• Heart Reflections: First Fruits

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    Our family has gone through a lot of hills and valleys over the past few years together.  Jake and I started out our marriage in debt from school bills.  It took the first few years of both of us working to pay off our school debts.  After paying off our school loans we began saving to start our own business.

    We started our own business and ran it for several years.  As life would have it we started dipping into that savings we had set aside and before long we realized that we had to make a decision whether or not to stay in business for ourselves or not.  We along with several friends and family fervently prayed for wisdom to make the right decision.

    Would the business turn around in a year or should we seek employment elsewhere?  After several months of praying and giving it over to God Jake was approached by a contact who wanted him to apply to a couple positions available in the area.  We prayed about it and decided to see what would happen since obviously we hadn’t spoken to this person in years and this may be God saying “trust me”.  Jake went in for 3 interviews that week by Monday the following week he had offers for all three positions.  One of the offers was in Greenville and the other 2 were in nearby cities.

    Before even accepting the position my husband came to me.  We had been praying for wisdom for so long and when God handpicked a position for him when we were not expecting it he felt like we should give the “first fruits” of this job to God.  He gave us this position and we want to honor Him for all he has done for us.  God had answered our prayers and we wanted to give back to him.

    Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.  – Proverbs 3:9-10

    Even when the budget was really tight especially during this time we always had enough to cover expenses.  After praying about it we decided that the first month’s pay check would be given to God.  From that time on any increases or bonuses Jake received from his work we have donated the first portion to God.  After receiving a bonus or increase we would set aside the money and pray about where God would want us to give the money.  After about a month we would talk again discuss what and who God laid on our hearts.  It is amazing to see how much clear God makes that decision.  Once the decision is made we give the money to the organization or people God had laid on our hearts as a check, cash, or if it is an organization where we can give it online we do it that way.

    I am thankful for my husband who seeks God’s wisdom, is thoughtful, and giving to others.  There are times when we could really use that extra money from a bonus or increase to pay for items our family needs (pay a medical bill, debt, or for something we need, etc…), however, we always make it a point to give the first fruits to others first.  Ultimately, it is God who gives us the money it is an honor to share what we have with others.

  • Living on a Budget: Creative Cash (October Update)

    Creative Cash - Living on a Budget

    October was a super busy month with me being gone for part of the month and out of commission with neck and back issues for several weeks.   Thankful for my husband who pitched extra hours to take care of the kids while I was out helping my family in Kansas and out of commission health wise.  It is nice to be back home and with Jake and the girls once again.   Now that October is behind us it is time to give you an update on my Creative Cash and our special highlight.

    What is Creative Cash?  My definition of Creative Cash means finding a variety of ways to make extra cash each month to put towards my family’s current financial goal as well as having a little extra to share with others.

    Why do it?  I am working part time, a stay at home Mom, and wear many other hats from day to day, however, I feel that it is not only important to save money for my family by using coupons and buying items on sale, but to earn a little money to help with the family finances and to share with others.  The extra amount I bring in on top of work is what I call “Creative Cash” and it is made by finding ways to make money creatively or with items and talents I have already.  As I continue to challenge myself to make my life more simplified as well as find ways to bless others I have made it my goal to remain accountable for the Creative Cash I bring in month to month.  My family has faced many obstacles over the years, however, we are blessed and have a multitude of reasons to be grateful.

    How it Works: The creative cash will be made throughout the entire calendar month through various endeavors.  As Creative Cash arrives the money, gift cards, and other extras are entered into my Creative Cash worksheet. The cash, gift cards, and other items are stored in a specific Creative Cash folder or marked in the account as Creative Cash.  At the end of the month the money will be split with part of it going towards the current financial goal my family is working on and the other part will be donated to  someone or a group of people such as a charity.  It is important for me to find ways to be a blessing to people outside of our immediate family.  In order to keep me accountable I will be reporting my monthly total and who I will be sharing the Creative Cash with that month.  If it is a specific family or cause I may or may not be able to give all the details due to the amount of privacy they may want, but I promise share any details I can.

