More about my life with budgets (spending plans...)

You know what is just absolutely crazy to me? All that goes on in a month. I mainly am referring to my budget because that is what I am going through right now, but other things too! For an entire month before I started making up a budget I kept track of every penny that left my pocket. No matter if I paid for it with cash, credit, debit, direct bill pay...whatever, I wrote it all down. Just when you feel like you are a wise, "minimal" spender...try doing that. It was absolutely insane! Even by the middle of the month I was looking at the sheet at some of the things I had done at the beginning of the month and it felt like I had done that months ago! Granted, part of that shock may have to do with my wonderfully, inherited, ever-failing memory...but let's just forget about that right now.

So I guess what was happening was I was picturing friends and other average Americans going to the malls like every week and just blowing their wallets. I failed to realize that when I go out shopping those 2 or 3 times a month (much less often than those money wasting shop-o-holics, of course!) and spend alot of money, it's no different. Writing down all my spending was one of the best things I've done for myself in forever! I still have my weird spending stages where I go a while without shopping then when I'm in the mood I'll go and tend to splurge. But now, I just have this big picture in my mind of this list of expences that just keep adding up. It puts a great guilt trip on me! I love it! You don't know how many times It would be SO easy to quick drive thru Burger King, or call in a pick-up for Olga's but I've pictured this list and how fast they each add up and I'll just find something at home. