The Orange Rhino's "Yell Less, Love More" Book Review and Giveaway

Hi! It's Jilly...and I'm a yeller. *Gulp* I hate to even say that, but it's true. I come from a long line of yellers. My parents were yellers (Sorry, Mom). Their parents were yellers. I don't know about their parents, but I have a good guess.

When I was younger I swore I would never yell at my kids. I hated it and didn't want that for my kids. Yet, here I am...nine years into the parenting gig and what do I do? Yell.

And, just like their mother before them, my kids hate it. They say I'm mean. They ask me why I am yelling at them. They yell back. That is NOT the spirit I want in my home. I want our home to be a place filled with peace, love, and joy. A refuge from the storms of life, not a stormy, non-peaceful place itself.

Peace Out

Hi! It's Jilly. I feel like I've been going crazy lately! I don't know what the deal is. I feel insane. I'm just not...peaceful. Like, there's all this turmoil inside of me and there's just no peace. I'll have a little shred of peace here and there, but as a whole...nope. Nopey nope.

I've started meeting some friends to run early in the morning three days a week. (Getting up early is huge for me, 'cause I am a major night owl.) It's been so nice to breathe in the fresh morning air and get some exercise. I'll even start to feel a little peace. BUT, then I have to get a text from one of the kids. "Mom, what can I eat for breakfast?" "Can I play the Wii?" "My hands hurt. Where is the lotion?" ARGH! I just want to scream! It's, like, can I *please* just have two seconds that I'm not being bombarded with requests?! Can I enjoy my little slice of peace without having to *stop* running and answer asinine questions that I've already answered a billion times?! One daugher has even asked if she can come with me in the mornings. I don't want to be mean, but in my head I'm, like, "HECK to the NO! I want to go BY MYSELF without having to worry about kids!!"

That's just one little example. I feel like there are soooo many things standing in my way, like I'm over here, and Peace is over there, and there's this huge wall up in between us.

The Wall is made up of lots of different things:

The Story of My Triplet Pregnancy: Part 2

Hi! It's Jilly. Last week I left you hanging while telling the story of my triplet pregnancy. So, today I'm going to continue the story!

I was between 26 and 28 weeks, and I had started contracting a lot harder and more frequently. My doctor came in to check on me and found that I was 100% effaced and dilated to a 3. He said the babies would be coming "today or tomorrow". It was a Sunday morning, so my husband rushed to church and talked with our Bishop. The Bishop asked what he could do to help. He decided to start a ward fast during sacrament meeting. (A ward is a congregation. A ward fast is when you ask the whole congregation to fast and pray on behalf of someone.) We also had people fasting and praying in my parent's ward, my husband's parent's ward, our old single's ward, and my great aunt's ward. (A single's ward is a congregation just for single people 18-30 years old. They are usually near colleges, so those members can have more of their specific needs met during that time in their lives. Hubby and I met in our single's ward.)

Happy Birth-Day: The Story of My Triplet Pregnancy

Hi! It's Jilly. My babies turned NINE yesterday!! People ask me all the time what it was like to be pregnant with triplets, was the pregnancy hard, etc. I figured today was as good a day as any to tell you all about it!

We had been trying to get pregnant for about two years when we finally got pregnant with the triplets. We didn't do IVF, but I was on all the same drugs you would be on if you were doing IVF because my body just wasn't responding. We did IUI/AI. If this last cycle hadn't have worked, IVF would have been our next option.

My ovaries hyper-stimulated, so I couldn't breathe. I was at work and I called my doctor with my symptoms. He said, "Get in here asap!" During that appointment they tested my hCG levels. On day 14 with a normal, single pregnancy the range of your hCG level is between 30-60, but can be up to 100. Those numbers double every other day. When they tested my levels my numbers were around 150(?)...but I was only on day 8 or 9 of pregnancy!! They said, "You're definitely having multiples, we just don't know how many yet." HOW MANY?! WHAT?!?! When they checked again on day 14 my numbers were 350. Yikes!

Finish This...

Hi! It's Jilly. It's time to play "Finish This". Woo hoo!

Two lessons I learned from my mom... how to be supportive of my husband and kids. While my Dad was in pharmacy school my Mom taught school-- in inner-city Memphis!-- to take care of our family, then worked as a stay-at-home Mom the rest of my childhood. As the oldest child I also learned from my Mom how to care for babies, which came in handy when I ended up with three at the same time!

Finish This...

Hi! It's Jilly. Finals are next week!! Aah! So, this week's "Finish This" sentences are perfect for me!

