…running late… I knew this would happen. Despite my (approximately) best efforts to confine this series to January, I’ve bled over into February. No matter, let us wrap it up with a few musings. At the beginning of the month, as I mapped out the schedule of postings, certain trends jumped out at me. “Aha!” said I (not out loud [I hope]). “Frugal things have value beyond the fiscal savings!” I suppose...

Some words just stick, you know? Here are several practical and wise phrases that I’ve picked up who-knows-where regarding things somehow relevant to “pleasures beyond pocket money.” Make it do or do without. These words open the gates to the creative realm of “using what you have.” Anyone here familiar with Polyanna? How about her “glad game?” Perfect manifestation of this philosophy. Buy used and...

Ever tried swapping freezer meals? Just curious. If you have, how did you work your swap? Here’s a splendid blog post from “Under the Sycamore” on the subject of saving (time and money) by swapping. I came across it last November and found it delightfully intriguing. What are your thoughts? Variations? Once a Month...

Road trip yesterday. 3 am departure time, with approximately 5 hours to destination. I drove. There’s this thing I do when I encounter windy roads or low visibility or sheer drop-offs or even steep-slopey drop-offs. I sit straight up in my seat and clench that steering wheel like you wouldn’t believe. It’s quite possible that one day my hands will have to be surgically removed from the steering wheel they have become fused to due to my...

…is a whisper. Do you ever find your voice, joined with others in worship of our Living God, hushed in order to listen in on the mulitude of joy? That multitude… joined voices, sound waves, words, notes… an intermingling miracle of backgrounds and circumstances that couldn’t be more different from one another, unified in exaltation of the One who has touched, healed, redeemed each of those backgrounds and sets of...