Everyone has a Hustle

One day my husband’s uncle told me that everyone has a hustle.  He then proceeded to ask me about my hustle.  I promptly answered that I go to work 8 hours a day and come home and enjoy my family.  I laugh as I look back on that day because I realize that many people we meet in life do have a motive or an agenda and I often find myself thinking, “What is their hustle?”  Today, I probably would answer that question differently.  It might sound something like this, “Kate is my name and couponing is my game.”

Life doesn’t always turn out the way that we plan it.  One year into our marriage, my husband started getting violent ill each morning.  He fought through it and continued to head into work.  Then he stated having difficulty hearing and doctors said that tubes in his ears would alleviate the problem.  We went to the hospital thinking that we would be out in an hour or so and on our way to have a much-needed lunch date.  The nurses began to scurry around and we soon learned that they couldn’t do the ear procedure because my husband’s kidneys were failing. He needed emergency dialysis.  At the age of 29, this was not how I planned for life to go.  This leads me back to that idea of having a hustle.  I soon realized that if we were just making ends meet on two incomes, that one income over the next year would be nearly impossible. 

One of the only things that my husband could drink during that time was Cranberry juice – the 100% juice variety.  If there is anything I hate, it is telling my husband or kids that we can’t afford something.  I knew that there just had to be a way to get the juice he needed; and so my hustle began.  Maybe I went a little overboard as my husband shook his head in amazement seeing 9 bottles of cranberry juice on the counter.  Through watching sales and using coupons, I spent less than $9.00 for what would have previously cost us $36.00.  If I had figured this out as an amateur, what could I get if I put a little effort into this couponing idea? 

I know what is like to wonder what you will do for Christmas . . . to face a mountain of bills . . . to wonder when things will change. Our story doesn’t end in struggle and loss but one of victory.  There were many hard days but God never left our side.  Our bills were paid and my husband received a double transplant.  I continue to coupon and watch for sales knowing that saving money each week on groceries will allow my family to enjoy other things and to be able to bless those around us. Yes, I will admit it.  I get a rush from getting things for free or discounted.  Not things that we would never use or enjoy but what our family really wants.  There is a thrill in walking out of the store with things that you got for free legally.  Who knows, you may see me with my purse-sized coupon bag in a store near you! 

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Do you want to hear more about my husband’s story? Please visit "Still standing"

Family

I don’t have what some would refer to as the traditional family.  I live with my loving husband Nate and my wonderful stepson Trey.  My stepson Myles, stepdaughter Brittany and son-in-law Brandon live miles away.  We are not the dad and mom, with 2.5 kids.  We don’t have a white picket fence around our yard but we have two dogs that do their best to terrorize the neighbors!  Although not traditional, I would not trade my family for anything!

While making dinner tonight, Trey told me that homemade is “the imperfect perfection”.  It doesn’t always look like what you would find in a high quality restaurant but it sure tastes like something that you can’t get anywhere else.

People look for family in all different places and once again I go back to that thought about homemade.  Yes, family is that imperfect perfection.  Would we choose all the members of our own families?  I would guess that most would answer that question as no.  However, as imperfect as each member might be (including ourselves) there is something so comforting about being surrounded by those you love.  Our families share our greatest joys and our deepest sadness.  They know our greatest triumphs and our most devastating failures.  Yet somehow love us through it all. 

So where did the idea of family come from?  I believe that it formed in the heart of God, our loving Father.  God who loved us enough to know that we would mess it up and yet still wanted us to experience the joy that comes from having children.  God who knew that it was not good for man to be alone and He wanted man to have the companionship of a woman made just for him.