FAMILY OF 12- GROCERY HAUL 🍅🥑 NYC 🗽 COSTCO - TRADER JOE'S
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 12 июл 2023
- This is what it takes to feed our family of 12 for a week! (Plus a couple of days.) We go to Costco and Trader Joe's in this video. We bring 8 of our kids along with us: Elijah (17) Naomi (14) Noah (12) Anna (11) Chloe (9) Enoch (6) Melody (4) and Moses (age 1)
Here is this week's meal plan:
Monday: Tuna Sandwiches, Dinner: Beef Stroganoff & Salad
Tuesday: Pesto Pasta, Dinner: Lentil Soup and Baguette
Wednesday: Pinto Bean Tostadas, Dinner: Pizza & Salad
Thursday: Hummus & Veggie Pitas, Dinner: Summer Vegetable and Goat Cheese Frittata & Baguette
Friday: English Muffin Pizzas with fresh Mozzarella, Dinner: BBQ Chicken, peas and rainbow pasta
Saturday: Ham and Cheese Sandwiches, Juice, Goldfish and Watermelon
Dinner: Chicken Legs, WW Couscous, and Spaghetti Squash
Sunday: Banh Mi Rice Bowls Dinner: Nachos with meat beans and cheese
Meet the Family!:
Marc 46
Amber 43
Josiah 20
Pearl 19
Elijah 17
Naomi 14
Noah 12
Anna 11
Chloe 9
Enoch 6
Melody 4
Moses 1
I just started watching your channel about a month ago. I love how Marco is involved with the shopping, cooking and the kids. We need more Dads like him.
Aw thank you! I will tell him.❤️
Yes! Definitely a team, even the children help...
@@angelaame6148💯
I absolutely love how devoted your husband is to you and the kids. My dad was the same. He is so pure of heart!
🙏🙏❤️Yes so grateful!
Elijah is very supportive of everyone. beautiful video
❤️🙏
Moses is a beautiful baby; and I love how attentive and loving his siblings are to him. I saw a profile of your family on Nightline, so I decided to follow your channel. You and Mark are the parents of musical prodigies!
Love shopping 🛒🛒🛒 with you!
No waste & healthy cooking!
You you Amber & Mark & all your beautiful talented children!
God bless you!🙏🙏🙏🙏
Thank you!🙏❤️
When I saw your son sewing I was in awe. I love how the bigger kids help with Moses. I also have to say again, I love your shopping hauls. You did pretty good this week on the budget compared to last week.
🙏🙏❤️
All 6 of our children sew.4 girls,2 boys. At 16 they get a new sew machine. So excited to see him sewing.
Love how the kids help each other. Great food hauls!😃
It’s so nice that your family wants to eat healthy foods❤
Thanks for sharing your day with us!!😊
Love the channel! ❤
Hi from MN!
🙏🙏❤️
What a blessing to have your social media...I'm sure financially it helps
Marc is pretty brave holding those eggs over his head !
😅yes!
Good afternoon! ☀️ Always a joy seeing you guys all out shopping together and being a family. Have a great day!!
🙏🙏❤️
I love your grocery hauls and what you eat in a week videos. Your meals always look so good. So sorry about the break in. I wonder if the no-good-doers were hoping there were instruments in the van. Have a good weekend.
🙏❤️❤️
Another great 🛒🛍️🛒🛍️ shopping haul. Lot and lots of team work. Love how everyone helps 🎉❤.
Thank you!🙏🙏❤️
If you can pull a leaf out of the middle easily with pineapple it’s ripe
Ok,great tip for the pineapple::If you can take out one of the top leafs instantly or very easy it's ripe and ready to eat !!great haul once again!!! kisses from Greece ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Aw thank you! That’s good advice ❤️
Love this tip.. thanks for sharing
Was hoping someone would share that hack!!! Works most times for me. 😉🍍
If you need a ripe pineapple, wiggle the top leaves back and forth; they should move easily. That one looks a little green but they ripen fast. Also looking for a large yellow”sun spot” on the watermelon is a better test than thumping,( looks like he found a good one).
