A Charlotte Mason Education Overview

Homeschooling.

The concept of teaching your kids at home conjures up lots of different images for people, especially since Covid-19 changed the education scene.

Prior to having kids of my own, I was never opposed to homeschooling, but it was never a passion of mine either.

Growing up, my schooling experience included:

• 6 years of homeschooling
• 6 years of Christian school (including high school)
• 4 years at the local public university to earn a degree in secondary math education

Each of my school experiences had different strengths and weaknesses. As a whole, each setting was a good experience.

Then Geoffrey and I became parents. It was now time to consider what we wanted for our own family.

We spent a lot of time discussing the pros and cons of different school options. At last we decided to homeschool our kids using the Charlotte Mason Method.

I’ve been researching the Charlotte Mason Method for a few years now and the more I learn, the more I love it.

The amount of information about this philosophy of education used to be scarce. Now there is a ton of information to sift through and it is easy to become overwhelmed.

In this post I will start with why the Charlotte Mason Method is an excellent fit for our family. Then I will share the big picture of what this type of education looks like for all 12 years.

Hello 2021!

An Update

Welcome back! It has been quite a while since I have written here. As I'm sure is true for you, last year looked nothing like I had expected. 

For us, 2020 included a crazy work year for Geoffrey, which led to longer days parenting by myself. I also added homeschooling my high school sister full-time this past year, which was a lot of fun and work.

Life has been busy and a bit upside down between Covid-19 and politics affecting our lives. Lord willing, a few changes this upcoming year will allow me to write more here.

Looking Forward

This year, my plan is to focus on 1) homeschooling with the Charlotte Mason method and 2) parenting. No promises that I will stick only to those two topics though. I already have a couple of pending posts that don't fit either of those categories. 

Parents, Redeem Today

Our baby son just turned one, so I'm finally emerging from a year of little sleep. The world outside our home is very topsy turvy these days.

I’ve been seeing a lot of posts with tips and resources for those who've been thrust into a stay-at-home parent role. Those things are good and helpful.

But I can’t shake the nagging thought that the biggest advantage of being a stay-at-home parent is being missed. And that advantage is how many opportunities you have in the mundane moments of life to invest in your kids’ souls.

If I could sit down with you right now I’d want to know how you’re doing. What has been hard? What things are scary? And how can I be praying for you?

But I’d also want to leave you encouraged that God is with you and plead with you to use the time with your kids wisely.

This week I keep coming back to two thoughts about how to redeem the time you have with your kids. These thoughts are what I want to share with you today. But first, a reality check.

An Update for 2019

Happy New Year friends! This month marks a year of blogging here for me. For those of you who have read anything I've posted - thank you! I've enjoyed writing posts about topics that I care about.

If you are subscribed and haven't already mentioned it to me, please comment or shoot me an email. I would love to personally thank you.

At some point, I may look at my subscriber names. But to-date I haven't, so it's always a fun surprise when someone mentions enjoying a post. I'm very grateful for the feedback and input I've received thus far.

Special shout out to my wonderful husband Geoffrey! God has given him the gift of being concise and articulate when he communicates. As such, numerous posts I've written have been refined by his feedback. This blog would not exist without his support and encouragement.

Given this is my blog's anniversary month, I want to give a quick update and share what you can expect this year.

Domestic Engineering: Taming Toy-Tornadoes

Some days my kids get overwhelmed and ask for my help cleaning up but I selfishly don’t.

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Other days I remember it’s not about my own agenda and I help them clean up.

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Every day provides opportunities to model Christ’s selfless service to my kids.

As we head into the new year, this post will conclude the Domestic Engineering Series. Today we are tackling the issue of kids’ toys.

I’ll be sharing four steps to help keep them from overrunning your house. Then we will conclude with a couple of unique exceptions.

Reality Check

I would like to say that I handle toy chaos well. I don't. One of my biggest struggles is being patient when our house is a mess of toys.

