The last few months I guess you can say I have stuck my head in the sand and I was at a (somewhat) stand still, emotionally. ( and blogging too) I have been a very frugal gal for many many many years but with the cost of living going up and UP it made things harder. What use to be a bit of lee-way, isn't so much lately. That kind of put me in a tail-spin and I have really struggled inside. I have to admit I wasn't relying on the Lord the way I should have been, I was kind of mad at Him. It was not consciously but subconsciously. I have been running over in my head over and over how can I create some ease back into our finances and I wasn't coming up with much. I had for years said that I have cut so many corners that I am down to a circle. My prayer lately has been..." Lord was please show me how I can be creative and cut some more corners to create some ease". He did give me a few ideas and then I really hit a wall. Even with all that I had done we were still having struggles. Now I have to say right here and now I am not whining and my hubby is the most AMAZING man and provider. I had a very hard time thinking about sharing this but the Lord prompted me to share more of my story. I am also asking for prayer to keep my chin up. I felt I was to share because there are so many others out there who are going through the same kind of feelings and probably more.
A very dear friend shared with me that I should share to encourage others and to be encouraged. I need to look at this as I have tried for many years as a ... good challenge. Lord , let it not lead me to stick my head in the sand but to keep my eyes lifted to the mountains and know where my strength comes from. It is from God.
I will be posting about how the Lord is showing me and my family how to live within our means, whatever that is during the coming days. If you have things to share with me/us please do!
I am wife to a waiter and our income fluctuates constantly and what I can afford certain times of the year is different than other times. I want to show snippets of projects around the homestead and maybe it will inspire someone else. I pray that it will show how we have a giving and loving God. And how He does provide for our needs. (and some of our wants too)
I am a person who is very busy in the kitchen and tries to be the Gardener's helper. I am working on ways to not be the reluctant gardener that I had been in the past. How He has been leading me to come along side my sweetheart and be his helpmeet. What a journey the Lord has lead me on, thank you Lord.
The Lord is teaching me how to harvest from the wild or to grow herbs and plants to make supplements instead of buying them to save money. This year for the first time I have harvested and dried horsetail to make into a tea for silica. Silica helps with strong nails, hair, and healthy skin. For information go HERE & HERE . This is a plant that likes shaded marshy areas and we just happen to have it growing on our homestead. I have stored it in a gallon glass jar in a dark place (our pantry) to use it through out this year.
I am just about done with my 2ds's second sock. ((happy dance)) I am casting off the toe this week-end. I am also going through my yarn and busting my stash. I have now used up all my cotton craft yarn by making up scrappy dish clothes. Not only is the yarn not going to waste ( that I have had for the last 15 yrs) but I now have a whole bunch of new dish clothes, such a blessing during dish washing times.
Another thing that has been keeping me very busy is the garden. My job to help the Gardener is to start a lot of the starter plants from seed on the plant table. And then transplant them to bigger pots to grow big enough to then transplant to the garden, for a head start. Our growing season is short and is only 90 days. Everything counts.
I am sad to say this year I am a bit behind in my job. ((sigh)) But at the same token it has been a very cool spring. This morning it was in the low 40's and we are still getting a very cool draft down the mountain. So time wise I am okay I guess. [o;
Okay, I think I will share one last picture of our homestead, a song that spoke to my heart, and sign off so I won't turn this post into a book.
Oh my goodness, Mary, I can't believe you just shared this! All morning I have been feeling rather desperate. And discouraged. Our financial situation is so bleak that I don't know what to do. My husband works from home, but it doesn't pay much and there are no benefits (like insurance, sick leave, vacation time, etc.). He works so hard, and this is the only job he could find. His salary is also different all the time. It fluctuates constantly, and the pay isn't even regular at times. Things have gotten so tight that there is no room for anything but very basic necessities, and I have been trying to figure out how I can contribute to our income while still being a keeper at home.
ReplyDeleteI was just thinking this morning, how I can't let this get me down. I just have to be more creative with what we do have, and go from there. And I was also planning a series of posts on little ways I have found to help our budget. Maybe we can encourage each other!