Beautiful family ❤
I enjoy grocery hauls! We don't have a trader Joe's near us. So it's fun to see what all you get from there!
Hi Family..love watching your Grocery trips. Thank you for sharing❤❤
Thank you!❤️
I hope your weekday shopping works out. It would be nice to have Sunday home after church, to enjoy each other. 😊
Yes! I’m hoping we can make it work out!
Happy Thursday! Your total at Costco was fantastic! We are always between $650 and $900 weekly for our crew, but we always have things left over, so we only go through some of the order. I'm editing our Costco haul currently and you always inspire me! I need to shop at Trader Joe's weekly because we love Trader Joe's! It's just such a drive but the savings is worth it! How are you feeling? I'm so excited for you and your family! Sending love from Wisconsin!
Aw thank you! We love your hauls too! I’m feeling pretty good thankful for that!❤️
Love all your videos, especially the grocery halls! If you freeze that beef for even an hour, just to get a little firm, it’s so much easier to cut into pieces! I just did it w/ beef yesterday and made broccoli beef so easy! Love to all ❤️🙏🏻
Wow thanks that’s a good idea!❤️
So sorry to hear your van was broken into ! Hope it’s not expensive to repair if any damage was done.
We almost got a word out of Noah!❤
I love your Vlogs! TIP: I use grocery baskets to carry in all my groceries from the car when I get home. If I forget to bring them already, I just grab them and load them up as we take items out. It takes many less trips. Although you have a lot more helpers than I do.
That’s a good idea!
Love your grocery hauls! That is terrible someone would break into your van!! You both were very calm about it…. which is good for the children, I would have been so mad!😂😂😂
Aw thank you! Yes unfortunately we are used to break ins from when we lived in San Francisco.
When picking a pineapple, pull a leaf from the center of the top if it comes out easily then it is ready. If you have to tug on it, it's not ready.
And your son knows how to sew too!!!! I’m very impressed Mom!!!❤
I can’t even believe that it is this crowded on a Tuesday for Costco. I don’t even think my local costco is this busy on the weekends
Yes!😅 so many people!
when the pineapple begins to dry out at the top, it is usually ready to eat. i let mine turn a little brown around the edges
That’s a crazy busy Costco!! 😮
Yes!😅
Omgoodness that’s horrible news that someone broke into your van while you were shopping. Thankfully you didn’t have anything in there that they could steal. I hope they didn’t cause too much damage.
Nice hauls as always!
Good afternoon love your groceries haul video thanks for sharing
🙏❤️
You can try cooking goulash ( pork shoulder or pork neck with veggies normally carrots, onions, peppers) and serve it with buckwheat and beetroot salad or sauerkraut salad. It’s delicious and economical and you can do it in advance.
Wow that sounds really good!
Hi de la Motte Family Amber hope you and baby are doing Ok! Already another grocery shopping haul. And this time the Whole family came this time. Kids can't wait to get there free samples and Enoch going for second's. It must be So yummy. As Always love seeing Anna and Chloe and my little angel sweet Melody. JOSIAH THE SEAMSTRESS. Tell Anna love her denim jacket and braid hair tails looking so Adorable. And Chloe in her pretty white dress and braided hair tails always looking so so sweet. Melody shopping for herself with her own basket getting her threats. Go get them girl! Mo is a blast as always! HI LITTLE GUY. Amber that's horrible somebody broke in to your vehicle. Omg Good think no one was sitting in the van at that time. HOPE you all have a awesome day. 🥰🤗❤❤❤❤❤❤🙏🙏🙏🙏
Aw thank you!🥰❤️🙏Yes we are doing well!
Oh Amber you have the patience of a saint doing a grocery run while pregnant when the shop is so busy. Mind you the children are so helpful and well behaved, it makes everything more bearable. I hope you’re keeping ok. I’m sorry the van was broken into, I guess there are people everywhere who do that sort of thing. Maybe they were looking for the expensive instruments and bows. It’s a good reminder to leave nothing in the van. Have a good weekend you guys! ❤
Thank you! Yes I’m so relieved that we didn’t have anything valuable in the van!❤️
How awful someone broke into your van. Glad you took your first load of groceries home. Stay safe.
