Cutting Corners

Being good stewards of our money is very important to us.  We want to not only be godly examples to our children, but our ultimate goal is to please our Heavenly Father with the decisions we are making with the money he blesses our family with.  

This morning as I was reading the Proverbs of the day, 21, I came across verse 5:  

 "The plans of the diligent lead to profit
   as surely as haste leads to poverty."

Ain't that the truth!  

With Tim's new position as a partner at his firm, and now becoming self employed due to it, it means having to really budget and prepare for taxes next year.  This means putting a freeze on savings and any extra funds coming our way, to ensure we will have enough cash to pay those taxes.  I am excited to see what God does with our savings account due to this new step we are taking.  We love Dave Ramsey and he says that when there is a major job change, you shouldn't make any big moves with your money.  We really want to make wise choices with money.

First things first... Tithing!  Giving our firstfruits to the Lord has been such a blessing to us!

Secondly...We are striving to be a debt free family.  This means no credit cards (Thank you, Lord, we are free of those binds!), no car payments (Our cars are all paid off), and snowballing our debt (God has provided for us greatly and the only debt we still are paying off is Tim's student loans).

With all this being said, it is my pleasure to announce that the White House is cutting corners!  It may not be the White House that affects all Americans, but it is the White House that affects our family of 8.

Here are a few of the things we are doing to cut corners:

-Shut off cable.

What a great decision this was.  We were just letting TV steal way too much of our time.  This doesn't mean we won't watch a movie, or the occasional tv show on our basic local channels, but the distraction of hundreds of channels was just a temptation that needed to be deleted from our lives.  Savings per month: $55

-Shut off our home phone.

With 4 cell phones in the house, it was just the wise choice to make.  Savings per month: $22

-Modifying our menu.

Sure, I love a good steak.  And, don't get me wrong, eating out is not only fun but there is no cleaning.  But, lets face it...that can get really expensive.  I will say that we rarely eat out as a whole family.  If we do, there is usually a reason like a birthday or some other celebration behind it, but with a family as large as ours, that can really add up! So, we will be more careful about sticking to a list at the grocery store and having more veggie soups and leftovers.  Savings per month: $100-150

-Potty training.

At 18 months we started having Isabella sit on the potty in the mornings.  Sometimes she goes, sometimes she doesn't.  It was more to get her used to it.  At 19 months, we were more persistent, asking her if she needed to go and she started to recognize more often when she needed to go.  Now that she just turned 20 months, and we want to save the money on diapers, we are going to go cold turkey.  That means panties at home (Thank you, God, for tile floors.) and in panties on short trips out.  Sure, it means more laundry, but only for a short time, because she is really getting the concept and at home, she does most of her #2's in the potty now.  This is the added bonus to potty training... not having to change anymore poopy diapers!  HALLELUJAH!  Savings per month: $40 

-No clothes until I drop a size.

This one is for me, not my children.  I want to be healthier.  I want to feel better.  I want to look better.  This one is a really easy corner to cut, because I really don't enjoy purchasing clothes at this point.  I haven't really bought myself any clothes since Isabella was born 20 months ago.  I truly do enjoy shopping for maternity clothes, but regular clothes, not so much.  So, as I get back into a fitness routine, I hope that I can purchase myself a nice dress for summer.  I am blessed that I have more than enough clothes to keep me covered until summer. Savings per month: $0-10 

(Tim agreed to buy me a nice pair of running shoes for Valentine's Day.  He did purchase me a BEAUTIFUL necklace, that I loved, but I really, really, really know that the shoes are what I need...the jewels can be my reward once I lose some weight...hint, hint, Honey.  Oh, and as I sit here and type, Bella is sitting on my lap in her Princess Belle panties and decided to peepee all over me.  The brightside, I didn't have to change her diaper and I was going to wash these pajama bottoms today anyway!  I think I just saved 20 cents already!)

-Cash only.

This one is tough.  We have tried it before, and have such a hard time sticking to it.   However, I find that what one of Dave Ramsey's listeners said about using cash only is very true, 

"I have noticed that since I've started using the envelope system, I'm spending about $60 less per two-week period than when I used a debit card. I think it's because when I lay three $20s down for groceries, it hurts! When I paid with debit, it didn't really register with me."

I agree with this statement, wholeheartedly.  There will be the exception, such as bills and gas, but I really want to get in the habit of leaving my debit card at home.  So, Father God, I ask that you help me as I take on this goal, one more time.  Please, help it to be the last, and that it sticks.  That you help me to make wise decisions with the money you bless us with.  That, you be the guide for each dollar!

-Freezing our savings account.

