Waiting for Thursday.

One.more.day and Thursday will be here.  Pay day!  We paid off the tuition for Classical Conversations this month.  That took a lot of the money we needed for this month, but it was the right decision.  We've hunkered down and have done everything possible to make our money last and not charge or borrow money.

Stephen can probably tell you a hundred different ways to use rice and what foods go best wrapped in lettuce.  I even found you tube videos opened on his computer showing different ways to make ramen noodles.  I can tell you that honey and vanilla, separately, make good substitutions for chocolate milk.  Just be sure you put it in a colored sippy cup so the picky two year old doesn't see that it isn't brown.  If you get caught, just add cocoa, but I'll warn you that it clumps up in cold milk.  I've learned how to ration diapers and how to do the math in order to spend the least amount to get you through the next two days until pay day.  I've learned to not buy Wal-mart brand diapers because the tabs don't stay put and they make way for plenty of accidents.  I've learned that going the discount bread store is MUCH cheaper than buying bread-stuff from the grocery store and they also have 2 half-off days each week.  I learned not to buy 6 small cups of water at McDonald's because the twins won't even drink theirs.  Take sippy cups for them.  And don't even by 4 for you and the other 3 kids.  Just buy 1 medium, which is in fact the same price as a small($.25) and share it.  If the kids don't like it, they can fix their own drink at home.  I've learned that drinking water also cuts your bill way down at eat in restaurants and that most of the time a plate is packed with enough food to feed two people (and sometimes 5 kids) and you'll be just as full if you and your spouse share and/or make the kids share.  I also learned that a large chicken finger plate will usually feed all five of the older kids, except at Cracker Barrel.  I've learned that my kids really are content staying at home and I'm the one who is the most discontent.  I've been able to save at least $120 in the past two weeks by having more people over and not driving as much.  Homeschooling all the kids definitely helps this!  I've learned to enjoy being at home and how to relax in my own home when there's nothing scheduled for the kids and their all over the place.  I've learned that anti-bacterial hand soap works just as well for washing dishes, just not forever.  I've learned to cut all my kids' hair and do a pretty good job.  I've learned that I'm hot-natured and the air conditioner is not a place I'm willing to cut back.

I've learned that God blesses obedience.  The money didn't show up in one big bundle, but the Lord blessed us little by little as we needed it.  I've learned that it does our children good for us to communicate with them about money.  When they want something and we can't afford it, we lovingly suggest that they buy it with their own money and they either realize that they can wait or they don't really need it.  This has been good for us and good for them.  It's been good for our hearts and our character.   I've learned that my heart is still so full of sin and sometimes it takes the hard times to bring that out so that God can force me to deal with it and do His wonderful work in me.

Ashley