    Monthly Goal:  It is my goal to make at least $100 extra Creative Cash a month to help with my family goals as well as share with others.

    Despite being gone and not feeling well the month October was still a wonderful month.  I was able to accumulate more than anticipated during the time I was at home!  I will share with you the ways I did it so if you are looking for ways to make a little extra creative cash for your family hopefully it will be an inspiration in getting your creative juices flowing:

    • $100.00 –  20|20 Research for doing a Panel Discussion
    • $24.32 – Credit Card Bonus Rewards (if you are looking to earn interest both on your savings and checking accounts as well as rewards I recommend checking out  Capital One 360)
    • $5.00 – Amazon Gift Card earned through Swagbucks
    • $5.00 – Survey Cash
    • $15.00 – Walmart Gift Card from SheSpeaks

    October Creative Cash Total:  $149.32

    Our October Creative Cash Highlight:  Our Creative Cash Highlight this month will be Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child!

    Every year during this time we try to set aside money and special items to put together some Operation Christmas Child boxes.  The boxes need to be ready by  mid-November so October is the perfect month to focus on this ministry.  Our whole family looks forward to doing this every year.  We feel that it is important to share what we have been given with others and Operation Christmas Child is a great ministry.  The kids get really excited about picking out special treats and goodies to go into their boxes.   We pray specifically for the kids who will be receiving our boxes.  We want to make sure that our boxes are filled with items that are perfect for each child and a blessing to those that receive them.  There is so much joy in giving and sharing with others.  In October I was able to earn extra creative cash along with some gift cards that will come in very handy when purchasing items for Operation Christmas Child.   Your family can get involved too, check out the Samaritan’s Purse website for more information about Operation Christmas Child!

    Current Family Goal: We are currently working to stay within our written budget and pay down debt!  We recently had to purchase a new microwave and refrigerator.  Plus, we had some additional expenses and emergencies that have caused us to have a little extra debt that we would like to get paid off!

    • $24.32 Credit Card Bonus was applied towards a debt on a credit card.
    • Any remaining money that is not going to our Creative Cash Highlight that’s listed above will be applied towards paying down additional debt!

    It was exciting to go past the $100 goal!!!  I know this will help us get a little closer to our goals as well as helps others along the way!  A hundred dollars extra a month may not seem like a lot to some people, but every little bit helps!  If I find that I am going over my goal every month (which would be awesome) I will make an adjustment.  I have plan of action on ways to earn creative cash next month so stayed tuned, hopefully, it will be another  great month of sharing.  Each month I will do a variety activities to accomplish this goal, the items above are just the ones I did specifically this month.  I look forward to sharing more of the things that work well for our family as I do them in the upcoming months.

    I will share with you the challenges, successes, and updates as I go through this journey so you can keep me accountable or even go through it with me by participating  and sharing your story. Taking the extra time to find ways to help my family as well as invest in the lives of others is important to me.  I hope that I have been able to encourage you to find ways to come up with some creative cash for your household as well.  Obviously, each situation and family is unique so decide what works for you and go for it!  If you know of another way to earn creative cash I would love to hear it!  Feel free to comment on how you earned creative cash this month or post a picture or link to what you did!

    Living on a Budget is a series of ways our family uses a budget to help keep us accountable with our finances.  Life doesn’t always go as planned.  We have used some of the ideas I will be sharing for years while others are ones we are just starting to implement as we continue finding ways to be creative and have fun with what we have been given.  Having a plan in place allows us the freedom to be smart with what we have been given, get more creative when it is a tight (week, month, year or a season) and when necessary live a much more simplified life.  A budget helps us stay on track so we have more opportunities to enjoy the many blessings we have been given as well as share what we have with others.  There is so much more to life than having all the stuff!  We may not have the newest or greatest items in our house, we drive used cars, wear clothes we find at garage sales, etc…however, if our family is taken care of and has love in our hearts for others we have more than all the riches in the world.

