Elias got sick last night. I hardly slept. Was running on fumes most the day due to lack of naps. Then just as I was crawling into bed got the dreaded phone call "ummm 3rd shifter hasn't shown up and isn't answering the phone." So here I am at work. Dead tired. Busy work is complete and I still have like 2 hours to go. So although I'm probably writing this sooner than ready, I need to do something productive. 

This post has been weighing on my heart lately. I needed time to process it. I truthfully need MORE time but since I have nothing but time, I might as well a start now. 

Earlier this spring, church did a series called a Hole In the Gospel based off the book. We were given a calendar which focused on different areas each week; they had calls of action, statics. I remember looking the calendar over and one date really hit me. Ok, it more than hit me. It literally rocked me to my core. 

Those numbers are so staggering to me. 6000 children die.A.DAY because they don't have access to something as basic as clean water. The static bothered me. It made me uncomfortable. But to be completely honest here, not uncomfortable enough to do much more than post it on facebook (where I don't think one person even commented on it. Oddly though, if even ONE jumbo jet crashed, I'm sure it would be the most popular commonly posted topic that day). I wish I could say that I did something dramatic once I heard this news but short of turning off my faucet more often, I didn't do too much. 

Fast Forward to the end of summer. One of the blogs I read mentioned the new book for their book club. I was in need of a new book, so I thought if the library had it available for my kindle, I'd join in. Believe it or not, for once, they did. I quickly put a hold on it and waited my turn. 

Enter 7. Officially known as 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess. A mouthful, isn't it? Let me tell you though ... it was as good as the title is long. Good enough that I've now read it twice. A quick run down of the book can be found by clicking on the link above. But let me say this book hit me about as hard as hearing 6000 children die a day from lack of water.

"How can I be socially responsible if unaware that I reside in the top percent of the wealth in the world? (You probably do too: Make $35000 a year? Top 4 percent. $50000? Top 1 percent.) 

Excess has impaired perspective in America; we are the richest people on earth; praying to get richer. We are tangled in unmanageable debt while feeding the machine, because we feel entitled to more. What does it communicate when half the global population lives on less than $2 a day, and we can't manage a fulfilling life on twenty-five thousand times that amount. Fifty thousand times that amount. 

It says we have too much, and it's ruining us."

I'm wrestling with what exactly it means for me and my house and my family. I know a change needs to happen. I know a change IS happening. I'm trying to decide how to make it happen. Expect more as I process this ... and I have a fixed computer that allows me to use the keyboard :)

Last Week's Goals:

• Menu Planner: Zesty Italian Chicken, Homemade Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup, Soup and Sandwiches, Beef Roast, Chicken Cordon Bleu,Spaghetti Bake, Leftover Spaghetti Bake between work and church
• Household: Fold and Put away all the boys clothes, Make at least 1 trip to the storage unit, Have an empty clean sink every night
• Personal: Go to bed before 11pm at least once, Write at least 2 blog posts, Track food at least 3 days
• Family: Make Dentist Appt for Colin, Saturday Movie Night 
• Misc: Pick up baby shower gift, Start looking for Outfits for Pictures, Food Survey with Elias

This Week's Goals:

• Menu Planner: Dinner at Mom and Dads, Tortilla Pizza, Beef Roast, French Loaf Sub Thingy, ?,  Spaghetti Bake, Leftover Spaghetti Bake between work and church
• Household:  Make at least 1 trip to the storage, Send Computer out to be fixed, Schedule time to get hot water heater fixed 
• Personal: Go to bed before 11pm at least once, Track food at least 3 days, Do 2 New Pins
• Family: Find Colin a new dentist and make an appt, Go to Library, Do at least 1 Halloween Activity with the boy(s)
• Misc: Figure out boys' Halloween Costumes, Send Christmas Emails out

I'm a few weeks behind on updating this but I want to keep it on the forefront of my mind and update things as they are fresh in my mind... 

Lose {at least} 32 pounds

Sell this house

Read 1 Book per month (Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug) 

I read 7:An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess which really should be a whole another post in of itself.  

