Spending Month Update

We have gone 18 days without a french fry... or a Jason's Deli salad... or a Culver's Concrete Mixer... or a Domino's pizza... or a new shirt... or a new pair of shoes... or a new anything for that matter!  So, how does that feel?

In one word - FABULOUS!

Have there been times where we have had to plan ahead - without a doubt.  Have there been times over the last 18 days where we would have liked to take the easy route and go out to eat - absolutely.  Would I rather be wearing women's deodorant right now - an emphatic YES.  I can't believe I missed it - I ran out of my deodorant but thought I had an extra in my closet... it was men's!  Yes, I could get away with buying one at the grocery store since Kroger is on the "approved list" but I think that would be cheating a little since I NEVER buy deodorant at the grocery store.  The point is to do without in situations like this... so that is what I am doing.

I love what this month is doing to our family.  We have been "forced" to get more creative and think out of the box..

1. You saw what we did for a "bouquet" for Milana's dance recital.
2. We had already purchased the Daddy/Daughter dance tickets for Valentines but didn't think about how to make dinner special.  Since they couldn't go out, I made a white table cloth candle light dinner for three including china!  They loved it and we have wonderful pictures to commemorate the evening.
3. A sprinkler system pipe broke.  Andy found a couple things in the garage that he had forgotten to take back to Home Depot so with the return, he was able to "purchase" what he needed for the repairs.
4. We got free coffee grounds from Starbucks to add nitrogen to our vegetable garden beds that we are preparing for our Waste month (April).  
5. Milana's Valentine's Day party at school consisted of a Chick Fil A lunch in which every child was asked to contribute $3.50.  As I was about to get the money out, I realize that would break the rules so I had to make her a lunch.  When I told her, she totally understood and didn't make any fuss.  What a trooper!
6. Andy has a gift card to Starbucks and used to go there often to work (he works from home and this can prove challenging in the afternoons when the kids are home.  He feels like using the gift card would be cheating so he hasn't been all month.  He has found other places to work and to my delight he doesn't come home smelling like a strong coffee house.  
7. We as a family love The City Harmonic - an amazing Christian band that we all enjoy.  They will be in Arlington on March 2nd.  We are planning on attending but can't purchase our tickets until March 1st. We hope there will be tickets left since it is a small venue... but if there isn't, then it wasn't in God's will for us to be there.  
8. We are planning on visiting Andy's parents in a couple months using airline miles.  Well, there are $30 worth of taxes we have to pay in order to get the tickets.  They have agreed to pay those charges so that we can come visit... but they are very thankful that spending isn't what we are fasting when we get there!!!  :) Little do they know, just because we won't be fasting "spending" doesn't mean God hasn't changed our hearts on how we spend.  Yikes... and they probably thought we were pretty frugal before... ha!
9. We are eating better foods and saving money at the same time.  We will let you know what we do with the extra cash at the end of the month.  However, spending on others in need is always okay - even during our spending fast - with that in mind we may not have much left over.  It has been a huge blessing for our entire family to be able to help others in need - which has probably changed us the most.  

So, we have learned to be creative - but what have we learned about God?  

We have already decided that once this month is over, we will continue our spending fast in a modified form so that we can continue to have extra funds to help others.  I mean isn't that what Jesus asks us to do anyway?  "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brother, you did it to me." Matt 25:40.  Our blog is Love2540... get it!  :) 

We have learned that if you truly want to feel God's will for your life - feel His blessings - feel Him intimately, go out and help people in need!  Sacrifice something - 1 Starbucks drink per day, 1 restaurant meal per week, whatever it is that you freely spend on each week but could do without - then take that money and help someone who needs it.  If you can't find anyone who needs help, contact me - I have found many people in need while preparing for our Possessions month (March).  Just that act of obedience in and of itself will bless you immeasurably.  No one is asking you to give up spending to the extent that we have this past month... just start with a little sacrifice.  It just might change you... you just might get addicted to helping others... you just might step it up another notch because it feels so good to say YES to God in this area.  Go for it!  What do you have to lose???  :)

Day 2 - Temptation

I promise - you are not going to get a day by day, play by play for the next seven months.  But I do want to share when we feel moved by the Holy Spirit.

Today was a great day - A surprise visit from my amazing cousin, Janna... Milana's precious winter ballet/tap recital... an incredible message at church (Matt has started Nehemiah)... and amazing weather!!!

As we were leaving church, several of our friends decided to go out to dinner.  And as each one asked us if we were going, we had to decline the invitation.  I will admit, I was sad as I kept having to say no.  But as Marbella, Milana, Andy, and I sat down for dinner at our own kitchen table, Andy began to bless our food.  He gave thanks for the opportunity to worship our sweet Savior by being obedient to His call to avoid extra spending this month.  At that moment, everything felt right.  Yes, I missed being able to have an evening of fellowship with my friends, but at that very moment I knew I was exactly where God wanted me to be, doing exactly what He wanted me be doing.  One thing I have been learning over the past few months, there is absolutely no better place to be than in His obedience.  It could be something as easy as saying no to an evening with friends or as challenging as an adoption... when you do something in obedience, you will never regret it.  Don't be afraid to say "YES" to the nudging of the Holy Spirit.

By the way - Milana loved her Minnie Mouse lollipop bouquet!!!  Cost - $0.00 :)

 

Day 1 - Cheating so soon???

Day one was off to a great start...

Andy joined Marbella at her school today for lunch.  What did he do differently this time?  He packed his lunch instead of running through a fast food establishment.  Yay... score 1 for the Green Team!  :)

Then I realized Milana's ballet recital is tomorrow and I need to get creative - yes, flowers are available at Kroger but I really want to avoid unnecessary expenditures - even at the approved places!  So, I made a card as well as a sucker bouquet and attached it to her favorite Minnie Mouse.  I am on a roll...

Minnie Mouse with a lollipop bouquet

At this point I am really excited because I'm not planning on even going to one of the 7 "approved" places.  No money will be spent today... UNTIL...

Andy and I were talking and we heard a lawn care service mowing someone's lawn around us.  Then as I look out the window I realize they are mowing OUR LAWN!  What???  They don't come during the winter months except maybe once every 6 to 8 weeks to help clean up the leaves and get our beds looking good.  Until regular lawn care is needed, we give them freedom to decide when they come and it is usually a nice surprise!  Key word - usually!

I have a look of horror on my face when I see them - as did Andy... for about 30 seconds.  Then this huge smile forms on his face as he sees them take several bags of leaves to their truck - a job he thought he was going to have to do himself over the weekend.

Are you serious?  You could not have come yesterday or even the day before... you had to come today???  The first day of our fast and we have already blown it. Yikes... I sure hope tomorrow ends up with better results!