ART LESSONS

I did it. I decided to invite others to take art lessons from me. It was so hard to click that SEND button, but I did. And within 10 seconds a friend called telling me she wanted her kids to take lessons, and then within 1 minute an email came. And then later today another email came. So...that is exciting. I'm a little nervous about how this will all pan out with my schedule. I don't want to overload myself. I double checked my prices just before sending the email. A nearby art school charges $35 for 3 hours for a group of 12. I'm charging $9 for half the time, and the groups will be much smaller. I feel that's reasonable. So.....here we gooooo!!!

GOOD NEWS!!!

I just wanted to give everyone the good news that Honda is paying for our transmission to be replaced!!! They haven't told us how much we will have to pay to have them install it. They said it would be a discounted rate. I am paying it will cost us nothing. Why not ask? Thank you, everyone, for praying! Praise God for all the good things He does for us.

Party Plates

Rebecca decided to have her birthday party next Monday night. She's been telling me for months that she wants her birthday party to be on the Queen's Birthday (New Zealand). I half heartedly listened but honestly was probably totally focused on something else. You know, that always come back to bite.
I hadn't purchased or even looked for her party plates and invites. You know what that means....Party City didn't have the prized Littlest Pet Shop theme. I was on hold at Wal-Mart and HEB too long to make it worth the call. I looked online, and to get them here in time I would have to pay $13 in shipping for $10 worth of merchandise. So we decided we would decorate the plates ourselves, which really translates that I would decorate the plates. We went to Wal-Mart on a whim because I needed to buy fruit and other groceries. Well, of course you will believe this, but they had Littlest Pet Shop party supplies! I was so excited. And Wal-Mart is so much cheaper than even Party City. In fact a few years ago I made a declaration that all party supplies would be purchased at Wal-Mart. Well, I'm glad I stick to my guns. :)

Good and Faithful Servant

What has inspired all this money talk? We've realized for a long time that we haven't been faithful with what God has given us; however, we never knew what to do differently, to truly change. We'd try to reverse our priorities, but everything would fall apart. We'd wonder, what are we doing wrong??? Not that we ever lacked or didn't have enough. For me the wake-up call: over half a million dollars has gone through our hands, and we don't have much to show for it. With all the wonderful financial tools out there surely we could have invested our money in a better way.

However much or little we are given should be used wisely to further God's kingdom. If you are given much but don't use it wisely, you end with not very much. Then you can't give very much and your heart feels like it will explode from sadness. Few people believe in giving everything away and then living off the very little that is left. I am completely awed by that. George Mueller believed and lived in this manner. But I am not there. Some people believe in giving some away, saving quite a bit, and then living off the rest. I want to be there. Many people don't realize that if they were to invest just a little every month they could have a large sum at the end of their life. What can be done in God's kingdom with that? To me, that is doing what the man with the talents did in the Bible. God does want us to give, and He wants us to give hilariously. He doesn't just want us sitting on our money afraid to give or afraid to invest. But we also shouldn't foolishly pass by a great opportunity to plant something and wait for it to grow.

I have eternal life based on compound interest, but I haven't understood the same principal based on money. I have forgotten that earthly matters often reflect spiritual ones. Doesn't our salvation stem from compound interest? Doesn't grace? You just have to have a little faith (like a mustard seed) and before you know it you're living in God's Kingdom. It's an amazing reality. As one of our pastor's said this weekend, a little faith had Peter walking on water. A little seed produces a tree full of apples. And through one man, Abraham, an entire nation was born. A little muscle burns a lot more calories. And a little money in a good mutual fund can make a million.

Most Americans think they should spend all they can and save if there is something left over and give what is left from that. We used to be there. We don't want to go back there ever again. It's not fun.

I don't think God is mad at anyone who gives all their money away and never invests it, but I also don't think He's mad at those who give some, invest some, and then at the end of their life have a couple million to give away. Doesn't it all stem from faith? Faith that we are doing what God has called us to do. And as long as we have an attitude of servant giving, our money will be in the right place.