I went to my Trader Joe’s today. I got my milk chocolate bars. 😀 However, I buy the little 3 pack . I would never trust myself with that huge pounder bar! I enjoyed going shopping with you guys! Looking forward to seeing what you make with the new purchases!
🙏🙏❤️
Enjoyed your Video, you mentioned a Vietnamese Rice Bowl , I have been doing a lot of Vietnamese cooking lately as I like the freshness and healthiness of the food, a new favourite in Bun Cha which is Pork Meatballs and veges ,I think your family wou l d like it and it is really simple to make 😊
Wow I’ll have to try that! It sounds yummy!
Yay yummy groceries and awesome video lots of hugs and love to you all sweet dearest friends The Happy Caravan ❤️😊
Thank you Sarah!🙏❤️
@TheHappyCaravan your welcome sweet dearest friends The Happy Caravan ❤️😊
I don't go to Costco, but I go to BJs, big box store and I have large reusable bags in the back of my SUV to put in the smaller items so I can make less trips back and forth into the house. Just a thought to help you reduce your trips back and forth when unloading groceries. I hope you are all doing well! 💕
That would be helpful!!!
@@TheHappyCaravan Love you guys!! 💕💐
Hi Mary, that’s a great idea for Amber. I already do that myself, leaving shopping bags 🛍️ on the back seat of my car. But I also have another shopping aid that may help the family. I keep a foldable metal shopping cart on wheels in my car. I have breathing issues, and the cart helps me get the groceries in the house a lot easier.
@@dianedmw50 That's a fantastic idea as well!!
I wish we had Trader Jones in Australia very reasonably priced and great selection, the Aussie Choc Biscuits you purchased I think are a copy of our famous Tim Tams Enjoy 😊👌
Yes! Those cookies are so good!❤️
We always just used geound beef for stroganoff, tasted great and definitely more cost effective than "nicer" cuts of beef.
Yes! I think I want to try that next!
I love how much love and effort your family puts into buying and preparing delicious and healthy meals... But you also allow the occasional yummy indulgence's that make childhood so special...❤❤❤❤❤ Your children will grow up to be productive, intelligent, well rounded adults... Knowing how to give and receive love in a healthy way... Such a beautiful thing to watch...
🙏🙏❤️
Have you ever considered getting a freezer for thr back deck to buy more In bull and also to learn to can stuff, which will also help your grocery budget
Maybe! The back deck is so small and hot in the summer but perhaps!
I am not really Asian food fan but T - born steak 🥩 fan
While I was growing up in Sri Lanka only foreign food we can go to Japanese restaurants.
Since I left from Sri Lanka I did eat whatever local folks eat .
Beef stroganoff is really good with ground beef too and definetly a cheaper option if you would ever like to try it that way.
Yes! I want to try that!
Dry summers are a west coast thing 😉
Haha yes! It’s so different here!
That's ashame,somebody broke into u guys van.Thank God,ya'll ddnt get hurt and that they wasn't able to take anything.❤
Yes! So grateful!
Might be worth it for ease and convenience having a larger family to consider a second fridge. This way you can stock up when you find something on special offer. 😉
I definitely would if we had the room!
Always love watching the grocery hauls! Did you and your family put the art on the van? It's really interesting.
I love Trader Joe's Focaccia bread ... it is really tasty ... tastes kind of like pizza.
Thank you!🙏❤️ Yes the art is by the kids. Marc designed how all of the art went together.
@@TheHappyCaravan That is so neat! You all did a wonderful job ... very unique! ❤
🙏🙏❤️
You guys should try the scallion pancakes with coconut aminos sauce! So delicious, pretty healthy
Wow that sounds yummy!
@@TheHappyCaravan you get both at Trader Joe’s
I was told to pick a pineapple , you pull out a leaf on the top and if it's easy to pull out its ripe , and if it is hard to pull out or doesn't it's not ripe !!
