CHEETAH!

Card card offers? CHEETAH!

Commercials for new leased (or as "someone" would say "you-get-fleeced") cars? CHEETAH!

The 19-year-old "big box" employee who wants to sell ya' a new big-as-the-house HDTV? CHEETAH!

DaHubby and I have made a joke about yelling "CHEETAH!" anytime anything comes around that tries to entice us to go into any more debt. But, it is even MORE fun (or "fun-ner" as DaHubby would tease) to yell it as you PAY OFF SOME DEBT!

Can I get an AMEN!? YEE-HAW!

DaHubby's vacation check came in today. Any unused vacation time still in his account on his anniversary date is cut to him in a check. This is the second of a couple "one time only/lump sum" checks we're expecting in the next month or so.

Sooooo....Flicka and I yelled at little CHEETAH! when I paid off the bank loan we had this morning!

And, we yelled a bigger CHEETAH! when I gave our dentist over $1600 towards a balance for emergency work done for DaHubby a few months ago. And, the remaining balance is small enough that we should be able to pay off the rest by the end of this month!

If there wasn't a inch of slush all over everything, if there wasn't another inch of snow on the ground, if there wasn't 4-6 more inches of snow on the way...I'd be on the top of our roof screaming....

CHEETAH!!!!

Taking a short break this morning...

Have more thoughts brewing and percolating (nice metaphor so someone who doesn't drink coffee! *wink*) but I'm doing a favor for a friend who needs your prayers. I'm watching her daughter (who happens to be nearly the same age at Flicka) while she takes care of some business for herself at our local hospital. The "playground politics" of three - especially two older girls vs. one younger boy - are particularly interesting! LOL

Gonna try to be back this afternoon...hope everyone is having a great day!

Another thing rambling in my mind today

This has been in and out of my conscious mind the last month or so...modest dress. And, what does it mean to a Christian woman?

And, the thoughts bumping into each other in my head...in no particular order:

"At least I know that (a man) is judging me by my brain and my personality and not by my body." - a comment made by a veil-observant, traditional-loose-clothes-wearing, young Muslim girl I worked with many years ago.

The arguments made at this blog like modest clothing being a hedge between the world and the believer, a witnessing tool, Biblical interpretation, to humble the wearer, and simplicity of lifestyle.

"I find is disappointing when people dress to the nines for worship. But I don't dare say anything, because who am I to judge? I just really feel that our lives should be about Godliness and NOT how we look on the outside. If a person is dressed fancifully and wearing lots of makeup and jewelry, people are seeing her and not God. People are seeing her physical beauty, and lusting after her, or envying her, and it may be much more difficult for her to show her inward Godliness." - a friend from a homeschooling board.

The legalism that entrapped DaHubby and his siblings when they were kids (for example, on the topic of modesty, if women cut their hair, wore make-up, wore red clothing, etc. it could basically threaten their salvation) is something I obvious want to avoid at ALL costs!

As someone who really has no interest in fashion per se; as someone who has always been uneasy about the use of sexuality in the press, media, etc; as someone who wants to protect a young daughter from exploitation; as someone who is more interested in this season of life in the utility of my clothes as opposed to their fashion-ability; and as someone who wants to be an example of modest Christian woman, these types of clothing choices are becoming more and more appealing.

The utility of a "uniform" of sorts. A visual reminder to myself and the world of my commitment to Christ. Simple clothes that exemplify a simpler lifestyle.

If I may "peek" into my bloggy buddies' heads...Anita, Sara, Lisa, GiBee, Laurel, Laura, Debbie, Kelly, Christina, Pam and anyone else who happens by...what do you ladies "do" about observing modesty?

Re-tackling my mission statement

During our Financial Peace University class, one chapter was on "Careers and Extra Jobs." During that week, one part of our homework assignments was to create a personal mission statement. I've done these a million times before for college classes, teacher-training classes, professional/continuing ed classes and seminars, etc. I written them as required and put them aside each time.

However, with a variety of factors playing through my head lately, I've decided to tackle it again. And, then display it as Dave Ramsey suggests - even if it is still a work in progress - because I need to be held accountable, held to a standard that I picked out and believe in.