This means no 15 passenger van this year.  We have saved enough cash to purchase one...depleting a few thousand dollars recently for an unavoidable expense, but we have agreed that we are not going to touch this money until we know what to expect from our tax situation.  Thankfully, everything we need is really close, so even when we have to drive 2 vehicles, it isn't for a long drive, and we are just so thankful to have 2 cars to begin with.  Savings for the year: $18,000-20,000

I'm excited to see what God is going to do in our financial life.  I am excited to be an example to our children of good stewardship.  The Lord uses them often to be that example to me.

Now, to go wash those Belle panties and my pajama bottoms.

Because He Said So, That's Why!

So often I stand in awe of God and the things he does for me.  I describe those moments as 'mindblowing' or 'unbelievable'.  I share with friends through a phonecall, or post a status on facebook, or just sit and contemplate it all.  How amazing God is.  But, I do it almost as if it is shocking or something.  Then, I remember...He said He would provide for me!  He said He would never forsake me!  Why am I so surprised that He would take care of all my needs?  Why do I find it mindblowing that He would care about the desires of my heart?  Why do I think it unbelievable that He is mindful of me?

Oh, I am weak and of so little faith!  But, His Word is a faithful reminder that He provides for me
BECAUSE HE SAID SO, THAT'S WHY! 

And, having that awe about God and His goodness isn't a bad thing at all.  It brings me to a point of humility that He would do for me, in abundance, even though my heart fails to always be mindful of Him.  It reminds me to not limit God.  That I should always be praying with an expectant heart!

"...abundantly above all that we ask or think"  Ephesians 3:20

I want to be very aware of His mighty power!  So, today I am praying and being mindful to pray without limiting Him!  Praying for healing!  Praying for provision!  Praying for His abounding joy in the midst of the storms!  And, I am also thanking Him for giving me many, many, many opportunites to share about His love and grace...I think I will take this opportunity now to share one of our latest praises:

Recently Tim received a promotion at work.  He is now a partner at his firm!  Praise God!  We have been praying for this position for about 2 years, and God faithfully provided in His perfect timing.  We did realize though, that the promotion would mean less money due to having to start filing our taxes as self employed.  We prayed about it and both were very aware that God wouldn't have given Tim this position if He wasn't going to provide.  We prayed that God would open the door with Tim's employers to raise his pay to take care of those extra monetary needs.  Just before he went in to speak with his employer, Tim called and asked us to pray.  We did as a family, praying that God would make it so that Tim wouldn't even need to ask for that raise, and wouldn't  you know that is exactly what happened?  Tim said he barely got 2 words out, before his employer said to just let him know what it was he needed and they would take care of it. 

So, as I type this I am back to that feeling of wonderment and my mind being blown!!  I am incredibly humbled by His constant provision for our family!  I am so grateful to serve a God that keeps His Word. 

Sweet Sixteen (And A Quarter)

My little girl turned SWEET SIXTEEN back in  November.  What a beauty she is...inside and out.

Kari Calamari,


Remember when you would sit in front of your little dresser and pull out outfit after outfit?  You were only 7 months old, but I knew then that having a daughter would be one of the most amazing rides of my life.  I wasn't wrong.


Remember when we would sit in bed and have our 'private' talks?  I would ask you if anything was heavy on your heart and being only 4, usually the heaviest thing on your heart would be about Lucky's ear coming undone.


Remember when you would listen to Gospel Duck in Gramita's van and recite the sinners prayer at the end?  I know that you can't really recall the exact moment when you asked Jesus into your life, but I love knowing how the seeds were being planted in you all the time.


Remember the night before I married Dad when you spent the night with me and my bridesmaids at the hotel?  You were the prettiest little 6 year old I had ever laid eyes on.  I knew that the next night, everything would be different.  I wondered how you would adjust to a new dad and seeing Mom married.  Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined you would have fallen just as in love with Dad as I did.  And, he, with you.


Remember the time your best friend broke your heart?  How I longed to take on every ounce of hurt and every tear that fell.  Being a preteen can be so hard, but it meant so much to me that you confided in me and that you were so open to hear what I had to say.  I believe that incident made you stronger, and helped mold you into the most amazing, trustworthy, thoughtful, caring, selfless, loyal, best friend that any girl could EVER ask for!


Remember the time that we all went to the sonogram together on Christmas Eve, 2008?  You were 15 and had been praying for a little sister for as long as you knew how to pray.  When the technician announced it was a girl, I thought of you and how now you would have your Isabella to my Amanda.  What a blessing.


Remember when Belle was born?  You got to hold her first.  And, I believe you held her for an hour straight.  You still haven't put her down.  I am so blessed she has you as her big sister.  There isn't a better one around!


