“Many young families are now involved with food co-ops… An interesting twist on food co-ops is a cooking co-op.  An article I found, "How to Start a Cooking Co-op" described neighbors who got together to create a cooking co-op in their neighborhood.  This saved money for each household, because they cooked in quantity.  The result was a money saver, a time saver and each family was treated to a wide variety of great home cooked food.  This could easily be duplicated within a church.”* 

*From Quit Your Job! You Really Can Afford Stay at Home Parenthood  (full of unique money saving hacks) 

Books Available at: https://www.amazon.com/author/jeannegormick.com

“I used to stock up on cosmetics, shampoos, and over the counter medicines when they were on sale.  It is wise to try to set some extra money aside, so you can take advantage of bargain prices or great coupons to stock up for the future.  Be careful, however, not to purchase more medications than you can use before their expiration dates.”*  

*From Quit Your Job! You Really Can Afford Stay at Home Parenthood  (full of unique money saving hacks) 

Books Available at: https://www.amazon.com/author/jeannegormick.com

 “Plan ahead. Organize your menus to make your shopping list.  Stick to the list and keep a running total as you shop. Never shop when you are hungry. Leave impulse buyers at home (sometimes this is Dad!)  It’s great to pay with cash. Avoid junk food. Go to the back of products on grocery shelves to get the farthest out dates for the freshest items… 

Order groceries online to avoid impulse buying...shop the perimeter of the store to avoid costly processed foods…  

Today, try Googling Krazy Coupon Lady and other rebate apps.”* 

*From Quit Your Job! You Really Can Afford Stay at Home Parenthood  (full of unique money saving hacks) 

Books Available at: https://www.amazon.com/author/jeannegormick.com

“I planned my food menu around what was on sale and items for which I had coupons or other discounts.  Today coupons and other money saving tricks are also available on the Internet…

 “If you don't have the black thumb I was born with, a recent article suggests another idea...’While many gardeners today cite great taste and avoiding chemicals as reasons to grow their own food, there is another important reason:  It's cheaper.  Even with the toil and time spent, typically five or six hours a week after the garden is planted--gardeners say they are genuinely saving money when they grow it themselves.  Keeping costs down in the garden, resulting in cheaper food than can be bought at the grocery store, is not difficult, they say.’ In the long run, your family will be healthier and you'll all spend less time in the doctor's office.  Besides, a garden can be used as an opportunity to teach science lessons.”*

 *From Quit Your Job! You Really Can Afford Stay at Home Parenthood  (full of unique money saving hacks)

 Books Available at: https://www.amazon.com/author/jeannegormick.com

”Saving money on groceries, buying second hand furniture, recycling children's clothing and purchasing other things at garage sales can help you reduce expenses…”*

 *From Quit Your Job! You Really Can Afford Stay at Home Parenthood  (full of unique money saving hacks)

 Books Available at: https://www.amazon.com/author/jeannegormick.com

“…Find ways to save money... Start by living within your means, working with the money you do have. When you make your money go farther, you need less of it…Researcher, Bill Danko, doing a study on millionaires comes up with this advice:  ‘Live below your means.'  By setting aside 15% of after-tax income for savings, forgoing some luxuries and investing wisely, almost anyone can become a millionaire over the course of a working life…Learn to buy only what you absolutely need and wait for prices to come down on the other stuff!”* 

 *From Quit Your Job! You Really Can Afford Stay at Home Parenthood  (full of unique money saving hacks)

 Books Available at: https://www.amazon.com/author/jeannegormick.com

“Pride comes in many shapes and forms.  Have you ever thought about how much we sometimes pay for the privilege of pride?  Are you one of those people who would never, ever consider buying, or worse, wearing used clothing?...I don't expect you to dress in rags, but try this formula..."used" = "true value".  There are ways to get fantastic things at extremely reduced prices -- things you could never afford otherwise. 

Personally, I take pride in my ability to save money.  I don't think that's bad, especially if we give God the credit for finding the bargain for us.  I have a friend who prays every time she goes out to shop.  She prays that she'll find the right outfit at the right price.  Do you know?  She usually does!”*

*From Quit Your Job! You Really Can Afford Stay at Home Parenthood  (full of unique money saving hacks)

 Books Available at: https://www.amazon.com/author/jeannegormick.com

“Always work off of a budget.  Budgets serve as good guides to saving.  Research budget calculators online. They can be most helpful. Knowing where your dollar goes will make you a spending winner…”*

 *From Quit Your Job! You Really Can Afford Stay at Home Parenthood  (full of unique money saving hacks)

 Books Available at: https://www.amazon.com/author/jeannegormick.com

After I lost Cal (and later Kirk) I missed the hugs they both provided.

