Herron Hacienda | Faith, Family, & Frugal Finds in Michigan

~ Tuesday Thoughts ~

A few random thoughts for today...

1) Josiah and Jonathan love to sing the "Move It" song from Madagascar.  I got the most recent movie for a steal at $1.99!  It is really funny to hear Jon start off, "I want to move it, move it!  I want to..." and then Josiah chimes in loudly and excitedly, "MOVE IT!"  Very funny!

2) I have a new favorite non-coffee drink from Starbuck's.  My sweet little sister sent me a gift card for Christmas.  I have gone a few times when it was too late for coffee (unless I wanted to be up all night!).  I discovered the Vanilla Rooibos Tea Latte.  It is very yummy - so good that I became determined to find a way to make it at home.  A little bit of googling at Swagbuck's and voila!  Celestial Seasonings sells the vanilla rooibos tea.  I bought some with my handy dandy coupons, mixed with some hot water, hot milk and a sweetner.  The result was just like Starbuck's (at least to me).  Yum!

3) Josiah got some new cars this month - mostly courtesy of Grandma!  :-)  His favorite right now seems to be Luigi and Guido.  He carries them around everywhere.  We hear, "Pit Stop!  More tires!  and All done!"  It's really funny.  Josiah loved that we had a flat tire last week and had to go see Guido to have him fix the tire.  ;-)

4) I seem to have planter fascititis.  It means my right heel hurts super bad when I put pressure on it - especially in the morning.  I am doing some little stretches and put inserts in my shoes to help with that. 

5) Josiah actually got a cold from Cameron this week rather than the other way around.  His new nickname is Sneezy.  He remains his high energy lovable self through it all.

~ How Much Do You Want? ~

A GREAT quote I read yesterday...

We are able to have as much of God as we want.  Christ puts the key to His treasure chest in our hands and invites us to take all we desire.  If someone is allowed into a bank vault, told to help himself to the money, and leaves without one cent, whose fault is it if he remains poor?  And whose fault is it that Christians usually have such meager portions of the free riches of God? - Alexander Maclaren

~ Sunday Savings ~

I am so digging my new coupon/drug store shopping routine!  It is getting easier and faster with each week.  The best deal last week had to be the free Colgate toothpaste I (and many other smart people) scored from Walgreen's sale combined w/ coupons.  I had to hold myself back and only get 8 tubes.  Jon likes to joke about how he is good on toothpaste for a couple of years now.  The nice thing is that toothpaste has a long shelf-life. 

I went to my 3 main stores tonight (Walgreen's, CVS, & Giant Eagle) to stock my pantry for the week.  I was going through my receipts a little while ago and according to them, I saved a total of over $130!!!  Wow!  And no, I don't buy tons of stuff I normally wouldn't buy (unless it ends up being free of course).  I also am smart enough to calculate coupons w/ name brands vs. store brand and the value of package size.  I think it helps that my mind is already wired to think through those things.  That is due in huge part to my parents who taught me those skills!

So anyway, I am super excited that I saved more this week than the amount of my weekly grocery budget!  Woo-hoo!

~ Quote of the Day ~

Faith that goes forward triumphs.

and

If we would only move straight ahead in faith, the path would be opened for us.  But we stand still, waiting for the obstacle to be removed, when we ought to go forward as if there were no obstacles at all.  from Evening Thoughts

~ Free Stuff is Cool ~

My coupon craze is now in full swing!  I collected coupons from three papers last week since there were four inserts.  I think I spent at least an hour clipping!  I spent all morning yesterday studying the store ads and planning my purchases.  It is time consuming, but worth it!

Free stuff is cool, but even better is when you basically get paid to "buy" the item!  I did this with several things yesterday by combining coupons, rebates and rewards!  I made money on buying a razor, lip gloss, concealer and (2) 2 liters of Dr. Pepper.  I also got for free (after rebate) conditioner, contact solution, a heat wrap and Mr. Clean bathroom wipes.  Other good deals included soup for $.15 a can, $.25 paper towels and dish soap. 

I calculated and figured out that I saved at least $50 at drugstores and another $43 at the grocery store!  I feel oh so powerful.  LOL.  :-)

~ Strength for the Weary ~

We are in a very, very busy season of life right now!  Some days we are just hoping to catch our breath.  This passage stood out to me today (in a song while exercising!). 

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.  He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.  Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:28-31

~ Adoption Update ~

I have mentioned a while back that our intention is to adopt a young sibling group from Ethiopia.  We also mentioned in our Christmas letter this year that we are hoping to begin this process in the next year.  Occasionally, people will ask me where we are in the adoption process.  Here's the answer...

We are committed to being debt-free (except for our home) before adopting again.  Additionally, we are committed to paying cash for our adoption (and hopefully we can get a grant or two!).  We learned this the hard way through our first adoption. 

Every agency will encourage prospective adoptive parents that they can partially fund their adoption with the adoption tax credit you get after your adoption is finalized.  We had this in mind when we borrowed a portion of the money to adopt - thinking we would simply pay off the balance and more in less than a year.  We were in for a surprise when we realized the way the tax credit works: you can only get a credit for as much as you actually owe in taxes for the current year.  We don't owe a ton each year since Jonathan has certain tax benefits from being a pastor.  We will be lucky if we even get close to the full tax credit amount after the 5 year carry over period.  I write out these details for those reading who are considering adopting.  I don't want you to misunderstand like we did!  Anyhow, we are making great strides with debt, but we are not willing to go that route again!