We must be going through a similar situation. May you be blessed as you creatively serve the Lord and your husband with what He has given you!
♥Joy
Joy,
DeleteYou are such a inspiration my SSiC. I will lift you in prayer too! I am looking forward to encouraging each other along this less traveled road and may be be like Christian and Hope and not let the other give up. ( in Pilgrims Progress)
Blessings and ((HUGS))!
I needed to read your post today.
ReplyDeleteIt's been one of those weeks for us...we are having vehicle problems. We really can't afford to buy another vehicle right now but our van is getting older and is having "issues". My husband is self-employed (and like your hubby, is a good provider and excellent worker) and this vehicle is part of the business so we really need a reliable one. And like you, our income can change from one season to the next.
It is getting more and more difficult to live within our means but I know we can do it and learn from each other. Thank you for sharing your heart, Mary. It means a lot to know there are others who are experiencing similar situations.
I have been so blessed by your words, thank you. (((HUGS))) I will lift you in prayer my friend and I love that we can encourage each other.
DeleteBlessings and ((HUGS))!
HUGS!!!! If it helps we ALL (or at least I do) feel the same way from time to time. We are in the ministry full time and income is ever changing. God always provides, but sometimes it seems it is at the very last second. I have learned and stretched to only listen to HIS voice and drown out my own (pity party).
ReplyDeleteI have moved to more cooking from scratch and buying from local farmers. Living in a RV does not provide a garden, haha. But I can bless others with buying. Just eating healthier cost more, so yet another reason the buget had to stretch and be tweaked.
I am always amazed at your frugalness and abilty to make something from very little. You are an inspiration!!!!
Chasity
You have such a amazing journey and I am sure you could tell ALL kinds of stories where you lived on such times of faith. Will lift you in prayer my friend. ((HUGS))!
DeleteMay I say...I told you so! :D
ReplyDeleteI have been thinking about you today and keeping you in my prayers as I went about my routine.
You are not alone in this. We are all with you and some of us are going through the same things.
So let us encourage each other always and keep each other in fellowship.
Don't you just enjoy that song? It is just the best way to stay focus on Our Father... "Why should I feel discouraged? His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me!!!"
Love you,
Maria
You know that I am in a very similar place as you, and I have fretted and worried and tried to control the situation as best as I could. Then both the Lord and my husband told me it wasn't for me to figure out, I was to leave it in their hands. I'll admit, that's not always easy, and I do take it back quite a bit, especially since I do the bills around here. But it was more of an emotional thing for me. Once I quit trying to control our finances the less stress there was. Everything wasn't 'perfect' after that, and we still struggle, A LOT. We've been dealing with low hours for the past month, and it's hit our savings hard. But the stress of trying to figure it all out is lessened, and that means so much. I still stress, but I continue to try and give it to the Lord. :) Praying for you all.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much JoAnn and I will lift you in prayer too. (((HUGS))) I will lift in prayer for you hubby to get more hours at work. I have been there and done that with my hubby through the years. PTL that He is in control and will take care of us.
DeleteMary-Girl, do you have any specific needs right now? I'll comment more later when I have some more time, but just wanted to check if there was some way that the body of Christ could serve and bless you...
