This week I felt for the first time HOPE that a dream might be fulfilled. And peace if it isn’t.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope… 1 Peter 1:3

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. Prov 13:15

Though he slay me, will I hope in Him. Job 13:15

Charlie’s Soap: This soap is awesome! I’m really in awe of the revolution it brings to my diaper washing routine. Previously, using a brand name free and clear detergent I felt like I had to wash at least three cycles to get stink out. With Charlie’s, one hot cycle followed by a cold rinse and my diapers are stink free! The detergent is still expensive but I was able to purchase through our coop, making it more affordable. If, in the future, I have to pay full price, I will definitely buy it.

Azure Standard: We order from Azure about once a month and I thought I understood what to buy (and not buy) for the best prices. I was wrong. I should’ve been buying my flour and several other grains from them! In an effort to simplify our shopping process, I’ve decided to spend a larger chunk of our grocery money with Azure, and skip some of the stores or coop orders.

Menu planning: I’ve not been too committed to this in the past. It is not an easy fit for my personality and preferred way of doing things. I’ve realized this month that it works, it saves us money, and it makes dinner time so much less stressful.

*I know these aren’t true ‘epiphanies’ but ‘gradual realization’ doesn’t have the same zing.

Mama: Do you know a song about a star, Z? (thinking of twinkle, twinkle, which he loves to sing)

Z: Song about a star, song about a star, song about a star. (over and over in sing-song voice)

We gave $200, from our emergency/savings fund, to Compassion’s efforts in Haiti. We think this wise financial stewardship, in the eternal sense. We hope to worship with those Haitians in heaven. Now, I’m off to link to this on other blogs, so others will give more of their own money.

Here are a few thoughts on giving while I’m at it:

Giving to the poor is an essential part of Christian morality. I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I’m afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, and amusement, is up to the standard common of those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little.

If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things that we’d like to do but cannot do because our charitable expenditure excludes them. (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity)

And from Randy Alcorn, on giving and talking about it. (I stole that link from Abraham Piper’s post; I don’t know how he made it skip to and highlight that part but I think it’s neat.) My husband and I are currently reading Money, Possessions and Eternity and finding it full of biblical truth.

(If you aren’t familiar with Groupon the basic premise is that a business offers a great deal and if enough people, a big enough ‘group’ of people, purchase the deal, it is ‘on’. Usually 50 or so people have to participate which never seems to be a problem.)

Here’s what I would buy with my credit, for a total of exactly $50:

Thundering Hooves Lamb, Stew Meat, 1lb  =7.99

Organic Noris Dairy Beef Patties, 3 lb x2     =28.78

Applegate Farms Organic Sliced Sunday Bacon, 8oz  =4.69

Applegate Farms Organic Turkey Burgers, 10oz  =8.54

Unfortunately I don’t have any pictures but check out this link.

In early September I gave birth to our second son, little Mac. He was a little slow to make an appearance, a full two weeks after his due date, but he was well worth the wait. Our boys are a continual source of joy, and we are so thankful for the privilege of parenting them. (Even if we have to say that a loud to remind ourselves sometimes. They are still children and we are still selfish.)

We’ve also been building relationships in our church community. Not always easy but we are thankful for the Lord’s grace in that process.

I look forward to sharing a little more often now, especially about our ongoing healing from depression and our adventures in the kitchen.

We’ve been without a raw milk source for quite a while but today I picked up my first gallon from a local farmer. This milk was in the cow yesterday and today is in my fridge! The best part of this source is how affordable it is. The other options I found in the area were $7-10/gallon; this farmer charges only $5/gallon. That is less than pasturized organic milk. I’m so thankful for this delicious food at a price our family can afford.

The other blessing this week was finding excellent deals on some items we needed. Because of a great sale at Fred Meyer last week I purchased multiple Seventh Generation products. I bought four bottles of dish soap at $1/each, two rolls paper towels (which we need for our birth kit) at $0.55/each, two boxes of tissue at $0.31/each and a box of trash bags for $0.79. I had some coupons printed from their website and found more at Fred Meyer near the product end cap. Also, today I was able to “purchase” four boxes of Hefty zip freezer bags for nothing! I’ve been wanting to stock up on these in order to preserve produce this summer and the Albertson’s nearest us had a coupon that paired with the store’s double coupon made them free! I was also able to get two big bags of organic overripe bananas (about 15lbs total) for $0.99. I am so thankful for these blessings as I had used much of our grocery budget on stocking purchases this month and wasn’t sure how I’d afford some necessities to finish out the month. I’m not sure how intricate a part God plays in my finding the right coupons or bruised bananas but I’m thankful that He has been so faithful to provide for our family, whether it be a $3200 medical bill or free freezer bags.

(These little shopping trips were not in line with our ideal of two to three shopping trips a month but I’m happy to make the exception for such deals.)