Thinking of Others or Only Ourselves?

You hardly see this mentioned anywhere but we are actually in a housing crisis.  Homes were too inflated for the lower-to-middle class consumer to purchase and rent was too high as well.  All that is coming down as home prices nationwide are falling dramatically.  In NYC alone, it is a buyer's market with people snatching up properties for $20K less than the asking price.  In my area, people started realizing the home prices were going down the past 2 months and are listing like crazy but there are hardly any buyers.  Rents are still very high and inflated and we will see if those come down.

I'm not here to talk about the housing crisis in that regard, I'm here to talk about how we got here.  It is more profitable for a builder to build a large, 2-story home on a lot than a small ranch home that is affordable for the buyer.  That, I believe is a huge problem as we are forced to either buy a home that is too big for what we really need, or we buy an older, smaller, more affordable home that drowns us in repairs.  We need more affordable, smaller homes being built for families!  There isn't a builder that I know that is willing to reduce his profit to do such a thing.

I've envisioned communities with 1000-1200sq ft ranch homes that are $80K, making it affordable for most families.  There just isn't anything like that being built anymore.  It isn't entirely the builder's greed that is the cause, it is American's greed as well, as they seek to live in homes that are much larger than they actually need.  I'm reminded of the scripture in Luke 12 of the man who was doing so good, he thought he would build bigger barns.  Why not, right?  You've earned it, you should have better, right?  That man lost sight of helping others and instead focused on his own luxuries and security.

I suppose you can do whatever you want and live the life you've earned (hopefully by moral means), but I feel that God doesn't just bless us with finances for us to have more.  I believe God hopes we will think of someone other than ourselves!  Again, novel thought I know.  

You can either ensure your own luxury in this world, or you can be the tool of the hand of God to help others in need.  Sometimes God may draw us out of our own financial security to help another - are we willing to obey Him or is our financial security really our God?  It is time to become dependent upon God and not independent on our own.

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Garage Clean-Up

The garage seems like it is the place to put everything we don't want in the house.  I now understand why people have so much stuff in their garage, it makes a great storage area!  I had tons of stuff that we no longer needed that I wanted to get rid of or sell that was too good to just throw in the trash but I hadn't took the time to go through all of it and it just kind of piled up.  I finally took about 4 hours yesterday and went through most of it.  I have bins full of things now to sell on eBay or give away.

I had a 30-gallon storage bin for the outside toys but it wasn't working, so I replaced it with a 40-gallon bin:

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Out With the Old...

In with the new!  We bought our first home 2 years ago and it is now 14, almost 15 years old.  It seems like it is the time for things to need replacing.  On one hand it was upsetting that the kitchen faucet was leaking and the hose had rips, but on the other hand, I'm glad it did because I love my new faucet LOL!! 😀

Here is our white faucet before, which we found out upon trying to remove that it was severely corroded and installed incorrectly:

This is the new one, which was very easy to install and is way better because I no longer have to reach to get the water stream, it is in the middle of the sink now:

Next thing that went bad was our master bathroom faucet and after finding we couldn't fix it, we replaced it.  The new one has a cool LED light that is really fun to use in the dark - seriously, I never knew faucets would be so exciting.  I don't like chrome, so I opted for the nickel-plated.

 

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Helping the (True) Needy

Why are we supporting legislation to help women with child care costs when they should be raising their own children at home?  We should only be helping women who are single or have husbands that can't work - you know, the ones who actually need it?  How about being content with your husband's wages and raising your children, like everyone else does that makes it on one income?  Put aside greed, your selfish desires, your "success" and follow after God's design for women - being a mother!  Novel thought I know.

Save the food stamps, housing, child care costs, etc. for those who NEED it - the disabled and single.  Quit stealing the working man and his family's money!!

That goes for school too - why do we support a socialism-based schooling system where everyone has to pay for it?  Pay for your own!  Leave the funded-school for those that NEED it.

If you keep milking the system and stealing from others - you will keep saying the same ole' rhetoric that you can't make it on one income.  I've got a newsflash for you - God's way works and He blesses you for obedience!!


*Unfortunately the medical world and insurance companies have made it almost impossible for ANYBODY but a millionaire to afford the medical costs today.  What needs to happen is the costs to go down and bring back affordable premiums and costs.  Until then, we have Christian-sharing ministries to help afford the costs if your employer doesn't provide a low-cost plan.

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Today 2 Years Ago..

We entered the Promised Land.. 😂

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Preaching, Horses & My 1st Song!

