Getting Back on Track With Diligence!

It occurred to me just this morning that I have not yet recorded the year-end inventory or mileage. Usually I am well aware that it needs to be done but find it difficult to accomplish. This year, it has only just come to mind. I’m also feeling the crunch about taxes, which cannot be done until the bookkeeping is brought up-to-date. I need to watch carefully how I use my time. Yes, it’s been good to have less pressure, but I realize this weekend that I need to step up my effectiveness and diligence. I’ve been working on the second blog, in which I will write of another journey in my life: weight loss. That took several hours over the past week to construct, but the blog is now fully in place, ready to use. However, giving time to blogs has stalled my progress forward for the business. So today is the start of changes all around. Today, I am also starting back to Sunday school, which I should be able to attend at least until the end of this semester. That may change once I start my master’s, but I will purpose to continue even then.

I have not finished the letter to Lucile yet, so I must do that today. I need to do the inventory, which will include adding back in an estimate of product used in 2012. Downton Abbey is on this evening. (I’m not sure how many more of those there are to go.) I need to study Spanish some, including working on flash cards. I want to order a couple of Ramsey-recommended books. I need to cut Bill’s hair soon, maybe today, and I need a cut as well. For the most part, the length of my hair is getting to where I like it, but it needs to be trimmed, especially in the back.

"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.