Happy 2009!!!!

Happy New Year to you and your loved ones!!! I hope & pray that 2009 is filled with prosperity, peace, hope, and joy!

I have to say, 2008 sure did fly on by, as our family achieved some very big milestones. Mykiah moved to Houston with her Daddy and Grandmother in February, where she is officially a Kindergartener. Mykiah also was tested for the gifted program (which we are awaiting results from). Allen Michael turned 16 in October, three of the kids came back home to be homeschooled, Allen Michael took on the Timpani in marching band (football season 2008) and now is tackling it again in Winter Drum Line, I finally found some pain relief in my lower back by getting facet injections into my lumbar spine....three injections seemed to do the trick, and have relieved about 50 percent of my terrible pain, and I decided to go back to the company that saw me through very hard times as a single mother in the late 90s and early 2000. It's an honor to be back with Mary Kay Cosmetics again.....life will never be the same again!!!!

As we say goodbye to 2008 and welcome in 2009, we are reflecting on what our goals were and what was achieved, and in 2009 we are creating a mapped out plan of what we want to do, see, and change to improve on the prior year.

Today I plan to map out our future...set goals, budgets, develop healthier living and eating plans, and remove the negativity and replace it with optimism and positivity.


What 3 goals do I have for the new year??

1) Adopt a Fresh Financial Start, as laid out by Suze Orman read about it here---->Suze Orman's 10 Tips for a Fresh Financial Start


2) Lose 30 pounds. How will I do this you ask??? I'm going back to living the Body For Life way.
In 2004, I took the 12 week challenge, working out 6 days per week, eating 6 smaller meals per day, and using Sunday as my free day. By following the steps laid out by Bill Phillips I lost 25 pounds and so many inches. To find out more about Body For Life click here ------->BFL .

3) De-Clutter my life and my home.
Time seems to get out of balance VERY QUICKLY!!!! In order to get control of my time, I have a Family Calendar that hangs right by my desk. I write EVERY activity, appointment, bills due, work schedule, etc on this calendar. Having a family calendar not only helps me stay organized, but it will show me if I am spending enough time with my loved ones. Along with having a family calendar posted I also have a Control Journal. Flylady introduced this form of organization to me years ago. I've never been the same since I created my own CJ. To read more about a Control Journal go to Flylady's website, you will thank me once you do.
To get more enjoyment out of my Space, I plan to eliminate things I don't need or use. My goal is to make my life, my time, and my home simpler. When we eliminate things we don’t need or use, life becomes simpler, with less stress and more balance.


Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything. -Napoleon Hill


What goals have you set for 2009??? Please share!


From our family to yours....Happy 2009!

~T

A Master Schedule For Our Family

Most of you know that we have switched over and are mostly a homeschooling family. To be honest, I was praying that the kids would want to come back home and be schooled in an environment that was safe, exciting, and is encouraging rather than full of peer pressure and bullies.

I was a little overwhelmed to think that I would be teaching 3 different grades, including my autistic son in grade 1. But to my complete amazement the children (including Martie) have all adjusted well and been thriving beyond my dreams.

The only thing that was really wearing me down was the lack of our normal Master Schedule. We had a schedule while they were attending Public School, but I was a little late and over lax on making a schedule to fit our homeschooling life.

Today I decided enough was enough...no more procrastinating, and made my schedule. I have it printed and ready to go in my control journal, on the wall in my school room and in bedrooms for reference so their is very little 'forgetting'.

My stress level has diminished significantly and I'm once again thrilled beyond words to get started again tomorrow on our bright new future.

If you'd like to see a copy of my schedule, leave a comment or email me and I'd be happy to share my work with you.

Warmly,
~Tonja

Control Journal~

One of the questions I'm asked the most is; T, how do you stay organized and on top of things with all of the children you have.

Can you guess what my answer is? (insert jeopardy theme song here). Yep you are correct, you have won the $10,000 cash prize -ahem, in monopoly money.

Ok really folks~ I stay on top of things, and keep organized by keeping a Control Journal. This journal is chalked full of things. Today we will be covering one topic and be sure to check back to see all that I put in my journal to keep the juggling a little less chaotic.

What things you ask? Well, on of the biggest things that got me on track an in order is doing a 'Bedtime Routine' that Flylady prescribes. This is what Flylady says about a 'Bedtime Routine'

The Before Bed Routine is the most important routine of the whole day. Set a regular time to do your Before Bed Routine. Then do it - starting tonight. I start mine as soon as dinner is complete. Others start theirs in the afternoon while they are getting supper ready. It is up to you. - FlyLady

Once you get going on your Bedtime Routine, you will wake in the morning, wishing to continue on with the orderliness, and cleanliness routines. You'll wake to see that sink shining an your day improves right along with the shining sink.

Here is what is on my Bedtime Routine (that I keep in my control journal, along with all the other routines I complete on a daily basis)

Excuse the weird mark on the page above...shall I suspect some greasy kid fingers got a hold of this paper? LOL

Ok let me lay out my B/R

1. Clean up the house before I go to bed (20 minutes-tops) This includes Living room-putting all things away, Kitchen-clean it up, shine sin, lay out clean dishcloths, and run dishwasher, Dining room/entrance- clear the hotspots (i.e where there is a build up of belongings...piles)Review check list to make sure I haven't forgotten anything.

2. Think about tomorrow before I go to bed: Checking calendar/planner for appointments, start a to do list for tomorrow, think about what I can do tonight to make tomorrow easier (make lunches, set breakfast table, etc), gather up items that I don't want to forget -place by door, make sure kids have their things gathered up and put away, Plan what I'm making for breakfast...or just look at planned menu from Menu Plan Mondays. Lay out clothes for tomorrow~ this is simple and saves a lot of time and work.

3. Focus on myself before I go to bed~ now before we put our undies in a bundle...let me explain. This means Cool down time, get ready for bed: brush teeth, jammies, work on journal, read, reflect on the day.

Tell me about your Bedtime Routine, or how you bring organization to your home. I can't wait to hear about them.

Check back tomorrow for our next step of my control journal.