Remember the day of your sweet sixteen party, when you put on your pretty sparkly dress, straightened your hair, put on your lipgloss, and my heart skipped a beat?  OK...maybe you don't remember that, but I will never forget it.  How I was overwhelmed with the gift God had given me in you, my daughter, my best friend.  I couldn't help but think that you were one of the treasures that I would have with me one day in Heaven, for all eternity, since you came to know Jesus as your Lord and Savior.  And, how proud of you I was as you made your public declaration to serve Him when you were baptized.  Also, how deeply it touches me that you have such a servants heart at home, at church, and towards anyone you meet.  My heart skips 2 beats, Kari, just witnessing my little girl, on a daily basis,  growing into the Godly young woman you are.  


You, Karizma, have a very special place in my heart.  I love you and am looking forward to all the wonderful things I can look back on and remember as you continue to grow in the Grace of God.  Continue to live for Him and all the days of your life will be blessed.


Iloveyou a kazillion-kamillion, Mamas,
Mom
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*Thanks, to Julia at photojulia.com, for taking such amazing pictures of our baby girl, above.

**Thanks to everyone that came out to Karizma's party and loved on her.  You all made this such a special night for her.  Each and every single one of you has taken the time to love on her and Miguel at some point or another, and may God bless you for taking the time to be kind, be loving, and friends to our children.  We love you all.

l-r: Miguel, Brianna, Whitney, Hannah, Karizma, Amy, Steph, and Tony

Watching all the adults hit the pinata was so fun!

I love how Kaylee is giving Miguel specific instructions on how to make this easy on her

Love you, Sus

l-r: Dan, Brian, and Pastor Steve

Kari's girls: Hannah, Steph, Amy, and Whitney

One of our favorite couples, Kaylee and Bill with  Miguel

l-r: Tony, Mary, Susan, and Brianna

Bella with her Auntie Kelley and Uncle Chris

Zack enjoying a cupcake with Grandad

l-r: Dave, Sherry nursing Karizma's 'adopted son'-Samuel, and Auntie Tam

Karizma's main man, Dad and her lovely Grandmom



Next sweet sixteen will be Isabella Grace's...only 14 1/2 years to go!

Tim's Tax Tip for 2011: White Style

Recently I received this email in my inbox:

Baby, we need to have another child by December 31, 2011   That's because you only get the child tax credit for kids who are 16 years old or younger at the END of the taxable year (e.g., for 2011 taxes, our children have to be 16 or younger as of December 31, 2011--which Karizma will NOT be).  We already got one less tax credit this year because Miguel is 17 (that's a $1,000 less of a refund we'll get).   So if we don't want to lose another $1,000 when we're doing our taxes this time next year, we need to get active and get you pregnant within the next 30-40 days (especially since you always go longer than 40 weeks, lol).  I'm only kidding, but if we do want another child now (which I do--Bella could use a sister around her age to be like you and Amanda), then we should be praying that it happens real soon :-)  I love you. XOXO So, per Mr. White, we need to get working on this.  And, this tax tip will not only help you with your deductions in 2011...but, will bless you for the rest of your life.  God says that children are His reward to us! I just had to share this with you all, with Tim's permission of course.  I don't know what God has in store for our family, but I do know that God loves the desire of my husband's heart to fill our home with even more children.  I will continue to trust His will over our lives and over my womb, and look forward to what he has in store for our 2011.  Be it another little White, a tax break, or both.

Updates On My White Boy and My White Girl

In case you were wondering...

Tim:  Tim's surgery went well.  They removed the stimulator from his back and spine with only one complication.   One that the doctor said he had never encountered before.  Leave it to my husband to be the rare case in all things. Seems that the surgery they did last year to implant the stimulator required them to drill a hole in one of his vertebrae that was about the size of the tip of your pinky.  They needed to do so, so they can wire the paddle through it.  Don't ask me what that means exactly; I was still stuck on the bone drilling part.  I had no idea that they had drilled part of his bone last year.  Well, surgery took a bit longer than expected because Tim's bone had grown back completely.  The hole was filled in all the way.  His neurosurgeon had never seen that happen before and he talked about it several times.  You could tell he was amazed by it.  He said they had to delay going on for a bit, while someone went and got the bone drill.  So, Tim was a bit more sore in that area, but he is such a trooper and NEVER complains.  NEVER.  He is such a godly example to me.  He was making me laugh in the recovery room and we loved having that time alone to talk and enjoy some quiet time.  He went back to work, officially, today.  He had been working from home last week, but today he went into the office and he seems to be doing really well.