I feel an adrenaline rush when... I go on amusement park rides, get 'in the groove' exercising, and do something musical!

I feel energized when... I talk with family and good friends. The warm weather helps, too!

I feel small when... I have had a bad day.

I feel big when... I realize my kids will be NINE years old this month! How in the world did they get so old?!

I feel stupid when... I don't manage my time wisely and things don't happen like they should. Also, when I do something socially awkward. And, when I try to help my kids with their homework!

I feel smart when... I am able to share my knowledge about something with others, and when I'm able to take a really great picture!

How would you finish these sentences?!

*Let's meet up on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!*

Friday 5: Easter & Stuff

Hi! It's Jilly. My new bloggy buddy Emmy Mom has this fun thing she does every week called "Friday Five", and she's letting me co-host this week! Basically, you just share 5 things that happened that week and five pictures. Easy peasy! Are people still saying that?! Easy peasy?! Well, I guess I just did. BOOM!

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<img src="http://i1160.photobucket.com/albums/q491/Emmymom3/Buttons/fridayfive_zps8f6d6214.jpg" alt="Emmy Mom" width="200" height="200" />
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Okay...let's do this thing!

1. For Easter we were able to get together with my brother Josh that we hadn't seen in SIX years! Last time we saw him the kiddos were 2 years-old! We were down in Baltimore visiting Hubby, and Josh moved to Baltimore a couple months ago, so it all worked out. It was fun to hang out with him. The kids officially love their Uncle Josh!

Finish This...

Hi! It's Jilly. Time for this week's "Finish This". Let's see what sentences I have to finish today!

My favorite vacation spot is... 

I pretty much like to go anywhere on vacation, but somewhere near the beach or a lake is awesome. I love the feel of the coast and looking out over the water. There's something thrilling about it. We're going to Baltimore for Spring Break, and I can't wait to hang out at the Inner Harbor!

If I won a million dollars I would... 

Ha ha! My husband and I actually talk about this all the time. It's fun to dream about what you would do. If I won a million dollars, first I would pay off hubby's student loans, then save the rest to buy a house on a decent sized piece of property wherever we "land" after residency.

If I found a genie in a bottle, my three wishes would be...

Hmmm...this is a hard one! Do I ask for the things I would do with the million dollars?! Do I wish for other, non-tangible things?! I don't know! It's such a tricky question. Then there's the issue of how you word the wishes. For example, if I wished to get rid of my habit of yelling at my kids, what if they were in danger and I literally couldn't yell to them because of my wish? Or if you wish for money, what about inflation? I just can't decide.

My favorite clothing item is...

My first instinct was to say flip flops, but my feet in recent years have decided those are not great for me. Lately I've been loving cardigans. And jeans are a staple I can't do without!

Finish This...

Hi! It's Jilly. Time for this week's "Finish This". I'm really enjoying this game. It makes me think about things I usually wouldn't think about, and share things I usually wouldn't share.

On Saturday morning I usually... sleep in, while the kids watch TV. Even though they're eight years old, they still like to watch Disney Junior. I am grateful for that!

I feel beautiful when... I get dressed up for church on Sunday. It's so nice to put on a dress, do my makeup, and go to church! During the week I don't really do my makeup very much or dress fancier than jeans and a t-shirt.

I wake up every morning...

Finish This...

Hi! It's Jilly. My darling Recipe Contributor Jenn from The Arizona Russums co-hosts a weekly writing prompt party called "Finish This". They provide the beginning of the sentences, you finish them!

1) I don't get enough...SLEEP! I am a night owl, and can not force myself to go to bed, even when I am bone tired. It's especially bad when my hubby is gone, like right now. I think the earliest I've been to bed in the last few weeks is 12:30 am. I know it's bad for my health, Mom. ;)

2) My favorite indulgence is...probably hot chocolate. All winter I keep at least one flavor of coffee creamer in the fridge to pour into my cocoa, and a healthy stock of mini marshmallows. Hot chocolate is kind of a "thing" with me and some friends from Arizona. (Arizona?! I know it's random...) This Crockpot Hot Chocolate rocks. Love it!



3) I made a major change in my life when...I had the triplets. Although, I guess you could say that life majorly changed for me ! Taking care of three newborns will do that to ya! We prayed and struggled for so long to get these kiddos to come down to Earth. We just didn't realize they all wanted to come at the same time!! We get asked lots of crazy questions about them all the time!