  • Living on a Budget: Creative Cash (September Update)

    Creative Cash - Living on a Budget

    It’s been awhile since I have shared the Creative Cash report with everyone, but I made it happen this month!  Honestly, I have not been as consistent these last couple months in finding creative ways to earn a little extra cash.  It’s been busy, but that really isn’t a good excuse.  It was brought to my attention recently that when I make a point to share this information with you it:

    • Helps keep me accountable
    • Gives me extra motivation to be creative
    • Keeps me on track
    • Reminds me of the goals we are trying to accomplish as a family
    • Refreshes my memory on the importance of sharing with others

    When you have the ability to share a piece of what you earn with others not only are you blessing their lives it makes your life richer and fuller too!  I have made a few adjustments regarding my Creative Cash goals, but otherwise it is pretty similar to the report that I have shared with you in the past.

    What is Creative Cash?  My definition of Creative Cash means finding a variety of ways to make extra cash each month to put towards my family’s current financial goal as well as having a little extra to share with others.

    Why do it?  I am working part time, a stay at home Mom, and wear many other hats from day to day, however, I feel that it is not only important to save money for my family by using coupons and buying items on sale, but to earn a little money to help with the family finances and to share with others.  The extra amount I bring in on top of work is what I call “Creative Cash” and it is made by finding ways to make money creatively or with items and talents I have already.  As I continue to challenge myself to make my life more simplified as well as find ways to bless others I have made it my goal to remain accountable for the Creative Cash I bring in month to month.  My family has faced many obstacles over the years, however, we are blessed and have a multitude of reasons to be grateful.

    Explanation: The creative cash will be made throughout the entire calendar month through various endeavors.  As Creative Cash arrives the money, gift cards, and other extras are entered into my Creative Cash worksheet. The cash, gift cards, and other items are stored in a specific Creative Cash folder or marked in the account as Creative Cash.  At the end of the month the money will be split with part of it going towards the current financial goal my family is working on and the other part will be donated to  someone or a group of people such as a charity.  It is important for me to find ways to be a blessing to people outside of our immediate family.

    In the past the donated amount has only gone to charity and was always 50% of whatever Creative Cash was made that month.  After much thought and prayer I decided to change this part of my goal.  I don’t want to limit myself to giving only 50% or only giving it to charity.  There may be some months I feel led to give more than 50% and it may be to a specific cause, purpose,  family, or charity.  In order to keep me accountable I will be reporting my monthly total and who I will be sharing the Creative Cash with that month.  If it is a specific family or cause I may or may not be able to give all the details due to the amount of privacy they may want, but I promise share any details I can.

    Monthly Goal:  It is my goal to make at least $100 extra Creative Cash a month to help with my family goals as well as share with others.

    September was a wonderful month and I was able to accumulate more than anticipated!  I will share with you the ways I did it so if you are looking for ways to make a little extra creative cash for your family hopefully it will be an inspiration in getting your creative juices flowing:

    • $50.00 – Credit Card Bonus Rewards (if you are looking to earn interest both on your savings and checking accounts as well as rewards I recommend checking out  Capital One 360)
    • $116.68 – Google Ads payment
    • $50.00 – Writing a review for a company
    • $15.00 – Walmart Gift Card from SheSpeaks for sharing about the Febreze Fall Home Harvest Collection

    September Creative Cash Total:  $231.68

    Current Family Goal: We are currently working to stay within our written budget and pay down debt (yes, exciting I know)!  A couple months ago both our microwave and fridge bit the dust.  Plus, we had some additional expenses and emergencies that have caused us to have a little extra debt that we would like to get paid off!

    • $15 Walmart Gift Card is not cash nor could we pay down debt with it so we used it towards the vehicle maintenance budget.  It was used to purchase oil change supplies for my car which came in handy this month after many miles of driving this summer.   Thankful for a husband who can service the vehicles!
    • $50 credit card bonus was put towards a debt we currently have on our credit card.
    • Any remaining money that is not going to our Creative Cash Blessing Highlight that’s listed below will be applied towards paying down debt!

