Hidden in Him

Corona...  Covid-19...  Like millions of others, this plague with its shutdowns and quarantines has hurt our finances.  Unlike many, we still have an income. So, I consider ourselves blessed.

But we have lost some of what we had counted on.  Who could know we would lose up to a few hundred a month?  Who knew the loss would not just be for a few weeks but stretch on and on, month after month?

I struggle in my spirit during some trials.  Challenging times in our finances is one of them.  I get frustrated when trying to budget and balance and the money isn’t there.  I fight fear when I see the bills and know the income barely covers, or doesn’t cover. 

The Lord has been doing such incredible things over the last few months, however.  I have been so in awe of the things He has done in other areas that, while the concern for finances is still there in my prayers, I can’t separate what God is doing in other areas from finances.

Practically, this impacts our homeschool.  It means slowing down on a few things we are working through, supplementing with materials we already have or free materials online, because the finances aren’t there to cover even the few things I need to purchase.  

And yet, even here, God has provided.  A quick trip to a  resale shop...  a bag of books for $3... some books that I had on my shelves I had forgotten about...  all ways God has provided in just the last few weeks. 

Other ways have been provided that I couldn’t have imagined.  We had a conference we had signed up to attend, that I knew God wanted us to attend.  This conference proved to be pivotal in our family.  What God did in that conference in our family was the answer to years of prayers.  And yet, the finances weren’t there.  Somehow, God provided them.  He made a way through His people.

After the conference, I have felt led to fast all but one meal a day...  fasting for spiritual breakthrough for our finances and any other areas of strongholds.  Finances have always been an area of struggle for our family.  We have five children, and while four are now grown, raising five children on one income was so difficult.  I could stretch a dollar farther than it seemed possible just to get us through.  In recent years, as children moved out and began their own families and lives, finances weren’t as tight.  That led to me spending more than I would have considered in the past.  I had stopped practicing good stewardship the way I had in the past.  This time of less income made me remember that those principles are just as important in the more prosperous times as in the tougher times. 

God still provides. Little things have happened.  It hasn’t been anything big in our finances yet, but those little things have occurred that bring small provision: a payment reduced, a part of a deposit returned, warmer weather to keep us from having to turn on the heat, a daughter that was able to find employment she loves so she can contribute.  Those little things that remind me that God is in the littlest areas. 

 The fast for financial breakthrough is impacting other areas of life.  Relationships are being restored.  Old wounds are being healed.  My relationship with the Lord is somehow deeper.  I feel it’s a time of waiting, of absorbing and preparing.  In the past I might have felt a little forgotten, as if the struggle meant that God had abandoned me.  But now I feel hidden, not from Him, but by Him.  Hidden in Him...  sheltered by Him...  studying, waiting for finances for the next step, praying like I never have before for His presence to be with me, to guide me, to fill me and my home.

I’m so flawed.  I mess up so often.  I doubt some days.  I cry. 

Every night, when the house grows quiet, I attempt to go outside and, in the stillness of the night, spend a dedicated time with Jesus.  I like to walk when I pray.  And so, I walk around my home, praying as I go.  I pray in the Spirit.  I sometimes sing quietly.  I pour out my heart and gives my cares to the Lord.  I am so often reminded of His faithfulness in that time.  I feel that protective shelter.  My husband fears I am walking a path into the grass, which frustrates his landscaping heart; but this time has become special to me.  I’ve always been more of a night owl than a morning bird. 

During the day, with a one year old grandson and homeschooling and bouts of insomnia, I don’t have as much available time for prayer.  And to be honest, my mind in the morning is focused on what all needs to be accomplished for the day.  In the evening, I can focus better. 

I still battle trepidation over our finances.  I shouldn’t, but I must confess that I do.  I keep tithing, keep giving, because I know this may feel like a battle in my life but it is actually a spiritual battle.  It is a way for Satan to bring doubt of God’s goodness and provision.  It is a way to try to stop ministry. It’s an attempt to derail what God has planned for my family, my children, and me. 

Being hidden in Him is a place of safety.  Being hidden in Him as we walk by faith and not by sight allows those steps to be taken with quiet anticipation.  In fear, I would be tempted to take my own actions, which never goes well, or to give up.  I will take being hidden in God over my own great ideas or public platitudes any day. 

I want to learn the lessons well.  I want to pass the tests and bless the heart of my Father.  I want to spend this time, not as a time when I am on an emotional roller coaster of fears and doubts, but a time when I can find Him.  Please Lord...  pull me ever closer. 

 

“I Can’t Afford to Homeschool”

 

 

“Some of us aren’t blessed to be able to afford to homeschool.”

I still remember that quote being lobbed at me like a hand grenade.  I remember thinking, “I can’t afford it either.”

And my family couldn’t many times.  But...  we also couldn’t afford not to.

Homeschooling has costs.  Even if you use a free curriculum, there are costs.  There are costs associated in public school, too.  Very rarely is anything actually free.  Money was tight for us so often that I worried I might not be able to afford what was needed to provide my children a quality education.  We endured unemployment, lost nearly everything materially we had at one point, had health crisis after health crisis...  and still we plodded on.

I get aggravated when I hear “we can’t afford it.”  God called me to homeschool in 2008.  I argued with God for months.  I approached my husband about it, sure he would be totally against it, and was shocked when he didn’t outright shut me down.  I researched and was shaking the day I wrote the letter to the school to pull my first student out of public school. 

Homeschooling had a cost. 

Financially, it cost me.  There were some free items online, but twelve years ago, the options were definitely more limited.  The first year I bought some used, a couple new workbooks, and hit the library.  

Some years I could purchase curriculum new.  I usually earmarked a chunk of our tax return for purchases.  But that money could have been used in so many other places.  Instead, there was sacrifice.

We did without.  There weren’t many planned vacations...  or even fancy field trips.  There was a lot of Hamburger Helper for dinner.  We made bread homemade at times.  I grew a garden.  We hit yard sales and thrift stores for clothes.  While friends were going to movies, we had movie nights in with library rentals.  When friends were buying new cars, we budgeted gas money for limited trips to town.  When others were going out to eat, we were gathering around our table at home to another meatloaf or more spaghetti.

But God called me to homeschool.  And now, thirteen years later, that calling hasn’t left. 

I know single mothers that homeschool.  I know working mothers arranging schedules and/or working from home to homeschool.   Some use public school resources.  Some use free curriculum (such as Easy Peasy homeschool) to limit expenses.  Some borrow curriculum from other families.  Some use the library and write their own lesson plans.

