Yesterday began Week 2 of reading through the Bible in 90 days. I am reading through chronologically this time. It has been difficult to get used to. I finally broke down and purchased the NLT chronological Bible, and it is so much easier.
I am so enjoying reading through chronologically and seeing the time line provided in this Bible. We have now read through Genesis and Job, flipping back and forth to geneaologies in 1Chronicles. Today is our second day in Exodus.
If you are reading through the Bible in 90 days, leave a comment to let me know. I'd love to welcome you to my group of readers on Facebook!
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Friday, August 24, 2012
Bible in 90 Days Update
We began reading through the Bible in 90 days this Monday. I am reading through chronologically this time. I've had a little trouble following the chronological schedule, so I purchased a Kindle One Year Chronological NLT Bible. This is the same schedule that we are using for the 90 days, except, of course, we read more at once. It has been SO much easier to read out of the chronological Bible.
I love reading chronologically because I'm a timeline sort of person. This Bible is especially nice because it has timelines and dates to show where different reading portions fall. This week we read through all of Genesis, supplementing with 1 Chronicles and the genealogies there. Then we started Job today. Job is thought to fall around the time of Abraham.
I am mentoring a group of readers who are checking in on Facebook. If any of my blog readers would like to read along, please let me know. It's not too late to start and catch up!
I love reading chronologically because I'm a timeline sort of person. This Bible is especially nice because it has timelines and dates to show where different reading portions fall. This week we read through all of Genesis, supplementing with 1 Chronicles and the genealogies there. Then we started Job today. Job is thought to fall around the time of Abraham.
I am mentoring a group of readers who are checking in on Facebook. If any of my blog readers would like to read along, please let me know. It's not too late to start and catch up!
Monday, August 20, 2012
The Bible in 90 Days: Here We Go
We begin reading through the Bible in 90 days today! I am choosing to read with a chronological reading plan group. I LOVE timelines (call me crazy), and I've read through the Bible chronologically before, but I've never done it in my 90 days reading.
Today's reading and some reading helps is posted at Mom's Toolbox. The chronological plan is slightly more complicated and the reading chart is not completed yet. But, Amy at Mom's Toolbox is going to post several days at a time.
If you haven't signed up to read but would just like to read along, let me know you're reading along with me.
Today's reading and some reading helps is posted at Mom's Toolbox. The chronological plan is slightly more complicated and the reading chart is not completed yet. But, Amy at Mom's Toolbox is going to post several days at a time.
If you haven't signed up to read but would just like to read along, let me know you're reading along with me.
Why Read the Bible in 90 Days
If you've been a blog reader here for a while, you've probably heard me talk about reading through the Bible in 90 days. I will be reading/mentoring again through this session of Bible in 90 Days with Mom's toolbox.
If you haven't been around for a while, I'd like to share again why I started reading with this program and why I continue to read and to mentor other who are reading.
I’ve been a Christian for a very long time. In fact I can’t really remember a time that I wasn’t a Christian. And from the time I was a very little girl, I was taught in church, and in Christian school, and by my parents that I should read the Bible.
When I was older, I even understood the concept of a “spiritual discipline.” And so I read. When I was younger, I read devotional books. By the time I was in high school, I used a “through the Bible in a year” program each year. In fact, I dutifully recorded how many times I had read through the Bible. As if those tally marks could somehow show others how truly spiritual I was.
When children entered my life, I would get behind on reading through the Bible. But, I’m a really fast reader. So, it didn’t matter if I was five days or a week behind; I could easily catch up in an hour or less of reading.
And so my Bible reading was in spurts: some reading here, some reading there. And some of the time (most of the time if I’m honest), I just wanted to finish, so I could check off another tally mark. There were some deep and spiritual times of reading my Bible, but there were also some dry and dusty times.
In 2009 I saw that our church had some materials out in the narthex about reading through the Bible in 90 days. I glanced through them but thought, “Oh, this is just another church fad. And, besides, this program looks awfully legalistic. These people are just out to make money. Why do I need yet another Bible?”