4) You should read...The Book of Mormon! It is a complete game-changer. It is a companion to the Bible, and it testifies of our Savior Jesus Christ. I know it to be true with all my heart! If you have never read, it you should give it a try. I always feel the Holy Spirit when I read it. You can order a free copy of your own, or you can read or listen to it online.

5) Pumpkin pie spice is my secret ingredient in...French Toast. Most people just use cinnamon, but I go beyond that and use pumpkin pie spice. Yummmm...

Thanks for reading! I really like these writing prompts. I should do this every week!!

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Finish This...

Hi! It's Jilly. It's another round of "Finish This"! Yay! Thanks for hosting, Jen!


I will never outgrow... my love of all things Harry Potter. I know I'm ridiculous. Oh, well. Now my kids love it too, so I'm stuck with it! Ha ha!

I splurge on... flavored coffee creamers, even though we don't drink coffee! I put them in my hot chocolate. Mmmm... I didn't think of that being a "splurge"y-type of thing until my hubby saw some in the fridge a couple weeks ago and said, "Are we having a party or something?". I said, "Nooo...why?!" Apparently, in his house growing up they never bought it unless it was a special occasion. I just love hot chocolate and like to have some yummy stuff to put in it!

My passport represents... the trip my Hubby and I went on to celebrate our 10-year anniversary, his graduation from med school, and surviving over 7 years with triplets! It was our first time out of the country and our first cruise! Can't wait to go on another trip like that!

My most ridiculous fear is... that my husband is going to die suddenly, like in a car accident or of some freak medical condition. I guess it's not too ridiculous, but I've just always been afraid of that! I'm even more afraid of it since my Dad passed away a few years ago. You just never know what's going to happen!

My favorite thing to give is... hugs! But, I don't always hug people because I'm afraid they aren't "huggers" and are going to be weirded out! Ha!

How would you finish these sentences? What will you never outgrow? What do you love to give? Spill in the comments!

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Finish This...

Hi! It's Jilly. I've been wanting to post more "real" stuff on the blog, but I'm always afraid it will be boring or I'm not sure what to share. So, when I saw this great link-up being co-hosted by my gal Jen from The Arizona Russums, I knew it would be a great fit!

It's called "Finish This". Each week you are given a few sentences to finish. That's it! I think it will be such a fun way to infuse more Jilly, Hubby, and Triplets into the blog!

So...here we go!

1. A typical day in my life...involves rushing the kids out of the house in the morning, spending way too much time on the computer when I should be cleaning the house or some other 'homemaker-y' thing, then doing homework with the kiddos, making dinner, family prayer and scripture study, bedtime for kiddos, then watch TV after the kids go to bed. Some nights Hubby and I run on the treadmill while watching one of "our" shows, since we're training to do a half-marathon. Things will be changing dramatically next week though, because I'm going back to school!!

2. You'll never see me...in a liquor store! I'm Mormon, so we don't drink alcohol. When we were moving from Arizona to New York I'd heard that shipping boxes for wine were great for packing things in, and I could barely handle grabbing the boxes from the liquor department at the grocery store because I felt soooo out of place! Ha!

3. If I could buy one thing right now, it would be...probably plane tickets! We haven't been able to visit Hubby's family in a long time, so I long to go to Oregon and see them! My in-laws are awesome!

4. I have high expectations for...hmmm...This is a tricky one! Is this supposed to be tricky?! Aaah...
I guess I have high expectations for life after residency. I dream about finding a place to settle down, buying a house again, and putting down some roots!

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My Word of the Year for 2014

Hi! It's Jilly. Right now a lot of people are thinking about their New Years Resolutions. This year I decided to go a different route for my New Years Resolutions. This year I am choosing a "word of the year". When I tried explaining the "word of the year" thing to my Hubby he was, like, "I don't get it, but if it makes sense to you, go for it.". Ha ha! 

I think Layla at The Lettered Cottage explained it the best. She said it is "one word that has the potential to inspire you and create intention in your life". 

The word I've chosen is...wait for it... PREPARE. 

I feel that being prepared is so important for me in so many areas of my life. I tend to let life happen to me and live in "fire extinguish" mode, rather than preparing ahead of time and doing the things I know I need to do. The word PREPARE can be applied in different ways, too.

At Home:
Often I let the house slip and do the bare minimum (or less) to survive. If I prepare my home by staying on top of housework, decluttering, and organizing, I will have less anxiety and will be ready for whatever comes my way, whether it's a friend stopping by unannounced, a spontaneous playdate, or an emergency. 

