Just so you know I haven’t dropped off the face of the Earth - I’m here, and missing you all!! The Lord has me at such a wonderful learning time in my life right now, and I’m excited that I can see that.

In the midst of situations pressing in hard on me, He’s allowed me to sit back and look at things in a different perspective. It’s kinda hard to explain without going into tons of detail, but we can all honestly say that there are times when we feel people are against us. We feel strife, confusion, hurt, etc…

We all experience it, but how do we come from it? What can we learn to better ourselves? For me, I’ve been able to identify some key points that have either hurt or offended me in others. I can see what the problem is, why it bothers me, and how it affects me.

The good part of it is…. I can now use that in my relationships with others around me.

At times when I feel ignored or neglected, like I don’t matter, or my opinions don’t matter… In training my children - I’ve been able to realize that although I stay at home with them, I’m just as guilty as a working mom when it comes to putting myself and my priorities or interests above my children. Am I showing them they matter?

It’s not just about ‘being a SAHM’ in body, but it’s the whole realm of it. God didn’t call me just to stay at home to referee, feed, clothe, etc… but to live WITH my children, training them always, spending time with them - not around them.

When my children are older, I want them to be able to look back and remember how Mommy spent time getting to know them. Their own unique personalities and traits - encouraging them in those strong points. To know they had a real relationship with both my husband and myself - not just a parent/ child - but a real love relationship!

As much as I’ve always despised anyone trying to put me in a mold - making me act, think, or talk the way they wanted me to, I have noticed that’s exactly what I have started doing in our home. Ouch!

God didn’t call me to make mini clones of myself - NO!! He made each of my children unique, with unique plans for each of them. I, as their mother, must trust God to reveal the correct way to guide and nuture each of them on their separate paths serving the Lord.

As a mother, I must pray that God reveals me to each of my children’s strong points, and train them to nuture those and use them to serve the Lord. As a mother, I must pray that God makes me sensitive to their hearts - firm in discipline, but kind to their hearts/ spirits.

I might not be making any sense, this is a lesson I’m smack in the middle of. In every relationship we have - whether family, friends, church, etc… - look at what bothers you. Many times it seems these things can’t be changed - but we can change.

We might still be bothered, but we can learn to use that to be sensitive in the future to others that we might treat the same way without realizing it.

For instance, someone at church seems to snob you. Yes, it bothers you - you don’t understand. But what can you do? You can look at yourself, and make every effort to reach out to others. To not put them in the same position you are in - to love and accept everyone.

Someone else might always be at odds because you have a different opinion/ belief than them. You can be sure that you always listen more than you talk to others - this attentiveness to others really shows you sincerely care about them.

You might not agree, but unless it’s un-Scriptural, leads astray from the Lord, or hurts someone - then do you really have to pressure anything? We wouldn’t like or talk to anyone if that was the case!

By focusing on the positive side of it - loving and being kind to all - you are blessed with knowing God’s blessing and happiness in that.

Proverbs 22 – Giving in an Economic Downturn

Meditating and writing about a Proverb each week has been a good exercise for me to get into the last couple of months. I have enjoyed it so much that I want to continue it while Candace takes a break. The thing is most chapters cover so many things it can be hard to choose a subject.

This week, however, since the topic of finances has been touched on, I thought that I would cover the verses that specifically deal with this in Proverbs 22.

Verse 7 says, The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

Verse 9 says, He that has a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

Verse 16 says, He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.

Verse 22-23 says, Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted at the gate. For the Lord will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

Verse 29 says, Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

The Bible has a lot to say about money, riches and poverty, including how to treat those with and without money. It seems to me in this time of economic downturn that instead of hoarding what the Lord has given us, we should be helping each other out more.

Now, I do not say that because of our current situation either. To be honest, I tend to be a giver and in being one, we have some other givers in our family too. The thing is there is always someone worse off than us and it is fun to give out of a heart to bless. I rarely cry when I give, but I tend to bawl when I receive. Too funny, eh?

The last verse always strikes me because diligence is an admirable character quality and this verse indicates that there is blessing for those who are diligent.

