Archives for September 2010

I’m Scared of Envelopes

September 23, 2010 by Amy 21 Comments

I’ve been a fan of Dave Ramsey and Suze Orman for quite some time. I’ve put a lot of their ideas into practice. We’ve never carried debt but we started and completed our emergency fund. I’ve even set up a budget, created an account on mint and tracked our money . But that’s where it stops. I never have set up any practices to stay in budget. I watch it go into red every single time, far beyond the limits of the budget. It’s been depressing. I knew Dave Ramsey’s budget system was the “envelope system”. Where you budget your money, put cash for non-bills in envelopes and when it’s out, it’s out. That scares me to death. Because what if I saw the cutest top on sale at Target and I HAD to have it. Or what if I REALLY wanted Taco Bell for lunch instead of a pb&j. Or what if…

The end to all those sentences is, I wouldn’t be able to get what I wanted. And that’s just lame. I’m a grown, responsible adult and I should be better able to control those desires. Because it may cost to opt-in but I have to count the cost of opting out. The price of my inability to control my desires is someone’s next meal or the clothes on their back. We have to be more responsible so we can give more. We have to be more responsible so we are equipped to handle crisis so we are not running around trying to fix it instead of concentrating on others. We have to be more responsible so our kids see us be more responsible. Since December we have gotten much better but we’re ready to take the next step and tackle the envelope system.

Based off the budget I had set up in mint.com, I created a budget on Dave’s forms and actually planned where every single dollar is going to go with every paycheck. I know when bills are coming and going. We’re saving for once-a-year stuff. We’ve set up what money is staying in checking, what’s being moved to savings and what goes in an envelope. I even have a coffee envelope! Everything in moderation, people! You didn’t think I was going to completely cut that out did you?

Scott and I actually had a budget meeting. Dave suggests “the nerd” do the budget and then present it to the spouse. They are able to make any changes they want without question. I, of course being the nerd, presented it last night with much anticipation. We went through every line item with little fighting and actually very little changes.

So October 1 we start. It’s going to be weird dealing in cash. It’s going to be weird planning meals. It’s going to be weird rationing out clothing money. It’s going to be weird not going to Chick-fil-a every single time we want. It’s all going to be weird for a while.

Weird and scary. But I believe so worth it.

Very curious…do you have a budget? If so, how do you control your budget? Are you a Dave Ramsey fan?

Wordless Wednesday – Mommies are also Barbie Stander-Uppers

September 22, 2010 by Amy 2 Comments

Radical Chapter 2

September 21, 2010 by Amy 6 Comments

I really want to blog about something else on this chapter but God’s not going to let me. I started typing out a different quote and I had that catch in my spirit and deleted it. God is so bossy!

Marla prompted participants this week:

“You and I desperately need to consider whether we have ever truly, authentically trusted in Christ for our salvation” (37). What do you make of that?

That’s a tough question to answer. How does one really know if you are “born again”, “saved”, “one of His children”? I think the answer is a few pages away:

“We are saved from our sins by a free gift of grace, something that only God can do in us and that we cannot manufacture ourselves. But that gift of grace involves the gift of a new heart. New desires. New longings. For the first time, we want God.” (39)

If you say you are a Christian but you don’t desperately long to know God more, to be more like him, to do more for him, to be less of yourself and more of him, I plead with you along with David to consider if you have truly, authentically trusted Christ. Yes, you may know of Jesus but if you don’t long for him, there’s something missing. That new creature has not replaced the old one.

You may be way, way, way far from God and doing everything that would displease him but the question is do you care?

Because a child of his would care.

He would care very deeply that he was displeasing God. Even if you don’t know how to get out of what you are in, having that desire to be connected or reconnected with God is what’s important. If it’s the first time you feel that way, he’s calling you to accept that salvation. If you know you’re his child, then he’s calling you out of that pit and back into his arms.

And if you just don’t care, my dear friend, and you are reading this, it’s not an accident and you are my prayer for this week. Because he’s calling you to care.

Read more Radical Responses here

Children’s Painted Table Project

September 20, 2010 by Amy 16 Comments

Our play room seems to evolve often, sometimes weekly. It’s been in my office, my living room, Lexi’s old nursery. It’s been in Lexi’s old nursery, now called the playroom for quite some time. Scott threw together a few tables for them to play on but we never got around to painting them, With two kids armed with crayons, markers, stamps, juice and chocolate, it’s nearly worthless to put much effort into it. But, at 5 and 7 I think they are well passed the point where not everything will be written or spilled on.

But clearly in the past that was not the case. I found this old picture of the tables:

As you can see, it looked more like their latest art creation than their play table. So we pealed off stickers and Scott sanded the rest.

Then I gave it a good coat of Kilz.

