New Year - New Budget

Hubby & I switched to a new budget because of our reduced income, and I'm sure many people wonder how we're able to live on just unemployment & my part-time salary. First & foremost, we don't have a ton of debt. The mortgage is under 100K, the cars are paid off, and we have no other debt.

Since our income is limited though, we have to be smart, watchful and prepared. That means having a budget and doing everything in our power to stick to it. Obviously life has a way of throwing a few curve balls, so we do our very best to prepare for those. It's purely by God's grace and miraculous blessing that, even after nearly 5 months of unemployment, we have yet to use our emergency savings.

I thought I'd share some of the ways that we keep expenses low. I know, I know. There are probably thousands of similar articles out there, and for the most part, they all say the same thing. I think my list is somewhat different in that I haven't found any other article that touts the same ways of saving money. Most of us don't like to be frugal "to the extreme", but check out the "extreme tips" if you'd really like to make a dent in your spending. It's a long list, but I guarantee that you'll find something worthwhile and practical for your family. Enjoy!

Groceries: I employ many techniques to keep our grocery bill down, but first I want to mention that double couponing is not available at any store in our area...that I have found...so the articles I've read that offer that as the only saving mechanism are worthless to me. I think these methods are much more practical.

• Menu planning: Each week before shopping, I look at our calendar for the week ahead and plan each meal. Then I make the shopping list based on that menu, and I stick to that list. If you plan your weekly menu in the middle of the grocery store, you're. :) Extreme Tip: Plan your menu based only on what's either on hand or what's on sale that week at the store.
• Leave the kids at home: If you're able, leave your kids at home or do the shopping when they're otherwise occupied. The only exception to this rule is if you are a parent to a child under 1 year. If your child is older, I don't need to explain why this rule is essential.
• Do an inventory: Always do a quick scan of the items you have on hand, so that you know exactly what you need. How many times have you had two or three bottles of one spice in your cupboard? Also take note of what you'll run out of before the next shopping trip in order to avoid a mid-week dash to the store. How many times have you gone to Target or Wal-Mart intending to buy only a couple of items, and you walked out $50 poorer?
• Buy generic: Believe it or not, generic brands have come a long way since I was a kid. Used to be that you'd never consider buying the no-name brand unless you were desperate. That really isn't the case anymore. With the exception of a few items, I buy the store brand for everything we consume. You will save a ton!
• Know your prices: Pay attention to what things cost otherwise you'll end up a victim of a supposed "sale" item. For example last month, I needed to buy some canned goods. Since I almost always buy the store brand, I am guilty of not always paying attention. That day, I did...and thank God! As it turned out, the store brand was about 20% more than the name brand that week. And because I had a coupon for that name brand, I saved even more than if I'd just mindlessly purchased the store brand. Extreme Tip: Create a price book, so there is no doubt whenever you ask yourself, "Is this a good deal?" I confess that I have not created a price book myself, but since we tend to buy the exact same items every week, I have a decent idea what stuff costs, when an item has gone up or when an item is a steal.
• Nix the soda, prepared foods and junk food: All the sugary drinks and pre-cut, pre-packaged, pre-cooked foods are hitting your bottom line much harder than you realize. Extreme Tip: Make a spreadsheet to track the various major categories of food items...dairy, produce, meat, junk food. Then use your receipts to plug in the numbers and do this for a month or two to see exactly how much you're spending on all those unhealthy and pricey items. I think you'll be surprised.

Clothes

• Create your own style: Who exactly decides what is "in" or "out" during the clothes season? We, the people? Hardly!! The fashion industry does. Do you think they might be motivated by greed to tell you that shirt is "so last year"? Have you ever walked into a trendy clothing store and wondered what was this designer smoking?? If you insist on wearing "trendy" styles, then I suggest you develop your own trend. I have a relative who frequently shops discount stores and thrift shops. She is always dressed in the cutest way, which is unique and much less costly than if she shopped at the mall. If you can avoid "trendy" and go for "classic", you'll be much better off in the long run. You can mix & match pieces as you acquire them, and you can wear them for years if they are well cared for.
• Never pay retail: Buy only from the clearance racks...no matter where you shop. The best time to find awesome deals is when clothes for the next season are on display. Let's face it. Unless you're planning to lose or gain a ton of weight, what you buy now for next winter will probably fit just fine. With kids, it can be tricky, but it is doable. Pay attention to dimensions not just size. Find a good consignment store in your area. Many accept only like-new items and sell at significantly lower prices. Many times the items are truly brand-new. Extreme Tip: Shop at thrift stores (Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc.) and garage sales. Yes, you will find a lot of junk, but in the midst of that junk will be a rare jewel. When I find those items, I am walking cloud nine for days. Knowing that I paid only $2 for an item when it originally cost $50 makes me food good.