ReplyDeleteLove and {{{HUGS}}},
Lori
I am not sure how to answer this, there are repairs needed on some appliances but other then that we are managing. Things are tight but we are doing fine. This year we are re budgeting and freezing more veggies for the winter. I am glad it is spring and greens in the garden are abundant. Thank you my SSiC you are the best for all your love that you lavish on me. ((HUGS))
DeleteBlessings and ((HUGS))
-Mary
2 Parts...Here's part 1:
DeleteWish I knew how to fix appliances and that they could be sent to Chicago easily, LOL! I know that in times of abundance, it blesses US to be a blessing to others who have a need or needs; then, when we are in need for something, we can make our need known to the body of Christ around us, and THEY can experience the blessing that comes from giving of THEIR abundance to us. It is humbling to express need, especially if it is ongoing (we have several widow friends who must do this, and they have shared with me how humbling it can be)...and I, in return, have shared with them that if they do not make their needs known, those of us who "have" at the time cannot be obedienct to Christ to share with those in the body who "have not." The only reason we "have" at any moment in our lives is so we can share with those who have need of what we have, so we can be that part of the body of Christ. Some day (maybe soon, who knows?), I may be the one with great need. And I will be called upon by God to make my needs known to Him, and to the body of Christ. Part of the purpose for suffering is for our own sanctification, that we may, through our total obedience even in time of trial, be rewarded in the Kingdom for that which we obedienctly and patiently endure in Jesus' name here on earth. But the OTHER part of suffering, in any and all forms, for the Christian is that activates the ministry of prayer and builds up the body of Christ through serving one another selflessly and in love. All the years that Nathan was so sick as a child (he has outgrown the malady that he suffered, PTL...not the diabetes, but the childhood migraine syndrome and its accompanying cyclical vomiting) and it was so terriying to me because of the diabetes (every two weeks we had an emergency situation...this went on for years), I begged God to make it so I could be the one to serve and give and pray for someone else...not the one who had to seek prayer all the time! Over the years He taught me that my role in this was not to stop the suffering...that's hard when it's your child...that the suffering was producing its GOOD FRUIT in Nathan's life (it HAS, PTL!!!), that our church -- His body -- was knitting together in prayer so that each headache and vomiting and diabetic emergency that came to an end was a testimony to ALL of His watching over Nathan, and that MY job was to SERVE Nathan as God did His work in Nathan's life and in the body of Christ through the "job" that He had given Nathan to accomplish in His name and for His glory. It was painful, it was hard, and sometimes (ok, lots of times!) I was angry in my heart that He didn't cure Nathan. But He had a work for Nathan to accomplish, and in His Kingdom, Nathan will be rewarded for suffering in obedience (Nathan, as do most children, suffered like a lamb...he took it wayyyyy better than I did). This suffering here on earth is but for a little while. It is for our "vapor" of a lifetime, but there are a thousand years of reward (or loss...we can't lose our salvation, but we can lose our reward, our inheritance) for the way we respond...in obedience and prayer and allowing/inviting the body of Christ to come alongside of us...and then an eternity of perfection after every tear and sad rememberance is wiped away by God Himself. He understands our fears and frustrations...my angry outbursts never did me nor anyone else any good, but God longs for us to crawl into His lap so He can hold and comfort us as we cry.
(see part 2 next)
2 Parts...here's part 2:
DeleteLittle things that we might do for you (since we can't come to Canada and repair an appliance) would allow those of us who "have" right now to bless you, and in turn be obedient with what we have. An example: a blogger I got to know shared one time that money was so tight, they couldn't afford coffee, and the headaches were setting in. We had just recieved a HUGE basket of food gifts for dh's 20th anniversary with his company, and in it was a TON of chocolate and many different mini-bags of coffee. Into a box went coffee and also chocolate for the children and was sent to this blog-friend. Wayyy more than the blessing we felt at receiving that lovely basket from dh's company, it blessed the livin-daylites out of us to send some of it to her and her family! We didn't need all of it...had she not shared her situation, even though it was not a life or death emergency (though in my book, being out of coffee with no way to buy more would be tough...I've had those coffee-withdrawal-migraines!), we would not have known that such a simple thing would be such a blessing to her, and we would have only had an opportunity to be gluttons, not to be servants.
So...I don't know if that helps you to know more how to answer my original Q now, LOL! But I want to encourage you as you are going through this difficult and discouraging time, that you are exactly where the Lord needs you to be now, and you have been His beautiful servant for many years of blogging, blessing the blogosphere with your real-life experiences and the sharing of your years of accumulated wisdom...in addition to praying for you, there may be someone reading who might have been given something by God for the sole purpose of giving it to someone else who needs it. So please don't hesitate to share if you have a need or if you are just at the end of your rope and need us to come alongside and be with you. You are loved, dear one!