After playtime I want my kids to clean up right away with a good attitude. I believe this is what I should train them to do. But when they're overwhelmed, I also have an opportunity to be selfless and help them. Often I fail at doing this.

The following ideas have helped minimize toy-tornadoes. But they don’t address my heart attitude of selfishness. There are days I want to throw out all my kids' toys to end the regular messes. When this is my attitude, I’m valuing my own ease over blessing my kids.

While I hope these ideas will serve you in caring for your family, they won’t bring ultimate peace and joy. That can only come from the Lord.

Four Steps to Taming Toy-Tornadoes

Alright, now let's get practical. The easiest way to eliminate toy-tornadoes is to get rid of toys. I often use our container and drawers limits to help us reduce our toys. After that, I've found that rotating them really helps minimize the clutter.

Domestic Engineering: Maintaining the Mess Hall

Some days I respond impatiently when my kids spill food or interrupt my work in the kitchen.

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Other days I see those inconveniences as opportunities to show them grace and to train them.

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Every day my solid hope is Christ and one day feasting with him.

mess hall (noun)

A room or building where groups of people, especially soldiers, eat together.

- The Oxford Dictionary 

The rooms where food is prepared and consumed in massive quantities. Often, these rooms are strewn with crumbs, sticky liquids, and dirty dishes.

- The Heather Schultz Dictionary

Ever feel like keeping your kitchen clean is a constant battle? I do.

There's a direct correlation in my life between the smoothness of a day and the cleanliness of our eating areas. If my day has been tumultuous, you will find my kitchen in disarray.

Perfect days don't happen. I'm finite, sinful, and the effects of sin impact every area of life. But I have discovered several helpful ways to push back the consequences of the fall in my kitchen.

In this post, I'm going to share ten easy tips on how to keep your "mess halls" clean with your kids' help.

Domestic Engineering: Keeping Bathrooms Tidy

Some days I prioritize a tidy home over my relationships with my family.

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Other days I know a tidy home serves my family but my relationship with them is most important.

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Every day I need God's help to prioritize loving him and others before myself.

Towels, toothpaste, and toilets. In our home, the appearance of our bathrooms varies greatly by the hour. As a result, I've sought to keep things simple in maintaining them.

Reality Check

I'm often tempted to respond unkindly when my kids undo my cleaning efforts. As such, I often have to apologize and confess my desire to have things be the way I want them to be.

Keeping my home tidy is something I'm striving to grow in because it does make our home more restful. But it will never give me peace, even if I do achieve "Home Show Perfection" status.

Only Christ is (and ever will be) the one who can give me lasting peace. Because he is near I have freedom from disquieting thoughts. Not because a bathroom mirror remains fingerprint free for more than an hour.

I regularly have to remind myself of the following passage:

"The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:5b–7, emphasis added

Today we are tackling tips for maintaining and cleaning bathrooms. Both sections will include suggestions on how to involve your kids. Then we'll wrap up with some favorite audio resources I use during cleaning sessions.

Domestic Engineering: All Things Laundry

Some days I grumble and complain about how huge Mount Laundry has become.

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Other days I’m thankful for Mount Laundry because it represents sharing life with my family.

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Every day doing laundry is a way to love and care for my family.

Today we are doing a broad overview of managing laundry with little ones in the home.

Include Your Kids

From the age of two on I've started including our kids in tackling laundry. My tentative goal is for them to be able to do their own laundry by the age of eight. Here are three easy ways to help train your kids:

1. Have them collect and sort the dirty laundry by white, light, and dark clothing.
2. Allow them to start the washer or dryer, transfer the clothes into the dryer, and clean the lint filter.
3. Have them sort the clean clothes. Then teach them how to fold the laundry starting with the simplest items like towels and shorts.

Reality Check

Before I share four strategies for doing laundry well, we are going to do a reality check. The following picture is what “staying on top of laundry” looked like last week in our home.

