BE CONTENT IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES

     My devotion this morning was to be content in whatever the circumstances, from the book of Philippians. As I get older, I've found I am more content with my life than I was when I was younger. I have enjoyed my life, each stage has had it challenges and positives.
     God has truly blessed me. Even though being blessed I used to let myself worry quite a bit. So much so I would have panic attacks, and headaches.
     I know what you are thinking. It is easier to be content when you get older. Life is just slower and easier. That may be the case in some people's lives but for myself, the last few years have been challenging.
     A little more than three years ago I lost my job. I decided I didn't want to go to my next job and sit at the desk and think I wish I had done this or that. I started cleaning, organizing and working on the house. We owned a 3100 square foot house. It was nice and we loved it.
     I started cleaning and putting Quick Shine on the hardwood floors in the living room. I then started to move to the dining room. My husband said, "Don't you think we should wait until we strip the wallpaper off the walls and paint the room before you do the floors."

Such a beautiful shine!

     When Kev came home from work, he asked, "What are you doing?" I told him I was getting everything out of the room so I could work on the walls. We (mostly me, Kev was at work) stripped the wall paper, clean the wall and painted. The room looked great. After the floors were done we decided to make it our office and to add the dining room furniture in the large living room. We had talked about taking the wall out between the kitchen and the living room. So we decided to leave the dining room set up in the living room to see if we liked it.
      We decided to make the old dining room an office. The existing office was moved downstairs and we made two work areas. I needed room to work on the book I had started after losing my job.

Danette hard at work

     Next was the main floor guest room, hall, kitchen... You get the idea. Kev and the guy at the home improvement store got to know each other pretty well.
     All this time I was putting out my resume and praying for a job. I went on some interviews. The interviews seem to go well but no job offers. I took a part time afternoon receptionist position. I loved my job and I was praying and believing that my book would make up the rest of the finances we needed.
     We put our beautiful home up for sale. We found a smaller house closer to the church (Kev's the pastor), and my job. I am working with a team at church to develop the children's programs for Sunday morning and Wednesday night. God gave a full time job in December of 2015.

      We were and are still renovating the smaller home. We moved in January of 2017.
We also had the everyday things. Making sure the larger house was in order to be shown when I left for work in case the realtor called, laundry, dishes, etc. Forgot to mention that I made two 1841 costumes for our church's 175th anniversary. They won prizes at the State Fair which was a positive experience for sure.
   So, I wouldn't say my life is easier than when I was younger. I just think, I've learn to trust God more. I used to give my worries to God and then take them back again. Now I don't take them back so quickly. That's not to say I don't think about all the things facing us.
   I knew the house would sell in God's time. I was hoping God's time would have been much sooner but it wasn't. But it did sell and we love our new home. I believe I will finish my book and it will get published. I believe God will take care of our financial, mental, physical, and spiritual needs. I believe this because it didn't matter how much I worried in the past, God took care of us! Worrying didn't speed up the process. But it just took a lot of the joy out of the waiting time.
    Do I still wonder when and how? Oh yes, but I am content where I am. I choose to look at the positives in my life; my loving husband, my daughter and her husband, my family, my new job, the kids at church, my book, and the plans I have for my new home.

    So, if your life is crazy! If you are worried about what's next. Remember, BE CONTENT IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES! Let yourself enjoy today!

    My daddy told me when Arielle was young, "If I knew my favorite time of life was going to be when you kids were young and life was crazy. I would have let myself enjoy it more."

   That is my wish for you, That you will let yourself enjoy each stage of your life. Look for those positives and be content.

Have a Blessed Day,
Mama D

Philippians 4:11 (NIV)
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

CARNIVAL FANTASY - FIRST DAY AT SEA

FIRST DAY AT SEA: Woke up. I sleep my best on cruises. I don't know if it's the movement of the boat or that there's no schedule to keep, all the junk in my head goingon, having to switch the laundry, clean this, clean that, work, etc, etc. The stuff of life slows way down or goes away for just a few days.  Kev went to take pictures of the sunrise and make new friends. I like to sleep past 6:15 on vacation so I turned my alarms off and rolled over as Kev left the room.

HERE IT COMES

YOU CAN JUST SEE IT

ALMOST...

AND IT'S UP, LET'S START THE DAY!

