We are beginning to teach Madeline about money, saving, and budgeting. She is also learning the difference between a chore and a responsibility. Keeping her room clean, putting her close away, schoolwork, and feeding her rabbit are responsibilities and she does not earn an allowance for that. Cleaning up the doggie poopy once a week, emptying the silverware from the dishwasher, feeding the dogs, & clearing the dinner table are chores and for that she earns an allowance each week. She has to put 20% towards savings and 10% towards tithing and the rest she may spend on anything she wants. Additionally, if I or Kelly have to do any of her chores during the week then she has to pay us the specified amount given to that particular chore. NOW ONTO THE LESSON, Last week Madeline did not put away her clean clothes which sat in the basket for 4 days. Finally, after giving her enough time, in my mind, I began to put her clothes away and start adding by 5¢ per clothing item. Madeline finally caught on at about 30¢ and began to quickly put away her clothes. When all was said and done I had put away 17 clothing items. Tonight when she it was time to pay her her allowance she had to pay me 85¢ which she was not happy about. She cried and pleaded that she did not have to pay me but in the gave in and cried for about ten minutes after I put the money in my jar.
As I have come to know, normal after the death of my mother was not what it was, it is a different normal if there is such a thing. With her death my life changed and it will never be as it was, how can it be. After I experienced the unmeasurable pain of my mother's death the best that I have been able to do is to learn to live without her and it has not been easy. The pain of her loss has weakened over the past 5 years but not by much. Daily thoughts of her come to mind and memories . (good and not so good) come flooding back and at that instant joy and sadness fill my heart ~ a smile creases my lips as tears fall from my eyes. 
The only thing I have been able to cling to is the promise and peace God gave me upon my pleading. My prayers for my mother's physical healing were not answered but God did give me a peace that I cannot explain that has carried me through until now, through the death of my brother 2 years ago this July 16th and will carry me in the future