You can also hamburger for the stroganoff
I think I saw a package from RUclips…Woohoo! 🎉
Yes! It’s our 100k plaque the kids are so excited.❤️
Spaghetti squash
Cut in half put some salt and pepper and some on top and roast in oven for 45 min at 400
Very yummy
Can’t wait to try it!
If the things on the top of the pineapple pull out pretty easy without mush a pineapple should be good
Thanks for the advice! I’ll tell Naomi.
If you haven't tried it yet, spaghetti in the Instant Pot is the best! It scrapes out of the shell so easily. Also, Frugal Fit Mom has a simple crusty bread recipe that you should try. :o) I'm so sorry you had your van broken into. :o(
You can imagine the resentful look on the thief's face after entering 😂
It is recommended that you install a camera
less trouble
Good afternoon great haul. How u feeling today Amber❤
Thank you! I’m feeling pretty good thankfully!❤️
Banh mi rice bowls must be another take on the actual banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich). You all should try Vietnamese sandwiches, I'm sure there's a place in NYC! 🙂
Yes! I really want to!
Your family is very Best ❤❤❤ Kiss France montelimar 😊
🙏❤️🥰😘
❤❤❤
Great video, thank you for sharing. Random question - do you send your children to the hairdressers or do you cut their hair at home?
I switched to cutting all of our childrens (as well as their dads and my own) hair years ago and it saves so much money. Also - I could never find anywhere to cut their hair just as I like it, so I had to learn to do it myself. 😅
We usually have the boys go to the barber. I used to cut it myself but it didn’t look very good. I used to trim the girls’ hair too but I think I did a bad job. I think they need a trip to the salon too!😅❤️
I find boys hair the hardest, too! Luckily for me, my girls like the Rapunzel look, so they are low maintenance.
could you share how you make that capreese sandwich. sorry someone broke into your van. thanks for sharing
Yes! I need to do a lunch Vlog❤️
Do grocery list on computer and save it, Each week delete or add and then print>
Have u considered going to nj for groceries? Not far away-might save alot $.
I have but I think prices are pretty similar because we stayed in NJ a couple summers ago.
Costco I guessed $569, so close!😂 TJs I guessed $348.
Do you have a weekly or monthly budget for groceries?
We try to stay under $700 a week, otherwise we have a harder time paying for other things and we end up using credit cards and I hate doing that!
Try mushrooms for a meatless stroganoff ❤🍄 so yummy! 😊
That sounds good!
Amber, did you say in a video, some weeks back, that you guys would likely be moving? I know your church is looking for a new home. Maybe I misunderstood -- I was likely multitasking. 🙂 Cheers!
No, we’re not moving for now thankfully! Just the church❤️❤️❤️
I love making ginger tea 🧡
Tuna melts - love them
So sad that ppl have such bad motives… I pray they come to know Jesus…His love is boundless 🩵
🙏🙏❤️
Hubby is a serious shopper! He's so focused! 😂 Mo's so independent!
Broken into your van in broad daylight? 🤯 That's crazy! Smart you don't keep any valuables in it! I guess that's NY for ya! 🤦♀️
It'd be kind of fun to see how different the shopping trip would be if it was just Marc, Amber, and Mo in tow. The kids would likely be disappointed but the food bill would be lower. lol
@@rebeccaoliver7977 Funny you'd say that! I was thinking the same thing! But the kids like to go. It's a family outing!
Haha probably!❤️
Do you ever use, your local fruit stands? Might, save you money.
Yes! We go to the fruit stand by the Subway station! It’s great. The selection is a little limited but it’s great for the basics.
So sorry about your van being broken into😢
On average you spend about 750$ a week
Have you tried aldi or meijer or something to reduce the cost
Have you tried to check the sales and them from there try and prepare the meals
There aren’t sales around here unfortunately. We have a tiny Aldi next to Costco but I still want to check it out!
Amber jamerrill Stewart has a vlog on spaghetti squash love your family have you done an update on the baby your in our prayers ❤
Thank you!❤️❤️❤️🙏
Melody has changed a lot since this was recorded.
