A Project of Epic Proportions {Resources for Roles}

If you haven't been here yet, welcome to the Project of Epic Proportions!!!!  Even though we have about seven weeks behind us, I still have a lot to organize!  I'm not even done with my first binder!  If you are lost or need to get caught up you can catch the previous posts on The Home Management Binder via The Challenge, The Supplies, Contacts, Medical, Account Info, Calendar,  and Budget and Bills.

This week there will only be one or two printouts.  The main thing this week is to look at all the excess paperwork around your house that doesn't seem to have a home and make a home for it.

Mine started out looking like this (and this is after creating all those other sections)...

and ended up looking like this....

Those are all my binders; but not one of them is near complete.  They have all been started in some way, but all need some work!

Most of the paperwork I pick up are flyers, or handouts that I am given, on things that pertain to my roles in life.  IE Parenting, Marriage, Spiritual Life, Homeschool.

Passionate Homemaking best explains the purpose of this section, "I order my binder by roles (wife, mother, homemaker, writer, etc.) and put them in order of their priority in my day, thus my binder acts as a constant reminder of what I really want to focus on. Within each section, you may jot down goals, books to read, ways to grow in that area, and printables you find to help you schedule and plan."

I figured the best way to organize these was to make one large category called "Resources" and then break it down into different sections.  Again, this is my first go around at all of this so I might change the name of it or where I'm putting all these in the future..but for now..here they are. 

Some printables that you might want to consider putting in one of your sections:

• Book List by Finding Home.  Some like a book list in each of these sections to list the books you want to read pertaining to that role.  You might just want one "Master" book list.
• Book Wishlist by Life Your Way.
• Bible Study by Life Your Way.
• Devotion Guide by Our Portion.  This is a form I made based upon a class we had at our church in Texas.  The questions that are listed really help me to look at a passage of Scripture and break it down to see what it is I need to learn/apply.
• Bible Verses by Life Your Way.  Have a verse that stood out to you?  Or one that you would like to memorize?  Here's a place for it!
• Prayer Journal by Life Your Way.  This is a form to keep track of your prayer requests, and the date that prayer was answered. 
• Prayer by Our Portion.  Pretty much a blank page, but a place for you to write down your prayers if you want.  Just write in a date, stop where you want to and continue where you left off.
• Family Traditions by Life Your Way.  This would be a great place to keep those ideas that you want to turn into traditions for your family.
• Inspirational Quotes by Life Your Way.  A place to keep those quotes that inspire you to be a better wife, mom, etc!
• Lined Notes by Life Your Way.  A blank page perfect for all your extra thoughts!

My Old/New Frustration {Some Steam Involved}

So, if some of you remember last April (2011) my back decided one night after driving home from church that it was tired and didn't feel like functioning like it should.  I had trouble getting out of the car and I ended up having to "drop" Blaine down into his crib cause I couldn't bend over.  After a few visits to my local chiropractor I able to move again, and for the most part back to "normal".  Since it wasn't in our budget to go as often as they wanted me to I normally held out as long as I could and then went in for an adjustment. 

I think my last adjustment was in August of 2011.  I've had some problems here and there since we've moved, but if I waited about a week it would seem to settle down.  About a month ago I started having problems again.  Don't know why.  Just did.

About a week prior I had been at the Clinic to see my doctor and she gave me a referral for the Physical Therapy office that is on post.  I wasn't having back pain at the time, but wanted to try and be prepared for when it came.  I made an appointment to see him and got in about a week after my pain started.  It has been about five weeks and I have been to see him 3 times.  He gave me one specific stretch to do 5-6 times a day, 10 repetitions each. 

I originally went in with pain in my lower back and to the right.  This is generally where it shows up.  The stretches seemed to have taken care of that problem, but after doing them consistently for about a week it seemed to create a new, more painful pain.  The last time I saw him, about a week and a half ago, on a Monday.  I told him that I thought my pain had changed and it was moving more south to the lower of my lower back and even down into my tailbone area.  I had started having trouble standing up after sitting down for more than 30 seconds at a time.  My back locks up and it takes me a minute to stand up straight before I can even take a step.  (No jumping up quickly for anything/anyone!)  He encouraged me to keep up with the stretches and that my back locking up is my body's way of warning me and that I needed to stretch more. 

Advice taken and I went home and continued with my stretches as often as I could.  By Wednesday, I had pains shooting down my left leg whenever I stood or walked.  I could almost immediately feel my back tighten up anytime I sat down.  I had trouble getting my pants on, getting in and out of the shower, rolling over, etc.  I couldn't sit through the sermon on Sunday.  We sat in the back knowing that I would have to probably stand up for part of it.  Prior, I could find some comfort in lying down, but by Thursday/Friday, the pain was constant and there was no relief in anything.  Two nights I cried myself to sleep, begging/praying for God to take the pain from me if it be His will.  Many nights I've gone from bed, to couch, to bed trying to get comfortable and praying to fall back asleep.

