Some of my Pinterest crafts!

So, I buckled under peer pressure and joined Pinterest.  Well, it's fun!  I have found some neat stuff on there plus I'm promoting my own art on there and getting great response.

Anyway, as part of my Clear the Clutter Campaign 2012, I am putting myself on the Dave Ramsey cash only plan.  And on Pinterest, there was this neat idea of making pretty envelopes for the cash, instead of using those ugly plain white ones.  So I did it!

Also, with the leftover scrap paper, Jessalyn and I made another Pinterest project for Valentine's day - a lovely heart wreath.  Ours isn't quite finished and I'm going to add some ribbon, maybe some glitter but I still think it's cute.  And Jessalyn helped so she feels proud.  She loves crafts as much as I do!

Be Blessed!

I'm changing my life with God's help

"I don't wanna live like I don't care.  I don't wanna say another empty prayer. Oh I refuse to sit around and wait for someone else to do what God has called me to do myself.  Oh I could choose not to move, but I refuse."  The chorus to one of my absolute favorite songs.  It is by Josh Wilson.  It is amazing.

I am changing my life today.  God's gonna help me.  I am not surrendering to the depression, the jealousy, the poor-pitiful-me feeling anymore.  I am taking control of those things that I can control and I'm not waiting for those things to just clear up on their own.  I am going after the things I want and praying for guidance to help me instead of being filled with jealousy toward those that have what I want.  I'm not going to sit around and feel sorry for myself because I made mistakes in the past and I'm paying for them now.  No.  I'm going for it.

I honestly feel like God is telling me to write.  I've said this before, long ago, but also as recently as a few months ago.  And no one may ever read what I write but I feel like they will, eventually.  God has spoken to me more often lately and I think that is part of my struggle.  I have this overwhelming urge to sit at home and write all day instead of being in my classroom teaching.  But I can't do that.  So that causes depression, jealous feelings, and overall self pity because others are able to stay home and write, or do whatever it is they do.  But I have to work.

I just don't feel like my heart is in my classroom anymore and that causes another surge of emotions because I do like teaching and I love my subject area, Spanish.  So what do I do?  I change.

I made the first move tonight when I emailed the publishing company that offered me a contract a couple of years ago to publish one of my children's stories.  I signed the contract and sent a down payment but could not finish paying my author investment.  Life happened.  Family members who said they would help out with the cost failed to follow through.  But I made a move.  I am going to find out the status of that contract.  If the contract is void and I cannot continue to pay for the investment, I will take my manuscript elsewhere and enter every writing contest I can find.

I may have many sleepless nights ahead in my quest to live out my dreams but... "I refuse to sit around and wait for someone else..."

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."  Phillipians 4:13

Be blessed!

My new blog site

Well, after searching several times today, I cannot find the blog I created last year.  We have since changed email, moved, life happened...so, I created a new one!  I am hoping this will help me release some stress by being able to write about my crafts, my kids, my journey in life, my relationship with God, and whatever else I need to get off my chest on any given day.  I am hoping a few of you will follow so you can keep me accountable.  I have several goals for this year, 2012, and need to publicly announce those so I can get some support, some criticism when I fall behind or procrastinate, and some encouragement when I get to mark something off the list.

So, my goals for 2012 are:

to "Clear the Clutter" - physically in my house, financially, spiritually, emotionally, in every way possible.

to pay down my student loan debt.

to save our $1000 emergency fund (according to baby step 1 by Dave Ramsey)

to boost my art sales to help accomplish all the above goals.

to work on budgeting and meal planning to accomplish the above goals.


Thanks, friends.  Even if no one reads this or follows this, maybe it will be enough for me to know that it is out there on the world wide web and that someone might read it and maybe someone else is going through what I am going through.  We can help each other.  In every way I have started a "Clear the Clutter" campaign in the Charles family household.  We are 3 boys, 2 girls, happy family who love the Lord and know that it is through Him that we can do all things.  (Phil. 4:13)

Be blessed!