Are you a finisher?

Since my counseling session earlier today, I've been thinking about the concept of steadfastness and creating new habits, routine & orderliness.

Synonyms for steadfast are sure, dependable, reliable, constant, unwavering, staunch, steady.

Steadfast literally means fixed in place, but is chiefly used figuratively to indicate undeviating constancy or resolution. Literally, steady is applied to that which is relatively firm in position or continuous in movement or duration: a steady flow; figuratively, it implies sober regularity or persistence.

The three areas that I'm striving for steadfastness in my life are in keeping my kitchen clean and organized, having a daily quiet time, and regularly reading from my reading list.

My ideal is that:
~I will identify times each day that these will actions will take place,
~I will endeavor to follow through with the planned activities, and
~A habit if becoming a finisher will be formed!

I want to become a finisher. Right now I'm an idea girl. I have a million fantastic ideas and scramble to start each one. Before you know it, I've collapsed under the weight of my ideas and I've gotten almost nothing accomplished.

So first I have to identify times for all of these activities.

The first is easy. Doing the dishes and cleaning the counters after dinner just makes sense. My hubby and I have talked about this, and while we're at it, one of us can make lunches at the same time too. But Bill cautioned me to take responsibility for my own habits and not be dependent upon whether my hubby follows through on the plan. I thought this was pretty insightful because I hadn't even mentioned the plan yet, nor the fact that we've had that plan for two weeks and haven't done it once yet!

While keeping it clean is relatively simple, organizing it is not. I have had a bit of a jump start on that though. I took some time over the long weekend to organize some areas of the kitchen and have even more ideas for continuing the organization, but that is going to take some time. I think I can realistically plan to organize one drawer or shelf each day after having done the dishes and the whole kitchen should be done by the end of November! Oi.

Which brings us to reading from my recommended reading list. I had a goal to read one of those books every two months. And since I was half way done one of them, the goal implied that I'd be able to finish it by the end of August. Not even close.

That tells me I need to establish a routine of reading. A daily routine. At least 3 or 4 days of the week I don't have plans lunch plans, so it would be realistic to read during my lunch break. And assuming I'm bringing my lunches to work, I won't have to spend time searching for food!

Lastly, there's my quiet time for prayer and bible study. Oh, how I've striven to get up early for that. I've failed almost every time. Or I'll do it for a day or two and then stop.

It makes a huge difference, though, when I'm able to do it in the morning before I start my day. There's a huge temptation to put it off to the evening, but then I know I'll get caught up in spending time with my hubby (after I do the dishes and make lunches, of course!) and there is only so much time after work!

So here 'goes! I'll get up a half hour early to spend time reading the bible and praying before I start my day.

I think I'll go a step further and make sure I have less to do in the mornings by cleaning up the night before instead of in the morning. It just makes sense to do as much at night to make the mornings easier and less hectic.

Talk about starting the day off right!

2009 Vegetable garden plans

I'd like to plant a vegetable garden next year but need take into account my limitations. We have .13 acre of land that our little house sits on (and a shed, three vehicles, canoe, trailer, clothesline, picnic table, oh - and the motorcycles we hope to buy). Not only the land limitations though, but my gardening experience. I planted a flower garden the year after we moved into our home. And then I left it to the weeds. My hubby weeded it out every now and again, but it's pretty much overgrown now.

I like to think I'll be better at it when I'm more purposeful about gardening, and looking forward to the harvest, but knowing me I need to have as low-maintenance garden as possible.

On the other hand, I'd like to plant and harvest my favorite veggies! I think it'll be fun as long as I don't get overwhelmed with getting behind in the weeding and watering, etc.

Now that I'm in the backyard every morning hanging my clothes to dry, I think it'll be harder to forget about my precious garden, but who can tell?

So without further ado, I'll list the veggies I'd like to plant next year and then another day we can analyse what's realistic...

sugar peas
spaghetti squash
garlic
jalapenos
tomatoes (all kinds)
basil
sage
potatoes
sweet potatoes
beets
carrots
gourds (just for fun!)
flax
lavender
horseradish

More Ideas

This post is a cross between Christmas goals and Generating Extra Income goals. The more I plan for Christmas gifts, the more I think - why couldn't I sell those too? And the more I think of things to make to sell, the more people I think of to Give them to as gifts! (so cool how that works!)