This past Sunday, I stopped doing the stretches.  I noticed a significant difference Monday morning.  The pain isn't gone.  I still have trouble going from sitting to a standing position.  I still have some pain shooting down my leg, that occasionally causes me to walk with a limp.  The pain is still constant and is starting to wear on me.  I'm exhausted!  (That could be in part to normal 1st trimester tiredness as well.)

I have also been trying my best to search out other options the last two weeks.  I finally received my medical records, x-rays from my chiropractor in Texas.  From asking around, there is no local German chiropractor.  I had heard that there was a Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) stationed at the Clinic here in Bamberg.  A Doctor of Osteopathy has the ability to do spinal adjustments.  I had tracked him down and was praying that this was my answer.  I got an appointment with my doctor on Monday to hopefully get the referral to see this D.O.  I must have been exhausted and overwhelmed cause the second the nurse asked me how long ago my pain started..I started bawling.  Bawled my eyes out in front of two nurses and my doctor.  :)

And it didn't get better.  The D.O. won't touch me cause I'm pregnant.  Bawling continues.  My  doctor pretty much gave me three options.  1.  Take Tylenol and use some topical rub.  2.  If the pain got to be unbearable, I could go to the Klinikum (the German hospital) and they could hospitalize me.  3.  Hope that my OB can refer me to someone that can help me (which I had also previously considered as an option). 

So right now, I am still praying and holding onto the hope that my OB will know someone that is willing to work with me.  I'm willing to drive a few hours too!  And I don't care if they don't speak English!  I can find someone to go with me to translate if needed.  I had been putting off scheduling my first OB appointment since I'm still so early in my pregnancy, but after my appointment with my doctor I went ahead and called to schedule.  I have an appointment this coming Monday.

I think overall, it's so frustrating knowing that all I need is ONE adjustment!!!  I just need to find that one person who is willing/trained to touch a pregnant person.  While chiropractors seem as common as churches in the states, I can't seem to find one over here.  I really hope my OB knows someone! 

I also went ahead and scheduled another appointment with the Physical Therapy guy as well.  Maybe he can give me a different stretch for me to do.  I've googled a few myself and one seems to help some, so we'll see how that goes.

Other options we've considered.....I've looked into getting a massage just hoping it might move things gently back into place.  You have to be between month 3 and month 7 for a massage.  I'm still a few weeks shy of month 3.  This next idea is crazy, but it has crossed my mind, and Tim even suggested it this morning.  Buying a ticket and flying home to get an adjustment.  Craziness, right?!  Probably not really an option, but that seems to be where we are in our desperate-ness.

I am getting weary and worn out.  I am fed-up with the constant pain and not being able to perform my daily tasks!

A Project of Epic Proportions {Budget and Bills}

If you are lost or need to get caught up you can catch the previous posts on The Home Management Binder via The Challenge, The Supplies, Contacts, Medical, Account Info, and Calendar.

There isn't a whole lot to this week.  Mainly, due to the fact that I run our budget on an Excel Spreadsheet. I already have the formulas created so all I have to do is hit in the new numbers every pay day and it calculates everything for me. I've used it for the last few months, and love it! I won't be changing that part of it, but I still wanted a list to refer to every pay day to make sure that I paid what I was supposed to. Plus, if Tim ever has to take over, this will be an easy reference for him to look at. 

If you are looking for budget sheets to go in your binder The Nest Effect has them for sale in her Etsy Shop.  You can buy a few of the pages individually for $3.50 each or her entire Finance Packet for $20.00.  All of her pages are based off of Dave Ramsey's Program. 

• Bill Pay by Life Your Way. A Simple Checklist with the Payee, the Balance, the Amount Due, the Due date, and a little box to check off when you have paid it.
• Bills and Payments by Our Portion. Another simple checklist that includes space for the due date, the company/account name, amount, how the bill is received (ie electronically, thru the mail), how the bill is paid (ie automatic debit, bill pay, via check) and a box to check off each month that you paid the item. If for whatever reason you have to make a payment twice in one month, just split the month's box in half.

I am still undecided as to where exactly I will be putting this page.  I don't really want to create a whole section just for this one sheet.  It may go under accounts, but I'm not entirely sure. 

A Project of Epic Proportions {Calendar}

Ok.  This is where things might start getting a little bit harry.  I've completed all the weeks that I deemed simple.  Simple because I knew what I needed in those specific sections.  The rest is starting to get a little fuzzy.  Some things will rely on other things that aren't done yet...so trying to figure out where to go next has been difficult.  Hang with me though...I'm still going to be giving you lots of good stuff.  This week we will be working on the Calendar section.