    September Creative Cash Highlight:  Our extra Creative Cash this month will be going to a very sweet family who is in the process of adopting a beautiful little girl named Annalise.  We have known this family for many years and we are blessed to call these amazing people friends.  As you may already know adoption can be a very long and expensive process.  You can read more about their adoption story or give as they go through this awesome journey!

    It was exciting to surge past the $100 goal!!!  I know this will help us get a little closer to our goals as well as helps others along the way!  A hundred dollars extra a month may not seem like a lot to some people, but every little bit helps!  If I find that I am going over my goal every month (which would be awesome) I will make an adjustment.  I have plan of action on ways to earn creative cash next month so stayed tuned, hopefully, it will be another  great month of sharing.  Each month I will do a variety activities to accomplish this goal, the items above are just the ones I did specifically this month.  I look forward to sharing more of the things that work well for our family as I do them in the upcoming months.

    I will share with you the challenges, successes, and updates as I go through this journey so you can keep me accountable or even go through it with me by participating  and sharing your story. Taking the extra time to find ways to help my family as well as invest in the lives of others is important to me.  I hope that I have been able to encourage you to find ways to come up with some creative cash for your household as well.  Obviously, each situation and family is unique so decide what works for you and go for it!  If you know of another way to earn creative cash I would love to hear it!  Feel free to comment on how you earned creative cash this month or post a picture or link to what you did!

    Living on a Budget is a series of ways our family uses a budget to help keep us accountable with our finances.  Life doesn’t always go as planned.  We have used some of the ideas I will be sharing for years while others are ones we are just starting to implement as we continue finding ways to be creative and have fun with what we have been given.  Having a plan in place allows us the freedom to be smart with what we have been given, get more creative when it is a tight (week, month, year or a season) and when necessary live a much more simplified life.  A budget helps us stay on track so we have more opportunities to enjoy the many blessings we have been given as well as share what we have with others.  There is so much more to life than having all the stuff!  We may not have the newest or greatest items in our house, we drive used cars, wear clothes we find at garage sales, etc…however, if our family is taken care of and has love in our hearts for others we have more than all the riches in the world.

  • Blessing Lives Everyday with Special Surprises (B.L.E.S.S.): 25 Days of Christmas Blessings (Week 4)

    We have finished our fourth and final week of our 25 Days of Christmas B.L.E.S.S. (Blessing Lives Everyday with Special Surprises).  It has been a real joy doing these fun events everyday.  In some cases we get to see who receives our B.L.E.S.S. gift and in other cases we will never know who is on the receiving end.  We pray that whoever receives or finds these gifts will experience joy during this Holiday Season.  Each night we take down the B.L.E.S.S. activity for the next day and read the verse and the activity then pray for those who have and will receive our little BLESS’ings.

    Here is what we did this week with a couple pictures to share of our adventures:

    Candy Cane left for the next person to enjoy at the gas pump.

    • Day 19 – Bought and donated canned goods for the Harvest Hope food drive that helps feed families in our local community.  The girls were so excited about helping fill up the barrel of food.  It reminded me of times that were tight in our lives and the many blessings we have including food to eat.
    • Day 20 – Left quarters taped to a local vending machine for the next person to enjoy a snack.  The girls had fun “guessing” what they thought the next person might get for their snack.
    • Day 21 – Taped a Candy Cane to the gas pump for the next person who fills up with fuel to enjoy.  The girls giggle at the thought of the next person pulling up and getting the special treat.  As we were pulling out of the gas station they started clapping and cheering as someone drove up to our pump! 🙂
    • Day 22 – Wrote a “Thank You” note and left goodies for the Hotel Maids who cleaned our room.  The neat part is one of the maids recognized us from an earlier trip this year and was excited to see the girls again.  It reminded me of the importance of leaving a positive impact on the lives of others no matter where you go, even when you are on vacation or a work trip (you never know who you may run into or see again).  We prayed for each person that was cleaning our hall at the hotel that day. 
    • Day 23 – Sharing special Christmas treats with a friend.  The girls were eating a snack while we were running errands when we ran into a friend and without hesitation they gave away the remaining goodies in their bag to their friend so that she could enjoy them.
    • Day 24 – Gave the extra cash we had leftover after paying for our purchase back to the cashier so she could apply it to the person’s purchase behind us in line at the store. 
    • Day 25 – Spread Christmas cheer to Family and Friends.  We did not go out on Christmas Day because we felt that it was important to spend time with our family that day so we decided to take the time to call, text, and talk to family and friends to wish them Merry Christmas and let them know that we love them.