At School:
The end of this month I am going back to school to finish up my Bachelor's degree. I have always been a procrastinator, but this time I can not let that happen! I have three kids to take care of, AND my husband will be gone for work half the semester. I need to be prepared for class, and do my homework right away. 

Spiritually:
I know God lives and have a testimony of the Savior. I'm very active in my church, and we have family scripture study every night. But, I need to do more. I need to seek out a stronger and deeper relationship with my Father in Heaven and His Son. I need to be prepared spiritually so I can be strong to weather the storms of life. I am going to make a greater effort to have personal scripture study daily, and will start by studying all the places the word "prepare" is found in the scriptures. 

Have you made any New Years Resolutions, or chosen a "word of the year"? I'd love to hear it! Comment below and share it with us!

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You're Doing Great!

Hi! It's Jilly. I am surrounded by friends and family near and far who are amazing people. People full of love, faith, and strength. People who do more good in this world than they realize. People whose goodness and talent far outweigh their faults.

Yet, many people, myself included, feel bad about themselves. They are riddled with guilt about the things they aren't accomplishing, the ways they need to improve, and perceive their faults as mountains compared to their molehills of goodness.

Thanksgiving Blues

Hi! It's Jilly. Because of school, we've been away from family and on our own for many holidays. Usually it doesn't bother me too much that we're not with extended family on holidays, but for some reason this year it is really bumming me out! Thanksgiving is one that especially has me feeling a bit blue.

To me, Thanksgiving is this big, loud holiday filled with family and friends. Lots of people gather to eat, play games, and talk about what we're thankful for. This year it's just our little family of five, plus one of other couple. I'm sure it will be fine, but I'm just feeling bummed about it!

The triplets' first Thanksgiving - 2005

Pondering about Life vs. Blogging

Hi! It's Jilly. I've been thinking about this here blog for a little while now, trying to decide what I want to do, what I want to write about..that kind of thing. If this post seems really scatter-brained I'm sorry. I'm kind of a scatterbrained person, so there ya go. I'll sprinkle a few (mostly non-related) pictures throughout the post because, hey, pictures!

Some people get writer's block and they can't think of anything to blog about. I almost have the opposite problem. There are SO many things I want to write about. Projects, parties, recipes, random stuff from my life, things to think about, stuff with my kids, the world in general... Aah! So much stuff! So then I have a hard time focusing on what I'm going to write about. Then, it takes me so stinkin' long sometimes to write a post that I don't have time to do anything else.

Then there's that issue...having time for anything else. I find myself wasting away on the computer all day with very little to show for it. AND, my highest priority should be taking care of my family and my home.

We might be old-fashioned, but in our family we believe in having very traditional roles. My husband goes to work and earns the money. I stay home and take care of the kids and house. Not to say he doesn't help with the kids or house at all, because he does. And, I help him with his work, too. (Bring him stuff he needs at work, look over presentations for him, etc) It's a team effort. But, my "job" is to care for the home and the people living in it. I need to focus on my #1 job first, blogging second.

Often I spend alllll daaaaaay while the kids are at school on the computer. Seriously. It's ridiculous. It's not always blog-related, but that's still a heck of a lot of time to be on the computer. It's too much. I have a hard time focusing on the task at hand, whether it's in the house or online. I need to scale back my computer use, for sure. And, make sure I don't get on the computer until I have the stuff done around the house that I need to get done. (Oy. I hate to type that out. Ick!)



I also need to evaluate my blogging. This blog was set up to share projects and recipes. But, my 'tagline' says I write about the triplets and hubby in residency. I hardly ever talk about that stuff! Hmm. So, I need to figure out exactly what I want to be writing about on here.

I don't always write about the kids or hubs because I don't feel like I'm a fantastic storyteller. I *do* think our life is interesting, and people always want to hear about life with triplets, but I just...I don't know. I don't feel like I make our family stories sound very interesting. Ha! I need to find "my voice" as a writer. I need to write like I'm talking to a dear friend, not like I'm writing an instruction manual.

I need to find a good balance between my home life and blog life. I need to make the blog work for ME, not the other way around. It's a hobby, after all. So what if every single post isn't the most amazing thing you've ever read in your life?! So what if Betty Blogger has a better looking, sounding, smelling (ok, not smelling) blog than I do?! THAT'S OKAY. Once I find a better balance I can focus more on SEO, promotion, affiliate crap, etc. Till then, I just need to write for me, and make sure I'm taking care of myself and my family before I worry about blog posts.

Phew! Glad to get some of those jumbled thoughts off my chest!

