Tuesday Tips....Date Nights - 20 Fun and Inexpensive Ideas!!!!

So often when money gets tight, quality time spent with your honey often goes by the wayside. But what marriages need most is to spend MORE quality time together when times are difficult. This is definitely an area where my husband and I need to spend more effort. I've been scouring the Internet for fun cheap date ideas...Here are some of the ones that appealed to me....I am going to make an effort to do them much more frequently....

Babysitting~~Before I list the date ideas- one thing you have to consider is babysitting if you have young children.(and lets face it - babysitting can cost way more than the date itself). A couple of ideas - 1) Swap babysitting with another couple. I have a couple of friends I am going to hit up to swap babysitting duties with. 2) Have a date night at home after the kids go to bed. 3) Share babysitters - Plan with another couple and hire one babysitter for all the kids...it will still cost, but not as much per hour. 4) If you are fortunate enough to have family nearby enlist their help, but make sure and let them know how much you appreciate it.

DATE IDEAS
1) Wine, cheese and star gazing outside on your back porch/patio/deck after the kids have gone to bed.
2) Play board games or cards by candlelight.
3) Go see a high school production (musical, play, show choir, jazz band concert).
4) Go to a minor league baseball game (way cheaper and in some ways lot more fun then their major league counterparts).
5) Fondue night for two.
6) Try out some new recipes that your kids wouldn't like, but you do!!! (We do this one a lot - feed the kids frozen pizza earlier in the evening and have a late dinner in the dining room.)
7) Pack lunch or dinner and go for a bike ride or hike to get to a fun area to picnic.
8)Enjoy coffee at a local bookstore.
9)Listen to the music you grew up on..Reminisce.
10)Have another couple over and play cards or games.
11)Go to a local arts and craft festival.
12)Find a cheap or free outdoor concert.
13)Go for a late night swim .
14)Go browse antique shops and used bookstores.
15)Take a drive to a nearby small town and stroll their downtown area and enjoy a meal at one of their locally-owned family restaurants.
16)Go on a dinner date, but be sure and check out Restaurant.com to see where you can get a great deal for a nice dinner!!!
17)Wii tournament - There are so many fun games to play.
18)Go for a moonlight walk - hold hands.
19) Have a movie marathon at home...make homemade popcorn and cuddle under a blanket.
20)Look through old pictures together and remember all the truly blessed times you've had as a couple.

Dating is a fun and important part of a healthy married life!!!! Have fun being creative!!!!

Blessings in the midst of pain

I am starting to realize that God intends to bless us and give us hope even in the midst of many trials and difficult times. He is certainly doing that for us lately. We've been really walking through those valleys lately. Within the last month, James lost his job, he was in a car wreck and now two days ago his grandmother passed away. It almost makes me wonder if we're under attack...questioning...how many more bad things can happen??? how much more can we take???

But even now there is peace...AND many blessings. God is in the small details sometimes, giving us hope and peace and encouragement. What I think is amazing is how God uses each of us as instruments and change agents for His Kingdom. I am beyond blessed by those He has chosen to surround my family. He has given us family and friends who are always there for us, supporting and helping us.

A few examples of how God's unfailing love and the willingness of friends and family to be used by God to bless us:

~~We needed $900 to pay for the kids school books and fees for next year. My dad received an unexpected check that he used to pay that fee for us.

~~We had to cancel our vacation when James lost his job...but here we are on vacation when God who partnered with very dear friends to bless us with their house while they were out of town (and money for dinner out) and we are having a wonderful time making great family memories on our vacation.

~~A very sweet and dear friend(s)/family (I am not sure which as it is someone who would like to remain anonymous) blessed my family when we got here to the beach. We received two cards...one with a gift card for ice cream and one with money to enjoy on our trip.

~~Other dear friends who know we are watching every penny...giving us the opportunity to do some work they needed help with and paying us...others who are encouraging us and loving on us....

The author who wrote "Prayer of Jabez" - Bruce Wilkinson, recently wrote another book called, "You Were Born For This" that talks about this very thing. Allowing God to use us to perform everyday miracles that benefit others for the Kingdom of God. It is a fantastic read and I would highly recommend it!!!

Now did we NEED to have these things happen? Absolutely not...For the most part they weren't necessities at all. They were very much non-necessity type things. No one NEEDS a vacation, or dolphin boat tours, or dinners out overlooking the ocean. But that is the crazy part of it all. If the God of the universe cares enough that my family can have this vacation time, and money to do some fun things, have beautiful weather and allow us to see 20 - 30 dolphins (including babies - which was my son's special prayer)...then He certainly cares enough to provide us with the things that we do need.

Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, Matthew 7:9 - 12

And the thought does come that "I shouldn't take this", "We don't deserve it", "We don't need it", "I should give it back". But I know I would be truly devastated if I had felt that God wanted me to do something to bless someone and they had rejected it.

So I am trusting that my dear family and friends are blessed beyond all measure for the kindness they have shown my family. For my dear family and friends who have blessed my family so much...please know that my family is praying for you that our Heavenly Daddy just knocks your socks off with how much He blesses you. That you know that you have absolutely been Jesus with skin on to me. That through your love and kindness you have shown me the heart of the Lord and that it has given me much hope!!! I love you!!!!