I remember, more than once, sitting down with a stack of thrift store books and composition notebooks to create my own “workbooks” for my child.  I printed off free, public domain books from Google books to use.  When I did buy, I often looked for some non-consumable books that I could pass down to my younger children.  At times, I would purchase the cheaper workbooks and supplement with library books. 

Where there is a calling, there is a way.  God will provide.  He may not provide riches or ease.  He may call you to spend your free time planning and placing a dozen books on hold at the local library, but He will guide and provide.  

It wasn’t easy.  It was work.  It wasn’t always lightbulb moments or complete joy either.  I had to suck that kid that hated to read into books with some twaddle.  It’s okay.  I made a lot of use of Netflix documentaries for a couple years to fill in the history studies.  I planned projects using books checked out from the library.  I read blogs and found free spelling lists and free book lists and free scope and sequence lists. 

We baked bread homemade to sell at the Farmer’s market.  I babysat.  We canned vegetables.  We did what we needed to get by so we could continue to do what God called us to do.  

Could I afford to homeschool?  No.  But I was obedient anyway.

 

It was worth it.

It was worth it to watch my kids learn and grow.  It was worth it to get to disciple them.  It was worth it to sit around the table and discuss the Bible together.  It was worth it to see the learning struggles turn into confidence. 

Should everyone homeschool?  No.  I can say with confidence that some parents shouldn’t homeschool.  And, there are even some parents that can’t homeschool.  But, there are more parents that can than have allowed themselves the option. 

Right now parents all over the nation have had to homeschool.  Covid-19 has changed many situations and parents have pulled their children for many reasons.  Many will probably go back to public schooling when the pandemic is over.  Some...  maybe more than some...  will stick with it.  They will discover what some of us have known for a long time: that homeschooling is challenging and hard work but worth it. 

Some will move past the public school at home mentality and delve into the world of Charlotte Mason, Unit Studies, Literature-based Education, or become eclectic in their approach.  Some will stick with school at home and their child will thrive because they can relax at home and learn without distraction or the pressures of the public school environment. 

My friend has three children that are grown.  She has stated that she is glad they are grown.  She couldn’t see sending her children to school during this time in history.  

I am glad we aren’t making big life changes for our remaining, school-aged daughter right now.  We already made that choice years ago.  The pandemic has meant a lot of changes in our lives, but our schooling is not one of them.  We just continue on, learning and growing, as we have for years. 

Building a Foundation in Personal Finance with My Daughters

This year my older two girls are using the Homeschool version of Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace, named Foundations in Personal Finance.

I am doing this with them.

Why would a grown woman take a class meant for high school students?  Well, I wasn't taught many of these financial principles growing up.  I have been listening to Dave Ramsey and reading his books for a few years.  Though my husband and I didn't make the best choices when we were younger, we want to do what we can now. 

We don't want debt. 

One lesson the Lord has taught me over the last couple of years is that all the financial lessons mean nothing if you are discontent with what you have.  Behavior will outweigh education.  If I know I shouldn't spend money, but I think buying something will make me happy or fulfill a desire, I will go out and spend money.  It isn't until your desire to be debt free, out of the curse of debt, that you may change things.  For us, it wasn't until we were living in a house that was making us sick, and the losing of everything over the next year because we had naively bought a home that was dangerous years earlier, that we saw how debt was truly a curse.

One thing that is apparent to me is that contentedness must be chosen on purpose.  It won't come naturally.  Our flesh will always want more.  Our pride will say we deserve it, even as our finances scream that we can't afford it. 

Right now my husband and I are in an apartment with our three children.  However, we do know that the rent is expensive and we might need to look for other options.  Exploring minimalism has been such a gift because it has shown me that, if we have to make bigger changes, we will still be okay.  I am not sure where God is leading us, but I do know that living paycheck to paycheck is NOT okay! 

I am doing the Dave Ramsey class because I want to learn more, and because I want to have these discussions with my daughters.  They are still very young.  I don't want them to make the same mistakes their father and I made.  I want them to begin saving now, to work to avoid debt now.  Life is too short to be a slave all their lives to lenders. 

I am very curious where the Lord will lead us.  I am looking at the path He leads us on as an adventure.  I know it won't all be easy, but I am determined to trust Him and practice contentment.

Decluttering Project

One of the largest obstacles in decluttering in our home is the storage closet. I was tempted to toss everything into the garbage.  But... That would cost me money in the long run.  I would hate to replace all our Christmas decorations.

The Chaos Begins!

Plus, my pictures are irreplaceable.

However, my husband and I dug in.  The result?  Bags and boxes are loaded into the back of my husband's truck for donation.  I tried being ruthless.  For the most part, I surprised myself at how easy it was to discard so much.  But... Then I came across a box of my kids old art work and (sigh) couldn't part with it.  I think I'll Pinterest ideas on creative ways to use some of it.  I also kept some old cards.  I know... Useless clutter, but some of those cards are from beloved family members that are no longer with us. Again, I want to find a way to preserve some of the memories.

I doubt I'll ever reach the "minimalist" level that I've read about.  However, minimizing and organizing and getting rid of things is kind of like a drug.  Once you start, you don't want to stop.  I find myself asking myself what I really want, really need.  I am discovering that I really am not as attached as I thought to our stuff.  It's just stuff!  

The ultimate goal of all this decluttering is to create a less stressful atmosphere in my home.  Less to take care of means less stress.  It also means more time, time to focus on the Lord, time to focus on my children, time to slow our pace down. I like how many books and blogs label this sort of life - intentional living.  

Life is short, and mindlessly collecting "things" is not the same as truly living.  As a Christian, I've come to believe that a life full of spending money to have a bunch of things is money that could be spent more wisely.  First, the money should go to further the kingdom.  Imagine if Christians did without a few "things" and sponsored a child through a group like Compassion International.  What impact would that have on world hunger?  Poverty?  What if every Christian in America gave what they could to organizations that fight the sex trade? We could obliterate it!

As for our those in our lives, I have come to believe that giving experiences is priceless.  I think my children would remember the family excursions more than yet another toy that ends up in the bottom of the toy box.  I think appreciation for things increases if a child is taught that possessions shouldn't be plentiful and easily replaced. 

We haven't eaten at our dining room table for a long time.  Why?  It's been buried in stuff.  I want that changed. I want to enjoy my loved ones, and I am frustrated that we've gotten away from eating together at the table.

Today will be another day of "going through stuff."  I'm a bit excited.  It's like an adventure to a new life. 

