The Economy

Times are getting tough and I have been reading many articles online about the status of the economy. I recently saw one about a family feeding their family of four for $105/week. This got me thinking because a lot of months we do that for our family of seven. I have been asked how we do it so I thought I would post about some things we do. Today I purchased two large chickens, five pounds each and some supplies to go with including: tortillas, noodles, cheese, and sour cream. I first boiled off the two chickens. My mother-in-law asked if I would make her some chicken soup as she has been ill for a few days. I made two quarts of stock, chicken and noodles for her.

I then made five, one serving pans of creamy chicken enchiladas for her for her freezer. We like to do this every once in awhile as a gift knowing that cooking for just one isn't always easy. I also made one large pan of enchiladas for dinner and another for our freezer for a busy week later.

I was then left with almost three quarts of stock and chicken that I will add noodles and garden carrots to for dinner tomorrow evening. I will also make a batch of crescent rolls to go with it. Total for my supplies for the soup, enchiladas and bread came to approximately $24.

11 servings of soup + 19 servings of enchildas = 30 meals = $.80/meal

We as a society have become dependent on things being ready instantly. We have gone away from making things from scratch in the name of convenience. Canned soup, frozen entrees and the like. I believe that it costs us more to do that long term. Saving money on meals takes planning and a little extra effort. But in my opinion, if you have the time, then the payoff both financially and health wise are worth it. And so is my family.

Camping...

Hubby is off work this week and we just got back from camping for 4 days. Check back for a post later today with some great pictures. I played with my camera that I got for mother's day since I had some time with no TV, computer, house chores and laundry to do.

I am so tired.

I am happy. My hubby hung up the long awaited clothesline. I hung out three loads today plus a comforter. How sweet it was. It's like a little break in my day to stop, pray, think and hang laundry. So of course you know it saves you money not drying but as a bonus you also save more money because your clothing lasts longer. I am all for that.

Lil picked 6 green beans this morning. Canning season is here. But we need the production to pick up a bit before we start.

Lij decided he wanted to help mom and big sisters bake. Lil is showing him how to measure out three cups of flour. (He insists that he must wear tanktops if it's sunny outside. Cracks me up.)

Els wanted to check progress on the scrumptiousness in the oven but the steam got to her a bit. So she found a way to look that worked for her.

There's the loot. Five loaves of pecan nut bread and eight loaves of zucchini. Yes, those four in the back did get some extra time in the oven. Just keep it to youself, would ya? I'm busy, a timer gets missed on occasion. The kids like them anyway and that's what matters, right?

So, 13 loaves of bread, 3 loads of laundry hung out to dry, folded and put away, 2 freezer meals made, 2 loads ran through the dishwasher, everyone fed and five kids to VBS for the evening. Can I put my feet up now?

Birthday season

This little muchkin will be turning six in just a little over three weeks. This was her first birthday and the way she is enjoying her cake is the way she enjoys life. All the way, good and bad, this girl gives it her all.

Have you heard of hunting season? Well around here we are coming up on birthday season. All of our kids have their birthdays within seven and a half weeks. All six of them including little Olivia with Jesus. Kind of an interesting fact since it is almost harvest season as well. Someone had a dream about me years ago after we lost Olivia and before we had any other children. The woman having the dream was bringing several large bags of seeds to our home. When she arrived I was too busy to talk as I was tending to the seedlings all around me. She said that they were everywhere, so she went on her way and left me to to my task. When she woke up she and her husband felt very strongly that John 12:24 was for us.

"I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds."

That dream became a promise to me as I went through the dark time of grieving our loss as well as the excruciating adoption process that followed 2 years later. I find it kind of cool that all of the children we have had, adopted or biological, here or in heaven, all have their birthdays during harvest. We celebrate all of their birthdays individually here at home with presents and having them choose their favorite dinner. Last year we started a new tradition where we also have one big bash with their cousins and friends celebrating all of their birthdays together. It is my hope and prayer that someday when they are grown they will still choose to get together for their birthdays.

