On Becoming a Planner

Have I told you before that I am not a planner. While visiting family and friends this past Christmas in Nevada, I realized how much I wished I was a planner.
I was having a conversation with some good girl friends at the Hillside Christmas Eve service and I was realizing that I really should have had the forethought to plan ahead for a gathering at someone's house to which I said to them, "Ya know if only I was a planner!" And my girlfriends laughed, really loud. You know you have said something true that no one would dare say to your face, but if you go ahead and say it somewhat in jest and people laugh really loud... well, you know at that point you could be onto something.

All that to say, I have decided to be a better planner. Something that My Giant has said he would love to have planned around here is our dinner meal. I'm sure there are other things he would love to have planned around here as well.. but get your mind out of the gutter!
When he for a brief moment was the stay at home dad and I went back to teaching full time, he had this place running like a well oiled machine. I will say it, He does a much better job than I do at managing this house. I am okay with that. I know I bring other things to the table.

Anyway, one of the things outside of the shower schedule that he had the Fab 4 on, (yeah, that was border line child abuse, don't cha think?) was a weekly planned menu. He said it saved so much time and energy to know ahead of time what was for dinner every night and he has said that it would be a good idea for us to do again.

So one of the things that I was determined(See blog below) to do this year was get better at planning meals for our household.
I HAVE FOUND THE ANSWER TO ALL MY LIFES PROBLEMS!!! Ok sorry for shouting, and being a tad-bit dramatic but you need to understand how life changing this is going to be for me.
I have found this website; plantoeat.com and it has forever changed my life.
Check it out, report back and tell me what you think.

Oh and next time I come to Nevada I will be in need of someone's house to have a small gathering to see all our old friends, any takers?

Small Groups

Well, I have successfully done it again folks. What's that you ask? What have I done again? Signed up for way too many small groups and my schedule suddenly got very, very full. As if it wasn't full already. Why do I do this to myself? They all just looked so fun I suppose, but then I start writing things down on the palms of my hands just so that I can remember where I am supposed to be tomorrow. Not to mention that this makes me wonder if I have already failed miserably at the whole People Pleasing resolution thingy. I have done great on the other 2 resolutions but, man alive, I don't even think I realize sometimes if I am pleasing the peeps or pleasing me, myself, and I. I feel pretty pleased :)
No, in all seriousness I love these groups that gather on a weekly basis and I am excited to be in each and everyone of the FOUR that I signed up for . I wanted to add one more to that but ya gotta know when to draw the line.

Old Friends and New Friends

Had a great time this week connecting with some friends. I am truly grateful for all the friends that God has brought into my life over the years. One of my friends that I've known since I was a teenager moved back from Oregon recently and hanging out with her is like hanging out with family. Another new friend that I got to hang with this week blessed me tremendously with new ideas and a fresh way to look at some things in my life.
Then I had a question for all you bloggers that I think will be kinda fun. I am a person who loves to have people around 24/7. Maybe that's why I have 4 children. Anyway, even if I am not necessarily doing anything with them but just living my life, I just enjoy sharing my life with others. BUT part of being a person who loves to have others persons around 24/7 is that I have really crappy time-management skills. I would rather just sit and chit chat or play with kids then do the things in life that need to be done.
SO here's the question: Can you be a person who has both good time manangment skills as well as good people skills at the same time??
This is a honest question because to me I don't see how you can. I would rather say no to the clock and pretend that it's not there than say no to a person who might need something or my kids who just want to play.
I need better time-management skills. I think that the two are somewhat related. What do you all think?? Maybe, it's a matter of priorities. Priority to me are the people in my life.