At the end of that year, I happened to run across a blog hosting a read through the Bible in 90 days program. I almost dismissed it. But, the pressure of the blogosphere drew me in. I just couldn’t miss out on what all these other bloggers were doing. So, I signed up, printed off a reading chart (‘cause I sure wasn’t paying for that Bible, right?), and started reading for my first time in January of 2010.
It is not an exaggeration to say that I was amazed. Yes, I had read through the Bible before, but this was different.
1. I couldn’t skip days because there was too much catch up work. Even a reader like myself has a time reading 30-40 chapters in one day.
2. Reading through the Bible in community with others was incredible. Even though we only checked in once a week, I knew there were others- many others- reading through the same books at the same time. And I was motivated to stay on track because of the accountability.
3. The best thing for me was seeing the “big picture” of the Bible. All my life I’d heard Bible stories and taken Bible classes. But reading straight through quickly gave the picture of the Bible as a novel, a whole book with a whole story. I didn’t spend months making it from the Kings to the Prophets; so I knew what the Prophets were talking about. They made so much more sense.
4. And because I had this big picture view, I was thirsty for the Word and touched by it much more consistently. I will admit that there were still dry times and times that I just read to check it off my list. But, those times were few and far between.
After I had read through the Bible in 90 days three times and mentored a group twice, my daughter, then 12, decided to read. She saw my enthusiasm and wanted to be a part. I wasn’t sure she would keep up. She’s a very, very fast reader; but I thought she might lose interest. She’s a teenager! But she made it her first time and then a second time at the first of this year. In fact, we are later starting this session, and she has been badgering me to get something going, so she could read through again with a group.
God’s Word is powerful. It is alive and is a blessing to us when we read it. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. I’m very glad I joined in with that first group to read through the Bible in 90 days, and I am looking forward to reading again.
If you haven't been around for a while, I'd like to share again why I started reading with this program and why I continue to read and to mentor other who are reading.
I’ve been a Christian for a very long time. In fact I can’t really remember a time that I wasn’t a Christian. And from the time I was a very little girl, I was taught in church, and in Christian school, and by my parents that I should read the Bible.
When I was older, I even understood the concept of a “spiritual discipline.” And so I read. When I was younger, I read devotional books. By the time I was in high school, I used a “through the Bible in a year” program each year. In fact, I dutifully recorded how many times I had read through the Bible. As if those tally marks could somehow show others how truly spiritual I was.
When children entered my life, I would get behind on reading through the Bible. But, I’m a really fast reader. So, it didn’t matter if I was five days or a week behind; I could easily catch up in an hour or less of reading.
And so my Bible reading was in spurts: some reading here, some reading there. And some of the time (most of the time if I’m honest), I just wanted to finish, so I could check off another tally mark. There were some deep and spiritual times of reading my Bible, but there were also some dry and dusty times.
In 2009 I saw that our church had some materials out in the narthex about reading through the Bible in 90 days. I glanced through them but thought, “Oh, this is just another church fad. And, besides, this program looks awfully legalistic. These people are just out to make money. Why do I need yet another Bible?”
At the end of that year, I happened to run across a blog hosting a read through the Bible in 90 days program. I almost dismissed it. But, the pressure of the blogosphere drew me in. I just couldn’t miss out on what all these other bloggers were doing. So, I signed up, printed off a reading chart (‘cause I sure wasn’t paying for that Bible, right?), and started reading for my first time in January of 2010.
It is not an exaggeration to say that I was amazed. Yes, I had read through the Bible before, but this was different.
1. I couldn’t skip days because there was too much catch up work. Even a reader like myself has a time reading 30-40 chapters in one day.
2. Reading through the Bible in community with others was incredible. Even though we only checked in once a week, I knew there were others- many others- reading through the same books at the same time. And I was motivated to stay on track because of the accountability.
3. The best thing for me was seeing the “big picture” of the Bible. All my life I’d heard Bible stories and taken Bible classes. But reading straight through quickly gave the picture of the Bible as a novel, a whole book with a whole story. I didn’t spend months making it from the Kings to the Prophets; so I knew what the Prophets were talking about. They made so much more sense.