Tuesday Tips - Top 10 Free or Cheap things to do with your kids!!!

Now that summer is upon us and the kids are home from school, it does not take long to start hearing those two infamous words...."I'm BORED!" If you are like me you don't want your kids becoming certified couch potatoes, but you can only take so many trips to the neighborhood pool. Being down to one income right now, we are having to be super careful about where we spend our money, but I also very much want to have a fun and memorable summer with my children (they are only little once!!!!). I've started looking around for ideas of things to do with my kids that are cheap or better yet - FREE!!!! Here are my top 10 things to do for free or cheap! I am sure there are a lot more - please share what you do!!!!!

1) Free Summer Movies - Most of the national movie chains offer free movies in the summer. They are normally in the mornings and offer movies that were popular last year. But hey, it's free, it's air conditioned and the kids love it! Check here for a list of the different movie listings.

2) Free Museums - If you are a Bank of America customer they offer free entrance to local museums the first weekend of the month. They have different museums across the country, so if you are traveling the first weekend of the month you might want to check those locations out too.

3) National Parks - There are great national parks all around our wonderful country. For the most part they are free. Many are historical sites where not only are there cool things to see, it is educational too!

4) Geocaching is a fun way to go on a scavenger hunt with your kids. Using your GPS and following the clues to different locations a fun day of treasure hunting can be had by all. It all teaches great problem solving and map skills! Double score!!!

5) Most cities offer a wide variety of things to do for free. Do a Google search of "Free things to do in your city name" I found a ton of fun things to do in the Atlanta area.

6) One of my children's favorite things to do is have a friend or two over and make a fun craft. They love to tie-dye, decorate flip flops or make treasure boxes. I think the water-bottle holders or the no-sew pillowcase skirt might be our next crafts!

7) We all enjoy going out to eat, but feeding an entire family can become pretty expensive fast! Planning your restaurant meals around places where kids eat free is a great way to cut that food bill!!!

8)One of my favorite things to do with my kids is to cook with them. Allowing them to work in the kitchen with me not only teaches them a valuable life-skill, but kids are much more likely to eat something that they have actually helped make. Just find some kid friendly and easy recipes and get cooking!

9) Outside fun - Pack lots of water to drink and a picnic lunch and have fun
a)Find a local park in your area with a great playground!
b)Go for a bike ride or on a family hike!
c)Never underestimate the fun of sprinklers, hoses or wet sponges!!!!

10) Last but certainly not least....visit your local library. Most libraries have special summer reading programs, fun activities and presentations and FREE books! What could be better.

Summer is my favorite time of the year because I get to be a stay-at-home mom for a couple of months. Having fun with my children and creating memories is so important to me, and it doesn't have to break the budget!

Hook up with some friends and not only will your children have more fun with other kids, but you'll get some adult conversation in too! Have fun!!!!

Sonship (or daughtership!)

Having just celebrated the fathers in my life yesterday, I obviously was thinking about what it means to have a daddy. I must say, I am more blessed than most, having a Godly husband, father and father-in-law. My children and I are very blessed.

We often hear of examples where Dads are absent or missing or uninvolved. And those stories truly break my heart. The majority of the children I have taught have very absent or non-existent fathers. How absolutely tragic. Dad's are so important and so help mold us and grow us up into what we can become.

What is such a blessing is that even if we have a very flawed or absent earthly father (or we have an excellent earthy father), we have a very good Heavenly Daddy.

As I was reading this week this scripture kept coming back to me. "Because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." Romans 8:14 - 17

What amazing promises. We can become sons (or daughters) of the Living God when His Spirit leads us and lives in us. And that Spirit does not desire or want us to allow fear to rule us or manipulate us or control us. Because the God of the Universe desires that we have a spirit of sonship (defined as the FACT of being a son). And through this Spirit we can cry out "Abba, Father".

Abba is an intimately affectionate term for father often defined as calling ones father, "Daddy". Small children often use the term Daddy for their fathers. I am in my 40s and still call my father - Daddy. It is a term of much love and trust. We are to have that kind of love and trust in our Heavenly Father too. Because it is a FACT that we are his sons and daughters. And no GOOD Daddy would ever want his child to fear anything. Fear is such an awful emotion and condition that a GOOD daddy would do everything in their power to get rid of ALL fear!

The scripture goes onto to say that since we are sons and daughters of the Most High we are His Heirs and Co-Heirs with Christ. That is an incredible promise. Co-Heirs with Jesus? I can hardly imagine what that means! Now here is the caveat, we have to share in His sufferings, but so we may also share in His Glory!

"But we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Romans 5:3-5

When the fears or struggles or great disappointments of life frustrate me and overcome me, I am clinging to these promises. The Fear is most certainly NOT from the Lord because He gave us a spirit of Sonship. And the sufferings produce characteristics in us that allow us to partake in the glorious riches of Christ.

