Changes

Oh how wonderful! My parents made it possible for me to visit Robby in Miami last week. Thank you Mom and Dad! It couldn't have come at a better time. LAM is going through many changes and have hired Robby on to lead the transition alongside my father for the next six months in addition to his support based ministry.

This means that Robby will be spending three out out of the four weeks of the month in Miami. Because he will be spending so much time there my Mom scoured the city to find an efficiency apartment where Rob could live for the next six months. Because of her diligence she found a very comfortable studio only a mile away from their place. This means Robby can commute with my father in the mornings and evenings. It also means he has family close by. It made a very scary situation seem so safe.

The apartment is amazing. You can tell the owner takes pride in the property. It is very Miami. Built in the 1950's with casita style tile floors and freshly painted walls. It is large enough to fit the bed, a table and desk. The kitchen has all the basics and the bathroom is as cute as can be (even if it fits only one in the morning!). It was wonderful being there for the weekend as he settled in. However the cold showers every morning were a bit painful (no hot water yet). We found ourselves cooking in the tiny kitchen and eating at the table enjoying the silence of our quiet conversation (with no TV to distract us). We got to talking about the necessities of life and how few their really are.

Reading my sister in laws blog about the economy/ recession got me thinking about the many changes we have made in our lifestyle over the past year as Rob has entered into ministry. We began to shed all the so called comforts of life and found we are more peaceful than ever. Our greatest commodity is time.

We started the process by eliminating all the so called extras- we decided eating out was one of them. The cost of one dinner out is equal to almost one week's worth of groceries. I started shopping at several stores based on the best price of produce (Sprouts hands down) and toiletries (Fry's). I consider it my mission to walk out of the grocery store having only purchased items on sale. We eliminated items that can kill a budget such as juices. Instead we refrigerate our very own free filtered water. In Spanish when you order water at a restaurant you say aguita de Dios (God's water) so true when you get thinking...

We eliminated the extra gym/yoga memberships. Instead I attend the free yoga in the park on weekends. We don't have any of the cable/phone extras that we once considered necessary. Redbox is a treat ($1 movies a night). Where as in the past if we needed clothing it was a shopping trip to the mall, now I find deals at Marshall's (Juicy dress pants for Rob for only $12). We limit driving and plan out our week to save gas.

I started hand washing dry clean only clothes (yes- you can actually do this!). Air conditioning only when we are home. Lights always off if not in use. Washing the car at the do it yourself for a quarter places.

Coffee oh coffee how I love thee...a major budget killer unless you have stock in Starbucks. Instead I found that Folgers has individual serving instant coffee that makes an amazing espresso with a little bit of water or a latte when added directly to hot milk...all for less than 25 cents.

I feel like I could go one for a while more but truth be told it becomes a way of life. It becomes fun- something Rob and I get to do together...finding joy in the small things that cost no money at all...the evening walks, swimming at Grandma and Grandpa's or movie nights at home.

I listen to the news on the so called recession- if we only knew. All we have to do is talk to our grandparents to understand the true nature of a recession. While it has hit harder for those most in need the rest of us that still have food on the table and a roof over our head can be challanged to shift our perpective back to relationships, love and nature.