Sometimes life just happens. A kiddo has an accident in bed. You have an unexpected visit to the pediatrician. Your husband is out of town so you’re extra tired. The list of reasons could go on for why you've fallen behind on laundry.

I'm confident I will never perfectly stay on top of laundry. But the following four areas have helped simplify the process for me.

Domestic Engineering: Decluttering 101

Some days I throw out items without considering my family.

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Other days I ask my family for help and input on how to store the things they value.

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Every day is an opportunity to die to self and consider how to bless my family.

Clutter: a collection of things lying about in an untidy mass. - The Oxford Dictionary

Clutter is my daily challenge in managing our home. When I’m on top of it, the rest of my household chores are easier to do. When I am not, our home feels chaotic.

Staying on top of clutter is one way I am able to serve my husband. When our home is orderly we know where things are and it makes our home more peaceful.

It's also an opportunity to train my girls. We regularly discuss how cleaning up after ourselves is a way to love and bless others.

Cleaning the home falls into a "Medium Rock" for me. Yet there are aspects of it that directly serve my family (one of my "Big Rocks"). A tidy and orderly home is my goal, not an immaculate one.

For today's post, we are going to discuss the two steps to decluttering.

Domestic Engineering: The Big Picture of Chores

Some days I rush to get lots of tasks done and end up doing a poor job on all of them.

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Other days I remember that I'm to do my best and be content with what I get done.

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Every day the Lord's love for me is based on Christ's work and not my own performance.

Welcome back! We are about to hit the ground level practicals of household chores.

Today will be the broad overview of chores and subsequent posts will focus in on different areas.

My goal is to include 3-4 of the following in each post:

• The How-To: Practical tips I've found when researching or picking friends' brains. 
• Include Your Kids: Suggestions on how to get your children involved.
• Reality Checks: Little examples of how real life might differ from the ideals.
• Favorite Resources: Helpful finds that encourage me to pursue loving my family well by managing my home well in the area of chores.

So without further ado let's talk about the big picture of chores.

Domestic Engineering: Prioritizing Your Day with Time Blocking

Some days I try to control every aspect of my day to get my agenda done.

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Other days I plan my day with the goal of loving my family.

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Every day the Lord directs my steps in his perfect wisdom.

Last post I discussed how to create a daily time budget. Time blocking is a tool I started using this year to help me both simplify and schedule my days. Thus far it has proven to be my most effective time management tool.

Today we are going to talk about how to finish planning your typical day. Even though these steps are simple, that doesn't mean they are quick. Give yourself time to figure out what works for you.

The Two-Step Process

One of the reasons I love time blocking is because it's flexible enough to work for any season of life. The image below shows where we concluded in my last post. As you can see, I have three windows with several 30-minute blocks. Filling those windows is where my two-step process comes in.

  

Domestic Engineering: Creating a Daily Time Budget

Some days I try my utmost to make my family serve the schedule I've created for the day.

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Other days I use our routines and schedule to serve my family.

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Every day I am called to sacrificially love and serve my family no matter how the day goes.

Time blocking has become my new favorite way of planning my days. Over the past few years, I have planned my day into three segments: morning, afternoon, and evening. Since adding a third kiddo to our family, this system has not been working.

In this season of life, it seems like someone is always in need of my attention. Maybe that's because there is. With so many things competing for every minute of my day, I needed a plan. Developing a method for how I should spend my time has been super helpful.

In this post, I will explain what time blocking is and how to create a daily time budget in three steps. But before that, here are six reasons why I love it.

1. It saves me brain space by simplifying our days.
2. It allows me to build routines into our day so I can train our kids in good habits. 
3. It helps ensure that cleaning does happen. 
4. It brings clarity to the idea that saying "yes" to one thing also means saying "no" to a lot of other things.
5. It gives variety to the day, making long days feel manageable. 
6. Most importantly, it helps me steward my time by helping me focus on my "Big Rocks". 