However, here’s the verse that this meditation will focus on:

Verse 9 says, He that has a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

The Lord desires to bless us and I think each of us needs to be wise with our finances; and not just when we are financially comfortable. We need to be obedient even when we are not financially comfortable. Here is an example of the ways the Lord can show us what our obedience means to Him:

There was a family who was invited over to a friend’s home. This particular friend has not been able to find work, yet was willing to have this fairly large family over for a meal. Knowing this the family decided to put together a basket of goodies from their own store of food, costing them nothing monetarily really. Then this family decided that they would write a note, but along with that note they decided to give a money gift as well. The husband and wife conferred and decided that they had food enough for the week and would give from their extra grocery money and a bit that was given to them since their bills were paid. In their minds this extra cash was extra. They knew this was the right thing to do, so really they did it joyfully and without knowing what the week held for them.

The next day, after they had put everything together for their friend out of work, a different friend gave them a huge box of goodies at no charge! Did this family ever feel blessed! Their freezer would be stocked. This was one incident where the Lord showed them right away that by them choosing to obey Him, He would in return provide for their needs. It was another reminder that the Lord promises to take care of them and does what He says.

They blessed one, only to be blessed by God and another. A double blessing.

Who says it is more blessed to give than to receive? The Lord and why is that? I think because the greatest blessing comes when we give of ourselves we get back two, three, and five or ten fold more than if we were to hoard. After all everything we have belongs to Him, so when He says give, we should.

Mrs. Theresa Gould is Robert’s wife of 14 years. She is the homeschooling mother of seven children. She resides in a Northwest suburb of Chicago with her family. She and her family enjoy reading, walks and working together on their home businesses – Faith and Family Books, RobnT Business Solutions, as well as their blogs - Faith and Family Blog and Virtuous Girlhood.com.  In her free time, Mrs. Gould can be found reading, writing, or talking with her children.

I’m sad to write today’s post, but my husband and I have talked, and feel this is something I must do at this time. In keeping up with Heaven In Our Homes, Sonbeams, and associated projects - my role as wife and mother has been a bit strained lately - to say the least.

While I have enjoyed this time, between sickness in our home, my pregnancy, and some other things we are praying about - it’s too much of a load.

So, I will need to take a short break from posting here on the blog. Not to say I still won’t jump in every now and then if the Lord lays something on my heart to share - but simply put - I’m tired. I hope to return full time in the spring - once the baby is born and we resume a routine.

If you’re interested in keeping up with what’s going on in the meantime, I will continue posting on Sonbeams (preschool education blog) and Nine Months or Less (my scrapbook of sorts for this baby).

I’ve been encouraged by many of you, writing such sweet emails and comments - and can’t wait until the Lord opens this door again. In the meantime, I can’t neglect the FIRST role God has for me - being a wife and mother.

Once this balance is restored, I’m sure the Lord will have quite a story for me to share. Sometimes, even though something is a good thing and might have good intentions for the Lord, it’s not always His will for us.

If ever in doubt, read the Bible and see what God says in black and white. Don’t base decisions on how you feel, or what someone (even a Christian) might tell you. Women are first and foremost to be keepers at home, loving their husbands and children.

If we can’t do that, then anything else we do really isn’t really serving the Lord. Compare this to a parent and child. If a mother asks her child to get dressed, and the child picks up the toys but doesn’t get dressed - is this obedience, and is the mother satisfied?

She might appreciate the effort to pick up toys, but what she really wanted was obedience in her child and for them to have gotten themselves dressed - is it not?

So how can I be obeying the Lord and pleasing Him if I’m only doing what I want to do to ’serve’ - but not doing what He has first already told me to do? Just ask these questions, as I had to do - is my husband bothered, annoyed, or feeling neglected, is he suffering in anyway from my time spent on other things…. Are my children suffering - are they misbehaving more, crying out for attention.

This is where I am - not because I wasn’t doing something the Lord called me to do, for I believe He did for a time. Now though, is a time or season in my life that He’s calling me to slow down on ‘external’ ministries - to refocus on what His first ministry is for my life.

Please do check back - I don’t intend to go 6 months without posting. I just can’t ‘commit’ to regular posts at this time. I will be re-instating old links on the site as time permits.

Thank you all, and until we meet again soon!
Candace

In case some of you haven’t checked out Sonbeams website, I wanted to share with you today that the “My Daily Duties” charts for young boys and girls are now completed!!! And now through Saturday, Oct. 18th at noon you can download this ON SALE FOR ONLY 75 CENTS!!

