Give Thanks

Thanksgiving has come and gone...once all of the commotion settled down I realized I did not take even one picture! How did that happen? Maybe because of the cooking, cleaning, eating, crafting....and just plain fun! This was the first year that I made myself not stress over every little detail and just enjoy the day. There was no fancy place setting, instead Sami wrote a note to each guest stating why she was thankful for them. There was no elaborate centerpiece, instead a crafted banner the kids and I made the night before. No sitting in a turkey coma, instead we made a Thankfulness tree that each guest had a part in and played memory until everyone had a turn to win! It was the most relaxed Thanksgiving I can remember...I let go and just enjoyed the wonderful blessings I am surrounded by! Now we are already on to Christmas...the trees are up, decorations out, present wrapped under the tree-and maybe I'll even extend this stress free idea to Christmas?! Maybe.

Money Intervention

OK...the life of a stay at home mom is not all bon bons and soap operas! I am so exhausted I think I need to go to work for a vacation! Don't get me wrong - very, very thankful to have to opportunity to devote 100% of myself to my family! I have been a stay at home mom in the past but never with 2 kids going different ways, this just puts a whole new twist on things. Between laundry, dirty toilets, piano, AWANA, projects, cooking...whew! Since we made the decision to make this change, so many people have asked why now when both kids are in school. Valid question, this is the time when a lot of moms would go back to work...I struggled for a bit to come up with the "right" answer. But honestly I have come to understand that they need me now for different reasons than when they were babies but no less important reasons. The value of volunteering at the school
and seeing their social interactions for myself, being there to hear those first stories after school, making dinner for us to all sit together and enjoy - priceless!!! I have missed the calm that comes with life being in order, or at least as orderly as it gets with 2 wild monkeys running around.
With that said...here comes the money intervention. I am trying to completely readjust the way I have been shopping and spending our money. I have found so many great blogs and resources for cutting costs and living frugal - being good stewards of the income the Lord has given us. I am working towards slashing our expenses by at least 10% in the next 6 months. That means comparison shopping, coupons, lots of home cooking and homemade gifts! I wanted to share a few of the blogs I have found that I can't get enough of, doesn't everyone love a good deal?!

www.moneysavingmom.com

www.thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com

www.mommsavers.com

www.frugalmom.net/blog

My Favorite Season

I LOVE fall...everything about it makes me happy - the cooler weather, falling leaves, first fire in the fireplace, hot stew on the stove! The change in season has been more than just weather and leaves for us this year. After much prayer and discussing, we decided that I would give up my position and the surgery center and focus 100% on our home and family. This has been a long time coming and the Lord has been working on us to show us His plan, we just weren't quite ready to take that leap of faith. So silly really....of course He will provide a way for this if it truly His will. Sure enough, He provided the perfect opportunity at the perfect time! I have a few more days to orient those taking over my position but I am already, for the most part, at home. I thought I would breathe this big sigh of relief and feel nothing but joy. Not exactly how it is playing out...I must admit I feel a little lost. I have kept myself SUPER busy to try and feel as productive as humanly possible and I know that over time I will come to really appreciate all that this offers. Among the many busy tasks is finally updating this blog!!! So much has happened and is happening - pumpkin patch, carnivals, Halloween, soccer awards - I will let the pictures speak for themselves! Happy Harvest!