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themockingcrows · 5 years ago

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Tapping With Blue Eyes Ch.5: Returning

John/Dave

This chapter is NOT sfw! Also available on my ao3!

A return to normality, an attempt to return to normal routines, but even the best laid plans get hiccups now and then.

The day of reckoning had arrived, and John was not prepared. He was physically prepared as he could be, loading the car up with odds and ends his father wanted them to bring back, along with things like fresh bread and several tupperware worth of casserole and leftovers, but something still felt off. There was no way to prepare enough. Not when it was Jake out there with his tap just lurking around, and not with their experiences in the house preparing him only so far. They’d done well, the cloaking worked, but how well could he do it on a timer? How much use would it be against a werewolf’s sense of smell?

John’s father saw them off with hugs and well wishes, and insistence that they call before walking into the apartment. That they check every inch of the place before starting to cleanse it, make sure there was nobody lying in wait. Jake didn’t have that much patience, both John and his father knew it, but on the off chance he did.. It was important. Every i must be dotted and every t crossed if they wanted the best chances to keep Dave safe, let alone himself.

They parted on good terms with hugs all around, Dave having forgiven James for the intense moments of hunting him down to make sure they were prepared. It was rough for a day or so… but the good intentions were there shining through, and the stunt had proven his point. They’d worked together much more intensely to work on cloaking afterwards, till it was up to James’ standards at the end. Now though, the air hung heavy and quiet in the car, even with the radio trying to play the latest hits as jauntily as it could.

Some things just couldn’t ease up, and potentially being hurt or bitten by creatures of the night was definitely up there as the cause of the somber mood.

John fiddled the radio to turn it off when he couldn’t handle the up-beat tempos anymore, hands flexing on the steering wheel.

“So.”

“...So,” answered Dave, looking from the window over towards John. “We ready for this?”

“Ready as we can get on short notice since you wanted to come home so bad.”

“We needed to come back,” Dave insisted. “I ain’t gonna live my life according to some douchebags schedule, it’s my way or the highway.”

“Or the boyfriend highway,” snorted John.

“Which intersects with my way a lot, if you haven’t noticed,” teased Dave gently. “But no, seriously, like. I think we’ve got this. Just gotta clear the house and keep two goons away, go back to normal once they get bored and leave. Simple.”

“Jake’s the one who’ll probably get bored first,” John admitted. “He’s always up for the next adventure, doesn’t have patience unless he really wants something. It’s his pet that bothers me, I don’t know as much about werewolves.”

“Bet they shed like mad bastards,” Dave quipped, earning a snort and a grin from John. It wasn’t the best he could’ve gotten, but it lightened the mood a bit so he’d take it. “What do you wanna do once we’re home?”

“Clear and clean-”

“Aside from the business,” clarified Dave, leaning back in his seat and stretching his legs out again. “Once we’re safe’n everything’s chill again.”

“Hmmmm. Probably ravish you a bit, then maybe eat cereal in my underwear and watch youtube,” shrugged John.

“Ever the romantic. ..Wait, you mean just like normal hanky panky shit or are you thirsty?”

John flushed a bit and adjusted his grip on the wheel again.

“A bit thirsty. And it’d be nice to get a drink at the best tasting time, once we’re safe and sound again. It’d help with the wards and stuff too if needed, a well fed vampire’s stronger than one living off carrot sticks.”

“Your dad’s food was anything but carrot sticks, John, I think I gained two pounds while we were there.”

“You know what I mean,” John mumbled. “Normal food only does so good for some things!”

“I love the way you talk about me like a gourmet burger.”

“With the sweet potato curly fries on the side,” John grinned, delighted by the eye roll he got from Dave’s direction, the faint little smirk. This was more like it. This was normal. Finally. “Though I gotta say I dig the ketchup the most.”

“Gross.”

“Okay, I lied, I like the serving boy more.”

“Serving boy? Jesus, your dad’s mannerisms are rubbing off on you as much as the language is.”

“I meant waiter!” flushed John, changing lanes and speeding up before settling into a comfortable cruise once more. “Damn it, you know what I meant either way, give me a break for a word slip.”

“I think that was a century slip,” laughed Dave. “But fine, fine. Color me intrigued. How do you plan on ravishing me, hmm?”

“Oh, that’s easy. Once we make sure everything’s safe I’d make you ditch the shirt.”

“Make me, huh?”

“You heard me. No shirts allowed, they get in the way and hide the best parts.”

“God John, make it all about my tits why don’t you.”

Laughing, John shook his head and continued. “Pants’d be next, but I’d want to be the one to take those off. I like seeing your thighs flex when I strip you down. Might leave the underwear on for a bit, spend some time teasing you..”

“...Are we seriously having phone sex while sitting right next to each other, oh my fuckin’ God.”

“Hey, you’re the one who asked!”

Dave bit his lip, but grinned a bit. Okay. Play ball, they were almost home and he needed to not feel as anxious about that fact as he was starting to. “Alright, then. What happens after you tease me, huh? Can’t keep my focus forever with nibbles and teasin’.”

“Probably pin you down and slip your underwear down while kissing you,” John hummed. “And after a while I’d probably work into a handjob.. Then work you open bit by bit,” he said as if going down a mental list.

It was working. Dave’s pants felt a bit tight as his mind wandered away from the stress and trauma of the last few days, into something more normal. Something more them. He shuffled in his seat, adjusted himself casually, and crossed his legs at the knee.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah,” was all John said, leaving the topic at that as they finally took the exit for home and trailed through the blocks towards the correct building.

Once John parked, Dave got out and stared at the building with trepidation, John busying himself grabbing some of the containers to hand over, while making sure they each had at least one hand free at all times. Dave gripped his keys in his pocket, slipping the door key between his fore and middle fingers, bracing the rest of them in his fist. A solid pop with these would hurt a human like hell, maybe it’d briefly incapacitate a werewolf or a vampire. He hoped.