    One of our favorite verses this week went along with our Day 21  activity. 

    Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. – Hebrews 13:16

     

    Thank you note written from the girls to the hotel staff.  “Thank you for cleaning our room!” (with lots of hearts)

    I was not able to snap as many pictures as we were doing the activities this week with the traveling and I felt like it was more important to participate in the activities then to get the “perfect” picture.  The main purpose of this activity is to teach our family the joy of giving and sharing to those around us.

    My favorite day was Day 22 because the girls really did do most of it on their own.  I asked if they would like to leave a special treat for the hotel staff and they went to work writing notes and coming up with ways to spread Christmas cheer.  It was so amazing to see not only their excitement to do the activity but to hear them praying for the staff that would find the little treats and notes that they had left out for them.  Since the items were left on the table as we left the hotel it was the easiest one to capture pictures of as well.  I am thankful for the opportunity to do these wonderful activities with the family.

    This activity has taught our family a lot this year about the joy of giving to others.  It has been fun taking time every day to spread Christmas cheer and to pray for those who have received our goodies.  Sometimes it’s the little stuff that can make the most positive impact.  This may become a tradition in our family for future years as well because it was such a great way to make ourselves specifically think about, pray for, and do something for others each day during a busy time of year.  I would love to hear the ways you spread Christmas cheer this Holiday Season.

    Karlie’s “1st Poem” written specifically for the hotel staff (the girls gave them a fish sticker).  The note said – “A fun fish for you for fun.  I love people.”

    To learn more about our 25 Days of Christmas B.L.E.S.S. activity and what we have done far check out the links below:

     

    The girls came up with most of this idea, love that they are putting together B.L.E.S.S. activities pretty much on their own.

    I have been asked by a number of people for a printable version of the 25 Days of Christmas B.L.E.S.S. activities, verses, and sheets to handout so here they are for your family to enjoy as well:

  • Gift Giving: Christmas S’mores in a Jar

    My friend Bre shared this adorable jar of goodies with us.  If you are looking for a fun teacher or neighbor gift this is a great idea.  It is called “Smores in a Jar”.  The gift is beautiful and tasty, the perfect combination!  Here’s what you do:

    Smores in a Jar

    What you Need:

    • 1 Mason Jar
    • 1 cup Crushed Graham Crackers
    • 1 cup Holiday M&Ms
    • Marshmallows
    • Fabric
    • Paper & Tape

    Layered Ingredients:

    Wash and dry the mason jar.  Add the crushed graham crackers to the bottom of the jar.  Pour in the M&M’s and fill the remaining spacing (approximately 1 cup) with miniature Marshmallows.

    Print Out these Directions:

    1. Remove Marshmallows and set aside
    2. Combine ingredients in the jar with 1/2 cup melted butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla
    3. Press mix into a 9 inch square baking pan
    4. Place marshmallows on top
    5. Bake at 350 degree for 15 minutes
    6. Cool Completely
    7. Cut into bars and enjoy!

    Cut out a circle in the fabric 1 inch larger than the lid of your jar and place on the top then screw down the ring.  Tape the directions on the outside of the jar and give as a gift!

