"Instead List" for Week 3

Week 3, ending January 29

I have decided to make this the final “Instead List” blog. It is be The Big Explanation.

I’ll still delight in the victories and of catching up and maintaining daily tasks. It will great fun to have time to breathe a bit and enjoy some creativity. I have much to accomplish over the remainder of this semester. This ends Week 3 of sixteen weeks.

If I had continued with school, I would have kept the cash sheet up-to-date and the bills paid, but I would have fallen further behind on wrap-ups and other bookkeeping. I would have been quite stressed about how I would catch up, how I would get the taxes done. With not even two days’ worth of vacation hours available to me, how would I have managed it? While I surely do believe that God will have helped me accomplish what had to be done, I don’t know how I would have done a good job with my schoolwork.

I would have studied Spanish some, but it’s much easier and more fun without online classes. I really want to study a lot and know Spanish well! I started out selling well online but I haven’t listed or posted anything for more than a week. I must get back to it. I need to be sure to focus for the rest of this semester and make sure I get caught up.

Instead

For the Insteads, I will be able to keep up on daily Bible reading, going along with the plan our church is following.

I’ll continue to study Spanish with Jo many times each week, keeping ahead on the homework as preparation for class.

I can watch American Idol via recording on DVD because I did that even while in school because I double-tasked. It was something to zip through while wrapping parcels or doing on paper work. The extra will be that I can watch a movie now and then if I choose, just to be with Bill or enjoy time with Jo.

I will continue to tidy the kitchen, both in the morning and in the evening. Jo and I are actually working out a pretty good system. I do some work in the morning and evening, and she takes care of some during the day and late a night. I’ll continue to work out other cleaning routines.

I will catch up on all the bookkeeping, business mileage records, and medical expenses, and then I’ll maintain it. I hope to work several hours on such things for several weekends until caught up and then maintain it each evening. And I will have to do this, even if I am taking classes.

Downton Abbey on Sunday nights will be finished off soon.

I’ll make sure that J & A keep up insurance and reimbursement payments to us. We will do better on budgeting, keeping up the spreadsheet and payments as we go forward.

I shall investigate and implement the use of credit cards for our business.

We need to drop Verizon and AT&T, set up a second internet phone, and move our toll-free number.

Our prices must be increased. The ad and order form must be redone.

I need to improve our Web site, perhaps finding setting up an SEU student intern to help me with it.

Continuing to declutter and get things in order by sorting, selling, and donating will continue, including a garage sale.

The utility room and the garage need complete reorganization.

I’ll organize the files on my computer, stacked up with copies and duplicates and documents and photos to get rid of.

I’ll pursue personal growth with Bible study and resource books.

Maybe

I hope to become familiar with my camera again, particularly the automatic setting, as I take pictures of items to be sold on eBay, VegSource, and blogging. I foresee learning how to use other settings and maybe take some pictures just for fun. But then there’s the always present desire to watercolor and draw, cross-stitch and sew. And I’d like to play guitar more, but that’s not so high on the list. Eventually I want to do editing.

The Master’s Question

And I will settle the master’s issue.

Hope Rising (Master’s)

Today I have committed to one of the steps toward my becoming fit and healthy person. In the past, I have tended to get fired up and ready to move forward for change, but then get snuffed out. I am realizing that it is because giving attention to my goals and plans has become the lowest priority. Perhaps that’s why I began to question completing my master’s. Now with a bit more time to breathe and think about the future, goals are forming. What typically happens after the match has been struck is that I do not put it to the lamp. I don’t keep it burning. I get engrossed in other tasks and I fail to have a method of following up. I know that I need to keep the fire burning. For me that takes place in being able to talk about, or write about it, so I am constructing a separate location that will provide the space to give long-overdue attention to taking care of this area of my life.

As I began putting my spot together this morning, I realized that other areas can be improved if given the same attention. Personal and professional goals, parenting, and the home business will surely see improvement as I keep a strong focus and determination. The “6 Points” will help every area: active, diligent, orderly, responsible, effective, and determined.

