Quiet Time/ Organization Dayspring Giveaway!

Quiet Time, Bible Study, prayer and reading, devotions ... whatever you want to call it. For me this week, it was non-existent. Just didn't make it a priority. The urgent took over, even the un-urgent.

Distractions here, not enough time there and before I knew it I had gone a whole week without "cracking open my Bible." I put that in quotes because (sshh, don't tell my pastor father) I've been reading my Bible on my iPad through YouVersion. I opened the app once or twice and then got distracted and never actually read it.

You can feel it when you do this. I know I did! Frustrations came easier, outbursts happened a lot, guilt shoved itself in my face occasionally. But the Holy Spirit didn't leave, He just kept prompting me.

And today, I started right. I caught up on my reading plan, Fearless Journey through YouVersion. I took notes... two pages worth and I remembered that grace is always present.

What's working for me these days? What tools do I use?  Well, there is the reading plans from YouVersion, a journal, and pretty colored pens... lots of pretty colored pens! I do a lot of writing out Scripture. I find that helps cement it in my mind and I love coming back and reading over the Scripture, knowing that God's Word does not return void.

Some of my problem this week was too many opportunities, too many things to do... I didn't say "no" when I should have! I'm so thankful for all of it ... a side job, a special card order, my family, my writing class, prep for Allume, baking for church functions... and that's just what I can think of off the top of my head ... there was also dentist/doctor's appointments and family activities and church activities ... and I'm stressing myself out just listing it all.  Problem is I didn't say no and now I'm drowning.

Enter a family planner... will it help? I don't know, but I hope so!!  I had the opportunity to review some product from Dayspring... maybe you've heard of them? I've mentioned them once or twice. :)  This month, I received a fun Peanuts theme Family Planner and a perpetual calendar

Peanuts - Smiles and Blessings - Perpetual Calendar

don't look too close, I think my spider plant needs watered

My kids are loving this calendar, always trying to get there first to change the calendar to the next day, and anxious to check out the cartoon on their birthdays, etc. so it's definitely adding some smiles and blessings to our day... just as promised!

Peanuts - 16 Month 2013 Family Planner Wall Calendar

I had so much fun using my pretty pens to write in our names on the side to keep us all organized and filled in the month of October... it filled up FAST!  I love the pocket in the back holding cute little calendar stickers... and my meal planning info (when I use it). And it's BIG! I had to clear the side of my fridge for it, but I love that I can read it... and fit a lot in one day (maybe that's not a good thing). Anyway, I am thoroughly going to enjoy using it for the next 15 months (it started in September) You should totally go get one. (did I just say, totally?)

Or you could just try to win one here, on my blog! Yep, that's right, I am one of the lucky ones chosen to do a giveaway of this fine Dayspring product.

To win this helpful family planner and festive perpetual calendar, just leave me a comment on the blog telling me...

What tools do you use to spend time with the Lord?
What are your favorite organization tools or Christian studies?

Giveaway ends on Wednesday, October 24 at 10:00 pm EDT (right before I head off to Allume!!)
Giveaway open to US residents only.
Please leave a way for me to contact you in the comments (email, twitter, blog... something!)

disclosure: The Dayspring links in this blog are affiliate links, but I don't know if they work, because no one has ever clicked a link from my blog and ordered anything... so feel free to click one of these links and buy something (Dayspring products make great Christmas gifts), so that I can see if they work!

Following through

So, I love Pinterest!  No surprise there! It's perfect for organizing all sort of great ideas...  I am also not a very organized person... I used to be, before I had kids.  But I am working on it, in bits and pieces.  I had a friend help me organize my craft room about a year ago... and I LOVED it! But I got lazy and it's a mess again. This week on The CSI Project the theme is Organization and I was pretty sure I had NOTHING to contribute to that.  I was going to share my said craft room, but felt that it would be deceiving to post pictures from a year ago, but it's still a great organizing tip, so this post is THREE FOLD.

TIP ONE ... boxes are great for organizing... clear boxes are even better.

So here is a picture of my craft room shelves, when it was organized, as an incentive for me to re-organize it before my dear friend comes to craft with me in 2 1/2 weeks (we have a play date planned for our kids ...and a crafty play date for us)

TIP TWO ... over the door shoe organizers

I found this handy idea on Pinterest just last week... then one day before school this week was a little stressed because at least one child couldn't find gloves, or a hat, or both. And they have outside recess, so it's a good idea to have those things on hand.

So on my next trip to Target, I immediately picked up one of these and came home and rallied up all the hats, scarfs, and gloves and hung this in our mudroom/laundry room!!  I was so excited!  6 rows, one for each family member with the littlest kids on the bottom for easy reach! (PS... my husband was thrilled, too!!)

Pinterest... For the Win




TIP THREE ... Implement it!!

If you see a great idea for organization, don't just pin it, or file it away for later! Implement it!!  My challenge to you is to implement one great idea this week... then come back and tell me what you did!  I want to know!