If you are lost or need to get caught up you can catch the previous posts on The Home Management Binder via The Challenge, The Supplies, Contacts, Medical, and Account Info.

 

I have a general idea of what I want in this section, but not sure how practically it will play out.   I anticipate this being my most used section.  I'm just not exactly sure how to get everything I want in there.  I would like to have a general monthly overview, and detailed daily sheets that I can include our Homeschool Plans, Meal Plans, Cleaning Lists, etc. in them.....I think.  I will probably start with more than I need and then hopefully narrow it down to what works best for me.  At this point, I won't be making anything of my own (except one) because I want to see what I need first. 

I definitely don't know what you need either.  There will be lots of links on everything that I can think of that I might/you might want in your Calendar section somewhere/somehow.  Good luck!!

Monthly:  I like a monthly view so I can mark down holidays, appointments that are scheduled a few months out, etc.

• 2012 Calendar by Life Your Way
• 2013 Calendar by Life Your Way 
• 2012 Calendar by The Nest Effect. 
• Birthday's and Special Events by Our Portion.  This is the only one I made because I knew what and where I wanted it.  I have been HORRIBLE with birthday cards for the last 2 years!  I blame it on my 3rd child, but I really want to change my bad habit.  With every monthly calendar I will have a list of birthday's and Special events for that month.  On the bottom of the page will be one of Avery's Pocket Tab's.  At the beginning of every month..or two I can complete cards for whatever needed and put them in the pocket.  I can then add a little note to my weekly or daily calendar, just pull it out and mail it.  The list/page itself can transfer from year to year.
• Birthday Organizer by Life Your Way. Just in case you don't want it month by month like the one I made. This one has six months on one sheet.

Weekly: If you aren't Homeschooling or generally don't have a daily schedule, a weekly overview might work better for you.

• Weekly Overview by Life Your Way
• Master Weekly Checklists by Simple Mom.
• Week At a Glance by Mommy Tracked.
• Tracking My Time - Daily by The Nest Effect.  This one is toward the bottom so just scroll all the way down. :)

Daily:  My ideal in the end will be to make my own Daily Sheet with what I need on it...but for starters....

• Daily To Do List by Life Your Way
• Daily Schedule by Finding Home. 
• Daily Docket by Simple Mom.
• Customizable Daily Docket by Money Saving Mom.
• Daily Pages by Life's A Journal.
• Daily Schedule by Buttoned Up.
• Tracking My Time - Hourly by The Nest Effect.  Again, at the bottom, so just keep scrolling.

Menu Planners:  I think my plan long term is to put my weekly menu planner in with my Food/Recipe Binder, and then transfer each day's meals onto my Daily Sheet.  I figured I'd go ahead and list them now for you just in case you want them in your calendar section. 

• Weekly Menu Plan by Life Your Way.
• Weekly Menu Planner by Organized Home.
• Menu Planning Form by The Project Girl.
• Meals by Karnley Lane.

Other: 

• Exercise Log by Life Your Way
• Weekly Cleaning by Evelyn Kate Designs.
• Cleaning Calendar by Tips and Pixs.  This one isn't a printable. Sorry.  I just liked the lay-out of the weekly/daily cleaning schedule.  Eventually I'd like to use something as simple as this and add it to my daily sheet..again...I think. 

I've dug into my past experiences to figure out a way to re-use the daily pages, that way I'm not having to print 5 pages EVERY week.  You can easily write on your protector sheets with a dry erase marker but I found that they will easily smudge, and even rub off, when you close your folder and the pages move around.  You can write on the sheet protectors with a Sharpie!  That's right..a Sharpie; Permanent Marker.  Just make sure you run out and find some 100% Pure Acetone first (right by the nail polish remover).  Put some Acetone on a cotton ball or a napkin and wipe your sheet off.  It should be clean and ready for the next set of notes.  I currently don't have any Acetone..so I tried using some hand sanitizer.  It works for cleaning off my white board, so I figured I'd give it a go.  It got most of the permanent marker off, but not all, so I will have to figure out where to find the Acetone at since they don't have it at the PX.  :)

Seasons

"Seeing life in seasons enables us to get some perspective in our lives.  In every season there will be trials and joys.  Hardly anything lasts forever.  We need to see our life in seasons and rejoice in the season at hand.  As we relax and begin to soak up the unique blessings of this particular season, we will begin to experience and to enjoy the incredible richness of life."