I decided leaving a white top was brave even now so I decided to tie in the purple. I painted the top the same purple from the walls. And then I decided to put a scalloped edge around the top sides. I made a stencil out of construction paper. I simple drew a circle from the outline of a drinking cup, cut it out and then marked two dots on it where it would align on the top of the table so it would be the same each time. Actually, I ended up folding the circle at the dots so all I had to do was lay the stencil on the top of the table. Sometimes it takes me awhile.

I did that all the way down the table, ignoring the break in the wood.

And then I took a smaller brush and filled it in by hand with purple.

Then I couldn’t leave it like that, wanting to tie some white into the purple. So I got one of the girls’ paint brushes and did an outline of dots around the scallops.

Then I couldn’t leave it like that, wanting to tie some pink into the table. So I got some regular acrylic craft paint I had and using the same small brush, drew petals in pink and then did one more dot in the Kilz white in the middle to finish off the flower.

And then, I was happy.

The tables went into the playroom yesterday. Please excuse the very non-matching, huge STOP sign and traffic light. This is what happens when your dad is a police officer.

Perfect? No. But better? YES!

Sunday Highlights: Epic

September 19, 2010 by Amy 1 Comment

Last week we started a new series Epic. I didn’t do Sunday Highlights not because there wasn’t good content but because it was mainly background of the book of Esther. If you don’t know the story of Esther, please take the time to read it. Last week he talked up to the part of Esther being chosen as Queen in Vashti’s place. As a theme, he talked about how God is not mentioned in book at all but how God is present and working in our lives even when it doesn’t seem like it.

This week he talked about choices we make and how we usually count the cost of opting in to something. How much time will it take? How much money? What consequences? However, we should look at the cost of opting out. What happens when we DON’T do something God has asked us to do?

Opting out always cost more than opting in to God’s plan

God would figure out a way to deliver His people whether Esther opted in or not but maybe she was chosen for such a time as this. It was no coincidence she was there. She could have lost her position as Queen by talking to Xerxes. Our positions don’t matter it’s how we respond in our positions that matter. No matter what our circumstance, our purpose is to know Him and make Him known.

We tend to look at God and see him as a personal assistant, deciding whether to opt in. Do I need Him? Will He make me happy? But measure the cost of not opting in to the God that holds all the galaxies together with His pinky. Now is the time and is always the time to know Him and make Him known.

There is a cost to opt in but the cost to opt out is much greater. Our greatest joy is found in His good pleasure.

Here is the sermon online at northrockhill.com.

Blown Away

September 18, 2010 by Amy Leave a Comment

Blown away is pretty much the only feeling I feel this morning. For those that followed in the comments, on Twitter, Facebook or the blood:water belt site, you know that yesterday was HUGE. Dani and I made a goal of 28 people. I have to be honest and say we were nearly laughing at that number. Twenty-eight people? I can’t even get 2 to a Mary Kay party. But we had to go with it. We both knew in our hearts that this couldn’t be ignored. We just weren’t sure if it included just the 2 of us or 28. But it was a nice round number considering the cost of the belt.

Well, I am just blown away that we have THIRTY people officially signed up on the site right now. There are a handful more that have committed but just haven’t registered yet. That is $840 for Blood:Water Mission!! Speaking of, they left a sweet comment on the site yesterday giving their blessing on our efforts. Marla, the leader of the Radical Read-along joined up as well as many friends both IRL and online, wonderful blogging ladies I look up to and other Read-alongers 🙂 Our prayer was simply that God would make people’s hearts tender and wow, He showed up! Whether people knew they were prayed for or not, He showed up every time they joined.

And you know what? As I lie (laid?) in bed last night thanking God for all of this He just whispered, “And that was only a belt.” My joy overfloweth with just one belt sparking a change and God tells us to give it all to Him. I thought of all the possessions I have and just how much of a difference could be made if we always had a Kingdom mindset. We think giving our money, time or possessions is a chore, something that we will regret. But, no. If God calls you to it, it’s a complete and utter joy. I have never, ever regretted anything I’ve ever given to Him. I don’t look back and say man, think of all the money I could have saved by not sponsoring a Compassion child. Or man, too bad I volunteered for the Christmas Boutique at church. Giving always results in thankfulness and a happy heart.

2 Corinthians 9:12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.

Introducing blood:water belt

September 17, 2010 by Amy 24 Comments

Some days I feel like Jekyll and Hyde. One day I’m talking about a TV show, the next about being radical, yesterday I posted about going to a celebrity meet and greet and today I’m talking about something entirely different. It may seem like two sides but I assure you they are of the same coin. I’m passionate about whatever I’m into. I’m either into it full force or I’m not. Yes, I get on bandwagons but I enjoy them while I’m there and I really I don’t know any other way to do it. So I have all these parts of me but all of them are me and all of them I’m passionate about but there are some that are close to my heart and some that aren’t.

This is going to be one of those close to my heart.