4. And because I had this big picture view, I was thirsty for the Word and touched by it much more consistently. I will admit that there were still dry times and times that I just read to check it off my list. But, those times were few and far between.
After I had read through the Bible in 90 days three times and mentored a group twice, my daughter, then 12, decided to read. She saw my enthusiasm and wanted to be a part. I wasn’t sure she would keep up. She’s a very, very fast reader; but I thought she might lose interest. She’s a teenager! But she made it her first time and then a second time at the first of this year. In fact, we are later starting this session, and she has been badgering me to get something going, so she could read through again with a group.
God’s Word is powerful. It is alive and is a blessing to us when we read it. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. I’m very glad I joined in with that first group to read through the Bible in 90 days, and I am looking forward to reading again.
Friday, August 17, 2012
The Bible in 90 Days is Coming Again Soon...
Amy at, Mom's Toolbox, is once again hosting a Blogging Through the Bible in 90 Days. I've been blessed incredibly by this program. Kathryne will be reading along with me again this time. And I am mentoring a group that is going to read chronologically through the Bible. The part of me that loves timelines is super excited about that. You can find out more about signing up to read with a group at Mom's Toolbox,
Monday, August 6, 2012
To Coupon Or Not To Coupon Pt.3
So, I've explained why I coupon in this post. I reviewed my friend Kate's book about why she doesn't coupon and still saves money. Now, I'm here to compile what I know with what I've learned and see what works for us.
One important thing I've learned from following other bloggers/reading other posts/browsing Pinterest: I am not those people. God has put me in a special place for a special purpose, and their life is not my life. So, I can read and think and browse, but ultimately I need to see what works for my family and what doesn't. So, after reading Kate's book, here are my conclusions and the things I think I can do differently.
1. I love the idea of a master meal list. I always struggle to think of what to cook. I've already sort of started this master list on Cozi (a home organizational site that I am LOVING). Once I have my master list, I can drag and drop meals into place for each week. I can also make a weekly shopping list there.
2. I think I am going to make a price book. Even if I choose not to shop many stores each week, a price list would help me to compare the sales prices/coupons I find, so I know that I'm choosing the best store for the week.
3. There are some mixes I could make from scratch in order to save money and to know for sure the ingredients. I have a Make a Mix cookbook, but I haven't gotten it out in a while. I need to set aside a time to make mixes each month and then use those instead of buying some convenience mixes.
4. I need to keep working on stocking my pantry. Couponing really does help with that. It is easy to build a stockpile of items when they are on sale with coupons.
These are the things I can take away from what I read. Will we ever get to a $500 a month budget (or less because we only have 6)? I don't know. But, I do know I can keep incorporating things I learn to work toward that goal.
One important thing I've learned from following other bloggers/reading other posts/browsing Pinterest: I am not those people. God has put me in a special place for a special purpose, and their life is not my life. So, I can read and think and browse, but ultimately I need to see what works for my family and what doesn't. So, after reading Kate's book, here are my conclusions and the things I think I can do differently.
1. I love the idea of a master meal list. I always struggle to think of what to cook. I've already sort of started this master list on Cozi (a home organizational site that I am LOVING). Once I have my master list, I can drag and drop meals into place for each week. I can also make a weekly shopping list there.
2. I think I am going to make a price book. Even if I choose not to shop many stores each week, a price list would help me to compare the sales prices/coupons I find, so I know that I'm choosing the best store for the week.
3. There are some mixes I could make from scratch in order to save money and to know for sure the ingredients. I have a Make a Mix cookbook, but I haven't gotten it out in a while. I need to set aside a time to make mixes each month and then use those instead of buying some convenience mixes.
4. I need to keep working on stocking my pantry. Couponing really does help with that. It is easy to build a stockpile of items when they are on sale with coupons.
These are the things I can take away from what I read. Will we ever get to a $500 a month budget (or less because we only have 6)? I don't know. But, I do know I can keep incorporating things I learn to work toward that goal.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Happy Birthday to My Baby
On August 9, my last baby will be seven. Seven years old. It seems hard to imagine that a mere seven years ago, I was about to have another baby.
