Adding to this months 'plan'...

I wanted to stop in briefly to add to my 'plan' for July. At the moment my parents are visiting for the week so I won't have the time to blog daily but I did want to add that we are going to be building a small chicken coop. To house about 7-10 chickens. We had built an 8x12 coop to house 27 chicks we had bought. Unfortunately we had to sell them because we didn't know if we would be staying in our home or not. Plus we needed the money. We still don't know, but I have to tell you...we miss those chickens somethin' awful! So, we are going to build a small coop with some left-over scraps of material we had from the last coop. I think my husband will be successful, he is a great coop builder!

The next thing we would need to do is buy some chickens. Not sure how we will get money for that just yet, but I am praying about it.

Enjoy the week and I will post again on Friday (my parents leave that day) about my bulk cooking weekend!!!

July 1st...plan for the month.

It is a new month and I thought I would share my plan (which is still a work in progress) for the month with all of you. I do believe it is helpful to see what others are doing to make ends meet, which can be inspiring. I hope by posting this it will get your creative juices flowing!

1. Make monthly menu

2. Try to save $100.00 worth of food for our emergency preparedness pantry.

3. Plan out my bulk cooking weekend for July 11 & 12.

4. Continue selling items in attempt to get our utility bills current (especially before winter comes again)

5. Figure out how to school our three kids in the fall...borrow/purchase curriculum.

A given...KEEP TRYING TO GET A JOB!


This is just a start. I will add to this as the month goes on.

Blessings,

How are YOU surviving unemployment?

I know many following my blog are dealing with a spouse being unemployed. Which is very hard to do, don't I know it! So, please share with us what you are doing to survive unemployment.

1. How are you paying your bills?

2. How are you dealing with the emotions one feels by being unemployed?

3. If you have children, how much do they know about what is going on?

4. Are you able to preserve your credit or is it in the 'pits'?

5. Have you grown stronger in faith during this trial?


Here are the answers to my own questions...

1. We are paying our bills late each month. I am selling just about anything we don't need. We've had a yard sale and that paid to get our garbage service back. We have some wonderful friends who have blessed us in various ways. There is nothing better than great friends and I feel so fortunate to have 2 GREAT friends. We've received money and gift cards from these friends, with no expectations. It is so humbling because I've always been the giver when we had income. I've always been the one to bless another in need and now I am on the receiving end.

2. It is hard to deal with the emotions of unemployment. We have our days where we are feeling low and hopeless. We have our days when we are feeling full of hope. On the not so good days we do a lot of praying, but we also vent to one another. I think venting can be good to get things off your chest. Just so long as you can come out on the other end feeling relieved. Some can't vent and that is okay. Know your limitations.

3. We have seven children and the four younger ones have no idea what is going on. The three older ones do and we are very open with them about our financial situation. We don't believe in hiding these things from them.

4. Our credit is in the pits. That is just the after effect of a job loss. When I started this blog I was on a strict budget to get our debt paid-off. Not that we had a lot of debt. Just enough that would take us 18months to pay-off. We can't preserve our credit because we don't have enough money coming in. Even with our friends offering financial help, it still isn't enough...but we are grateful for any help that they have given. More than they can ever know.

5. I would say we have definitely grown stronger in our faith. Though it has been rocky at times, we have still grown. The Lord has shown us that our life could be much worse and He has shown us that it is okay to accept help from others. That was a huge step for me to take. We've always worshiped as a family but I think in these last few months our worship time has looked different. We praise the Lord for all things good and bad. I think we sometimes forget to praise Him when things are bad. He knows what is ahead so He could very well be saving us from something much worse. Giving thanks in all situations is what we have been learning.


So friends, share your experience for those who are going through the same thing. Offer words of encouragement and prayers. Lets lift each other up to the Lord...we are stronger in numbers. He hears our prayers. Anything else you'd like to add is welcome, we'd love to hear it.