How God Provided In Our Vehicle-Challenged Year

Last Saturday my husband and I bought a "new" van (used but new to us).  It has been ten months since we had a family vehicle.  From last March until a couple months ago we were totally dependent on others.  We borrowed a car briefly from my daughter and son-in-law until it broke down. An awesome friend would pick up my husband nearly EVERY MORNING as he passed through, giving my husband a ride to work.  In good weather my husband would walk home.  Occasionally he got a ride home from a coworker. We had a wonderful couple pick us up for church every Sunday by taking two vehicles. We gave them gas money, but it was still an incredible blessing.  We would walk or catch rides to the stores.

A couple months ago we were blessed by an old pick-up truck being given to my husband.  The lady that gave it to us refused to take a dime.  She said it was only a lawn ornament, sitting unused at her house.  The person who she had gotten it for couldn't drive now.  She knew my husband was often on call in the winter for work, and needed a reliable way there.  

It was a blessing that meant so much!  And, sure enough, my husband has been called in to plow snow quite often!

On Saturday, my husband and I were hesitant about buying a vehicle.  We have limited savings.  I felt that morning that, if at all possible, I wanted to avoid debt and payments.  

I wanted a minivan because a car just doesn't seat enough bodies.  Minivans can be more expensive than a car or SUV.  I worried I would have to settle for something that would just fit us instead of what I felt our family needed. 

Needless to say, options were limited.  We went to a car lot where my brother-in-law works because he has access to the best trade-Ins.  However, options in our price range were limited.  Most of the vans we had spotted on the dealer website were being sent off to auction because they had too many issues to make a profit.  One van we tried to look at seemed a bit rough, but we never could look inside. The salesman couldn't find the keys (not his fault). 

There was one option.  My husband kept looking at the one van the lot had available.  We took it out for a test drive.  We headed back to see what else they had, only to be told there was nothing else.  My brother-in-law wouldn't even show us an unsafe or unreliable vehicle.   

We bought a van that was older than we wanted.  The Carfax showed a one-owner, well-serviced van.  Despite the age, it has been well maintained.  Since vans of this make and model tend to last 300,000 miles if taken care of well, My husband and I knew we stood a decent chance of having a reliable vehicle for a while. 

I even saved enough from what we had budgeted for a van to get brand-new tires.  

Many times over the last several months my husband and I have been tempted to get a loan for a vehicle.  When you are walking with a seven year old home from the grocery store carrying three days worth of food in the cold, a loan for reliable transportation seems worth the debt.  

But it's not!

A vehicle, even an older one, that is completely paid for, means freedom!  I don't want to be the slave to the lender. No want to owe no one anything except love.  

My husband and I have been through the financial ringer over a several year period of time.  We never had any credit cards, but we did have debt.  We lost big time when our home was discovered to be full of mold and making us quite ill.  We now avoid debt like the plague and believe what the Bible tells us about the curse of debt. 

God was with us through the last trying year.  He was with me on the walks to and from the store.  He provided amazing Christians to step in and give us rides when we needed them.  And, to make sure we didn't buy a van with major issues, He made sure they were sent to auction. 

God is good.

Blueberry Picking 2014

Once again, my family and I headed to the blueberry farm.  I took my husband and children last year for the first time.  A few of them don't like blueberries.  But... Fresh blueberries were LOVED by all!

This year we had a friend go with us.  She's visiting from Georgia and had never been blueberry picking before in her life.  She loved it!

We picked 22 pounds in around an hour. I'm hoping to go back, but know it might not happen.  Summers can be quite busy. 

Act Your Wage!

Living on one income,  as many homeschooling families do, is difficult.   But, like many, my husband and I strive to make it all work.  Homeschooling is vitally important to us.  We understand we will have to sacrifices in order to make it work.

Over the last few years, financially,  things have been challenging.   We dealt with unemployment,  vehicle breakdowns,  illnesses, and what seemed like crisis after crisis.   Recently my husband and I have had to make some decisions that eventually will hopefully set us free.

Dave Ramsey often states, "Act Your Wage."   While a harsh statement at times to those struggling financially,  it makes sense.   Most people don’t act their wage.   Sadly,  the results are slavery.  The Bible states that the borrower is slave to the lender. I can attest that debt is slavery.

Now... My husband and I have made many good choices in our marriage,  but we've also made some mistakes.  We've dealt with unexpected atomic bombs.  However,  we have coped to the best of our ability.

We have been wise in not getting credit cards.  My husband detests them.  He knows they are trouble.  While we have occasionally financed things,  we have mostly paid cash for things.  Financing always comes back to haunt us.  

The exception to our "no financing" rules has been our home and vehicles.   But even that has hurt us.

We didn't purchase these things to compete with anyone or try to achieve some high standard of living.  We financed these things because we need shelter and transportation.   But... Even that has come back to haunt us at times.

We began to change things over the last few years by paying down debt.  We began living on a cash system a few months ago,  and it has made incredible changes to our finances.   Dave Ramsey is correct when he states that handing over cash is more painful than swiping a card... Even a debit card!

Now we are trimming more.   Soon,  when we can pay to break the contact,  the satellite subscription will be gone.   We are looking to move to an area where utilities are more affordable and where we can save on gas expense. 

 

Getting out of debt is difficult and requires sacrifices.   But I believe this is what God wants.   I can't find anywhere in the Bible where God says debt is good.   Instead He calls it A CURSE!  

There is no better word to describe how living with debt feels :  CURSED.   I've come to believe that anything you finance means taking on a curse.  

What is your curse? Do you keep your curse nice and clean?  Do you trade in your curse for a new curse every two years?  Do you decorate your curse?  Do you think you got a deal because your curse has a low interest rate?  Are you proud of your curse because it gives you reward points? 

Yes... This is extreme thinking.   I know that people have to have a place to live,  transportation to work,  etc.   I realize that there are many that pay off their credit cards every month and are responsible.   But there are also many that are suffering under a curse,  believing they could afford the payments,  then feeling the weight of that curse when a job loss or illness happens.   No savings,  no rainy day fund (and it will rain eventually).

I'm going to give an example of a couple know.  The husband works in sales.  He's good at his job and makes a good income. The wife runs a small home business and does okay.  Her income is a nice supplement to the finances.  They have one child that has some special needs,  and do their best to give him what he needs.   While they have life insurance in case of a catastrophe,  they also have a lot of debt.  They lease vehicles.  The salesman knows the power of a good credit score, and believes his wealth is what he can finance,  not what he has paid for... Unless it's equity he can borrow against.   Never content,  constantly planning this trip or remodeling that room or getting a loan for something or another... They are living a great life.   But  I wonder what happens if his job one day disappears.  He can and will find another,  but his income may not pay for the lifestyle the couple lives.

How many of us are a job loss or an illness away from catastrophe?   How many of us are so burdened by debt that even without a catastrophe we feel weighed down by the curse of debt?  