Be encouraged today!!!! If the Spirit of the Lord lives in you, You are a Prince or Princess of the Most High King!!!!!!!

Tuesday Tips

Job Seekers Support Groups
My husband, James, is incredible. He has taken the bull by the horns so to speak in this job loss situation and absolutely hasn't let any grass grown under his feet. (two metaphors in one sentence, I'll try to watch that!) Not even 18 hours after finding out he lost his job, he was at a local support group for those looking for jobs. He searched out help and it is making a world of difference for him. He went to a free class the support group offered on beefing up his resume. He is doing networking and receiving support from a career coach. He is going to a class on how to use LinkedIn to improve your chances of getting a new job. He has met with a financial advisor who told him how best to use his 401K money without incurring extra penalties if we end up having to go that route. He is receiving interviewing coaching and counseling as well. Best of all, he is getting to go to a 2-day, $1200 project manager course for only $100. All because of this AWESOME support group.

James shared something with me that was interesting. It is his understanding that many people do not seek out and attend a job-loss support group until about 3-4 months into their job search. And while I am sure those people are most definitely doing job searches on their own, the invaluable information and free classes and career counseling that these support groups offer is not being given to them.

I did a really brief google search and found that by putting in "job seekers support group your town name" you will find local support groups. Many are run by local churches as an outreach ministry. James said that there was a devotion time, but most of the time and effort is spent on how to find a job. He has received great tips, suggestions and tons of support.

Please take the time to find a support group in your area if you are looking for a job and then make the time to go. The information you will receive will definitely help you get a job quicker than just going it alone! You won't regret it!!!

The Power of a Positive Attitude

This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. Sometimes we have to choose to have a good attitude regarding our circumstances and our day. Positive attitudes aren't always just there. They are choices we make every day. And even in the midst of difficult and very trying circumstances we CAN have a positive attitude.

Check this video out. This girl has got the right idea! Maybe we need to all start talking to ourselves in the mirror each day!



My most favorite quote of all time is by Charles Swindoll:

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.

Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude... I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.

And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes.

So, I have no control over what happens to me, good, bad or indifferent. But I do have control over my attitude regarding it all. And my attitude is what is going to make all the difference!

Love One Another

I think it is so incredible how the Lord set this whole life adventure for us to have fellowship with one another. We aren't meant to walk through this thing called life alone. He gives us our family and our friends to make the times of our life better - in both the good and the bad times.

I have recently been struck by how many needs my family and friends have. I think far too often we go through life trucking along and everything is going pretty good... or maybe just okay, but things are manageable, doable. I know I too often allow myself to become far too busy to really focus on what needs are out there. Being consumed with only my own needs doesn't make me such a great friend at times.

Recently the Lord has opened my eyes and ears to others and I am struck by the needs of those around me. What is amazing to me is that I probably only know a small number. I am starting to see that there are many more needs out there than I could ever imagine. Illness, job loss, marriage problems, financial issues, family separations due to job or military, raising children, infertility. The list goes on and on and on. And what I am finding is that many just suffer in silence. I don't know if it is because of not wanting to burden others, pride or shame or something else all together. I also think many people just really don't have anyone to trust and truly confide in, so they suffer in silence. This makes my heart so very sad. One thing I want to personally make sure I am doing is reaching out to others. Maybe good friends, maybe acquaintenances, maybe strangers. Keeping my eyes and ears open to see how God would use me to show those around me the great love that HE has for them.

God did not intend for us to walk through trials alone. Yes, He most definitely is our Rock and our Strong Tower. But He also wants us to lift one another up and support each other in our daily life. Just as Aaron and Hur supported Moses' arms when he could no longer hold the staff on his own, so are we to support one another. Even Jesus surrounded himself with his closest friends when He went to pray in the garden of Gethsemene. God intends for us hold each other up. ESPECIALLY when we can't lift ourselves up any more.

There is a scene in the last Lord of the Rings Trilogy that illustrates this friendship point much better than my words ever could. Sam tells Frodo that "I can't carry it (the ring) for you, but I can carry you." This is the kind of friendship I think we are to have for one another.



I also think it is so important be in a place where you are being fed scripturally, spiritually and with good fellowship. My family loves our church. We have made the greatest friends there. I know that I am well loved and have people in my life that pray for us. If you aren't in a good church home, I cannot even begin to encourage you strongly enough to find one. God does not intend for you to walk through this life on your own. It is too easy to trip and fall and stumble (and sin) without the love of fellow Christians supporting you and encouraging you. Please make finding a church home a priority for your family. Because when the storms of life come - and they WILL come - you will need the support more than ever!

I also wanted to go on the record as saying I am surrounded by the absolute best people. My family and friends have been so incredibly supportive. I can't thank you enough for the multiple phone calls, texts, emails and Facebook posts. It means so much to be encouraged day in and day out. For the offers to go hang out, buy me lunch, thank you! For the prayers, words of encouragement, scriptures and gifts, Thank you! My family is so blessed to have you all in our lives. Thank you for taking the time to let me know you care! You are the best and you are making this difficult time in my life so much more bearable!!!!