I think the most difficult thing about being in the financial fishbowl is trying to be positive about the Makeover in the face of real life. Yes, we are being followed by the CommunityAmerica team of advisors and coaches and the public, but we don’t always have great numbers to show or huge advancements in our accounts.

As a family of 5, we all want what we want, and need what we need. We all like to eat and shop and enjoy going to the occasional movie, too, which is what we did yesterday. The fancy restaurant Jerome picked for Father’s Day was Taco Bell. We wanted to see Toy Story 3, but not in 3-D, so that took us to Towne Center. We had 2 free passes, so 3 tickets cost the kids $30. Ouch! It could’ve been worse. We walked around Park Place, tried Italian gelato for the first time (yummy), and enjoyed some stunning paintings at the art show. Natalie finally found some shorts on sale at Macy’s, and I used a hefty coupon, and paid off the account before I left the check-out counter.

The heat and humidity helped keep a steady stream of complaints coming from the “peanut gallery” while we walked around, biding our time until show time. An uncomfortable heat index and 3 hot, sweaty kids made for a delightful afternoon together as a family. We did enjoy Toy Story 3 and I highly recommend it.

At a circus, the juggler amazes everyone by throwing multiple balls in the air and catching each one of them and continuing to throw and catch them. We are trying to do the same thing as we pay for each necessary thing while we continue to earn income. Balls hit the ground for uncovered medical expenses after hurting one’s back, up-coming church camp for two older children, and a bottle of Round-up.

These items have hit our ledger even as we carefully plan grocery shopping trips and look for the best deals on clothes. We are saving large amounts on groceries by buying some items in bulk quantities, such as paper products, cleaning products for clothes and dishes, non-perishable foods, while buying perishable foods such as produce and meat and dairy products on only a weekly basis.

Other items are being thrown up in the air for decisions. We are way below the life insurance amounts we should have for a family of five. The house needs repair of wood rot and needs painting. An overgrown tree is in bad need of trimming, but we still have to pay for church camp. The juggling act is a matter of waiting for the right time.

A new ball on the income side is a newly forming business, making wedding crowns and candles and teaching piano lessons. With her Bachelor of Music degree and years of experience in teaching piano, as well as her skill at working with her hands, Candy will make a considerable change to the income side of the action.