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Thank you, Susan for reading!  And I appreciate the affirmation.  No worries about the voting…I ended up ranked 96 and my goal was to be in the top 100.  The Lord's goal was for me to be obedient and I hope that I have done that.  Whether I win or not, is in His hands…but it was a fun and different way for my creative juices to get flowing again, regardless.

The FPU journey continues to be a kneading of the stubborn clay, but at the same time, very liberating.  I am finding out who I am in Christ apart  from worldly amenities.  Sometimes, it's hasn't been a very flattering view…in that I have discovered that I am or have been really wrapped up in "stuff".  I don't view "stuff" as a bad thing…and I believe our Lord wants us to enjoy "stuff" (in a godly context of course.)  However, I can look back and see that at times, my pursuit of stuff has taken precedence over my pursuit of Him.  That is the key to my money sin.  When I value a dress over my mandate to submit to my husband, then I have sinned against God.  

However, in case you haven't heard…GOD IS GOOD!!!!  There have been sacrifices on my part.  Most of which, I have survived just fine without or have learned to get desired results.  For instances, I'm a salon princess.  I enjoy pedicures, I like my eyebrows to be waxed…and I liked to be serviced & pampered.  However, I've discovered that when I take a Saturday afternoon, while the hubby & boys are doing guy stuff…I can put in some music or maybe a Hallmark movie…that my toes look pretty darn nice having done them myself!  I've learned to do hair treatments with baking soda and vinegar that cost me pennies, where before I would pay $30…and I think I get better results at home.  I can do it once a week v.s once month!  …the waxing was a bit more difficult to get down (a few mishaps with the hot wax in my eyeball…lol), but I did get the hang of it.  For 1/2 the price of one eyebrow wax, I can get the supplies I need to do my eyebrows 15 times.   

However, other things, that are for my well-being…were harder to let go of…have been a stage for God to show me His faithfulness to provide.  

My Curves membership for instance:  Exercise is key for my weight loss and since I hate exercise, Curves has been awesome for me!  30 minutes in and out and done…but I have a wonderful neighborhood to run in, I have access to a pool to swim in, and I own a treadmill and lots of other exercise equipment.  Bottom line was that I could not justify the expense of Curves.  Yes the other things would take more time and more effort…so the sacrifice was my convenience; not the health aspects.  So, I let my Curves owner know that I would not be renewing my membership.  I hated to give up the fellowship more than anything (I do have some great friends there; one in particular that I have traveled the weight loss surgery path with.)  But God was calling me to sacrifice and so I did.  …The next day my Curves owner called me and asked if I could do some marketing for her in exchange for my membership!!! (computer stuff and making sure fliers are replenished at various locations about town.)  This is a very simple thing for me to do!  About 1/2 hour on the computer each month and an hour or two per month of making visiting businesses around town placing advertising materials [and really, most are places that I have to stop at anyway, so it's really not taking any additional time!]  Simple for me, but because she has Curves locations out of town that need her attention & time…so this is something that would take some pressure off of her and would be worth the $35/month would be a legitimate trade for her!  How cool is it that?  In reward for my willingness to sacrifice my wants/needs for the greater gain of my family financially, GOD PROVIDED A WAY FOR ME TO HAVE BOTH!

There have been other things!  I am designing a website in exchange for dog obedience training.  Mysterious extra money has surfaced for me to be able to enroll in some classes!  Some friends invited me to lunch and I didn't have enough money in my eating out budget, so I turned them down and then I found a full punch card for the restaurant while cleaning out the car!

 ….and just this morning, after I had decided that I wasn't going to be able to take this next VW class, God provided a way!  It's amazes me how much He loves me!

Hugged by the Lord,

B-Marie