The Life of a Home Mom

When Life Gives You Lemons…

You know for the past few years I have been knocked down several times, but I have gotten back up each time and basically told the world “Is that the best you got?” and each time the universe has said, “Really? You are going to try getting back up after what I just threw at you.” The truth is it wasn’t the universe doing it to me it was our own mistakes and stupidity. Hey, I’m only being honest here and ready to own up to it. Trust me that alone is a much bigger lesson to learn than whatever anyone thinks. We are taught things in life through our parents in the hopes that we will be these really great people. I didn’t know a lot when I got married when it dealt with being married and finances and hopefully I will be able to teach my children not to make the same mistakes I did.

when-life-gives-you-lemons

 

IMG: ClairekHoo.com

What I’ve Learned from Lemons

I’ve seen all the funny Meme (silly pictures with sayings) about “When Life Gives your Lemons, Make Lemonade.” I just have one word for “life” then…..I HATE Lemonade! So seriously stop throwing them at me. But on a serious note, I know in life we normally blame the world for all the things that are going wrong in our life. The truth is somewhere down the road we messed up and now we are learning from it, hopefully our mess up will be the one thing our children stay away from. We got in debt, badly got in debt and that of course effects other parts of life. I’ve decided to take this time to learn from this, so while I may not be making lemonade from those lemons I am squeezing each lesson that I can out of them. We ended up where we are, so now I need to figure out how to help us get out of this mess. I need to buckle down and learn to bake/cook/save money and really learn about finances. I know we aren’t the only family out there struggling and I know others are in the same boat or have been. Some got into debt and somehow managed to pull themselves out of it and are now successful and that is where I want to be. That is my goal, to get us out of this rut, get our finances back in order and get so far ahead that it will never happen again. Trust me, I’ve learned from this. I know that I will be in charge of the finances, I know I never want to be where I am currently at or have been at. So there, I squeezed the lemon to death and while I didn’t make anything out of it I did learn. Have you ever faced a struggle that kept coming back to hit you in the back of the head?

Lesson: Lemons are sour and when you do something in life it will eventually catch up and sometimes it isn’t as sweet as your remembered. Just like a lemon, you have to take in the sour in order to enjoy it. Face the mistakes and learn from them and then move forward.

Life throws Lemons, Run like Hell!

Course I do like the one that says, “When life gives your lemons, run like hell.” That last one, now that one makes me chuckle because for a year straight every few weeks life was throwing them at me and while I may have played softball when I was younger I no longer wear a glove. I didn’t want to keep getting pelted with those darn lemons. I got zapped with teeth issues, marital issues at the time, two kids had to have surgeries, another had a minor surgery, we lost the place we were living only to move into a hotel for a while and it just kept coming. Every time we seemed to get back on our feet something would yank the rug from under us. So for the next lemons life throws lemons in my direction that is did NOT cause, I’m simply going to get back up after it hits me (like it always does) but this time I’m going to throw those lemons right back.

lemonmeringue

IMG: Pillsbury

Lemons Make a Delicious Dessert

You have the Lemons so makes something good out of it, suddenly dessert comes to mind. Doesn’t it? I can picture sitting in my grandmother’s kitchen as the two of us would make a lemon meringue pie, to this day I still hate lemons but I always loved helping her make the pie and even eat it. Life has given me a lot of lemons that I have at my disposal and while I could just get mean and start chucking them at people and carry around the chip that many do I’m going to fix it. Yes, life is trying to throw more lemons in my direction, in fact this morning there were a bunch on my doorstep but that’s okay I’ve brought them inside.

I’m going to make something good of it. My plan is to work my way through it. You can’t have a pie without squeezing the lemons right? So I’m going to have to work at the life I really want. I need to learn to save and coupon shop. To live on a dime sort of life for a while and pay off on those debts. Dave Ramsey says you have to start small in order to get the bigger debts paid off and I have done just that. Just this past week I sent my first bill payment, which means one is paid off. I only have a few on my credit but I want to start with mine before I show my husband how to work on his. In the mean time I will continue to read tips on how to live on less or how to save a dime here and there. Got any tips? Leave them here, or if you have a life throwing lemons your way story I’d love to hear them, as I’ve always told the kids, someone has it worse than you do. So I’ll leave you with the sweet, sweet smell of a lemon pie. Yummm! Til Next time.