Transportation: How much money you save in this area depends on where you live. If you're in the middle of a bustling metropolitan area, then mostly likely public transportation, bicycles and walking are good alternatives to driving. If you're like me and live in a much less "bustling" area, then you have to be intentional about your car usage. Plan trips accordingly. Kill two or three birds with one stone!

Organize: This is an area we struggle with at our house; it is totally chaotic right now, and I can never find what I need. At any one time, I probably have 5 million pens, half a dozen nail clippers and/or four rolls of packing tape...somewhere. Central organized spaces and containers will definitely impact your budget because you find items when they're needed. Sometimes you save just a few bucks, but other times you might save ten times that amount. Extreme Tip: Go through every nook and cranny of your house and get real honest with yourself. Discard, sell or donate about 10-20% of the items you touch...or more. The less stuff you have in your house, the less likely it is to be disorganized.

Household Cleaners: This is one area where I say do not buy generic unless you find a brand that works for you. Many of the cleaners at the dollar stores are so watered down that you end up using twice as much to get the job done. That's definitely the opposite of keeping expenses down even when the bottle of cleaner costs only $1. Find what works for you and stick with it, but always keep an eye open for sales and/or coupons....when you can multiple the savings and stock up at the same time. Extreme Tip: Make your own! Many cleaning products on the shelves today are nothing more than a few common ingredients and water. That's it?! I can do that myself at home and save a ton. In fact, I plan to try out several "recipes" next year. Also use microfiber clothes and old rags to clean with instead of paper towels.

Cut the Cable: You heard me. Get rid of the satellite or cable service. How many times have you wished for more hours in the day? And how many hours do you waste watching television? Hey, I'm not judging! I'm guilty of watching too much myself. But with the exception of some much needed rest, do I really need to watch as much as I do? What's wrong with reading a book, playing with my kids or talking to my hubby? There are tons of things we could do to replace the amount of time we spend watching TV. If you have to have certain programs, why not find out if you can watch that program free on the Internet? My favorite service is Hulu.com. They don't have everything on their menu, but they do have tons of options for viewing. We also pay $9 for Netflix, which allows us to watch thousands of movies and TV programs on our computer. If you're a sports fan, some of these options may not be possible. Watch the big game at a friend's house or visit the local pub.

Activity planning: Each week or each month...whatever works for you...check with local resources to see what's going on in your community. Schedule what you'd like to do or simply make a list. The next time someone says, "What are we going to do today?" you have a list handy. Better still, you can budget throughout the month for any high-priced activities instead of paying for it out of one paycheck. Extreme Tip: Search for only free or low-cost activities.

Utilities: Obviously keep the thermostat low in the winter and high in the summer...and turn off unused lights. Extreme Tip: Lower/Raise the thermostat to whatever number you are comfortable with. Then lower/raise it another two degrees. It will affect your monthly bill, and your body will acclimate to the new temperature within a short amount of time.

Short-Term Savings: Hubby & I don't have the luxury of saving for long-term needs like a new car or retirement...at least not until he's employed again. But we do save for infrequent expenses throughout the year, which has helped us in a number of ways. For example, we save for Christmas all year long. Instead of trying to raise a few hundred dollars at once...or worse instead of charging everything in the hopes of paying it off...we have the cash available to us when we need it. That helps us set a Christmas budget too, so that we don't overspend. We also save a little every month for car insurance premiums. Because we're able to pay each premium in one lump sum, we save even more because the insurance company gives us a 20% discount! You could apply this philosophy to that new gadget you're dying to buy. Instead of buying it immediately with credit, why not save for a few months until you can pay cash?

Pay with Cash: Speaking of which, re-train yourself to use only or primarily cash. This can be tricky if cash tends to disappear without a trace too easily...as is the case at our house. We use the checkbook. I'm sure merchants hate us for it, but that's too bad. Why not a debit card, you ask? Because studies have shown that folks mentally view a debit card as a credit card and will overspend by as much as 25%. There is a reason McDonald's and other fast-food joints started by taking debit cards and now credit cards. They know you'll buy more! I would much rather see the average shopper use a debit card over a credit card though because your bottom line is affected immediately...not down the line.