Time Blocking: The Basics

Time blocking is where you create a daily time budget for how you will spend your time. Your schedule is based on increments of time instead of specific tasks. When that time runs up you have two options:

1. Be content with what you got done during that time and move on to the next activity. 
2. Continue what you're doing, knowing you are taking away time from the other things you have planned to do. 

Domestic Engineering: Figure Out Your Big Rocks

Some days I get caught up in urgent but unimportant tasks.

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Other days I am able to discern what I should devote my time to.

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Every day I need the Holy Spirit’s help to use my time wisely.

When Geoffrey and I got married I tried to run our home the way my mom did. She made it look easy. I felt like I was drowning. Our first year of marriage involved several hard circumstances. Working 60-70 hours a week for my first year of teaching was one of them.

I remember sharing with a friend that I couldn’t seem to stay on top of things like my mom was able to. She kindly pointed out two things to me:

1. We were in very different seasons of life.
2. My mom made it look easy because for her it was. She has had more than my entire lifetime to figure out what works for her.

The Big Rocks 

During our first year of marriage, Geoffrey sat down with me to discuss all the things I was overwhelmed by. From that conversation, he discerned my need for clear parameters. The result was a list of big, medium, and small rocks to help me know how I should be spending my time. If you haven’t heard of putting “big rocks first” this video explains the concept well.

What I am going to share here is our convictions about what God would have me focus on. This list is based on our current understanding of Scripture and our current season of life. 

While there will likely be some overlap for you, no one is in the exact same circumstances. Different life circumstances and factors affect what takes precedence in our lives. For us, my priorities are as follows:

Domestic Engineering: Productivity During the Early Years

Some days I get angry when I am unable to complete what I set out to do.

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Other days I recognize my limitations and am able to accept them as a good gift from the Lord.

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Every day God is using my circumstances, strengths, and weaknesses to make me more like him.

Checklists: some people hate them, some people love them. I definitely fall into the latter group of people. To this day, I will write tasks I've already completed on any given day simply to be able to check them off. I love feeling productive.

Then the Lord blessed us with children. Having three kids in less than four years has redefined productivity for me. About every three months, our family dynamics change. Immobile, sitting up, crawling, walking, talking. The rate at which children grow and change in the first few years is mind-boggling.

Our baby turned a year this past April. As I look back on the last few years, I've decided I have four stages of productivity in this season of young kids. It looks something like this:

PREGNANCY

• Brain Status: Processing all information at quarter speed. 
• Physical Status: Feeling like I've been trying to run a marathon even though I've simply gone from the bedroom to the kitchen. 
• Goals: Keep the family clothed and fed, take a prenatal vitamin, drink lots of water, and try to keep the bathroom clean. 
• Concern about Productivity: None.
• Reality of Life: Surviving. 

Hoping in God (When Trials Seem Pointless)

Some days I get discouraged and overwhelmed at how hard life is.

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Other days I am comforted that God uses difficult circumstances to make me holy. 

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Every day God is sovereign and ordaining each step I take.

Have you ever cried out, “What’s the point?” or “Why is this happening to me?” during a season of suffering? In the midst of trials, it can be difficult to appreciate that there might be a benevolent purpose to the pain.

My natural inclination is to view trials as being pointless. It's easy for me to get caught up in trying to figure out how I can change my situation to maximize my own comfort and ease.

Now, please hear me on this. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with desiring to ease suffering. But, I do believe that I miss opportunities for growth in godliness if I am only focused on my circumstances.

While suffering is a consequence of sin, Scripture is emphatic that it is not meaningless. Here are four purposes the Bible talks about that I need to be reminded of in the midst of hardships.