At the present time, they are only available in download form - but a great price for such a cute chart if I must say! And for the life of me, I can’t get the image to load here on the blog!

I’ve struggled trying to get my little ones to make their beds, get dressed on their own, learn to go potty AND wash hands AND flush, and obey, love, and share. So, I began creating a chart WITH my children each morning/ week. 

We talked about what was important and why. We talked about how every member of our family had jobs, or responsibililites. That God wants us to be servants and help one another - and by doing these things listed, they were pleasing God, as well as Mommy and Daddy - if they did it in love and obedience to Him.

It worked very well! They were eager FINALLY each morning to tackle these tasks together. Let me stop here - that was a key point for me - together. I want to teach them to work as a team, helping one another. So on some of the items, such as making beds, they would help one another. We would all go into one room first, and all help pick up clothes or toys. Then that child would get their stickers.

Of course, the other one was eager to jump on their room, so we’d all move to that room - again, helping one another. At times, I might would add something they could do to help me!

We had a variety of stickers, so we let them choose which ones they wanted to stick on as they completed each responsibility. I don’t want to get where they expect great big rewards for things they should do anyway, but I wanted something to thank them for good jobs and good attitudes. A sticker is enough to show we’re grateful and proud of their hard work, and my children really loved picking them out!!

I’m praying hard about financing allowing me to have these printed on dry erase boards, but until God opens that door - they are available for download. You can print them out on card stock and either laminate or slide into plastic page protectors sleeves for re-usability and dry erase functions. You can attach to the fridge, or insert into an older child’s school binder.

Boys and girls have different designs, but each has the verse to focus on, Colossians 3:23 (in the KJV). We are to do everything as to the Lord! Yes, we are under earthly authorities, but it’s ultimately God that we are serving and living for.

For more info, or to see how adorable these charts are, visit www.sonbeams.com/products/. You can click on the thumbnail images to see larger views. Don’t forget, this is a limited time sale, so pass the word, share on your blogs and grab a deal while you can.

Note - ALL Sonbeams members will receive access to this file for FREE!!

Proverbs 15 –Affliction by Theresa Gould

 This chapter of Proverbs has many verses marked in my bible – 20 out of 33 to be exact and I added a new one. I was going to talk about anger, then I thought about the tongue, but have talked about that. Then two verses stood out more. The second one is the new one I marked in my bible. Here they are:

All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast. vs. 15

And

Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith. vs. 16

Verse 15 struck a chord with me, as did the testimony of a young man at church, whom I will refer to as Henry, who shared on Sunday. Henry has apparently been coasting along for the past 18 months due to a family situation.

He was not able to sleep on Saturday night so he got up to read his Bible and the Lord took him through several passages that broke him. Henry actually started to cry standing before the whole church sharing. He ended with passages that referred to the Lord’s chastening.

You know, it is not fun to be chastened. Even our children hate to be chastened by us. But when a parent loves his child, he will chasten him in. (Proverbs 13:24) The Lord loves us and will chasten us when we veer off the straight and narrow and it is never a joyful time.

I think this verse speaks to me because when we are afflicted, the days are not good. Now, I would not necessarily call them evil, but there are many days that seem to go all wrong or at least during affliction it is not what I would refer to as an enjoyable time.

The last half of the verse is what truly caught my attention a merry heart hath a continual feast. I had to ask myself if I am experiencing a  merry heart with a continual feast.

 I have peace in these afflictions that our family has been going through – remodeling, mold, unemployment, decreased income and the unknown. However, admittedly, have not been enjoying a continual feast. To me, a continual feast means joy in the Lord, joy in my circumstances - not the “Oh, I am so happy we are going through this!”

That is not what I mean. I mean a thankfulness for the Lord being with us in our trial, a joy in serving Him as I am afflicted, a continual feast on who He is and all that He has done for me. I have been missing that and I desire it back.

Verse 16 says Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith. The fear of the Lord is a theme in our family’s life right now, as you all know. Therefore in connection with what I wrote about verse 15… it is far better than we are learning to fear the Lord in small, but perhaps mighty ways than if we had a lot of money and material things without the fear of the Lord or without knowing Him for that matter.