Most importantly I must remember that there is more than money to be given away. Not having much money to give has taught me this. Time is more precious than money. Talent is heavier than coins. Serving is more profitable than compound interest. Comforting words are more soothing than the flow of currency. A precious possession is more meaningful than a present from the store. Money is not the only way to give. Usually we think green first. We give our dollar for relief but we never go help.

Certainly there is a place for money. Certainly there is a time to give. Jesus said to do both.
Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." I want to leave a legacy for my children. I want to have more to give away at the end of my life than at the beginning. I don't want to burden my children with expensive nursing home bills. In these years when I am young I want my doing to outweigh my giving and when I am old and can't do much I want to give God what's in the bank. Maybe that will teach the next generation watching that they can do the same.

New blog

I know I'm blogging a lot, but I have a lot on my mind. In case you're interested I started a new "health blog". The link is to the right, or you can just stick to this one.

Summer

Don't you just love this time of year?
Swimming in the lake, swimming in the pool. Time off from everything you have to do the rest of the year.
Vacation.
That's a nice word, too.
I miss family. I wish gas prices weren't so high. I wish we could be with family every weekend.

Our Van

Our van is very sick. Have I already said that? It needs a rebuilt transmission. That's sure not cheap. What's funny is that we have been praying about whether or not we should sell it. It would cut our debt in half if we did. I have been completely fine with doing that, but we have hesitated only to pray longer. Having two cars is pretty much a necessity even for homeschoolers. The total price of the repairs are $4000! Yep. Don't have it, and even if we did I don't know that we would pay it. Boy, this year has taught us the importance of an emergency fund.
You see the transmission was replaced by the previous owners at 40K miles just before we purchased it. It was a factory recall. I remember very vividly when we first took it in to the dealership they checked the records on the van and said yes that it had been replaced by the factory. So...just 40K miles and one year later it is out again??? Something fishy to me with this Honda thing. Micah called the Honda dealership and told them how very unhappy he was with the product. He was very frank and said that we would probably sell the car and never buy a Honda again. He threw around the word Toyota I'm sure-we really like those. Anyway, to our surprise they said they would send our claim in and they might pay for part or all of the repair. So, if you read this blog, would you please pray for us? We really don't want to pay for ANY of the repair. It would really throw us off the paying off debt track. Please, please, please, Lord! I know you know what's best, so we will trust You with that. The car belongs to you anyway!

A Beautiful Word

Things are going better today. We got through Tuesday when I felt like I could never purchase anything again to today. Payday. Such a beautiful word. So much hope comes in that word. Like...I will be able to buy groceries. We can pay for our house. We can pay for our car. Very nice word.

I have been teaching art to three sisters. They are so cute. They come over every other Wednesday and we have a marvelous time. The kids don't like having to give up that time with me, but I have found that it is such a refreshing moment for me. I absolutely love teaching people how to draw, to shade, to really see what they are looking at. I get jazzed just thinking about it. I have contemplated taking on more students for the summer, but I don't know. Becca has the hardest time with it. She gets to watch a movie, so I don't know why she is so against it. To her my time belongs to her. She's so cute. And the best part...I get a check and 3 hours of free babysitting. What a deal.

Frustrated

I'm frustrated that seemingly good things can take so long. Have you ever noticed how long it takes a flower to bloom? Or a tomato plant to grow a tomato? Or a child to stop throwing tantrums? And before you know it the flower is wilted, the tomato is picked and eaten, or the child is grown and married. That is how I feel. Sad. Today I'm just sad.

Lord, help me to live today for you. Not worrying about what tomorrow will bring. Help me not worry whether we will meet this or that goal. Help me not miss the many days you've already given me just waiting for "the day when...". Help me to see YOU.

Ballet Performance

Elizabeth had her ballet performance yesterday. I cried like a baby. I cried like a new mom. I cried like a mother watching her little girl grow into a young lady. I cried, and I smiled, and cried, and smiled, and laughed. It was so beautiful. So poetic. She and 8 other classmates performed to "Rejoissance" in beautiful, lavender flowy gowns. They had lavender flowers in their hair, and flowers on their gowns. It could have been in a wedding. It was so inspiring. And then the last song that they performed (she was not in it) was a worship dance with 10 girls. It was so powerful as they completely filled the stage and many poured out their hearts in genuine worship. It was amazing.