He came back from his morning walk. I dressed and we went to breakfast. We love to sit at the back of the boat and watch the ocean especially when we're at sea because it's so peaceful. We've never eaten in the dining room at breakfast. We plan to try that, one morning on this cruise. 

After breakfast we found a seat. One with an umbrella. I brought a small black umbrella just in case. I didn't want to get overheated. Been there done that. I started making notes for my Blogs of this trip. Kev always brings books he wants to read. We are also people watchers. I love to see ladies outfits.

Could Rain be coming...not on vacation

Kev loves to read in the sun

Most of the day is spent watching the water, drinking iced tea and a nap here and there. Did I mention I love cruising.

Met Arielle and Jaron for lunch then back to my umbrella and ocean.

About 6:00 we got a piece of pizza then we made an ice cream cone. It's fun to watch people make their own cones. On a couple of our cruises we sat and graded the people making cones. You can tell those that worked at Dairy Queen, McDonalds or had an ice cream machine at college. There's are always beautiful. Everyone else's are can I say, "works of art". Once we saw a kid probably 10. He made a small cone walked off came back made another small cone and then again. Okay we had to ask, "Are all those for you?" He said, "Yes, I make one eat it while I walk around the ship and then come back." Pretty smart walk off what you're eating before getting another. We sat and ate ours. After all we were on vacation.

Time for a nap. Our dinner time is 8:15pm.

Nothing could be better...cool room, nap time and my favorite cartoon
LIFE IS GOOD!

I love to dress up for dinner. As a kid, I was a tomboy, but after I got my first pair of stilettos, that changed. I love to dress up. Kev, not so much but he will do it for me.

Dinner on a Cruise

Have a Blessed Day,
Mama D

Genesis 1:1-3 (NIRV)
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth didn't have any shape. And it was empty. Darkness was over the surface of the ocean. At that time, the ocean covered the earth. The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. God said, "Let there be light." And there was light.

"And God saw that the light was good"

CARNIVAL FANTASY: THE ADVENTURE BEGINS

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS

Charleston is a beautiful place. As a former architectural draftsman I love the homes and buildings. They are amazing. As we drove around we saw areas that reminded us of Richmond and New Orleans. The painted ladies reminded us of San Francisco. But Charleston I would say is a place to see, for itself even if you haven't been to Richmond, New Orleans or San Francisco.  Because Charleston has spanish moss. Its like taking areas from other places and kicking them up a notch. I love spanish moss. Charleston was where we met our ship, now it will have to be a vacation of its own one day!

And so the next phase of our adventure began, we drove around the town and found the Cruise Terminal. Drove around some more and found the best way from the hotel. We planned to leave the car at the terminal for the week. If you know someone that lives near the terminal or you are coming from the airport there's a separate line for you and your luggage to be dropped off.

The next morning we saw signs that read "Cruise Traffic" that weren't there the day before. We had our cruise papers ready, well after Jaron jumped out and got our backpack out of the back of the truck. Best laid plans sometimes have a few glitches.

There's the ship! Look close.

Like I've told my husband for years, vacation starts when work ends. He used to think vacation started when we got to our destination. That made for a stressful day of packing and travel. Now that it's all part of vacation it allows us to roll with the punches. (This took years of saying, "We're on vacation. It's okay!")

So when we realized the papers when in the back - we all laughed. Jaron jumped out and got the back pack and we were back on course.

As we were going along the path created with orange cones, one lady was all business, no smile, no chit chat, just here's your information. That's okay, she wasn't ugly. She was doing her job, and she kept the line moving.

The four of us were discussing if we were in the correct line to leave our truck. Kev asked the next person which made sure we were in the correct line. The truck was going to be parked in a huge building for the week. Now that was reassuring. Not that we were going to leave anything valuable in the truck but it was still reassuring.

Another person told us where to drop off our luggage before getting to the building. We dropped our luggage off at a tent. Kev and Jaron got out to unload the luggage. If you read my"Vacation Packing Checklist" Blog you know we had TRAVEL BAGS and CRUISE BAGS". This is where the guys had organized the back of the truck and knew where the CRUISE BAGS were. You may have heard, "Too many cooks in the kitchen ..." Well, in my opinion, too many people packing and unpacking a vehicle can cause much stress. Maybe in your family the wife likes to do the packing and unpacking of the vehicle "That's Okay". In my family, we let the men do it.

