Motivation for a Budget in Life

First, a nod (and a prodding to you to check it out) to Maestro's blog - he is using blogging as part of his writing this year, and is turning out to be pretty amusing. Take a look at his (current) mini-series on Three Types of Businessmen! And another to my shared fitness blog, with an Outside-Looking-In Perspective on running (or not!)

Now to what I wrote out a month ago while still packing... This is a short-and-sweet post as I need to get back to unpacking the boxes! But I really need to say it before it goes out the other side of my mind.

Along with our move, we've decided to make some huge changes in our lives. We're getting stuff out by the bagful to give away, even as we pack up. We are getting things fixed on the house that have needed to be fixed for a long time, but we just didn't have time and/or money to fix (and sometimes both!) We're looking forward to making some changes in terms of budgeting our

• time,
• space,
• healthy habits,
• money, and
• family dynamics.

Increasingly, "budgeting" is taking on a far broader meaning than simply pre-planning and knowing where are finances are going. I've begun hitting the climbing gym whenever I have time and money to go, which encourages me to take better care of myself. We've been looking carefully at how we - and our children - spend our free time and have been working on ways to increase our time together as a family. To encourage me in my run-up to budgeting our finances, I've been listening to Dave Ramsey podcasts while I declutter, pack boxes and work on general clean up around the house. 

This got me thinking today: What am I doing to encourage me in following my faith? 

Could I switch from Dave Ramsey to the Bible on CD on occasion? The Orthodox Church in America has podcasts too, or how about the podcasts presented on Ancient Faith? There are several avenues out there for me to learn more about my faith and the Bible and what it contains.

What do you do to keep you motivated and ready to take on life? 

(the next post will be on tackling the papers in my life - still researching on that one! Stay tuned!)

Sharing My Joy

Oh. My. Goodness! Living in this place is like being at an air show Every. Day. It have long been a fascination and a dream of mine to fly, and one day, I'll make the dream of a pilot's license come true. But when I was a girl, I always wanted to fly the jets - even before Top Gun made it "cool."

We live near a place where the jets fly around frequently and I am in Heaven. I run from room-to-room trying to track them down in the sun. I don't care how geeky that looks. I even think it's good for the kids to see enthusiasm in something, to see joy and excitement and to share that.

What gets you passionate for life? 

What makes your heart jump? 

What JOY do you find to share with those around you each day? 

When I was younger, I was moved one day - by what exactly, I don't know - but I threw my arms out from my sides and enjoyed the sensation of the wind and the joy of the moment. The friend who was with me at the time asked, "What are you celebrating?"

I had no response then. I was embarrassed for my moment of child-like joy and revelation (I was 18 and that wasn't "cool.") Now, how I wish I had said that I was celebrating LIFE and the JOY of the moment. That friend, though we are no longer in touch, would have understood. I pray to show my kids that having that kind of love for life and joy is "okay." And if someone else doesn't like it, does that person's opinion matter?

I'll get pictures of my plain-jane house up before long (when it's no longer plain), but for right now, you'll find me on the porch, soaking in mild weather, cup of coffee in hand and enjoying the noise and excitement of my own little Air Show.