We do not need the grace of God to withstand crises–human nature and pride are sufficient for us to face the stress and strain magnificently. 

But it does require the supernatural grace of God to live twenty-four hours of every day as a saint, going through drudgery, and living an ordinary, unnoticed, and ignored existence as a disciple of Jesus. 

It is ingrained in us that we have to do exeptional things for God– but we do not.  We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things of life, and holy on the ordinary streets, among ordinary people– and this is not learned in five minutes.
~Oswald Chambers

I said yesterday I was working on something to contain the mountains of cash I have rolling around all over my house.

So here’s the thing:

We try to do the cash only thing …each payday we withdraw the cash for all of our spending and stick it in envelopes…when the envelopes are empty no more spending. 

We’re not gonna go into how disciplined we are about really not spending when the cash is gone.

What I want to talk about is the envelopes.

I found a long time ago that the envelopes are useless if they are kept at home.  We just end up using the debit care because we know we have the cash at home, and then of course the cash never makes it’s way back to the bank… you get the idea.

So generally I carry the envelopes in my purse (now I guess you all have enough info to rob me!).

Here’s my problem:

The envelopes do not hold up well in my purse.  They tend to end up in shreds.  And it’s annoying.

So I decided to make something to replace them with.

I started by tracing rectangles a little larger than an envelope onto an old pair of jeans.

After cutting them out, I embroidered names for all of our designated funds on them:  Food (groceries), Fun (spending money), Love (gifts), and Health (medical expenses).

(The dollar sign is for the front).

Then I cut out pieces of scrap fabric to back each piece, sewed them together wrong sides out and flipped them,  finished the edges, and finally sewed all the pieces together with some embroidery thread along the bottom and sides.

(Sorry I didn’t take pictures of each step; it was getting a little tedious)

The finished product is a kind of accordian style little pouch.  Much like the bunch of envelopes I had stapled together, only hopefully tougher.

I put  a button on the front piece and a loop on the back to secure the money inside.

It turned about the same size as a checkbook.

Not glamorous, I know.  But I think it’s kind of cute, and hopefully it will do the job

For Today… October 19,2009

Outside my window… dark and cool, but not cold…especially for this time of year.  Some people are complaining, but I love it!

I am thinking… I hope the illness in our house passes quickly…it seems to be…we’ll see.

From the learning rooms…  pumpkins and leaves and all that fun fall stuff.

I’m thankful for… going to bed with the promise of a new day waiting for me.

From the kitchen… thanks to ongoing fevers, I started to be concerned today that Miss E and I had a bit of dehydration going on.  My first thought was to run to the store for some 7-up…but between the carbonation and all the sugar that’s never really been the miracle I’ve hoped for.  So I got on Google and found this.  I mixed up the “water treatment” (lime, sugar & salt…so easy) for us both and it was great.  This will definitely be my new drink for sick times.

I am wearing… my “asian style” pajamas.   

I am reading…  this, as soon as my copy comes in at the library.

I am creating…  something to contain all of my money…because there’s so much it’s really hard to manage   I’ll show you when it’s finished.

I am hearing… the hum of the Xbox…and a hacking cough that does not sound like it should belong to anyone as young as me.

Around the house… guess what?  I still haven’t dusted!!!  Are you shocked?  Major cleaning is needed…we’ll see if I feel up to it by tomorrow. 

A few plans for the rest of the week… Sadly I am not allowing myself to make any until I’m sure that the plague has made it’s exit.  My plan is to sit at home and stuff as many oranges and cloves of garlic into everyone as I possibly can (that almost makes it sound like I’m cooking a pig or something! ha ha) until we all have immune systems of steel. 

For more daybooks, or if you’d like to participate, click here.

Or leave me a note in the comments… I’d love to hear about your day

The Art of Making Do when Money is Tight

Let it Go
(I love it when someone makes me feel like I’m not the only crazy one.)

Sometimes it Takes a Village Idiot
(All the moms should read this)

10 Ways to Fight Swine Flu with Nutrition
(because the paranoia has reached epic proportions)

Simple Living Myth: DIY is always best
(this relieves all my guilt over giving up on making my own crackers)

Too Many
(my fave this week)

**UPDATE**  I really want to win this giveaway…go check it out and sign up too if you want.  But if you win you have to give me the prize!