Rachel has truly been our baby. She relishes that role. She was the last to walk, the last to talk. Why would she hurry? She had a whole house full of people to do her bidding.
She is still very much my baby. I'm holding on to that as long as I can.
I've noticed lately, though, that she's showing signs of growing up. For the first time this summer she participated in an extracurricular activity by herself. She was on the Y summer swim team. Amazingly, she marched right off to join her group on the first day. She listened and participated and even talked to her teachers and friends sometimes.
I know the days of her babyhood are pretty much coming to an end. But, I'm going to hold on to it as long as I can. At them same time, I enjoy seeing her emerge and flourish as her own personality.
We celebrated her birthday with her friends yesterday, a pool party at my sister's neighborhood pool. We had cupcakes and ice cream cups and juice boxes and lots of water play. Like the good mother I am, I was so distracted that I forgot to take pictures. It is the story of this child's life that the pictures get forgotten. But, pictures or not, we had a good time celebrating the start of Rachel's 8th year of life.
And maybe I can cuddle her a little closer and hold on to that sweet babyhood a little longer.
Rachel has truly been our baby. She relishes that role. She was the last to walk, the last to talk. Why would she hurry? She had a whole house full of people to do her bidding.
She is still very much my baby. I'm holding on to that as long as I can.
I've noticed lately, though, that she's showing signs of growing up. For the first time this summer she participated in an extracurricular activity by herself. She was on the Y summer swim team. Amazingly, she marched right off to join her group on the first day. She listened and participated and even talked to her teachers and friends sometimes.
I know the days of her babyhood are pretty much coming to an end. But, I'm going to hold on to it as long as I can. At them same time, I enjoy seeing her emerge and flourish as her own personality.
We celebrated her birthday with her friends yesterday, a pool party at my sister's neighborhood pool. We had cupcakes and ice cream cups and juice boxes and lots of water play. Like the good mother I am, I was so distracted that I forgot to take pictures. It is the story of this child's life that the pictures get forgotten. But, pictures or not, we had a good time celebrating the start of Rachel's 8th year of life.
And maybe I can cuddle her a little closer and hold on to that sweet babyhood a little longer.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
To Coupon Or Not To Coupon Pt.2
So, I've finished reading my friend Kate's ebook: Cut It Out: How I Feed My Family Of 10 For $500 a Month. In my last post, I talked about the reason I choose to use coupons. Here are the things Kate talks about in her book.:
1. Making a list of favorite meals. This is the start of having a a plan to feed your family cheaply. This step I think I could handle.
2. Making a Price Book. I've heard about making a Price Book but never have taken the time to do it. Kate spells out how and gives links to her Excel Price Book.
3. Cooking from scratch. This is the step I'm really not good at. But, Kate gives some recipes and instructions for making some convenience foods and mixes from scratch. She also addresses canning and freezing.
4. Keeping a Well-stocked Pantry. Kate includes information about stocking your pantry and eating out of your pantry every once in a while to save your grocery money.
So, there is quite a bit of good information here. I'm not sure I'll be able to use all of it. But, I do see some things I can use and adapt to the way I shop to help me save more money.
1. Making a list of favorite meals. This is the start of having a a plan to feed your family cheaply. This step I think I could handle.
2. Making a Price Book. I've heard about making a Price Book but never have taken the time to do it. Kate spells out how and gives links to her Excel Price Book.
3. Cooking from scratch. This is the step I'm really not good at. But, Kate gives some recipes and instructions for making some convenience foods and mixes from scratch. She also addresses canning and freezing.
4. Keeping a Well-stocked Pantry. Kate includes information about stocking your pantry and eating out of your pantry every once in a while to save your grocery money.
So, there is quite a bit of good information here. I'm not sure I'll be able to use all of it. But, I do see some things I can use and adapt to the way I shop to help me save more money.
Friday, August 3, 2012
To Coupon Or Not To Coupon Pt.1
I've shared before about my adventures in the land of couponing. I must say that since my my most recent attempt at making this work (after hearing Jenny Martin from Southern Savers at the homeschool convention), I have done a good job, and I can tell we are saving money. Our grocery bill, which has always been high, has been cut by about $100 a month. I can routinely save about 1/3 to 1/2 of my total bill combining coupons and store sales. On a good day, I can manage what I did today at CVS. I spent a total of 20.23 and saved 53.81. I got lots of stuff for that $20 also.
