Our Little Family Runs on Our Big Faith

Apr. 29, 2008 - Another Confession...

Well since I was confessing yesterday I figured I should just go ahead and blurt out another confession today... I stink at following our budget... Stink with a capital "S"!! I know my weaknesses - coffee, Target (who doesn't go into that store and not walk out with 10 items you didn't go in for and without the 1 thing you needed!!), and eating out. Things that could very easily be avoided - but I normally give in to temptation to spend the little $4 on cup of coffee and convince myself that $4 is not that much in the grand picture... well $4 three times a week is $12 - which adds up to $48 per month!!!!

I know this is not biblical living - especially since my hubby has had conversations with me about how we need to stick to the budget and how/why on earth I spent so much. I pray every night to become the wonderful biblical woman that God created me to be, but I still give into the desire to spend some money unwisely, and I don't know why!! So today I have decided to just put it all behind me.

Lord, forgive me for the sins I have had with mismanaging the money you have so generously given to us and for the sins of disobeying my husband's repeated requests to not spend money on compulsive things. I know that if I seek you instead of the frivolous items of this world I will start again down the path of becoming the woman that you created me to be. Dear Lord, please mold my heart to become the frugal woman of Proverbs 31 more and more every day that passes. Thank you mighty God! Amen.

Something I will change or give up to help save money:

1. I fill the coffee travel mug or water bottle @ home
2. Plan out the menus 1 week in advance
3. Give up my trips to the nail salon. I know it seems really silly, but in the area in which we live this is not considered a luxuary, but a necessity. Well, at least it is assumed to be - even my husband deemed it a necessity... Yea, that confused me too .
4. Stay home more through the weekdays - take trips out 1 day a week to run all errands and try to plan extra errands around my daughter's activities.

I know there are more - but these are my weak points that need the most attention right now.

In my surfing of the wonderful web today I have been lead to some sites that have an amazing amount of tips, coupon links, and inexpensive recipes. I have listed links below to their blogs/sites.

Money Saving Mom

Be Centsable

Biblical Womanhood

Hope you enjoy and find it as useful as I did!

Many Blessings!!

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Apr. 28, 2008 - I Should Be...

1. Planning the rest of the week's schoolwork for my dd
2. Cleaning the "hot-spots" in my house
3. Packing away winter clothes
4. Preparing the meal plan for our vacation (in 2 wks)
5. Exercising

But I'm not... Today was such a busy "outside the house day" with my daughter that I feel I sort of deserve the down time. We participate in a Co-Op through the month and today was one of those days. I love it so much - and it's wonderful for my daughter - but it's exhausting! 

I realized that I haven't been the best 100% mommy as of late. Maybe a little harsh on myself, but with all of the changes and commotion in the family, I have really felt pulled down. Normally my daughter goes to Co-Op, Field Trips, Gymnastics, and two youth groups at church - but lately we have barely made it to Gymnastics and one youth group. I can't use life changes as an excuse anymore though because we are missing out on too much... I should be able to put things behind me and know God will take care of them. I know our lives are full but I have to make sure that my focus remains on what will be lasting in the long run - my family - and not the worry about the small stuff.

So this is me - admitting my mistakes and knowing I have to make alterations on my energies and the focus of my heart.

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Apr. 26, 2008 - Neat Post to Check Out

I came across this post as I was surfing around this evening. Hope you enjoy!

Proverbs 31

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Apr. 25, 2008 - Our Offer Was Accepted!

Our offer on the house was accepted Tuesday! I wanted to wait until we were in Attorney Review to post anything - just incase things fell through. If everything goes as planned we will be closing around May 30^th, which gives us a lot of time to set up everything as we want and move in slowly.

Last night I just broke down crying because of the worry I am having with the budget. I am a numbers cruncher and have our budget worked out a year in advance at all times. I worked forever, and still work part time, at a bank - finance is just part of me! We already have a plan to help build our savings back up, but putting so much money into the house worries me. The savings account is security to me and giving a large sum of it away is just slightly unsettling. I know it’s for an investment, and that it’s a buyer’s market so it‘s in our favor to act now - but it is still just hard to part with. Don’t get me wrong, after working with money for so long, I see what negative and positive things it can do to/for people - and personally I hate $$. I usually don’t worry about it - if it‘s the one thing I don‘t worry about. I usually have a great understanding that God will always make things work (even if just barely) for us financially. He always has. But I digress - seeing such a large amount go is worrisome to me.

My husband has been all smiles and excited about the house though. He has taken care of all of the calls, handling the lawyer, the mortgage paperwork, etc… I thought he just wasn’t worried about the changes at all. Last night when I got so upset, he held me close and tried to make me feel better assuring me that it would all work out. God never gives you more than you can handle and we both felt Him leading us in this direction. After I calmed down a little he looked at me and told me that he needs me to be excited about this - to be happily planning, start packing, be excited about decorating a new home. I didn’t think about how much pressure he was under with handling all of the logistics of the house and working full time and taking two evening college courses. He reminded me that I needed to build him up along this journey because of the paperwork and demands he is facing - and my little breakdown, in a sense, was breaking him down.

Anyway, I just have to be reminded that God will see us through all things and not to worry, but pray about everything. Those bible verses I wrote down earlier this week are such a blessing at this point. I will prayerfully help keep building up my husband and remain (or go back to being) a positive assistant to his needs!

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Apr. 24, 2008 - Proverbs 31 Website

I came across this website today during my Mommy Freetime… It has wonderful links, ebook (for free download), newsletter, and tutorials. If you get a moment go ahead and check out the site!

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