Sea of Green$

Can I confess something?
If you know me, you probably already know this, but I hate to spend money. Both my sister and I do. We grew up learning to save and learn the value of things, but there is some innate thing in me that hates spending money. Why I don't know. I know it's not pride or fear, I think I'm just cheap and I don't think anything is worth my cash. I always think there is something "better" that my money can go toward.
Well today has kinda been about money for me. It started with a trip to the bank with a 2 quart full (and probably 30 lb heavy) container of coins. Ray and I way under-guessed this..

Total price: $142.10 :c)

The next number I found out was the amount of my ticket for "Failure to devote full time and attention to driving".

Total Price: $249.00 :c(

Next on the to-do list... figure out hospital cost. CT of head, sonogram, ultrasound, lab, and 2 doses of morphine..

Total Price: $27, 999.75

I don't have the official ambulance cost, but it was estimated at $1200

We were anxious to know all of the above so we can know how to plan to buy a new vehicle (total cost: To be determined). Then beyond that, provide for this little bundle of joy..


But won't it be worth it to see this man hold his own offspring?

(This is Nathan LaRue, a good friend of ours born last week)

So amongst this sea of $green$ that seems to be flowing out of us...

God lets beauty shine.
I took this picture early this morning before all of the above happened, because I like the first signs of spring, but now I see it also portrays a sign of hope. I live such a blessed life, and I don't ever want to devalue that. Last week I was grateful to be alive and healthy, now I want to grumble about something that doesn't really mean that much to me anyways. Mastercard has it right when they say that some things are priceless.
Thank you for letting me share. I know that some people have it much worse than all this, and I don't want to come off as whiney and spoiled. I simply am sharing my day as I experienced it. I also want to share what a good friend told me just a couple days ago. He is a fabulous guy with a heart for others and a family that just doesn't seem to stop growing. He admitted that they spend more than they make, when you look at the books (not because they spend on credit and go crazy, this is just to care for daily life). He also said that they always have enough. I watch this man work hard, give his time and money to others, support a household, and trust a God who is bigger than this all. And he always has enough.

"And those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you."

—Psalm 9:10