I know that some folks forgo the couponing route and save money on groceries in other ways. A web board/blogging friend of mine was recently able to publish an ebook about saving money without couponing. I bought it from Amazon at only 1.99. It is called Cut It Out: How I Feed My Family of 10 for $500 a Month Without Coupons. I'm very curious to read it.
In this post, I'm going to give some reasons about why I do use coupons. After I read the book, I'll share some of the ways Kate suggests saving money without using coupons. Then I'll finish up with a post about what I've decided to incorporate (or not) from her strategy.
So, why has using coupons helped me to save money?
1. I don't like to shop at multiple stores each week. Call me lazy or whatever, I don't like to have to go to many stores to comparison shop and get the best deal. I don't like to shop at dirty stores- like the Walmart near me- no matter what deals they have. I like to pick the store with the best coupon/sale match ups for the week and just shop there.
2. We use brand names. That is another reason I can't go to just any store. Aldi has good prices, and we have one in town. But, there are just some things I can't get at an Aldi. We use a certain washing powder because of allergies. I prefer a certain bread because of ingredients. There are some foods that we just prefer the brand name in.
3. I am not a cook. Yes, I know some people make their own everything. They grow the garden. They pick the vegetables. They grind the wheat. They bake the bread. And they make things like mayo and cream of chicken soup from scratch. I am not one of those people. After almost 18 years of marriage, I am still trying to figure out this cooking thing, people. And if you tell me I have to make soup from scratch to save money, I will probably laugh. On a positive note, I have this Make a Mix cookbook. And I have successfully made some of the mixes- muffins, cream of soup, ranch dip. And I'm sure it saves some money when I take the time to do it. But, I usually go for the bought version.
So, there are the main reasons that I think we save money by couponing. I can still buy brand names. I can stock up on "convenience" items. I can choose the one best store for the week.
Would it be better to try to save in other ways. Maybe. I'll let you know after I read the book.
I know that some folks forgo the couponing route and save money on groceries in other ways. A web board/blogging friend of mine was recently able to publish an ebook about saving money without couponing. I bought it from Amazon at only 1.99. It is called Cut It Out: How I Feed My Family of 10 for $500 a Month Without Coupons. I'm very curious to read it.
In this post, I'm going to give some reasons about why I do use coupons. After I read the book, I'll share some of the ways Kate suggests saving money without using coupons. Then I'll finish up with a post about what I've decided to incorporate (or not) from her strategy.
So, why has using coupons helped me to save money?
1. I don't like to shop at multiple stores each week. Call me lazy or whatever, I don't like to have to go to many stores to comparison shop and get the best deal. I don't like to shop at dirty stores- like the Walmart near me- no matter what deals they have. I like to pick the store with the best coupon/sale match ups for the week and just shop there.
2. We use brand names. That is another reason I can't go to just any store. Aldi has good prices, and we have one in town. But, there are just some things I can't get at an Aldi. We use a certain washing powder because of allergies. I prefer a certain bread because of ingredients. There are some foods that we just prefer the brand name in.
3. I am not a cook. Yes, I know some people make their own everything. They grow the garden. They pick the vegetables. They grind the wheat. They bake the bread. And they make things like mayo and cream of chicken soup from scratch. I am not one of those people. After almost 18 years of marriage, I am still trying to figure out this cooking thing, people. And if you tell me I have to make soup from scratch to save money, I will probably laugh. On a positive note, I have this Make a Mix cookbook. And I have successfully made some of the mixes- muffins, cream of soup, ranch dip. And I'm sure it saves some money when I take the time to do it. But, I usually go for the bought version.
So, there are the main reasons that I think we save money by couponing. I can still buy brand names. I can stock up on "convenience" items. I can choose the one best store for the week.
Would it be better to try to save in other ways. Maybe. I'll let you know after I read the book.
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