One verse Henry shared on Sunday that I remember is Psalm 119:50 – This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me. A verse we memorized with our verses about fearing the Lord was Hebrews 4:12 – For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

 If anything can penetrate our own stubbornness and hard headedness, it is the Word of God. Thankfully, besides convicting us, He comforts us in our affliction and urges us to fear Him more. I have truly been amazed at how many verses have come to light ever since my husband started teaching on it. I desire to both fear the Lord, as well as possess that merry heart that enjoys a continual feast amidst trials, rather than occasional feasts.

Dear Heavenly Father, Forgive us for failing to fear you as we ought. Forgive us for not continually feasting on your goodness amidst our afflictions. It is so easy to get wrapped up in our circumstances. Thank you for your word that it leads, guides, convicts and comforts us each step of our walk with you.

Help us not to take that for granted by coasting along, but to live in light of it; fully enjoying a continual feast in your presence. Enable us to be in your word more so that we might experience the comfort and joy that can only come from you. Amen.

Mrs. Theresa Gould is Robert’s wife of 14 years. She is the homeschooling mother of seven children. She resides in a Northwest suburb of Chicago with her family. She and her family enjoy reading, walks and working together on their home businesses – Faith and Family Books, RobnT Business Solutions, as well as their blogs - Faith and Family Blog and Virtuous Girlhood.com.  In her free time, Mrs. Gould can be found reading, writing, or talking with her children.

To be honest, I haven’t paid much attention to what’s going on in America the past few weeks - either by news or paper. But it nearly scares me out of my skin when I catch a glimpse of a news story, or read a blog post regarding our economy.

My thoughts for not paying attention mainly being that “I can’t do anything about it, so why worry about it?” (Or why know about every little thing). I know complete ignorance is foolishness, but I don’t want to hang on every word of fear and doom/ gloom either.

I was reading a post on Generation Cedar the other day, where Kelly made a good point of being prepared for uncertain times - stocking up on essentials. I hadn’t even really thought of that!

But what if prices on gas go through the roof - causing food prices to sky rocket more than they are? Not to mention how dangerous the food we buy is in the first place.

Dr. Mercola’s e-newsletter has been sharing recently on chemicals being added to our foods/ seeds. Chemicals that will cause serious problems, long term problems, effecting our future generation problems.

More than ever I’m pleading with the Lord for land where we can be free of our dependence on today’s society to survive. Chickens providing eggs and meat, cows and goats providing milk, cheese, and butter. Fruit trees - apples, pears, blueberry bushes, strawberries. Gardens full of raw, fresh fruits and veggies - no preservatives or chemicals to worry about.

Why worry about that? Well, speaking as a mother of children with health issues unexplainable from birth - I KNOW they are related to the foods I’ve eaten my entire life - never realizing the dangers in them.

Did you know that one major company is trying to take over the world’s seed supply? They are manipulating seeds to do what they want them to - changing their DNA - adding chemicals/ pesiticides that cause bugs stomach’s to explode upon eating. And do they not stop to think what that might do to us?

What if this company is led by someone that seeks to wipe us out? If they have complete control - what’s to stop them? Yes, my heart is yearning to be free from all that is burdening the world today.

I’m ready to know we have food safe to eat, food stored for future use, livestock to provide food. But we’re not there yet, God hasn’t opened those doors. In the meantime, I can buy wheat, dry milk, salt, honey - things that will last.

Not too long ago, as hurricanes threatened the Gulf Coast, many areas here in the South were without gas at all. What if we were on empty, and our cupboards were bare (like right now!).

Proverbs 31 has many verses that I believe we as Christian women can relate to and apply RIGHT NOW! Verse 27 - “She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness”.

We can’t just sit around doing nothing, but if we are looking well - we can see that we need to be prepared, with food, clothing, a little cash. We would be wise to have gardens, know how to sew for our families, make and sell products from home - and still have enough to give to others in need.

I still won’t pay attention to all the money lost in the stock market, or all the money crisises of real estate - God is in control of all that (we discussed that in church today). My focus isn’t to be on the materialistic things in this life, but on the Lord.