Back to School -- for MEEEEE!!

Hi! It's Jilly. Guess what?! I'M GOING BACK TO SCHOOL!! Whoa, right?! I am only 9 credits away from earning my Bachelor's degree in Music, and I'm FINALLY going to finish!

Back in 2008 I had everything all set up to graduate. I had been attending Utah Valley University (well, it was UVSC then), and we decided to move to Texas so my hubby could get Texas residency for med school. (Med school is WAY cheaper there!) We also wanted to move there to be close to my family, since my Dad had cancer and we didn't know how much longer he had. We wanted the kids to get to know him and I wanted to be near him.

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So, I registered for online classes, found a voice teacher in Texas and got her approved through the Music Dept at UVU...all that jazz. I was going to graduate!

But, two weeks after we moved to Texas my Dad took a turn for the worse and ended up in the hospital. They told us that we could either care for my Dad at home, or he would need to go to a nursing home-type place. Of course we chose to bring him home! Because my mom had to work and my younger siblings were all in school, the bulk of my Dad's care fell to Hubby and I. We moved in with my parents, since someone had to be there with Dad 24/7.

At the time my triplets were three. They were going crazy because they didn't have any of their stuff, since all our stuff was in storage at the house we bought & had started remodeling. They resorted to getting into my sisters' nail polish and candy stashes. Oh, and they couldn't go play outside very much because of the fire ants. So, it was Disney Junior all. the. time. Oy.



Needless to say, it was a stressful time. There were many blessings along the way, and it was very fortunate that we were able to be there during that time. But, it didn't leave me much time to do schoolwork or work on my voice lesson music!

A couple months after my Dad came home he passed away. We knew it was time. He was in so much pain, and his dementia because of the tumors was getting so bad. Although it was sad to see him go, we knew it was for the best. And, we know we will see him again, which is very comforting!



After my Dad passed away I couldn't sing. I would open my mouth, but nothing wanted to come out. It's hard to have a voice lesson or perform in a recital if you can't sing! My online classes suffered, too I *think* I was able to eek out a passing grade in one of my classes. But, the others? Fugetaboutit!

A few months later we moved to Arizona for podiatry school. That's another crazy story! Another time, perhaps. ANYway, there's no way in heck I could have taken classes while Hubby was in med school! Now that we've been in residency a year I feel like it's time! The kids are in school now, and I just neeeed to finish my degree!! I plan to complete the credits I need this semester, then apply for graduation. Woooooohooooo!! Wish me luck!!

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Find Joy

Hi! It's Jilly. For the last week or two I've been having a really hard time. I don't know what the deal is. I just feel sooooo aggravated and frustrated with everything! I'm been feeling really down and burnt out, too. *sigh*

I've had many thoughts swirling around in my head. When I'm feeling aggravated, everything drives me insane. One little thing will happen and I will just completely lose it! Then, I feel guilty for yelling, but at the same time I'm so mad I don't even care. Then, I get depressed because I feel like I should be better than this.

When I'm depressed I feel completely incompetent, like I'm a failure in every area of my life. I feel like I'm not good enough and I will never be good enough. Then I see all these moms around me who are amazing mothers, whose houses are neat, and it just makes it worse. I have the oldest kids among my friends, yet they seem to have things figured out. What's my problem?! Why can't I get it together?! I've had more time to "practice". What's wrong with me?!

Don't even go on Facebook. Then you're hit with all these "my kids are the most precious thing on the planet and I'm completely head over heels in love with them" posts, and the "I've gotten so much done today and it's only 8 am" posts. GAG. It sounds terrible, but I'm just not feelin' it lately.

Maybe it's the fact that I have three eight year-olds who are almost constantly bickering with each other. "So-and-so won't stop making that noise. So-and-so BIT me. Why does so-and-so always get everything? Why don't we ever get to do anything fun? (Spoken less than 5 minutes after returning home from a super fun activity), I hate this place, I wish I had a different mother... "

Blah, blah, BLAH!! I can't take it anymore.

I mean, I love my kids, of course, but... ARGH!

I often compare having triplets with being thrown in the deep end of a pool without a life jacket. Everyone always says to me, "Oh, I can't imagine what it was like when they were babies! It must be so much easier now that their older!". To that I say... NOOOO!!



When they're babies and they cry there are usually 1 of 3 things wrong- hungry, tired, or dirty diaper. Add in the gas bubbles from time to time. Now it's much more complicated. It's harder to keep your patience and not get weighed down by the bad attitudes, drama, and emotional rollercoasters, not to mention staying on top of the housework and laundry and meals (I swear they are "starving" every hour) and homework and extra-curriculars and...need I go on?!

