Disney Delayed

Tonight at dinner we dropped the bomb on our kids.  After much prayer, planning, and crunching of numbers, we made the decision to not take a trip to Disney World that we had been planning for September.

Needless to say they were disappointed, but thankfully not crushed.  We explained to them that we would have to spend money that currently goes towards our "extras" for the next 3 months--and that was not even factoring in meals for the trip.  For us to decide to just go anyway would be irresponsible to them as parents.  We'd already done irresponsible in the beginning of our marriage and don't want to go there again.

Going through this has reminded me of how grateful I am for all that God has taught us about money in the process of getting rid of our consumer debt.  We know that there is a satisfcation in saving up for something and waiting on it.  That is our plan for Disney.  We've told the kids to be saving for when that time comes, as well reminding them that 'no' for now can mean 'better' for later.

A Lesson Learned

Yesterday I went on some errands with my two sons.  Our first stop was at the ATM machine to deposit some money that we had withdrawn, but ended up not spending.  My oldest son asked, “Mom, how come you’re putting your money back into the bank?  Why don’t you just keep it out?”

I shared with him about how when a person has money with them, the temptation is to spend it.  But if money is kept in the bank, the inconvenience of having to get it out of the bank tends to override the desire to spend it.  Out of sight, out of mind.  He seemed to get it.

While we were out, we shopped for new sneakers for this same son.  Ross and I had budgeted to spend $25 because, believe it or not, there are still sneakers out there that you can get for $25.  Anything above that amount and our son would foot the rest of the bill.

When he did find the sneakers that fit him well and that he liked, they were $30.  I persuaded him to go to one more shoe store a few doors up to see if they might have a better price.  They did, have a better price, a price so good that he would not have had to pay any money towards the shoes and we would have been under our $25 budget.  However, he was set on having the $30 shoes.  So we went back to the previous store.

The cashier who rang up our purchase told us that if we became a member of their rewards club, we could get an additional 5% off of our purchase.  I said, “Sure!”  So instead of having to spend his whole $5 that he had brought with him, our son only had to spend $2.50.  Guess what he did?  Immediately he began to look around for what else he could buy to go with the shoes—socks, shoelaces, etc.  I chuckled to myself and reminded him of the temptation of having money with you that we had discussed only an hour earlier.  “Oh, yeah,” he remembered.  He got it.

About Face

Last week our middle son Hunter went away to boy scout camp.  He was gone for six days.  Six days of independence for an almost eleven-year old--yikes!  Needless to say, he was excited about being away with the older boys and the scout leaders.

We went up to visit him the evening before the last day of camp for "Family Night".  It was a rainy day and all of the scouts were gathered under a pavilion outside of the dining hall.  I anxiously scanned through all of the faces in uniform trying to make out my son so that I could hug him.  I hadn't realized until that moment how much I missed having him home.  My eyes finally landed on his face, he was chatting it up with the other boys, ball cap turned backwards.  He hadn't seen us yet.

After a couple of minutes, he looks over at me, then looks at Ross.  Immediately he turns his baseball cap forward, and comes over to greet us.  Once we reunited I realized the impact that his dad, my husband, has on him.  He knows that Dad does not allow him and his brother to wear their caps backwards.  It's just how he rolls.  As a teacher and coach he knows that impressions are important.  So to see Hunter do an about face when Dad rolled on the scene was pretty cool.  It demonstrated his submission to Ross's authority over the independence that he was enjoying away from home.  In other words, 'Scout camp is over and boot camp is about to begin!'

Put Your Money Where Your Faith Is

Recently a friend of mine was sharing with me about some of the changes she has been making to get her finances in order.  I talked with her about tithing and how it demonstrates to God that we have faith in Him to provide for us.  This was the challenge I put before her--begin tithing off of any extra money that you take in (overtime, gifts, etc.)  I wanted her to begin the practice of tithing and put her faith to the test.

