Eating for Less...Day One

Ok, so day one wasn't so bad.  Enchiladas and rice for dinner.  Plenty for all.  Snacks, however, are going to be an issue.  Noah has this "thing" for crackers.  I normally only buy crackers without preservatives and shelf stabilizers.  This week?  Old-fashioned saltines.  The kids are very aware that we're spending less this pay period so that we can donate the difference to the Faith Comes By Hearing project through church.  You would think they were sharing gold.

"You ate HOW many saltines?"
"MOOOOOOOOOM, he took like a hundreds saltines!  There won't be any left by Wednesday!"
"Dude!  Save some for tomorrow!"
"Hey, we'll be STAAAAARVING if you don't slow down!"

"Mom, I've counted the number of crackers and divided them by five.  Each child can have exactly 32 crackers before we're out."

"Hey, mom!  We could always use the coin jar to buy another box!"

All this for Saltines?  Granted, my grandmother had a thing for saltines so maybe it's in their genes.  That would be weird, but strangely sweet.

I'm afraid for my life when the snacks run dry...and just wait until it's nothing but pb&j for lunches.  Good times!

Tidal Wave

I read blogs for sanity.  I know there are other moms who think using the computer during the day is not a good use of time.  However, this mom has been doing the at-home thing for 15 years.  That's a lot of time, friends.  I've seen many women start home and then be back at work.  And me?  Still holding down the fort.  That happens when you keep adding kids!   Reading the blogs of other people in similar situations (or even exact opposite situations) helps me stay grounded, focused, knowledgeable (somewhat)...and well, nice. 

For the past year, I've noticed a trend.  Actually, I think it's more than a trend.  It's more like a rising wave.  Family after family of believers are assessing their homogenized, cookie-cutter, life-in-the-burbs way of living for Jesus and deciding it often isn't what Christ had in mind.  I'm reading of families adopting and not just adopting...but adopting kids with significant special needs.  I'm reading of families moving into inner cities to shine light into dark places.  I'm reading of women moving across the globe to hold the hands of the sick and dying.  And I'm watching lives set on fire to live in radical obedience to God.

And it e.x.c.i.t.e.s me.  Big  time.

There have been times in our country's history when revivals have occurred.  I have often wondered if the church in America was too deep in slumber to hear the call of the Spirit again.  But now...I'm beginning to wonder.  I keep seeing water rising like a tidal wave about to hit land and I pray that it's a vision of the love of Jesus beginning to pour onto a hurting world through the hands and feet of His followers.

We're praying as a family for God to show us how we can be part of His plan.  Right now, we know we're to care for the kids under our wings and to minister to our church here in CT, challenging them to listen to His Voice.  We feel led to sacrifice for the sake of touching unreached people groups.  And we wouldn't be surprised to see adoption in our future again someday.  But what else does He have in mind?

I'm thrilled and scared all at once to find out!