And all ate and were filled; and they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. Mark 6:42-43
Kevin and I began this journey one month ago. I know we both had some fear about how this was going to go. Would we have enough to pay the bills and not have to eat Ramen noodles every night for supper? We have some savings, but we didn't want to have to dip into it for everyday expenses. Then, there was a sense that maybe we'd be at odds over what would be considered a needed expense. Financial strain can stress a marriage. Would this cause our marriage too much stress? We've still got 11 months to go, but I'd like to make a few observations about where we are after just one month.
1. Faith
First and foremost, Kevin and I know without a doubt that God provides. We've both had years when we lived on next to nothing, and we got through them. Prayers that God would help us get to the next paycheck, hold together homes and cars until we could afford to make repairs, and put enough food in the fridge for a few days were constantly in our hearts and on our lips. God provided wisdom. God provided opportunities. God provided friends and family. God provided hope. God provided then, and God will provide now.
2. The Art of Conversation
One thing Kevin and I hold dear in our marriage is open communication. If something is wrong, we talk. If something is right, we talk. If something is in question, we talk. We talked through our fears and our concerns as we began this journey. We continue to talk through what needs to be purchased. Kevin spent $93 on brake pads and an inspection for his truck. It was an expense that couldn't be avoided, but we talked about it. When we've run out of a grocery item, do we need to go pick some up or can it wait until I go on the monthly shopping trip? We talk about it. In our talking, we make sure we're in agreement. There is no confusion, and we are able to avoid needless argument.
3. Where did that come from?
Early this spring we erected a green house in our back yard. It's a canopy-style structure with a plastic roof and sides and flimsy little nylon tie downs, which are now breaking. How would we fix this without buying something? For some reason, I had some half-inch rope in my craft supplies. As the strings break, we're replacing them with this rope. Why did I have this to begin with? I have no idea, but it is certainly proving useful now. I found a whole bunch of shaving razors that had fallen off a shelf in my bathroom cabinet. Those will definitely come in handy during this season of shorts and skirts, and I can avoid an expensive purchase. We're finding all kinds of stuff in the kitchen pantry, too. Kevin has been using up the canisters of Tang and Country Time Lemonade that have been taking up space on the top shelf for I don't know how long. We've got stuff. We're finding this to be a good opportunity to use what is here and, hopefully, do a little de-cluttering in the process.
I'm actually looking forward to the next 11 months. I'm looking forward to not feeling like I have to buy something for the sake of having it. I'm looking forward to being creative with what we have. I'm looking forward to the conversation Kevin and I will have about... everything. I don't know what is to come, but I trust that God will give us what we need to see it tho
Kevin and I began this journey one month ago. I know we both had some fear about how this was going to go. Would we have enough to pay the bills and not have to eat Ramen noodles every night for supper? We have some savings, but we didn't want to have to dip into it for everyday expenses. Then, there was a sense that maybe we'd be at odds over what would be considered a needed expense. Financial strain can stress a marriage. Would this cause our marriage too much stress? We've still got 11 months to go, but I'd like to make a few observations about where we are after just one month.
1. Faith
First and foremost, Kevin and I know without a doubt that God provides. We've both had years when we lived on next to nothing, and we got through them. Prayers that God would help us get to the next paycheck, hold together homes and cars until we could afford to make repairs, and put enough food in the fridge for a few days were constantly in our hearts and on our lips. God provided wisdom. God provided opportunities. God provided friends and family. God provided hope. God provided then, and God will provide now.
2. The Art of Conversation
One thing Kevin and I hold dear in our marriage is open communication. If something is wrong, we talk. If something is right, we talk. If something is in question, we talk. We talked through our fears and our concerns as we began this journey. We continue to talk through what needs to be purchased. Kevin spent $93 on brake pads and an inspection for his truck. It was an expense that couldn't be avoided, but we talked about it. When we've run out of a grocery item, do we need to go pick some up or can it wait until I go on the monthly shopping trip? We talk about it. In our talking, we make sure we're in agreement. There is no confusion, and we are able to avoid needless argument.
3. Where did that come from?
Early this spring we erected a green house in our back yard. It's a canopy-style structure with a plastic roof and sides and flimsy little nylon tie downs, which are now breaking. How would we fix this without buying something? For some reason, I had some half-inch rope in my craft supplies. As the strings break, we're replacing them with this rope. Why did I have this to begin with? I have no idea, but it is certainly proving useful now. I found a whole bunch of shaving razors that had fallen off a shelf in my bathroom cabinet. Those will definitely come in handy during this season of shorts and skirts, and I can avoid an expensive purchase. We're finding all kinds of stuff in the kitchen pantry, too. Kevin has been using up the canisters of Tang and Country Time Lemonade that have been taking up space on the top shelf for I don't know how long. We've got stuff. We're finding this to be a good opportunity to use what is here and, hopefully, do a little de-cluttering in the process.
I'm actually looking forward to the next 11 months. I'm looking forward to not feeling like I have to buy something for the sake of having it. I'm looking forward to being creative with what we have. I'm looking forward to the conversation Kevin and I will have about... everything. I don't know what is to come, but I trust that God will give us what we need to see it tho