1. Affliction is to help me know God's Word.

"This is my comfort in my affliction,
that your promise gives me life...
Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I keep your word...
It is good for me that I was afflicted,
that I might learn your statutes."
Psalm 119:50, 67, 71

Look at how David views and sees God at work. He sees his affliction as good! Trials lead him to know God's Word intimately and to live in obedience to it. God's promises in turn comfort him and give him life! It is in the Lord's presence that there is fullness of joy - not in the presence of ease and prosperity.

Reminders I Need Lately

Some days I live each moment based on how I’m feeling about my circumstances.
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Other days I remember my feelings simply reveal what my heart loves.

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Every day I’m to renew my mind with God’s truth and my feelings will appropriately follow.

Geoffrey is off work this week so we are enjoying an early summer vacation with lots of family time. It has been wonderful having time to slow down, reflect, talk, and laugh together.

Earlier today I told Geoffrey I don’t want to return back to normal life next week. As he graciously took the time to draw me out, I realized how self-focused my reasons were. I have been focusing on my feelings and desires instead of having my thoughts informed by God’s Word.

So, this post is primarily an exercise for myself to renew my mind with God’s truths. My hope is that at least one of these twelve truths encourages you. Thanks for reading!

REMINDERS I NEED WHEN I AM...

WEARY
Am I bringing my struggles to my all-powerful God? Or am I trying to do everything in my own strength?

“Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, ‘My way is hidden from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my God’? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31, emphasis added

DOING GREAT
Am I still seeking to grow in knowing God and being dependent upon him? Or am I living as if God doesn’t exist because life is currently easy?

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

LONELY
Am I reminding myself of God’s faithfulness or wallowing in self-pity?

“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18

Hoping in God (During Trials and Tears)

Some days I get angry at all the suffering in the world and harden myself against the hurt and pain.

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Other days I experience peace from the Lord as I pour out my heart to him. 

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Every day God is my refuge whose steadfast love never ceases. 

The last few weeks have been difficult, as my dear uncle passed away at the beginning of April. God graciously regenerated his heart less than two weeks before he went to be with the Lord. I experienced overwhelming joy and conviction when I read the text that he had repented. How often do I ask God to do something and assume I already know his answer?

That same weekend, another precious girl went to be with the Lord. She fought valiantly against cancer three times. Her memorial service was heart-wrenching, beautiful, and Christ-exalting. Through her life, thousands of people have heard the gospel.

A friend has a miscarriage. Another friend struggles to get pregnant. A third friend's baby has health complications. Sometimes life can be really, really hard.

Yesterday I was reading Stuart Little to my older girls and a situation came up that made my oldest nervous. She immediately wanted to know what was going to happen. I assured her that I already knew the outcome and it would all be fine.

The Lord kindly reminded me in that the moment that He also knows the final outcome. While we don't see the full picture of what he is doing, he does.

I need to be reminded of God's truth. I need to remember He is near and at work in the midst of my tears. My prayer is that this list of things I do (very imperfectly) during trials helps lifts your eyes to the Lord.


1. Pour out my heart to the Lord.

"For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah"
Psalm 62:5-8

This is one of my favorite passages in Scripture. There are so many comforting descriptors of who God. He is my hope, rock, salvation, fortress, glory, mighty rock, and refuge! This tells me he is powerful, strong, unchanging, and all-sufficient. He is also tender and compassionate as he tells me to lay my soul bare before him.

Handling Your Bills: What's Your Heart Motive?

Some days I make a list of things I need to change to fix my failures in handling our money.
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Other days I repent of loving myself, more than God.
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Every day only God can change my heart and he delights in doing so when I humble myself.

This is the last post for this series about finances. If you have stuck with me this far, thank you! My respect for people who write books has gone up significantly since starting this blog.

Before concluding with some heart considerations, I want to share a brief story:

Once there was a young mom whose mother picked up some groceries for her. When an item was incorrect, and as a result more expensive, that young mom got angry. Instead of being grateful for the help, she allowed anger to grow in her heart. As a result, she ended up speaking harshly with her own daughter for making a silly mistake.