When we got to the building there was a person to show us where to park. We got out, took our carryon bags and papers then proceeded to the terminal. We talked to people along the way. (Because That is the Moen way! "There are no strangers, only friends we haven't met yet!" That took this shy girl from the county years to learn.)

Some groups had matching T-shirts. I loved the Bridal party that had black shirts with rhinestone words that read "Bride's Entourage". Arielle is not fond of matching T-Shirts, but I love them.

It was amazing how fast the line went.

CRUISE TIP: When two couples are traveling together - when you get to the end of the line in the terminal and the person asks, "How many in your party?"  tell him two. Unless of course, you live at the same address. This will get you out at about the same time.

The person at the checkin took our papers, looked to see if we checked that we had a runny nose, scratchy throat in the last few days. Our daughter marked yes. Ragweed had bloomed and her allergies had gone crazy. The lady behind the desk walked away. When she came back she said allergies don't count. She took our pictures for our Sail and Sign cards then sent us on our way.

After leaving the checkin we were directed to the gangway. We walked up and around., we passed a few people that had stopped for a minute. And then, There it was CARNIVAL FANTASY! I love a cruise!

 We put our  "Sail and Sign" card into the machine. We took off our hats and sunglasses. The crew member checked to make sure we matched the picture on the card and we were on. Next step put our carryon through an X-ray machine. Our water was checked very closely. We learned later that water bottles may not be allowed much longer - the tea drinker that I am never thought about putting something stronger in my water bottles. That's okay, I can take or buy a cup w/ a lid to put water in to carry with me.

We were cleared! Now we were free to explore the ship. Lunch was ready on the Lido deck. But first we wanted to see if our rooms were ready.

One of my first jobs was working at Fort Caswell Baptist Assembly, in North Carolina. I cleaned the  Driftwood Hotel, and worked in the kitchen and the Drift Inn store. Knowing just a few hours ago this ship was full of other guests amazes me how quickly they can roll over the ship.

Because we were told our room would be ready by 1:30 and it was close to that, we went to check on our rooms. They were ready and we put our carryon luggage down and proceeded to the Lido Deck.

We ate our lunch. I may have been on vacation but I decided not to blow the eating plan completely. I made a salad and had chicken. Most of the potions on the ship were small. So to get a dessert on the Lido Deck is not like an eighth of a cake it a small square, there's jello squares, tiny cupcakes, etc. There small but you can have whatever you want. And of course, ice cream all the time.

We sat on the outside deck. A man several tables down started to feed the sea gulls. Arielle said loud enough for him to hear her. PLEASE DON'T! WE ARE TRYING TO EAT AND IF YOU FEED THAT ONE IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE 50 SHOW UP! He was kind enough to stop.

He looks so sweet but.....Please don't feed the seagulls!

After we finished lunch we took our plates in. You can leave them on the table, a crewman will clean it up shortly but that wouldn't' have been fair to those coming out after us. Seagulls are not a problem once out to sea, just at the ports. If you don't want to clean off your table, lay the cloth napkin over the leftovers. This may not stop them but it will delay the inevitable.

Next was the Emergency Evacuation Meeting at our  muster station. The "Sail and Sign" cards had our location on them. This is mandatory. It is also reassuring to those like me that love the water but can't swim well. Its good to know they have a plan. Several people showed how the life vests worked. Then we went to where our life boat was. Soon a horn blew and we were on our way.

Lastly, one of our favorite things is going to the front and watching the ship leave the port. For someone that's not a great swimmer, I do LOVE a Cruise!

This was from a cruise where we had a balcony.

Have a Blessed Day,
Mama D

Hebrews 4:10 (NIRV)
God rested from His work. Those who enjoy God's rest also rest from their work.

Vacation Packing Checklist

THE WEEK BEFORE VACATION

The week before vacation: start pulling clothes from the closet and the clothes basket. This can be a chair or an open suitcase. 

I like to make a list of each day. I've looked at the lists on Pinterest. They are a good starting point. I give each day a label, this helps me make my plan:

                     - Travel Day

                     - Sightseeing Day

                     - Pool/ or Beach Day

I don't know about you but my husband says several times before the trip, "I don't want to overpack this trip".

This is understandable because he is the one to carry, wheel, pack the car, unpack the car, wheel the suitcases into the hotel, airport, etc. So I try very hard to not overpack.