My husband got assurance of his call to preach.  He just had to be in the right place, and here we are in the right place, and he is preaching again.  It is amazing how God moves and if you just follow Him, you WILL find that place!  He preached for 5 years off and on from 2001-2006 but never could remember a place where God called him, he had just been told he was called.  I'm glad that he was careful in seeking it out and only doing it when and where God wanted him to and now is the time!

My daughter has put flying planes aside for a while and started horse riding lessons.  I can say that I actually preferred the flying over the horses LOL!  I'm not an animal person, except for cats and I don't even have those anymore because I can't take the hair and smell.  I sure can't stand horses and the smell of the barns.  I'm glad that we can give her a chance to explore all of these interests and she's having the time of her life while doing so!  She is currently in 9th grade in high school and turns 15 next week.

My son is turning 6 next month and he is a very precise little fellow.  He likes things to be done at certain times, routines and he is gifted as I've mentioned before.  He loves to help me cook and be by my side when I work.  He is so tall!  He made up and played his own song on the piano and amazed us all recently.  Every week I'm amazed at something else he does.

I'm doing well and have come a long way.  I just recorded my first song in a studio!  It is going to be a bluegrass gospel album but the first song is contemporary gospel.  It was at the urging of a friend that I did it and I was scared but I did it and will be releasing the song on iTunes and Amazon and my website soon.  The song was written about me, as the person that wrote it said God gave them the song about me.  It was moving to read it earlier this year but even more moving to sing it!  I cherish it because it is a comfort and I believe it will also help many others and that is my prayer!

Ohio is still beautiful and wonderful - it is fall now and the leaves are just beginning to change colors because we have been in the 90's up until the past week.  Life here is blessed.  We've come a long way and its the Lord that's brought us!!

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How to Evaluate Health Insurance Plans

As a homemaker you manage your home, and I believe this includes the budgeting and researching for what is needed, such as health insurance.  I wanted to help by showing you how I evaluate which plan overall would not only save the most, but in my opinion, be well worth the "risk."

Let's take 4 plans offered by a large employer.  You have the highest plan known as the PPO generally, which has the highest premium but lowest deductible and offers copays along with coinsurance.  Next, is the step-down plan, which costs a bit less in premiums but the deductible is higher.  Then, there is usually a third plan that is the lowest premium but highest deductible.  However, since Obamacare, a lot of employers have started offering high-deductible plans, which is the 4th one I'm going to share.  This plan has a very low premium but a very high deductible.

1. PPO Plan - $9,300/yr premium, $775/month; $2,000 deductible with copays ($30 doctor visit, etc.) and 20% coinsurance.  Yearly family maximum is $12,500.
2. Plan #2 - $6,200/yr premium, $517/month; $4,000 deductible with 20% coinsurance.  Yearly family maximum is $7,000.
3. Plan #3 - $4600/yr premium, $383/month; $6,000 deductible with 30% coinsurance.  Yearly maximum is $9,000
4. HDD Plan - $3,000/yr premium, $250/month; $10,000 deductible with 40% coinsurance.  Yearly family maximum is $12,500.

Let's consider a medical emergency happens of $10,000 total for the year for this family.  Here is what they will pay with each plan.  I include the premiums in the total cost but that is exactly HOW you should calculate your costs - what is it really costing you all year?

1. PPO Plan: $9,300 premium + $3,600 ($2,000 deductible + $1,600 (20% of $8,000)) = $12,900
2. Plan #2:  $6,200 premium + $6,200 ($4,000 deductible + $1,200 (20% of $6,000)) = $11,400
3. Plan #3: $4,600 premium + $7,200 ($6,000 deductible + $1,200 (30% of 4,000)) = $11,800
4. HDD Plan: $3,000 premium + $10K ($10,000 deductible +$0 (Nothing covered))    = $13,000

You can see the cheapest plan for a $10K emergency is Plan #2.  But we aren't done evaluating yet!  Most employers will give you money for medical bills in your HSA and it varies depending upon what plan you go with.  The HDD plan gets the MOST money from your employer of any other plan as you will see here:

1. PPO Plan: $12,900 yearly cost - NO employer HSA donation = $12,900
2. Plan #2: $11,400 yearly cost - $400 Employer HSA donation = $11,000
3. Plan #3: $11,800 yearly cost - $600 Employer HSA donation = $11,200
4. HDD Plan: $13,000 yearly cost - $1,000 Employer HSA donation = $12,000

Those are your true numbers to compare!  If you expect a $10,000 emergency, then go with the cheapest (Plan #2), however if you don't know what you will spend or if you will spend any at all, go with the HDD Plan as it is by far worth the risk.  It won't cost too much more than the other plans in the event of $10,000 medical emergency and it will save you thousands of dollars if you don't end up having any medical costs because you are paying a low premium!!