Now, God may have more children for us. I don't know. They may even have birthdays in the spring and that would be alright. But for now, this little fact about their birthdays I enjoy. It makes me smile. It's a reminder to me that he cares about the littlest of things and that makes me feel cared for in the darkest of times.

The Beach

As promised, here are the beach pictures. For the fourth of July we stayed at the coast for 4 nights. It was gorgeous weather off and on and our neighbor friends got to come with us. It's so much fun to spend time away from home with friends fellowshipping and getting to know each other better.

Of course, we had sparklers as the sun was setting. We were able to watch the fireworks show right there from the beach. How cool is that?

Lij spent much of his time on the beach doing the above. The picture came out a little fuzzy, but I love his expression.

There he goes again.

The weather was so mild we didn't need jackets and it wasn't too hot. The kids could just run around and do whatever suited them.

Lil was our chief firewood collector. Most everyone helped but I would say she collected the most.

Bub was feeling particularly free on this outing. King of the mountain, don't you think?

Els had a grand time drawing in the sand. When that got boring she found other ways to write that were more of a challenge.

The girls and I were feeling especially patriotic and so we proudly donned the grand red, white and blue. Cute, yes?

No trip would be complete without a lesson in checkers with Dad.

I like this picture. Such a capable gal, isn't she?

I hope you enjoyed your fourth as much as we did.

A reading meme

Lori tagged me so here we go. (Even if it is 9 days later. Please forgive me, Lori!)

1. Do you remember how you developed a love for reading? My mom read to us a lot growing up so I am guessing that how it was developed for me.

2. What are some books you read as a child? The Little House Series and Nancy Drew mysteries is all I remember.

3. What is your favorite genre? I lean more towards non-fiction as I like practical stuff that applies to my life or makes my life easier.

4. Do you have a favorite novel? Hmmm, this is a tough one. Not sure I can answer so I won't.

5. Where do you usually read? In bed or on vacation. I get interupted too much anywhere else.

6. When do you usually read? Right before I fall asleep at night. Reading makes me tired and helps me shut my brain down.

7. Do you usually have more than one book you are reading at a time? Always more than one book.

8. Do you read nonfiction in a different way or place than you read fiction? Nope, I am a creature of habit.

9. Do you buy most of the books you read, or borrow them, or check them out of the library? The books I read have usually been given to me or I check them out at the library.

10. Do you keep most of the books you buy? If not, what do you do with them? I keep only a small portion of the books I read. I do not like to store them so I only keep the ones that I was really moved by. I give others away, sell them at garage sales or donate them.

11. If you have children, what are some of the favorite books you have shared with them? We love Anne of Green Gables, the Little House books and Abeka readers so far.

12. What are you reading now? A Mother after God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George and The Shunning by Beverly Lewis.

13. Do you keep a TBR (to be read) list? Not really. It would probably help me though.

14. What’s next? Probably going to do a Beth Moore Study next.

That was fun! Ok, I tag Brooke and Kelli again!

Garage sales

I love them. Really I do. My neighbor and I joke that I am a frugal snob. Friday I took the kids out junkin' with me. Junkin' is a new term that I picked up from the same neighbor and I love it. The kids came home with yarn, a couple toys and an appreciation for things that cost less.

Then yesterday it was mine and my husband's anniversary. We went to a city wide garage sale just the two of us and found some great stuff. A great harvest basket for my garden, some tools for hubby and some great books for the kids. We rubbed shoulders with some old neighbors and chatted with others along the way. I think garage sales promote the feeling of community.

I believe that taking my kids out with me on occasion is a great lesson in finances for them. They see the value in finding things that are nice for much less. Toys, fabric, yarn, books, tools and clothing. All things we have found in the last 3 weeks and all for less than $40. Not too bad, eh?