“8-6-7-5-3-0-9…”

That’s what both our boys told people our home number was for oh, only about SIX MONTHS! They heard their 80′s parents sing the “Jenny” song once and it stuck, stronger than any super glue ever made! Can you stand it?!?! Which is more shocking…that Dave and I are singing a song from 1982 in (then) 2008 OR that our kids had no idea their home phone number!?!

In all seriousness, THANK GOD, they were never lost from us and needed to tell someone their actual home number!

With a prayer and the help of the Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star diddy, they both now know their home digits. Phew!

Jake needs to learn our home address for school (and how about for his all around safety too!).  Cal is an eager beaver to learn whatever Jake is, because he’s a big man stuffed into a little boy’s body!  I tormented myself HOW can I do this in a fun, non-drill-sergeant way?

And then I remembered a trick my fun, red-headed sis, Charlie, did while my nephews learned their multiplication tables. (Don’t dare tell her how smart she is, because this baby of four HATES it when her three older sisters are right. Maybe, because it’s happens a lot more than not!)

Use dry erase (not permanent!) markers on the boys bathroom mirror! Two times a day we go over their teeth with a brush and their home address in a snap.  It’s actually been fun for all of us! (Which is not always the case with homework here at the Fink home!)

Currently, we have two very important nuggets on their mirror, our home address and Proverbs 17:17, “A friend loves at all times”.  As we’re navigating through relationally and geographic struggles and both are vitally important for their safety and survival!

You can’t really see the letters well here but HOLY COW what is that filmy streak on their mirror? That’s it, I fired the maid because I can’t accept this substandard cleaning.  Know what she said? That she quit almost seven years ago! Wink

What’s a good nugget you can share about teaching your kiddos the good stuff?

How are those budgets looking?  It may seem more stressful at first, but in the long run, you’ll stress-less!

This week’s short but sweet fiscal fig is devoted to a simple principle: keep yourself surrounded by support in order to keep encouraged in your fiscal health.  If your body was dehydrated, you’d drink water.  If your finances look dehydrated, get saturated from great water sources that suit your needs.

There are undoubtedly endless resources in the realm of finances.  Some are sound, some aren’t.  I consider “sound” meaning
Biblically-based.  In these weekly blogs, I often refer to Crown Financial Ministries.  Crown is having their Semi-Annual Clearance Sale, check into some of their resources to encourage yourself, dig deeper, learn more and be more!

The sale ends on 3/8/2009, so be sure to check it out before then!  http://www.crown.org/cart/clearance.aspx?aid=SCCCN

I woke this morning sandwiched between two slices of whole grain snuggle bugs!  One had a bad dream and the other, well, that story is not so clear.  Bed invasion doesn’t happen that often so the big “W” on that one! I delight in snuggles (not ALL the time cause I need my space and physical touch is NOT my primary love language!)

As I came downstairs to hydrate, caffienate and dive into my private time, I thanked God for the simple pleasures in life that make all the difference in my day to day living.

Snuggles, hot coffee and down slippers (clearanced from Bed Bath and Beyond – only 1,999 coupons left to my collection now!) – good stuff!

With our COSTCO rebate, I purchased a new friend, so dear and special, I had to name her…cause all my friends have names.  May I proudly introduce, the newest addition to our family…”Java the Hut”! (And yes, Dave is resisting this name…Wink

It’s a Keurig, Premium Coffee System. With the press of one button, I have a hot cup of java, in less than 30 seconds – talk about delighting in the desires of my heart! I don’t prepare it, I just drink it – WOO-HOO!

And it came with boxes of choices…oh do I love choices!

I love coffee but hate making it. Since I’m cheap (or “thrifty”!), I hate spending money on someone else making it!  Now, with the push of a button, I can have a Kona that’s hold-the-phone-a good, or Nantucket blend that is a new friend, but the Newman’s Bold tastes like GOLD!

After I greeted Java the Hut, I went to my private time chair to greet God.  As I read, I looked at my feet and started to crack up.  Wonder why I thought Java the Hut was a good name…

cause my feet are surrounded by Jabba the Hut! I laughed at how two simple pleasures  were related and yet so not related!

One session of free snuggles plus two  procurements, strategically timed to fit the family budget, equals a whole bunch of joy! All three fill me up with a warm-my-heart kind of joy!

Snuggles, hot coffee and warm (not cold, nor sweaty) feet – the simple small pleasures that make all the difference!

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.  Psalm 37:4 (New International Version)

What are some of the your joyful simple pleasures you delight in today?