"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.