{{{HUGS}}},
Lori
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThank you soooooooooooo much Lori. ((((HUGS))))
Delete-Mary
I'm sorry you have you been feeling discouraged lately, but glad you shared it here so we know how to pray! I'm so thankful for your blog and the example you set as you serve Christ with everything you have.
ReplyDeleteYou are not alone! Everyone I know is pinching pennies in some way right now.
Hugs!
Ohhh Marla!
DeleteLong time no see! I miss you TONS to say the least. Please stop by more often and and let me know if you post anything, PLEASE.
Love you my SSiC
-Mary
First, let me say that you are, and have been since I stumbled on your blog, a great inspiration to me. I share your discouragement about those corners that have been cut into a circle. We had to believe God that He would provide the means to get the daughter's things to her new home. Honestly, I didn't know how we were going to do it. We did, and he miraculously provided.
ReplyDeleteBut then, there are those times when I too have gotten mad or sad or discouraged. There have been times very recently when I just wanted to throw up my hands and say, "I give up." With a husband in sales and no teaching contracts in this bleak economy, I get discouraged to the point of fear sometimes. I'm learning, though, to really and truly exercise that trust with my heart and not just my mouth.
I look forward to any and all ideas you have for living within the means. Where I live, I don't have the bountiful forest blessings that you do. BUT I am always looking to glean whatever I CAN do.
May God bless you in advance for the gift of knowledge you are willing to share with us!
Debbie,
DeleteThank you so much! You ALWAYS encourage me more than you know when you stop by. (((HUGS))) You seem to know what I need to hear. Blessings and ((HUGS))!
Ugh Sorry to hear you have been going through a tough time but boy do I know this well my husbands pay has fluctuated much in the past where sometimes it is feast or famine and I know of this struggle you speak of sometimes you run out of where to cut corners when the corners you are cutting are already cut. It is encouraging to hear you facing this with the Lord. We learn so much during these times if we allow the Lord to work in our heart and we turn away from bitterness that can take root. I know it is easy for me to say standing on the outside of your situation but....I will be praying for you and what a blessing it is to have a homestead to enjoy as you do, and harvesting that sounds fantastic. I need to get a garden planted myself I am not sure if I can swing it this year yet. Praying for ya ~Love Heather
ReplyDeleteThank you Heather for your sweet words of encouragement and prayers. I cherish them greatly. ((HUGS))
DeleteDear friend, What a testimony you are to the Lord's grace upon your life. And such a testimony to your impact on others these comments from sweet sisters in the Lord are!
ReplyDeleteWe have walked through times of plenty and times of want and know the Lord's hand has been in it each step of the way just as His hand has been there with you and yours. Oh, the many, many things He teaches us along life's path as we trust in Him and look to the still-abundant blessings around us. Your creativity and frugal eye are a blessing, indeed! I look forward to what you might share with us in the coming days, as any one of us out here could be facing the need to cut corners in our own homes at any time. Continuing to cut corners when you're already down to a circle -- now that is quite a skill, Mary. In a way this reminds me of the story of Elijah and the widow in I Kings 17 where by faith the Lord continued to provide both flour and oil. The beauty I see in your situation is your tender heart toward both your dear husband and the Lord who are your providers. You are such a wonderful example to me, my friend, and I praise the Lord for your friendship and faithfulness.
With prayers to HIM on your behalf, may He grant all that your heart desires to His glory and your good. :) Blessings to you my SSiC,
Lisa :)
Thank you Lisa! Love you. (((((((HUGS)))))) And the starters are getting too big for the plant table. YEAh!
DeletePS: LOVE all those starts!! They're looking good!
ReplyDelete"I need to look at this as I have tried for many years as a ... good challenge. Lord , let it not lead me to stick my head in the sand but to keep my eyes lifted to the mountains and know where my strength comes from. It is from God. "
ReplyDeleteMary, this is exactly the word I needed to hear today. It applies to a different issue in my life, but I have recently used the exact verbage about sticking my head in the sand. I am going to try to keep my chin up today and in the days to come.