It seems I’ve been just trudging along or treading water, not moving beyond the status quo. I do not know how the changes I intend to make will be reflected in what I write here; however, goals are being set, resources selected, and hopes and dreams brought to the forefront. We’ll see how it all plays out.

Yes, I do have a lot to do. And if I start the master’s this summer, life may overflow at times. But I’ve not previously taken the time I should have taken to pay attention to making changes. I’ve tended to excuse myself because of this, or that, or school, or home business, or—I can always find something. Today is the new day. Perhaps it required the semester of rest from being in school (now ending of Week 3) to bring me to this new vision of hope.

Well, this is about as deep as I will go on making changes, because this blog is not so much for growing and change as it is a scrapbook of memories and the enjoyment of life as a Christian wife, mother, employee, church member, business partner, and homemaker.

Thinking About the Master’s

Way back at the beginning, she was the one who asked me, “And when are you going to finish your degree?” Today, this former supervisor stopped back in the office after hours. Just a couple of us were there, and she asked about my working on my master’s. I explained that I needed to have a clear reason for doing it. She exclaimed that I should indeed do it because it was free. I protested that I wasn’t sure if that was a good enough reason. She went on to say why it would be a good idea, how it would make me more marketable. The coworker pointed out how she had told me I must continue, saying, “I’ve told her; she really shouldn’t waste that good brain, should she?” The former supervisor expounded on why I should earn my master’s. Then the two of them talked together about why I should continue. I asked, “But really, why? What opportunities will I have? What might I do?”

As we talked, I was reminded that part of my plans for my “time off” this semester was to examine the reasons and options and goals, to talk to some people on campus. I have in mind some people on campus that I need to speak to. I’ve added a few more people to the list.

The woman who works with the online program—already in my plans.

The woman who works with the tutoring and help program—already in my plans.

Adding a math professor whose view I would value.

Adding my Spanish professor.

Adding another staff member on the academic side who earned the same master’s.

Adding a well-love professor on campus, whom Andrew enjoyed.

In the meantime, I must also step up the tasks that need to be taken care of for our business.

Get the bookkeeping up-to-date and be able to or determine to maintain it.

Get those price increases in place.

Develop the web site.

Set up for credit cards.

Switch out the phones and stop paying AT&T and Verizon.

Clear out, clean up, declutter, restore order, clean garage, have garage sale.

Move it, move it, move it!

Oh yes! The study wheels are still turning. I may yet get back into it by summer.

So what do you think?

Things to Do This Semester While Not in School

First

Set up for taking credit cards

Drop AT&T toll free (move to VOIP)

Drop Verizon home phones

Bring car measures up-to-date for business

Bring bookkeeping up-to-date, then maintain it

Get all order wrap-ups done, paperwork in order

Later

Clean garage

Have a garage sale (at least once)

Finish sorting through miscellaneous cassettes (listening and tossing)

Listen to Nancy Reagan CDs “Love Ronnie,” which I have had for 7–10 years

Explore teaching at a Christian school for . . . someday . . . maybe

Pursue editing jobs

Initiate discussions on 6 Jays Plus

Write some piano arrangements

Listen to Charles Stanley on Bible Meditation, which I have had for several years

Listen to Zig Ziglar series, cassettes that need to be sold or dumped

Listen to Bob Taylor sermons on people in the Bible

Listen to Harold Wilmington Bible course, cassettes that n

Read some books

Make decision about master’s

Do What I Should Be Doing

It’s been two weeks without classes (besides the delightful Spanish I am continuing). I am giving slightly more attention to an area that has been neglected: Me. In addition to Bible reading, blogging, catching up with the home business, taking care of home, and spending more time with my husband and children, I am starting to think about myself a little bit. Student used to be the primary way I described myself. For two years, until I graduated in December 2011, I was a full-time student (most semesters) while working full-time and in our home business. Now that school is finished and I have deferred the graduate work, I have to see what is next. I need to know if completing the master’s is the right direction for me. Self-examination and research about the value of the master’s will be necessary.

