Bountiful Baskets

While Kenneth and I were without work, we had to really look for ways to save money and not spend what we didn't have. We came across a really neat opportunity to save money on fresh produce and baked goods and even though we are now both working, we are still participating.

It is a food co-op called Bountiful Baskets. Each week, you can sign up online to participate and for $16.50, you receive a laundry basket full of fresh fruits and vegetables. Each week, you can also add fresh baked goods, like 9-grain bread (yummy, yummy!!), fresh-made tortillas, cakes and crackers, breakfast bars and tropical granola. The prices are all very reasonable.

Each week, in the baskets, there are usually 5-6 fruits and 5-6 vegetables. We have had all kinds of neat things and are even learning to eat fruits and vegetables we never would have bought on our own and because of this, we are eating new and different foods so that we don't waste the food.

We have enjoyed apples, bananas, oranges, strawberries, kumquat, coconut, blueberries, blackberries, lemons, limes, nectarines, plums, peaches, pineapple, watermelon, cantaloupe, honey dew melons, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, bok choy, sweet potatoes. brown and red potatoes, corn, broccoli, onions (green, white, yellow, and red), celery, chard, spinach, green and red peppers, and the list goes on and on. We love the 9-grain bread and the tortillas remind me of the ones I ate daily on my mission. The crackers are really quite interesting but taste pretty good with melted cheese over them.

After participating for a few weeks, one of my girlfriends, Haley, and I decided to start a sight of our own. We co-coordinate the receipt and distribution of the fruits and vegetables and for doing it, we get a free basket on our week. It is a pretty cool thing that happens.

A truck drops off the produce at 6:30am each Saturday morning at a local park near our home. We distribute the produce into baskets (thus the name, Bountiful Baskets) and then wait for those who participated to pick up their offerings at 7:30am. We have a bunch of people who arrive early each week to volunteer of their time to help us get the baskets prepared. I am amazed each week at the willingness of the volunteers to show up early and stay until the last basket is picked up, the last basket and box are loaded and all are headed home for another week.

I love the produce and the quality of the fruits and vegetables. Most will last several weeks in my fridge before going bad and that gives me plenty of time to eat it all without have to throw it out because it has gotten moldy or gone bad. The produce seems to be fresher then what we usually get from the store and my grocery bill has decreased by $50 - 60 each week. What a find and one that I am glad we found when we did.

SO I have a few minutes...

Life is so crazy & never slows down, not even for a minute. The boys have been out of school for the summer now for 3 weeks and although they are loving it, the routine (what little one we had) went right out the window with the books, homework and classrooms. I don't think my boys have bathed in a week and they have forgotten how to do chores.

But, they are happy and I am glad for that. They are attending a community school this summer and love it. They are with a BUNCH of their friends and all they do all day long is play. Every Monday, Kenny gets to go swimming at the municipal pool and he loves that he gets to ride a school bus. Kale has cooking class every day and is learning to play tennis (or at least is claiming to). They come home really tired and that's OK with me too!

About 3 months ago, we met with and applied to become foster parents with an agency in town called Olive Crest. They are a christian based agency and of all the ones we have been looking at over the last 2 -3 years, they seemed the best fit for our family. However, they only accept about 50 new families a year and their process is much more rigorous then the County's process. We were accepted into the agency about 2 months ago and are about 1/2 way through the training and paperwork phase.

We hope to be licensed sometime this fall and have children (2-4) in our home by the first of 2011. We are really excited and feel great about all that is going on. This has added to the chaos though, as we are in training 2 - 3 nights a week and 1-2 Saturdays a month. We are also making all the necessary adjustments and upgrades to the house that are required. That alone is a full-time job.

But - WE ARE LOVING LIFE AND WE ARE HAPPY. Kenneth is finally working again and although the first few weeks have been a bit nuts with swing shifts, graveyard shifts, unpredictable schedules, and some up and down in the hours, it looks like he has proven himself useful and will be working 34-40 hours every week going forward. This makes him very happy and if he is happy, I am happy and if I am happy, the rest of the family is happy!

We have truly been blessed these last 9 months. Although our financial struggles have been the cause of many sleepless nights and some tears and a great amount of worry; we have made it through and come out on the other end stronger, smarter and happier. I have gained a very strong testimony that the Lord does know us and he gives us what we need. Much of what he has given us has not been what we thought we needed, but looking back, we have grown closer as spouses and family, friends have come into our lives that wouldn't have otherwise and we have learned to serve and be served. Waiting on the Lord is never easy, but he always comes through.

I don't know if anyone else would agree with me, but my faith has been strengthened and I don't worry as much anymore. I have learned to do what I am asked and have patience and faith and I have seen it all work out.

Off to Bountiful Baskets (a story for another day). Remember to Live for yourself and others, Love like it was your last day on earth, and Laugh more then you Cry!!