too expensive?

i read an article in newsweek recently entitled "Baby Needs A New Pair of Shoes" . It made me angry, as articles like this usually do. It only costs as much as you state to rear a child if you want it to. We have six children and earn - only my husband works outside the home so daycare costs are nonexistant- only a little over what it says it takes to rear a child, let alone other living expenses!

We don't buy all the fancy useless equipment- all these things to carry a baby, whatever happened to arms- and we shop wisely, not buying the most expensive brand, which is usually no better than a less expensive one.

We eat organically and homeschool, spending our money on the best in both areas.

We homebirth (with a midwife) so costs are kept lower.Much safer that way too!

Our children don't get every toy or new thing that comes down the line.

It only costs as much as the article states it does if you buy things you don't need. No bottles or formula here- we breastfeed. Baby wipes? We use a cloth run under the sink! Cloth diapers cost less and are better for the environment. They are not harder to use than disposables.

The list goes on but I'll spare you.
Th bottom line is that articles like this scare couples away from having children because they feel they can't afford it and that is simply not true.

Whatever happened to trusting God?

from the bible

mark 6:36-43

36-Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.

they can go buy food if they need to

37-He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?

the disciples were ready to go and purchase food for everyone. they had the ability to do so.

38-He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes

what do we already have to work with?

39-And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.

remember psalm 23 - He maketh me to lie down in green pastures

40-And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.

41-And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.

notice the blessing Christ asked for. notice how the bread was set before them. sort of a "take all you want situation" , not a "here's one piece for you" situation.

42-And they did all eat, and were filled.

they had all they needed

43-And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.

here's the miracle
God, in His infinite wisdom denied the people to help themselves and denied others to help them. He chose to do all the helping even tho it didn't have to be that way.

what is God doing in your life? let me know!!

keeper at home?

That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Titus 2:4&5

what is a keeper at home? is she someone who watches over the household while holding down a job elsewhere? even for a few hours? or just because "we need the money"?

according to strongs concordance the term keepers at home is defined as :
caring for the house, working at home a) the (watch or) keeper of the house b) keeping at home and taking care of household affairs c) a domestic

this doesn't mean that you are a doormat with no life of your own so to speak. but it does state quite clearly that a woman's place is in the home, tending to her children- public or private school was never part of God's plan either! (deuteronomy 6:6-9 )- a woman's job is equal to a man's just different.

obedient to their own husbands is defined by strongs as :
1) to arrange under, to subordinate 2) to subject, put in subjection 3) to subject one's self, obey 4) to submit to one's control 5) to yield to one's admonition or advice 6) to obey, be subject
A Greek military term meaning "to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader". In non-military use, it was "a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden".

if husband wants dinner on the table at 6 exactly and you work til 5 and don't get home til 6 you have just disobeyed God's Word by being obedient to someone other than your husband- you have been obedient to your boss.

again wives are told to submit to their husbands as unto the Lord - ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. submit means the same as obey above.
so in more than one place we are told our husbands are to be the ones we submit to and obey and yet women feel working outside the home is an option?!

there are more verses i can go thru if anyone wants ~smile~ but for now i'll leave with you with some other writings on the subject. please leave a comment :)

and oh by the way- the proverbs 31 woman did NOT work outside the home. again she was a manager of her own home, not someone else's. she probably did have some sort of "job" working from home such as sewing . she is a perfect example of a husband being able to trust his wife with the finances for the family.