The apartment had the musty smell of trapped air and some unwashed dishes gathering unpleasant substances in the sink. Laundry needed done, chores needed catching up on, but the airing out needed to happen. John made sure Dave locked the door before he dropped the tupperware on the counter and stalked off to the other rooms to investigate, throwing back shower curtains and dropping to his knees to check underneath the bed as if Jake would be hiding there like a boogeyman from days long gone.

“Bathroom’s clear,” he announced. “Bedroom too.”

“Living room and closet look clear,” said Dave. “Fridge too, though some of my food’s gone. Fuckers.” Farewell precious bit of junk food he had chilling in there, you would be missed.

“CLOSET,” John suddenly shouted, followed by a thump and the sound of fabric being wrestled around. Alarmed, Dave darted to his bedroom door and peered inside, key back in his fist and prepared to use it as a weapon… only to see John wrestling with a jacket in the closet, fabric wrapped around his head and shoulders as if he were trapped.

“...Uh. John? You good?” Dave asked, slowly feeling the alarm fade from his blood as his hands sank down to his sides once more.

“Er. Yeah,” he promised. “Yeah, just. I realized I hadn’t checked, and when I whipped it open this came out an-. ….Yeah, I’m cool,” John insisted, yanking the jacket off of his head with one smooth motion, hair sticking up in several directions at once with electricity.

Dave smirked a bit. “So. The house is clear, then?”

“Seems that way. I’m gonna work on the door and windows,” grumped John as he threw the jacket onto the mattress and scuttled back out to the main room, Dave on his heels to put away the leftovers into the fridge. John had a new goal now, and till the apartment felt safe, he wasn’t likely going to be able to be interrupted.

At least it was interesting to watch.

The warding process was similar to the way it had happened to him at James’ house, but with the distinct desperation of someone wanting to keep something precious hidden this time. The stakes were at their highest now.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I’m staying over tonight,” John said when he rubbed his forehead and stepped back from the front door, going to check windows next.

“I’d have been shocked if you were going anywhere else,” admitted Dave. “...I don’t mind. I’d prefer you were here anyway.”

“Scared?” asked John.

“No! I mean, shit, a bit? But nothin’ I can’t handle. Nothin’ we can’t handle,” he corrected. “Look. You want somethin’ to eat, once you’re done with that?”

“I do,” John confirmed. “Make sure you eat and hydrate enough.”

“Wh- Oh. Right. Yeah,” coughed Dave, remembering their conversation from the car. Surely it wouldn’t be that specifically the same, they’d probably just wind up having the same interaction as usual when John wanted a quick drink. All the same, Dave fished out some suitable looking leftovers and popped the container in the microwave with the lid half off, and pulled out an apple juice from the bottom of the fridge.

Sitting at the table felt strangely normal, but out of place. Someone else had been in his home recently. Other people, strangers, had touched his belongings. It felt like the sanctity of the place, mess that it was, was disturbed. Tainted.

“Hey, would it be safe to open the window for a bit?” asked Dave without getting up. “Air feels all dead in here.”

“No.”

“WE’RE OFF THE GROUND FLOOR!”

“So? No.”

“At least crack it, goddamn, I’m feelin’ like I’ll suffocate. It’ll be your fault, too. Here lies Dave Strider, he died because his stupid boyfriend wouldn’t okay an open window and now his ghost eternally haunts the goon becau-”

“Okay, okay, Christ, you win. I’ll crack the bedroom window,” muttered John, stopping what he was doing in the bathroom prematurely in favor of going to the bedroom to ward in there instead.

The change was almost immediate, some of the stale pressure of the room fleeing just in time for the microwave to ding on the lasagna. Dave got out a fork, looked it over, scrubbed it with his shirt and a shrug, and settled down again to eat. Was it just a normal meal, or was it prep for a vampire meal? He wondered if his diet had as much effect on the flavor as John had said before, if the strict adherence to good food instead of junk served that much purpose. Maybe John just preferred the flavor of home grown all organic Dave to a Dave in his natural habitat of burgers and fries. All Dave could imagine it would taste like was copper, but then again he was the human in this situation wasn’t he?

His tastes began and ended on the plate.

John came back into the main room by the time Dave finished his serving and sank back in the seat with his juice, watching the vampire pace for a moment before running a hand through his hair with a sigh as he took a seat as well and spread out on the tabletop like a limp doll.

“I think I’ve got everything now,” he said. “Should be safe..”

Dave sipped his juice and let John have a few moments of peace and quiet before reaching out to stroke the messy hair he loved so much, scritching deep to reach his scalp. John grunted and nuzzled his head closer to the hand without opening his eyes, seeking more comfort while he could get it.

“You did good,” Dave promised. “I bet the place is Fort Knox now.”

“Yeah, but for how long,” John sighed. “...What do you have planned for tomorrow?”

“I need to double check the schedule but I think I work tomorrow,” Dave said. About time, too. He didn’t want to imagine what his check was going to look like after the sudden time off. Ouch. Leaner month than usual ahead, but he’d handle it fine.

John bristled briefly, but under the soothing scratches to his scalp soon calmed again. He sighed, a heavy sound that seemed to come all the way from his toes.

“I’ll have to do my best to ward you tomorrow. I don’t know how long it lasts though, I might need to swing by on your lunch break.”

“You can just come get me after work, I doubt they’d try anything in public in broad daylight,” Dave soothed. “We’ll walk back together.”

“I’ll drive, I don’t feel like being that exposed for that long.”

Dave frowned a bit, but nodded. Okay. If that made him feel better, that’s what they’d do. “How long are things gonna be like this for, though? This high security?”

“Till they get bored and leave,” John said.

“How will we know when that happens, though? Isn’t no news good news?”

“Dad’ll let me know when Jake’s been spotted elsewhere, he’s kind of notoriously loud when he reaches certain destinations,” John said, finally with a bit of a smile. “No news is good news otherwise, yeah. They’ll make a move sooner or later, patience doesn’t last..”