Here are more things I've thought of to give and sell:

Blank greeting cards with my photos on the front (of course, with recycled-by-me paper)
Floppy Bears (Think bear rug but smaller. It'll have a stuffed head, stuffed paws and tail, but nothing inside the "body.")
Fabric stacking blocks (for baby)
Hand puppets

I know the list will keep growing and growing. I'm just thinking I should make the items for Christmas, then decide which are the least time consuming to make and focus on those.

Hm. So as for goals...
Make Christmas Presents and go from there?
No, not specific enough.
Hm. Make Christmas Presents, track how long each takes to make, and when all is said and done, choose 5 or 6 items to focus on making more of.

Goals at Work

I'm not proud of this, but I've fallen behind at work. Again. Could you see it coming? Blogging a few times a day, complaining about not liking my job...right.
So last night before I left work, I put together a priority list for catching up this week. This morning I got a bit of a rude awakening. I forgot it was billing week (for past due accounts.) Oi.
I took a deep breath (20 minutes ago), and re-structured my catch-up schedule, and decided a little accountability was necessary.
This may even be contradictory since I'm spending time I should be (let's see, what time is it?) processing patient billing right now, but I thought I'd log on again real quick to get this posted so I could perhaps guilt myself into better performance at work!! LOL

(in order of priority)
Catch up on non-cash postings
Finish aging
Catch up on appeals
Catch up on filing

Wednesday, August 13, 2008:
Print pt billing list,
10-12 Process Pt billing
12-1 Enter new checks & Log all new non-cash postings
1-2 Complete write offs
2-2:30 (Break) grocery shop for weekend food and fresh corn & cream of celery soup for tonight’s chicken noodle caserole
2:30-5 Finish logging all old non-cash postings
5-5:30 Check aging to see what aging claims are now covered
5:30-6 lookup and list phone numbers on aging where calls need to be made
***

Thursday, August 14, 2008
(***Whatever isn’t done last night, come in early to do today)
Address Aging
Enter checks
Log all new non-cash postings
Continue aging list

Friday, August 15, 2008
Continue working on the aging list
Enter checks
Log all new non-cash postings
Check follow-up list for any additional claims to be addressed
Check appeal list for any that have been resolved
Work on remaining appeals

Monday, August 18, 2008
Finish Appeals
Enter new checks
Log all new non-cash postings and process new appeals
File old RA’s

Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Enter new checks
Log all new non-cash postings and process new appeals
Double check aging and follow up lists

Wednesday, August 20, 2008
File old RA’s and old eob’s

Christmas Gifts Goals

I took the Buy Handmade Pledge, and I intend to keep it! Except I intend to actually "do the making" myself! The pledge says "I pledge to buy handmade this holiday season and request that others do the same for me."
I want to include cards in this. I snagged a paper making kit at a yard sale this summer for a dollar, so I'm going to make my own paper. My hubby and I started making our own cards a few years ago, so we'll continue doing that with the stamping supplies we've collected.
I'm putting this in my goals list because from previous experience, I know it takes more time to make some (many) gifts than it does to go out and purchase them. As a long-time cross-stitcher, I have given many pieces as gifts. There are also many pieces that I've MEANT to give as gifts, that didn't get done in time!
So, I'm going to start now, to ensure that I have a stress-free December!
Christmas Goal/Plan:
1.) List everyone I need/want to make a gift for.
2.) Brainstorm gift ideas for each person.
3.) Make "final" decisions on gift choices.
4.) Decide how much time to allow each gift to be made.
5.) Schedule gift-making.
6.) Determine what materials will need to be purchased for these gifts.
And while we're talking about scheduling, let's make sure I don't take three months to do the preceding 6 steps!
My goal is to have a Christmas Gift Plan defined and in place, (on my planner) by the end of this week (August 16th).

Among other things,

I want to find ways of MAKING more money. I don't want to get a part time evening and weekends job, because I don't deal with stress well and I don't deal with not having down time well and that just negates that, doesn't it? LOL

So I've been kicking around the idea of making up some baby stuff for fall craft fairs and such, but I don't want to be limiting myself to craft fairs, much less spending an entire day in a crowded, noisy gymnasium with half a million crazy-stressed women. Sorry, just not my bag.

