Sunday, April 29, 2012

Tightening the reins at our Home on the Range

We've been hit hard with attorney fees and unexpected major home renovations in the past couple of years in order to accommodate our three littlest blessings. As a result, I have been learning to lean on God's provision in a whole new way. Looking for any avenue to cut expenses, a dear friend introduced me to MoneySavingMom.com and my quest to stretch a dollar became a little easier. I've even been able to convert a few friends and family members into couponers. Saving around 45% on groceries is such a great feeling, although I've never quite been able to do some of the "Crazy Things" I've heard about on the Extreme Couponing shows.  I've never seen the program personally, as we did away with everything except Netflix, but I am intrigued.  It seems some of them are also candidates for Hoarders, but NOTHING goes to waste here and I struggle to maintain an adequate "stockpile" because our family of 14 blows through grub with great gusto!  Hmmm, maybe that's why we never have enough toilet paper either.  lol.  Oh, dear, I'm going to have to go to time-out for potty-talk...
 
We are looking at ways to live a more sustainable lifestyle and dream of buying the 36 acres behind our house. The land has a few small ponds where the kids love to go fishing and we already have some fence built from when we leased it from the previous owner.  Our horse and two goats would have find a new home if we can't find a way to turn our dream into a reality.  I cannot articulate how badly I want to spare my children yet another painful loss.  I am clinging to hope and being as pro-active as possible to make this happen for our family!!!

Ideally, we would raise our own organic veggies in a large garden, plant fruit trees, and have a small family farm of sorts. Our children would not only eat healthy organic food, they would gain a greater appreciation for its source. Also, getting in touch with nature and working with animals is Therapeutic which would help them continue to heal AND give them valuable life skills.  We have even talked about participating in a local Farmer's Market.  Just think of all the young Entrepreneurs in training...

Hippotherapy in our own backyard...awww, a dream come true and truthfully, I could use it myself.  I have chronic lower back pain from being hit by a drunk driver a few years ago.  I was in the process of recovering from major back surgery when we were involved in the head-on collision.  An officer at the scene said it was the worse, non-fatality accident he had ever seen.  As completely grateful I am that we ALL survived, I honestly struggle with anger and depression at having to live with pain daily. Therapy using horses may be the answer to help me both physically and mentally.  After all, I MUST be "crazy" to have all of these kids. ;-P lol.


I have recently stumbled across a fund-raising site, www.indiegogo.com  Has anyone had any experience with them or sites like this?  Or, do you have any other suggestions to help us reach this very lofty goal?

13 comments:

Tobi Wright said...

Jamie, I remember visiting your home with my family. I think you had 9 children at the time :) What a sweet thing that you are loving 12 with God's love! I am praying for you and Jason. Thank you so much for letting me pray for you.

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