Finally...WATCH YOUR BUDGET: No matter what, you must track your spending. Creating a budget and following it throughout the month will help save you money. One look at much you've spent at Target (ouch!), and you might have second thoughts about making that next "quick trip" to get bread. If you start the month with a budget...aka self-imposed spending limits...you may also be able to train your brain not to spend more than you have.

And that's really what it comes down to folks. There is no magic formula for things like getting out of debt and building wealth. You absolutely have to spend less than you bring in. Where finances are concerned, you must adopt a business-like mentality. No business I know of will survive very long by spending more than earns. Why should the family operate any differently? These tips are designed to help you save a few extra bucks every month. What you do with those extra bucks is up to you, but let me be the first to encourage you to be wise with them. No one (including the government) has ever spent their way to prosperity. Pay off what you owe. Save what you can. And be wise with how you spend what you spend.

No matter what happens to our economy, that formula will guarantee that you have financial success in the long run. And we know that the one who wins the race is the one who has the endurance & tenacity to finish it strong. Good luck!

Action Vs. Words

"I have always thought the actions of men the best interpreters of their thoughts. " -- John Locke

"Well done is better than well said." -- Benjamin Franklin

"After all is said and done, a lot more will have been said than done." -- Author Unknown

"We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing. Action always generates inspiration. Inspiration seldom generates action." -- Frank Tibolt

"Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned." -- Peter Marshall

"Ironically, making a statement with words is the least effective method." -- Grey Livingston

"As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do." -- Andrew Carnegie

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I've heard it said that a total stranger could determine your true priorities by looking at how you spend two things - your time and your money. I've also heard that you can determine your true priorities by doing two things. Create a list of your top "every day" priorities. I'm not referring to a "bucket list"...things that you'd like to do before you die. I'm referring here to a list of every day activities and values that are vitally important to you....for example, spending more time with family, keeping the house cleaner, getting fit. Then for the next week, log exactly how you spend your time. Most likely, those two lists will not match.

Does it have to be that way? I don't think so!

I try hard not to make resolutions, and I fail every year. And then I fail at fulfilling those resolutions. What a discouraging cycle I've gotten into! So this year, I'm embracing my true self, and I refuse to refuse to make New Year's Resolutions. :)

However I am approaching 2010 with a realistic attitude. I obviously have a bad track record in terms of fulfilling resolutions, so I don't expect the unrealistic next year. Instead I've decided to narrow my focus to three areas. After all if the list is smaller, I just might be able to pull it off this year...right? :)

To start, I have to make a list of the things that are most important....the three most important relationships...God, husband, children...in that order. Quite frankly, all three of these relationships have been suffering under the chaos of my life. So to pinpoint my final resolutions, I have to examine the root causes of my problems.

Although I would categorize my relationship with God as stronger now than in the beginning of 2009, it could be stronger still. Since mid-summer, I've sporadically managed to squeeze in daily Bible reading, study & prayer. When I do it often, I can feel a positive difference in my attitude, patience and relationships. When I don't do it, I can feel a negative difference in the same areas.

Resolution #1
Daily for Bible reading/study & prayer

The relationship with my hubby and my children has suffered primarily because of one reason: fatigue. I have a hard time falling asleep, which leads to late nights and early mornings. That's not a great recipe for energy! Fatigue causes me to have a shorter fuse, to laziness because I don't want to tackle my TO DO list, to feel overwhelmed because things aren't getting done, to feeling guilty about what I'm not doing with my kids because I'm busy trying to catch up on other tasks, to feeling guilty for not spending time with hubby or feeling as though he is demanding too much of my attention....to sleepless nights.....

WHEW! Do you see the problem here? Fatigue is creating a very negative cycle for me. I don't suggest that a good night's sleep will cure all that ails me, but it is most definitely a small step that could result in a very large payoff. However, lack of sleep is only one reason why I'm tired all the time. I'm overweight. I would love to get back to the weight I was in my mid-twenties - about 50 pounds lighter than I am now - but I'm not sure that's realistic given my family's schedule. I'm not fooling myself into thinking that I can lose all of that weight in one year. In fact, I would be thrilled with losing twenty pounds, so that is the initial goal.