  • Blessing Lives Everyday with Special Surprises (B.L.E.S.S.): 25 Days of Christmas Blessings (Update)

    Candy Cane and B.L.E.S.S. note taped to a local ATM Machine

    We have officially started our 25 Days of Christmas B.L.E.S.S. (Blessing Lives Everyday with Special Surprises) and in all honesty I think we have been blessed more by doing these activities.  It has been a real joy doing these fun events everyday and it has been a great experience so far.  In some cases we get to see who receives our B.L.E.S.S. gift and in other cases we will never know who is on the receiving end.  We pray that whoever receives or finds these gifts will experience joy during this Holiday Season.  Each night we take down the B.L.E.S.S. activity for the next day and read the verse and the activity then pray for those who have and will receive our little BLESS’ings.

    Quarters taped to the toy and candy vending machines at the front of the store.

    Here is what we have done so far and a couple pictures to share of our adventures:

    • Day 1 – Gave a donation to the Salvation Army then passed out stickers at our local Walmart as people were coming in and out of the store.   During our 45 minutes passing out stickers at Walmart we saw several friends (it was great to greet friends on their way in or out of the store).  The girls gave one little girl and her Dad a sticker, the Dad reached into his Walmart bag pulled out a new container of cookies gave it to his daughter and then had her give the girls each a cookie to say “thank you” for sharing a sticker.  It was so sweet, I almost cried watching the whole interaction in the middle of the Walmart store entry way!
    • Day 2 – Taped a candy cane to the ATM at a local bank.  Taped quarters to the toy and candy vending machines at a local store.  The girls wanted to go back the next day and see if the quarters were used!
    • Day 3 – Hid dollars in the toy section at the Dollar Tree, the girls loved doing this one and giggled the whole time they were hiding the dollars.  They were very excited for the kid who would find a dollar hidden in the toys.
    • Day 4 – Collected food for the Alms & Legs Food Pantry to help families in our local community.  The girls each picked out items that they wanted to share with others.  They spent a considerable amount of timing picking out the perfect cans of vegetables, fruit, and other goodies to share.

    Quarter taped to the vending machine for another little kid to enjoy

    One of our favorite verses this week went along with our Day 4 activity. 

    For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.  – Matthew 25:35

    The verse was very specific so it was a fun one to discuss.  When we discussed the verse with the girls they knew exactly what it meant.  “If a person is hungry we should give them food.”  They enjoyed picking out some of their favorite foods to share.

    Karlie’s $1 “hidden” in the Dollar Tree toy aisle

    I am super excited to see how great this B.L.E.S.S. activity is going already.  It has been a true joy sharing with others (many of whom we’ll never meet).  It has been a great experience and I look forward to seeing what will happen with our fun adventures this week.

    Brina’s $1 “hidden” in the toy section on Dollar Tree.

    The main purpose of this activity is to teach our family the joy of giving and sharing to those around us.  I plan to do another update on our fun B.L.E.S.S. adventures next week.  Sometimes it’s the little stuff that can make the most positive impact.  I would love to hear how you are spreading the Christmas cheer this Holiday Season.

    (Update) I have been asked by a number of people for a printable version of the  25 Days of Christmas B.L.E.S.S. activities, verses, and sheets to handout so here they are for your family to enjoy as well:

  • Blessing Lives Everyday with Special Surprises (B.L.E.S.S.): 25 Days of Christmas Blessings

     

    I have been thinking about ways we can be a blessing to others throughout this Christmas season. It is easy to get caught up with the shopping, parties, celebrations, and everything else that we lose sight of what’s really important.  I want the girls to experience the joy of giving and helping those around us so we are delivering special surprises over the next 25 days.  I came up with the acronym B.L.E.S.S. to help remind us why we are sharing these little blessings.

    • Blessing
    • Lives
    • Everyday with
    • Special
    • Surprises

    The plan is to deliver a small special surprise to at least one person every day from December 1st to December 25th.  Each bag contains an activity to spread cheer and a scripture verse to discuss.  At dinner we will discuss our current days activity, pray for the people that received our gift, and get our bag for the next day.   The girls and I have came up with a lot of great ideas of ways we can share blessings with people around us (some will go to people we know and others to complete strangers or people we will never meet).