Pre Trip NIGHT: Thursday; Daughter's house (After work and stopping by church) - Sleep Clothes

DAY 1: Friday; TRAVEL DAY - Clothes to ride in   {Tooth brush, tooth paste, vitamins, make up, make up remover, deodorant, small bottle of polish remover, clear polish, SUNSCREEN, head bands, hair clamps, hat, whatever you use to put your hair up in the sun or wind, etc. THESE ARE FOR EACH DAY}

NIGHT 1: Friday night; HOTEL - Take in TRAVEL BAG - Sleep clothes (Clothes for hotels before and after cruise)

folding and stacking clothes to use from suitcase

DAY 2: Saturday, TRAVEL DAY - Clothes for the Cruise Port and the 1st day on the ship

Leave the travel bag in the vehicle and take the VACATION BAGS - Clothes for the cruise

NIGHT 2: Saturday; Dinner clothes for the Dining Room (Dressy)

DAY 3: Sunday: ALL DAY AT SEA - Bathing Suit, Cover up, Skort and Blouse, undies

NIGHT 3: Sunday: Dinner on the Cruise Ship (Dress Up Night) Back long dress, heels, jewelry   

using pants hanger for 5 outfits

attaching store hangers to one another

DAY 4: Skort and Blouse, undies, bathing suit
NIGHT 4: Monday: Dinner on the Cruise Ship (I like to dress up, no jeans) It is my opinion, if you don't want to dress up maybe eat somewhere besides the Dining room. Let's face it, it's getting harder and harder to go out to eat a nice dinner like on a date without someone sitting next to you in jeans. I know you have the right to wear jeans but why make everything in life that's affordable casual. Why can't some things that are affordable stay special. Not everyone can afford to go to $100.00 dinners. End of my rant.

DAY 5: EXCURSION DAY: Skort and tank top., undies, ( You may have noticed I don't wear shorts very often. I've noticed on me one side rides up and that makes me self conscience.) 

        We don't always take excursions but Kev found one in a glass bottom submarine. The brochure said approximately 2 hours. 

NIGHT 5: Dinner on the Cruise Ship- Cotton long dress, sandles, jewelry 

DAY 6: DAY AT PORT: Skort and TankTop SUNSCREEN!, Bathing suit and cover up, on the ship after going to shore for alittle shopping.

NIGHT 6: Dinner on Cruise Ship- Cotton long dress, jewelry 

DAY 7: DAY AT SEA: Bathing suit and cover up, Skort and blouse, undies, if raining or no sun

NIGHT 7: Dinner on the Cruise Ship, long cotton dress ( can wear one from another night)

           Pack up suit cases to put in the hall for pick up. Save clothes to wear tomorrow to get off the ship and travel. 

           Last time we caught a plane home so we chose to have our suitcases taken from the ship to the airport. We filled out the necessary form. We sat our suitcases outside our room and the next time we saw them was at the Richmond airport. That was cool!

DAY 8: TRAVEL DAY- Skort and Tank Top, undies - Pack up toiletries and anything  else that wasn't put in the bags last night. (we ended up buying a cheap beach bag to carry on shore and to carry souvenirs to car.)

NIGHT 8: HOTEL - Bathing suit, clothes for dinner, slacks and a pink blouse and pink and white long sleeve blouse, Sleep clothes, jewelry  

DAY 9: HOTEL - Reuse Skort with clean red, white and blue plaid blouse, bathing suit

NIGHT 9: Grey pants, teal blouse, sleep clothes

DAY 10: TRAVEL DAY: Skort and tank top, undies

HOME SWEET HOME: As good as Vacation is it's always good to get home!  

A FEW LAST MINUTE TIPS:

         1.) During your trip, if you will empty one suitcase into the drawers, use that suitcase for dirty clothes. This way when you get home that suitcase goes to the laundry room. I use most all my clothes at least once so the ones that don't stink or have a stain on them stay in the clean pile until I get home. 

         2) When we go to the beach for a few days or a week we will stay in a house with a washing machine. I take the laundry sheets or pods and wash them before I leave.

        

THE RICHMOND YOUTH SYMPHONY

Recently, my husband and I, along with several friends attended the Richmond Youth Symphony. One of the violin players is a member of our church. He and his family have been friends of ours for several years.

