Posted on January 21, 2011 by thebluehutch
January Reflections '11 - 200 x 200
January Reflections: Grateful

One of the “mommyisms” I grew up with is, “I can’t make you thankful, but I can make you say thank you.”  The thing is, the more I said thank you, the more thankful my heart grew.  It’s hard to say those words over and over again without realizing how good the Lord is to us and how He uses those around us to bless.  So, my mom made me say thank you but my Father made me thankful.   I think I’ll do the same with my kiddos and pray He is faithful to do the same as well!

Fifty things I am thankful for right now:

  1. the space heater keeping our upstairs bedroom cozy
  2. Honey took KB back to bed when she came in at some time in the middle of the night
  3. flannel jammie pants
  4. an appointment with a dermatologist for little – it should have taken 3 months to get in but they “just happened” to have an opening friday”
  5. snow plows and salt trucks
  6. debbie’s ideas on how to spend a snow day
  7. uno
  8. kb’s imagination
  9. little’s perseverance
  10. bubba’s love of language/letters
  11. hot chocolate
  12. my camera
  13. snow angels – my kids’ first
  14. dominoes delivery
  15. little’s field trip being cancelled because of snow – I never felt comfortable with where they were going.
  16. two hours alone with little since her school is the only one off today.
  17. a washer and dryer that work.
  18. pbskids
  19. friends from high school that i WANT to spend time with this summer and
  20. a plan to do just that
  21. a motivating sunday school class
  22. a pastor that humbly points us to Jesus
  23. opportunities to use my gifts
  24. pictures taken by a friend
  25. kb can dress herself. . . and wants to
  26. everyone ate dinner joyfully last night and bubs even said, “this is my faaaaavorite”
  27. books
  28. coupons
  29. a great hairdresser
  30. cereal
  31. cd player in the car!
  32. netflix streaming
  33. computers that work
  34. a surprise message from a beloved uncle
  35. scrapbooking – and friends to do it with
  36. friends’ decision to come to our church 
  37. a team of folks in our school district who really care for our little
  38. late start at school today (since I haven’t gotten a shower and am running late)
  39. hide and go seek in the house
  40. crayola
  41. winter wipe-out
  42. dr. seuss
  43. hearing little read
  44. kb’s rolling laugh
  45. bubba asking for just one more hug
  46. honey working so hard to provide for us
  47. bravery
  48. commitment
  49. forgiveness
  50. grace
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Baby, It’s Cold Outside

Posted on January 20, 2011 by thebluehutch
Chesterfield Snowfall
(This is not my house but the picture was taken in the area of town where I live so I thought it would give you an idea.)
10 inches have fallen
Another 1-3 expected throughout today
20 degrees but feels like 14
No school – again.
Can’t get out of driveway anyway.
What to do? What to do? 
Seriously – what should we do?
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Money, Money, Money by the Pound

Posted on January 19, 2011 by thebluehutch
January Reflections '11 - 200 x 200
January Reflections: Finances

Apparently I like “stuff”.  (My daddy just laughed, Honey rolled his eyes, and my brother said, “Ya Think?”) Apparently everyone was aware of this WAY before I was.  

Well, family, hold on to your hats ’cause this stuffaholic is humming that 1990 Winans tune. . . “It’s Time, time to make a change.  We are His people we can do it.” That’s right! 2011 is going to be the year of “use what you have”! (Feel the need to craft? Look in the craft closet!) My personal goal is that we end the year with no debt and an empty(ish) basement.  Is that weird? I’m going to get a bumper sticker and instead of the Marines’ “Semper Fi” it will say “Simplify”.  Big talk from someone addicted to stuff.


Now the debt free part would be much easier if someone left us an inheritance of 1 billion dollars.  I think it is funny that Corrin would ask us to reflect on how we would spend that money and it’s 2011 – the year of using what I have.  But, I guess if someone gave it to me I would technically have it. . . so I could use it. . . I think I will reflect on how to steward the funds.  It sounds nicer and has a tone of built in accountability for a stuffaholic.

Good news is that I am in the middle of a four week Sunday School class on finances and it is amazing; one of my favorite classes since attending our church.  The teacher is super.  Last week we discussed savings and it was fantastic.  He told us how to figure out just how much we NEED to save in a year.  What a novel idea! We’re to make a dream list (this includes college for kids, weddings, trips,  etc.) and how much each would cost then divide the dream amount by how many years there are until that dream is anticipated and then we’ll have our savings goal for that year.  He used college tuition as an example and ended up with $6000 saved a year if we have someone starting college in 10 years.  S.E.R.I.O.U.S.L.Y.   The lady behind me was heard to say, “I must stop dreaming.”  

In light of this new knowledge and strategy for saving, I would have to say that stewarding my billion dollars would include giving God the first fruits, giving Uncle Obama what he requires, and then I would make dream lists.  A list of family long term needs.  A list of realty options in our wonderful school district.  A list of vehicles that are wise choices for short commutes and tall men.  A list of folks in need and, potentially, organizations that help them.  A list of equipment “needed” from the Apple store.

THEN I would set my lists aside, hire my friend Julie to help us plan an Autism friendly trip to Disney, and go to Disney World.  Is that a bit cliche? 

What would YOU do with a billion dollar inheritance?
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