    Here’s how we put our B.L.E.S.S. activity together:

    Stack of B.L.E.S.S activities with scripture verses

    B.L.E.S.S. Cards to give out during our activities

    One of the B.L.E.S.S. Cards we made

    Day 1 through Day 25 bagged and ready to hang up

    All 25 Days of B.L.E.S.S. hung up and ready for us to start!

    The girls are very excited about doing this fun 25 Days of Christmas Blessings activity.  I hope to share some of the stories, what we did, experiences, pictures and lessons learned as we go throughout the the 25 days.  It is my intention to update you at least once a week.  I will share as much as I can but the real reason for doing this activity is to teach our family the joy of giving to others.

    (Update) I have been asked by a number of people for a printable version of the  25 Days of Christmas B.L.E.S.S. activities, verses, and sheets to handout so here they are for your family to enjoy as well:

  • Operation Christmas Child Packing Party

    One box ready to be opened by a girl and another one for boy!

    Every year our family and our church participates in the Operation Christmas Child.  Our church collects items for Operation Christmas Child throughout the year.  Each month they have an item or two that they request donations for and in late October they have a big Operation Christmas Child Packing Party.  The girls enjoy donating items throughout the year but they really look forward to packing the actual boxes.  We were not able to go to the church’s big packing party (the girls were very disappointed) but we were able to have a packing party at home. We had so much fun doing it I totally forgot to take pictures of the process!  I was simply amazed at how many items we were able to get into the boxes.  Our kitchen table was full of goodies and we were able to get almost everything into the boxes.  The children getting these boxes will be very surprised at all the fun stuff the girls included.

    How did we do it?

    • We collected items throughout the year to put in our Operation Christmas Child Goody Box (toothpaste, tooth brushes, soap, toys, trinkets, notebooks, books, socks, shirt, sunglasses, crafts, etc…)
    • Once our OCC Goody Box was full we donated any extra items to our church’s packing party
    • Throughout the year during the girls devotions we talked about helping others, Operation Christmas Child, and prayed for the children who would receive their boxes.
    • The girls saved some of their money to purchase a few specific gifts for their child
    • We prayed for the kids who would receive their boxes and went to the store to pick out items for them.
    • We set all the gifts out on the kitchen table and packed as many gifts and treats that would fit into the boxes (the boxes barely closed with all the items).
    • The girls proudly carried their boxes into church so they could be sent to their kids.
    • We are continuing to pray for the girl and boy who will receive their boxes in the next few weeks.

    Brina picked out items for a little girl and Karlie picked out items for a little boy.   This activity provided many great opportunities to show the girls what it is like to give to others, pray for people who we will probably never meet, to share, and many other learning moments.  The girls enjoyed donating to the church’s packing party throughout the year and it gave us an chance to discuss giving each time we donated items.

    They love putting together their individual child boxes.  I am amazed at how much thoughtfulness they put into each item they pick out for their kid.  Even though we may never know the full impact their gift has on the recipient it is a true blessing to see them desiring to give generously to others without any expectation of getting anything in return.  I pray that Operation Christmas Child will be a blessing to many children this Christmas Season and for many years to come.

  • Living on a Budget: Creative Cash (May Update)

    May is my fourth month tracking my Creative Cash.  What is Creative Cash?  Creative Cash is finding ways to come up with extra cash to share with others as well as work on our current goal.  I am working part time, a stay at home Mom, and wear many other hats from day to day, however, I feel that it is important to save money for our family by using coupons and buying items on sale but to earn a little money to help with the extra expenses and to share with others.  The extra amount I bring in on top of the work is what I call “Creative Cash” which means finding ways to make money creatively or with items and talents I have already.  I have tested this goal over the last couple months as I am challenging myself to make my life more simplified.   I plan to continue this goal for the remaining months of the year.  Despite the many financial obstacles that we have faced as a family we have been blessed with so much.  We believe it is important to be accountable with our finances and give to others.