From a file of some quiet time notes, I had a short reminder to do my best in the roles to which I have been called. During the years I was home schooling while working in our home business, I was heavily involved in home-schooling activities learning about the process as I went. The business struggled at times, and I had some questions about how to manage home, business, school, and family. I wanted to figure it all out. As the children went into their teens, my “job description” continued to evolve. During one quest of self-examination, I realized that I needed to focus on what I had been called to do for that time in my life, but it wasn’t about doing everything perfectly. And the concept still applies to today: Do right now what I have been called to do and do everything to the best of my ability. God won’t do for me what I am able to and supposed to do. But He surely will do what I cannot do and He will stand with me as I do the part to which He has called me. Everything I wanted to do well at when I was at home for those eighteen years still holds true: to be the best wife, the best mother, the best teacher for my children, the best business partner, the best homemaker.

 

Whether my children knew it or not, I was perfectly selected to be their mother. And along with that came/comes some mistakes. As my children grow older, new questions have come up. I see new areas in which I can develop my example and help them to become stronger. It is easy to apply the concept of excellence to my responsibilities as a student, now graduated but continuing with Spanish. Most certainly it applies to my employment at Southeastern University. Ahhhhhhhh, but I struggle more to grasp that it also applies to what one might call personal issues. Maybe it’s called personal growth. I have some areas to work on, some rebellion to knock down. I want them to see a positive change in me. I want to set some new goals and achieve them. I want to experience a change in behavior that gives visible results. Goals can be met! Changes can take place! Hope always!

Plans for the Long Weekend

I have a lovely extended weekend with Monday off for Martin Luther King Day. If I were taking online master’s classes, I would very likely be sending Bill to run errands by himself, or I would go for just one run instead of a longer errand run with him. I work on a business cash sheet twice a week. I’ll do that first thing tomorrow so we can get the checks to the bank. Preparing a worksheet is done twice a week. Laundry is squeezed in during the week, and others help some with that. But I have lots of extras in my plans.

Come back and see how I did. I’ll bring my report on Monday night or Tuesday morning.

Saying No to the Master’s Degree, Part Two

I recently deferred the start of my graduate work from spring to summer. I wrote about this yesterday. I am satisfied with my decision, but I want to document additional considerations. Bringing in more income was a secondary consideration in whether “to school or not to school.” When I was at home for eighteen years, my involvement in home schooling included managing a Yahoo group, leading a support group, producing a newsletter, and participating in field trips and other school activities. I was better able to work on the tasks for our home business. Going to work made it a little more difficult. And when I started school, in fall 2009, after my son had completed his home schooling, I maintained only the highest priority items. Keeping up with daily bookkeeping and order wrap-ups was not possible. I tried to catch up with a day off here and there, but often ended up doing schoolwork. And then, income taxes. Filing our income tax had become more stressful when I returned to work, and I was not looking forward to the difficulty of getting my taxes done while taking a graduate-level class. Looking forward, I know I do not want to continue just getting by with life. I like to live with purpose.

We want to—finally—set up our business for taking credit cards. We had avoided it because of costs, but technology now offers new methods that might work for us. We have the information to get us started, but I need to compare it to what Sam’s Club offers. Now, maybe I can get that ball rolling. We also want to sell signs on our Web page and/or on eBay. Our ad is long overdue for revision, and our Web site needs to be made functional. I want to consider using a student from SEU to help me with that as an internship for the student. Ideas are brewing!

And I want to continue to sell on eBay and VegSource. Just in the past couple weeks I have brought in about $250. I can continue listing things we have around the house—clothing, schoolbooks and supplemental materials, games, and some collectibles. I also have ideas for things I can make and sell, perhaps also creating an Etsy shop. Three ideas: my personalized mugs, small watercolors, and the colored pencil/paint brush holder. I want to work with Bill on cleaning the garage, including looking for items to sell at our garage sale or on eBay or Craigslist. I have not been able to watercolor or cross-stitch or practice photography or look at my new-to-me camera (from my daughter). Further, I sit nearly all day—at my desk at work and home to my desk and computer at night for business and school. It’s potentially killing me—literally—because of my lack of physical activity, but I often have felt like I don’t dare to stop for a walk or bike ride because of so much to be done. I want to work on my health and fitness.

