Budding Entrepreneur?

What do you think?
Will anyone hire these two?

Emma created this flyer by herself.
I don't know if Natalie is aware
of what she's been committed to. :)

The flyer says ~
(and I quote)

"Emma and Natalie
at your service!
$2.00 each

Natalie and Emma
will pull your weeds,
plant your flowers,
rake your lawns,
and sweep your driveway.

If you would like us to do this
for you...please call!

We could do this on Monday,
Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
We do not work on Sunday.

Thank you."

At that price,
I think I'd be foolish
not to employ them ~
Wouldn't you agree? :)

Many Blessings,
Camille

Paper Route ~ A History

We have lived on our street
for over 17 years.
When the children were little,
I observed the paper route
family as they dutifully delivered
week after week.

Two papers per home.
Twice per week.

One family was employed
by both papers.
They were delivered
on the same days
to the same homes.

I was intrigued.

As they passed by our home,
on occasion, I let it be known
that if they were ever going
to give up the route,
we would be interested.

At the time,
our children were very young.
If I remember correctly,
Emma was just a newborn.
She may not even have been a
part of the family yet ~
I cannot recall.

But, I could see the potential.
And, I was right! :)

It was something the children
and I could do together.
The routes were
eventually given up.

But, not to us.
Two papers.
Two different families.

And I was back to square one.

This time around,
I called the papers
and got my name on the list.
If ever the routes should become vacant,
we were in line for the take-over.

It took time.
First, one paper became available.
And then, about six months later,
the other one.

Seven years ago this June
was when we began.
Austin was 10 years old,
Calvin was 8, Fraser was 5,
and Emma was 3.

It was busy.

But, we did it.
Together.
The five of us.
Rain, snow, hot sun, and
everything in between ~
We delivered.

And we saved.
I paid the children a small
amount each time,
and the rest was socked away.

After two years and four months,
we had enough money to
go on a family vacation.
All the way to Florida!

The children were very excited that
they were able to take
Daddy on a holiday!
Very excited ~
And so was I. :)

(Of course, travel rewards
were used and whatever we could
get for *free* was secured ~
BUT ~ the cash portion of the trip
was paid for with our paper route savings).

That was in 2008.

When we arrived home from
our holiday, the boys
took over the route as I was no
longer needed.

The boys were old enough to
do it all by themselves.
Emma was still too little.
Her paper route days were over.

Until recently.

Austin withdrew himself from
the roster last summer,
and Emma took his place.
(Thoroughly protected by her
brothers, of course)!

She's pleased to be able
to earn a little money again.
Actually, it's more than a little.
Since the children do it without my help,
they equally divide the proceeds.

It's a sweet deal.

Unfortunately,
that means I am out of work.
(Is a Mum every really
out of work)?!

Currently, I'm trying to
figure out a way to build up
my reserves ~ LOL!

Many Blessings,
Camille

Boys For Hire!

The boys keep busy in the summer months
with jobs for the neighbours,
as well as jobs for us...
and the paper route.
They also like to spend some time playing...
of course! :)

We have lived in our neighbourhood for nearly 16 years.
The boys have grown up here.
The neighbours have kindly allowed them to shovel snow,
sweep driveways, walk dogs,
weed and water, feed a cat, and mow lawns ~
FOR PAY!

Each of the photos below was taken at the job site ~
three different neighbouring yards involved here.

~ Austin mowing a lawn ~

We are blessed beyond measure with the neighbourhood that the LORD
has graciously put us in!
We did not *choose* this house to live in.
It was a "fixer-upper" meant to "flip" within a few months of purchase.
The market went soft just as we bought.
Six months later we moved in.
God's PROVISION!

We had not "researched" the area.
We didn't even have the house inspected
(more on that one day perhaps)...

~ Calvin "weeding" in full protective gear! :) ~

We had NO IDEA what a GREAT place this would be to raise children!
How WONDERFUL that the LORD knows what is BEST for us!
We thought we were above this place.
It was not "good enough".
I am ashamed to remember what we thought in those days!
We were like spoiled children who should have had this home
stripped off of us and never given another!

God's GRACE is such that we often are given what we
DO NOT DESERVE!

And His MERCY is such that we often do NOT get what we
DO DESERVE!

~ Fraser watering ~

Continuing to number HIS graces ~
daily gifts and blessings from HIS loving hand...

701. The home we live in ~ a gift from God!

702. That we have never moved house with our children...
incredible thought!

703. The neighbourhood God PLACED us in...
we never would have chosen it!
(Another incredible thought)!
We were so spoiled in our thinking ~ to our shame!!

704. That God did NOT strip this home from us ~
HE is so long-suffering and patient!

705. The neighbours who seek out our boys to give them jobs!

706. The three boys who God has given us to teach and train.

707. The promise God has given to give us the wisdom to
accomplish the calling in #705.

708. Protective gear when danger threatens ~ *smile*
(There actually was REAL danger lurking on that property),
which has since been removed!

709. Finding a news article about that danger "just in time" ~
The LORD once again!

710. MANY things (jobs) to occupy the boys ~
no time to get restless...they have been helping around here too! :)

711. FULL summer days!

712. Development of work ethic ~
oppotunities directly from our Loving Heavenly Father's hand!

713. Lazy summer days!

714. All the opportunities to visit with friends and family
while we enjoy the "relaxed" schedule of summer

715. Special memories that have been made...
the LORD is good!

A Boy and His Dog

From L to R ~ Fraser, Harmony, Buddy, Austin, Oreo, Calvin and Hershey

Don't you think there is something special about a boy and his dog? Beautiful thought ~ really.
But the trouble is, these are not our dogs...we don't even have ONE! :)

The neighbours have kindly hired our boys to walk their dogs for them and the boys have happily obliged. Two of these dogs are not "regulars" and one of the "regulars" is missing. This troupe is quite a sight as they trek down the road ~ what fond memories they will have of these days!
What fond memories I will have of these days!

Why can we not freeze these precious moments??
I suppose the solution to that is to enjoy each day God gives us, for it will soon be a memory.