June 24

June 24th. One week away from PAYDAY, five days away from my first class's final, 16 days away from the worst time of year -band camp-, and the day things turned around. We've recently discovered some things:

1. We are horrible stewards of God's money. The only thing we faithfully do is tithe and it's the only reason we've been able to survive some months. God's grace is unending and we receive the benefits of it every time we need it. Other than tithing, we don't keep up with the money He's blessed us with very well. Our weakness(es) - food. Eating out, buying too many snacks, wasting food we already have...you name, we do it. However, now we realize it and we have an accountability system with each other so we're going to see how much we can save this year.

2. We're about to make a big change. I can't say much about it now, but I can say that this is truly the first time in our married lives that we're really going to have to trust God to open some doors and provide for us.

3. Our house is never going to stay truly clean. It's just not going to happen. With a baby and a dog we'd have to be constantly cleaning. That's not to say that we're going to live in a pigpen, just that you shouldn't expect to come over and see no mess. Floors will be swept, clothes will be clean (just not put up all the time), we'll have clean dishes to eat on, it just won't be spotless. We're trying.

4. It's okay to neglect other things (especially our selfish natures) in order to play with Kaleb. Homework can wait until he's asleep, housework can wait til naptime, he can help us pick up toys and we can make it a game. He's only at this stage for a little while then he's slamming doors and screaming "I hate you!" This is the time we need to make those memories we think back on during those more trying times. If we do have another baby this time next year, his little life will be changed, too.

They may be "DUH" realizations for y'all, but it takes time for me.