focused

Changes Of The 7 Variety

May 15, 2012 By Sam Kelley 17 Comments

That book-7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess. It’s messing with my flow, wrecking down my walls, making me question everything. I’m making changes, but not following her pattern. It’s about the change, right?

Quotes from my announcement of eating foods that only have 5 ingredients or less:

unnamed older child: “It’s the internet again, isn’t it?”

unnamed oldest child: “I only eat foods that are processed…” right you do.

Obviously my children think I’m a nut. Well-now more than before perhaps. Our haul from the store today?

Amish chicken, both ground and breast {usual occurrence}, water {again}, fruits and veggies {duh}, wheat flour, vital wheat gluten {???}, organic raisins, old-fashioned oats {for homemade granola}, lots and lots of eggs {no cereal} and cheese {thanks heavens it qualifies!}.

Now, I have owned a bread maker, and I really love it-but I have only used it for the glorious white bread I love so {unbleached of course!} This will be our only bread. I hope it is good…

We were preparing our veggie only dinner- with homemade salad dressing {recipe made up in my head}, sauteed zucchini and squash, corn on the cob {WITH BUTTER}-when I asked for someone to start iced tea.

“No tea” declares hubby.

???? No homemade tea??

“If you are going to do this-you have to do it all the way.”

I see no reason to not have a little refreshing sweet tea. It only has three ingredients! Guess who had tea??

Response from the masses pertaining to veggie dinner:

Blonde middle-ish child: “Meat, please!MEAT!”

Oldest child: “You know Little Debbie is all natural, right?”

New rules about media-

Answer emails and respond to blog comments three times a day. With a timer of 30 minutes. No one will die if I make them wait-right?
I am also killing my 400 windows that represent my “home page” on the web. I will put my blog writing page, as well as the TOS page I have to check daily. That way, I can write if I get the chance without distraction.
Aim for 7 hours of television per week. {We don’t watch it at all until bedtime.}

You may think that these rules are not as radical as the author, but I am thinking long-term success here, filling up the spaces I leave behind with Christ. It needs to be doable long-term.

Like I said before, unlike the book, I hope my changes become habits. If you know to better, you should do better.

What have you given up in the name of bettering your walk with God?

**Beware of the affiliate link-it earned me 10 bucks between September and May.**

Filed Under: 7, focused, goals, Sam's Noggin 17 Comments

Sam’s Noggin Bible Study

May 10, 2012 By Sam Kelley 18 Comments

I have tried and tried and tried to find a Bible study that “suits” me. I kept walking away discouraged-everything is either too wordy, too below my level or too theological for me.

I am non-denominational, and find it hard to find things like commentaries and “study Bibles” that I feel are in line with God’s word. I decided I would just make my own study Bible while I was at it.

My system:

Pray- for guidance and instruction. I pray that I will be open to see things as God would have me to see them; to make me stronger as a Christian.
Read- the entire chapter I am currently writing in my Journibles.
Write-I write a page in my Journibles.
Dig-I go to a trusted commentary, and read what the author says about the passage I just read and wrote.
Ask-I discuss anything I still don’t understand or want further clarification on with my husband.
Reflect-I then write notes in the space provided in my Journible, as well as my Bible. I don’t want to forget what I am learning the next time I come across these passages!
SOAP- At the end of each chapter, I choose a passage to SOAP that I share here each Wednesday.

Doing a Journible page each day means I end up reading each chapter numerous times, but I only dig in and really study several verses at a time. {I think that is the reason this is working so well!}

This process has been working really well, and I am so pleased with how much I am learning. I am also excited about how much I am retaining by moving this slowly.

I do want to add one more thing to this line-up, memorization. We like to do this as a family, but have been slacking lately. We are picking it back up, because it is the right thing to do.

There is also a 3-ring binder involved for sermon notes and church stuff, as well as a place to store study helps, but I will save that for another post.

How do you study God’s word?

Filed Under: Bible Study, focused, Sam's Noggin, Scripture, SOAP 18 Comments

This 7 Thing

May 8, 2012 By Sam Kelley 27 Comments

I told you last week I am reading this book- 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess {affiliate}

It has really shaken me up-I was going to wait until I finished to develop a plan-but some things are clicking really well here in my noggin. I am already making mental notes. {And some changes.}

This biggest question would be what takes most time/energy away from God?

Unlike the author-I don’t have a clothing or shoe problem. We eat pretty simply {although some changes are coming with that as well}.

I agree so much with what she has to say-although I don’t dig bands in worship- and I REALLY don’t agree that Christ is concerned about underprivileged teens making it to prom. Feed and clothe them, yes. Prom, no. Oh, and the inappropriate television shows, I don’t dig them either.

Jesus wants us to walk His walk-not only talk His talk. I don’t have this plan all fleshed out yet-I am kind of waiting for hubby to catch up with the book as well. I do know that number one on my priority list is media.

Mindless media for sure.

It is my number one, multi-tasking, waste of a time. A lot of time. Time away from God, my family, work for others.