 

43 thoughts on “When Life Gives You Lemons…

  1. Robin (Masshole Mommy) says:

    That is a great way to look at things. Life throws me lemons a lot, so next time I am thinking lemon meringue pie….lol.

  2. Catherine S says:

    What a great attitude to have. I only like lemons with a lot of sugar. That pie looks really good.

  3. You have a lot going on….definitely make dessert and eat it next time you get some lemons thrown at you! I will!

  4. Jenni E. {Sweet Pennies from Heaven} says:

    I’ve never been big on lemonade either…..and with all the lemons I get, I think a pie sounds perfect!! We’ll show life, won’t we?! LOL!

  5. Thank you all for your wonderful comments. Yes, this morning I was in a bit of a fix (still am) but as you can see instead of getting all depressed about it I decided I’d blog about it. I love this community, you all are both encouraging and uplifting. I love reading the stories ya’ll share here and see the tips you leave. Honestly I’m actually thinking on payday I will make a lemon meringue pie the way my grandmother use to make it. I haven’t tried it in years. I may try using lemons in some of my recipes now too. Got any favorites? I loved reading that it wasn’t just me and others have been through the financial mess. It will take a while to get out of it but I know we have to swim through the muck to get to the greener side.

  6. LOL! It’s funny how silly phrase stick around.

  7. I swear there was a variation of that old cliche once along the lines of, “When life hands you lemons, slice them up and put them in a glass of gin” or something like that. So we can add that to the list, LOL!! Hugs to you as you navigate this rocky road. You are doing AWESOME by paying off whatever bills you can. Hang in there and try not to get demoralized, you are doing the right thing!

  8. I hate the whole lemon thing. Life doesn’t throw lemons – it throws gigantic boulders that crush you until you are strong enough to crush IT.

  9. Lemons last a really long time, like weeks and weeks. So you really do have to make something out of them unless you want them to pile up. I like your positive approach to handling tough situations.

  10. Chrystal @ YUM eating says:

    When life hands me lemons lately I have been making lemon flavored baked goods! Thats a bad thing according to the scale.

  11. I love lemonade… but not when it comes to life. πŸ˜‰ Sometimes we just have to make the best of whatever situation is handed to us.

  12. This is such a great post. Sometimes, the lemons we get are just what we need to make something wonderful in our lives.

  13. My grandmother’s Lemon Meringue pie was the absolute best. I’ve never tasted another one that even comes close to it. Personally, I like my lemons with whiskey πŸ™‚

  14. I’ve had a few lemons tossed my way lately, and I get it. I love the way you own your lemonyness (is that a word) and how you are making it into something yummy! (PS> I LOVE Lemon pie! LOVE IT!)

  15. Stephanie says:

    I love this saying “life gives you lemon, make lemonade”. I also believe the phrases: ‘do the best you can in the position you’ve been given’, ‘ can’t never could’ (my mother’s saying) and I can do better. God put us here for whatever reason, and these little trials and tribulations are leading us to self-evaluation and betterment for whatever He has in mind.
    At least that’s how I get through it all with a smile and lemon flavored wine πŸ™‚
    God bless,
    Steph

  16. That is indeed a tried and true statement. I have made much lemon juice in my lifetime

  17. my whole thing is, if you get lemons, make lemonade. or make a lemon chiffon pie. then, if you get more lemons, you throw the pie at the person who threw the lemons your way. either you’ll enjoy pie or feel good throwing it at someone, right?

  18. Great way to look at those nasty lemons. Next time I am given some, I will make a lemon pound cake πŸ™‚

  19. valmg @ Mom Knows It All says:

    It’s a great approach to life and problems. Sometimes it can be a little hard to remember though.

  20. Great post! It’s such a good way to look at things I’ve been trying lately too! After all I so love all things lemon!

  21. I really hope so too. I swear I could write an ongoing comedy about all the crazy/messed up things that happen in my life or all the bad luck but no one would believe it. Yesterday got horrible news then this morning I rolled down my van window only to discover I can’t get it back up. Another expense unless I can figure out how to fix it myself. It is just raining down lemons this weekend.