When I wrote that post on Tuesday about the first chapter of Radical I really had no idea what would happen. I definitely cringed a little hitting the Publish button hoping I wouldn’t look the fool asking someone to buy a belt for charity. But God moved and my friend Dani “bought” the belt. She’s donated $28 to blood:water mission! Hooray! That one post and one belt just helped 28 people in Africa.

They like it!

Well, apparently God had something a little bigger planned than 28 people because Tuesday night after Dani bought the belt, my passionate/addictive/entrepreneurial mind kicked into high gear and I could not quit thinking about it. I sent her an email the next morning and said, what if we made this like the Sisterhood for the Traveling Pants but for the belt and everyone donated to blood:water mission in order to take their turn with it? What if everyone took their picture with it and we posted it? What if we had a map? What if we made a goal to have 28 people do it? What if we had a journal to pass along with the belt? The questions wouldn’t stop and the cool thing is, we were on the exact same page. She couldn’t stop thinking about it Tuesday night. And then I told Scott about it and he was like “do it and that’s a direct order.” And no, I’m not really joking. hahahaha Seriously. Not joking.

Dani came to pick the belt up Wednesday night and we started making plans. By now, as you can imagine, I can whip up a blog quick-fast-in-a-hurry and I have one put together for this. (Yes, I realize I was scaling back but maybe because I needed time for this?) We’ve named the belt and site blood:water belt (Scott wants you to know he came up with that name) and will create a Sisterhood of the Traveling Belt. Each person that joins will “buy” the belt by donating, have the belt shipped to them for wear and pictures (can’t wait to see other people in it!) before sending it on.

I don’t know how long this will last. I don’t know if it’s just teaching us two belt-lovin’ gals a little lesson but we have to give it a shot. I have to do something more and if selling the belt to one person was a little step, this might be the next 2 or 3. I’m serious about being Radical. I’m serious about helping the poor. I’m serious about making a difference. If it comes through a belt, then so be it. All I know is 56 lives (yes, I donated and joined too 🙂 will be changed because of just the two of us and I’m ready to see how many more.

I think she is too.

If you think you could be a part of it or know someone who would (probably someone who used to send you a chain letter HA), would you consider joining the Sisterhood of the Traveling Belt or sharing about bloodwaterbelt.org?

It’s an awfully cute belt!!

The Family Meets Danny Gokey

September 16, 2010 by Amy 7 Comments

This afternoon I had the chance to take Scott and the girls with me for a meet and greet with Danny before he signed autographs at the Southern Women’s Show in Charlotte. Because of the site, I’ve been in more contact lately with some of his management and they were gracious enough to let me meet up with him. We ended up in a closed cafeteria just outside the showroom and it was very easy-going. Well, eventually it was.

The girls barely wanted to turn the last corner to see him. Between nervous laughter they were all but pulling me back or down to the ground. They were smiling ear to ear but nerves were taking over. Finally I had to pick Lexi up and take her over. Danny didn’t spot us behind him until we were nearly at his table but he seemed happy to see us and was glad to finally meet Scott. He gave him a big handshake and bear hug. He was wonderful with the girls and told them how beautiful they were. We all sat down and Danny answered all the questions I had. We filmed a video and took pictures.

The picture deal was pretty funny though because at first I wanted to get a picture with just the girls and him but they would not do it. So I went and stood by Danny and they finally ran over. Scott started snapping pictures. But then I think we all realized at the same time it was kind of awkward because it looked a little like a family Christmas portrait with the wrong guy in it.

AWKWARD

Although it looked awkward it wasn’t awkward and I just asked Scott to get in the picture and Danny was like uh, yeah…let’s get someone else to take the picture. It was actually funny. So then we got the picture of all of us. As you can imagine, pretty epic picture.

Much better! Don’t be surprised if this is our Christmas card.

We talked a lot about his single and his foundation. You never have to worry about what to say around him, only that you might not get to say something at all. He is a talker! I think we actually made him late for his signing and he asked his people if he would have time to talk to us after the signing and they said yes. So guess what? We stuck around to talk to him! We shopped around, ate some dinner and watched the signing as he finished up.

Oh, I did let the girls go through the autograph line when it was slow and he ran out of pictures 🙁 The one thing Lexi wanted was a signed photo like I have. He promised to get them one at the next time and Lexi agreed to him signing her arm instead. Emma had already decided that’s what she wanted so it was cute. Yes, I realize I’m probably a terrible mother for teaching them all my fangirl ways! But aren’t they so cute?!

Anyway, after the signing we didn’t get to talk much. He seemed pretty tired and we made small talk before he was called out to get to the airport.

It was hilarious though at that point because it was more Scott and him just chit-chatting. They were standing in front of each other both with their arms crossed while I listened. I really wanted to take a picture of the two of them like that. They both really hit it off. When we left Scott said he was a really “real” guy, very down-to-earth and genuine. Which is exactly what I always say. Anyway, it was nice that they all got to meet after me being the middle man for so long.

So yeah, pretty simple autograph signing to some, but memorable one for us!