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Thank you so much for reading my blog. This blog has been inactive for the last couple of months with only a few postings here and there. Here's the sites where you can find my personal blog and the shows blog.
Our show updates and blog info has moved to www.frazledmwcn.com I have also started a new blog with my personal experiences called Adventures of a Frazled Military Wife. You can read my personal blog at http://adventuresofafrazledmilitarywife.blogspot.com
If you are looking to connect with other great military wives be sure to check out our NING site. http://frazledmwcn.ning.com
Monday, November 16, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Team
I went back and was reading some articles and actual came across a blog post of mine from a while back. It spoke to me today just as it had the day that I wrote it so I thought I would share it again.
Today is a crazy day for me. It seems I have those more and more these days. With my husbands unpredictable schedule and the kids having to run 3,000 directions it's a wonder my hair doesn't turn gray faster.
I was driving to the post office from the unit today and had the Christian radio station on. I wasn't really listening it. I was constantly breaking up the fight in the back seat. The part that I did hear made me sit up and pay attention. Like God was breaking up the fight in my head. Clearing out the long list of to do's so I could hear him.
The DJ was talking about sports teams and how some people feel that when you speak of a team you shouldn't say we. Like 'we need to get a new quarterback.' You should say them or the team name. A well known sports person(I don't remember his name-it's not important in this story anyway)said that he felt like he could say we. Simply because he supported that team through tickets sales, merchandise and watching them on TV.
The DJ said we can apply this to our life with Christ. We go to church and we talk about the church and the pastor like we are a part of the team. We cheer on the worship music, listen to the pastor and leave. Are you really on the team? Are you simply a fan of Jesus or are you really in the game? Are you actively spreading the word of God? Are you on God's team or cheering from the sidelines?
That hit me. It made me sit up. I would like to think I am on the team but am I really? God got my attention. It was another of those frying pan to head moments. I challenge you to think about your walk with God. Are you on the team or just a fan?
Today is a crazy day for me. It seems I have those more and more these days. With my husbands unpredictable schedule and the kids having to run 3,000 directions it's a wonder my hair doesn't turn gray faster.
I was driving to the post office from the unit today and had the Christian radio station on. I wasn't really listening it. I was constantly breaking up the fight in the back seat. The part that I did hear made me sit up and pay attention. Like God was breaking up the fight in my head. Clearing out the long list of to do's so I could hear him.
The DJ was talking about sports teams and how some people feel that when you speak of a team you shouldn't say we. Like 'we need to get a new quarterback.' You should say them or the team name. A well known sports person(I don't remember his name-it's not important in this story anyway)said that he felt like he could say we. Simply because he supported that team through tickets sales, merchandise and watching them on TV.
The DJ said we can apply this to our life with Christ. We go to church and we talk about the church and the pastor like we are a part of the team. We cheer on the worship music, listen to the pastor and leave. Are you really on the team? Are you simply a fan of Jesus or are you really in the game? Are you actively spreading the word of God? Are you on God's team or cheering from the sidelines?
That hit me. It made me sit up. I would like to think I am on the team but am I really? God got my attention. It was another of those frying pan to head moments. I challenge you to think about your walk with God. Are you on the team or just a fan?
Monday, October 12, 2009
How I save Part 2
Grocery shopping has gotten a makeover at our house. I have done fairly well with saving money but still felt like we are spending WAY to much on groceries. I have been feeling like there has to be a way to save even more.
In addition to clipping coupons and ordering from the sites I have mentioned, I have almost eliminated all processed foods. Which keeps me out of the middle aisles of the grocery stores.
Let me share some of our ideas.
1. We no longer buy cereal. With a family of 6 buying organic cereal we were going through 8-10 boxes a week. Even with a coupon the cereal would still be almost $2 a box. So 8-10 boxes x $2 a box is $16-$20 or more a week. We now eat eggs, pancakes, waffles things that are much healthier and I typically have on hand anyway.
With the pancakes and waffles I no longer buy pancake and waffle mix. I have found some great easy recipes for things I already have on hand. It's much cheaper and it tastes better too.
2. I have become much better with making a menu and buying groceries based on that list. In the past I have gone back and forth with menu making. I am trying to be very diligent about this.
3. I have a calculator with me. I use the one on my Blackberry. I add up everything that goes into the cart. I have an idea of where I would like to be budget wise based on what I want us to spend a month. Last week I had a goal of $80. I spent $90. This week I wanted to spend $140 I spent $154. I over spent this week because I needed Clorox Wipes and they were on sale for almost $10. My overall goal for this month is $500-$600. Which is about $200-$300 less than it has been.