Several months ago, I was contacted about doing some editing, the very thing I would like to do. But I was unable even to consider the opportunity because of schoolwork. Having worked in publishing for fifteen years, I would love to be paid to edit.

I listen to the Dave Ramsey podcasts each day. Dave offers suggestions for books to help a person with career decisions. I want to read the books he recommends to help me construct a game plan for the future.

But most of these things cannot happen if I am in school.

Saying No to the Master’a Degree, Part One

Is earning a master’s degree the right thing for me?

From the time I started working at Southeastern (February 2006), the university has required employees to be available for calls during the Christmas break. I have always volunteered for that time because it was no inconvenience for me. We have our home business and we home schooled, so I was never trying to match up with a school break schedule for my children. We could do as we pleased. It was easy for me to switch out the days and take time off earlier in the month of December. I didn’t have do work on the actual days for the holidays, but I worked the extras, in between, which usually amounted to four days. In 2010, I had a total of three calls. This year, the new administration agreed with our office that it was not necessary to staff our office for that time. For the first time in my Southeastern career, I enjoyed ten and half days in a row—half of December 23, plus two weekends and on through January 2. I got a lot of work done around the house, and I enjoyed time with my husband and my children, including a little shopping and a movie or two. Still my thoughts during that time were that I would soon be starting on my master’s. I had enrolled for classes and bought my books. I was trying to accomplish as much as I could in preparation for hours of schoolwork each week.

This past week, ending today, has been Week 0. The classes, which are online, are set up with this early week, where classmates introduce themselves online, look over the textbook and syllabus, and get started on planning the work for the eight weeks of study, Weeks 1—8. Each class is “opened” for the students on Blackboard, where class discussions take place and where we submit our work. As of last Wednesday, January 4, my course was still not showing up. When another student, who is also my graduate admission counselor, asked if I had started my Week 0 work, I responded that it was not yet available to me. His course had opened, he said, and he suggested I check with the online office. They were able to fix my student status immediately and make things accessible to me. I printed out my Course Chart, Syllabus, and Course Policies and looked them over. I looked through the textbook. I felt uncomfortable. I saw that I was not interested in knowing about learning theories and how children hold their pencils and draw and write as they develop. I wondered what the master’s would provide for me in the end. Why was I doing this? Just because of the waiver? Was it God’s leading for me? Would I be better off to give the time to my family? Down inside, it suddenly felt completely wrong. I was spending time (and money, for books) to pursue a goal that I wasn’t sure would benefit me in the end. It would also eat up two more years—two important years that needed to be given to my family, home, and other pursuits for income.

For the next twenty-four hours, I thought about the past two and half years of schooling for my bachelor’s degree. I thought about the week off I enjoyed for Christmas break, the first Christmas break I had enjoyed since I started working at Southeastern. I had never even taken more than three days in a row for vacation. I considered that I was committing to two years for the work, which meant I would still be neglecting work that I should be doing at home and for our business. I had not caught up over break, and I realized that I would not be able to catch up while in school, much less move ahead. As an employee, my tuition is waived, and it seemed that it was a reason God had placed me at SEU.

But maybe not; maybe it was for the waiver for my children and myself for undergraduate classes. It does not have to include graduate school. Throughout the day, I became more and more unsettled. I had mentioned the idea to my daughter—just as a possibility, just as something to pray about. Even as I walked through the house on Thursday morning, the idea of not being in school made me feel like a different person. It was a feeling of release. I looked at my home office and saw how much tidier it was after the time off. I saw the items I had prepared for a garage sale and to sell on eBay. I considered that, during the past week, I had sold several things on eBay and VegSource. I was making progress. It felt so good!

And so . . . when I got to the office on Thursday, I was fully heading in that direction. I was thinking I would withdraw, but I decided to allow myself the option to further examine the issue by only postponing the start. By noon, I had officially deferred the start of my master’s to summer. I returned my books and got the refund of more than $200. Yes! Almost reason enough just for the money. I will further examine the reasons to pursue a master’s. I will set out the pros and cons and be completely clear about the idea.

And I will continue schooling only if I understand the reason to do it.

Besides, I’m also taking Spanish!