My husband and I know that at least one of our curses has risked our health.   It's a ton thing to have things you've bought on credit,  are still paying for,  but don't even have the items any longer.   It's another to have a curse you are paying on,  but it is so damaged it is a safety risk for your family.   No longer just a bill,  the curse just got a whole lot heavier when it's unsafe.

As I continue reading and learning,  I am praying that God guides us every step of the way. He has helped us through many ups and downs,  and I believe He will help us here also.

What Makes a Home?

I look around this house that we made our home several years ago, and I remember the good times and the tough times.  We went through so much here in this building of bricks, wood, and plaster.

When we moved here, my oldest was thirteen.  I had dreamed of having "my own home" for years.  To me, a family home represented the stability I never had moving around most of my life.  I wanted it to be the "family center", like my Grandmother's farm had been when I was a child.  I had such high expectations!

My husband and I were naive. We had never bought a house.  We didn't push for the proper inspections.  We had no clue what was meant by full disclosure laws.  We were taken for a ride by an owner that wanted to sell quick and a mortgage company that was eager for a sale.  Before the housing market crash, this was common.

 

Immediately, after we moved in, everything went wrong.  Within three weeks of moving in, my oldest was hospitalized, diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. The sewer lines backed up for the first time just months after we moved in.  It was at that point that we were notified by the plumber that snaked the lines that he knew the house well.  He'd been there to clear tree roots out of the lines before, though he hesitated to say how often.

Within a year the money we wanted to put into the house instead went to an attorney as we fought for custody of my husband's daughter...after some allegations came out that had us petrified for her safety.  Trust me, this wasn't a petty decision.  But after one lawyer dropped our case to become a judge, and the next milked us for the rest of our savings, we quit. We had never seen the inside of a courtroom, and wouldn't without paying yet more attorney fees.

In the midst of that horrible case, my husband and I became Christians.  What Satan meant to destroy us led us to Christ.  That changed our family and home more than anything else could have.  We had a lot of growing and learning to do, but we had found Jesus.  Or maybe Jesus found us.

A couple of years later, about the time our water line outside busted, I became pregnant.  We fixed the water line, and prepared for a new baby.  In 2007, we added a fifth girl to our family.

Plumber visits became a yearly or twice yearly occurrence due to the aging sewer lines.  But replacing them is so expensive, we just couldn't afford it.

Ups and downs continued.  My husband took a new job with a Christian employer that was days, Sundays off.  It was wonderful... For a few months.  When the economy crashed in 2008, my husband's job took a huge hit.  We spent a year with cut hours and unemployment.  It took every dime to keep from losing everything.  Fixing up the house was put on hold.

Then came health issues.  I was diagnosed with gall-bladder disease.  After months of waiting for insurance, I had surgery.  

My husband was able to go back to his previous job, but it was at a huge pay decrease.  The employer spent years with a wage freeze.  He had a job, but it barely covered basic expenses.  It took a long time to improve even a little.

Our two oldest moved out around this time.  We should have been more financially secure with less people in the house, but it didn't work out that way.  We took a hit in our household income even as expenses seemed to rise.

Then came another custody battle.  This time my step-daughter was older, more expressive, and able to talk to the judge herself.  To keep her from being moved away from us, we again felt it was in her best interest to try to protect her.  It took a year, but we won.  She lives with us. She is safe.  

We praise God for this daily, but the legal expenses piled up.   Then the vehicle we had quit and needed replaced.  We spent months with only a pick-up or borrowed vehicles for a family of five. We bought an older car, but still had to get a loan.

This last year has been such a struggle financially.  Our utilities have nearly doubled, but our usage hasn't.  Rate increases have hit us hard.  We were able to get a loan modification that helped a little, but a small decrease in payment doesn't fix the major things wrong with the house.

We still owe legal fees from the custody case.  The lawyer has been patient, but I wonder how long that will last.

We have one vehicle.  My husband works 12 hour shifts. Money we are supposed to receive weekly for my step-daughter is rarely paid, and we can't afford more legal fees to attempt to remedy the situation.  It would cost more than we might receive. So far free programs have been useless.

Recently, sewer lines busted under our house.  The entire sewer line needs replaced. Luckily, the broken line runs separately from the main line because it is part of an addition.  We at least only lost the use of one of our two bathrooms.

I look around this house, where I have lived and raised my children for nearly ten years, and I pray for God to guide us.  Wiring is severely outdated and needs replaced. One light buzzes and blows bulbs. I'm almost afraid it is a fire hazard. The outlets, we discovered recently, aren't properly grounded. Sewer lines need replaced.  The garage roof needs replaced.  Windows need replaced.  They are leaking air, and several have broken frames so we can't open them. These are the urgent needs, the ones that HAVE to be done soon. 

The less urgent needs would be ones such as insulation, or replacing the broken back door.Our house's main walls are plaster on cinder block.  There is no insulation in them.  The house was built over 100 years ago.  That means, when it is really cold outside, as is common for a Midwest winter, the furnace can't keep the house very warm. 

We have half-finished projects everywhere that we can't afford to finish.  The dream of my home being "family center" died long ago. There is too much wrong with the house to host family holidays or celebrations.  Our upstairs bathroom, the only working one, doesn't even have a door.  There's just a blanket hanging up to give some sort of privacy.

I am so grieved.  I want to honor the Lord with my life.  That includes finances.  We tithe.  We serve.  And I see that we can't stay in this house much longer.  I don't want to let my Lord down, and so I pray that He brings me peace with whatever decisions my husband and I must make.

People have asked me, "Why didn't you sue when you found out the problems the house had?  Full disclosure means you should have been told.  Why didn't the mortgage company do the proper inspections?"

The truth is, my husband and I had no clue what was required and what wasn't ten years ago in buying a home.  We didn't have anyone helping us.  We didn't think about greed or manipulation on the part of others.  We also could have never foreseen the unbelievable challenges we would face. 

My husband and I don't have extra debt.  We don't have credit cards.  We bought a car we could pay off in a couple of years instead of the standard four or five, and then only because we had no choice.  We sold my husband's work truck to pay bills when we got behind.We believe in paying our debts!

Some in the Christian community are wonderfully supportive.  Some aren't.  To those that aren't, please don't think that your blessings from God will mean no times of testing, no struggles, no loss, no tough times, or no heartbreaking decisions.  It's easy to look at others and think that they are just reaping what they sowed somehow.  

Sometimes, that is true.  My husband and I, not being Christians at the time, being naive, didn't exactly pray over whether to buy our home.  We want to honor  commitments we made, even if we made this one before we knew Christ, even if we were naive.  But I feel like the decision is being taken from our hands, as the health and safety of my children must be considered.  And, to be honest, if we can't insulate properly, the high utilities from recent rate increases have made the house unaffordable.