She began doing this and felt good about doing it.  But she didn't stop there.  Just this week we talked and she let me know that for the first time ever she tithed off of her income as well.  She said that it felt scary giving such a big amount, but it also felt wonderful because she was doing what God wanted her to do.

That about sums up having faith in God.  It does feel scary to do something that our nature doesn't feel right about.  But the spirit of God inside of us is yearning to do His will.  So when we do it, it's like there's this big sigh of relief that everything is going to be okay.  I am so proud of my friend.  For the longest time her heart's desire has been to move out of her mom's house and have a place of her own for her and her little boy.  The Bible tells of so many stories where God provided for people because of their faith in Him.  I believe that my friend will be able to join the saints with her own testimony of God's provision in no time.

Out of Sorts

Summer time has been a great time for us to reconnect as a family.  However, it has been a struggle for me in regards to my individual routine.  Because everyone is home at the same time, I have neglected my morning disciplines of exercise and time alone with God.

Just this week I have been recharged by getting back into the routine of how I do things during the school year.  Doing this has left me feeling refreshed and has decreased the anxieties that were beginning to build up. 

Have you ever thought you were hungry, but really you were thirsty?  You try and try to find just the right food to satisfy your need, but nothing seems to fit the bill because water is what you need.  In the same way, when I am away from my routine, I try and find satisfaction in other areas.  I do things around my home, spend time with the kids, watch a movie with Ross, or listen to music.  But I still feel out of sorts because I am thirsty--thirsty for God's presence.  Everything else is filler, it doesn't last long nor does it quench my true need.

I have been reading the book of Isaiah.  It recounts how God's people have repeatedly hungered after other gods instead of quenching their thirst with the Living God.  The book reveals that although punishment will be a consequence, so will grace.  God will love His people still and protect them from harm.  I am in awe that I can shirk my responsibilities to the Creator of this world, and yet He obligates Himself to fulfill His promises to me.  This truly is amazing grace.

Random Acts of Kindness

Yesterday we cut back our daisies that are growing in the front yard.  They were my mother's day gift from last year and as beautiful as they are, they were in desperate need of a trimming.  So my husband cut them back, and had the idea of tying them into dozens and giving them to people in our neighborhood.

Two of our kids, along with a neighbor kid, took the flowers around to different people they saw out walking, as well as people who we know in the neighborhood.  It was cool to hear the comments that people made over such a simple thing as receiving some cut flowers. 

One woman who my son gave flowers to said that daisies were her favorite flower (perfect!)  Another woman who my daughter talked to said that this was the best thing that's happened to her in a long time (can you imagine?)  There was a man who playfully asked, "What am I supposed to do with these?" to which the kids answered, "Stick 'em in water and put them on your table!"  My daughter and her friend were approaching one house with flowers when they looked in the front window and saw a woman holding up daisies, pointing to them with a smile as if to say, 'Your brother beat you here!'

Certainly a reminder of how a simple, free gift can create happy hearts.

The Rest of the Story

Personal Finances Personal Freedom is a book that chronicles the story of a family getting out of over $40,000 worth of debt in just under two years.  It speaks candidly of the misconceptions that led this married couple into paying for a lifestyle way beyond their means.  In the end, they realized their love of money was beginning to affect the well-being of their children.  This revelation led to them making the major decision to bust out of consumer debt.  To make a long story short, God blessed them to pay off their debt years before what they had originally projected.

This is our story.  Personal Finances Personal Freedom is my book.  However you will not find it on-line or at a bookstore--yet.  God has not yet spoken to me as to how to go about getting it out into the hands of others, and I am adamant that I am going to wait to hear from Him.  I have begun to wonder recently if the reason He hasn't released me to print the book is because the story is not finished.  I finished writing the book, but maybe God hasn't writing finished the story.  And maybe us getting our mortgage paid off is going to complete the story, showing everyone who reads the book what a mighty God we serve.