  22. Debbie L. says:

    Yeah life is full of lemons some days. I always say “What the heck? Did the bus of crazy stop by and unload a tour?” Somedays it feels like there is no end to the craziness! Making dessert is always the way to tackle the hard times.

  23. I hate lemons too, and am not a big fan of lemonade, but I have had my fair share of lemons thrown my way, so I have made lemonade and shared it with others. πŸ™‚ Life can be hard, but it is the ones that get back up and try again that come out on top.

  24. I love your outlook! And I love lemon meringue pie!!! ha! Great analogy for next time… and I know there’ll be a next time. πŸ™‚

  25. I love that, “when life gives you lemons, run like hell!” LOL I hope things look up for you soon and that you make many lemon bars and lemon meringue pies!

  26. Beth@FrugalFroggie says:

    I think if life gives lemons, you buy a bottle of vodka and drink it up. Sounds good to me at this moment.

  27. I always love this saying. Sometimes you need to take it straight on and just eat the lemons, too!

  28. Ann Bacciaglia says:

    Love your post…such a fantastic way of dealing with all the stuff life has a way of throwing at you. That pie looks delicious!!!

  29. I loved when u said you can’t have a pie without squeezing the lemons right? That so true and when life hands you lemons dont make lemonade make dessert!! I honestly need to read this, I wrote something similar on my latest blog post. I am struggling with you too so dont feel alone, I think sometimes when you blog you do have to tell the truth. So many people are only blogging about the good (including myself sometimes) and I decided to tell the truth to maybe help others. You do have to work through things its not always going to be sweet…it can get sour. Lemons are coming, but if you collect enough you can make dessert. I want lemon merienge pie after I keep being served all these lemons and I wish that for u too!

  30. Love adding lemon to my water with a pinch of sea salt. I also like to include lemons to a lot of what I cook.

  31. It’s great to see that you have such a positive outlook on things. With that mindset you can get through anything!

  32. I think this is probably one of the most important lessons to teach our children: we all will encounter challenges, some far greater than others, and there will be many times where things juts happen that knock us down that we could never have anticipated or avoided… but at the end of the day, thought we may not be able to change these circumstance we have complete control over our response to them. We may not always feel like we do but it’s true — we choose whether to let those lemons get the best of us or as your so beautifully suggest, make a scrumptious dessert out of them. .. πŸ™‚

  33. I hate that saying too. You can’t make lemonade out of just lemons, lol. I like your idea of making a pie. YUM!

  34. I hate the way the lemons come at you – it can’t just be one at a time, it’s like life pours a basket full of them over your head all at once! I think a yummy dessert sounds like a great way to cope though!!

  35. what a great attitude. I have had plenty of lemons the last few years too. We did have a little bit of “sugar” sprinkled over those nasty lemons, so ever little bit helps & just remember to smile πŸ™‚

  36. What a great way to look at life!

  37. Mary O'Malley says:

    That lemon stuff looks absolutely delicious. I really want to make a lemon pie now.

  38. i like the saying when life gives you lemons add vodka. A dessert would be great too

  39. When life gives me lemons…make a cocktail! πŸ˜‰ Hahahaha love that. Anyway, it is always awesome to stay positive. My favorite song about optimism is Sister Hazel’s Change Your Mind. Just change your outlook πŸ™‚

  40. I’ve always loved the lemons analogy! So important to see life from difference angles

  41. Doesn’t it come all at once? In 12 months we had Gavin, Got married, Watched our home burn down with everything we owned in it, and then 2 months later my husband broke his leg that landed him in the hospital for 3 weeks because of complications. Through all that we had to take our ins. to court because they were only offering 1/3 of our damages. I always look back when I see the bumps before me. I’ve jumped mountains. It might be hard but with the right people beside me I know I can climb them all, even if it does suck. Hang in there. Hugs!

  42. That’s funny, especially for those who don’t like lemonade. I do agree that there are many delicious desserts. I lOOOVE lemon bars. Sometimes when it rains, it pours but you totally got this!

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