When you share from your heart like this it allows us to bathe you in prayer. That's a pretty good place to be.
Hang in there, dear one.
<><,
Tracy
Oh dear friend. I am lifting you in prayer in what ever your situation is. Isn't it wonderful we can lift each other in prayer. Thank you soooooo much for your encouragement.
DeleteJust had a budget talk on the way home from the lake... not fun. Food prices are crazy and the money coming in doesn't keep up! I do pray that the Lord blesses you with increased wisdom as to how best use the resources He provides. (((hugs)))
ReplyDeleteThank you Jenn. You are always such a encouragement and good friend. ((HUGS))
Deletenice post thanks for sharing looking for to visit more blessings
ReplyDeletethank you, I will visit hopefully soon. So much to do on the homestead and it makes getting around blogland challenging. Blessings!
DeleteMary,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your transparency--and know that you're being upheld in prayer. I know that God will NOT fail you and will lead you faithfully through this difficult time. He has never forsaken the righteous and you will have a testimony of His grace when this season comes to an end.
I pray the Lord will send His ministering angels to you today to encourage your heart and let you know that He has a plan and will move heaven and earth to take care of you and your family if need be.
((Hugs!))
Thank you Wendy your friendship is so precious ((HUGS))
DeleteHi sweet Mary,
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to hear that your finances are making a doughnut out of your circle, but I trust that the Lord will always provide the necessities. I will hold you in my prayers and ask that you hold me in yours as there has been "rough sledding" here this year as well. I, too, am woefully neglecting my little blog, and would love to get to back to even an occasional post. I miss you, my friend, and think of you often.
love, prayers, and (((hugs!))),
Shani
We need to keep eachother in prayer like always. ((HUGS)) Thank you Shani.
DeleteMary, me again...
ReplyDeleteDo you read Sharon's blog, "The Legacy of Home?" She is a beautiful writer, and has blogged so often about living with no income, in poverty, with little income, with irregular income, through trials and tribulations and yet doing it with a heart of joy and grace...and she gives lots of great ideas and MUCH encouragement. Here's a link that you could visit with lots of posts that she's labeled under "finances." But just nose around her blog, there are years worth of encouraging and insightful teaching posts! http://thelegacyofhome.blogspot.com/search/label/Finances
Blessings and {{{HUGS}}},
Lori
Thank you sooooooooooo much for the link! I will for sure check it out when I can. You are such a dear friend. ((HUGS))
Delete-Mary
Mary, thank you for being so open about sharing your struggles!
ReplyDeleteAs a single income family my hubby and I are very low on finances these days, too.
Life is getting more and more expensive for a lot of families.
This week has been a hefty bill-paying one for us with car registration, electricity etc. as well as trying to recover from our recent trip interstate to see our son.
So many of us are in the same boat, and I appreciate hearing how other ladies manage to cut costs and find frugal ways to run their households.
Please know that you are not alone by any means!!
We can all encourage each other in these tough times :-)
You are an inspiration and a blessing, my sweet friend!
Lots of love..Trish xx
We too must live frugal ( by the worlds standards). I was encouraged not only by your post but by the comments! You are loved! I have learned that God is in all of lifes journeys thick and thin. I treasure most the times I have had to let it all go because God was the only way. You have reminded me that I need to share those times! HUGs to you. I send you an email about my blog going private. Did you get it? If you need to leave me a message try FB or Lori's Blog. Blessings
ReplyDeleteOh, what a beautiful post and what lovely comments. You truly are loved!
ReplyDeleteMay the Lord bless you with a contented heart and with all that you need. He WILL care for you.
We've been below the poverty line most of our marriage; now I'm learning to live with extra, and it's a completely different mindset. I'm so thankful for having enough money! I still try to be frugal, though, so that we'll be able to pay off some debt quickly and start saving for a church building our congregation is hoping to be able to get within the next few years. I'd hate to have to borrow for that.
May you have a peaceful, blissful, blessed weekend, and may the encouragement from your retreat stay with you for a long time.