“You keep sayin’ that, and I believe you, but I still don’t understand what kinda way they’d turn up.”

“Directly,” John said. “A break in, or accosting you directly on the street, or trying to abduct you to prove a point.”

A chill crept into Dave’s stomach, but he shook his head. He’d be fine. The house was warded, and he’d be in a public place afterwards, too. Things would be fine. It wasn’t like he was some movie hero who twisted his ankle at the worst possible moment, or went poking the hornet’s nest for no good reason. Every precaution was being taken for their safety, and John was a big guy who could handle himself.

“...You still hungry?” Dave asked with a soft smile. John tipped his head to peek up from beneath his bangs and furrowed brows, nodding a few times with a solid pout.

“Ravenous.”

Finishing his juice, Dave set the container aside and stood up, rubbing at John’s shoulders till the vampire straightened and stood up, embracing him tightly. Dave could feel the creak of bones that wanted to pop in his back, too tight in the embrace yet just on the edge of feeling a bigger relief if those joints would just move. His chin was tipped up with John’s right hand before a kiss overtook him, simple and sweet and deep.

Dave assumed he’d be walking to the bedroom, but soon enough he was being lifted beneath the arms, then tossed briefly to be caught again around the waist and ass, letting him snake his legs around John’s waist for extra leverage. Dave leaned forward as they walked to kiss the side of John’s neck, playfully nipping and biting at him with his flat teeth along the same places he knew John liked to drink from. The soft groans he earned were music to his ears, more signs that things were normal again as they headed into the bedroom and sat down as a unit on the edge.

Instead of letting John keep the upper hand, Dave grunted and shoved his weight forwards to tip them back till he was straddling John’s waist, leaning over him and kissing his face and Adam’s apple, shoving his hands up beneath the hem of his shirt. John only took his shirt off after Dave agreed to take his off as well, arching and wiggling beneath his weight to manage the feat. Greedily, Dave ran his hands over the shape of John’s chest, along the edges of his waist and back up over his ribs before gently scratching. The slight bite against his skin had John hissing air between his teeth and pulling Dave closer.

“Ah ah, I’m the one on top,” Dave reminded him, swatting at his hands.

“Big talk for someone who’s about to be on the bottom,” grunted John, forcefully holding Dave closer before thwumping them to the side and changing position, pressing him down into the mattress as he laughed. They struggled for dominance for a moment, Dave straining to kick up and away, John laser focused on getting Dave’s pants off. He slipped out of them to freedom soon as the waist was loosened, leaving them both winners in their own way. Dave’s socks were still on and a small patch on the front of his boxers was damp, pressing against a halfie that was only getting more and more prominent as John moved again.

Like a serpent he lunged forwards, catching Dave around the knee of one leg so he could plant his face against the inside of his thigh. Dave could feel the sting of a sharp fang drag across his flesh, the small beads of blood being lapped up with a flat hot tongue. He arched his back and peered down over his own abdomen, watching John eye the thin trail of pale hair leading down below his underwear band with some serious intent in his eyes.

“Oh no you don’t, fangs away if you head that way,” Dave insisted, lowering his hands down in front of his groin.

John hissed playfully and bared his teeth. “What, want me to stay down on your thigh instead?” he asked, teething at the skin again.

“Nnnn, no, I want you up further. Like. Up near the neck? You’re treadin’ ticklish territory down there.”

“Hooked on the neck, hmm?” teased John, releasing his grip on Dave’s knee in favor of climbing him, sinking down to rest atop his lover and plant his face against his nape. Dave had just started to softly groan at the feeling of fangs against his skin when suddenly he heard and felt a wet prrap instead, John’s lips buzzing wetly in a heavy raspberry.

“...Dude.”

“What? I couldn’t help myself.”

“Mood ruined. Like. Entirely. Mood has left the buildin’ and chartered a plane for who the fuck knows where.”

“You know you love me,” chuckled John, rolling his hips to put pressure against Dave’s groin just right, making him hiss in a breath. He shifted a bit and reached for the bedside drawer, pulling out a bottle of lube and dropping it to the side for an easier reach.

“I know I do, but goddamn man, seriously. A raspberry? I’m hot to trot and I get a raspberry.”

“Ah suck it up, it’ll be good in the end no matter what,” John laughed, reaching for Dave’s boxers and pulling them down and then up to yank them off, leaving Dave exposed in front of him with his knees parted.

“Big talk small dick,” muttered Dave, unable to keep up all the bravado with an erection twitching in the open air.

“Sorry, didn’t hear that. Were you talking about the amazing healing properties of my dick, or just how huge it is,” John said, shifting to his side to scoop an arm behind Dave’s upper back, the other going down to grasp his cock, giving it a few strokes to get him used to being touched again before jumping right into a steady rhythm.

“Amazing healing properties, are you fucking seriou-nn… God damn it, slow do-ahh, slow down, I can’t think straight when you do that!”

“Then don’t think for a while. I’m tired of thinking, I just want to focus on you,” mumbled John, kissing Dave’s shoulder as his hand continued to mercilessly move, making Dave squirm for him.

John’s earlier promises of touching him and driving him wild before working him open soon came to fruition, the lube employed and John changing position to let his free hand reach so he could piston his fingers and gently spread them now and then in time with the movements up front. Dave, predictably, was unable to shut his mouth and kept chattering the entire time, shivers and all. By the time he was reduced to half rapping something, John covered his mouth with his own to shut him up, adding a bit of tongue for further distraction.

The sex was hurried compared to the teasing, John near his limit of resisting biting as it was from how sweet Dave smelled to him and the earlier samples. John hauled Dave into a few different positions once he'd shoved his pants down to his knees, holding his arms for stability to hammer against him easier, before they wound up in a close embrace as usual for the sweeter ending. The second Dave climaxed, John bit and began to drink, his own hips stuttering helplessly till he joined him blissfully after. He was cautious to not take too much, no matter how strong the urge to glut himself was, and carefully lapped at the site afterwards till the clots formed.