The author Jen, gives up television for a month. We only watch a few shows-most television is trash-but we do enjoy the challenges on Food Network, and Fringe. Other than that-my favorite go to is my DVR full of-wait for it-Murder She Wrote.

Yep.

With media being my biggest struggle, it must be the first to go-in some ways. Unlike Jen, I plan to make these habits stick. No offense, but if you realize you are addicted to coffee and inappropriate shows on television, why go back?

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

2 Peter 1:5-9

Next week I will share with you my plan. It’s all about no to self, and yes to Him.

Wanna join me??

Filed Under: Bible Study, focused, goals, Sam's Noggin, Scripture 27 Comments

Priority & Focus

April 8, 2012 By Sam Kelley 21 Comments

I’ve been having focus issues. I have tried to work around them by making new schedules, changing which days we do school and which hours were my “office hours”.

I wasn’t hitting the root of the problem.

The answer hit me yesterday as to what is the source of my failure:

Priority.

Better than that, as I have come to that conclusion many times, is the answer I came up with to fix my priority mismanagement. I don’t know why it never occurred to me before!

My main issue starts out as a good intention.

I don’t focus during my Bible study time in the morning until I get my blog post out there for the morning. I would just update it automatically, but I don’t have my post go live until 6:00 am each day, meaning I have to push the post myself each morning.

And then, in the midst of that “minute to post” I see an email, a message on Facebook, a tweet, a company requesting a review, the list goes on and on. Before I know it, the first part of my morning is gone, with no prayer or study to be had.

No shower, no made bed, no laundry, and kids waiting for instructions from a distracted mom.

I am a powerhouse on the weekend-with less emails coming through and less people online. I get all of my work done and then don’t feel guilty when I read a blog or peruse curriculum later. I see the value of my top priorities.

I need to keep my weekend mentality every day of the week.

God first. Others second. Self last.

The plan:

Schedule the next day’s post for the night before, 9:00 or so. That way I can use Buffer to have my tweets/ Facebook going before I do for the day.

I changed my Feedburner settings to send my emails earlier in the morning, I hated them going out at 10:30. I didn’t even know I could change it, but searched the idea and found a simple tutorial.

Tweet live with friends/read blogs/answer emails when school is over and lunch has been cleaned up. Office hours will coincide with quiet time for the kids at 1:00.

Save some time in the evening for last minute post review before they go live.

Follow the routine. {It shouldn’t be that hard!!!}

What have done to keep your priorities in place, or do you struggle as well?

Filed Under: focused, goals, Sam's Noggin 21 Comments

Goals Done!

March 29, 2012 By Sam Kelley 32 Comments

It’s the end of March-time to see how the goals went for the 3in30 Challenge.

Study more! {The Bible}

I’m doing very well, becoming more purposeful in making time for study. I am going to continue this goal for April and work on extending the length of my study each day.

I have a few new studies I have been doing, and I am going to stick with them. One is Focused15 from Katie Orr of Do Not Depart. You should check it out.

The Great Move.

The goals were to purge, paint, build bunk beds and decorate one room for the boys and one for the girls. Of course, that turned the whole upstairs upside down while furniture came out of rooms to paint, and the downstairs got really messy as the upstairs was the focus.

Last Saturday we finished the girl’s room, and I also put together the playroom where the girl’s room had been, and cleaned the classroom back up. {Updated classroom photos coming next week.}

I then killed myself getting the downstairs back in order.

Things are running really smoothly now, and both boys and girls are happy with their rooms.

One thing we didn’t do was move our bedroom upstairs. I talked more about that in my post about being brave.

Keep up the menu/shopping plans.

I haven’t failed, but I wouldn’t give myself an A either. We are removing all junk from our diets, and eating mostly eggs, chicken, and fish for protein. That has required more trips to the store for all of the fresh fruits, vegetables and quickly expiring bread we have been eating.

To me, it is worth it. I am really doing well buying what we need rather than things I think I want.

Goals for April:

Focus on extending Bible study time.

Try to find a sponsor for the Cincinnati Great American Homeschool Convention.

I would only go for one day, and I only need a ticket and gas money. We’ll see.

Continue with Purposeful Healthy Eating

It has been a really good month for goals! How about you?

Filed Under: 3in30, 52 week purge, focused, goals, Sam's Noggin 32 Comments

The Rocker Girl Room

March 28, 2012 By Sam Kelley 21 Comments

Part of my March 3in3o Goals was to rearrange bedrooms and move the kids into new bunk beds. A couple of weeks ago the boy’s room was finished. This week we finally got the girls into their new room.

The color is Rocker Girl, and it is a hip shade of lavender. {This picture shows the real color on the wall.}

We bought the same bunk beds {ours are espresso} for both rooms. The assembly went even more smoothly with these, since we knew what we were doing. The bedding also came from Walmart, and worked really well for the various ages of our girls.

The girls had less to purge and clean, so their move was much easier. We had to have Dish come back out and move our cable, unfortunately our favorite technician wasn’t the one who came out. Can you believe they send people out on Sunday?

The only thing left for the girl’s room is the initial I plan to hang near each bed, and a peace sign I need to paint and hang.