If you haven't guessed it already, I'm the young mom in the story. I'm sharing it because it is often with some trepidation that I write these posts. I'm quick to love money and put my hope in it, instead of loving others. While my desire is to live in a way that honors God, I consistently don't, which is why I need a Savior.

I also know that most people reading this blog don't get to see my daily life. The last thing I want is for any of my readers to think I have it all together. I don't. But God does, which is why I try to regularly remind myself of his truths when I write these posts.

Who or What Should I Live For?

One of my favorite Scriptures is 2 Corinthians 5:14-15:

"For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised."

Depending on the day, I am tempted to either wallow in guilt over my sin or dismiss it as not being a big deal. I love how this passage addresses each of these sinful tendencies with the same solution: focus on loving Christ. As I focus my gaze on Christ's faithfulness, I lift my eyes from myself to the one who will never fail. It's his perfect love that is to fuel and inform my obedience.

God is uniquely doing a good work in the lives of each of his children so that he will be made much of. The examples and suggestions I've shared throughout this series, are just that - examples and suggestions. While your life is different than mine, God's truth still applies to everyone.

The following questions are ones I've asked to check my heart attitude towards money. My prayer is that they encourage you to evaluate your own heart and life in light of Scripture. And then, when you realize how short we all fall of what God desires, I pray that you will flee to Christ.

Handling Your Bills: Simple Ways to Spend Less

Some days I'm filled with guilt over the way I fail to love God by being stingy with our finances.
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Other days I am overwhelmed with gratefulness that God loves me knowing my every sin.
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Every day God sees me as righteous because Christ was perfectly generous and selfless.

Last week I shared some strategies of how to save money when grocery shopping. Today, I'm going to share a few more ideas that go beyond the grocery budget. As you will see noted below, I don't do everything listed, so I don't expect you to either. I'm sharing this list because either I, or others I know, have found these ideas helpful when budgeting. 

A quick note: it's completely possible to do (or not do) any of these suggestions in a manner that dishonors God. The most important thing is to have your spending be informed by Scripture. Please take the time to study God's Word on your own. Let your own practices flow out of the convictions you develop from meditating on God's Word, not from something you read on a blog.

And now, onto some final ideas of how to save money.

A Few Simple Ways to Spend Less

1. If you're feeling overwhelmed with budgeting. Start small!

Create a grocery and/or clothing budget for you to keep track of first. As you practice being disciplined, it does get easier. Once you feel comfortable budgeting for one area of life, simply bring another area into the budgeting practice.

Handling Your Bills: The Grocery Budget - Part 2

Some days I self-righteously judge others' "wasteful" spending habits. 

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Other days I remember that I have been forgiven much and am to exalt Christ, not myself.
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Every day I have peace because of Christ's righteousness, not my perceived self-righteousness.

Welcome back! Last post I discussed how I budget for groceries. I've decided to narrow in on groceries because I believe it is one of the easiest ways to cut back on spending. Today, I am going to share the things I do to help save money when shopping for groceries. If you aren't sure how Scripture can inform your grocery budget, please read the following posts:

• The Grocery Budget - Part 1
• What Scripture Has to Say About Money

As I compiled this list I was surprised at how many things I do. For me they are easy, BUT I have added these over the past nine years. When we first got married it was a successful grocery shopping trip if I found the vinegar aisle on my first attempt :) I was also working full time and did not have time to do some of the things listed below. Start small and implement one strategy for a couple months (or longer) until you feel like you have the hang of it. Did I mention start small?

Okay, onto the list. I tried to list these in order of how I added them for myself. I am easily overwhelmed so I started with the ideas that seemed simplest.

Handling Your Bills: The Grocery Budget - Part 1

Some days I sinfully take pride in how I am able to manage our grocery budget.

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Other days I remember that every good thing I have is from the Lord.
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Every day is an opportunity to be thankful for the countless ways God has blessed me.