This young man was actually the Concert Master (the one that helped the others get in tune). I didn't know what that was until that night.

I truly enjoyed the music. It was soothing and comforting.

I have always been a nervous person. I didn't know that everyone didn't feel their heart beating or pounding all the time until several years ago. Little things made me nervous, like forgetting a book at home. I would have a panic attack until I got to class. Then I was terrified to tell the teacher. I was a good student but the teacher saying we were going to have a pop quiz put a knot in my stomach, even if I knew all the answers.

Once in college my professor gave us a few minutes to go over our notes with a partner. There was an odd number of students so the professor asked me questions from my notes. I got them all right. He passed out the test. It looked a lot like my notes. I got the test and just went blank. I only got a few right. He said,"Danette, you answered them all just a minute ago." I told him, "tests just do that to me."

As I got older and had a kid I realized that music with a lot of bass also made me nervous. I could get in the car in a great mood and get out 10 minutes later in a very fowl mood. It could sometimes take me the rest of the day and some of the next to get myself together.

The music at the symphony was wonderful. I wish I had known how calming it could be when I was young. It reminded me of King David  before he was king. When he was growing up he played a harp. A small hand held one from  pictures I've seen. He played to the sheep and later to King Saul.

King Saul "had an evil spirit" come upon him. Someone suggested they get a person to come play soothing music to him to calm the spirit.

Almost everyone likes music. I'm a preacher's wife and I love Southern Gospel, praise music and other Christian music. Christmas music has always been my favorite. It drives me crazy when radio announcers  play Christmas music for a month and start complaining. I have to listen to what they like 11 months out of the year! My favorite artist is Dolly Parton.

But now I will start to listen to instrumental music more. I really enjoyed it. It was calming and exciting at the same time.

Have a Blessed Day,
Mama D

1 Samuel 16:18 NAS  Then one of the young men answered,"Behold I have see a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, a mighty man of valor, a warrior, one prudent in speech and a handsome man; and the Lord is with him."

THE TRIUMPHANT ENTRY

Now that life is slowing down from the Easter season, I thought I would take time to share some of the God moments that I noticed.

The Triumphant Entry was portrayed by the children of Concord Baptist Church on Palm Sunday. The room was full of people waving palm leaves. The children came in the front door and waited for the right time to take their places. There were a couple of young boys that seemed to me to get very nervous. One told me when we were in the fellowship hall getting ready that he didn't think he wanted to do it. I told him that I would let him wear a costume and when we take our places he could stand beside his grandma. When Jesus passed he could join in and go on stage with his brother or sit quietly next to his grandma. I would be happy with whatever he decided to do. He decided after standing next to his grandma that he could do it. He joined the procession behind Jesus and went to the stage. (A God moment) The other child was younger. I noticed as we were standing behind the congregation that he was standing in the middle of taller children and beginning to get nervous. When I got to him he wanted his mom. I picked him up and he calmed down. (A God moment) I think it can be very stressful to be in the middle of a crowd and everyone is taller than you. I told him I would walk with him down the isle after everyone else and if he still wanted to go to his mom he could go to her then. After a few minutes the children took their places along both sides of the isle.

They waved their palm leaves as Jesus rode the donkey past them. The children laid the palms on the floor before Jesus. As Jesus passed they fell in the line behind him and followed him to the front of the church. 

The children lined up on the platform. Jesus got off the donkey (his dad) and joined the others then they sang. They did just as they were asked. They didn't play or fidget, they sang with their hands down by their sides. (A God moment) I was so proud! During all the practices some wanted to sway, put their hands in the air like me and count with their fingers the times we repeated a phrase, or just look around. Basically be children.

As they began to sing their voices filled the sanctuary with the sweetest sound, singing Alleluia to the Prince of Peace. The finale was three of our teenage girls singing a song while the others sat on the front pew.

Palm Sunday "The Triumphant Entry"

A little background information that I saw as a God thing. You may believe in coincidences. For instance, the little boy playing Jesus at Easter, was a donkey at Christmas. His mom transformed a brown knit hat into donkey ears. She said she couldn't find a child's size in brown so she bought an adult one. Fast forward to our children's Easter Play. We needed a person to play the donkey. Of course, I had plenty of volunteers from other children. I wanted someone a little older and bigger. 

