Jan. 30, 2008 - One found it's way back

Well, last week one of those pesky pounds found it's way back. Ugh!!    I was making progress but hit a roadblock over the weekend.   I know I did not follow my plan over the weekend.   I will not just give up though.  I am back on track and intend to make up for the gain.    It's funny that with my First Place bible study, we are discussing how God is the potter and we are the clay.  He formed us and we should take care of what He created, ourselves.   In my Secret of the Vine study, we are discussing God's discipline.  I was feeling tired and just blah the past couple of days.  I wonder if my feeling tired and blah isn't part of God's discipline for not following my plan like I know I should have.  Tonight, I hear Him and know what I need to do.  I will persevere.  Stay tuned for the next installment of Lost or Found. 

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Jan. 24, 2008 - Love Lifting Me

"sin is like dirt covering your leaves.  It makes your branch sick and keeps you from bearing fruit.  ... He won't throw you way. ... He kneels by your branch , gently cleanses you, then lifts you back up to a productive, God-honoring life.  ... When we choose to languish in sin, God intervenes to motivate us to stop sinning and begin  bearing fruit again. "  Wow!  This is from the devotional book that goes with Bruce Wilkinson's Sectrets of the Vine.   After I did my bible study and prayer time this morning, It was on my heart to share this.  It is my prayer that this will bless someone in some way.

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Jan. 23, 2008 - I'm at 50.3% savings for the month

I have always used coupons when grocery shopping but it was not until December that I really started taking full advantage of them.  Thanks to a discussion in my homeschool group, I discovered The Grocery Game.  This is a service you subscribe to that tells you each week how to maximize the sales and coupons for the best price at various stores.  I have added a link on my sidebar to their website.  Here are my totals for this month so far:

Shelf Price: $1,002.42

Out of pocket: $498.43

Savings: $503.99 or 50.3% 

Bi-Lo helped a lot last week with their triple coupons promotion.  Thank you Bi-Lo!  

While at Walgreen's this week, I noticed they had regular size candy bars by M&M Mars on sale with their ad coupon 4/$1.00.  Going into to my savings mode, I bought the limit of 8.  I am saving these for when we go to the movies.  The girls are not big on popcorn, so instead of stopping at a convenience store to get something that costs $1.00-$1.50 or even buying it at the theatre for $3-$4, I have now only paid 25 cents per candy bar.    So, when you are looking at the sale papers, don't just think of immediate needs but think also of saving now for future needs.

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Jan. 22, 2008 - Did I lose it or find it this week?

I lost it!!

I am currently doing a First Place bible study with a couple of friends.  We started about three weeks ago and I have lost 5.5 lbs.   If you are not familiar with First Place, it combines a bible study and weight loss based on nine committments: attendance, encouragment, prayer, bible reading, scripture memory, bible study, "Live it" plan, commitment record and exercise. For more information go to www.firstplace.org.  I feel confident in the exercise are now and am working on the other areas.  I don't know that I will ever get the scripture memory because my memory seems to be lost most of the time. 

The bible study we are doing is called Start Living. We have been studying and discussing how our bodies are temples for God's Holy Spirit.  He is the potter and we are the clay. He molded us and we are the vessel he created. If we don't take care of this vessel how can we possibly do the good works he wants us to do.  It is strange how this coincides with a bible study I am doing on Wednesday nights at church.  I am in a small group studying The Secrets of the Vine.  We have just started it and are discussing how God the Father is the vinedresser, Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. We are to be more fruitful but a branch that is "unhealthy" can not be that just as a clay jar that is not in good condition can not hold anything. 

Disclaimer:  This is just my thoughts and ramblins on what I am reading. 

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Jan. 22, 2008 - Where are we now!

Wow, a year has passed since I have updated my blog.  A lot has happened in the last year.  To update you briefly, here goes:

• E & B finished their year of doing time, um  I mean, of going to private school.  They enjoyed it but was so ready to come back home for school.  
• E started pre-pointe ballet classes this past summer and got  her first pair of pointe shoes (toe shoes) for Christmas.
• I've hired a replacement for me at our business two times in the last year. 
• We are back to homeschooling but got a rough start because I was working almost the whole first semester.  We seem to be back into the old routine now except for history.  This seems to be a subject of great stress for me.  I just can't seem to find something that works for us. 
• We acquired two kittens, Trixie and Ann.  They showed up under our front porch one day.  Ann ran away and then we got Lucy, who had shown up at someone else's house.   
• We have found a church home at Hickory Valley Christian Church and are really enjoying it.
• I have begun a journey to healthy living that, yes, includes weight loss. 

