Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Do You Have an Agenda?

  This summer has been a wild ride for us . So far, we’ve had one unexpected event after another come  upon us and try and throw a wrench in our plans. 
There for a while I was almost ready to throw my hands up in the air and CALL IT QUITS for sure!  I couldn’t keep track of it all; the garden, the meds, the appointments, the bills… breakfast, lunch and dinner… you name it everything was just moving too fast a pace for me.
I decided I needed a plan—a direction, a list…SOMETHING, ANYTHING to help me get my days back on track and sort things out for me. I was thinking about the past and what worked at different times in my life—when the Four kiddos were still home and we had the homeschooling, the drivers-ed, the part time jobs, the church functions, curriculum, doctor appointments, etc.
Here is what I came up with: (I made a list of all my lists…he he he)
  • I was a list maker
  • I kept my keys on a HOOK and NEVER LOST THEM…
  • I kept a notebook
  • I carried a date book
  • I made menus and shopping list
  • I had ERRAND days and TRIPS  to town PLANNED
  • I made chore charts
  • I had routines
  • I HAD A BUDGET!!!!
  Here is my newest and greatest tool that I’ve added this summer.  It’s called a Day Tracker.  I looked online for it but couldn’t find one. day timer 004
I bought it Dollar General.  It was only $2.00 AND! it is my favorite color!!! It’s got a vinyl washable cover, for easy clean up. …almost like it was meant to be! ;)
day timer 006 It has fill in the blank calendar pages, which I used to not be very fond of at all… but since I bought it in July … I liked this one  so I can use it for a whole year and get my $2 bucks out of it… ;)  There is a place for traditional calendar pages to see the whole month and a place for small notes there.  day timer 005
  On the inside it has the format of  Week –at- A- Glance type calendars that I used to purchase. I like it because it has the columns Monday thru Friday and one column for Saturday and Sunday together. There is also a place for notes at the bottom and an entire section for NOTES/ PROJECTS in the back AND it includes an address section.  I know lots of phones have all those apps --- but I just don’t utilize my phone that way.  In fact, I barely send texts, I’m more a pen and paper type. Really!
Nothing beats having it in my hand so I can put my hands to it. Sort of like reading a book.  I don’t have one of those  new gadgets either… Kindle or Nook (did I spell those right?)
This one is small enough it fits in my purse easily too.  I love it!  THIS ONE TOOL has freed up so much of my brain power to think. Now instead of remembering appointments, I just have to remember to look at my notebook!  Ha!
day timer 001
…On another note—You remember I made a LEDGER for our MEDICAL BILLS?      I was able to mark one of  them PAID IN FULL today…YAY!   We submitted the ambulance bill for transport to Dallas to a local Charity and they paid it… I’m so grateful for that. It’s very humbling—but I’m Thankful to God for His provision!
Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. ~~Proverbs 16:3 ~~

God Bless You and Thanks a bunch for reading!


Adding this post to Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop #20

7 comments:

Granny said...

It sounds like the daytimer is perfect for you. I'm so glad you were able to get help with the ambulance bill. One down and many more to go.

Gail said...

I'm so glad that you were able to get help with the ambulance bill...God is good! I try to keep an agenda to, but like so many others, I get side tracked and then begin to feel overwhelmed.

Have a wonderful day and God bless,
Gail

camp and cottage living said...

This is an important tip.
I always had a day planner when i was working. What in the world made me think I could organize my life without one at home, I'll never know!

gail@My Repurposed Life said...

I'm glad you got a bill marked paid in full! :)
Yippeee!
I don't have an agenda, but I know I do work best when there is a routine. I have NO routine. Being unemployed makes it difficult to keep a routine. I've said I was going to make myself a chore chart, but I never have. Knowing that I don't HAVE to do something today, is a bad thing. Because it never seems to get done.
I'm glad you're on track!
gail

Debbiedoos said...

I am going to make it my mission this year to be more organized..when I see people that are, I am in envy. I used to have a rolodex in my head, now my head is hollow.

Teresa said...

So glad you've gotten help with your medical bills. They can be quite overwhelming. I must say, I tend to be a list maker too!

Angel said...

I love your agenda and how you are utilizing it! I'm jealous that I never found one of those at DG and PTL for the PIF bill! God is good all the time!