His dad is in charge of our audio visual ministry at Concord Baptist Church so I didn't ask him. Later he came to me and said he would do it. When we were talking about his costume, I was told about a foam head that had been used several years ago. I found the head and took it upstairs. I was concerned because the head was made for an adult. It was almost as big as the child playing Jesus. 

The boy's mom entered the room as I was looking at the head.  I told her, I like the head but I think it will get laughs because it's almost as big as her son. I don't want laughs as Jesus is entering. Unless it's because the children are just too cute.  She said she would take care of her husband's costume. After all she already had the ears because the ones that her son wore at Christmas could fit her husband. 

That is were I said, "I shouldn't be surprised. God knew then that we would need them to fit an adult now! (A God moment) GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!" 

The children and our donkey did a Great Job! I am so proud of them! I am proud and thankful for the lady playing the piano and teaching us the songs. And the parents that helped with the practices. I am also proud of the ladies that helped me with the costumes!

At Cinderella's Closet, (a ministry of our church that provides gowns for girls that need them for Prom) I mentioned I needed more bible costumes for the Triumphant Entry. The lady that works with the gowns and the girls to make sure each gown fits perfectly volunteered to make some. Two other young ladies volunteered to make some. I had asked for fabric from the Wednesday night bible study group and some had been brought the to me the Saturday of Cinderella's Closet. Perfect timing. (A God moment)

While we were working on the gowns someone mentioned several gowns had been thrown away because of stains, holes or just out of date. I went to the trash can and pulled out those gowns and then several other dresses were brought to us. Gowns are made with alot of fabric. Some of our children wore tunics and head wraps made from the gowns. A couple of costumes were made from pillow cases. The ladies cut a head hole and two arm holes from the closed end of a pillow case. Amazing! From Cinderella's Closet to the Triumphant Entry! GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME! 

It took alot of time, talent and volunteers to make this 10 minute children's production. You may ask if it was worth it. I believe so. God can use us all. Besides many parents and church members telling me how much they enjoyed seeing the children. The children were able to learn to step outside their comfort zones and use their talents and abilities. And then there's always the things God does that we didn't expect.

The next day our Minister of Music told me he knew who was going to play the donkey. He knew he was the dad of the child playing Jesus. He said what he didn't know is the impact watching the father carry the son through the waving palms and to the front of the church toward him would make on him. (A God moment)

We thought we were teaching children about Jesus coming into Jerusalem. And helping the church celebrate the beginning of Holy Week. 

God used a simple children's play to remind us Jesus is His Son! And he loved Him like our father loves his son! And God loves us so much that He gave His son for us!

WOW!

Have a Blessed Day,

Mama D

John 3:16

For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son that Whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Giving an Allowance

When I was growing up we were expected to help around the house AND at the family business. It was considered family responsibility. Once I remember someone in the family asking about an allowance because someone at school mentioned they got an allowance. Mom said, "Did you eat today? Did you have clean clothes to wear? There's your allowance." End of conversation! Wasn't said, or meant to be ugly. That was reality...

The first time I remember hearing someone talk about getting an allowance my younger sister and I were working at a summer camp. We roomed together. One night we heard a couple of girls in the next room complaining because they only got $50.00 a month (1970s) for allowance. My sister and I just looked at one another, and mouthed $50.00. WOW!

Later in the conversation the girls talked about how they had to buy all their clothes, shoes and things with the allowance.

My parents took care of those things. The three of us girls older girls and cousins were about the same age and size. We shared clothes. And the clothes mom made for us she made sure to make them in different styles because there was a good chance my younger sister would be wearing all three. (My younger sister worried if the clothes she really liked would make it past me. I was a tom boy.)

Some families can't... or decide not to give an allowance... and that's okay. Parents need to discuss their thoughts on giving an allowance without the children around. Whatever the parents agree on goes. There should be no "Well, dad (or mom) doesn't think you should get an allowance."

I think an allowance is a privilege not a requirement. If you are not teaching the child how to handle that money like tithe and savings along with the spending, then why are you giving an allowance in the first place?

My opinion, if you are just giving money without any planned training, you are setting your child up for a harder time when they are older. No one will just hand them money when they are on their own. They are going to have to work for it.


Have a Blessed Day,
Mama D

Hebrews 12:7 (NIRV)
Put up with hard times. God uses them to train you. He is treating you as children. What children are not trained by their parents?