I could tell you about the water lines we fixed...twice; the roof we replaced after an ice storm (insurance covered most of that); the hot water heater that nearly exploded and was replaced; the sub-pump we replaced in the basement after a flood destroyed nearly everything down there, the mold discovered in the walls, the damp basement, the hours of remodeling, etc.  But that only makes it all more overwhelming.

Many times financial struggles are blamed on misuse of finances.  But for us, having not relied on credit cards, having paid off every loan we've ever had from vehicle loans to student loans, this is hurtful. We don't blow money.  We don't take vacations. We rarely eat out. I hand-make most of our foods instead of buying processed stuff. I grow a garden. My husband recycles copper and aluminum. I even make homemade laundry soap. 

We live frugally, and mostly off of cash.  We live off a tight budget.  We don't smoke or drink or any of those other expensive habits.  Our clothes are usually only new when we receive them as gifts.  The mall is not a place we hang out. 

And, speaking of clothes, they are nearly all line-dried year round.  I have a clothes line outside in the summer, and drying racks inside during the winter.  This not only saves on utilities, but the clothes don't fall apart.  They don't fade or wear out because they aren't in a dryer. We live as simply and frugally as we can.

I look around this place and remember bringing my youngest home from the hospital. I remember the birthday parties. I remember the endless story-times on the couch. I remember the proms, the movie-nights, the first dates, the first days of school. I remember hosting my Grandma's 81st birthday party in my dining room.  I remember the all the 4th of July celebrations here, just a couple blocks from where the town lights off fireworks.  

I know that a home is made up of the family inside, not the materials that built it.  I don't want to let Jesus down, and I don't want to let my children down.  I feel that, somehow, my husband and I have done both.  I keep praying, asking for guidance, asking for a miracle.  Behind again in bills, I don't know if God has a miracle in store, or if we have another struggle to go through. 

I only know that, through the tough times, I feel His presence.  My husband and I have sought to honor Him in every area of or lives.  We have failed at times, and yet His grace and mercy and forgiveness are there.

I've placed all of this in His hands. 

Building a Home Library

One of the major decisions for my family lately has been one concerning finances.  As much as I have loved the pre-planned, all-in-one, boxed curriculum; our finances have taken some severe hits lately. 

Saving money and trusting God have become one and the same.  What probably can't happen is spending thousands every year on homeschool supplies.  Some years I can afford to purchase more extravagant purchases, and other years my budget allows for only what is most important.

Purchasing for next year is one of those "only what's most important" years.  Luckily, I've been homeschooling long enough to know that it isn't the end of the world.  I've learned how to utilize what I have, and how to build an affordable, Christian curriculum.

I've learned how to use the library, the internet, and ebooks through Kindle and Nook.  I love having resources at home, so I've learned to buy used, to constantly have my eyes open and to be thinking ahead.

Today I went to a resale shop.  It was so fun!  I was looking for Christmas, and actually found some amazing gifts.  But finding a few homeschool resources was icing on the cake!  I found Christian story books, a wonderful Story Bible, and even some readers.  Probably my favorite homeschool find was the David Barton DVD on Government.  

I believe in investing in quality Christian supplies.  In fact, after my math, English, and foreign language courses; I'm planning on purchasing science and history from Christian-worldview sellers. Sometimes finding them used is difficult.  Finding them at the library is nearly impossible.  But I do believe that, at times, God will lead us to deals and ways to teach our children, even when money is in short supply.  We simply need to keep our eyes open and pray for Him to provide. 

The Turkey in the Bottom of the Freezer

Turkey... The meat of choice for most Americans on Thanksgiving.  In fact, most of the year, my family only eats turkey in the form of lunch meat or ground turkey.  

Until this week...

A few years ago my mom called me, upset, because my Grandma had run out of food.  A family member had given her a turkey, so she had cooked that up and was eating it.  When I asked my Grandma about it, she just smiled and said, "It was much worse in the Depression.  A turkey then would have feed my whole family for a few days."

In my quest to save money and live off cash as much as possible, my husband and I have been trying with all we have to get our bills in order.  When I go to the store, my budget the last several weeks has been extremely low.  In fact, this week, it wasn't enough.  We ran out of meals for dinner half-way through the week.  I knew it was going to happen if money we are owed didn't come in. (I was really praying for those funds to show.)  But, they didn't.

I have been following the Lord in tithing, trusting Him.  Things are tight, but I keep trusting that He will provide, even when I'm not sure how.  

I must confess here that it is very challenging to follow a wheat-free, low-carb diet with this budget.  Carbs are cheap!  I've been able to maintain the wheat-free, but I have increased my carbs because I've had no choice.  Meats have not been as easily afforded.  But God will provide.

Anyway, I was trying to figure out what to make to help our food stretch.  Sure enough, in my deep freeze, was a turkey.

I don't know where it came from.  Was it given to us last year and never used?  I set it in the fridge to thaw.

Yesterday my home smelled like Thanksgiving.  I was giving thanks, because we had meat to last us a couple of days!  

Yes, our finances at the moment are that tight.  We are where God wants us, even though it's hard.  Sometimes God places us in hard places to have us lean on Him.  

We will have turkey next week at my sister's house.  My children may not be overly eager to eat turkey after it being our meal for a couple of days this week; but luckily, we will have a ham there too.

Cash living is challenging, but it leaves a deep peace in me as well.  I know what money I have.  I have it with me, and so I'm not worrying about my bank account like before.  I only need to check it every couple of days to make sure the bills have been paid correctly (that the bank didn't mess up).  The bills are getting paid. Tithes are getting paid. 

We are broke, but there is a peace that comes from doing things the right way.  Others may not have the same struggles, and think I'm just irresponsible. That's your right.  

But I believe, with finances such a mess for people, that others have similar or worse battles.   Some of you out there are neck-deep in credit card debt because you swipe that card when finances are tight.  Now you owe too much, and have no clue what you even bought!  You need a week of eating a turkey, counting your blessings because you have food.  

From now on, when I see a turkey, it will be a reminder to me of God's provision.  Just like Thanksgiving is supposed to be a day of thanking God for His blessings upon us (not for mass shopping, but that's another post), the turkey has become an object lesson for me.

Cheap & Green Fabric Softener

Winter always makes me sad.  One of my favorite things is hanging clothes on my clothesline.  In the Midwest, it gets tough to do when the wind is bitter and the snow is flying.  So, I switch to drying racks.

