Happy 6th birthday, Brett Joseph! You are an awesome and crucial part of our family. You are cheerful and sensitive, dramatic and funny, loud and tender. Your laugh is infectious. Your ability to tell a story rivals that of an “old-timer.” You make us smile every day. WE LOVE YOU!!!

And my weekend is almost over.  I had yesterday and today off from work.  I go to work tomorrow and will be on for the next few days.  It’s a fun place to work, but oh so exhausting.  The building is so hot every night, and between the heat and the 20 or so trips between the kitchen and your dining room….actually I’m thinking about it, and it’s probably more like 40.  Seriously.  You’ve probably hit 10 times just between the bread, soup, and drink service.   Exhausted just thinking about it. 

I am thankful though, that the money I make this year will buy our children a few things for Christmas, and more importantly, we’ll be able to make some very big orders for homeschool supplies. 

We’re in a difficult time financially, as many people are, and are just trying each day to do what we can to get to a place where we are debt-free, living frugally, and also able to give.  As I mentioned before, we have discussed the possibility of selling our house and either buying cheaper or renting.  We have discussed selling our business.  So many options, but nothing working out right now.  So we stay put and hang on.  What I WANT to do is put on a pair of flannel jammies, and go to bed til May.  Since I cannot do that, I will keep on going. 

Today my mother in law called with her annual request for suggestions for Christmas gifts for the kids.  Since they are also feeling the need to simplify, I requested help in purchasing a pool pass for the winter months.  The kids would so enjoy being able to go swimming a few times each week.  And I love the water, so I think I will enjoy it too.  Even when it’s -25 out. 

This does not feel like abundant living right now.  And I don’t mean just financially.  I feel like we are so under attack right now, and it’s a battle to just survive.  So many days, for me, it is a choice to have joy.  A choice to get up.  A choice to praise.  A choice to be thankful.  A choice to trust.  I do not like this stage of life we’re in right now.  I know how I want my days at home with my kids to be, and it’s just not happening.  The stress of our financial circumstances affects every area of life, and most days I want to sit and cry. 

 But I don’t.  We don’t.  We keep going.  Trying.  Walking.   Trusting.