EMM: Meditate or Pray

I have tried several times to "read the Bible in a year" and have just never been able to do it. This year I found the One Minute Bible and have put it in the bathroom (the one room with in the house with a lock and also the only room the kids know to stay out of if I'm in it). It's not the entire Bible just the "heart" of it, basically hitting the high points and main topics. In one page it may have parts of the old testament and the new testament, with all of the passages for the day related in some way. For example, during the first week it had the scriptures of God creating the world, including the light and then had passages from the psalms that also referred to that. I don't always read each day, but that's the thing. Since it's only a minute I can easily make it up the next day. After I read, I'll say a prayer for whatever prayer requests have come through my email.

Along with that prayer time, I've started printing those same requests. I know, probably not the best use of paper, but having the hard copy allows me to pull them out whenever I sit down with my planner (where I keep them) and say another prayer, or send an email to get an update. I have found that the written word on paper (instead of a monitor) seems to stay in my memory longer. I actually remember the requests throughout the day.

One last thing...I have a child's devotion book that I've been reading with Logan each night. We usually do story time together with Sophie so this has become just our time. I know there is so much of what I read that he isn't getting, but I felt that it was an added dose of hearing the words. It was also another time where he could practice sitting still and listening. The devotion also has a couple of questions that relate to what was read. The funny part is Logan has already found the pattern and will answer almost every question with "God" or "Jesus". The bonus, at the end I get to say another prayer for my children.

Elf Pictures

This was the first year we actually had the Elf come visit us (although we "met" him 2 years ago). Each night our elf would fly back to the North Pole and then return again by morning. The kids had fun trying to figure out where Elmo Elf would be each day. Many days he brought something back with him. Just little trinkets and toys or things to make or eat, even toys for the pets.

He brought the Elf on the Shelf movie and watched it before we got up.

One morning he left tiny pretend cameras and had used my camera to take pictures of himself. I think our Elf got a lot of ideas from Pinterest.

EMM: Use Online Bill Pay

Although I don't usually pay the bills for our family, I know Paul is using online bill pay. I know this because other the past year he has asked me for stamps less and less. Also, I've noticed that the checks I write (for things I can't do online for) are sometimes the only ones in the book for weeks. Sometimes I know because I'll hear his frustration when a website is down and he has to either wait or pay with an actual check.

By using online bill pay we've also seen less mail because statements and bills are coming through email. Of course the kids aren't too happy about this since they like to help me carry in the mail!

Pinterest 28: Hanging Pictures

I hung this photo using the tip I got from here. I tried to get a picture of the toothpaste but it wouldn't show up. But it did work fairly well.

Pinterest 27: Homemade Crayons

The kids and I made these one day. Then we decided to let Logan's class make them for show and tell letter C. This website is in Spanish (I assume) but I think it's easy enough to figure out.

Pinterest 26: Christmas Bedtime Stories

So, honestly I have avoided Pinterest lately, it can really suck your time. But keeping with my attitude of putting my pins into action, here's my latest accomplishment. I got the idea for this Christmas countdown from a photography blog.

I wrapped 24 Christmas books that we already had and placed them under one of our trees. I am going to let one child choose a present each night in December and that will be the bedtime story I read.

EMM: Donate Clothes

I started purging when I was pregnant and on some level I have continued doing that. I keep a container in the garage (just outside the door) that I throw donation items in. Once it gets full I take it to the donation truck (or set up for a pick up). With kids, I have taken some of their outgrown clothes to consignment sales or given to friends. But lately, I've just been donating the clothes.

I learned a long time ago that I have no desire to sew on buttons, so if I have a shirt that has a button come off, I'll just safety pin it back and then donate it. I've also been trying to get Paul to get rid of clothes he knows he'll never wear again.

Typically in December the church collects cold-weather items. I don't anticipate that we will have anything, but I'll probably purchase some gloves and hats to donate.

One of the tips in the book, suggest labeling the items. I'm not sure I will do this since I collect as I go, but I could certainly try.