God has challenged me to write about how He will supernaturally pay off our mortgage in 5 years. I am a homemaker, my husband is a teacher, and we have three children. Our mortgage balance at the start of this blog is $97,802.62 with a projected payoff date of May 11, 2035.

Sounds foolish, huh? The Bible says that, "...God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise;..." So I am choosing to be foolish and trust Him. He's never let me down before.

Monday, April 23, 2012

Student-Teacher

My daughter has been wanting a cell phone for some time now.  Ross and I are not feeling it.  We don't believe that she needs one until she is driving.  Nevertheless, she asked me if it would be okay for her to pray for a cell phone.  I told her that she certainly could, as God tells us to come to Him with our desires so that He can answer us.

Every time she prays she asks for God to get her a cell phone and more recently the request has become more specific in asking for an iphone.  Yesterday, Morgan and I had time alone together for lunch and some shopping.  I shared with her a few verses including Matthew 7:9-11 and James 1:17 which both talk about our Father giving "good gifts".  I shared with her that although she wants and is praying for an iphone, she may not receive it from God if it is not a "good gift" for Morgan.  She understood, but is continuing to pray, now asking that she would receive it for her birthday which is next month.

Last week, I was out and about at the Salvation Army store and saw these beautiful vases that would be just perfect for my dining room corner cabinet.  I didn't have the money to get them at the time, so I moved them around away from each other so that no one else would come along, realize how well they go together, and pick them up before I was able to come back for them!  Today I had some time to kill in the morning and thought about taking a little money from here and a little money from there to pay for them.  Then guess what came into my mind?  "Every good and perfect gift comes from above..."  (James 1:17)  I thought, 'No, Lord!  I don't want to hear that now!  I want to get my vases!'  But He was clear.  I need to wait and put it in the May budget.  Yes, even second-hand decor goes into the budget.  It sounds trite, but if I splurge on this, I'll splurge on a dress and a pair of shoes, too.  Today God took the teacher and made her the student.

Friday, April 20, 2012

The Chance--Update

People have been asking me about the writing contest for which I submitted an entry.  Well, I knew before this but received the official letter in the mail yesterday saying that I did not win.  Nevertheless I am still thankful that I tried.  The good news is that I also received a 30 dollar check in the mail.  Isn't it just like God to provide an anesthetic for our hurts?

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Spring Break?

For the past 6 days (4 of which were school days) our kids have been off for Spring Break.  This has been the first time in a long while that they have had the entire break, because snow make-up days would always eat away at the time they were scheduled to have off.  But because we've had such a mild winter, they were able to have almost a whole week of time at home.

What I came to realize over those 6 days was that their Spring Break was not a break for me.  I thought it would be.  I imagined our happy family nestled inside our happy home having a happy time together.  But it was quite the opposite.  The first few days we all had to adjust to each other being home at the same time for such a long period of time.  Then, intermingled with this, were multiple activities and errands which required racing from here to there.  Normally I love running errands because I love the thrill of coordinating where to go, the best route to take to get there, and all of the other things I can get accomplished while I am out.  However, when you have three children to consider as you move about, those "extra" stops become negotiable.  It's just too much for them to handle.

It's funny because when people ask me why I stopped working, I tell them "to be home for my kids".  Initially I believed this to be the whole truth.  Being a homemaker allows me to be in their schools, be there to see them onto and off of the bus, pick them up when they are sick, etc.  But the bigger reason that I am home is because of me.  It is because I am ineffective at working a 9-5 job and a 24-hour job at the same time.  The Spring Break proved this to me loud and clear.  I love my kids, but I also love my time at home without them.  There, I said it...is that so wrong?  The "job" that I do here while they are in school frees me up to give them time and attention when they are at home. 

Yesterday was the last day at home for the kids.  Today my Spring Break starts up again...