I've been pondering how I can feel better and have a better attitude. In church on Sunday one of the speakers said, "We find joy when we help others feel joy." I loved that! It reminded me of the quote by James M. Barrie, "Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves."

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When you are depressed it is really hard to feel joy, and it's hard to help others to feel it, because you're not feeling it. But, I need to be more aware of my attitude and how it affects my children's attitudes. And, I need to pray for strength and peace.

Ohmygoodness...as I was typing this post I was listening to Pandora, and the song "Never Alone" by Hilary Weeks started playing. These lyrics jumped out and grabbed me!

Cause when the darkness comes 
I'm a prisoner to my fears
Although I'm listening the doubt is all I hear
Then I reach for your hand 
and feel you reaching back
And the light returns

Now I have tears rolling down my face. The Lord is truly aware of each one of us! That song couldn't have come at a more perfect time. Talk about a tender mercy! Although I don't always acknowledge it, I am grateful for God's hand in my life, and His love and care for me. I need to rely on Him more. That is how I will get through this trying phase of motherhood!!

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Nothing is Too Small to The Lord

Hi! It's Jilly. Katelynn has a special blanket...her "Penguin Blanket", aka PB. That thing has been a part of our family for many years. It is a blanket that was originally given to me for Christmas when I was in high school. She always laughs about how she "stole" it from me when she was a baby. 

I don't remember exactly when she got attached to it, but I know that Katelynn and PB have been through a lot together. Through the best of times and the worst of times.



Her blanket was there when she was three years old, in the hospital with kidney failure.

It's been there as we've moved around the country and lived in four different states.



It's been there through colds and fevers.

To everyone else it might look like just a blanket, but to her it is very important. Scott and I have talked about how we would do anything to get it back if PB was accidentally left somewhere. We know how devastated she would be if anything happened to it.

This makes me think of our Father in Heaven. Although something might seem small and unimportant in the grand scheme of things, if it is important to us, it is important to our Heavenly Father. He is our Father. He wants what is best for us. He loves us so much that He will do whatever He can to help us. He loves us so much that he sent His Only Begotten Son to atone for our sins, so we can return and live with Him someday. His love is infinite and eternal. He loves us more than we can even imagine with our mortal minds.

If there is something troubling you, please take it to your Father in Heaven! He wants to hear from you. He wants to help you, no matter how "small" it may seem.

Our Savior, Jesus Christ, has felt every pain and heartache we experience so that he can empathize with us and comfort us in our times of need. I know it's hard sometimes. We feel so small, and like our worries and concerns are not worth His time with all the bad stuff happening around the world. Don't let that stop you from going to your Father and talking with Him. Jesus said,

 28 ¶^aCome unto me, all ye that ^blabour and are heavy laden, and I will give you ^crest.
 29 Take my ^ayoke upon you, and ^blearn of me; for I am ^cmeek and^dlowly in ^eheart: and ye shall find ^frest unto your souls.
 30 For my yoke is ^aeasy, and my burden is light.

(Matthew 11:28-30)

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Are we RICH? Some Perspective...

Hi! It's Jilly. Throughout our marriage we've never had much money. We've been married almost eleven years, and of those eleven the first ten years were spent in school. We've lived frugally, sacrificed, shopped smart, and avoided incurring more debt than we have to.

But, sometimes the weight of our *cough, cough*quarter-million dollar*cough, cough* student loan debt weighs heavily on us.

Recently we've been giving the kids an allowance and trying to teach them the value of money- how to save it, how to spend it wisely, how to pay their tithing- all that good stuff. To them, a dollar is a LOT of money!

The other day Emma spotted our change jar on the closet shelf. Her eyes got as big as saucers (50 cent pieces, perhaps?), and she said with amazement, "Whoa! You guys are RICH!!"

At the time I just laughed it off, but it got me to thinking...Isn't "rich" all in our perspective? Do we have a loving family? Do we have clothing to wear? Food to eat? A place to live? Do we have a little change in a jar?

Then, according to Emma, you are RICH!

Let's focus on the ways in which we have been richly blessed, rather than focusing on the things we don't have, shall we?

Btw- this totally made me think of "The Wedding Singer" when Robbie is trying to get a job at a bank and says, "I'm a big fan of money. I like it. I use it. I have a little. I keep it in a jar on top of my refrigerator  I'd like to put more in that jar. That's where you come in." Bahahaha!

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