Here is another comparison - take the yearly premium plus the family maximum for each to see worst-case scenarios:

1. PPO Plan - $9,300 premium + $12,500 maximum = $21,800
2. Plan #2 - $6,200 premium + $7,000 maximum - $400 HSA donation = $12,800
3. Plan #3 - $4,600 premium + $9,000 maximum - $600 HSA donation = $13,000
4. HDD Plan - $3,000 premium + $12,500 maximum - $1,000 HSA donation = $14,500

Clearly, the PPO plan is a joke and takes most of your money, yet it is the most commonly chosen plan - go figure!  Plan #2, is your best worst-case scenario plan if you know surgery or something is coming up.


I hope that helped you all understand how health insurance works.  I've found that a lot of homemakers don't even research this or leave it up to their husbands, who have a struggle to even find time to research things like this!  Help him out and do it and save your family money and make sure you are with the right plan for your situation.

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Day of Reckoning

Many women are feeling the courage to come forward about their molestation, rapes, sexual assault/abuses today.  Twitter is filled with women naming who did what to them for the first time in their lives, as they have been silent for so long.  There may be those that lie, but I believe most are telling the truth, as I know many in my generation were molested, it was common in our day.  You know the late 70's/early 80's when moms worked and children were left to themselves!?  Yep, the latchkey kids.

It isn't limited to workplaces, we can see with the Catholic church that men in authority even in "God's" House are wicked.  And it isn't just the Catholics!!  The Jehovah Witnesses have covered up sexual abuse of children and have finally been sentenced to pay $35 million dollars to survivors!

There are men that think they are God, who play God and think they are above the law - or better yet, they are the law!  I'm so glad that God is pulling the covers off, the Day of Reckoning has arrived.

I'm rejoicing that the hurting are finding the courage to come forward and stare fear right in the face!  I've always been an advocate for sexually abused women and children and so is God!!  I think the world needs to understand what sexual abuse of any kind does to a woman or child permanently!

Thank God He cares and is setting the captives free in a way by enabling them to finally break the silence!

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More Thoughts on Kavanaugh's Accusers

I shared my thoughts about Kavanaugh's first accuser in another post, and there have been 2 more come forward since then.  The second accuser claims that Kavanaugh indecently exposed himself to her while she was drunkenly inebriated lying on the floor, if I have my "facts" straight.  The third accuser, which doesn't remember if Kavanaugh did anything personally to her, rather tells of these drunken gang rape parties that Kavanaugh attended.

So.. The most recent lady is the most sickening in my mind.  Here is a lady, who for over 35 years, has been silent after witnessing what she said in a sworn statement, was some of the most violent, sexual abusive acts against many women over a long period of time.  She didn't seem to care for these girls... until now?  Oh and she was 18 and they were minors.  Oh and she KEPT ATTENDING these drunken gang rape parties over and over despite knowing what happened at them.  Either she liked it or she is insane.

However, how can anyone prove these ladies are lying?  How can anyone prove Kavanaugh is guilty?  I say we investigate this and bring out ALL the men and ALL the women that were at any of these parties - should be a couple hundred on both sides.  Let's investigate them for either being complicit in witnessing sexual crimes against women or doing the crimes.  Sounds fair right?

I wouldn't call these women liars because you are making yourself a false witness, how do you know they are lying?  I also wouldn't call Kavanaugh guilty for the same reason.  NOBODY, besides the accused/accusers, can make these judgements and yet they are!!

This is the kind of world we live in, where victims are afraid to come forward and men get away with horrible crimes OR false witnesses come forward and lie about being a victim and men are punished for horrible crimes they didn't commit.

You can't say we should do away with witnesses to prove something happened because for all time we have depended upon witnesses - think about the Bible and the resurrection of Christ - witnesses!  It is about true and false witnesses and nothing more.  God knows the truth.

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Our Busy Week Meal Plan

We have developed, what I call, a busy week meal plan.  This is a 7-day menu plan for those weeks when I know it is going to busy or those weeks I just don't want to do much in the way of cooking!  Everyone likes this menu and it is cheap as well and very low prep/cooking times.