I also made the old room for the girls into a playroom, so the younger kids can play while we are in the big open school room next to it. They can spread out and make a little more noise in the playroom, while we keep our sanity.

It was a LOT of hard work, and wonderful painting on my husband’s end of the deal, but so worth the end result! {The playroom still has the original paint color.}

Everything is neat and tidy. My favorite.

We also made a little spot in the classroom for the little ones to tuck away and learn-

the space came from moving my extra “teacher desk” to be used in the girly room. I never used it anyway.

So, besides a few small projects, my pretty large goal for the month will be done. All of the kids are happy, and mom is feeling better about the nice rooms the kids have to enjoy.

Does anyone else dive into big projects like me?

Filed Under: 52 week purge, focused, goals, Home Management, Sam's Noggin 21 Comments

A Good Week

March 22, 2012 By Sam Kelley 21 Comments

Another week?? I can’t believe another week has flown right past me. My goals are going quite well, I’m happy to report.

Study more!

I am doing better, taking the pressure off of doing “the perfect study” and just being mindful more about reading, studies, and prayer.

I think this one is doing better with me pulling away from the internet more.

The great move.

In an effort to have our whole family sleeping on the same floor of our home, we are going to be undertaking a major task.

Guest room will be emptied of all yard sale items I am never going to have a yard sale with, and the room will be painted for the three girls. The boys will all be in the same room as well. Their room will be painted, bunk beds will be purchased with tax money, ~~and we will be switching out our master bedroom with the classroom~~.

Guest room emptied. {check, except what will go to the new playroom.} Paint in the new girl’s room. {Walls check, trim is up next.} The boy’s room. {All finished!!} Bunk beds will be put together for the girls this weekend as well.

We as of right now, are NOT moving our master bedroom upstairs. I talked about being brave with this whole transition last week for Five Minute Friday.

Keep up the menu/shopping plans.

Pass and fail? I threw my tailbone out and that put a kink in my plans. We went to Subway after my visit to the chiropractor, but otherwise we have done well.

We are now limiting red meat to once a week, and we are drinking mostly water and removing most sugar. Lots and lots of salad.

How was your week? Did you finish any goals yet?

Filed Under: 3in30, focused, goals, Sam's Noggin 21 Comments

A Fruitful Vine

March 20, 2012 By Sam Kelley 21 Comments

The last few weeks I have been pulling myself away from the internet. I have made this a “priority” so many times, but haven’t been so good at it. This time, I wasn’t even trying; the ball just started rolling without me.

I can’t even really pinpoint what has caused it; the desire just isn’t there. I come on to check Facebook, but mostly because I have so many responsibilities there I need to. I check my email, but it is piling up with indecision.

I write my posts, because I love to; I visit as many blogs in return as I can who comment here, but haven’t been reading other blogs otherwise.

No curriculum research, since I am happy with what I have. Not really tweeting. Not much pinning going on either.

I’m just kind of bored with it.

Other people’s lives and stuff that keep me away from mine.

My family needs time and attention.

My Bible needs read from.

My soul needs prayer.

My husband needs me to stare into his eyes with adoration and delight.

I want to unplug more from the world and plugin more to this world that I have built, with these people I helped to create.

I keep my children at home so that I can spend time with them, enjoy them, soak up their smiles and laughter.

I can’t do that while constantly plugged in.

I don’t really care if my numbers fall on Klout anymore, or what my “influence” online is.

The online community is wonderful for me, especially with few homeschoolers around me. The internet needs to be used wisely, however, and my goal is to do just that.

Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Psalm 128:3

My biggest influence needs to be between these four walls. FOCUSED. I’m ecstatic about that.

Filed Under: focused, goals, Sam's Noggin, Scripture 21 Comments

No and H2O

February 9, 2012 By Sam Kelley 20 Comments

Goals. I wonder if this year will go by as fast as 2011? I’m always grateful for 3in30, and the small steps toward a better me it brings, and even some little victories.

Drink more water.

I am probably not drinking much water for most people’s average, but I am making it a priority and drinking more.

Follow my daily routine.

I have been doing well, except today. I got no laundry done, but otherwise I did well.

Say no more often.

I stepped away from two obligations so far. I can’t say it didn’t make me a little sad, but I was relieved at the same time.

Keeping things going on this little space on the web is enough work on top of home and homeschooling. I have to live within my reality, even if it makes me sad.

How did your week go? Did you drink a lot of water? Please say no and make me feel better!

Filed Under: 3in30, focused, goals 20 Comments

February Goals

February 3, 2012 By Sam Kelley 23 Comments

What a month January was! It was a month made longer by being down for so long with my UTI-which I am still not 100% better from.

My goals for February:

Drink more water.

Apparently I need it.

Follow my daily routine.

Life is better when the little things are done each day.

Say no more often. {especially online}

I can’t take on any more and retain what little bit of sanity I have left. I am going to have to drop my writing for other sites, which makes me sad, but my family needs to come first.

When I have to write for several other places once a month {or more} it adds up fast, especially with the reviews I already have going. I just don’t have the time to give.

Have you ever given up something you loved online? Are you happy with your decision?