christmas prep

It is another year almost done!  Our tree is up and decorated and have added some socks on the fireplace mantel.  I am looking forward to doing some stocking stuffers this year (thankfully they are small stockings to fill!).  Now it is the waiting game of seeing how much of a christmas $$$ gift we get from the pastors association and from my job at the church as the janitor.  I also have some funds to collect from our health insurance savings account.  It is always tight for the holidays especially when we add in gifts for husbands family.  Our little bit just doesn't stretch far so that means some creativity!!!  I think that next year we will be cutting down on gifts to Elias (now that he is a college student).  My folks starting switching gift amounts at that time and I know that husbands family usually just gives him money.  But for this year....he will get a couple of presents along with some money.

I often wonder if I would enjoy the holiday more if we weren't always so strapped for cash each year.  The last couple of years we were more generous with the kids because of the $$$ from my mom's estate.  We didn't go overboard but it was definitely easier.  This year we are back to strict budgeting as the savings is nearly gone.  Actually I need to refrain from using that "budgeting" word and change it to a "spending plan". 
Anyway....glad that we have never gone overboard with gift giving because it makes the "spending plan" easier :-)

Moving forward

Hurrah!!!  I'm so glad this year is nearly completed.  It has been a stressful long year.  Husband finished up his masters program and graduated in early June.  Son graduated from high school and is at college now.  He will be moving onto campus next semester (a move that I think will be good for all).  Oldest daughter got her driver's license and is now employed.  She is making good decisions about youth group, friends, and school.  Middle daughter is back on meds and is doing pretty O.K. with school.  Working on boosting her skills so she can have opportunities for other classroom setting.  And our youngest is on swimteam this year (along with oldest daughter) and is becoming quite obsessed with reading!  We definitely are NOT a perfect family but seem to live together well.

I've started to workout at the YMCA while the youngest daughter is at swimteam practice.  I'm kinda enjoying it and have lost about 4 pounds since I've started (I'm also trying to eat WAY less food too).  I have a goal of losing another 6 pounds by Christmas.  Still struggling with our church choice.  It is a pretty unmotivated group.  However, I have enjoyed teaching Sunday School and the other regular family's mom is teaching the other class and she is fabulous.  Our middle daughter is in her group and seems to be perking up with wanting to be at church (a welcome change!).  Need to find ways now to get the girls involved in some sort of service missions work.

Feeling pretty broke as we end up this year.  We have pretty much spent through our savings accounts and are now tightening up the belts of our finances.  Having our son not at home should help with the grocery bills and eating out expenses.  Husband got a raise this year but that will all be going to paying off student loans.  Will be cashing in our reward points on the credit cards to supplement our Christmas spending this year.  The kids all enjoy getting a gift card and I enjoy the "free" money!

As always....I'm feeling pretty much in a holding pattern while I wait on God's direction.