Time Management

Have you ever watched the TLC show "19 Kids and Counting"?  I love that show!  Michelle and Jim Bob prove time and time again to be amazingly well rounded and balanced parents, especially considering the incredible size of their family.  I am always amazed at how tidy their house looks and how well behaved the children are.  Plus, I can't even imagine taking on the task of homeschool all of those children that are on different levels!

Recently I have found myself consistently looking for a way to find a good balance in my life.  There are so many things that I want to pursue, things I want to get done each day and things I want for my children that I find myself constantly trying to prioritize.  When I really sit down and think about the things that matter the most to me, it always comes back to my family and my faith.  I think most of us would say the same.  So do I neglect to give my husband the love, attention, and affection that I feel he deserves?  Do I sometimes set aside giving my children my full attention when they need it?  Do I spend more time thinking about other people's families and lives through social media than I do of my own?  I hope not.



What do I spend most of my time doing?  I am trying to make my family the center and focus of most of my efforts each and every day.  That's hard sometimes.  But they are so worth it!  Then, in the end when my children are gone I hope to look back with many fond memories and joy in my heart for the time I have cherished with them.  In the end, I don't think it will matter if the house was perfectly decorated, the family fabulously clothed, the dishes and laundry always done, or my Facebook friends lives were always kept up on.  My family will matter.  My faith will matter.  So in them, I will wisely strive to spend most of my precious and ever passing time.

"A mother is she who can take the place of all others, but whose place no one else can take."
- Unknown

Living on a Budget

I was always taught growing up that budgeting was one of the best ways to manage your money and that every family should have one.  When my husband and I were first married I resisted it at first but soon felt like I was very uninformed as to where all of our money was going so quickly.  So I resolved to start a budget.  I was at a loss at first but was then given the suggestion by a friend to use Mint.com

I fell in love with this website!  Plus, it's free!  It is so user friendly and has lots of features that help you budget, set goals, watch your trends, save money, look at all of your financial information in one place and so much more.  If you haven't started a budget already, I would definitely give this a try.  It has helped our family immensely in understanding and organizing our budget.  I now feel like I have some direction and control over where I want my money to go. 

Zoo Pass

One of the best things I have invested in for my children is a Zoo Pass!  We love the zoo and it is such a great way to get out and not only enjoy the outdoors but maybe learn a few things along the way.  The first time my husband and I went to the zoo was for my oldest daughters first birthday.  When we went we ended up buying a pass which lasted a full year.  We only have a few months left on it now but it has been wonderful!  I love that I can go to the zoo without worrying about the cost or how long we stay.  If we have a bad day, we can just pack up and leave with no feelings of guilt about wasting money.  I figured out that if we use it just three times in the year that it pays itself off.

The polar bear is our new favorite!

They also have lots of fun events and other information on their website at:
http://www.hoglezoo.org/

The one thing I would do different next time is to go in on it with a friend rather than my husband.  I go to the zoo much more often with friends while he is at work than with him.  But you are required to have names on the pass so if you chose to get one, pick someone who will utilize it the best.