Provision

Do you remember that April is our family's "trial run" for living cash-only with an envelope system. I eagerly filled my coupon-organizer (aka "envelopes") with the minimal amount of cash I thought we could live on ... and made neat little index card dividers that would track our spending ... and clipped some coupons and added those - and off to the stores we went!

We started out pretty great! My husband likes to grocery shop (it's not normal, I know, I know), so we usually shop together, or he goes alone on Saturday mornings. I seriously think it reverts back to his growing up so poor that they had very little food - I mean they weren't starving - but they lived on powdered milk, peanut butter and crackers, and hamburgers filled with homegrown or canned veggies to make the meat go further to feed 6 kids. I do think he probably grew up somewhat healthier due to the acre-big family garden they had ... but soda, treats, & eating out were something that seldom happened until a few of the older kids left home for college. Anyway, back to Dan's grocery shopping thrill - I think he enjoys buying WHATEVER HE WANTS, especially if it's junk food - but I will also say that despite a need for beef jerky, Slim Jims, and salt-and-vinegar chips, he is a pretty frugal shopper. He won't buy his junk food unless it's on sale! And he doesn't forget about me - and if chocolate is on sale, I get my share. :)

So, after we got home from our first big shopping Saturday together (which we try to do once or twice a month because we usually go to a town 25 miles away for a greater variety of frugal stores like Aldi's, Big Lots, and a grocery surplus store), I was very excited to see how we'd done. We'd tried to tally along the way - but with the baby and trying to just get caught up on each other's lives while driving and talking with the older kids, we didn't do a good job. I added the cash register receipts together and immediately got pretty depressed - just for a few moments (keep reading, it gets better - I don't STAY depressed, ok?). I mean, we didn't even eat out for those first weeks of the month (which I used to love love love to do) aside from a few dollar menu items or Sonic Happy Hour drinks - so surely, we'd be way ahead of the game, right??! Well, we weren't flat out broke, out of cash, and looking at no more money ... but there wasn't as much as I had hoped left in that "food envelope". I pouted a little - I mean, hadn't I yet again "sacrificed" to try to live within our means, wasn't I trying to be a good steward by cooking at home more and clipping coupons and not eating out (did I mention I love love love to do that?) ... Sigh. "MORE SACRIFICE. Really, God?" Yep, really.

But this is where it gets good ... or let's just say "better" because I have a feeling living frugally isn't going to come naturally to me. God showed me not one - not two - but several ways that He is taking care of us - despite my money envelopes, despite my careful budgeting, despite my calculating ... we will NOT have to live off crackers and peanut butter or powdered milk. We will eventually be able to go out for a nice meal again. Our needs and some of our wants will be met - and not because we deserve it. With my spoiled brat attitude sometimes, I know I don't deserve anything but a slap upside the head!

So, within days - maybe even hours - of my tallying our shopping trip & my pity party, I experienced some amazing things. Some I am not at liberty to tell about because the sources of the provision are private ... but amazingly, God has provided for some needs of the days ahead - and for some wants!! We are, Lord willing, going to have some extra money to pad our envelopes for upcoming expenses such as house & car repairs/maintenance, our kids' summer camp, and just maybe have enough to maintain my hair color sessions with my favorite therapist - I mean hair stylist!

And it isn't just the GREAT BIG provision that is so amazing ... it is the little blessings that happen every day - that you might not notice unless you are aware of your dependence on God for everything! As you know, my kids have been sick - well, Andrew's had chicken pox - and Anna has a sore throat. I've been doling out the children's Motrin for them both to ease the discomfort they are experiencing. I sent my last dose of Motrin to school with Anna today - and it isn't like children's (Equate brand) Motrin is SO expensive - but it seems every time I go to Walmart for something, it adds up to being MORE. (Always Low Prices?!?!) So, I dreaded another trip to Walmart, but knew I'd need to go soon. Dan came home from work with 2 things today: (1) oatmeal bath for Andrew's chicken pox and (2) a bottle of Children's Motrin - given to him by 2 different individuals! He didn't even know I needed the Motrin!!!! Someone had given him the bottle (this person's child was now older, & they didn't need it). It was Children's Motrin for ages 2-11! EXACTLY what I needed - and now I don't have to go to Walmart. For a day or two anyway. :)

God knows our every need - I know that - but now I've SEEN it, EXPERIENCED it ... it's gone from my head to my heart. I am so thankful for this reminder of His loving provision for me and my family.