I've also been kicking around the idea of starting an Etsy shop. That Really Scares Me. (TRaSeMe - like trace me) But I think I'm going to do it! I'm going to make up some items between now and the end of August, see if some of my more objective friends think they're good enough, and start an Etsy Shop if it's a go.

The only other thing that holds me back is that I'm terrible at customer service. I could say "I'll have to work on that," but I think I recall saying that before! (And it didn't happen!)

Well, I have until the end of August to mull it over (and pray about it.)

So, as for a goal, I'd like to have made one each of the following by the end of the month:
-Burp Cloth
-Bib
-Baby Blanket
-Blanket Square (corresponding to blanket)

-Purse

-Clutch

-Cooling Eye Mask

-Beaded lace necklace

I already have the bib partially made, the burp cloth in my mind, I have the plans for the blanket and square that I made previously so just need to duplicate, I made the eye masks years ago (but gave them all away so will just need to duplicate) and have started the beaded necklace. I also have the pattern for the purse and clutch I've been meaning to make for myself for two years, as well as the materials. YeHe! I'm so excited!

Answers Found

Last night I acknowledged that I don't have an answer to the question of balancing paying down debt and building up savings. (Scroll down to #7) I did a little digging over at Trent's site The Simple Dollar (a magnificent resource! I knew I'd find it eventually over there if I looked hard enough!) Comparing Apples to Oranges: Saving Ahead Versus Paying Down Debt was exactly what I was looking for, and I really didn't have to look that hard! This is actually more of an explanation, as the backstory, and here is another article of Trent's that addresses the same issue. I especially liked this article, which provided a priority list of sorts.
1.) spend less than you earn
2.) establish the emergency fund
3.) save for retirement
4.) eliminate debts

My hubby and I have it all backward. We both have great retirement funds set up, but other than that we've neglected living within our means and building up the emergency fund as well as eliminating debt (obviously - by not living within our means!!)

This is also a great way to establishing a structured overal debt payment plan.

And this will help me stay on track!!

So I have three financial (savings) goals right now. Trent says it's better to have only one financial goal at a time, and I agree with him, but two of these goals are time-sensitive. Actually, one is time sensitive, the other is a false urgency of mine. I REALLY want to get a small motorcycle. I reason that it will help me save on gas, but I really just want to start riding now that I have my license. *Sigh* the truth hurts sometimes, doesn't it? So the bike will be on the bottom of my totem pole of priorities, but it's still there!

So, the three Savings goals (in order of priority) are:
1.) Emergency fund. Building up 3 months worth of my current gross salary within two years.
2.) Travel fund. Save for travel expenses that we'll incur in 3 months when we visit our new niece or nephew. This will involve at LEAST airline, possibly car rental and maybe hotel expenses. My SIL's parents have offered to house us, but I'm not sure how my hubby will react to that. Hmmm. I need to communicate better, don't I? (This SIL and I both married into the family, so her parents aren't MY in-laws). Before I have a definite goal, I'll need a definite amount to save for. But I'll start anyway!
3.) Motorcycle Fund!!! LOL... I hoped to purchase a bike for myself this fall figuring they'd be selling pretty cheap as people are debating whether they want to store them for another winter or not, but I may have to wait until spring when I can save more for it and not be strapped for cash for my trip.

Reading

My reading list is growing. Mostly because I haven't been reading! Here is my current 2008 reading list.

I started the boundaries book about a year ago. Obviously I need to set goals in order to make some progress on my list!

After thinking about it, I've decided to make a flexible goal to finish a book every two months, but making sure I've recorded insights and personal growth along the way. I don't want to just rush through this reading for the sake of completing a goal.

I'll also monitor my progress every Monday. That way I won't be caught at the end of two months and say - oh well, maybe next time I'll have done more. I'm serious about wanting to read these books, and look forward to learning and growing from them.

Therefore, my Reading Goal is to finish the Boundaries book by the end of August (since it's halfway done already) and move onto the next book in September and October.