Frugality as Haiku?

I feel like I have to explain this random Haiku post.

For some reason I get the Haiku bug now and then and just feel like I need to write one. I've always fantasized about being a writer...for whatever reason I feel I have a story to tell. I think we all do, really.

And I would love to be able to write poetry. But it's just not one of my gifts. I suppose my mind isn't abstract enough? Maybe I'm too literal? Too predictable?

Whatever it is...whatever the reason for my inability to write poetry...whatever the reason may be, in my mind it doesn't apply to Haiku. Therefore, I think I can actually DO it! So I go with it...I live it...I become one with the Haiku. Only once in a while.

I noticed, however, that I numbered it "Haiku #1".

This leads me to believe that maybe there are more in my future...I'm just sayin'.

Commitment Four

Set goals.

For 2008 I won't be making any

resolutions, because for me a resolution is like saying I'm going to go on a diet. The word diet, for me, equates to "eat more". Quit smoking always meant "smoke more". (But I finally DID quit...thank God.)

Resolution means "set myself up for failure". And quite frankly, I want good things this year. I want success. I want to accomplish things. And in order to do this successfully, I feel that setting goals is what I need to do.

Sadly, I've never really set goals. I've always flown by the seat of my pants, taking what came my way each day, like it or not, and dealing with it, rightly or not, as it flew at me. And somehow I've managed...I've survived. But I want more than that. I don't want to be content with managing or getting by. I want to make things happen on purpose. I want to LIVE on purpose. Not haphazardly. I don't mean that I want total control, or total organization, and no room to veer from that.

As far as I'm concerned, God is in total control. And I know that if I follow Him, rely on Him, stay focused on Him, and make this list of goals and rely on HIM to help me DO them...then I believe I will be successful, because of Him.

My list of goals will be made with God. I will take this desire to Him in prayer. I will follow Him, completely. Because His Word says that if I delight myself in Him, He will give me the desires of my heart. (He says this for you, too...!) And by "the desires of my heart" I don't mean a Cadillac and jewels. Sometimes we don't even KNOW the desires of our hearts until God places them there. Imagine! On the other hand, there are some things that I want out of life, and God knows them all. Some are spiritual. Some are physical. Some are financial. Some are for my husband, and for my kids. And yes, some of those desires are "stuff". He knows them all...because He knows my heart better than I do. So I'll ask Him for help in making this list of goals. I think I may be surprised by what ends up on that list!

I'm excited to see what God has in store for me.

Dear Lord,

I pray that you help me to set goals for my life. Speak to my heart, and I will do my best to listen. I love you, Lord.

Amen.

Commitment Two

Finish reading the bible.

I began reading my bible, from Leviticus since I'd already read Genesis, in late June. I just started Luke. My commitment is to read the bible all the way through. I am really enjoying it. I had no idea that I would love the Old Testament as much as I do. I was sad when I was finished with it! I can't say that I have retained much. Well, let me rephrase that. I think I've retained a lot because I can recall quite a bit when I hear it again. What I can't do is remember exactly where everything is, or what it said, or names. But it wasn't my intention to memorize it all. My intention was to get it in my head once through...then go back and study individual books or events. That is the part I'm excited about...the deeper study.

Until then, however, I'll keep plugging along with my highlighter and sticky notes, reading and taking notes in each book of the bible until I reach the end.

Readers and staying focused

I was without the internet since Monday so I wasn't able to post. To be honest, I'm not even sure if anyone reads this blog or not. I haven't made a big deal of it...only telling a few people. I know that one of my friends has me linked from her blog...and I know that one other gal found me through a Christian women's site. But so far...that's all I know. Regardless, I'll continue to post because I like to and it makes me feel good to document my success in feeding my family healthy and frugal meals. Hopefully others can share the wealth!

I have to say, starting this blog was a bit daunting. Mainly because I felt it was important to have a REASON to keep it. As opposed to just rambling about my day to day...which is not a bad thing and will probably find it's way IN here somewhere since my day to day IS about being frugal and taking care of my family. Even still, I want to be organized. And stick to a plan. And be consistent. And it's still a work in progress. Just like me!

A second blog

http://theartofbecoming.blogspot.com/

Goal #7492: Be more consistent.

It's been over a month since I last posted. I swore I wouldn't do this. But I did. I could blame it on traveling baseball games every weekend...or coordinating this year's women's retreat at church...or alternating my work days between going to the office and helping with my grandparents...or I could just say, I've been busy. And lame. And...yes, inconsistent.

So just when I think that nobody is reading this...I get a nice comment from a fellow blogger. And I appreciated it...not only that she took time to comment and give me a good suggestion. But also that her comment inspired me to get my butt over here and write something...

So...thank you.