Light headed and satisfied, Dave felt like he was floating, and clung tight to John’s shoulders with a soft hum as he slowly came down. It was strange. Every time John drank from him like this, it always seemed like it took so much longer to come down from orgasm, to lose the high. He was content to drift with his eyes half opened, watching colors and lights shift above him, feeling and hearing John’s racing heartbeat thudding above him. Though he tried to stay awake, fighting the effects of the blood loss, the nap crept up on Dave and dragged him under like so many times before. John rolled to the side once Dave was out and bundled him up, curling around him tightly to make sure he was okay, overly awake and hyper alert now that he’d had a feeding.

Everything had a distinct scent, a sound, a feeling. The wards he’d placed felt secure, but the gap in the bathroom bothered him.. He’d work on that as soon as he got up, but for now just listening closely would be good enough. If he needed to, he’d fight with his pants around his knees. Didn’t matter, so long as Dave was safe and they could have a sense of normality again.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“John, really, I’m good. I’ve gotta go in, they were chill enough with me takin’ a few days when I shouldn’t have normally been able to, and now I gotta pay back the shifts I swapped,” Dave insisted, already dressed for work but still looking gray in the face. He’d not gotten as much rest as anticipated before the call came bright and early the next morning instead of the planned for early afternoon to closing shift, foiling some of John’s planning. His own schedule was getting complicated again, but not too wild yet. Not too wild for this.

“Are you sure? We could take you to the doctor or- wait, no, that’d be a bad idea if they’re not one of the okay ones,” grimaced John. “Do you need anything? Do you have snacks? Did you take your supplement? Did you drink enough wa-”

“John. You’re doin’ the thing again,” Dave said as he leaned down to tie his shoes. “It’s gonna suck but it won’t kill me. Worst thing’s worse I faint or somethin’ and have to come home early.”

John clamped his mouth shut and shifted his weight from side to side, hands up and begging to touch, to comfort, to assist. Slowly though he lowered them and nodded, taking a deep breath.

“Right, then. I’ll give you a ride at least. What time will you get off?”

“They said two, but it’ll prolly be a bit later than that.”

“Two? Three?” he asked to confirm, trying to think. “I should be able to be there. I’ll pick you up so you don’t have to walk.”

“That’ll be good. ...Maybe bring a snack with you?” Dave asked with a bit of a smile, trying to give John something he could do without setting off the mother hen side he was trying to keep in containment.

They chattered on the way out the door and to the car, John overly alert still and quick to place a protective hand on the small of Dave’s back as they walked. The radio was left off for the drive, the quiet soothing, calming as Dave continued to psych himself up for his shift. The shop was high energy, but surely if he paced himself he’d rally. This wasn’t the first time John had drank from him too close to work, but admittedly this felt different from usual. There was more stress involved than just wondering how many hours till a snack and a nap, what with the visitors lurking around town somewhere.

A kiss before they parted, John leaning over the middle of the seats to follow Dave as he pulled back for just a second more of contact, and Dave was closing his door and walking in the back to the smell of coffee and simple pastries and snacks. His coworkers welcomed him back, asking how he felt, and based on his appearance weren’t too surprised when he said he still didn’t feel 100% back to normal.

At least there was some understanding from the people around him. Dave pulled his apron on and went behind the counter, immediately starting to help make drinks and heat food items for the growing line in front of them. The grind was predictable, soothing in a looping way, unchanging. Not a challenge mentally so much as a challenge keeping physically upright in the warmth of the line. Things slowed down a while before noon, and Dave was barely keeping it together, the only one behind the counter now as he pushed a broom around to tidy the area from the earlier rushing around.

“Hey. Can I get a large double-shot cappuccino to go?” asked a voice, startling Dave from his sweeping stupor. Not the rudest hello he’d ever gotten, he supposed. At least he said hey first instead of just ordering and standing there like a goon. A look over had him double taking though and reconsidering the goon comment. This dude wore the same kind of shades as his brother back home, pointed and large on his angular face. He looked sharp, all edges, clothes comfortable and baggy as a counterbalance to his features, his slicked back blonde hair that looked styled and crisp with hair gel. He looked familiar somehow, and not just because of the shades. Dave could make out bright eyes behind the dark triangles, and before he realized he was staring the guy smirked at him.

“Like what you see?”

Ugh. Great, it was gonna be like that, huh.

“Ah, sorry. You’re just the first person to ask for that today, I was kinda surprised. It’s been a whirlwind of special mixed drinks all mornin’,” Dave said as he went to work the machine, talking over the hiss. “Will you be needing anything else?”

“Yeah, let me get a few cake pops too,” said the blonde, leaning to the side to look at the glass case more clearly. “And.. I’ll take a brownie. Separate bags, please.”

“Got it,” Dave said as he fished the items out and slipped them into their small paper bag carriers, setting them down near the register before turning to finish prepping the cappuccino. Once the lid was on, he set the cup forward and keyed the totals into the register, looking up once it flashed green. “That’ll be $9.50. Cash or card?”

“Cash,” he said, sliding a ten over and accepting his change before picking up the drink and treats with a grin. “Thanks, Dave. See you later.”

Dave waved a bit out of habit before blinking, watching the guy leave out the front door, and slowly felt his blood change to ice. They didn’t wear name tags at his store, and he finally realized why the guy felt so familiar. The last time he’d seen this face, it had been on the road to John’s father’s house.

The werewolf was on the hunt, and far too close to Dave for his liking.

“...Just till two,” Dave said. Then he could go home and forget all about it. It’s not like he’d tried anything. Just a cheeky hello in a place he couldn’t be touched, realistically. Did he really need to tell John about it, make him panic…?