Resolution #2:
Fight Fatigue - more sleep & more exercise

There are many other reasons why my relationships have suffered in the last year, but trying to make a resolution for each of those reasons would make my list as long as I am tall! So my third and final resolution is not another action necessarily but rather a person...my hubby. Since we've had kids, he has taken the backseat. It's just a cruel reality of a mother with two young children. I know I'm not alone in this. I've heard it from other moms time and time again. Awhile ago, we decided to have date nights two times a month. We're lucky if we get one date night a month. We also decided to have a weekly family meeting to stay on the same page. I can't remember the last meeting. We do make time nearly every night to pray together, but this can also fall by the wayside if we're not motivated. This is the year of making my marriage a true priority.

Resolution #3:
Focus on my husband

Here's the tricky part. I do not want my resolutions to be just a list of words...a list of good intentions and plans. I want this to result in real change next year. It will take action and a lot of it. It will take a lot of hard work, hard changes and hard sacrifices. It will take a lot more effort than I even have right now! But in 2010, I have resolved to make my "what I want" list to match "what I do" list. Not only are actions more powerful than words, but actions are also a clear indication of my heart and my values. That's the kind of change I want for myself, the kind of change I want to model for my girls and the kind of change I wish to show off to the world.

"Remember people will judge you by your actions not your intentions. You may have a heart of gold, but so does a hard-boiled egg." -- Author Unknown

Blessings

"This confounded zipper," I think every time I step out into the cold Iowa winter. I cannot zip up my coat because the little thing-a-ma-bob that pulls the zipper broke off awhile back. It frustrates me every time I have to put on the stupid coat. Why not just get another? Trust me, I've looked. Everything I've found either doesn't fit right, costs too much or just isn't very attractive. Because I don't have the budget to be a clothes hound, there are two things I wear until the "tires fall off"...coats & shoes. When I buy either, the item in question better fit right, feel comfortable and wear well because it will be awhile before I buy again. Besides the coat I have now is a popular, expensive (supposedly) top-of-the-line winter coat. It isn't a department store cheapo or anything. I had to purchase it during an after-Christmas sale because the regular price was way out of my league. Even the sale price was high, but again I figured I would have it forever. What I didn't count on was that the zipper pull would break off after a couple seasons. I've tried twine, ribbon and safety pins as alternatives, but the zipper is strong enough that the aforementioned items eventually break. I'm not much of a tailor; otherwise, I'd replace the entire zipper. (I'm not even sure if I could find a zipper for the dumb thing.) So I've basically given up...and still I complain. That is the beauty of me. HA!

Aside from cold temps, this time of year is enjoyable for me. I enjoy giving special presents, making those once-a-year cookies and spending time with family and friends. The temp outside is below zero, but inside the house is filled with warm laughter and memories. Yep, that's for me. I love, love, love Christmas.

Which is why the looming holiday this year made me sad. In my heart, I know that we don't need to spoil our girls with stuff. They have enough stuff littering our house already! But the idea of really watching our pennies and limiting what we can give them makes me feel bad. It's stupid, I know. As Christmas got closer, the more I felt down. I decided to change that by force if necessary.

This year, I made a paper chain for the girls with each day of December written on the outside and a special activity written on the inside. Every day leading up to Christmas Day, we remove a chain and find out what the daily "surprise" is. Some things are fun like watching the Charlie Brown Christmas movie or painting our nails. Some things are family-oriented like having lunch with our extended family or sending the annual Christmas cards. Some things are in the true spirit of Christmas such as donating food to the food pantry or sending a care package to a deployed service person. Even at this young age, I feel it's important for the girls to understand that Christmas is not all about Santa and gifts. It's about Jesus and thinking of others first. In reality, that sentiment should reflected all year round...but especially now. I want them to learn that it's better to give than to receive. Ray is starting to understand. Jordi is a little too young, but you can never start too young, right?

Throughout the last few weeks as I prepared for these little acts of kindness, God helped me truly understand just how blessed our family is. Even though the future is uncertain and we have every reason to worry about tomorrow, we need to give thanks for where we're at today. We have shelter. We have clothes. We have food. We have extras, and this year we have enough to buy Christmas presents. And we have great family & friends, love and peace.

