Archive for September 22nd, 2007
I love to garden, or should I say that I love having a garden. Growing anything – vegetable, flowers, or shrubs – is hard work. Not only do you have to prepare the soil and then plant what ever you are going to grow, but you have to maintain it.
The other day, I was struggling to pull some weeds. I had let them go a little longer than I should have and the weeds had grown big – with deep roots. “If I had just done this a few weeks ago then it would have taken no time. Now I’ve let them embed themselves in my garden.”
It made me think that bad habits and things we know we shouldn’t do are a lot like the weeds I was trying to pull. The longer they bad is allowed in our lives, the harder it is to get the bad out.
Thought for the Day: Don’t let the weeds in your life choke out the Word.
Matthew 13:7 (KJV) “And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up, and choked them.”
Suggested Reading Matthew 13
Lord, teach me how to have a garden of blessings and not a life full of weeds. Help me to be willing to face them while they are small instead of tackling them when they are out of control.
September 22nd, 2007
It’s not easy being a good wife – especially when football season in the south rolls around. College football is a required pass time in the Bible Belt. Not only are there the games to consider, but the post game attitude (made worse if a loss is involved). I should expect that my spouse will disappear about the time of the baby’s nap and won’t re-emerge until it’s time for church on Sunday.
Last year during this time, I was writing a column about college football. I tried watching the games with my husband, but I think it disturbed him even more to have me by his side doing commentary. Some one I the family needed to stay balanced I guess. 
Because of the interest that was piqued in me during my stint as a sports writer, I’m keeping up with some of the teams. I secretly watch a few quarters here and there, but I turn the channel to a Lifetime movie if my husband wanders into the room.
Most people would consider that sharing experiences will bring a husband and wife closer together. Sometimes it’s NOT sharing experiences that help with the bond. So I’ll be the good, southern wife that knows nothin’ about playin’ no football – and hide in the bathroom with the sports page at night.
Are there things in your life that are just yours and that you don’t really want your spouse to become a part of? It’s okay to want to have some time alone or with your own interests. God made us all special and our spouse is usually a complimentary person not a duplicate.
September 22nd, 2007
There always seems to be an “unexpected” expense that pops up and messes with the budget that I have painstakingly put together. Last month is was the emergency room visit. This month it was tires for the van. The truth is, nothing is completely unexpected and I have to make a budget that plans for these events.
Since my budget includes a high estimate of what I will owe each month (I use the most expensive utility bill and round up to boot) I am going to use the overage to prepare for the unexpected. If I have budgeted $250 for electric and the bill is only $180, I will write a second check for $70 and put it in savings. The same goes with my car expenses. If I budget $450 and only spend $375 then I’ll make out a second check for $75 to go into savings. I won’t wait until the end of the month because some how I always manage to spend the extra on other “stuff.”
I have a friend that takes it a step farther. She has her savings broken up into categories – home repair, car, vacation, medical, etc. She only uses the home repair money for repairs on the home. I’m just not quite that organized yet. Getting it INTO a savings account will be exciting enough for me.
There are no true unexpected expenses. You know the car is going to need new tires. The kids are probably going to have to visit the doctor. The holidays are coming up at the same time EVERY year. Instead of being shocked when you have to make a big pay out just prepare ahead of time by saving here and there.
September 22nd, 2007
This is actually possible. I can make a living writing in a way that I love to write. I don’t have to write about subjects that hold no interest for me. I don’t have to scramble my brain trying to fill in blanks for some unknown site. It is possible to write what I love and get paid.
That being said, I’m not getting rich. There are people on the internet that are making thousands of dollars a day with their blogs, but I haven’t broken into that segment. As a matter of fact, I haven’t even figured out how to make dollar one on my blog.
How am I making money writing what I love? I’m glad you asked. I have been persistent. I started by working for sites that paid me only pennies to do posts on different forums. The posts I made were relevant and well written (spell checked and grammar checked).
From there, some of the forum hosts have asked me to write for their blogs. From there, I began to visit sites that have blog jobs posted (problogger.net is one that doesn’t charge you). Always I made sure that what I produced was the best it could be – spell check and grammar check once more.
Now the people that I have worked for are sending me to other potential employers with glowing references. My opportunities are expanding each week, and I am in a position where I can say no because of the money or because of the subject. It’s a great feeling to be writing – and getting paid.
September 22nd, 2007