#johndave #homestuck #john egbert #dave strider #vampire au #my fic

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homeandsunsets · 5 years ago

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Honoring God in the Area of our Finances

We know that we should honor God in all areas of our lives, and that includes the area of our wallets! :D Since we are currently experiencing this pandemic and are facing uncertainty not just in the area of our health, but also in our finances because of closed businesses, I have pondered upon the huge importance of building a healthy spending habits, having an emergency fund, and also the importance of our continuous growth in compassion for others.

So how do we become a good steward and how can we honor God in the area of our finances? Here are some of the ways I know how:

1. Through tithing!

Tithing isn’t giving God a portion of our money because He needs it or because He’s just power-tripping. Tithing is an act of faith, trusting that God will provide and will bless the works of our hands. It is also a declaration that God is supreme in our lives, that nothing is ours and every blessing and good things come from Him. There are many Bible verses about tithing but here’s my personal favorite hehe it’s found in Malachi 3:8 to 12 and it says:

8 “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.

2. Through saving

There are different kinds of savings. We save for emergency, for a dream home or travel, for sending a loved one at school, etc. I struggle in this area to be honest, it’s not easy to save when there are many distractions AKA Shopee and green tea latte. Joke. Hahaha! One of the things that encourages me to save is the thought that when the time comes that a family member or a loved one will be needing help or support, we’ll at least have something to share to lessen their burden, even if it’s just a small amount. Another reason is of course, so that we’ll have something to spend in times of emergency and that we won’t have to burden others.

We have to understand that God doesn’t want us to poorly manage our finances by being impulsive buyers because He knows it’s not gonna end up well for us. God’s commandment for us to save isn’t meant to limit us or to be a KJ, but it is actually meant to protect us from the consequences of wrong decisions and unhealthy buying habits.

Proverbs 6:6-8 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler,yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.

Proverbs 21:20 The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.

Let’s do our best to manage whatever is inside the circle of our control. For the rest, those that are beyond our control, let’s leave it in God’s department. :)

3. Avoid borrowing money for unnecessary things

I have a friend who works abroad, her sister asked for a certain amount of money to spend for her child’s christening party. My friend was furious because her sister just asked for money days or weeks ago to pay for her credit card bills. Her sister has a family of her own already. Sadly, this is the case for most OFWs, some of their families think that they have a lot of money abroad because they are earning dollars, without thinking about their struggles living and working in a foreign country. Thinking that you can always ask and get others hard-earned money is a dangerous mindset. Aside from you’re giving unnecessary burden to that person, you are also creating problems for yourself that you’ll deal sooner or later when you don’t learn to live within your means.

If there is a special occasion, I agree that it should be celebrated, but we also have to be reminded of the reality that no one is requiring us to celebrate lavishly. Buy an affordable cake and make a pasta good for 2 to 10 relatives or friends. We don’t have to invite an entire barangay, wala silang pinatagong pera satin kaya we don’t owe them our handa. Haha.

“Minsan lang, para naman sa bata.”

Okay, really, para sa bata or para sa parents?

It’s not bad to celebrate para may memories din si bagets, but work on spending within what we can afford lang. If you can afford to throw a grand birthday party without increasing your debt or borrowing someone else’s hard-earned money, then go ahead. We have to live within our means to avoid unnecessary debts and be practical, especially if it means being debt-free and being able to manage God’s blessings well. And it’s a good life lesson for your child too. At an early age, they’ll know how to live within their means, to manage their hard-earned money well, to not be controlled by money and greed, and they won’t end up inheriting debts.

“Eh paano yung nagkautang ng malaki kasi may nagkasakit or nahospital? Yung mga magsasaka na napipilitang mabaon sa utang kasi inooppress ng mga elitista? Kasalanan ba nila na di sila debt-free??”

Obviously, hindi applicable dyan yung example nung gastos sa binyag so let’s not take it out of context. First, we have to understand that the encouragement to be debt-free is for everyone who can do something to avoid borrowing money. This is meant to make us ponder and reassess our spending habits first before looking on someone else’s financial situation.

Second, later on I will also talk about helping people in need. :)

Anyway, my husband and I agreed to make our anniversary celebrations simple and not too expensive (on most times lang, not always, kasi baka pag naka 1 decade yung marriage namin magpa-Jollibee kami. Hahaha chour) Wanting celebrations to be low-maintenance doesn’t mean we don’t value milestones. Anniversaries and birthdays are in fact very important to me, I make sure to celebrate them with loved ones and to really make time for them.

My husband and I have a tradition of eating at Cafe Breton on our anniversaries hehe we would order our usual (spag bolognese for him, egg casserole for me, nutella crepe and banofee smoothie for the both of us) and we’ll just talk anything under the sun. (Namiss namin ito this year because of lockdown haha) Our MUST topics: things we appreciate most about each other, this motivates us and make us feel kilig and valued. Haha! After sharing the things we appreciate about each other, we now exchange feedback and suggestions on how we can improve as a wife and husband. Over the years, humbling ourselves and admitting that we have bad traits and unhealthy habits, and by being filled with the Holy Spirit make us a better spouse to each other. :) Overall, we like celebrations to be simple and intimate so that the bond, the gratefulness for life and relationships will be the greatest highlight of the day. <3

And just to clarify, I know that there are loans that some of us has to necessarily make, like for education or for businesses. What I’m trying to say is, if we are to borrow money, I hope it’s not because of over-spending and living above our means.