Do 1 Service Act per month  (Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug)

I donated food for IHN at church

Do 1 Random Act of Kindness per month  (Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug)

Have 1 Family Planned Activity per month  (Sept-Zoo, Oct-Fall Fun, Nov-Children's Museum, Dec-FMG for Santa and Trains, Jan-Florida, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug)

Donate 32 articles of clothes

Fund a well 

Have Family Pictures taken {scheduled for November}

Go out of town with the girls in the family

Do {at least} 32 new pins

Slow Cooker BBQ Country Ribs {Delish - already made again}

Join a Life Group at church

Mail at least 1 Card per month  (Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug)

Create a 1 Month Menu Planner - and see if it works

Ride the train to Chicago with the boys

Create an art project or treat with the boys for all major holidays

Go on a date with Mike once {at least} once a quarter

Go on a date with just Colin

Go on a date with just Elias

Make Christmas Cookie Platter for Mike's work

Create a service project {preferably ongoing} at work {WIP}

Do my own version of 7  {WIP}

Allow Colin to have a sleep over with a friend

Increase ING account by $X

Pay for Disney in 'cash'

blank

blank

blank

blank

blank

blank

blank

Last Week's Goals:

• Menu Planner: Culvers, Mac'n'Cheese, Arby, Cereal, Ribs, Zesty Italian Chicken, Burgers
• Household:  Make at least 1 trip to the storage unit, Fill a Box with un-played with Toys, Pick up Trip
• Personal: Go to bed before 11pm at least once, Write at least 2 blog posts
• Family:  Make S'mores in the backyard with C, Go to library with the boys
• Misc: Dr's Appt for boys on Friday

This Week's Goals:

• Menu Planner: Zesty Italian Chicken, Homemade Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup, Soup and Sandwiches, Beef Roast, Chicken Cordon Bleu, Spaghetti Bake, Leftover Spaghetti Bake between work and church
• Household: Fold and Put away all the boys clothes, Make at least 1 trip to the storage unit, Have an empty clean sink every night
• Personal: Go to bed before 11pm at least once, Write at least 2 blog posts, Track food at least 3 days
• Family: Make Dentist Appt for Colin, Saturday Movie Night 
• Misc: Pick up baby shower gift, Start looking for Outfits for Pictures, Food Survey with Elias

Last Week's Goals:

• Menu Planner: Sept Bday Party at Mom and Dads, Tacos, Tortilla Pizzas, Chicken Sandwiches, Chicken Something, Pork Chops, and something quick between work and church
• Household: Make at least 1 trip to the storage unit, Fill a Box with un-played with Toys
• Personal: Go to bed before 11pm at least once, Finish List 
• Family: Fill Bag with Food for Food Drive with Colin, Make S'mores in the backyard with C if  rain holds out, 
• Misc:  Food Survey with Elias X3,

This Week's Goals:

• Menu Planner: Culvers, Mac'n'Cheese, Arby, Cereal, Ribs, Zesty Italian Chicken, Burgers
• Household:  Make at least 1 trip to the storage unit, Fill a Box with un-played with Toys, Pick up Trip
• Personal: Go to bed before 11pm at least once, Write at least 2 blog posts
• Family:  Make S'mores in the backyard with C, Go to library with the boys
• Misc: Dr's Appt for boys on Friday

Last Week's Goals:

• Menu Planner: Burgers, Manicotti, Subs, Pulled Pork, Biscuits and Cheese, Zesty Italian Chicken, and Out of Town
• Household: Catch up on laundry, Make at least 1 trip to the storage unit, Fill a Box with unplayed with Toys
• Personal: Go to bed before 11pm at least once, Work on 32 List, 
• Family: Go to ArtPrize twice, Make S'mores in the backyard with C, Go to Detroit to see Mike's Dad and fam 
• Misc: Food Survey with Elias,

This Week's Goals:

• Menu Planner: Sept Bday Party at Mom and Dads, Tacos, Tortilla Pizzas, Chicken Sandwiches, Chicken Something, Pork Chops, and something quick between work and church
• Household: Make at least 1 trip to the storage unit, Fill a Box with un-played with Toys
• Personal: Go to bed before 11pm at least once, Finish List
• Family: Fill Bag with Food for Food Drive with Colin, Make S'mores in the backyard with C if  rain holds out, 
• Misc:  Food Survey with Elias X3,