So, I am going to record what is going on in my homeschooling, money saving, faith journeying, weight losing, scrappin & stampin life!   I hope to post pictures of stamping and scrapbooking projects as well as tips for both.  You can follow me on my journey to both a healthier life as well as a more spiritual and fruitful life.  Sit back, buckle up and enjoy the ride of MY LIFE!

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Dec. 16, 2006 - Update on the Tinsleys

The girls finished their first semester of school yesterday.  They both did really well.  Emily made star roll on her first report card and was one of 12 out of about 75 kids picked for the spelling bee.  Unfortunately, when it came time for the bee, she got out on her first word.  I think it was from nervousness though.  I am proud of her nonetheless.  Brooke has finally adjusted and gives me no problems about going to school now.   She has also done excellent academically.  She is in 2nd grade but they have her doing 3rd grade spelling and she is flying thru the Abeka 2nd grade math book.  All of this just confirms for me that I did an OK job the last two years. 

Now, when will we back  to homeschooling?  Maybe in january!  My husband has placed an ad for my replacement and we have been getting lots of resumes in.  He plans on starting interviews next week.  If he can hire someone soon, we will pull the girls out at the end of January.  I doubt we will be able to get this done before they start back Jan 4th.  I pray that is all works out. 

The girls would have no problem leaving the school and going back to hsing.  I mentioned the possibility to Emily because she has really gotten into the school thing.  She said she could not wait to homeschool again! 

I have to admire those moms that do work full time, have kids in school and still manage to keep a clean house, cook dinner and run kids to activities.  I just can't get the hang of it.  After being home for the last 9 years, I can't do it all.  I think it is just that my subconscious refuses to.  LOL!  Anyway, it will be nice to get things back to "normal" around here. 

I've got to get the girls ready for Christmas pictures.  I'll post an update later.

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Michele

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Aug. 25, 2006 - Homeschooling no more

Well, my husband and I decided to put the girls in a private christian school.  We just don't want them to have to be at the office 5-6hrs a day.  While I know this is for the best for them at the time, I miss them and homeschooling them so much.  I have felt like my heart is breaking when I think about someone else teaching them.  The school they are attending is a small private school with no more than 12 students to a class.  It is a really good school.  Emily is really enjoying it and getting involved in everything.  Brooke is another story.  She has not adjusted well so far.  We have to stick it out for the year though and then we will evaluate how it is going and what to do. 

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Jul. 22, 2006 - Our visitor

This morning we had a visit from this turtle.  It was crossing the street in front of our house when we noticed it.  Don't worry, we live in a subdivision on a cul-de-sac road.  After watching it finish crossing and enter our yard, I decided we needed to investigate it, you know, for science.  I picked it up and we looked at the underside of the shell.  Suprisingly, it did not pull it's head into the shell.  Being a scrapbooker, I took pictures of course.   I know I have some turtle stickers somewhere.  We decided it was headed to the woods behind our house so we thought we would help it out and take it to the back of our house.  All this time, I was thinking about how cool it would be keep it and observe it for a continued science project.  I researched turtles online and found out it is an Eastern Box Turtle and probably a male because of the red eyes.

Afterwards, Brooke says "Hey, I guess we have started school!"

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Jul. 22, 2006 - What's happening now

Just to bring everyone up to date on my life, here's what is going on.

I am the mom of two girls ages 7(Brooke) & 11 (Emily). This is our 3rd year of homeschooling.  This year will be 2nd & 6th grades.  In addition to being a homeschooling mom, I am the girl scout leader for Brooke's Brownie troop and Emily's Junior troop as well as our girl scout area's service unit manager.  Both girls are also taking dance and Brooke may be taking gymnastics again this year. I have my own business as a part-time bookkeeper and as a Creative Memories consultant.  My husband is currently in the process of buying a business which I will be Office Manager and bookkeeper.  Oh, did I mention I am the coordinator for an area homeschool support group?  Whew! Makes me tired just typing all that. 

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