Again, to be debt-free from unnecessary stuff is a personal responsibility. It’s not easy, given that we cannot control all circumstances. That’s why we need God, His mercy, provision and deliverance. We really have to be intentional in our prayer lives. :)

4. Invest or get an insurance with VUL

For a third world country like ours, insurance isn’t as widely welcomed here and not treated as normal as others do in the first world countries. So for my fellow countrymen haha if you have the extra budget to get one, please do so. I hope that you’ll include this in your prayer and long-term goal, and consider even if the coverage is not that huge. At least meron kasi it’ll be a huge help esp if you’re the breadwinner in the family, and you’ll know that you’ll have additional budget when you retire and stop working. :) God will also be pleased to see if you’ll do something that will let your money (His blessings) grow through stock market. :)❤️

You may also want to read Matthew 25:14 to 30 to better understand God’s heart when it comes to stewardship. It’s a parable about servants and their master who entrusted his wealth to them. :)

5. Share your blessings!

As I come to know God more and learn more about His will and grace, a heart for others became something more natural to me.

So when it comes to having a heart for others, I have learned that loving through encouragements and through words isn’t always enough, we also have to show our love through actions. As what is written in James 2:14 to 17 say:

4 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Helping others is a form of honoring God’s commandments and it pleases Him too!

Proverbs 19:17 says: Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his deeds.

Hebrews 13:16, Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

I know when we are in a tight budget, it can be really hard to share what we have. But even it might be something small for you, if you give it with sincerity, trust that God knows and sees our hearts. No amount is too small if binigay sincerely :) And money isn’t the only way to help others! We can help through our efforts. If we know someone who is struggling to be debt-free, to provide or to save, we can help through helping them monitor and assess their expenses (of course with their consent ha, wag mo silang pilitin sa financial planning please lang, you have to give them respect guys. Advice with care. Sa kahit anong klase ng advice pa yan. May iba kasi, pag di tinanggap yung advice or help galet na galet ustu manaket. Hahaha. Let them make their own decisions, basta ikaw nag offer ka ng help, nasa sakanila na yun if tatanggapin nila. Wag sasama loob natin. Pagpray nalang natin sila na mag make ng good decisions. Hehe.). Anyway, as for me, I personally keep an excel file with formulas, I monitor expenses and budget my money there. And we can also help by looking and suggesting for scholarship programs so we can help them or their children finish their studies. We can also suggest part-time jobs or businesses and assist them in the beginning process of applying for jobs or putting up their small enterprise, etc.

Again friends, I hope that we wouldn’t only love in words, in our tweets or Facebook posts/shares, but also in deeds. :)

Since we can’t go out due to lockdown, and we see shortage in PPEs and the uncertainty in businesses and jobs, my husband and I are silently giving humble donations to our front-liners and relatives. Please don’t get me wrong, I’m not sharing this because we’re seeking public approval or compliment from friends (if we do, you’ll know bec you would see photos posted in our socmed accounts and not in my low-key tumblr page haha) I personally, and honestly cringe at the thought of being proud of what we were able to give, kasi di naman kalakihan haha and more importantly hindi naman samin galing yun! All the glory and credit is to God alone.

And the reason why I’m sharing this is to encourage you guys that even for average earners like us, it is possible for God to use us as a channel of blessings to those who are in need. Even the heart to give is from Him! Our giving is only possible by His grace. That is why we don’t sincerely seek or expect praise from people, because we know deep in our hearts that everything, from our jobs to our health and strength to work and earn is from Him. We have nothing to boast or anything to be proud of.

And for others who posts or posted photos of them helping, that’s good too! Pwedeng active lang talaga sila sa socmed and they’re just sincerely happy to be able to help. We don’t know their motives, only God knows what’s inside our hearts so wag tayo judgemental sa kanila okay?

Also, a friendly reminder to ask for God’s wisdom as we give help to others. Why? Minsan kasi akala natin nakakatulong tayo but ang hindi natin alam, tinuturuan na pala natin sila ng mali or hinihelp natin sila to get away from the consequences of their wrong decisions, if ganun next time, di sila matututo and di sila magiimprove. If we truly love them, we wouldn’t want to see them create bigger problems in the future. We’d love to see them flourish and become the better versions of themselves. And most of the time, facing the consequences of our wrong decisions allows us to learn from our mistakes and win the situation next time. Sabi nga ni Lord, true love is wanting and seeking the highest good in that person. Lagi natin need ng discernment pag tutulong din tayo kasi it’s also a major decision, and all decisions should be prayed for kasi si Lord lang talaga nakakaalam ng motives ng tao.

Aaand for the last encouragement today,

6. Have and keep an eternal perspective

I talked about finances not because I want us to live for money and make it an idol, but to be good stewards of God’s blessings while we are here on earth. We know that money doesn’t necessarily mean evil, but when we love and pay too much attention on material things, it’ll eventually destroy our future, and Satan can use it to deceive us and lose our eyes on God and His truth. Remember that our only and greatest treasure is Jesus and our relationship with Him. He is our only way to heaven, so I hope that we do not lose our sight on our Savior. :)

As what Jack Wellman said,

“If you want to help others, tell someone you know that isn’t yet saved that they need to repent and be saved. The most generous thing we can do is risk being hated, despised, persecuted, and thought of as narrow minded by telling them that they face the wrath of God unless they repent of their sins, confess them to God and then put their trust in Christ. That is the most loving thing that you could ever do for someone. There is nothing in this life which could help someone than share the gospel with them in the hopes that they might be saved. The gift of grace and eternal life is the greatest gift there is. Why not share it. It’s too priceless to keep to yourself, isn’t it? “

So! Let us not forget to share Jesus and His grace, so we can one day get to heaven and enjoy His presence and each other’s eternally. :)

I pray that we will all be a better steward of God’s finances each day/month or year. Hehe. And I wish to remind us all that it’s okay and normal to stumble sometimes and to commit mistakes, let’s strive to progress but let us not be too critical on ourselves. What’s important is we depend our strength and source of wisdom to God, to run to Him always and that we would grow and improve together until He calls us home. :)

Have a rested week ahead!

