuds, set up a challenge for his readers and being the person I am, I've stepped up to that challenge.

Basically, he is challenging people to reduce their budgeted grocery amount and give more to a food bank. That is a great idea and this might be the kick in the pants that I need to get motivated. So, in order to achieve this goal, I've signed up for E-MEALZ. This is a great sight that gives you menu plans and approximately how much it's going to cost. I've signed up for the family of 2 and today will be my first shopping trip.

So, I'm stepping up to the challenge and we'll see how it goes. I am going to make this work!

Take care!

Grateful Heart

I've been following a very inspiring story the last several months. Shay Kelley has been traveling to all 50 states, living in her truck and collecting canned goods and socks for the homeless. She has such an amazing attitude about everything and she just keeps putting one foot in front of the other. In addition to her website & facebook, I've been receiving her tweets and I'm just blown away by this young woman.

She took a negative experience in her life and decided to use it for the benefit of others. She's reaching out to a segment of our community that most of us hide from. I know I've been guilty of that, myself. Shay keeps talking about being grateful for all that she has and that spreading love is the number 1 priority in her life.

As I read her blog and her tweets, I discover something about myself...I'm not nearly as grateful as I should be. I have a home, I have food on the table and most importantly, my son is healthy and happy. Yes, my life has taken some twists and turns that I never expected it, yes, I struggle with money (but I am realizing that is a position that I'm putting myself in....I hear Dave Ramsey in my head telling me to grow up and act my wage!!), but we don't go hungry...we're not cold at night and the list goes on and on.

Why then do I tend to freak out about things when I know that the important stuff is under control and God is going to take care of us? I tend to try to control everything around me and I know that I should just leave it all up to God, but why do I keep trying to take control of things? I think God is still trying to teach me patience and Faith. Maybe I keep him chuckling because that is something he has to repeatedly teach me.

Hugs to all!!

Awwww.....

I have the sweetest friends. My friend, Mindy, took this picture Saturday at Drew's first soccer game. Isn't it adorable!!! Thank you Mindy. Love ya!

Articles & Comments

I am always reading the news, then I usually make the mistake of reading the comment section at the end. I've learned something through this process....there are a lot of angry people in the world. Well, at least, that is how it seems.

Some people think I'm a "bleeding heart liberal" and others think I just let people walk all over me. I don't believe either is correct. I try very hard not to judge people because I'm not "walking in their shoes," (a quote from one of my all time favorite books, To Kill a Mockingbird). I have no idea how I would respond to the challenges and issues they are facing, heck, I don't have a clue as to what they are facing.

The reason I bring this up is that I just read an article in CNN about Angline Jolie and the work she is doing for Pakistan. That country has been devastated by floods. Many of the comments people left were horrible. Why are so many people so mean? That is something I don't understand and hopefully, I never will. Now, don't get me wrong, I can and do get very mad about certain things and I do have strong opinions on certain subjects, but I have a pretty good understanding of who feels like I do and who doesn't. Just because someone doesn't share all the same view points, doesn't mean I can't learn from them and they can't learn from me.

Ok, I'm going to get off my soap box. Sorry!

Hugs!
Paulette