A hilarious picture, fighting for joy, recent outfits I've loved, and Silas' first Homecoming!

Plus, what I'm reading right now! Hi, Friend! I opened up an email last week and read the words. My heart sunk. It came out of the blue and punched me in the gut. It had been a long month full of discouragement after discouragement when it came to business stuff. So many things that usually reliably work well were having hiccups or breaking or not working at all. Typically we’ll always have some areas that are working well and some areas that aren’t, but it just felt like nothing was working. I was looking at the numbers and the trajectory and wondering if we were going to have to make some big changes. It all was unsettling and I was starting to feel really anxious and on edge. And then I got the unexpected email and it threw me into a tailspin. I’m usually a pretty upbeat, glass-half-full, find-the-silver-lining person, but all I could see were what felt like things falling apart. After school drop-offs for the kids, I sat in the car with Jesse and just poured out my heart to him. “I don’t know what to do!” “I don’t have any clarity!” “It feels like everything is coming unglued!” It sounds pretty overly dramatic now that I’m typing this out, but it felt very real, heavy, and overwhelming in the moment. Jesse listened and offered encouragement and pointed me to look to Jesus and release what I was carrying to the Lord. Then, he prayed with me as I stepped into my day. I got out of the car feeling a lot calmer in my spirit. Nothing had changed in my circumstances, but my resolve to fight for joy had come back. I would not let these unexpected discouragements steal my peace. Joy is worth fighting for. Hope is worth clinging to. And Jesus is always faithful. There are still a lot of challenges ahead, but I’m choosing to trust that these unexpected things will turn out to be blessings in disguise. Maybe they’ll lead to new ideas, new doors opened, or just lessons learned through struggle. Whatever it may be, I’m actually getting excited to see what the future will hold as I rest in the One Who holds the future. Just sharing this as a reminder that if you’re fighting for joy today, too, you’re not alone. In case you ever wondered what it was like taking three kids to the doctor by yourself. I had a podcast interview one morning last week so Jesse said he’d take the kids to their regular check-ups. He sent me this picture while there to let me know how it was going. It looked like things were going really well. 🙃 Gratefully, our pediatrician and nurse are the kindest, know our family very well, and have multiple children of their own. I loved this post above -- so many areas hit by the hurricane can't be accessed via vehicle right now and I just was so inspired by people's creativity to get help to those who need it. And I know there's a lot happening in the world right now, but I wish there was more coverage of the communities that are coming together to make it through the aftermath of hurricane Helene. My sister and her family live in NC close to the areas that were hardest hit. She has been texting (when she can get cell coverage) and sharing about how their neighborhood - who was pretty much cut off from the rest of the world the last few days — is all helping one another... everyone sharing what they have, everyone using their gifts to serve each other, one person setting up a charging station on his front porch, one person using his generator to keep a freezer going so people can keep stuff frozen, one person using their generator to keep a fridge running for medications for people in the neighborhood, everyone helping people evacuate their homes and rescue what possessions they could... and it's a beautiful thing to hear in the midst of such tragedy. Her stories have given me such hope for our world. Silas had his first Homecoming on Saturday. They had a Havana Nights theme and I never got any individual pics of him (boys aren't into that as much as our girls were, I discovered!) but here's a candid shot I got of him. He had the best night! Kierstyn had a presentation at her preschool on Friday. I loved getting to see the joy on her face as she shared the verses and songs and poems she had learned! A Few Things I've Written This Week: [27 Things You Might Forget to Budget For](: What would you add to this list? Frustrated and stressed over trying to feed your family healthfully but on a tight budget? [Please read this](=). I think it will really encourage you (and read the comments, too!) Books I've Been Reading What I'm Currently Reading: [The Women]() [The Unplugged Hours]( [Momma Moments with God]( [From Strength to Strength]() Outfits I've Been Wearing You guys seem to love me sharing my outfits, so I'm going to try to do a better job of that moving forward! I have been [wearing this outfit](=) on repeat recently — usually at least once (sometimes twice!) in a week. I love to find outfits that are cute and comfortable but also look put together and then just wear them again and again. Simplifying my wardrobe saves time — and money! I shop less and spend a lot less time thinking about what I’ll wear because I just rotate the outfits I love over and over! Do you wear the same things over and over again or does that feel boring to you? It was cold and rainy much of this past week — perfect for a [cozy outfit]( and for me to pull out my much-loved trust boots that I wear all winter long! This sweater was just $16 in a recent Amazon deal and these jeans are from the Maurice’s sale and I’m loving them!! This is another outfit I’ve been wearing on repeat. And the [shoes are just $8.98 right now](=)!! Silas asked if I was trying to look 16, so I don't think that was a compliment. And Kaitlynn disapproves that these are fake Converse shoes. But Jesse loves this outfit, so there's that! 🤭 = This Week on The Crystal Paine Show: A Personal Newsy Update! This week, Jesse and I bring you a mix of newsy updates, including a now-funny story about a freezer disaster, reflections on Jesse’s recent 44th birthday and how the world has changed since he was born at just 27 weeks, the topic of re-using birthday candles, and more! We also discuss frugality and what limits people will go to do save a buck. I share my boundaries on a few things I would never do to save money. I'd love to hear yours! I also talk about some books I've been reading recently and my quest to up my iron intake. Lots of fun, random tidbits in this episode! [Click here to listen to this podcast episode.](=) 3 FREE Months of SiriusXM Car Radio — No Credit Card Required! It’s back! Get [3 FREE months of SiriusXM In-Car Satellite Radio](=) — no credit card required!! Just go [HERE]( and fill out your info to check your eligibility. This is SUCH a great deal, because you don’t have to worry about being automatically charged at the end of your 3-month trial! 4 FREE Months of Amazon Music! If you’ve never tried Amazon Music before, be sure to check out this deal to get a [FREE 4-Month Amazon Music Unlimited Trial]()! (Valid for new users only.) This is a $40 value and a great chance to try it out and see if you like it! Links You Might Want to Check Out: [30+ Road Trip Snacks on a Budget]( — Whenever we travel, I always bring our own snacks and food, because it saves SO much money! I put together a list of my top tips and 30+ ideas for road trip snacks! [Super Simple Pumpkin French Toast Recipe]() — I was inspired to use some leftover pumpkin bread to make French toast last week and it turned out super yummy! It was so delicious that I decide to share the recipe on the blog! _______________ Have a wonderful week! -Crystal P.S. Are you [following me on Instagram]()? If not and you love my personal enewsletters, you'd probably really enjoy [all the behind-the-scenes and real-life updates I share there!]( I'd love to connect with you there! [Unsubscribe]( Money Saving Mom, LLC 2020 Fieldstone Parkway, Ste. 900 #313 Franklin, Tennessee 37069 United States