Monday - Tacos

Tuesday - Pinto Beans & Rice in Instant Pot

Wednesday - Hamburgers & Fries

Thursday - Creamy Chicken & Noodles

Friday - Pizza

Saturday & Sunday - Mac n' Cheese w/ Hot dog chunks

The tacos are made from organic, grass-fed beef and on flour tortillas with all the toppings.  Beans and rice is so easy in my Instant Pot and we add in toppings.  Hamburgers are frozen from Aldi with frozen fries.  The creamy chicken and noodle is my son's favorite and SOOOO easy and it can feed all of us with just 1 pound chicken breast!  Friday is either frozen pizza or homemade pizza.  I cook a 5-quart dish full of homemade mac n' cheese with hot dog chunks in it on Saturday and we have enough leftovers for Sunday's meal.  No cooking on Sunday!

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My Thoughts on Kavanaugh's Accuser

I saw that Glenn Beck had a new book entitled, Addicted to Outrage, and how timely is that!?  I'm a Republican and a Trump supporter, if you can call it that.  I support that he is doing more than any other President that I know of and that he is doing it well.  I, of course, don't support his immorality of the past and he sure wasn't elected based on being a moral man - but, he was elected based upon a lot of people believe he was man enough to get the job done!  Not many of those around today!

Now we have a lady who said she was sexually assaulted by the Supreme Court nominee, Kavanaugh.  What I don't agree with coming from most Republicans is:

1. She must be lying because of the timing
2. She must be lying because of the years not reporting it
3. She must be lying because she doesn't remember all the details or times
4. She must be lying because she is a Democrat
5. She must be lying because she is anti-Trump
6. She must be lying because Kavanaugh is such a good man and no one else has ever said anything bad about him

All of these can not prove she is lying!  Yet, most Republicans have decided she is indeed a liar, a false accuser, a witch if you will, before even looking into it.  I don't agree with that.  I also think she needs to be thrown in jail if it is found out that she is indeed lying.

Here are some facts:

1. Just because Kavanaugh has the majority saying he is moral does not prove his innocence
2. Most victims keep silent to their graves, as that is part of the trauma 
3. If Kavanaugh is indeed guilty, he should NOT be one of the 9 most powerful judges of the nation
4. If she is lying, she should be put in jail

Don't let politics decide your opinions, think for yourself and consider both sides!  If Kavanaugh came forward today and admitted guilt, there would be a lot of people forced to eat their words and what a shame that would be that they would have treated and re-victimized a woman in such a way.  Let's not become like the other "side" - remember Clinton?  Republicans were mad how the Democrats treated his accusers - we can't become like them, we should be different when it is on our side of the party.  No wonder so many true victims are scared to ever come forward - look at how they are treated.  God cares for women and children and what we have seen the past 2 years have shown justice is coming forth - Me Too, Catholic priests, etc. - it isn't over yet, there is still more to come. 

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Schools Just Need More Money Right!?

How timely to have seen this documentary trailer on a day when the news came out that 14 of our large metro area's schools FAILED based upon Ohio state's report card grading system.  Let me guess, they need more MONEY!?  $$  How amazing that I can homeschool my child with $500 a year (versus the $13K the school gets per child) and produce a student that scores the highest percentile on standardized testing.  And I don't even have a teacher's degree...  Among many other moms producing the same results.  Don't fall for the failing educational system that isn't built upon God.  Don't stand for yet another teacher strike as they bully their demands and hold your child's education hostage.  Take responsibility and train up your children yourself!




You can visit this link to support this documentary: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/garritthampton/schoolhouse-rocked-the-homeschool-revolution

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Take Care of Your 4 Walls

If you have listened to Dave Ramsey for any amount of time, you have heard about the 4 walls.  He recommends you take care of your 4 walls before anything else - always making sure you have your 4 walls!  What are the 4 walls?

1. Food 
2. Shelter
3. Transportation
4. Clothing

I had always put food and clothing on the back burner in place of other things because those were usually the areas that we could save in.  However, after listening to people's stories and those who didn't tend to these things FIRST, I have changed my thoughts on it.  I wanted to go into detail about each to help you all in case you haven't heard of this before.


1.  Food - this includes enough food for your entire family to live on each month.  I believe it also includes things like toilet paper, soap, etc.  The basics - not extras or luxuries.

2.  Shelter - this includes your housing and utilities.   If you have a mortgage, it also includes your property taxes and homeowner's insurance.  If you don't own a home, it includes rent and renter's insurance.  Then, it also includes electric/gas, water/sewer and garbage and non-luxury phone.

3.  Transportation - This is includes gas, car insurance and maintenance of your vehicle.

4.  Clothing - includes basic clothing needs, such as: clothing, shoes, socks, etc.


Dave Ramsey says to make sure you the 4 walls are funded and paid BEFORE paying anything else, such as credit cards or other debts or non-basic expenses.  Whether you or your husband do the budget, it is a good thing for homekeepers to know these things!