But they are not nearly as much fun.  I don't get the same feeling of relaxation.  It takes a couple of days to get the clothes dry, even with them sitting on the heat vents. 

So, for things like blankets and towels, I am often forced to use the dryer.  However, buying fabric softener  sheets is one of my least favorite things to spend money on.  When every dime matters, I really don't want to have the extra cost.

Occasionally I have bought the liquid.  I will mix it with water and throw in cut up sponges.  This works very well at keeping the clothes soft and static free.

Lately I have been trying to eliminate some chemicals.  As I am eating more naturally, less processed foods, I don't want to have strong chemicals in everything I clean with.

I stumbled on the aluminum foil ball trick online.  I have been using vinegar as a fabric softener for awhile.  It didn't seem to do much to control static for the few things I dry in the cold months.  I had ran out of my fabric softener and water mixture (you can only water down the fabric softener so much before it's watering down water).  So... I tried the aluminum foil balls.  

Yes, my husband thought I was nuts.  However, he's been through my years of playing mad scientist, making homemade products.  He just goes with the flow now.

Anyway, it worked as I had read.  While it doesn't soften clothes like my fabric softener sponges, the static was gone.  And it cost....Pennies?  Plus, I can reuse the aluminum balls for months.  (I say balls because my dryer is extra-large capacity...so I made two.)

If you are looking for a way to save some money, then give this a try.  After all, being a good steward of our resources, including our cash, is important.

Cash Envelope Living

It's Friday...payday.  I am determined that bank living (using checks and debit cards) is done.  Why?  I'm sick of the fees, sick of not feeling in control of my money, sick of it all.  Unfortunately, my husband's job requires a bank account to direct deposit paychecks.  So...I'll swallow the $1.50 fee every month for my husband's checks to be deposited.  

I dealt with the bills and then went to get groceries.  I stopped by the ATM first to get out cash from my bank account.  I sorted the money quickly into preplanned pockets in my "envelope". 

My Dollar Tree Envelope Holder

I bought my envelope a couple of years ago at a Dollar Tree.  It's actually, I believe, a coupon holder.  I have two of them, and they are wonderful.  I know there are fancier ones, but they cost money.  Mine are already purchased, were cheap anyway, and sturdier than paper envelopes.

After I sorted the money to the appropriate pockets, I went shopping.  It is very different than how I have been shopping.  First, the calculator on my phone was in strict use.  I knew that I only had a certain amount of cash, and it had to go to the most important items.

Ordinarily, when using my debit card, I would not have sorted my money this way.  This is a sad statement to how poorly I have been stewarding my family's finances.  I would have mentally known how much I could spend...maybe... And then bought what I thought I needed.  I wouldn't have kept a strict running total.  I wouldn't have asked myself if an item was truly needed, or was just a want.  I would have purchased things such as a snack and a drink (soda or coffee) "for the drive", even though I was only 20 minutes from home.  I would have spent too much, and then regretted it later.  I would have been frustrated with myself, and stressed out, as I had to cut short the gas money or tithe money.  Then we would be in a bind.  

This didn't happen every week, but it did cause a lot of unnecessary troubles and stress.  Cash living isn't easy, but it sure is better for me if it forces me to be strict with myself and my family about our money.  

I have spent a lot of time praying about our finances.  I feel that God expects His children to do whatever they have to do to be good stewards of what He gives them. When we aren't, there are consequences.  I used to live simply, and had much less stress.  I feel God wants me to go back to the simple ways that worked.  We'll take this financial adventure a day at a time. 

Goodbye Checks

I really despise banks.  

We left a bank a few months ago.  Their policies had changed.  My husband's direct deposits weren't being deposited when they were supposed to, but checks were being cleared.  The overdraft fees added up quickly.

It seemed the credit union we chose would be better.  Deposits are immediately available.  However, we have a couple of bills that are automatic withdrawals.  They couldn't seem to figure out which bank to withdrawal the bill from, despite numerous phone calls.  We were told it would come out of one account, only to find it was withdrawn from the other.  It took two months to be able to close the old bank account.  The fresh start with a new account had already acquired overdraft fees.

We did well for awhile.  Then, last month, the Satellite company accidentally double-billed our account.  They returned the money, but it took days!  Sure enough...we were slapped with more overdraft fees.

I don't have any respect for banks.  I think they take advantage of people that are struggling financially. 

I won't completely blame banks for everything.  I've made mistakes.  My husband has messed up, purchasing gas or lunch and forget to give me the receipt.

I've learned my weak spots through the years.   To change things, I have to eliminate... Or make really inconvenient...my weak spots.  Today, I made a big decision.  NO MORE CHECKS!!!

I used my last check last week.  I am refusing to order more.  Checks are my weak point.  I know that I can quite a check at certain places and it won't clear for at least two days.  So...when I run low on Wednesday, I know I can write a check and it won't hit my account until Friday...payday.

 

The problems arise when I spend more than I should.  While I wish I was very disciplined, the truth is that I'm not.  We live on a very limited income.  Every dime counts.  I don't spend extravagantly.  But, I don't plan add well as I should some days.

I've attempted to live off of cash several times.  It's difficult to pay bills that way when nearly all the bills have to be mailed.  However, I truly believe that any spending, after bills, should be cash.

First, cash is less convenient.  Many grumble about that, but the  inconvenience isn't horrible.  Yes, I have to think ahead so I know I have cash.  Yes, I have to actually go into the gas station to pay for fuel.  But I'm not a baby.  I can handle it.

Cash is harder to hand over.  It's tangible.  When I have a $20 bill in my hand, and it's my last $20, breaking it for a soda is difficult.  It really is!  But I could swipe my debit card or even write out a check without batting an eye.  Why?  I asked myself that very question numerous times.  I can only rationalize that checks and debit cards don't seem like real money.

I feel the same way about direct deposits and paying bills online.  It's all just numbers on a page or a screen.  My husband's job requires direct deposit for payroll checks, so there is no choice there.  And while I could withdrawal cash for bills, I would then have to spend money to purchase money orders.  While I'm praying about whether I want to do that, the option for online bill pay is free.  I've had a couple issues with the online bill pay, and hesitate to use it regularly.

Like I said, I hate banks.

Earlier today I opened my desk drawer.  I began pulling out the duplicate check carbons, check registers, and deposit slips.  It was crazy!  I had three years worth of checks in one drawer.  When I counted the number of carbon books for the duplicates, I realized I had thirty-six, not including the used up one still in my wallet.  That adds up to over 900 checks in three years!  

That is a lot of checks.  And since I haven't used checks to pay bills, with the exception of my town water bill, in at least five years; these 900 checks have been written at places like the local gas station, Walmart, the grocery store, and at my church for tithes.