4. I have decided that no matter how crowded the commissary is, I have the right to be there. I have the right to take my time and save my family money. In the past I have always felt rushed when the aisles are full. No more being rushed.
5. I am shopping once a week instead of every other week. Regardless of if I only did big grocery shopping every two weeks or plan it out for each week it comes out about the same. I actually think I am saving some money this way. I get what we need for the week. When I would grocery shop every other week I was still in the grocery store for milk, bread, etc. and would end up with more in my cart because I thought we needed it or it was on sale.
6. As I mentioned earlier we don't buy hardly anything from the middle aisles of the grocery store. I used to buy the Keebler prepackaged cracker packs. They are easy to grab and better than some alternatives. But it's so much cheaper to buy a large package of crackers and have real cheese or peanut butter on those crackers than to have all the preservatives.
I now bake almost all of our bread. I'm not sure how much, if anything, we save but I can control what's going into the bread. I used to think this was difficult or not worth the time. I was wrong. It is fairly simple and while it does take time for the dough to rise, I am here anyway. Plus the house smells so good on the days I bake bread.
I also bake our cookies and sweets. Since I home school the boys we can use this as a learning lesson.
7. We don't buy fruit drinks or juices. Our kids drink diet consists of water and milk. They RARELY get Capri sun or anything like that. If I have coupons I will buy orange juice. Juice is expensive and can make your budget fat before you know it.
8. I am trying to buy meat when it's on sale and use what I have. Right now boneless skinless chicken breasts are on sale for $1.70 a pound. I stock up on sales like that. Normally they are $1.95 or $2.05 a pound.
9. I triple coupon at Harris Teeter. You can get a ton of stuff for next to nothing on triple coupon days. Most of it is processed foods. I do save coupons for these things in case I can get them on sale during triple coupons. Things like Chex Mix Bars, granola bars, soup, all the middle aisle stuff. If you don't have a Harris Teeter by you check out the local grocery stores to see if any of them offer double or triple coupons.
10. I am willing to adapt for the benefits of our family. As our family ages our needs change. The kids are older and eat more. Which means that our food budget goes up. I am basically feeding 4 adults and 2 children now. Some days it feels like I am feeding 6 adults. The boys usually eat more than I do for dinner. (not to worry, they are healthy. They are not overweight)
I feel a bit of victory when I walk out of the grocery store and stay close to my goal. Before I never had a goal I just threw it in the cart. But by paying closer attention to what is going into the cart it does save us money.
Share your money saving tips!
In addition to clipping coupons and ordering from the sites I have mentioned, I have almost eliminated all processed foods. Which keeps me out of the middle aisles of the grocery stores.
Let me share some of our ideas.
1. We no longer buy cereal. With a family of 6 buying organic cereal we were going through 8-10 boxes a week. Even with a coupon the cereal would still be almost $2 a box. So 8-10 boxes x $2 a box is $16-$20 or more a week. We now eat eggs, pancakes, waffles things that are much healthier and I typically have on hand anyway.
With the pancakes and waffles I no longer buy pancake and waffle mix. I have found some great easy recipes for things I already have on hand. It's much cheaper and it tastes better too.
2. I have become much better with making a menu and buying groceries based on that list. In the past I have gone back and forth with menu making. I am trying to be very diligent about this.
3. I have a calculator with me. I use the one on my Blackberry. I add up everything that goes into the cart. I have an idea of where I would like to be budget wise based on what I want us to spend a month. Last week I had a goal of $80. I spent $90. This week I wanted to spend $140 I spent $154. I over spent this week because I needed Clorox Wipes and they were on sale for almost $10. My overall goal for this month is $500-$600. Which is about $200-$300 less than it has been.
4. I have decided that no matter how crowded the commissary is, I have the right to be there. I have the right to take my time and save my family money. In the past I have always felt rushed when the aisles are full. No more being rushed.
5. I am shopping once a week instead of every other week. Regardless of if I only did big grocery shopping every two weeks or plan it out for each week it comes out about the same. I actually think I am saving some money this way. I get what we need for the week. When I would grocery shop every other week I was still in the grocery store for milk, bread, etc. and would end up with more in my cart because I thought we needed it or it was on sale.
6. As I mentioned earlier we don't buy hardly anything from the middle aisles of the grocery store. I used to buy the Keebler prepackaged cracker packs. They are easy to grab and better than some alternatives. But it's so much cheaper to buy a large package of crackers and have real cheese or peanut butter on those crackers than to have all the preservatives.
