once a scout...

...always a scout. During the recent hurricane and after the recent minor earthquake, there were many reports in the media about preparedness. It always strikes me funny how folks run to the stores to prepare at the last minute for these events (snow storms included). I think the combination of my "type A" personality coupled with 14+ years as a girl scout means I usually have at least the minimal levels of physical preparedness. Simply having basic camping gear, means we have items for getting by without power--like a stove, fire-starters, flashlights, lanterns, a first aid kit and several tents. Since I lived on the coast for many years, I got used to losing power during about every other northeaster. So, I had oil lamps(before LED lamps these were some of the brightest), spare water, nonperishable food, and a manual can opener. A few months ago, Virginia had a tax-free hurricane preparedness weekend. I took that opportunity to purchase a solar powered, crank weather radio. It works well and is cool because it can be used to charge anything that can be charged with a USB plug, like cell phones, mp3 players, etc. During that weekend, I also restocked our backup water and battery supplies and prepared an emergency evacuation knapsack for us.

Nevertheless, the most important level of preparedness is spiritual. This month, I felt our family reached a new level of spiritual readiness since my youngest prayed to accept Christ. For days prior to this important event, he had been very concerned about death---his brother and I dying, the family pet dying and his own death. I have another post coming about this incredible occasion. Andy wrote a beautiful account about Tim accepting Christ. I wish Andy was here for this and to record this important event in our family.

Our reading streak=83 days

currently listening to:
coffee maker

dinner(last night):
mexican

currently reading:
prince caspian
getting things done
the reading promise
2 corinthians

today grateful for:
my boys
God
our good health
clean water
sleep

getting things done

GTD or getting things done is a book and system by David Allen. I have been beginning to implement this system in my worklife. Needless to say, now that I am back at work (even though my work life is MUCH more organized and my office and desk look great!) I am finding I do not have much energy when I get home at the end of the day. I need that extra energy at the end of the day for... time with the boys, fixing dinner, doing housework, exercising, blogging, etc. (That is why I have not blogged for quite sometime.)

Yesterday was a LONG day with tons of meetings and monkey-wrenches that had to be handled. The evening was supposed to be just for being with the boys...going to their school for open house/orientation. In the midst, I found out that my cell phone company had terminated my service because the bank had refused my check because it did not apparently like my account number. Turns out that the little guy, that's me, is getting the bad end of the deal as my big bank got swallowed up by a ginormous bank. I have learned in this past week that there are many more bad deals for us little guys to come from this mega bank. (Great! so now in my free time I get to search for and switch my bank.) Anywho, I was distracted by trying to handle all of this and I forgot to take my kids' big boxes of school supplies (which I spent a long time labeling night before last) to the school for orientation....my weekly "mom-forgot-something" moment. Even though I turned to fast food for our dinner, I did manage to get in our nightly reading session. I continue to be inspired by the actions of another single parent, librarian, written of in the Reading Promise. (We started our streak on June 8, 2011...73 days ago.)


A quote from Oswald Chambers I am ruminating over:
"Discouragement is disillusioned self-love, and self-love may be love for my devotion to Jesus— not love for Jesus Himself."

currently listening to:
my eldest turning the pages of his book as he reads for his required time(homework from mom)

dinner(last night):
fast food

currently reading:
the horse and his boy
unclutter your life in one week
the reading promise
romans

today grateful for:
my boys
God
provision
electricity
modern appliances
clean water
sleep