The Lord over and over in Scripture speaks well of the man well prepared, and how foolish it is to ‘lose heart’ and just be living life as it comes. How true this is in our nation today - but also keep in mind not to ‘lose heart’ and just live life without giving thought to our Saviour’s return, we must be prepared for that as well!

Many of you might be aware of this site already, but I didn’t realize how wonderful of a tool it could be. You see, I have had this link for a while, but didn’t think much of it, and never visited it.

Today I had my 14 week OB appt - which required a drive into the city. I went out just last week for a visit to the ENT, and again this past Monday - same area - due to a major need for a chiropractic adjustment to relieve a headache that wouldn’t go away.

Gas in our town was $3.79 I believe, so when I saw it there for only $3.66, I filled up. What a shock when I was leaving our town today and gas was down to $3.56!! I couldn’t believe it, and couldn’t wait to get home later to call dh about it, in case he didn’t notice this morning.

Imagine my shock when I got off the interstate to see $3.49! It’s never lower closer into the city, but here it was today. I looked at the ‘cheap’ gas station - an amazing $3.35 a gallon!

And there I was ready to fill up in our town for 20 cents MORE a gallon. I would’ve never imagined there would be that big of a difference in pricing. It’s really strange that for 2 weeks, this much larger city has lower prices than our exit - which is usually the lowest in this part of the state.

Part of me wanted to burn off the remaining 3/4 tank, just to get it 30 cents a gallon less than I bought it for last week. I know, that’s not practical!

Here’s the link in case you’re interested in checking out which stations are the lowest priced in your area: http://www.gasbuddy.com/. You can type in your town, or what I JUST did was type in all areas (or just your state), and it’ll bring up all kinds of prices from everywhere.

As I started this post, I thought $3.35 was a steal. Just checking this site, places north of ‘Big City’ are as low as $3.16 a gallon! Now I’m really curious why we’re up at the sky rocketing price of $3.56 in our town?? Play it safe and look up state prices first. You’ll have to weed through a little, but you’ll find better deals that might not be so far away (and if you’re going that way anyway….)

Hope this helps someone!
Candace

Proverbs 8 – Wisdom by Theresa Gould       

I love this chapter of Proverbs! Wisdom is something we all need more of.  It wasn’t until I was a mother that I realized how little I knew.  Really. Both my husband and I had preconceived ideas of what parenting was like and how we would parent. Reality hit pretty hard with our first child and I don’t think we have prayed for wisdom as much as we have in the past 12 years.

Being a parent opens up a whole new meaning of responsibility because as Christians we are responsible before God for this little child. As you all know, we now have seven of them that we or should I say my husband will stand before God and give an account for how he trained them up. Quite a sobering fact.

Now, I am not saying that only in parenting do we need a lot of wisdom. I am saying that parenting was the number one thing that opened our eyes to how much we needed to be seeking God’s wisdom through prayer and His Word. We need wisdom in relationships, business, communication and dealing with finances. You may want to add your own category to this little list. We constantly pray for wisdom.

Verses 10-11 say, Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

My husband taught us all the following song that is from the two verses above and every night sings it to our children as he puts them to bed:

Lord, you are more precious than silver,

Lord, you are more costly than gold,

Lord, you are more beautiful than diamonds,

And nothing I desire compares with you.

This chapter of Proverbs is all about wisdom. The Lord wants us to be wise. He wants us to listen to His wisdom in His Word. Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.  Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord. Verses 32-35.

Throughout this whole Proverb I get a sense of awe for who God is and the wisdom that He has to offer us, if only we seek it.  I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. Verse 17.

The thing is people, books, and other things can get in the way of our hearing what the Lord is telling us.

Again, I will use parenting as my platform, as our children continually baffle us and we feel rather clueless as to how to deal with the situations that  can arise in our home. We almost wish each child came with an instruction manual! Honestly, but that would not make us reliant upon the One who made them, would it? We need His wisdom to know these little people because He made each one of them and knows them far better than we do.

This past week we continued to work on living in the fear of the Lord, meaning living in the presence of the Lord all the time. Not just at church, not just when we are out, but in the everyday life in and around our home.  We memorized Hebrews 4:12, Ecclesiastes 12:13 and Isaiah 8:13 as a follow up from last week’s Proverb. This week’s Proverb brought another verse to light on the fear of the Lord and that was verse 13, The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the forward mouth do I hate. That is a lot isn’t it? But it is all a part of becoming wise too, as we fear the Lord. It is all related whether we want it to be or not.