Except for tithes, I have to wonder how much less I would have spent if I had paid cash instead of writing out a check.   Of course, these 900 checks aren't the only purchases.  We have debit cards also.  In fact, my husband hates checks.  He despises taking the time to write one out.  So, his purchases have been mostly with his debit card.  

I wanted to get rid of these check carbons.  I don't own a shredder.  Some of these have personal information written on them that was originally written on the check, such as driver's license numbers or phone numbers.  While banks don't put account numbers on the duplicate check copy, I still didn't feel that just throwing them away was safe.  

My older girls and I had a small bonfire this evening.  I burnt the carbons.  It was cathartic.  I'm taking away my "too easy".  I'm taking away most of my ability to spend too much.  I'm taking away my ability to "play games", such as writing a check knowing that the money won't be in the account for two days.

Just a thought....has anyone considered burning our government's checkbook? 

I will admit that I haven't gotten rid of debit cards.  The debit card is useful to me.  I order homeschool curriculum online, pay a couple bills with it, etc.  These aren't daily expenses, and are carefully planned.  However, the debit card is staying at home instead of being best friends with my wallet.

 

I can't close my bank account entirely, though I wish I could.  It seemed like the old days of cash was simpler.  

And don't think I'm not aware that, by using cash, all the tracking and data mining takes a hit.  Ha! 

I get frustrated by anything that I feel controls me.  I quit smoking because I hated that it controlled me.  I quit drinking soda for the same reason.  Getting the spending habits of my household under control is important to me.  Cutting bills, reducing expenses; it all solves nothing if I overspend that dollar here, dollar there, and incur overdrafts because of it.

Lord, give me guidance to do what needs to be done.  In Jesus' name.

Saving Bacon Grease

In the south it is called "yellow gold".  I had never saved bacon grease until this year.  In fact, I believed that bacon was horrible for me.  While I'm not going to debate whether bacon is healthy or not, I'm leaning towards the healthier option.  

In my a quest to regain my health, one of the things I have learned is that low-fat diets can do a lot of damage.  One of the problems with low-fat diets is that the body stops absorbing certain vitamins efficiently.  Fat-soluble vitamins need FAT to be effectively absorbed into the intestines.  I have given myself permission to eat all the yummy foods that I avoided or chose the low-fat varieties for years...meats.  This includes (one of my favorites) BACON!

The occasional times I would eat real bacon, I would usually microwave it.  Occasionally I would fry it.  Then I would toss the grease in the garbage.  While I was doing my research into vitamin absorption I stumbled upon people who talked about saving their bacon grease.

I had never heard of this (total northern girl).  I didn't remember my grandmother saving her grease, but I'm told she did years ago.  Then she was told that it was unhealthy, so she stopped and switched to Crisco.  How sad, since Crisco is really a very unhealthy oil.

I dug out a jar and began saving my grease.  I've been doing so now for a few months.  I love it!

Bacon grease adds such incredible flavor to my foods!  I add a little to my veggies, fry my potatoes in it, and even add it to my meats.  Throw a little in the pan or the crock pot and the flavor enhances my dinners in ways simple seasonings don't.

I still use coconut oil and olive oil, but the bacon grease is much cheaper.  It costs me the price of my bacon.

Saving bacon grease is simple to do.  I simply fry my bacon as usual.  The bacon grease comes from the fat in the bacon.  As the fat heats up, it melts.

After I cook my bacon, I drain my grease from the pan into a heat-safe bowl to cool a little.  I don't like putting hot grease into a cold jar.  Sometimes I have to drain the grease a few times if I'm cooking a lot of bacon or if the bacon is extremely fatty.  I try to use bacon from farm pigs instead of store-bought bacon.  I feel the pork is a higher quality and more nutritious.

After my bacon cools a little (usually be the time I finish my breakfast) I get out my jar from the refrigerator that I use to store my grease.  Some people keep the grease in a jar or canister right on the stove.  I use the fridge so the grease doesn't go bad.  I hear the grease can sit out for LONG periods of time and be fine, but I would rather be safe.  Plus, the last thing my counters need is more clutter.

I then pour the grease into the jar, using a metal screen to catch and bacon bits.  Some just keep the bits in the grease.  Again, this is your preference.  If the grease goes bad, the bits are the first thing to go rancid.

After that, put a lid on the jar and store.  It's so easy !  

Stretching Every Cent

We've done some crazy things around our home lately.  

Yesterday, while we were out shopping, we picked up a couple LED light bulbs.  

At night, our home is not lite up like a Christmas tree any longer.  In fact, we've developed an affinity for very little light in the evening.  We've even lit a candle here or there.

I have begun shutting off the shower while I "suds"up.  I'm encouraging my daughters to do the same.

We only use the dishwasher when it's completely full. We shut off the heat dry and let the dishes air dry.

ALL clothes are washed in cold water and line dried.  Come winter, we will switch to drying racks.  I've used clothes lines and drying racks for a couple years, but the washing in cold water exclusively is new.  I used warm or hot water, thinking somehow that my clothes were cleaner.  After some research, I've discovered that they aren't.  Hot is only needed for grease or oil on clothes.  Occasionally my husband's work clothes may get greasy, but most of the time he wears a uniform.

I have developed a new routine at bedtime.  I go through the house.  I check to make certain the doors are locked, as I always have, and I unplug.  I shut off lights and...unplug.  I unplug the microwave, the coffee pot, the computer, the TV, the DVD player, and the DVR.  I try to make sure my phone and Nook are charged, so neither has to sit on a charger all night.

All of this may only save pennies, but "A penny saved is a penny earned."  And, right now, I am ready to save every cent I can.  

Suddenly frugal?  No...I've always been frugal.  I just am sick of being a slave.  You see, the Bible says the debtor is a slave to the lender.  I can't stand being beholden to anything!  

My husband and I felt we had no choice when our transmission went out in or van last fall except to buy a car.  It's a used car.  The van had extremely high mileage, and the cost of the new transmission was more than the value of the van.  So... We bought a car and signed up for payments.  Bad idea! 

Then came a couple of bills that we didn't plan.

Then prices increased on regular bills, such as utilities.  When the price to heat and light your home jumps over 25%, all due to rate increases, you know it's time to take drastic measures.  Then the water rates were increased.  

When I look at my budget and wonder how we will pay for all the bills and still eat, I know it's time for drastic action.

So we are cutting everything.  Cut, cut, cut!  And we will do our best to pay down, pay off, eliminate, and scrape through until we come out of the other side.