#Christ

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paleorecipecookbook · 7 years ago

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The Epic Guide to Seasonal Eating

Eating more fruits and veggies that are grown seasonally and locally is optimal. Conventional or out of season produce can be bland and lacking the best nutrients compared to produce that has been vine or tree ripened and picked during peak season. (1)

The best place to start your seasonal procurement is by checking out your local farmer’s market. Most people who are growing the food that they are selling are more than happy to share information about the flavors and benefits that eating seasonally can have on not only your taste buds but the environment and your local community.

What is Seasonal Eating?

Eating seasonally means that you are eating fruits and veggies at the same time of year that they are grown. When growing food organically and without pesticides, the health of the soil, as well as the climate, will dictate what grows.

Seasonal eating is not just a vogue or trendy concept. It is the way things used to be done before mega-markets carried anything and everything year-round. Eating what grows in season is as sustainable as it gets as a consumer. Creating more demand for seasonal food fare supports sustainable growing and harvest practices as well.

3 Benefits of Seasonal Eating

Seasonal eating is a new concept for some, but it is rooted in simplicity and sustainability.

1. Buying local is good for the environment

When you choose your fruits and veggies while they are in season, you have more options of purchasing from local producers. Seasonal eating is tastier, and more sustainable than eating foods out of season. (2) Try eating what your local farmers are growing.

Because roughage is more readily available locally, it doesn’t need to travel as far to get to your local grocer or farmer’s market which cuts down on your contribution to the carbon-footprint. Less motor travel equals less pollution.

2. Seasonal eating is tastier

When you eat seasonally, your fruits and veggies are at their peak freshness and flavor. The weather and the soil want to start fruiting apples in the late summer so that they are ripe and ready to eat in the fall. It’s natural.

When your food has to travel far distances, it is usually being picked before it has ripened. When the food arrives at its destination, it typically needs to be artificially ripened in a hot house, which leads to fibrous, bland, and often rotten fruits and vegetables. (3)

3. Seasonal eating doesn’t have to be all or nothing

Having fresh, and not frozen, berries on the shelf of your local grocery store in the middle of winter is more of a luxury than a natural occurrence. Because of importing and exporting as well as pesticides, monoculture, and conventional farming practices, we can virtually shop for any vegetable or fruit any time of year that we want! We are absolutely a convenience nation.

If you were to only eat what is in season, this would throw a wrench in your current lifestyle and become a full-time job to procure only seasonal items for every single meal. The idea is not to make our lives more difficult, but to make better choices. You can add in bits of seasonal eating with normal grocery shopping habits to find a happy balance. You don’t need to stop eating avocados, for example, because they don’t grow locally. Just try incorporating more local produce into your day-to-day diet when it is actually growing.

What’s Growing & When

Vegetables are classed as either ‘warm’ or ‘cool’ season vegetables. (4) Depending on the climate of where you live, fruits and veggies my come into your farmer’s market scene at slightly different times. This seasonal eating guide will help you keep a look out for what is coming into peak season during the autumn, winter, spring, and summer!

Fall Produce: September, October, November

The beginning of the cozy season comes with the fall. Lots of sturdier squash start to show themselves as well as more roots and tree fruits. Time to start in on the soups and roasts for your meal preparations with these amazing ingredients:

Kabocha squash

Pumpkin

Delicata squash

Beets

Apples

Broccoli

Broccoli rabe

Cabbage

Brussels sprouts

Celery

Celery root

Figs

Pears

Sweet potatoes

Mushrooms

Shallots

Fennel

Try these recipes: Savory Pumpkin Soup, Roasted Beets with Balsamic Glaze, Brussels Sprout and Apple Salad

Winter: December, January, February

Depending on where you live, if the colder months do not have deep frosts you may still be able to buy fresh locally-grown food. Hearty varieties of greens, roots, and sturdy squash can often face the cold naturally. Cold frames and greenhouses may offer your veggies a little more protection against the cold.

Now is the time to break into your jams, pickles, ferments, and frozen berry supply! Roasting, soups, stews, casseroles, and other warming dishes really make this cold season something to look forward to. The foods most commonly in season during this time are:

Kale

Cauliflower

Sweet Potatoes

Onions

Horseradish (sweetest in the winter months!)

Rutabaga

Turnips

Chicory

Parsnips

Pomegranate (grown in Arizona and California)

Citrus (grown in Florida, Texas, and Arizona and sweetest in the winter)

Try these recipes: Warm Roasted Sweet Potato and Kale Salad, Creamy Bacon and Parsnip Soup

Spring: March, April, May

Spring produce is a welcomed celebration after the cold season! Many foraged items come into play like dandelion greens and mushrooms, as well as special short-season items like ramps, or wild leeks. Reintroducing cooking methods like blanching, steaming, and light sauté is very spring appropriate. Spring seasonal foods include:

Asparagus

Carrots

Leeks

Salad greens

Ramps

Rhubarb

Spinach

Morels

Artichokes

Radishes

Garlic

Arugula

Dandelion greens

Kohlrabi

Sorrel

Try these recipes: Asparagus with Mushrooms and Hazelnuts, Rhubarb Sorbet, Arugula and Leek Frittata

Summer Produce: June, July, August

Summer is like hitting the motherlode of fresh fruits, berries, melons, and vegetables! Summer climates can certainly vary depending on where you live, but wherever you are, this is your peak season.

Fresh and raw preparations are the best way to go for these warm months. Think lots of whole fruits and vegetables for on the go, leafy and fresh salads, thinly sliced raw vegetables, and lightly sautéed or marinated dishes! Summer seasonal foods include:

Berries

Eggplant

Chard

Cherries

Chili peppers

Sweet peppers

Cucumbers

Herbs

Stone fruits

Tomatoes

Melons

Summer squash

Winter squash (actually a warm season squash but gets its name because they store well through the cold season)

Salad greens

Avocados

Try these recipes: Beets and Berries Smoothie, Smoked Salmon Cucumber Bites, Avocado Salsa

4 Ways to Prep Your Food for Winter

As the weather changes, so does what’s growing. Part of eating seasonally is learning how to properly store your foods for the winter! Provisioning up by learning some tried and true storing methods while in the blooming and producing seasons will make for a tasty winter when you can reap your storing rewards and will keep you entertained with variety during the cold seasons.

