The menu thing has been going very very well. The kids have been excited to help choose the meals, they are comforted to know what is going to be on the table, and we have saved lots of $$. The benefits far outweigh the minimal amount of time and effort invested in planning and preparing it. Yesterday I went a little paint crazy and neglected the dinner prep. I was also doing some serious bedroom design dreaming and feeling sorry for myself at our lack of niceties, so I went shopping online at Craigslist and found an irresistable clock that was perfect for the master bedroom, so on a whim, we went to look at it and bought it. Well, it was getting late, so then we decided to get fast food. We brought it home much to the dismay of the kids. They complained, "What are going to eat tomorrow for dinner?" I said, "We'll just eat tomorrow what we were going to eat today." They said, "If we do that what about Friday?? It's Lent, if we eat Thursday's meal on Friday, that won't work because it has meat in it! Mom, it's all just messed up now." They were right...I messed up, I spent money on something we didn't need, and after looking at the budget afterward, I realized I spent the grocery money on that clock! And, I took a break I didn't deserve. Self pity is a dangerous thing, it threw the whole universe out of orbit at our house, and it just wasn't worth it. This dying to self stuff is hard!
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2 It may not seem like a big deal, but it all starts with the little seemingly insignificant departures. I apologized to the family and we made a deal, they agreed to chip in and help out with dinner....and most importantly, TALK ME DOWN. So now, I have to totally redo the menu based on what food we have on hand.....all this hassle for a stupid whim! Don and I used to have a 24 hour policy, if we wanted something that we felt we couldn't live without, we waited 24 hours and then redecided, about 75% of the time, we realized we could live with out it...go figure! We are reinstating that policy.
This is such an honest, real post Debi. The 24 hour policy is a good one. It helps keep you from making decisions based on emotion, which is so easy to do. I hear you, too, it is so easy to spend without thinking (at least for me) in the home decor arena. And clothes. But yeah. Anyways. Good post. I'd say the evening was a success, even though it seemed like a failure, because I think you and your family learned a very valuable lessons. The only truly horrible mistake is the one you don't learn from.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
I used to be such an impulse buyer it was ridiculous. Now I think about it before I buy it. Even if I'm in a store, 9 times out of 10 I'll end up putting about 1/2 of what I have back.
ReplyDeletewell, don't be too hard on yourself :)
ReplyDeleteDo you have a couple of freezer meals for those times?
I am now dying to see your clock!
Josette, I do have plenty of food on hand, but as far as a meal prepared in the freezer, No. Someone else made that suggestion last night at Financial Peace...it's a very good idea. Actually, the clock is not all that exciting, Josette...after I finish our bedroom, I'll post some pics. It certainly wasn't worth throwing out the budget this week!
ReplyDeleteMonica, that's so true, we DO learn more from our mistakes than our successes....and goodness knows I have a plethora of those! Ha!
ReplyDeleteWhat a true, honest, and often hard to accept assessment of our role as mothers. I agree... this dying to self stuff IS hard! Blessings!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post...all your post in the last few weeks have been so honest and humble and have taught me many things. I'm sorry i've not posted but we moved house and i've been off work ill so its been a bit stressful. But your blog is such a comfort to me. You are able to put into words all of the joys and pains of motherhood and faith and homemaking, I do treasure your blog and friendship :) And I agree, dying to self is so so hard, we just have to keep at it! God bless you Debi, I will write soon xx
ReplyDeleteEloise, I have been wondering about you!! My goodness...I can't wait to hear the details! We prayed for you tonight!!! Blessings to you and hope you feel better soon!
ReplyDeleteah life lessons, they never do get easier.
ReplyDelete