I now bake almost all of our bread. I'm not sure how much, if anything, we save but I can control what's going into the bread. I used to think this was difficult or not worth the time. I was wrong. It is fairly simple and while it does take time for the dough to rise, I am here anyway. Plus the house smells so good on the days I bake bread.
I also bake our cookies and sweets. Since I home school the boys we can use this as a learning lesson.
7. We don't buy fruit drinks or juices. Our kids drink diet consists of water and milk. They RARELY get Capri sun or anything like that. If I have coupons I will buy orange juice. Juice is expensive and can make your budget fat before you know it.
8. I am trying to buy meat when it's on sale and use what I have. Right now boneless skinless chicken breasts are on sale for $1.70 a pound. I stock up on sales like that. Normally they are $1.95 or $2.05 a pound.
9. I triple coupon at Harris Teeter. You can get a ton of stuff for next to nothing on triple coupon days. Most of it is processed foods. I do save coupons for these things in case I can get them on sale during triple coupons. Things like Chex Mix Bars, granola bars, soup, all the middle aisle stuff. If you don't have a Harris Teeter by you check out the local grocery stores to see if any of them offer double or triple coupons.
10. I am willing to adapt for the benefits of our family. As our family ages our needs change. The kids are older and eat more. Which means that our food budget goes up. I am basically feeding 4 adults and 2 children now. Some days it feels like I am feeding 6 adults. The boys usually eat more than I do for dinner. (not to worry, they are healthy. They are not overweight)
I feel a bit of victory when I walk out of the grocery store and stay close to my goal. Before I never had a goal I just threw it in the cart. But by paying closer attention to what is going into the cart it does save us money.
Share your money saving tips!
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Operation Kid Comfort
This program allows the child of a deployed service member to recieve a quilt with pictures of their parent. You can find more details here http://www.asymca.org/Programs.aspx?pgmID=28&mid=27
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
How much? A vent of sorts
Do you ever wonder how much you can take? How much stress is enough but not to much to actually kill you? I mean that. How much? Can we wear a meter like we do to measure our steps or must we be hooked up to a machine like a blood pressure cuff?
I realize and accept that my stress level is amplified because my husband is fixing to leave. We are down to days. One pay check left and he will depart. Which is crazy to think about it that way. But it is our reality.
Can I just be honest? I'm tired. I'm tired of having to make all the decisions. I'm tired of volunteering for a job and then having someone come behind me only to undo what I did. I'm tired of having to be the 'bad' parent because I don't want my husband to because he's leaving. Which most of you know, he leaves ALL THE TIME. Which makes me the bad parent all the time. I'm tired of homeschooling, tired of public school.(just found out there is an 8th grade girl and a 9th grade girl pregnant at the girls school).
I don't do well staying positive all the time. It's not me. I have to be angry for a while. That's where I am right now. I just wanted to be mad. Then the phone rings and VIOLA! Another catastrophy that I need to solve. I just kept thinking....ARE YOU KIDDING? You are an adult. Can you not do the math and figure it out?
I keep telling my husband I'm not ready for this trip(read deployment). I'm not ready. I just shake my head and start to cry. I'm really not ready. Over the last 2years I have watched my husband come and go many times. Every time he left I never wanted him to go. Ocassionally I was ready because I wanted to start the count down. I'm not ready. I don't want to say good-bye. I don't want my heart to hurt. I don't want to comfort the kids because he left again. I don't want pile the pillows just right so I can finally sleep. I don't want to be without the love of my life again. I don't want to feel like I am holding my breath until I see him again.
I think you get most of it. I'm just tired. I'm tired of having to be the strong one. I want.......I don't know what I want. How messed up is that? I'm just this ball of emotions that I don't know what to do with.
I realize and accept that my stress level is amplified because my husband is fixing to leave. We are down to days. One pay check left and he will depart. Which is crazy to think about it that way. But it is our reality.
Can I just be honest? I'm tired. I'm tired of having to make all the decisions. I'm tired of volunteering for a job and then having someone come behind me only to undo what I did. I'm tired of having to be the 'bad' parent because I don't want my husband to because he's leaving. Which most of you know, he leaves ALL THE TIME. Which makes me the bad parent all the time. I'm tired of homeschooling, tired of public school.(just found out there is an 8th grade girl and a 9th grade girl pregnant at the girls school).
I don't do well staying positive all the time. It's not me. I have to be angry for a while. That's where I am right now. I just wanted to be mad. Then the phone rings and VIOLA! Another catastrophy that I need to solve. I just kept thinking....ARE YOU KIDDING? You are an adult. Can you not do the math and figure it out?