Her teacher gave an invitation at the end for everyone to give their heart to the Lord. Gary and Ginger were there. We were praying for them.

Nothing on my mind

Nothing of importance is on my mind today. It's just a fun day with not much work. Everything has wound down for the year. Tonight is the last night of ballet. We will continue with school, but that shouldn't take much of our day during the summer. There will be days we skip it, but for the most part we will keep plugging away. Can't forget 7 x 5! We must! We must!

I am so looking forward to the family get together. I can't wait to see our family. I miss everyone so much. Our van is sick, and we have to decide if we want the Honda dealership to fix it ($$$$$, but they would do it right the first time) or Billy Bob that works out of his garage to fix it. His name's not really Billy Bob, but you know what I mean!

Many congrats to Amber and Jerry!!!! I can't wait to meet Hayden. He is so scrumptiously cute!!!!!!! I love that hat!!!

Who

Who's I'm a dreamer? Gina? Sorry I don't know.

Fonts...Seriously

Seriously...How do all of you make your fonts look so nice??? I really want to know this because it bothers me that mine looks so jagged. Ya'lls all look smooth. Help!

I'm a junky

I finally have a minute to check blogs. I have officially spent almost 3 hours catching up on everyone's blogs. I still have more work to do, but I've at least made some headway. I read Jenny's stories forever.

Our life has been busy lately with budgeting. We are taking a Financial Planning class from Dave Ramsey. It has been so wonderful for our marriage! For the first time we are on the same page of the same book. I'm a little scared to say, so as not to jinx it, that we have prepared a budget together and been following it for the first time ever. Scary, huh? The whole thing started one day in the grocery store. I was writing a check, and then the thought occured to me, what if we don't have the money to cover this? I don't remember why I was worried about it at that exact moment, but I do know that I felt completely clueless about our finances. We have tried for 12 years to do a "budget" but always failed miserably. We have tried about 5 different methods, so you can see that we truly have tried. Nonetheless it never worked because we always had different goals.

Later that day when I came home Micah miraculously asked me if I would help him again with the budget. I saw this as nothing less than God's direction. Twice in one day??? Had to be HIM. I agree but was extremely afraid. In the past I have been EXTREMELY controlling of the budget. I know that IS SO HARD to believe. :) But it is true. I expressed that to him, but he still wanted my help. I prepared a budget. We asked our small group friends to pray for us. They did. Some of those same friends started a Dave Ramsey class. We ignored it thinking another budgeting siminar couldn't possibly help us. We kept asking them to pray for us. They did. We googled budgeting software. Dave Ramsey. Hmmm...Total Money Makeover...Hmmm...We watched a clip of one of his classes....Hmmm....He came on TV....Hmmm...Our friends invited us to their class....We were trying desperately to follow the budget we had prepared, but went "-" in every category....We got desperate...Well, you can see what happenend.

So, May is our first official Dave Ramsey "cash flow" month. I am saying this to ask everyone who reads this to say a prayer for us. We really need it. I have been amazed at what God has enabled us to do. Micah has taken his lunch to work now more than he eats out. I am so proud of him. I spend a lot of money on milk. It's the one pure, whole food we eat. (We drink RAW milk for those that don't know-we're weird). He only charges $6.50 a gallon, but you know it adds up. At any rate, other than milk, eggs, and beef I have been spending $67 a week on groceries. That is a miracle. I told the kids that before DR there was a week I spent $200 on the same items. Wow! It is so easy to "justify" junk food purchases when you have kids.

Anyway, our goals are to pay off debt, and get an emergency savings built up. Eventually there will be other goals, but for now that is overwhelming. I think the biggest difference between this class and others we have attended is that he really gets to the heart issue of the money. He addresses that first, and the cash flow plan (it's not a budget!) is secondary. He stresses that you HAVE to follow the plan you have set out, but he really deals more with why.