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Just Making It Budget for Family of 4

Times are getting hard for a lot of "former" middle class families, now considered lower class, despite the economy going so well.  I've been reading it and hearing it in various places.  I'm talking about families that are living on one income already without luxuries.  Incomes aren't going up for a lot, though the prices of everything is, especially health care.

I decided to do a no-frills, no government assistance, just-make-it budget for a typical family of 4 on one income to see just what the base salary needs to be.  This family has no debt but the mortgage possibly.  They also have no life insurance, though some say you can get it for $10 a month, which could be easily added in.  

Tithe - $260
Offerings - $50
Housing (rent or mortgage/prop taxes/HO insurance) - $1000
Car Maintenance/Repair Fund - $90
Car Insurance - $50
Gasoline - $150
Home phone - FREE (Google Voice with Obihai)
Cell phone - $25 (Google Project Fi)
Additional Cell phone line - $15
Electric/Gas - $175
Water/Sewer - $30
Garbage - $30
Internet - $50
Food - $350
Necessity items - $50
Clothing - $30

Total:  $2,355/mo - Higher to cover taxes, so $15 an hour needed; $31,200/yr, $2,600/mo

A good wage for a family really needs to be at $15 an hour and no less to just live.  I didn't include health insurance because a lot are already going without.  Families that live at this level, would need to get government assistance for medical if they want to be covered, as it has become too outrageous for almost anyone to afford.

This budget includes no entertainment/fun money, eating out or other things that most of us do.  I suppose you could find a very cheap place to live to lower the housing and provide extra money that way but the norm around the US is about $1K for something decent - whether that is mortgage/taxes/insurance for a home or rent costs.

After seeing this written out, you can see what a lot of people are facing right now.  There are those that will cut out the tithe/offering but they will soon find out that you can't rob God and expect good things to come!  God has never failed in the 19 years I've paid tithe and offerings and never withheld!  It is HIS money to begin with - he lets you have 90%, please don't think your thoughts are higher than what God has established with our finances.


*Leave me a comment sharing your budget or thoughts.  I've hopefully fixed the comments, but I have no idea because some still say theirs doesn't show up.  If you really want to reach me, email me!  ChristianHomekeeper (at) gmail

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New Life - New Everything!

The new hasn't stopped since we stepped out on faith and followed God's leading for our lives.  As soon as we physically stepped foot on the ground here in this area, we felt the Holy Spirit and a strong feeling inside both of us that we had finally arrived in the place we were meant to be.  It was the oddest thing ever but we sure know we are in God's Will!!  I'm still happy, I still love it here - best place I've ever lived before and the whole family is happy here.  We got a new (first) house, a new (first brand new) car.. a new church, new friends - well you get the idea.

It isn't just all that as we are finding out.  We have even had new adventures from traveling to kayaking and being outdoors more!  I really do feel alive again and healthy.  Our daughter has been flying an airplane, our son is a genius (no really, he is) and taught himself piano, multiplication and the list goes on and on.  People at church quiz him all the time about math equations and he is constantly calculating things - a blessing and a curse I suppose.

After having been stagnant for so long and stuck in what wasn't God's Will for us - it is an amazing feeling when you finally, just really have faith and trust GOD.  There is no better place on this earth than the place that God wants you to be - HE knows what you are put on this earth for!  HE knows WHERE you should be better than anyone, amen!?

If we could have gone back in time and just listened to God, we would have been better off.  We would have went to Nashville when we were 22 but oh well - we will never know what might have been and we got a whole lot of experience and lessons in the process.  Suffering has made me a better person!!  I can relate to SO many different people now, I've been there!

I've stepped into some of the roughest parts of town where my color wasn't welcome and witnessed to people at the Lord's leading.  I've watched God touch people and show me what true love really is.  I've seen a church operating with the gifts and freedom of the Spirit allowed to move!  I've seen miracles in person, seen others and even myself healed on the spot while being anointed and watched the youth get in and seek God and receive and be on fire!  I've watched my daughter come alive and stand up many times testifying about what God has done in her and our lives.  I saw my son healed of his speech delay after our first pastor here prayed on him.  Whew... you all, it doesn't stop there!!

I said all that to say this - JUST GO!!  RUN!!  If you are God's child, you WILL hear His Voice!!  It is time to start listening and obeying HIM - go to that city you know He has called you to!  You won't be sorry.

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