Our Christmas Plan - 4 gift rule!

"Christmas seems to have lost it's luster as there's no more waiting until Christmas for that special gift.  Everyone just goes to get what they want, when they want it."

~Salli~

We have found this to be true so much over the past several years.  Everyone has so much "stuff," and Christmas gift purchases seems to be even more difficult.  The amount spent on Christmas gift purchases seem to have doubled, at least.  Honestly, how much is too much?!  Families have grown, the young people are growing, and insane amount of stuff everyone has is growing too.  So, this year, our family is making some changes.  We are one of the many families, that just have too much already.  Our kids have more than enough toys and we also have more than enough stuff!  

We are going to a four gift Christmas(not including the few Santa leaves).  Since we have held Santa to bare minimums all along, the majority of gifts the kids have always gotten come from us and family.  Our four gift Christmas is not only sensible but also serves to remind us the true reason for the season.  

Our Four Gift Christmas:

Gift Column #1 - A gift that is Wanted.  Maybe a special toy, special book, or game.

Gift Column #2 - A gift that is Needed.  This is important for teaching the difference between wanting and needing!  For us, this will be something like clothes, shoes, outdoor wear, etc.

Gift Column #3 - A gift that you Wear.  This will also include clothes, socks, etc.

Gift Column #4 - A gift that you Read.  Since we teach our kids that reading is an important part of life, this is a gift that the kids will treasure in their personal libraries.

We also stick to a very strict budget.  We do not spend more than $100 per person(includes Santa).  As we do tend to buy things throughout the year, there is no reason to break the bank once a year for something that the kids will play with/use for a few months and be tired of.  

We have spent a lot of time talking about how to handle the out of control wants that have come from television ads, and seeing what others have.  We are sincerely trying to teach our kids the value of true friends, the value of money, and not keeping up with everyone else.  Our kids don't go without, actually they have everything they need and most of what they want.  However, there are certain toys I've put a halt to due to their lack of decency and video games are kept to a bare minimum!  We prefer high quality as opposed to high quantity.  

The past few years we have spent a lot of time focusing on helping others who are less fortunate.  We have done some volunteering at our food pantry, we have donated food, gloves, hats, scarves, and purchased toys/clothes from the angel tree in our town.  We have what we need, and it's important to me that our kids learn how amazing it feels to help others that don't.  

We received a special gift when we moved to our farm last December.  A neighbor, came to our house to drop off a "neighbor gift."  I hadn't seen this done since I was kid, and I honestly didn't know anyone was still this selfless to do.  The neighbors husband and son, went out delivering their neighbor gifts to each of our local neighbors.  It was a plate filled with a variety of cookies.  Something so simple, yet made from the heart, meant so much to me.  We have 12 local neighbors within about a 10 mile radius of us.  This year, it is my goal to do something similar for our neighbors.  I can't tell you the profound effect this had on me.  It was my real reminder of what it means, not only to be a good neighbor, but also what the season is truly about.  Yes, I believe that we are to celebrate the birth of Jesus, but also to be good to mankind.  To bring a little light to others.

Our family, on both sides, have grown tremendously over the past several years.  We have spent a lot of money to purchase gifts for most of them.  However, we won't be doing that this year.  This year, it is our goal to make a special gift, that will be made with love for each of them.  We try not to ask for much, as we already have so much.  Many times, we'd just ask that those wanting to give to us, just use it for themselves or make a donation to help someone else.  

I know we are just now to October but Christmas shopping begins earlier and earlier every year.  I hope that our families will follow in our thoughts and save themselves some debt this year.  Christmas for us, is most importantly spent with those we love.  The best gifts we could get would be to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with our loved ones.

~Salli~

From Hayfield to Booming Homestead

"From Hayfield to Booming Homestead." ~J. Bowen

My oldest wrote this on one of his craft and writing assignments last week.  It really couldn't be more accurate.  One year ago, this weekend to be exact, we entered into a stage of unrest for our family.  We had waited over a year to purchase a home with 18 acres of land.  A year ago, we found out it was going to be at least another 3-4 months.  We had already given our landlord, at the time, notice that we would be moved out by August...that drug out until almost November of last year.  He had already re-rented the place and was needing us out.  We decided that we couldn't wait another 3-4 months (after already waiting 1 1/2 years) for the place to open up.  So, we walked away completely distraught, and not having any idea what we were going to do.  We spent a few days talking, contemplating our next move and trying to figure out the best move for our family.  We knew what we wanted for our family and our future, but at that point, we didn't have any idea how we were going to get there.  

So, as we spent our few days talking, we agreed that we wanted something that we could pass on to our kids, have someplace that we could raise livestock and have the horses that we loved, and have room to grow.  It was about 5 days later that my hubby and I started talking about his family's farm land.  We had 2 different areas to consider, and they both had pros and cons.  For someone who grew up in town, and had only lived outside of city limits...never on a farm, either one was going to be an adjustment for me.  

September 25th, we got the blessing of a lifetime.  We talked to his family, agreed on ground and prices and began another new adventure.  September 29th, we went in search of a house trailer, manufactured or modular home, that we could get in as quickly as possible.  After looking at 7 different styles and sizes, we found one that fit our needs and budget.  After that, we got busy with the mortgage, and preparing the hayfield to have a home on it.  This land didn't have any utilities, and was a wide open space.  We broke ground for leveling on October 2nd.  Within a week, we had the leveling done, the lagoon dug, the electricity in, the plumbing in, and the septic in.  We scheduled the water meter to be put in, framed the slab, added the rebar, and poured the concrete.  We finished our mortgage papers, got the materials for framing in the under side of our manufactured home, and scheduled the delivery of our new home.  Our home was brought in on October 24th.  By the 25th, we were cleaning it, and getting our rented house finished packed and getting our moving crew organized.  On October 29th, we moved everything out of our rented house into our new home.  It took a little bit longer to get our heat on, but by the 1st of November, we were living in our new home.  We even had Thanksgiving here, in our home.  We know that for everything to go as smoothly as it did, that our homestead was meant to be.  

Since then, we have fenced 3/4's of the property, added chickens, cows, horses, and pigs.  We also added 3 gardens accounting for almost an acre, added a horse barn, chicken house, and storage unit.  We are no where near being adjusted or organized, but we are on our way!  We have accomplished a lot in a years time.  My husband and I have worked very hard to accomplish what we have.  We've spent money to get projects done and not leave them undone.  We still have a lot to do, and hopefully our second year on the homestead goes even smoother.  

It's hard to believe what can be accomplished in a year, but it's also a matter of how bad you want something as to what you are willing to do to get it done.  We have done almost all the work ourselves, and had some help from family, so we didn't have to hire in a bunch of work and wait on their schedules, but we worked hard.  

I wish each of you, your own stories of determination and reaching your goals.  

~S~