Perhaps you could add a donation box to the van so when the thief sees there is nothing to steal they can make a donation.
Haha yes!😅
the babies shoes were on the wrong feet 🤣🤣🤣
I didn’t notice that! That happens often around here.❤️
Do they have Sam’s in New York?
No unfortunately!
Your mini me the orange kinda dress I know it’s a diff colour but yes.. your twin ❤❤❤❤
Melodie
Daughter asked if you have a sister that was married to Brad Pit being you look alike. And your very pretty today.
Aw thank you!🙏❤️
How many squishamallow fans are there in your family? Just the girls? Or?
Just the girls I think 😅❤️🥰
🎉first !😂
Second!
why you put Special K Red Berries cereal back i don't see it anymore but somebody wanted Honey Nut Cheerios oh come on.
Melody was the cereal queen this week.😅
That’s so terrible someone broke in your van. I hope they didn’t damage anything trying to get in. I never leave anything of value in my car either. It just invites people in. So sad.
Yes, I’m so glad we didn’t have valuables in there!
Is Naomi studying at Juilliard?
Yes!
@@TheHappyCaravan in pre-division?
I’m so happy to hear that!!! ❤️❤️❤️
How do/did you afford all this week after week with Mark not working? Any tips would be appreciated in this economy.
He has a job thankfully! We were using savings from the sale of our house to make ends meet before and we were headed downhill fast. Marc’s job came at just the right time. I made a video about it. I do social media but some months are good, some are bad. So him having a stable job now is a huge blessing.
You have no idea what a blessing it is that you are transparent about everything. So many people wouldn't be. And then everything on social media just becomes a mirage. We have been in the same circumstance! And my husband also finally JUST got a job at the right time and starts Monday! It's weird because the world may look at everything and say 'so irresponsible' as though THEY can plan all things. Just never worry about looking crazy to the world, trust in God alone! That is the answer! He has the WHOLE WORLD in His hands! His wisdom and providence, His mighty hand is above all other financial experts, child experts of the world etc.
Over the past years we were able to save around 30k. Through our 6 years of marriage there were only one or two months total we were worried about money, we've been stashing money away and happily living frugally for these years. Although we were technically at or below the Poverty line this whole time. Anyway, I think I began to trust in my money. I was also pretty greedy- very little giving. But wow, did the Lord have a test for us... These past years my husband has been using his veterans benefits to get his STEM bachelor's degree. Honestly we truly believed he would get a job instantly! We were also told how high demand these fields were! BUT things had become SO difficult. The job market was not flourishing. Despite career fairs, participating in veteran job fairs, enrolling in additional certification classes etc the only job offers he received, which he received 3 of, required a government security clearance which can take anywhere between like 6 months and 3 years. And he was applying everywhere- We were willing to move anywhere! We had been waiting a total of 11 months as of now, for this government clearance!!! You have no idea how hard it was, month after month. We actually 'had"enough money throughout this time, we lived on savings and small additional income from his time in the military, but it was full of anxiety for me. I didn't know how long it would last, who knew when the security clearance would come through. We were both exhausted and burnt out from catering every resume perfectly to every job spending hours on it only to get an automated denial email each time. Plus with the kids- things were just getting really hard. Finally, on month 10 of waiting, we decided we had to move out of our apartment with the increasingly expensive rent. We were going to drive 1k miles away to stay with my brother. We put in the 30 day notice, and packed everything into a storage unit. With no idea where we would be moving next. No idea when we would be able to unpack those things again or where that would be. But we packed up our car with a few suitcases, the kids and even our parakeets, and we drove across the county. Unfortunately when we got to my brothers, we learned that the living conditions there were not sanitary for us to stay in. On day 2, my husband decided we needed to stay at hotels unless someone else offered who had a safe place for all of us to stay. It was hard breaking that news to my brother. We were edified at a homechurch Christian conference during that week amazingly enough, and we were refreshed. We visited family further north and continued staying in hotels night after night, and frugally having to go out to eat everyday because we didn't have a kitchen. We started this trip truly