That corny country song lyric keeps playing in my head: "You have to stand for something or you'll fall for anything." The last 10 years of my life seem to have been all about figuring out what do *I* really believe and why? And, more important lately, shouldn't I be able to stand up for it and defend it?

For too long of a time, I've never given much thought (unfortunately) about what I think about things. I've pretty much found people I trusted and took their views as my own figuring that's what everyone did. But, as my 40th birthday rears its head in a few short weeks, I find that if I want a life that is truly mine, that is not nearly enough. My lack of "adolescent rebellion" and challenging is now WWAAYY overdue! LOL

Enough acting already. Enough worrying about others liking me, keeping the peace, and others withdrawing from/leaving/abandoning me. What am I about? What did God intend for me?

Also, this book has been rattling my cage and shaking all my foundations as I begin to read about a believer's Biblically-based, God-provided boundaries (personal space as well as "mental" space) that, when built up appropriately and in age-appropriate steps, make us happy in our walk with Christ, in ourself, and in our relationships and, as a result, mentally healthy to do God's will.

I've been passively allowing myself to be filled with others' opinions, thoughts, and priorities most of my life. It's always been easier to "go along." It's hard to look back and find many decisions (major or minor) that I can acknowledge and take ownership for that didn't include hours and days and weeks of wondering what would everyone else think, what would everyone else want, and what would keep the peace. As a result, many of my decisions have been made either with others' needs in mind or in desperation to get away from the showdown of wanting something that I felt would upset others.

What worries my heart most - if I can't define and defend what I believe and why, how can I be a good witness for Christ? Why are the powers and people of this world able to make me feel "smaller" for what I believe? The answer? Painfully? Because I let them!

As it is with most issues with a lot of "baggage" and years of layers of meaning, I feel like writing huge explanations, justifications, and ready-made apologies so as not to come off appearing selfish and self-centered and making anyone angry. But, I'm gonna just let this lay here as it is for now.

Just as Dave Ramsey gives his "baby steps" to financial peace, this is one of my baby steps. One inch forward. One step out in faith.

Where you may have a laugh...

...at my expense.

They look really sorry, don't they? NNOOTT!!

Is this some kind of momma right of passage? Scrubbing miscellaneous scribbling off walls? Well, this scribbling was about 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide of multiple color crayons! *sigh*

Previously, toothpaste has worked wonders on small individual spots. No such luck this time. So, I brainstormed up another angle and I wanted to pass along a find: baking soda. The universal cleaning wonder! LOL Made a paste with water and baking soda and with a little scrubbing with a toothbrush...voila! Nearly pristine wall!

In need of a desktop/wallpaper change?

There are some beautiful ones here. Wallpaper with calendars, Scriptures, and beautiful photos. What more could ya' ask for when you're looking out the window at so much snow that DaHubby will probably have to park a couple blocks away and walk the rest of the way home since the plow hasn't come through yet! LOL

Week Three: Exercise Accountability Challenge

Well, we are at the end of week THREE of ten, ladies. We're nearly halfway there! Halfway to some new, good habits and halfway 'til Spring! Which I would REALLY like to start thinking about since we got blasted with another "snow dump" last night (another 6+ inches with more on the way) and all the schools are closed!

Just thought you'd like to know that as of last week, cumulatively we have put in nearly FOUR more hours of time then we had pledged thus far! And, that's awesome!

So, how are y'all doing? As for me, it's been a hard week here. Between caring for sickies and becoming a sickie myself in addition to DaHubby working from home this week, I lost one of my planned workouts and was unable to catch up before this morning. But, I still managed to get 70 of my 90 minutes completed.

So, leave a comment below on how many minutes you completed this week and let's make that TICKER CLIMB...or at least inch right-ward! *wink*! And, if you have stumbled across this challenge and are wondering "what in the world are these people up to?", check here for an explanation. And, then here and here for our progress so far!

Blessings on everyone's weekend! And, get in an additional workout this weekend...you'll have fewer minutes to do next week! LOL