Have you ever really stopped to think about the fact that some people have none of those things...the things necessary for survival? Within our own borders there are thousands of families that do not have a home or good clothes or enough to eat. Now look outside our borders. The problem is much, much worse! In this country, we have family, friends, churches, government or homeless shelters, food pantries and medical clinics to help those who are in need. In other parts of the world, no such options exist.

Our church sends a team of people to an impoverished area of town twice a week to interact with refugees from other countries. A few weeks ago, someone noticed one of the kids who had shoes but no socks. And a lot of the kids had no mittens, hats or warm coats. I don't know if you've ever experienced a Midwestern winter, but it can get bloody cold!!! Not having those items is unthinkable! Our team jumped into action by organizing a drive to collect the items needed for the kids.

Our family recently heard about another family (unknown to us) that is really struggling. The mother has six kids...four teenagers and two younger ones. The father just walked out on them, and the mother is in school. So they don't have a lot of money. The mother didn't even have enough money for the laundromat, and her washer/dryer was broken. Christmas, as we know it, wasn't in the cards for them this year. One of our church members knows this family and called the church to see if anyone could help out. We decided to participate with some others to collect a few things that will make their holiday more enjoyable.

Keep in mind, it's less than a week before Christmas. Our Christmas budget has been blown, so we don't have much money left to put towards this. But I felt so strongly that we show our thanks by giving anyway. It's about more than just giving thanks to God; it's about showing that thanks through action. Quite honestly, we've been blessed beyond understanding. It's our duty to extend a helping hand to those who are much worse off than we are. Even though hubby is on unemployment, and I work only part-time, there are many more out there who are much worse off than we are. Even though we don't have a lot, there are many more out there who have nothing. This Christmas has taught me that no matter how bad it gets for us, someone else is going through much worse. I am SO thankful to a God who had provided for our every need, and I have no reason to doubt that promise in the future...even though I don't know exactly what that will look like.

So instead of inwardly complaining about my stupid broken zipper, I thank God that my coat is very warm and that it has snaps. I use the snaps to keep out the cold. Someone out there does not have a coat that's warm enough at all. I thank God for my gazillionth spaghetti dinner because someone out there has only a piece of bread & peanut butter to eat. I thank God for my ancient car because someone out there doesn't have one. I thank God for my small, warm house because someone out there has to live in a homeless shelter with (sometimes) scary people.

Instead of a question, this time I have a challenge for you. In the New Year (or maybe a little earlier), the next time you grumble about having a better this-or-that or you whine that you don't have the latest phone, car or whatever, think about the person out there who doesn't have enough of the necessities for survival. Over the years, I've heard many say that everyone should break out of their own "little bubble" and travel to different places around the world to develop a more broad-minded perspective. Usually when that's said, the person is referring to developed, modern parts of the world. My suggestion would be that everyone should have to travel to a third-world country to see the definition of survival lived out every day. Maybe then all of us would finally be satisfied with the fact that we are truly blessed.

It's imperative that we teach these same concepts to our children. If all we do is spoil them with stuff, they grow up expecting more stuff. And they have absolutely no compassion for others who don't have enough of the stuff that we all must have. These children grow up to be entitled, selfish and totally heartless to the needs of others. Children learn what they live. So do our future generations a favor and live out the concept of gratitude in action by helping someone who is less fortunate than yourself. Thank you!

The Sound of Silence

The girls are asleep, and the hubby has left for a couple days of deer hunting. The house is quiet, and I'm left with only myself...and my thoughts. I can't help but think, "How much longer is this going to go on?" How much longer will it be before hubby lands a new job? How much longer can we survive on what we're currently living on? How much longer before we reach that really dire place where all hope seems to be lost?

The good news is that, with regard to the last question, we're not there yet. In fact, we're far from it, but my human nature can't help but wonder if that point will arrive? Will it be one month from now or six months from now? I can't help but wonder how much different our lives will look one year from tonight. The past few weeks have been a real struggle for me mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Thankfully the spiritual crisis has passed, and I pray that it will not return. As far as I'm concerned, I know God will continue to provide for us as He has in the past.

But again I ask, how much longer?

I wish I had the answer to that question. I know there are thousands of families around this country...possibly the world...who are asking themselves the same question. Maybe their circumstances are different than ours, but they are asking what I ask. Sometimes God makes His wishes remarkably clear. I've seen it happen in the lives of those close to me, and I've seen it happen in my own life. But it's the waiting and not knowing that is the hardest.