    Explanation: The creative cash will be made throughout the entire month through various endeavors.  As it comes in the money is placed into our savings account and withdrawn at the end of the month so it can be split.  It is my goal to make at least $100 extra a month to help with our goals as well as share with others.  At the end of the month the money will be split 50 / 50 with half going towards our current goal we are working on (which at the moment is paying down debt) and the other half going to charity.

    May was a good month even though it was extremely active in many other areas of my life.  Thankfully I was able to save some extra cash however, I did not reach my my goal of $100.  I want to share with you the ways we did it so if you are looking for ways to make a little extra creative cash for your family hopefully we can be an inspiration in getting your creative juices flowing:

    • $23.11 – Items sold on Ebay (after fees):   The all the items sold were coupons.  I encourage you to look around at some of the coupons you get the mail, newspapers, magazines, in your stockpile, or other places and if you will not have the opportunity to use them then consider selling them for a little extra creative cash.
    • $9.51 – A portion of the proceeds from the Upstate Women’s & Home Consignment Sale
    • $29.50– A portion of the proceeds from the Taylors & Friends Consignment Store.
    • $14.90 – Other miscellaneous amounts earned  (rebates, returns, cash back,  extra money, etc…) that was added to my stash for the month.

    It was a harder month to set the extra aside because it was very busy and I was not able to participate in as many extra creative cash activities.  May’s “Creative Cash” total was $77.02 which means $38.51 extra that goes towards our current goal (paying down debt) and $38.51 goes towards charity.  May was the first month I didn’t hit my $100 goal but I am happy that I was able to get close to the goal and every little bit helps us get a little closer to our goals as well as helps others along the way.  I have plan of action on ways to earn creative cash in June so stayed tuned, hopefully, it will be another month where we can get closer to our goal and share with others.  Each month I do a variety activities to accomplish this goal, the items above are just the ones I did specifically in May.  I look forward to sharing more of the things that work well for our family as I do them in the upcoming months.

    I will share with you the challenges, successes, and updates as I go through this journey so you can keep me accountable or even go through it with me by participating  and sharing your story. Taking the extra time to find ways to help our family as well as invest in the lives of others is important to us.  I hope that we have been able to encourage you to find ways to come up with some creative cash for your household as well.  Obviously, each situation and family is unique so decide what works for you and go for it!  Do you know of another way to earn creative cash?   I would love to hear your idea!

    Living on a Budget is a series of ways our family uses a budget to help keep us accountable with our finances.  Life doesn’t always go as planned.  We have used some of the ideas I will be sharing for years while others are ones we are just starting to implement as we continue finding ways to be creative and have fun with what we have been given.  Having a plan in place allows us the freedom to be smart with what we have been given, get more creative when it is a tight (week, month, year or a season) and when necessary live a much more simplified life.  A budget helps us stay on track so we have more opportunities to enjoy the many blessings we have been given as well as share what we have with others.  There is so much more to life than having all the stuff.  We may not have the newest or greatest items in our house, we drive used cars, and wear hand-me-down clothing…..however, if our family is taken care of and have love for each other and others we have more than all the riches in the world.

    Photo by StopNLook

  • Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive with United States Postal Services (Sat, May 14)

    You can help food for families in your local community who are in need of food.  All you have to do is leave a bag of food at your mailbox and it will be delivered to your local food bank. The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is another great opportunity that allows you to demonstrate to your kids what it looks like to share with others and be generous, better yet have them pick out their favorite non-perishable items to put in a bag and have them help you carry it to the mailbox.

    Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive Details:

    • Date: Saturday, May 14, 2001
    • What: Bag of Non-Perishable Food Items (Can and Boxed Goods)
    • How: Leave your bag at the mailbox for pickup by your mail carrier
    • Where Does it Go? The USPS will deliver your Food Items to your local Food Bank to benefit people in your community
    • More Information: Stamp Out Hunger

    We are blessed as a family.  Yes we have a family budget, use coupons, and shop clearance racks or buy used items but by being smart with our money it allows us the opportunity to share what we have with others.  The girls love participating in this event and I am thankful they enjoy giving to those within our community.