Happily poor(ish)........

Like many of you, I appreciate reading about other’s experiences as they attempt to raise their families in the way they should go. I like to read homeschooling magazines, Christian education articles, joyful homemaking magazines, etc. But I would like to see a book written to encourage those who are attempting to do these things with a SMALL budget.

I want to know how the qualifying-for-state-healthcare income level family does multiple children and one income living with graciousness. Let’s hear about stretching the budget to fewer than $400 per month for groceries and consumables (family of 5). What about home schooling in the pages per day style, while not paying $16 for workbooks? Speak on staying content with the Goodwill (almost too spendy now) or garage sale finds. Please, anyone out there on a SMALL income, tell your story. It is just as important to others as the stories of large blessings.

It seems that part of the problem is our cultural (yes, church people too) definitions of success. If you own your home and 10 acres outright, can afford to buy new clothing, and NEVER shop at the Dollar Store or Walmart, then you are a success. However, if you are a family who loves the Lord, and the husband is providing for the daily needs of the household, you shouldn’t feel ashamed to not have $600 per month for health insurance or to live in an apartment. Being poor is not a sin. Living in an old house with wavy and scratched up wood floors is not wrong. Accepting the Oregon Health plan in order to afford a hospital birth is not wicked. Wearing the same pajamas for 8 years is not evil, just a bit depressing at times.

Don’t get me wrong, all those aforementioned lovely things are AMAZING blessings from God, they are just not my blessings. I’m very glad that some of you out there have 2 washing machines and/or freezers, and can afford to buy new clothes for your oldest/biggest child every fall and spring, but I need encouragement from those who have gone before. Let's hear from the veterans of traversing the way of JOYFUL poverty, wearing the same clothing to church every other week, eating Raman soup for lunch and dancing before the Lord in their second-hand shoes …. :-D

Stretching to improve _______.

I was stretching,/flexing Mark's chubby little foot this month, and it got me thinking.

God has really used this whole clubfoot thing to stretch me personally. I am not a person who is comfortable with leading. However, I have had to be the one orchestrating and approving Mark's foot care. I am uncomfortable challenging, pushing, or questioning when it comes to health care. I am very comfortable with western medicine, and find RX and Doctors comforting, and quite effective and helpful.

This whole clubfoot thing has stretched that. First, I had to find a Dr. who used the Ponseti method, and then I had to make sure they were actually using it (some say they do, but misapply the serial casts) I also had to deal with the whole "Akk! Is it a complex clubfoot??" thing. I am still not quite sure about all this. I am gettting better slowly but surely at advocating.

And then there is PORTLAND....
Driving in Portland is really a HORRID experience for me. I have had nightmares about getting on the wrong bridge and ending up in Seattle, or lost within its depths for YEARS! Once a week appointments up on the hill have been very stretching for me. I have learned to get to and from downtown Portland from both Oregon City and Canby. I actually caught myself grinning and jamming to music as I followed my nose home across the river last time.

This has been good for me. STTTRRREEEEECHHHHHH :-)

Check Out the New Foot Angle!!

Thank you for all your prayers, Mark's tenotomy went well, and he is recovering nicely. He is still a bit grumpy, and just isn't smiling as much, but I'm sure that he will forgive us in a day or two. :-)

It was such a sunny day here yesterday! It was somehow a bit reassuring to see the sun streaming into the hospital room as we waited for him to come out of surgery. :-) God is so good to us!

Here he is just before surgery with Daddy...


If you have to have surgery and you are a kiddo, Shriner's is a great place for that! Mark was treated very well, we loved all the nurses, and everything went swimmingly. They really are focused on making the kids feel comfortable.


By the time we left we were the proud owners of new baby quilt, Winnie the pooh pillowcase, St. Patrick's day beanie, koala beanie, and a soft block crib toy. They hand out toys for each kiddo who has surgery. It was funny to see a nurse walking around with her arms full of toy packages.

I think the best gift of all was the improved foot angle. :-)

These feet look almost ready to walk!

Clubfoot Update.... :-) Shriners rocks!

Mark's feet were examined today, and the swelling on his feet was much better, and both his feet look ready for the tenotomy now. YIPPIE! I was all worried about leaving the cast off for a week, but it seems to have been the best thing to do for that irritated wee foot. :-) Great job Dr. Aiona!

The new plan is tenotomy next week, followed by 2 or 3 more casts. The tendon is super tight on one of his feet, so it really may need 3 castings to get to the right spot after the tendon lengthening.

Soo... please keep Mark in your prayers, we really want to get this done with out a cold delaying surgery further.


BTW, Dr. Sussman will have Mark fitted with the Mitchell shoes & bar! YIPPIE! Just what we were hoping for! This shoe tends to be easier to use, and has less instances of sores developing...