You are all in my prayers...

Yard Sale!

We are having a yard sale this weekend. I sure don't like all the work in preparing for a yard sale, I must admit. I do however, like making money and decluttering my home, so I do it.

This week we've been busy preparing for our yard sale. I've purged closets and dresser drawers. Gone through my kitchen cabinets and linen closet. We are even hoping to sell some bulky furniture that we don't 'need'.

We made flyers this time and put an advertisement in out little newspaper. The only thing I am concerned about is the timing, as it is Father's Day weekend. Oh well, I am just going to have to trust that the Lord is going to take care of it all.

I've been told be many locals that everyone loves yard sales here, so I am hopeful. Plus, I have a great friend who works at a local bank who has been spreading the word too.

Wish us luck on our yard sale tomorrow!

Have a lovely weekend and Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there...

Attitude ~

The definition of 'attitude' in the dictionary reads...

noun
1. manner, disposition, feeling, position, etc., with regard to a person or thing; tendency or orientation, esp. of the mind: a negative attitude; group attitudes.
2. position or posture of the body appropriate to or expressive of an action, emotion, etc.: a threatening attitude; a relaxed attitude.

As a Christian our attitudes show others a lot about our faith, how well we deal with a difficult situation, and if we are trusting in God. Trusting in God is a very difficult thing when times are tough...and boy do I know it! Still, His word says...

Psalm 112:6-8 (New International Version)

6 Surely he will never be shaken;
a righteous man will be remembered forever.

7 He will have no fear of bad news;
his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.

8 His heart is secure, he will have no fear;
in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.

Pretty powerful words, yes?

~ Example ~

Today, I had an inquiry on some books I am selling. I was thrilled to get that email today. After corresponding back with the buyer, she decided to not buy the books. Usually I would be crushed by this...I needed that money to pay a bill! But I said, no I am not going to let this bring me down. This has to be satan taking my focus off the Lord and I can't receive His blessings if I am not focused on Him. I rebuked satan that second and praised the Lord for the buyer who inquired. I was feeling very good and full of hope to see how the Lord was going to provide for our needs.

Then an hour later I received another email from a potential buyer for the same books and a few more. This buyer did buy the books and her purchase was more than the first buyer! Not only did the Lord cover what the first buyer was going to spend, but He gave us more! Wow...I was/am so thrilled!! Praise the Lord!!!

I wanted to blog about attitudes today because this is an area which I believe is a great struggle for many of us, Christian or non-Christian alike. As a Christian we are to be His light and shine in honor of His glory. We are to be a witness to others who see us having a difficult time. Showing them how we are trusting in the Lord may be what brings them to know Christ, by showing them how wonderful it is to know Him, love Him, and trust in Him.

It isn't only about how our attitudes are when we ourselves are going through a difficult time, but how we counsel others who are going through difficult times. Having a good attitude in dealing with those people is equally important if not more important. We don't want to plant seeds of doubt when one is struggling because you cannot know what they have heard from the Lord. Do you know if they've been praying in earnest to the Lord for His guidance? Do you know if they have heard from the Lord? Has the Lord closed or opened doors for them? Wisdom would say that the best thing you should do for a person who you believe to be making the wrong decision is to pray for them. Fervently pray for your brother/sister in Christ. Because seeds of doubt are not of the Lord, but if someone is trusting you and coming to you for Godly counsel, then it would be prudent for you to be very careful in dealing with this person. Giving Godly counsel is quite serious and you don't want to mislead that person or misdirect that person from following God's will/word. So pray for them, fervently pray for them.

Remember, your attitude while giving that Godly counsel will speak volumes in how you feel and where your faith lies. Attitude is such a powerful emotion. It can either lift you up or tear you down. Having an attitude that will honor the Lord is what we should strive for and in accomplishing that, we must pray to Him and keep our focus on Him, He who loves us, is ever so faithful and trusting.

In His palm,