I declared this year, the Year of Lean. Our Year of Lean includes losing weight, purging the house, cleaning the rooms and garage, purging our debt, and purging our mental strongholds.
Of course, that doesn’t mean that my family agreed. At the tail end of last year, we started monthly family meetings – where we touch bases with goals and each other, making sure that we stay in contact with each other, and hopefully make us stronger. I’ve discussed the Year of Lean with them and although they agree, that doesn’t mean they “jump” in.
I’ve started with our “office”. When I got pregnant with my daughter (who is now 16 months), I had NO energy to do any excess cleaning. By excess, I mean, nothing that didn’t NEED to be cleaned. And for the family, that means that the office didn’t get cleaned at all. So, now it has about two years worth of junk that I have to weed through.
But as this year progresses and we start to embark on our new journey, pregnant with our fourth child, my family is finally pitching in! Once a week, we all clean for a full hour.
Our family really needs to pitch in because we need more than just a little cleaning… with this new baby, we need to move – across country! I want to leave with as little belongings as we need to – things that we won’t probably rush out to buy when we get there. And we have so much STUFF!
In early March, we finished the Financial Peace University and have worked diligently on cleaning up our massive debt (most of it student loan debt). So far, we’ve paid off four bills – Yay for us! And absent any major changes, we will be able to pay everything off in 5 years, and I don’t have to go back to work! More yay for us!
With the weather getting better and the daylight hours getting longer, we’re going to get outdoors more. At least weekly park runs and backyard soccer and volleyball. I’ve lost 20 pounds so far this year and husband is losing too! Food is home cooked and healthy and we are exercising as a family.
Personally, I’ve been trying to be more crafty with the kids… I love crafts, but I’m a loner by nature and it’s really hard for me to have the patience for kids and MESS! I hate making purposeful messes. So, with each month, we’ve been working to celebrate each holiday with a craft or cooking project. Soon we’ll get outside and use some sidewalk chalk! Design time! It really brightens up the house, that even my (sometimes kid-stuff-disliking) husband felt that it was warm and loving.
There it is! This year we are going to become minimalists!
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Cheryl Smith
April 16, 2013 at 3:44 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
You’re doing a GREAT job! We’ve not done the FPU, but we are using You Need a Budget to help us get our finances on track. God really convicted us last year about our need to be better stewards (one of the variations of oikos) of our finances, our home, time, etc. We’re making great progress and it’s so exciting!
I bet God is preparing you for something significant in your home and family. Can’t wait to see what it is.
simplyhelpinghim
April 17, 2013 at 8:42 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
It is so amazing to wait and see what God is going to do in our lives! 🙂 Thanks for stoppin by! Blessings!
Nina
April 14, 2013 at 2:28 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
So wonderful to read that all things are possible … heppiness consists of the little, daily things, let us be thankful and enjoy the moments, one at a time.
simplyhelpinghim
April 15, 2013 at 4:47 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Yes 🙂 All things are possible 🙂 Happiness is just one smile away 😉 Blessings!
~ linda
April 14, 2013 at 11:13 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I am so proud of you and you family. I listen to Dave Ramsey often and find that the stories of others encourages me more than discourages as they are really working to release those things that hold them captive. That is truly what you are doing! The picture of the office tells a story all by itself!! Wishing you a day of blessings, ~ linda
simplyhelpinghim
April 15, 2013 at 4:46 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Encouragement is amazing isn’t it? It motivates us to do that which we have little to no desire to accomplish! 🙂 Thanks for stoppin by! Blessings!
Linda Stoll
April 14, 2013 at 10:38 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
SUPER for you! What a wonderful example for your kiddos!
simplyhelpinghim
April 15, 2013 at 4:45 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
🙂 Oh yes! They learn from our examples! 🙂
Debbie
April 14, 2013 at 10:29 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Life can get overwhelming at times. I love your year of lean which is a good lesson for me too. Simplifying will be freeing for you.
Blessings and love,
Debbie
simplyhelpinghim
April 15, 2013 at 4:45 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Simplifying is very freeing, it’s just a matter of getting to that point! 🙂 Thanks for stoppin by! Blessings!
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