Mrs. Theresa Gould is Robert’s wife of 14 years. She is the homeschooling mother of seven children. She resides in a Northwest suburb of Chicago with her family. She and her family enjoy reading, walks and working together on their home businesses – Faith and Family Books, as well as RobnT Business Solutions. In her free time, Mrs. Gould can be found reading, writing, or talking with her children.

A portion of our Scripture reading at church today was about Peter and James, going to the temple to pray. You know the story, there was a lame man at the gate, that asked them for alms (money).

Being a mom of youngsters, I’m hearing the song - they met a lame man on the way… he asked for alms and held out his palms, and this is what Peter did say…. They didn’t have silver or gold to give him, but what they did have was Jesus!

In the power of the name of Jesus Christ, they stretched out their arms, and as they pulled him up - his strength was renewed and he was able to walk - and run, and leap - praising God!

That has me thinking… we by no means can go out and be giving money away to all in need, but as one of the men mentioned in church, what is the REAL need - it’s Jesus.

We all have Jesus to share with others. The world might be poor - but if they don’t have Jesus, they are poor with no hope. The world might be sick - but if they don’t have Jesus, they’re sick, scared, and dying in fear. The world might be lonely, but if they don’t have Jesus, they are truly all alone with no reason to live.

We have what they need, we can offer Jesus. Not only to the poor, sick, or lonely, but to our families, children, and friends too.

Have you ever received a card in the mail, just to share a happy thought with you? Doesn’t it put an extra bounce in your step that day! What about someone calling just to say hi and see how you’re doing - you have new found energy and perkiness.

So how do you think it would affect your husband if you shared a little more of Christ’s love with him today? Or your children?

How would it affect the lonely or sick neighbor down the street to have a visit with a plate of cookies, or flowers, or just a visit?

Would it not result in the same sense as the lame man - would these people not probably feel like running, leaping, and praising God - because someone cared enough to share His love with them?

We are to be a light in the world - and Jesus is the light we can share.

Next year’s clothes - I know, many aren’t even thinking about next week - but you’ll be amazed at the prices you can find brand new clothes for your children (even much cheaper than thrift stores or yard sales sometimes!!).

Now, this might not be the exact weekend to go shopping - but it’s that time of year that whenever I do go out, I keep my eyes open for bargains!

Stores begin marking down summer clothes, trying to make way for winter apparel. I have waited as late as November to buy the next summer’s clothes, but have found that lately, the stores have been sold out by that time.

I just can’t justify spending $12 to $30 on ONE piece of clothing for my children, or even paying a couple of bucks for something well worn at the thrift store. BUT when I can go to a department store and buy brand new clothes anywhere from 99 cents to $3.99 (sometimes even with additional store discounts or coupons) - you’d better believe I’m going to stock up!

This week I began pulling out clothes for my boys for winter, and even thinking I was skimping on buying, still have more than they really need. My oldest only has one or two needs for winter, and the baby - well, let’s just say he could be twins and still have enough.

I’ve yet to get to my daughter’s winter stash yet, hopefully this next week. Fall is in the air - and now that I’ve discovered a sinus infection has been behind my ‘dragginess’ lately, I’m on meds and have already perked up a little - yea!!

Remember, on sales, don’t be tempted to buy just at 25% off - clothes go down to 75 or 90% off before it’s all said and done. Children don’t need that many different outfits. They are only 7 days in a week, and if you’re like me, you wash more than one load a week.

I do try to keep 3 or 4 church outfits, 4 to 6 play clothes (some thin and some warmer - since it’s not frigid all winter in the South), and then some outfits for when we’re out in public. We always have an extra set of clothes for travels - even if close by. (Included in above amounts)

I’m still loving my new “Less Mess, Less Stress” theme for this pregnancy - and can’t believe I’m still taking stuff out of this house! Even going through clothes - we have more than we need!

Always look at things in this light - if my house burnt to the ground, what would really matter? What would I really miss? Then you see all the stuff that’s just stuff!

Keep this in mind when buying for next year’s clothes as well - what do you need, not what all is a great deal, so you HAVE to get it….