                                                            -Excerpt from And Then I Had Kids by Susan Alexander Yates

My friend recommended this book to me and I just started reading it this past week.  I'm only in the second chapter, but really enjoying the wisdom she has to share.  I plan on sharing more when I'm done. 

Although the paragraph above is speaking more to the seasons of mothering it fit perfectly to what I knew these last few months were for me in the world of blogging.  A season.  I have thought about it several times these last few months. 

Since we had our Internet connected, about mid-late March, I have had (for the most part) something posted five days a week.  That's a lot!  I have enjoyed every minute of it, but I knew it wouldn't last forever.  I am coming to the end of that season.  I love having this place to write and I'm not giving it up, it just won't be nearly as consistent. 

I am about to head into a new season that I know will take up a lot of my time.  Homeschooling.  I have prayed for his opportunity for years. Starting this coming Monday we will be starting Ryan's 1st Grade School Year (which reminds me I still have to go pick up his Kindergarten records from the Elementary School).  I still have a lot of studying/planning/organizing to do this week!  Praying that in the newness of homeschooling, that I'm sure will bring chaos and frustrations and doubts about the choice in general, that I would be able to step back and look at this as a season and truly be able to cherish the opportunity I have to teach and mold my boy's. 

**Prayers appreciated!!**

Book Review {Crazy Love}

O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need for further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be make more thirsty still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, so that I may know Thee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, "Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away." Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long.

Excerpt from Crazy Love.  Intro of Ch.6

(www.amazon.com)

A Project of Epic Proportions {Account Info}

Well, I have to admit...I'm not sure I'm 100% pleased with the Medical Section.  Eventually, I might re-format a few of the forms, but for now it's staying as is and I'm moving on.  It's a start.

If you need to get caught up check out The Challenge, The Supplies, Contacts, and Medical posts.

This week we will be working on the section for Account Information.  This will include account numbers, passwords, e-mails addresses associated with an account, company phone numbers, etc.  To TRY and keep things as easy as possible, about a year ago, I created  a separate email account I use for all on-line accounts ordering, etc.  This way I don't have to worry about getting a lot of spam in our regular account. 

I was encouraged to do a basic sheet with this information last time Tim deployed as well.  It came in handy multiple times when having to contact a company about a certain bill...especially when moving.  It was easy access for their contact number, our account number, etc.  This section will contain three basic sheets...but LOTS of information!!

In my Account Information:

1.  Bank Account Info.  This will be specifically for bank accounts.

• Account Tracker by Life Your Way.  This form is made to keep track of your bank account information; to include Debit/Credit Card Numbers. 
• Bank Accounts by Our Portion.  Again, I made this specifically for my needs.  We bank with USAA and every person in our family has a member number even if they don't have any open accounts.  Plus, even though Tim and I have joint accounts we have separate Internet logins.  The first page is specifically for that.  The member number will allow our kids, in the future, to open their own account with USAA, whether or not they themselves are serving in the Military.  I couldn't even tell you my member number...much less theirs.  The second page is for the account information itself (and no we don't have that many accounts).  I'm still not sure this is the best format, but I've already re-done it a few times, so it's staying as is.

2.  General Account Information.  This form will helpfully help organize any/all other accounts for any other bills we might have.  IE Cell phone company, Internet provider, Insurance, Utilities, Car Loan, etc.

• Account Information by Our Portion.  In the notes section I will be including billing information.  IE When it's paid, from what account it's paid, automatically, thru web bill-pay, etc.  This way if for whatever reason I am unable to do the bills, Tim should be able to step in and keep everything tracking.

3.  Online Accounts.  If you have ever ordered anything from on-line; which I'm assuming you have, most companies wants you to create an account which means you need a login and password.  Target, Walmart, Walgreens, Shutterfly, I-tunes, etc, etc.  If I'm normally ordering as a one-time thing I'll continue as a guest, but if I know it's going to be more regular, I make an account.  I try to keep them all the same (Not good security wise I know...but let's face it...putting all of my information in 2 3-ring binders isn't the most secure either.  It's just helps to keep me a little more sane.), but some companies require something specific which normally means there is some variation of my norm.  Normally I sit there typing in three or four different things until it locks up on me and I have to start over.  Now, if you haven't ordered anything from online...how do you survive?!!  :)

• Online Passwords by Life Your Way.
• Online Accounts by Our Portion.  Mine is very similar to Life Your Way's as far as what information is listed, but I needed more space for the login and password than the URL (which I won't list for most.  I will also be listing all of our current email address.  I think we have 4.  One for family/friends.  One for ordering.  One for my "business" (selling crafts/photography).  Tim's Army account.  I will try my best to put these in Alphabetical Order from what I have now, but anything new will just be added to the bottom.

How's it coming?  Are you keeping up?