“…I miss having you to bounce stuff off of, helping me make decisions and giving me a big hug when I need it…”*

*From Your Treasured Marriage: A God-Centered Guidebook to Create Long-Lasting Love

“As the wife of an unbeliever, I always surrounded myself with Godly men: pastors, friends and a son to whom I could go with questions of submission.  If your husband doesn’t know the Lord, I recommend you find Godly men and women to provide the guidance and support you will need.”*

*From Your Treasured Marriage: A God-Centered Guidebook to Create Long-Lasting Love

Acknowledge the freedom you have to be yourself because he gets you and appreciates you. Then you can be “genuine” and “transparent” together.

“I gave him freedom to go out and do Karaoke by himself.”*

I was not a singer or even a music appreciator, so this made complete sense for us.

*From Your Treasured Marriage: A God-Centered Guidebook to Create Long-Lasting Love

“Looking back, I never would have dreamed that there could be fulfillment in a trip to the zoo, doing 10 loads of laundry, cooking, baking, cleaning, ironing, or chauffeuring children to their various activities.  I actually found joy in these activities and in trying to see how much money I could save by using coupons.  My flexible hours and homebased business location permitted me the time I needed to shop for sales.  I couldn't do that, while working on someone else's timetable.”*

 *From Your Treasured Marriage: A God-Centered Guidebook to Create Long-Lasting Love

“Finally, she recommended praying for ‘God to fill (me) with love for (him) so that (I) could genuinely love him regardless of (our) differences or his weaknesses.’ Praise God, these prayers were being answered, even as we entered the difficult years of growing old together with the changes that brought!”*

 *From Your Treasured Marriage: A God-Centered Guidebook to Create Long-Lasting Love

My advice is to be grateful everyday - not just on Thanksgiving. Be grateful for just being alive when things are tough and share positivity on other days. My prayers go out to you all.

“’Affirmation is more than a man’s desire-much more.  Acceptance and encouragement are Biblical requirements…(Romans 15:7) NIV…(1 Thessalonians 5:11) NIV…(Hebrews 3:13) NIV…(I needed) to learn how to love (Cal) as he was…(My) first step-the primary one-is to love, accept, and even honor (my) imperfect husband.’”*

 *From Your Treasured Marriage: A God-Centered Guidebook to Create Long-Lasting Love

6 Connection Exercises for Couples To Build Intimacy – Jordan Gray
https://www.jordangrayconsulting.com/6-connection-exercises-for-couples-to-build-intimacy/

Being fully intimate with your spouse is more than just being physically intimate. Explore emotional, intellectual, experiential and spiritual intimacy to create Your Treasured Marriage.

"Cal and I never really experienced spiritual intimacy by attending church regularly and reading the Bible or praying together. I longed for that in our marriage."*

*From Your Treasured Marriage: A God-Centered Guidebook to Create Long-Lasting Love

 “As I released hold of my life to God, Cal slowly began taking his rightful place as head.  Things got so much better.  It was all in my attitude, giving my self to God and lifting Cal up in prayer.  That created the transformation both of us needed.  God was toppling another god in my life…the god of control.  As God led me to release my gods, He brought me freedom.  These changes were setting us both free.  God’s desire for us is to have an abundant life, through Jesus.”*

 *From Your Treasured Marriage: A God-Centered Guidebook to Create Long-Lasting Love

Pray for him to set boundaries to get the rest he needs and that he eats healthy meals, when you can’t be there to make them for him.

“(Cal) acknowledged that I tried to keep him healthy;”*

*From Your Treasured Marriage: A God-Centered Guidebook to Create Long-Lasting Love

“Successful marriages are certainly based on frequent, effective, clear and open communication along with saying “I love you”. Assure your man that he is appreciated.  Make time for each other as a couple and have separate time for your own interests. Understanding to agree to disagree Build trust and learn to forgive. Words and advice to live by, but not always easy for us.”*

 *From Your Treasured Marriage: A God-Centered Guidebook to Create Long-Lasting Love

As you each change over the years, strive to continue to grow together. We all change.  Know it’s going to happen, but continue to believe in and live out your vows

 “There is never a guaranteed security that a marriage will last, whether the couple marries young or when they are more mature.  Our early expectations were of having fun…being best friends.  Of course, that was very simplistic and somewhat immature.  We learned quickly to decide we had to make a lifelong commitment to one another.”*

 *From my soon to be launched book, Your Treasured Marriage: A God-Centered Guidebook to Create Long-Lasting Love