Living Beyond Your Means

It happens slowly, with compromise. First, we pay off a bill and believe that we are "safe" for a bit. We can then use that money that was going toward the bill to f-i-n-a-l-l-y upgrade to the smartphone that everyone else has, or to f-i-n-a-l-l-y get the satellite television that we have lived without for nearly as long as our youngest has been alive. My husband has been back to work from his unemployment for a couple of years now, and even though we still have a couple of small bills left, it's time to reward ourselves!  Right?

Um.... NO!

First the vehicle that was paid off bill basically dies a painful but quick death.  There is no reviving it without spending more than it is worth... knowing that it won't last long even if fixed.  That means that the paid off bill is suddenly an expense again.  Then, we were hit with a bill that we didn't plan, but that came about anyway through no fault of our own.  Then, the utility company refigures the yearly budget plan, and increased our payment nearly 25%.  Money that is supposed to be income doesn't show as it is supposed to.  Some of the thought-out (and prayed over) homeschool curriculum isn't working for one child, and I realized that she needs something different... leading to an expense we didn't plan.  Food prices continue to escalate, and no matter how much we cut back on everything, we just can't seem to make those dollars stretch to cover everything.  I am disappointed in myself because I knew, deep down, that I should have been smarter, planned better.  I knew that things might not turn out as we had hoped.  I left no leeway for things to go bad.  I know that was wrong, but after years of struggle, I just wanted things to go right for awhile.

This has been my last three months.  Unfortunately, beating myself up isn't the answer.  And, with the policies that our government is making, I don't believe deep down that things will improve.  In fact, I know that inflation is almost a definite.  Things won't become easier, because that makes no sense.  If financial pressures land on my family because we relaxed too much for a brief period, then financial struggles are sure to fall on a government spending irresponsibly and way beyond their means.

So, I am in a place where I have to make some tough decisions... where I will have to sacrifice here and there until I get things back on track.  It always takes a lot longer to get things on track than it does to get into trouble, so I imaging we'll be struggling for awhile to keep afloat.  But I believe that, even in tough times, even when tough times are our fault, we can persevere and triumph with the Lord.  He won't reward poor stewardship, but He will teach lessons and sustain me through the tough times.

As I look around at my life, I realize that I am tired of living stressed.  I would rather do without than be stressed out in luxury.  So, I seek ways to lower our bills, stretch every penny, and be faithful to God through it all. 

I"m not alone either.  I see friends and family that struggle, but hide it, or live with accumulating debt, not thinking about the future.  It's easy to live either way.  It's easy to want to live like everyone else is living, to have nice things, to confuse wants with needs. 

After all, isn't having cell phones a necessity? Don't we need one for safety?  What if our car breaks down?  What if someone needs to get a hold of us while we aren't home?  I looked at my cell phone company's selection of basic phones.  They have three of them.  The selection of smart phones number about thirty.  They know that they will sell the phones that cost an extra $30 a month at least for internet access per phone line.  They are raking in the dough, while introducing upgrade fees and trying to charge more for phones.  Despite a stressed economy and still high unemployment, it seems everyone has a smart phone.  It has become a "necessity" of sorts.  No longer is the norm a family phone, but each individual member having their own number.  Instant access to anyone, day or night, is no longer seen as a luxury, but as just the way it is.

A few years ago I was so happy to have unlimited long distance on my land line.  No longer was I going to have to worry about high phone bills since everyone I knew was long distance.  I realized recently that I am spending an average of $2400 a year on cell phone service for my husband, me, and our oldest teenager.  The next teen in line is chomping at the bit to have a cell phone.  Some of her friends already have smart phones, including our 11 year old neighbor!  What will I have to give up to allow my child to have a basic phone?  I surely can't afford a smart phone for her! 

As I struggle to pay our utility bill and house payment, I realize that a cell phone argument seems silly.  But this is how I see those around us living!  Both parents are working full time.  Children are sent to public schools that aren't safe, and then come home to empty houses, all so parents can afford smart phones for their nine year olds!  Where we used to think it was important to not let a child have a computer in their bedroom for safety purposes, we now give them unlimited access to the internet unsupervised because that is what "everyone is doing".  (And I am uncomfortable with the fact that every electronic transmission, whether it be text, phone call, email, facebook status, or blog post is being data mined by our government.)

Well... I'm not going to do what everyone else is doing.  I stay home and homeschool my children. That comes with a cost.  That cost is we don't get to have all the "stuff" everyone else seems to have. We have to live cheaply.  We have to make do.  We have to limit ourselves.  It isn't fun, but it is important.  I don't want to be behind on my bills.  I don't want to be in debt.  I don't want to be a slave to the bill collectors.  I don't want to live stressed out, wondering how I will pay my bills, wondering if I will have to choose between gas money and food.

Before you think that I am alone... I assure you I am not.  One only has to look around to see that many others struggle.  I think tough times are supposed to teach us lessons.   I didn't learn all the lessons I was supposed to, however.  So, God is letting me repeat the test... again. 

Learning to Can Foods

I've been learning a new skill this past summer.  I've been learning how to can our own foods.  I've always wanted to learn, but was very nervous.  I guess I anticipated it being complicated and difficult.  To my surprise, it's really not.

 For the lady couple of summers I have been freezing my vegetables.  My tomatoes have been roasted in the oven.  I'll still do this,but adding canning gives me so much more variety.  I can't freeze cucumbers, but I can make pickles.

I stated with applesauce.  The apple tree on out church lot had a huge amount of apples.  We loaded up a five gallon tub.  Peeling and coring the apples isn't my favorite thing, but I had lots of help from the girls and my husband. 

I found applesauce to be quite easy.  I even canned the first jars with my large stock pot because I hadn't purchased the water bath canner yet.  

I have since made a batch of pickles and canned blueberry jam.  Right now my house smells wonderful as the smell of apple butter permeates the air from the crock pot!  I hope to can some of that in the next day or so.

I have a pressure canner for vegetables that I haven't used yet.  It was given to me a couple years ago when I first grew curious about canning, but never delved into.

The expense is a bit much at first, buying equipment and jars.  I had a few sets of jars from yard sales, etc.  However, I have nowhere near enough to can foods seriously for my family.  I've been picking up sets of jars s-l-o-w-l-y.  After I get the jars, the can be safely used over and over.

I an so grateful to all the wonderful bloggers and fellow canners that have written articles and posted pictures and videos to help me learn this new skill.  Between health reasons and the economy, I feel this is one of the best moves we can take as a family.  Having a pantry stocked full of organically grown fruits and vegetables ensures we will have food to eat that isn't full of additives and preservatives, and is ready during the times when finances may be a struggle.

Best of all, it tastes amazing.  My girls are learning important life skills that will last them a lifetime.