Although I have taken down some of the Christmas decorations, the tree with its lights is still up. I actually was motivated to get all the Christmas items taken down this morning and got a good start on it - but had some interruptions which put a stop to it all. Hopefully I can get back into motivation to tear down and put away mode tomorrow and finish it up. Then again, am supposed to go shopping with my daughter so may not.
I've already had a rude awakening on price changes today. I realize it isn't much, but good grief, then change your sign! I hadn't been to the 99 cent store in months, although it is about a mile away from me. Just hadn't gone. This afternoon I thought I would stop in and pick up a few things for 99 cents. Wrong. The price is now $1.00. I stood there watching the cashier ring up each of the items and thinking.... why do the bags say 99 cents, the sign outside says 99 cents and yet they are charging $1.00. I actually felt cheated. I saw all the signs on all the items at 99 cents. I suppose I could have protested - but who protests over a penny? But then, I bought about 24 items so that is 24 cents. I feel I was overcharged. So how would you feel?
I have a feeling that our feelings are going to be overcharged a lot from here on out. The future, financially at least, isn't sounding real promising right now. Almost scary. We are definitely going to have to tighten the belt. Yes, it is from my own doings, but with making quite a bit less than I was before, we will have to eliminate some things. Although I'm not sure what, unless it is eating out as much as we have. Which, really, has been too much. Actually, we could probably continue to eat out as much, just watch where we go and what we order. For example, we were to Carrabbas the other night. To save money I ordered water, as I usually do. Hubby got tea. We decided to share a meal (much reluctant on his part) of chicken parmesan and lasagna and order an extra side salad. The bill was over $27. They added $5 for a small side salad, and $2.75 for the ice tea, and of course our order. Still, I guess you could say $27 divided by two isn't bad - but it is when we can go to El Pollo Loco and I can get a side salad (I love their side salads!!) and a RBC and a coke for less than $5. Ok, so I'm a cheap date. We can go to Wendys and I order the jr bacon cheeseburger, a side salad and a 99 cent drink (all from the same menu) and we get it for less than $5. I can't cook for much less than that and I'm still full.
Oh well. I guess I need to do what I tell my family - 'Get Over It'.
We are quickly moving up to the beginning of 2013. What will it bring? Will it bring joy, sorrow, difficulties, ?? I don't know; all I know is that I need to focus on living my life to the fullest and do for others as much as I can. I enjoy helping others and giving to them and encouraging them. I think encouragement has been one of my gifts for years.
Christmas went well this year, although very quiet considering some years. My middle child is the only one who came over with his family and we had a really nice time of unwrapping gifts and having lunch together. From there we went to my daughter's house where we had our Christmas with her family and the youngest son and two of his children. I'm still having mixed emotions on his middle child being allowed to stay up all night playing on the computer and then falling asleep and sleeping Christmas instead of coming to be with the rest of us. Who is the parent here? Ok - not going to go there. Little does this son know that my prayers for him are going to increase for he desperately needs to get his head on straight and start being the man he was created to be. I've tried to hold my opinions to myself. But sometimes I just want to grab hold and shake! shake! shake! Honestly, he was not dropped on his head when he was a baby.
I am enjoying my new employment and it is keeping me very busy - especially this week with my coworker on vacation. I'm so glad we have Monday and Tuesday off next week (New Years Eve and New Years Day). Speaking of New Years Day, the ribs are purchased and are in the refrigerator thawing out. I still need to get black eyed peas (I got the coleslaw to make today) and more Sugar Ray's BBQ sauce. Fry's was wanting over $4 a bottle and it was a small bottle! I'll try Sam's Club tomorrow for a big bottle - if they don't have then I may have to pay it. The sauce is costing me nearly as much as the ribs did! But, got to have the pork, cabbage and black eyed peas (my mama always called it the poor man's lunch) for the new year. I enjoy making it all - although it is a lot of work.
Tom and I are also planning on doing the 'first fruits fast' as we did last year. We are 'ironing out' the actual details of what we will fast from. Our purpose is to enhance our relationship with God. We will probably do the 'Daniel Diet', with modifications. Mainly it will be eating fruits and vegetables. Good thing we both love salads - but he does love his meat as well so that always creates problems. I get my protein from beans - and I love lentils, black beans, etc. I like to identify specifically what I am willing to give up - breads, crackers and things like that are not real easy to give up. Trust me. I can give up bread easily enough, but I do love my crackers with my soup. Which will eliminate chicken noodle soup totally... but there is still tomato soup...without crackers.
If you have an opportunity to give up something to get something better, would you do it? If you could give up a lifestyle you enjoy to enhance your marriage relationship, would you? If you could give up a lifestyle that tries to please everyone and leaves you alone and miserable, would you? If you could put others before yourself, would you? If you wanted to be a better woman, or man, would you take steps to do that? What would you be willing to give up, to let go of, to get out of bondage to, in order to make your life better? To be a better person. To get out of financial bondage. To get out of lifestyle bondages. Yeah, I'm preaching to the choir here.
I would like to see us get out of debt this year - but I AM GOING to Indiana this year for the mini marathon. I don't have my airfare yet, but I have already paid for my number. Actually, I paid for Tom's too, but unless one of my children step up and say they want to do the mini marathon with me, and can come up with their airfare, I will be putting hubby's number up for sale in January when we get the notification we can. $60 if you are interested. So who will say they want to do it? I started it last year and I want to do it every year - something for me to look forward to, a chance to be with family and do it with family. Doing the walk last year has brought a lot of fun to our relationship with family members. It's a challenge that no one can do it for you - you take every single step. Which means I need to start focusing in 2013 and get my walking in to train!
Don't want to talk about it for 2013 as of yet - will wait until New Years Day - but in the meantime, take some time to ponder what you hope to accomplish in 2013. What do you plan to achieve? Do you plan to stay in the same rut you have been in this year? and last year? and perhaps the year before that? Are you going to go back to school? Are you thinking about beginning a new career?
What are you going to do differently in 2013?
With that, I think I'll close and settle down for the evening. I think it will be early to bed tonight - Marley got me up at 4AM on a Saturday!
Blessings!
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