believing we would have enough 'until he started working'--- but over a month that money drained faster than we could have ever imagined. We thought we were in good shape. But Suddenly, we checked the account and noticed the credit card we normally pay off immediately after each purchase faithfully, had racked up such a balance that it would drain almost our entire savings and checking account to pay off. We were now in this position - a position we truly hadn't been in since we had gotten married 6 years ago- that we were on the verge of finally- actually- 'running out of money.' With no home to go to, no job and a feeling of no stability, I'm pretty sure I fell into an instant depression. I had already felt that way leading up to this- but this one was deep. I so wanted to look above and look to Christ. But things were also so busy with the kids too, their behavior that month had also gotten really uncontrollable, probably from the lack of structure, constant moving from hotel to hotel and sitting in the car for hours each day. I couldn't focus and was constantly interrupted, it was so hard to take the time to 'look up'. But out of my own wisdom I tried to take things into my own hands. My husband was adamant on this job starting 'soon' and didn't want to work anywhere apart from something in his field. So no fast food restaurants etc. So then I started to take things into my own hands and research jobs for myself. I was so sad. I thought it was God's will for me to be a mother and homeschool my kids. But it seemed to me that it wasn't. I felt like God had been punishing me. I had made a plan that night- husband I am going to need this much time to work on my resume and start applying to jobs etc. We were still in a hotel, and although we were surrounded by 'family'- no place to go (although we hadn't asked anyone if we could move in or anything. Also, the kids were terribly sick for an entire 6-7 days in that city). The next day, we packed up the car and checked out of the hotel to start our journey back down south. No idea where we were going or where we would end up. That very day. Yes, that very day! We stopped at Costco to get each of the kids a new pillow for the rest of the drive, and each a towel to cover up with too. We checked out and were getting waters from the vending machine when my husband told me the good news. He got an email that he has a firm start date for that new government job, only 3 weeks away!! I almost didn't believe him. How could God answer our prayers, when we felt we were in our lowest moment? How could God answer our prayers, at a moment of time when I had to drag my feet just to keep going? He is SO kind. And immediately after that- we went to a park to eat our food. When I parked, I looked at the ground. It was full of berries! I looked up, and it was a mulberry tree. I LOVE berry picking (everyone who knows me knows this lol) and I hadn't seen a mulberry tree for over 10 years, since I was a child. Nor harvest anything for free like that, to give perspective on the rarity of this. It was truly symbolic from the Lord Jesus, it was a gift from God. He was finally allowing the harvest. I soaked them in water for a few minutes to get the bugs off, and we enjoyed the harvest ❤️ there were so many times I went blueberry picking, honestly just wanting it to be a symbol from the Lord that this would FINALLY be the time my husband would start working at the job the Lord picked and wills him to be in. (3 years ago I had been praying fervently for another child although my husband disagreed on it, and I thought it was impossible, but I picked blueberries from a farm and the next day found out I was pregnant with this gift that is my son! To this day, blueberries are his #1 favorite food, he eats pounds at a sitting, no kidding) we can't always choose what the harvest will be, nor the harvest time, as much as we try or will to do, ourselves.
This season has been so trying for me. My young mom was also brutally murdered 6 months ago, and that added to all of this, to the point where sometimes I would feel on the verge of being unstable. The book of Job would best describe the season we have been in. But by the grace of God, He has carried us through ❤️ by the grace of God, after getting that job start date, a family from the homechurch down south said they would be out of town the whole month of July, and that we were welcome to stay at their house and house sit. Oh, the Lord is good. We didn't even have the money to stay in a hotel for 3 more weeks until his new job started. It's almost like it doesn't matter the dollar amount of how 'much' money you save- only that the Lord would be God of your finances. It was only when we were out of money, that this came through. We have just enough cash money to pay our deposit and first months rent for our new apartment (and thankfully that card payment isn't due until my husband gets his first paycheck!)