I'm one of those weird people who enjoys the challenge of living on a small grocery budget. I also love research, and it turns out Pinterest has unending ideas of how to live frugally. While a lot of what I have found is helpful, I try to keep things simple so that my brain doesn't hurt.

Today, I will explain the budgeting aspect of how I track our grocery spending each month. In the next post, I will list several strategies I use to help keep our grocery budget small. I'm focusing in on groceries because it is one of the areas we have the most control over. Plus, everybody eats, so this has to apply to you somehow :)

The Monthly Budget Dilemma

I originally started off having a set amount of grocery money for each month. The problem I ran into was that my spending was not balanced. By the end of the month I was struggling to stay in budget. I knew there had to be a better option.

Handling Your Bills: Creating a Budget - Part 2

Some days I pridefully don't tell my husband when I am struggling with our finances.

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Other days I remember that my husband can't care for me if I don't tell him when and how I'm struggling.

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Every day our marriage is to be a reflection of the unity between Christ and his bride.

Welcome back! This post is about to jump into the nitty gritty of creating a budget. Before you begin, please read the preceding two posts in this series as they inform what's to come in this post:

• What Scripture Has to Say About Money
• Creating a Budget - Part 1

Being United with Your Spouse

"Two practical steps can greatly help us get a grip on our spending: recording expenditures and making a budget. These steps will help us detect problem areas by clarifying our spending habits. This will improve our mental and marital health because financial disorder is one of the leading causes of personal and familial stress." 

~ Randy Alcorn, It Matters How We Handle God's Money 

From the research I've done, the consensus seems to be that it works best for one person to manage the budget. For several of my friends, this is what their husbands do. If that's the case for you, my appeal to you is to make sure you could take over the finances, if need be. I'm convinced it's wise to be able to do so because we don't know what tomorrow holds.

For Geoffrey and I, this means he knows what programs I use to track our budget because I'm the one that spends more time "in the weeds." We both have complete access to all our bank accounts. We also have a gmail account that forwards to both our personal emails. All our bills are set up with this email address. This allows Geoffrey to see what the bills are and when I pay them. Additionally, either of us can easily reset any passwords to access our accounts.

Okay, so now that I've tried to persuade you to at least be able to do your budget, if need be, let's get down to business.

Handling Your Bills: Creating a Budget - Part 1

Some days I am ruled by our budget and get anxious when things aren't going like I planned.
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Other days I remember our budget is a tool to help us honor the Lord.
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Every day God gives me exactly what I need to make me more like him.

Today we are going to talk about how to create a budget. Last week's post was on what Scripture has to say about money. If you haven't already read it, please read it now, as it sets the foundation for why budgeting is important.

A Few Reminders

Before going over how to create a budget, there are three things I want you to remember:

1. A budget is meant to serve, not rule, your family. 

There will be months where things outside of your control happen and your budget is shot for the month. There will also be months where you fail at spending your money wisely and go over budget. Both scenarios are opportunities to meditate on God's truth and remind yourself of his sovereignty, goodness, and grace.

2. A budget is simply a plan.

You are spending your money on paper before the month begins. Give it at least three months to start working. It won't be perfect the first time you do it. This article has a lot of helpful guidelines and suggestions.

3. Do your budget with your spouse!

I can't emphasize this point enough. God is honored when we are unified with our spouse and seeking to live in obedience to Scripture. This won't be possible without discussing your goals and convictions about finances together.

Now that we've got those things in mind, lets discuss the first step of creating a budget.

Handling Your Bills: What Scripture Has to Say About Money

Some days I live like God doesn't exist when it comes to my finances.

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Other days I remember I am a steward of the finances God has blessed us with.

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Every day God has apportioned my lot allowing me to rest in His goodness.

This month we are switching topics to another subject I love - *cue huge nerd alert here* - finances! Specifically, seeking to live within one's income in a God-honoring way.