1. Dry herbs

Drying fresh herbs is easy! Gather herbs into bundles and tie with string, invert, and hang until fully dry. My favorite herbs to dry are oregano, marjoram, and lavender. You can use the dried oregano and marjoram in savory coconut-cream sauces, or a more traditional tomato and garlic ragout sauce for zucchini noodles.

Lavender is delicious when mixed into grass-fed butter or ghee and used as a compound butter on your protein pancakes and muffins. Dried lavender is also delicious when pulsed together with other dried herbs to create spice rubs for lamb, chicken, and fish. Try pulsing dried lavender, oregano, thyme, white pepper, and a little Himalayan salt together and sprinkle over salmon or your fish of choice.

2. Freeze fruits

Freezing berries and cherries is the best way to enjoy your Paleo breakfast and pre- or post-workout shakes throughout the non-berry-bearing season.

My favorite smoothie to enjoy after a workout, and even for dessert, is dark sweet frozen cherries, half a banana, raw cacao powder, Brazil nuts, a handful of fresh or dried mint leaves, and a touch of grade B maple syrup. Add the ingredients to a high powered blender along with your favorite nut milk and protein powder, and you have yourself a delicious superfood shake or dessert!

3. Pickle veggies

My favorite pickles are a mix of cauliflower, fennel, and beet! Simmer two parts apple cider vinegar to one part water and honey/maple syrup, and add lots of fresh garlic, herbs, peppercorns, and hot peppers. Pour over your veggies and proceed to ‘jar.’ Your pickles will turn pink from the beet, and you may not be able to wait until winter to enjoy them.

4. Ferment just about anything

Sauerkraut is one of the most recognizable ferments on the market. There are lots of trendy varieties and brands on the shelves of your local grocer these days, but go ahead and try your hand at making your own. My favorite combo to whip up is Napa cabbage, red cabbage, dill, horseradish, and garlic. Shred ingredients, salt, and massage well to release the natural juices from your cabbage. Pack tightly into a jar, pressing down so the natural liquid line is well above the veggies. Cover with a cheesecloth and a rubber band and continue to press and pack down every day. Taste as you go. It is ready to jar, can, or eat when the taste is right for you.

Storing Your Foods for the Cold Season

There are many ways to stow away your harvest bounty for the winter, as well as kitchen methods to help you preserve the warm season abundance properly. Here are some ways to help you turn your kitchen, cellar, freezer, and pantry into a seasonal eater’s dream, and the best produce for the job.

Root Cellar

Only store produce that is in the best shape in a root cellar, or any dry and cool storage space. When fruits and vegetables are bruised, cut into, or damaged, they will spoil quicker. (5)

Longer storage life:

Winter squash

Sweet potatoes

Celeriac

Cabbage

Onions

Shorter storage life:

Brussel sprouts

Carrots

Beets

Apples

Freezer

When freezing items for storage it is best to lay out clean, dry, and chopped (if necessary) items out on a parchment or freezer paper-lined sheet pan. Be sure that your berries, peaches, etc. are not touching. Freeze 4-8 hours, or overnight, then simply transfer your now-frozen items into freezer bags. Better yet, use a vacuum packer.

Best items to freeze:

Berries

Stone fruits

Chanterelle (cooked first)

Morels (cooked first)

Dehydrating

By dehydrating your fruits and veggies, you are removing the water content from the item, therefore extending its shelf life. (6) You can make crunchy snacks by slicing and seasoning produce first before dehydrating, or simply dehydrate items to reconstitute later for a recipe!

Best foods to dehydrate:

Apples

Kale

Carrots

Beets

Mushrooms

Jarring & Canning

There are a number of ways to jar and can your foods. A popular at-home method is a water bath. The more fresh and tasty the food is when it’s picked, the more delicious the jarred or canned product. You can essentially jar/can anything, but when preserving alkaline and acidic foods together you must use a high pressure canning method to ensure safe storage and inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria. (7)

When jarring most fruits without adding sugar, be aware that your fruit may turn a little mushy or lose color, but also, know that you reap the benefits of not adding unnecessary sugar. (8)

Pickling

Pickling is a tasty way of preserving savory goods before storing. Salt and vinegar added to items like carrots and asparagus make for great snacks or wintery salad toppers during the cooler season.

Best foods for pickling:

Asparagus

Chard stems

Peppers

Tomatoes

Beets

Carrots

Peaches

Sweet potatoes

Pears

Plums

Fermenting

In the days prior to refrigerators, mankind used to heavily rely on fermentation to store their food through the winter. (9) This method of food storage nurtures the healthy bacteria growth of your veggies. Incorporating ferments into your diet may also be beneficial for optimal gut health. (10)

Fermented foods often taste of vinegar, but there is no vinegar actually added in the process. Popular fermented dishes include kimchis and krauts.

Best foods to ferment:

Cabbage

Carrot

Daikon radish

Vegetable and fruit juices

Tomatoes

Coconut milk, for a probiotic kefir drink

Apples

Berries

Bottom Line

Eating seasonally is not only delicious, it’s fun! Try new and unique varieties of fruits and vegetables and experiment with different, tried and true sustainable cooking and preserving methods, so that you may feed your health year round.

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donaldflower00-blog · 5 years ago

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10 Smart Costco Products This Busy Mom Always Buys in Bulk

As a food writer and recipe developer, I’m also by default a professional food shopper. I have all kinds of user-generated algorithms in my mind about where I like to buy certain things, how much I want to spend on them, how much of them I want to keep on hand, and so on. Even though I need to shop continuously for my job, and, like many people, I have a family who needs to be fed, I still get a little adrenaline rush when I food-shop. And thank goodness, because it’s a pretty big part of my life.