Nov. bills

I just paid all Nov. bills, except:
$400 tax money ($1,200 is due Feb. 1st)
$100 home insurance ($300 due in Jan.)

I actually made enough to pay all the bills, but I was behind last month, so about $300 went to that, plus I had to pay $150 to have furnace repaired.

I really need to get an emergency fund again.

Praising God though that all utilities and such are current!

-Becky

What I earned / spent last week

Earned:
Sunday- $0
Monday- $100 check in mail
Tuesday-$0
Wednesday-$298 childcare pay for 2 weeks
Thursday-$0
Friday-$0
Saturday-$60 babysitting

Spent:
Sunday -Nov. tithe to church
Monday- $85.00 dog food and groceries at Wholefoods and
$7.00 boys dinner at Wendy's
Tuesday-$0
Wednesday-$22.00 Rite Aid on Misc., $4.28 on homemade chocolate covered pretzels, $1.00 ebook, $45.00 water bill, $80.00 Oct. internet / phone / cable bill that was overdue, $6.40 library fine
Thursday-$0
Friday-$0
Saturday-$40 gas for car

Making ornaments

We were gifted with glass Christmas ornaments and some crafts supplies, so Josh and I made ornaments last night. It was fun, and they came out so cute. I can only show you Josh's as the others will be gifts.

We put glitter and bells and a snowman in Josh's. I put more bells around rim and added a ribbon to hang.

-Becky

Wishing

I would like to pay all 2011 bills by the end of the year in full, to do so I will need:

$127 owe dentist
$750 owe Mastercard
$125 owe Kohl's
$600 owe tax money (due Feb. 1st)
$200 owe home insurance money (due quarterly, I think next payment is due in Jan.)

$1802 I am sure this will not happen. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Becky

p.s. in all of this I still know I am so blessed and am so gratfeul for everything we do have.

Home Ownership

For many years, it was a desire of mine to own a home. Although it seemed I waited a long time to do so, in reality it was just a short time. I bought my grandmother's home two years ago in 2009. I had just turned 30 a month prior to the purchase. This was a pretty ambitious purchase for a 30 year old, single mom of two.

This home was such a blessing from God. Even today their are days that I look out the window into my yard or sit in my home and the pure joy of it is overwhelming. I could not be more grateful.

That being said, I have to mention how naive I was going into home ownership. We have had many unexpected's occur so far.

Days after spending our first Christmas here we had a torrential rain that made its way straight into our living room (I was using garbage can to hold the water and it was half full in half a day.) Come Feb. or March the entire roof was built out and replaced to correct the leaking (I did know about this before buying the home.)

Last year I spent many days without hot water, as my unit worked as it felt like it. The pilot went out almost daily and became harder and harder to relight. This went on over 3 months. I took many cold showers and washed my hands too many times with freezing cold water. Eventually I was able to replace the unit.

This year my dryer and dishwasher both still sort of work, but not really. The dryer drum has come separated from the dryer and things get lost in there or stuck and have to be pulled out (leaving said item covered in rust.) The dishwasher (even after me cleaning out filters and such a few times) is no longer cleaning dishes. If I put in a full load, maybe 1/4 of it comes out clean.

Now I can live without a dishwasher and dryer. The newest problem, however, I can not.

Last night I went to turn the heat on (it was 61 degrees in the house, I usually keep it at 64.) Nothing happened. I upped the heat. Still nothing. The furnace was not starting. I took the covers off the furnace to see if anything was switched off. I also made sure gas was on to entire house and to the furnace. It was. Still nothing. So we all bundled up and went to bed without it.

More upsetting over not having the money to pay the repair man or thought of needing a new furnace (worst case scenario), is not having someone to call who can carry the stress of this newest crisis. The burden is all on me. Or is it?

God gave me this home, He helps me pay each bill every month, He knew that yesterday the furnace would not work. Not only does He not want me to carry the stress alone, He wants to carry all the stress Himself. Although I can't see it right now, He already has a solution to this new problem.

Now, that does not mean I should do nothing. I need to work hard to maintain the home He has given me. I need to not spend my money foolishly, so I can save for an emergency fund. I need to educated my self on the repairs I can do. I need to invest in some tools so I can do those simple repairs myself.

But above all I need to pray and put my trust in Him.

-Becky

Happy Thanksgiving

I am thankful for:

God
my family
my friends
Lady (our dog)
freedom to homeschool
that we have more than enough of what we need
naps

-Becky

Calories and walking

I never really cared about counting calories, but I thought I might try and track as I have a goal to lose weight before my wellness week in April 2012 (and hopefully will be able to amp up my exercising after the wellness week to further my weight loss / healthy me goals.)

I realized to maintain my weight (which I do not want to do) I need to eat about 2,100 calories. I read to lose about a lb. a week eat 500 less calories every day (and to lose 2 lbs. a week eat 500 calories less, and exercise off 500 calories.) So I am aiming for about 1,600 calories, with most coming from wholefoods in least most processed form. I am also trying to eat as little meat as possible. That is so I can lower my cholesterol.

I found a free online calorie, food, and exercise tracker here. It is really cool.

Yesterday I ended up eating 2,100 calories, but I did walk an hour, so at least I burned some of those off.

Today I am at 1,400. I still have to have my ground flax mixed in juice, so I will be at about 1,600 today (if I can resist the late night urge to snack.) Plus I walked over an hour today.

I started walking about a month ago. I walk about 3 days a week for about 45 min. I walk at a brisk pace as I bring my dog, Lady who is very eager to explore (ok, she walks me. lol.) According to my pedometer I walk about 5,500 step each walk, or almost 2 miles.

The positives since I started walking:
-I lost 2 lbs
-I am tired at night and want to go to bed about 11
-getting up between 8-9am these walk days help me to get more accomplished those days and I am calmer those days with kids
-bonding with mom and Jason's grandmother (my walking partners)
-Lady is getting exercise
-Josh is getting more exercise

I will say I am so grateful for my mom or Jason's grandmother coming over 3-4 days a week to get me up and walk with me. This has been a huge blessing, as I just don't walk on my own.

Do you count calories?
Do you walk? If yes how often and how long?

-Becky