The Nitty and Gritty of Financial Strain with Little Kids

Why does finances cause so much stress and conflict in our lives?  It's just money, right???
That's what I used to think. 

Let me start with the fact that I know I am blessed. I have so much.   I have been blessed far more than I even deserve.  And there are people who have nothing, and they see me as rich beyond measure.  I write this post aware of this fact, and I am humbled. 

My family has been blessed with much and less.  When we are in times of much, I  often forget how to live with less.  Right now we are transition to a lean time.  I wanted to capture what happens when there is less at my home.

• When we have less, your husband and you have to "debate" whether or not we can afford to buy fresh fruits and vegetables.  The kids cover their ears from the high volume of the "debate".

• When we have less and a glass of milk spills to the floor, I do "cry" because I know that we can't buy more milk for over a week.

• When we have less and the kids run out of their favorite snack, they don't understand we can't go run out and get more.  That hurts your heart and pride.

• When we have less and the kids think it's fun to fill the toilet with toilet paper, you don't just laugh at their silly antics.  You might even get angry as you begin to sweat as you think of not having any toilet paper.

• When we have less, you feel like a terrible parent at a play date when your kids begin to covet their buddies lunches full of yogurts, grapes, cheese sticks, juice boxes, etc.  Your kids have a peanut butter and homemade jelly sandwich and water.  And then you begin to get jealous.

• When you have less, you get left out a lot.  Your friends can go and do and enjoy, and you and your family stay home.  (So we have backyard camp outs, picnics, and go for lots of walks.)

• When you have less and you are invited to a kids' birthday, you have to sacrifice your food budget to buy a gift that you pray the child will actually like since it cost you a gallon of milk, 5 loaves of bread, and bananas for the month.

• When you have less, you have old fashioned oatmeal for breakfast, lunch, and supper!

If you are in a lean time, I join you in the suffering, but I want to share with you MY HOPE. 
The secret to being content in any situation is turning your focus to the work of the Gospel and our true Provider and Protector.  I sing out loud this verse when I get down about having less.  And I praise God with this verse when I have much.

Philippians 4: 11:-13
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Lessons Plans for Kindergarten Ocean Unit

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Ocean Unit Lesson Plans

Teaching for nine years and being trained to write and create curriculum, I thought I'd give it a shot to make my own homeschool curriculum. This is all based on Tennessee state standards. One of my goals as a homeschool mom is to follow the state guidelines. This is my first attempt at putting up my homeschool lessons on my blog. Please bare with me. I hope that someone else out there can make some use of it. Click the link that says Ocean Unit Lesson Plans to see it in pdf format. Let me know your thoughts!!

Confession Leads to Mercy

As a mom, I am trying to teach my kids that  "he who conceals his sin does not prosper, but he who confesses and turns from his sin finds mercy."  When I was a young girl in middle school, I had a good friend that made me mad.  So I decided to do what every mislead youth does--RETALIATE.  I prank called her house and held up her line by leaving the phone off the hook.  While doing so something tragic happened.  Her father died.  Because I was holding the line, the hospital and emergency people could not contact her family to tell them the horrible news.  My actions caused this family to miss an opportunity to say good-bye. 

When I was confronted, I denied and lied.  For years, I built up protective walls around my heart denying my sin.  I honestly convinced myself that I was innocent of the accusations.  I began to despise and hate my friend because the guilt of my sin was eating me alive.  I chose to point my anger and rage towards her, the victim. 

I became a Christian when I was 16 (some 4 years later).  One of the things God called me to do was to confess my sin to this girl and her family.  With much fear and guilt, I confessed everything.  I remember the room was silent, and all eyes were pouring with tears.  Then I was surrounded by hugs and warm embraces.  I was told that the family had the phone company run a trace to determine the prankster, and that they had known all along.  The family told me that they had forgiven me a long time ago, and they were sorry I was living with the guilt for so long.  Instead of receiving much deserved scorn, anger words, or hatred, I found mercy. 

As my children come to me in brokeness over their sin, my heart is tender to them.  I pour out mercy.  When they are caught or resistant to the responsibility, I see that I need to step up the discipline.  This is even more true for our Father in Heaven when we come to Him with our sins.  He is rich in mercy, slow to anger, and abounds in love.