Summertime

Well, here we are at the end of the summer. Well, the end for us, since school starts for Jeremiah again in three weeks. It's a tough time in our household. J ends his summer job this week and we won't get his first RCS paycheck till the end of September. So basically no money comes in for about a month and a half-- close to two months. It's tight, people-- spandex tight. 

And it gives me pause to consider the rest of the year and our usual financial security. I am here to say that J is an amazing Provider for his family. Not just in the sense that he provides oodles of boodle ('cause, really, you know us-- it's not really what I would call "oodles", per say), but he really has a knack for making every dime stretch to it's limit. The man can practically legislate money out of thin air. I say "legislate" because I think that his genius originates in his ability to manage money, rather than necessarily make lots of it (although I think, given a chance, he could also rake it in). He is an excellent Steward of what God has given us. 

I've been reading a lot of blogs lately where the authors are talking about ways to save money and skinny-up a budget by "going without". I won't go into too much personal detail (this is the internets, after all), but we are able to afford many of the little luxuries that many in the current economy are having to learn to do without, because of the way that J obsesses over the little details and minute categories of our weekly budget.

Now, lest I give the impression that I am married to an Ebeneezer Scrooge, let me also recount this recent conversation (while Sue and Ben were here):

Me: Sweetie, can I please, please have some money to go shopping?

J (controlled shock): What for??

Me: I just really, really need a new pair of jeans and then there's this really cool purse that I saw on sale and I totally don't need it but it's pretty and I want it...

J: Could you make do with $XX?

Y.E.S.

Seriously, ladies, who wouldn't die for a man like that? I ask you...