Loaves of Lessons

I have been thinking lately about all my blessings.  Mostly because my attitude has been negative and I was trying to be positive.  But I started thinking about my life today while making bread.  Here are some blessing in my life I came up with:

1) I am a mother.  Even though it is the hardest thing I've ever done, I am so thankful that I am blessed with children.  They have taught me so much.
2) I have the knowledge of the gospel.  To many blessings to name!
3) I live in a free country.
4) My husband is blessed with a great job.
5) I get to live my dream of staying home with my children.
6) My family and I are healthy.

These are just a few that mean a lot to me.  I have been talking with one of my friends on the phone a lot lately, which I love, she is so much fun!  She had to work for a time while raising her small children.  To listen to her now, and the joy and excited she has in her voice from the everyday things she is able to do with her children at home since she no longer needs to works makes me happy.  It reminded me of all I have.  It helped me remember what all I am grateful for and it was a good reminder to me to make sure I was enjoying those moment myself.  I love that I can make bread from scratch, hang my clothes on my clothesline, use clothes diapers, read with my babies, sew projects, and anything else I love to do.  Staying home is such a blessing.  I have seen a lot of women have to go to work lately because of financial reasons, not by choice.  It is hard, and they are strong women and good mothers.   I am grateful it hasn't been me. 

I decided a couple weeks ago that it was time for some changes around here.  We have been living life a little too freely with our finances and entertainment.  So Jeremy and I talked and decided that it was time to turn off the cable, cut down on our cell phones, make some grocery shopping changes, and start using what we have.  Not rush out to by something that's broken.  But we have been fixing things.  I started thinking about how much we consume.  How disposable things are these days to us.  Clothes, toys, food, ect.  I want my children to be frugal and learn to take care of their finances.  We have not been shopping for the past two weeks for anything.  We are using the food in our fridge(we had a ton) and using what is already on our shelves.  We have decided to use a cash budget for household, groceries, and gas. I pay all our bills online.  This has been a REAL eye opener to me.  Plus it really makes me think about if it is a NEED or a WANT.  I have to say that the last two weeks I have been less stressed and feel more free to live.  My house is quieter from no t.v., and thanks to my friend helping me see the light, I no longer take my cell phone everywhere with me.  Just leaving my phone at home unless we are going out of town lessens my stress.  I can't explain it.  Try it, you'll see.  I think we really needed an electronic detox and re prioritize.

You will really feel a sense of peace and fulfillment making things from home and with your own hands.  Being on a budget really brings peace like nothing else.  All these things we learn in the church, but we think we are fine and they must be for other people.  I don't do well with stress and I stress very easily.  I am learning to enjoy simple things in my life and really enjoy my family.  Less Stuff= More Life! That is my motto!  No matter if it is clothes, shoes, entertainment, TV, cell phones, or what.  Stuff clutters our lives and takes over!

What are you doing to help save money, relieve stress, or

find more peace?? I would love ideas!