With the loss of my full-time job a week before Christmas we've talked, made decisions and decided to readjust. Hopefully we'll be able to make enough changes that it won't be necessary for me to find another job. I'm thankful but very nervous.
In the last few months I feel I've been under a great deal of conviction. I am a Christian but haven't truly attended church after two bad experiences. My older children really would like to go to church and be involved in the many activities we used to participate in. I can understand that and have been praying about this for several months. At first I felt I couldn't attend church because of my extremely full schedule. I worked all week and then spent my weekends squeezing in all the housework and errands I did during the week before I worked. I no longer have that complication.
So, my first resolution for the New Year is to resume my role as the spiritual leader in our household.
I've prayed about this resolution over and over and believe with all my heart that this is the path I am supposed to walk. I respect other's rights to worship in different ways and I doubt that will change. I really don't think that's what this resolution is all about. In fact, this seems to be more about training your child in the way he should go.
With that resolution firmly decided my next resolution which also came about by conviction as well as necessity is our finances. It's not as if I spend money without thinking or paying attention but I certainly haven't been as organized and mindful as I should be. There are many things I can do to really cut our budget down. I freely admit that when I go to the local Wal-Mart to buy groceries I don't argue too much about buying the kids treats and/or toys, so that gives you an idea of what I'm talking about.
Hello children, things are a changin' in our household. They won't like it, it'll probably be an argument in the middle of the store, but tough, momma isn't making big money anymore. Besides that, they don't need all that crap. Now, books are one item I will rarely argue with because I believe reading is a great gift that has been given to us, but they don't need one every single time we go to town. I think they need to eat more than they'll need new trinkets.
