Guess am very influenced by public school education - their (very secular) warnings of over-population.

One of the preachers i (most times) enjoy listening to, has seven children - and he and his wife have been (somewhat rudely) questioned as to whether their youngest will be their last-born.  Being polite, he says that he and his wife don't know.  Nevermind, the question is really nobody else's dern beeswax, but anyway, he and his wife believe the number of children a couple has is the Lord's call.  The children's ages range from early infancy to seventeen-ish.

Seven kids!  That's alot.  Was thinking about their grocery runs.  Has to be two full size carts per week.   Just one breakfast probably goes through atleast a dozen eggs and a few more, two pounds of bacon, a loaf of bread, a two sticks of butter, about a half dozen apples cut up, a gallon of milk, a half gallon of juice - about $35 in groceries.  That's just  one breakfast of good quality food - not the cheap crap.  Lunch would probably consist of two pounds of cold cuts, a loaf of bread, a large bag of potato chip$, a gallon of milk - about $40.  One typical supper would probably consist of three pounds of good hamburg, three pounds of potatoes, three pounds of broccoli, one large loaf of bread, the other two sticks of butter, another gallon of milk - about $45.  Yeah, bet snacking is limited.  So, just basic groceries probably run at least $125-ish per day times seven days, equals $875 - and then there's things like laundry soap and cleaning products.  Brain tired, bet the weekly grocery bill runs $1k - that's $52k annually.  

Yep, first thing crossed my mind was the co$t, and two or three routine home maintenance issues the preacher had mentioned - and no, the only thing he fishes for, are souls for Jesus Christ.  But anyway, having been taught, again and again, of the adverse impact that we are having on the planet, a part of me asks (not that it's any of my business) why did the couple not practice natural family planning?  That's a system where, during the first week or two after the wife's monthly, the wife takes care to keep herself covered - not wear to bed, that long drapey, but very sheer, nightgown.  And the husband takes cold showers.  

(Yeah, nfp was rough at times, but my husband and i... had some very secular interests.)  Interests like, not having to sweat over those routine, but unexpected expenses.  And here is exactly where the secular mindset remains SO intrenched.  Having atleast enough money to keep the lights on and the car running (to get to work and back) ... uhm, "responsible" ... oh yeah, that can easily, real easily, become an idol - like a giant bu-duhh  statue, hogging up the livingroom. 

Have heard people go on about having faith and joy...and i'm thinking ...wtf!  She is looking at the very real possibility of losing her home (to no-fault THEFT - plain. and. simple!) and that minimum wage job, which she likes, isn't going to to get it.  In the fallen  world-as-is, homegirl needs to get herself a real job - and that's not easy when you're 50-something, with only "housewife" on your resume.   

So, i get a bit sideways when the quiver-full brethren go on about how women should stay home.  No, don't want to cause discord.  Neither do i want to simply simper, and look the other way, as young women enter what could prove to be a trap - one that won't spring until two or three decades passes, when it's like too freaking late.

Too late, because, come around 60-something, fingers and shoulders are known to ache.  Eight hours, monday through friday, even at a nice job, come evening, can leave you tired.  Can still remember gram, she had a good job - one that required using your noggin (ledger analyst).  Shortly before she retired (at 62) i remember her being so tired, especially in the winter - and she didn't have to deal with snow and ice removal; grampa, in his suit and overcoat, dealt with that, on those january mornings. 

More later.