And that is where we are now- my daughters birthday tomorrow, my birthday the next day, and the day after that we are moving to our new city where we already have an apartment with a lease, my husband has everything situated and ready for his first day, and we can start searching to buy a home, finally. And my favorite thing right now- I can go back to homeschooling and homemaking, do not take that for granted. ❤️ God is a giver. He does awesome things. THAT is what Job learned, at the end.
Those Aussie style are called Tim Tams here and are much less healthy than those ones xxx
Does your husband work outside the home
Yes! But he gets to work from home two days a week. He can’t talk to us much while he’s working but it’s still nice to have him there.
Wow. They broke in in broad daylight with people around??
Yes! It’s pretty wild!
I posted this to someones reply - but i also wanted to share it here. Praising God with you, sister, that your husband has his new job and that you've trusted him through it all! Through a new pregnancy, too. That is inspiring to us ❤️
You have no idea what a blessing it is that you are transparent about everything. So many people wouldn't be. And then everything on social media just becomes a mirage. We have been in the same circumstance! And my husband also finally JUST got a job at the right time and starts Monday! It's weird because the world may look at everything and say 'so irresponsible' as though THEY can plan all things. Just never worry about looking crazy to the world, trust in God alone! That is the answer! He has the WHOLE WORLD in His hands! His wisdom and providence, His mighty hand is above all other financial experts, child experts of the world etc.
Over the past years we were able to save around 30k. Through our 6 years of marriage there were only one or two months total we were worried about money, we've been stashing money away and happily living frugally for these years. Although we were technically at or below the Poverty line this whole time. Anyway, I think I began to trust in my money. I was also pretty greedy- very little giving. But wow, did the Lord have a test for us... These past years my husband has been using his veterans benefits to get his STEM bachelor's degree. Honestly we truly believed he would get a job instantly! We were also told how high demand these fields were! BUT things had become SO difficult. The job market was not flourishing. Despite career fairs, participating in veteran job fairs, enrolling in additional certification classes etc the only job offers he received, which he received 3 of, required a government security clearance which can take anywhere between like 6 months and 3 years. And he was applying everywhere- We were willing to move anywhere! We had been waiting a total of 11 months as of now, for this government clearance!!! You have no idea how hard it was, month after month. We actually 'had"enough money throughout this time, we lived on savings and small additional income from his time in the military, but it was full of anxiety for me. I didn't know how long it would last, who knew when the security clearance would come through. We were both exhausted and burnt out from catering every resume perfectly to every job spending hours on it only to get an automated denial email each time. Plus with the kids- things were just getting really hard. Finally, on month 10 of waiting, we decided we had to move out of our apartment with the increasingly expensive rent. We were going to drive 1k miles away to stay with my brother. We put in the 30 day notice, and packed everything into a storage unit. With no idea where we would be moving next. No idea when we would be able to unpack those things again or where that would be. But we packed up our car with a few suitcases, the kids and even our parakeets, and we drove across the county. Unfortunately when we got to my brothers, we learned that the living conditions there were not sanitary for us to stay in. On day 2, my husband decided we needed to stay at hotels unless someone else offered who had a safe place for all of us to stay. It was hard breaking that news to my brother. We were edified at a homechurch Christian conference during that week amazingly enough, and we were refreshed. We visited family further north and continued staying in hotels night after night, and frugally having to go out to eat everyday because we didn't have a kitchen. We started this trip truly believing we would have enough 'until he started working'--- but over a month that money drained faster than we could have ever imagined. We thought we were in good shape. But Suddenly, we checked the account and noticed the credit card we normally pay off immediately after each purchase faithfully, had racked up such a balance that it would drain almost our entire savings and checking account to pay off. We were now in this position - a position we truly hadn't been in since we had gotten married 6 years ago- that we were on the verge of finally- actually- 'running out of money.' With no home to go to, no job and a feeling of no stability, I'm pretty sure I fell into an instant depression. I had already