I am confident that our current situation will end. In exactly what way, I don't know and won't know until it happens. But I know it will end. And until then, we are tasked to be patient, responsible, diligent and thankful. Yes, thankful for what we have, and we have a lot! We don't have the worries of a life-threatening illness in ourselves or our daughters. We don't have the worries of how to keep the lights on and food on the table. We don't have the worries of where we will sleep for the night or what we will wear. God has provided!

We don't have all the showy things that many in our lives have; we don't enjoy the luxuries that many view as "necessities". But we treasure the things we do have - both material and immaterial. We value what we've been blessed with, and honestly we don't miss the other stuff. Well, okay. Some things I would love to have. But in the grand scheme of things, even those things don't mean much.

The book of Matthew says, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal." (Matt 6:19) Sure there are things that would be nice to have...not just for myself but for my girls too. The Bible never says that "things" are bad. The Bible doesn't say that having money is bad. What it does say is not to value those things and that money above everything else. The Bible says, "the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil" (1 Tim 6:10). Dare I say that the love of things can also be attributed to "all kinds of evil" as well. What does that popular money gal, Suze Orman, say? People first, money second, things last. I think she's on to something, but my motto would look a little different. God first, family second, others third, money and things last.

Part of putting God first means, above all else, having a grateful heart....even if that means I have to force myself to be grateful. Force? Yes, force. Because sometimes I just don't want to be grateful; I want to feel sorry for myself and what I don't have. I don't want to look on the bright side; I just want a pity party. That's what I allowed myself to indulge in over the past few weeks, but no longer. I no longer wish to focus on what I don't have.

Have you ever given Christmas present to a child, and the child was less than thrilled about it? Maybe the child even threw a little hissy fit? I have. Wow, what a humiliating experience. A child might not understand that they've hurt the gift giver's feelings with their reaction, but it hurts nonetheless. If you've found yourself in this situation, you may have even thought to yourself (or out loud), "What an ungrateful little brat!" Now apply that scenario to adults who are never satisfied with what they have. Totally satisfied with the job they're in...totally satisfied with the stuff they have...totally satisfied with the relationships they enjoy. I've been there; I know you've been there too. I "deserve" it. I've worked hard for it. I want what I want and when I want it. What ungrateful little brats we can be!! All you have to do is look at the average family of a third-world country to realize just how easy and how good we have it here. Do you know how hard...how really hard...some people work just to provide one good meal for their family? My purpose isn't to shame but rather to help others realize that gratitude is the beginning of true understanding, compassion and patience. Gratitude is the beginning of maturity and growth.

You have to admit. Even when things look bleak, you can always find something for which to be thankful. Always. If you're sitting in a hospital waiting to find out the fate of your spouse, your child or yourself, you can find something to be grateful for...even if it's just a decent meal and a caring nurse. If you're losing your house to foreclosure, you can find something to be grateful for...even if it's just a good laugh shared with your family or an encouraging word from a friend. Even when it looks like your entire world is turning upside down, you can find something to be grateful for. Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to have the perfect life and/or everything your heart desires in order to have a grateful heart. Maybe you can be grateful for your youth and physical abilities. Maybe you can be grateful for the relationships in your life. Maybe you can be grateful for your experience and brain power. Maybe you can be grateful for something as simple as being alive. Whatever your circumstances, you can be grateful.

And I honestly believe that the start of something great...the impetus of real growth and transformation...is a heart of gratitude. A heart that is thankful will reach out in love to someone who may need physical, mental or emotional needs met. A heart that is thankful will lovingly guide others to that same spirit of gratitude and joy. A heart that is thankful will lend itself to improving not just themselves but their community and their world. That is change you can count on, and as long as we view ourselves (collectively) as victims and lacking in any way, that change will never happen.

Even though I'm sitting here tonight wondering about our family's future, I'm grateful for everything I see. I'm grateful for the home that shelters us and the junk that clutters it. I'm grateful for the food that fills my belly...and in fact makes my belly bigger than it ought to be. I'm grateful for my family, friends & acquaintances who pray for and encourage us daily. I'm grateful for my vehicles and the miracle that they keep running despite their age and mileage. I'm grateful for my furnace that provides instant heat for us throughout the bitterly cold Iowa nights. I'm grateful "even though"...

And tonight, I'm grateful for the silence because it's in the silence that I can God speaking to me.

Question: What are you grateful for today?