If you missed last month's posts you can read them here: discussing how to grow in knowing God. I have a few more posts to add to that series so there will be more down the road, but for now we are going to talk about money.

Quick shout out to my husband, Geoffrey, for the 'punny' series title!  I'm hoping at least a couple of my readers appreciated it ;)

Before beginning, I want to make it clear that I do NOT have this all figured out. While I'm going to share Scriptures that Geoffrey and I seek to live our lives by, I do this very imperfectly. My heart is quick to covet what others have and to be anxious that God's provision won't be there tomorrow.

The couple posts following this one will be focused on the "how-to's" of budgeting. My goal is for the practical outworking of my life to be informed by God's Word. Hence, this post being first. So without further ado, here are seven principles I find helpful to consider:

1. I am to wisely use the money God has given me and will be held accountable for what I do with it.
In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus shares the parable of the talents. If you haven't read it before, please read it now, even if it means not finishing reading this post :) The finances God has given us are from him and are to be used for him. This truth informs why Geoffrey and I take the time to create a budget and occasionally revisit it.

Growing in Knowing God (When There Are Constant Interruptions)

Some days I don't read my Bible because it seems impossible to do so without being interrupted.

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Other days I read my Bible knowing I'll be interrupted, but that it's still worthwhile.

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Every day God and his Spirit are at work in my feeble attempts to draw closer to him.

Once upon a time there, was a college girl who loved to study Scripture. Her time in the Word was consistent and uninterrupted.

Then she got married and eventually had three sweet, noisy, and talkative daughters. The childless bubble of serene quiet times was broken. Quiet times were no longer quiet.

I used to think my devotional time had to be for at least thirty minutes. I also needed to be completely focused for that time to be worthwhile.

God in his kindness has since shown me that he is more than able to provide for me when this doesn't happen.

Here are four things that help me persevere in reading my Bible when it feels futile.

Growing in Knowing God (When You Are Exhausted)

Some days I don't read my Bible because I'm exhausted and desperate for sleep.

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Other days I read my Bible knowing my ultimate peace and rest is found in God.

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Every day God delights in quieting me with his love because I am his child.

I used to think I knew what being tired felt like. Then I had kids. Having three daughters in under four years has made me appreciate sleep at a whole new level.

There are certain seasons where coherent thoughts seem nonexistent. Yes, first trimester, third trimester, and newborn stage, I’m talking about you. If you are in the midst of some serious sleep deprivation, may I suggest you choose a Psalm to meditate on?

I am a huge proponent of women knowing Scripture well through studying books of the Bible. But there are certain times where I make an exception to my normal Bible study habits. That exception is when I'm in a season of exhaustion.

Growing in Knowing God (When You Don't Have Time)

Some days I don't read my Bible because I'm persuaded I don't have time for it.

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Other days I read my Bible because I'm intensely aware of how much I need God's wisdom and help.

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Every day God has perfectly ordained my circumstances to make me more like him.

"I will get to it later."

"I just don't have time today."

"Once I get the laundry and dishes done, then I will sit down to read and pray."

Any of those thoughts sound familiar? "Not having enough time," comes in as the number one excuse I make for not sitting down daily to read my Bible and pray.

I had hoped to start this blog at the beginning of the year. God had different plans.

We had a month of random health issues beginning at Christmas causing our normal life to come to a bit of a halt. Although I would never choose for my kids to be sick, I'm grateful for the perspective that time gave me.

Turns out my long list of to-do's and cleaning projects wasn't as urgent as I had made it out to be. The goal of this blog is to consider how to wisely build my home. But the truth is that all my work is in vain without the Lord working in and through me.

The Scriptures and quote below are here because they're truths I need to be reminded of regularly. My prayer is that they'll encourage you to press in to know the Lord. Not because it's something Christians should do, but because God is good and faithful (even when we are not).

Without further ado, here are five of my favorite reminders of why I need to prioritize daily time with the Lord.