Wordless Wednesday: Wishing You and Yours a...

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More than this Monday: Ripping Razors

I realize that it is Tuesday, but we just got back from our trip, and it feels like Monday to me. I also had a little something I wanted to share...;)

Tom and I enjoyed a weekend away this past weekend in Asheville, NC while Lydia hung out with my Mom and Dad. It was fun, and I think absence made the heart grow fonder...made me more aware of the blessing that Lydia is. When we got back last night we were loving on Lydia and talking with my parents.

I was letting Lydia play with a paper that seemed unimportant. She tore it and my mom said that it was something she wanted to hold on to. I almost grabbed the paper out of Lydia's hand, but then remembered my resolution to not yank things out of her hand that she shouldn't have, but to ask her calmly to give it to me. When I did so she handed me the paper me without hesitating. I said "thank you," and she went on chattering and playing happily.

I told mom how I'd realized that she may not understand why I grab things out of her hands. I thought at that moment how kids are so prone to yank things out of others' hands and it suddenly occurred to me that perhaps we train them to do that without even realizing it! Then we turn around and scold them for "taking away" and not sharing.

I shared these thoughts with my mom and it reminded her of a story told by a teacher years ago, which I have embellished a little...

A family and friends were sitting around enjoying each others' company when someone realized that the baby on the floor in the middle had a sharp razor blade in his hand. Expecting the mom to grab it instantly from his hand the guests were surprised and nervous to see her run to the kitchen. The mother briskly, but calmly walked back into the room, quickly approaching the baby with something in her own hand. She reached out with a loving hand and offered to baby a cookie. The baby in turn instantly dropped the razor, which was immediately grabbed up by wiser hands and enjoyed nibbling on the cookie. The relieved family paid no mind to the crumbs falling all over the floor and all sighed and relaxed back into their seats with relief.

 How often do we rip razor blades from the hands of others, young and old alike, only leave them wounded and bleeding, instead of offering them something better.

The wrong things we see in our loved one's lives, that may indeed be harmful to them, perhaps would be forgotten and abandoned if we would instead of trying to take those things from them, just showed them the love of Christ...

I needed to hear that. I can't tell you how timely it was. God show me how to just give your love, and leave the razor blades to you!

Taking the Surprise Factor out of Christmas

We only buy gifts for immediate family in order to keep it simple, and I *try* to make handmade gifts for extended family and friends each year. (This year I've made a few, and the relative silence on the blog is me trying to make some more!) In spite of all this, Christmas came as a surprise to us last year, and the year before, and the year before, and...


We ended up buying gifts using a credit card, and ended up carrying a balance for a couple of months, because we didn't think about it until...December!

My husband and I both have always had frugal "tendencies," better said,"intentions." Neither of us would make big purchases without serious thought and prayer and would always look and wait for an amazing deal. Neither of us enjoy shopping. As a matter of fact, we both rather loathe it. We don't feel a need or desire for a big house and new fancy everything. My motto is "less is more." I've always wanted to travel light, and not accumulate a lot of "stuff". I'm the opposite of a pack rat, I go through closets and drawers periodically looking for things to give away, throw away, or sell. My mom used to go through the trash cans after me and pull things back out. (It's really amazing that I still struggle with being messy in spite of this. I've been wanting to get rid of all furniture that provides a place to put random things and get cluttered up, like our dresser. I don't think we need it, but my husband is not convinced! He definitely will not let me get rid of the kitchen table. I can't imagine why! ;)

All this said, because of our lack of need to "keep up with the Jones," we fancied ourselves quite frugal, but in reality, in spite of my husband's disciplined attention to our finances and wonderful organization, we still managed to only be able to save very little relative to what we should have been able to and we would regularly "get in trouble" come Christmas or any other totally "unexpected" need or occasion.

This year we took Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University, and gleaned a lot of ideas and insights that have pretty much revolutionized the way we handle our finances. We learned that in spite of our mindset, we were still not living frugally. This will be the first in a series about some of the things we've learned and practical examples of how it works for us.

As a result of that course, this year we started a "Christmas Envelope," putting a little in each month since. It has been WONDERFUL to have that envelope and know exactly what our limits are and to be prepared. It has made this season much more peaceful so far, and most of our gifts are wrapped and under the tree in record time! :)


I will discuss in coming weeks the four essential things that have changed our lives in more ways than just finances:


1. A new perspective on debt and credit.


2. A zero based monthly budget.


3. What I like to call "The Envelope System"

4. A bigger than ever desire and passion for giving.

Stay tuned!