I have to be honest and say that this is bittersweet for me.  I have struggles every so many months.  I desire for another baby in the house.  I desire for Josiah to have playmates (he loves other kids so much right now!).  I become impatient.  I start to deceive myself into thinking we should just go ahead and figure out the money later. 

Few people understand the dynamics of patience and waiting in parenting through adoption.  There is the waiting to finance the adoption.  There is waiting to complete administrative details.  There is waiting for a match or referral.  Waiting.  Waiting.  Waiting.  I think the typical expectancy period is 2 years in total.   I have a friend in the process who is struggling with trusting God for the right situation/child for her family and the desire to add to her family as soon as possible.  I read a great post about waiting on this blog of a family in the process of adopting from Ethiopia.  It was interesting to read the perspective of someone who has experienced pregnancy and now the adoption waiting game. 

A cool thing happens, however, when I truly try to trust God in this.  He speaks to me.  He encourages me.  It usually comes in the most unexpected ways too!  Today - it came through Dave Ramsey.  LOL.  Crazy, I know. 

Jonathan and I were previewing a video he was planning to use at Catalyst Sunday to encourage people to reverse-engineer their finances.  Most of the message was typical "Davisms" that I have heard before (but still find motivating).  One of Ramsey's main points in managing your money is so that you can be freed up to give and be a blessing to others.  He ended this point with a video vignette.  It highlighted a family who was working very hard to pay off debt.  They joked with acquaintences from church that they wanted to buy a trampoline for their kids, but their true desire was to adopt.  They had committed to being debt-free before they adopted. 

There were some ironic providential parallels between them and us.  The guy is a pastor for one thing.  The story unfolded as they described how these virtual strangers from their church showed up at their door and handed them a check in the amount of their remaining debt so they could be freed up to adopt!  I have to be honest and say I was bawling by this point of the video!  This only increased when they showed videos of the daughter they adopted and shared how she was conceived around the same time they received that check.  Amazing! 

I found this snippet so encouraging and moving.  I don't expect someone to show up at my door with a $10,000 check.  God often teaches us much more when we work towards things the hard way rather than having it handed to us.  I was encouraged because in that moment, God reassured me.  We are on the right path.  We are honoring Him with our decision making.  He will sustain us and provide in His perfect timing.  He may choose to work some miracle so that it is sooner.  He may allow us to grow in character and wait 2-3 years.  Either way - He is working out a perfect plan for our family. 

So, that's the update!  We certainly welcome prayers as we travel this journey. 

~ This is my doing. ~

I wanted to share the excerpt from Streams in the Desert that really ministered to me today.

This is my doing. ( 1 Kings 12:24)

The disappointments of life are simply the hidden appointments of love.  C.A. Fox

My child, I have a message for you today.  Let me whisper it in your ear so any storm clouds that may arise will shine with glory, and the rough places you may have to walk will be made smooth.  It is only four words, but let them sink into your inner being, and use them as a pillow to rest your weary head.  "This is my doing."

Have you ever realized that whatever concerns you concerns Me too?  "For whoever touches you touches the apple of [my] eye" (Zech. 2:8).  "You are precious and honored in my sight" (Isa. 43:4).  Therefore it is My special delight to teach you.

I want you to learn when temptations attack you, and the enemy comes in "like a pent-up flood" (Isa. 59:19), that "this is my doing" and that your weakness needs My strength, and your safety lies in letting Me fight for you.

Are you in difficult circumstances, surrounded by people who do not understand you, never ask your opinion, and always push you aside?  "This is my doing."  I am the God of circumstances.  You did not come to this place by accident - you are exactly where I meant for you to be.

Have you not asked Me to make you humble?  Then see that I have placed you in the perfect school where this lesson is taught.  Your circumstances and the people around you are only being used to accomplish My will.

Are you having problems with money, finding it hard to make ends meet? "This is my doing," for I am the One who keeps your finances, and I want you to learn to depend upon Me.  My supply is limitless and I "will meet all your needs" (Phil. 4:19).  I want you to prove My promises so no one may say, "You did not trust in the Lord your God" (Deut. 1:32).

Are you experiencing a time of sorrow?  "This is my doing."  I am "a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering" (Isa. 53:3)  I have allowed your earthly comforters to fail you, so that by turning to Me you may receive "eternal encouragement and good hope" (2 Thess. 2:16).  Have you longed to do some great work for Me but instead have been set aside on a bed of sickness and pain?  "This is my doing."  You were so busy I could not get your attention, and I wanted to teach you some of My deepest truths.  "They also serve who only stand and wait." In fact, some of My greatest workers are those physically unable to serve, but who have learned to wield the powerful weapon of prayer.

Today I place a cup of holy oil in your hands.  Use it freely, My child.  Anoint with it every new circumstance, every word that hurts you, every interruption that makes you impatient, and every weakness you have.  The pain will leave as you learn to see Me in all things.  Laura A. Barter Snow