Lately I’ve ended each day asking my children a couple of philosophy type questions like “how do you know you are awake” and “what is the purpose of life”. Their faces are precious as I ask what they see as “very strange questions”, but each night it gets a bit easier for them to think outside the box, or string together things they know and believe, and come up with a response that at times really makes me marvel at how much they are listening and soaking up they are exposed to. Last night I asked them what was the best activity we’ve done this week and the response was “putting the parcel together for the person who is homeless that we are going to visit”. Who knew some soap, a toothbrush and toothpaste, a coffee gift card and homemade muffins for someone who is homeless could out-shine tobogganing, visits to the library, a new game from a friend, a friend coming over to play, reading and playing. These are children the world may see as delayed, but really in my opinion are far advanced of the rest of us. And tonight we deliver!
Welcome!
I'm Frugal Trenches (no, not my real name!) a lover of natural, simple and frugal living! I use this space and my camera to document a beautiful, purposeful, downshifted and abundant life! Life is not always simple (oh how I wish it was!) but it is always rich and I hope this space demonstrates beauty and joy!
If you have a question, feel free to leave it in the comments! I read and appreciate every comment and will reply to questions within the comment section, even if it takes a day or two (or three, but whose counting!).
Archives
-
Money Spent On Groceries in 2013
January $198.39
February $231.88
March $248.71
April $Books Read in 2013
Myself
Fiction:
1.The Help
2. Away
3. Flowers For Algernon
4. Animal Farm
5. Room
6. The Secret DaughterNon-Fiction:
1.The Two Nazanins
2.Confessions Of A Bad Beekeeper
3.The Encouraging Parent
4.Freakonomics
5.Why Be Happy When You Can Be Normal?
6.Raising A Right Brained Child In A Left Brained World
7.How To Make Your Child A Reader For Life
8.The Bookseller of Kabul
9.The Sane Woman's Guide To Raising A Large FamilyDaughter Grade 3 (Chapter Books)
Stanley's Christmas Adventure
George's Marvelous Medicine
Sarah Plain and Tall
Ramona Books x 5
Road To Avonlea Chapter Books x 3
Junie B Jones Chapter Books x 6
James and The Giant Peach
Freckle Juice
Reader Level 4 Books x 9Son Grade 1 (Picture Books)
January: 62 books
February: 73 books
March: 95 books
April: 89 books
Every day you and your children are far more than $50.00 worth of inspiration to me. Beyond money. Thank you. I’m praying for you all every day.
I love reading your posts. Thank you for writing and sharing them. They’re inspirational and heartwarming- they mean a lot to me.
so sweet and gives me an idea for something my kids and I can do this new year:)
Precious ♥
Your children have such tender hearts! I just asked my daughter how she knows when she is asleep. She looked at me, thought for a moment, and told me “when the dream cartoon comes on in my mind. My eyes are the remote controls.”
How sweet, FT!!! i can see your heart brimming with joy!
Their response doesn’t surprise me when you think about how their lives were compared to what they have with you as a family. Your question of the day reminds me of a game my grandfather used to play with my toddler when he was 2 and up. He would ask after saying hello, “what’s up” it was a game to see what my son thought was “up” such as the sky, ceiling, telephone wires and so on. it was his favorite game and when he knew he was going to be visiting he would spend time staring upwards at everything just to give a new answer. Funny how children enjoy the little things.
It’s always heartwarming to see positives that you know are true milemarkers for your kids. Read your last post and will definately lift your sweet family up in prayer. So glad for your ability to homeschool. I know from our experiences what a benefit it has been for healing, bonding and an ability to learn and master skills at a personal level that clearly can’t happen in a larger school environments. In time as your kids heal emotionally and you’re able to fill in learning deficits you have choices for continuing their homeschool or other school options they are better equipped to handle because of the emotional healing they’ve been able to achieve in a protected home environment. It is truly worth the additional effort on your part to give them this time to feel safe and heal !! Wishing you the very best.