I keep telling my husband I'm not ready for this trip(read deployment). I'm not ready. I just shake my head and start to cry. I'm really not ready. Over the last 2years I have watched my husband come and go many times. Every time he left I never wanted him to go. Ocassionally I was ready because I wanted to start the count down. I'm not ready. I don't want to say good-bye. I don't want my heart to hurt. I don't want to comfort the kids because he left again. I don't want pile the pillows just right so I can finally sleep. I don't want to be without the love of my life again. I don't want to feel like I am holding my breath until I see him again.
I think you get most of it. I'm just tired. I'm tired of having to be the strong one. I want.......I don't know what I want. How messed up is that? I'm just this ball of emotions that I don't know what to do with.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Down Sizing
When I hear the word down sizing I am used to thinking of negative things. Whether it's layoffs or selling a home, I tend to see it as a bad thing.
Today I felt completely overwhelmed. I'm not sure why. The radio show went well, the boys school work went rather quickly, I have assessed why I think Tanner is having problems and have a process to help correct it, got the kids to practice, my husband is home.........Basically a good day. But I couldn't shake this feeling. I do have a lot on my plate but don't we all these days?
One of the jobs I currently have is Child Care Coordinator for my husbands unit. When there is an event that we provide care for, I organize the sitters and the RSVP's for care. In the next two weeks we have 4 different events that I have to be at the unit for.
Tonight as I had a girlfriends children at their soccer practice, I realized that my husband just came home and I have NO down time with him. I am still running like a mad woman.
I have made the executive decision to down size my work load. What a great idea! If I have something on my plate that will not matter that I did it or someone else did it AND I don't enjoy it, I am getting rid of it! I will no longer be the child care coordinator. I used to enjoy doing it. Now I grit my teeth every time I think about it. God had a reason and a season for me to do that job. I think that season has passed.
It's hard to say you can't or won't do a job that you signed up for. But if it makes you miserable why do it?
So tonight I am down sizing things. Anything I can get my hands on. What are you willing to let go of?
Today I felt completely overwhelmed. I'm not sure why. The radio show went well, the boys school work went rather quickly, I have assessed why I think Tanner is having problems and have a process to help correct it, got the kids to practice, my husband is home.........Basically a good day. But I couldn't shake this feeling. I do have a lot on my plate but don't we all these days?
One of the jobs I currently have is Child Care Coordinator for my husbands unit. When there is an event that we provide care for, I organize the sitters and the RSVP's for care. In the next two weeks we have 4 different events that I have to be at the unit for.
Tonight as I had a girlfriends children at their soccer practice, I realized that my husband just came home and I have NO down time with him. I am still running like a mad woman.
I have made the executive decision to down size my work load. What a great idea! If I have something on my plate that will not matter that I did it or someone else did it AND I don't enjoy it, I am getting rid of it! I will no longer be the child care coordinator. I used to enjoy doing it. Now I grit my teeth every time I think about it. God had a reason and a season for me to do that job. I think that season has passed.
It's hard to say you can't or won't do a job that you signed up for. But if it makes you miserable why do it?
So tonight I am down sizing things. Anything I can get my hands on. What are you willing to let go of?
Monday, August 31, 2009
Exciting News
I have some great things to share with you. Sara Horn, founder of Wives of Faith, will be joining FMWCN as our co-host. This will allow us more interaction and a different perspective. Sara's husband is Navy reserve, so she brings with her what it's like to be on the reserve side of the military.
We are working on selecting our newest bible study. Please click the link and vote on which on you would like to see us do.http://www.wivesoffaith.org/pollfall-bible-study
Also log on to the networking site http://frazledmwcn.ning.com We are considering moving the show to an evening format. There is a poll on the site. Let us know what you think. Wives of Faith will be using the live chat feature on the networking site as part of the Survival Sister program. Make sure to register on the WoF site for membership. You can then select to participate in this program. http://wivesoffaith.org
Tomorrow's show is with Stacy, a life coach, about finding your purpose. We get wrapped up in our crazy military life and forget that God has a purpose for us as well.
We are working on selecting our newest bible study. Please click the link and vote on which on you would like to see us do.http://www.wivesoffaith.org/pollfall-bible-study
Also log on to the networking site http://frazledmwcn.ning.com We are considering moving the show to an evening format. There is a poll on the site. Let us know what you think. Wives of Faith will be using the live chat feature on the networking site as part of the Survival Sister program. Make sure to register on the WoF site for membership. You can then select to participate in this program. http://wivesoffaith.org
Tomorrow's show is with Stacy, a life coach, about finding your purpose. We get wrapped up in our crazy military life and forget that God has a purpose for us as well.
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