felt that way leading up to this- but this one was deep. I so wanted to look above and look to Christ. But things were also so busy with the kids too, their behavior that month had also gotten really uncontrollable, probably from the lack of structure, constant moving from hotel to hotel and sitting in the car for hours each day. I couldn't focus and was constantly interrupted, it was so hard to take the time to 'look up'. But out of my own wisdom I tried to take things into my own hands. My husband was adamant on this job starting 'soon' and didn't want to work anywhere apart from something in his field. So no fast food restaurants etc. So then I started to take things into my own hands and research jobs for myself. I was so sad. I thought it was God's will for me to be a mother and homeschool my kids. But it seemed to me that it wasn't. I felt like God had been punishing me. I had made a plan that night- husband I am going to need this much time to work on my resume and start applying to jobs etc. We were still in a hotel, and although we were surrounded by 'family'- no place to go (although we hadn't asked anyone if we could move in or anything. Also, the kids were terribly sick for an entire 6-7 days in that city). The next day, we packed up the car and checked out of the hotel to start our journey back down south. No idea where we were going or where we would end up. That very day. Yes, that very day! We stopped at Costco to get each of the kids a new pillow for the rest of the drive, and each a towel to cover up with too. We checked out and were getting waters from the vending machine when my husband told me the good news. He got an email that he has a firm start date for that new government job, only 3 weeks away!! I almost didn't believe him. How could God answer our prayers, when we felt we were in our lowest moment? How could God answer our prayers, at a moment of time when I had to drag my feet just to keep going? He is SO kind. And immediately after that- we went to a park to eat our food. When I parked, I looked at the ground. It was full of berries! I looked up, and it was a mulberry tree. I LOVE berry picking (everyone who knows me knows this lol) and I hadn't seen a mulberry tree for over 10 years, since I was a child. Nor harvest anything for free like that, to give perspective on the rarity of this. It was truly symbolic from the Lord Jesus, it was a gift from God. He was finally allowing the harvest. I soaked them in water for a few minutes to get the bugs off, and we enjoyed the harvest ❤️ there were so many times I went blueberry picking, honestly just wanting it to be a symbol from the Lord that this would FINALLY be the time my husband would start working at the job the Lord picked and wills him to be in. (3 years ago I had been praying fervently for another child although my husband disagreed on it, and I thought it was impossible, but I picked blueberries from a farm and the next day found out I was pregnant with this gift that is my son! To this day, blueberries are his #1 favorite food, he eats pounds at a sitting, no kidding) we can't always choose what the harvest will be, nor the harvest time, as much as we try or will to do, ourselves.
This season has been so trying for me. My young mom was also brutally murdered 6 months ago, and that added to all of this, to the point where sometimes I would feel on the verge of being unstable. The book of Job would best describe the season we have been in. But by the grace of God, He has carried us through ❤️ by the grace of God, after getting that job start date, a family from the homechurch down south said they would be out of town the whole month of July, and that we were welcome to stay at their house and house sit. Oh, the Lord is good. We didn't even have the money to stay in a hotel for 3 more weeks until his new job started. And that is where we are now- my daughters birthday tomorrow, my birthday the next day, and the day after that we are moving to our new city where we already have an apartment with a lease, my husband has everything situated and ready for his first day, and we can start searching to buy a home, finally. And my favorite thing right now- I can go back to homeschooling and homemaking, do not take that for granted. ❤️ God is a giver. He does awesome things. THAT is what Job learned, at the end.
Wow thank you for your encouraging story and testimony! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thats horrible someone broke into your van
this should be considered torture-
Why?
I am not really Asian food fan but T - born steak 🥩 fan
While I was growing up in Sri Lanka only foreign food we can go to Japanese restaurants.
Since I left from Sri Lanka I did eat whatever local folks eat .
I am not really Asian food fan but T - born steak 🥩 fan
While I was growing up in Sri Lanka only foreign food we can go to Japanese restaurants.
Since I left from Sri Lanka I did eat whatever local folks eat .
I am not really Asian food fan but T - born steak 🥩 fan
While I was growing up in Sri Lanka only foreign food we can go to Japanese restaurants.
Since I left from Sri Lanka I did eat whatever local folks eat .