As far as what to do next...well, we continue to lean on the Lord and His will over Tim's life.  We believe in miracles, but we also believe in God's sovereignty over each of our lives.  We trust that He knows best for us and that His timing is perfect.  Tim looks forward to being in Heaven...no more pain, tears, or broken body.  Oh, Jesus, COME!

As for our Princess...

Isabella Grace:  She has really learned to get around and do most things with only one arm, since she broke her collarbone the last week of December.  She wears a sling that keeps her arm from moving 24 hours a day.  But, somehow, our little Houdini has figured out how to take it off, which is amazing, since it is quite a contraption of knots, twists, and turns just to put it on.  However, when she has it on, she still manages to go down the slide, climb up on the sofa, and push her baby stroller.  It's amazing what we can do when we have the drive to do it.  I have learned a lot from my little girl through this.  And, she also never complains, and doesn't ask to have it taken off.  She goes in for her check up/followup xray in a week.  Although, they said she may need to wear her sling for 8 weeks, we are hoping that the xray next week will show she is all healed up and she can resume her normal activities.

We have taken quite a bit of time off for a trip to see family, illness, broken bones, surgery, and recovery, but we are going to get back into the swing of things this week.  We so enjoyed the time off and having Daddy around.  The boys hated seeing him go back.  But, we are so thankful for Daddy's job and his firm.  They have blessed us beyond belief and we praise God that He brought this firm into our lives.  We do not take for granted that Tim has a job and that the bills are being paid for.  Praise God.

Beeswax and Jesus

So, here's the deal. Can I be frank?

I am not pregnant.

 At least not at the moment.

That's not a bad thing. It's a good thing. Why? Because, we believe that God's timing is perfect, so when he sees fit to bless our family with another arrow, then glory to Him! Or, if he chooses to keep us at a half dozen here on earth, we'd accept that, too.

We are trusting in Him to decide what our family size should be.

I have always enjoyed sharing about our faith and how we came to this point in life... trusting God with my womb.  I have loved being able to share, especially with those that might not know Jesus, or are just growing in the knowledge of Him, how we are seeking His will over how many children He would have our family have.  But, lately, I have found that some people have the nerve to ask if i'm pregnant yet.  Really? 

Here's how I feel about this. 
If I wanted you to know if I was pregnant, I would have told you.  So, don't ask me, "Are you pregnant?", and put me in the position of having to figure a way out of answering.  I mean, for curiosity sake, I'm telling you that I am not pregnant now, but what if I were?  What if it was something that we weren't ready to share yet and wanted to keep close to our hearts?  Please, don't put me in the position of having to weave my way out of answering. So, I guess I am going to have to come up with a polite, but straight forward way to answer these questions...

Unnamed person:  Still not pregnant?  How about this month?  How about now?

Hmm... I am going to ponder this one a little bit.  Have any ideas or suggestions?  I just want to have a nice way to say, "Jesus loves you and please, mind your own beeswax."

Happy HOPE-FULL New Year!

I think it will be my motto this year.  Being HOPE filled.  It seemed to have hit me hard around Thanksgiving.  Hope.  What it means.  What it produces... that is why Romans 5 is one of my favorite chapters:

 ¹ Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. ³ Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. ~Romans 5

As December came, I was excited about Christmas, and all the fun things in store, but as child after child got sick, and then sick again, it was quite a trial.  Then, Tim's doctor schedules Tim's surgery to remove his spinal cord stimulator for the first week of January, and all I can think, is please, Lord, have everyone be well by then.  Then, it happens...our little Isabella is the first to break a bone in our family.  I have been a mother for almost 18 years, and no broken bones, until now.  And, not just any bone or any child...but the collar bone on our littlest princess.  I dealt with so much heartache and wishing I could take her place.  But, she has actually been such a brave little girl!  Hardly ever cries or complains of pain.  We have yet to see the orthopedic doctor that will tell us how to help her heal up, but we are looking forward to getting some help in that area, because our homemade bandana sling is not cutting it.  We have to keep putting her arm back in and reminding her to not move it.  Not an easy task for an active 18 month old girl.  She is going to have some fun stories about her very young life, isn't she?  Cyst on the brain, born in an ambulance, almost didn't make it after birth due to lack of oxygen, and now this.  I know that I will be able to look back and smile one day, but for now, I am praying that as Proverbs 31:25 says, I can cloth myself with strength and dignity and laugh at the days to come!

So, 2011...you don't scare me!  I am HOPE filled!  I have all I need!  Jesus inhabits my heart and His Grace is sufficient! 

Happy New Year to all of you!
XOXO,
Veronica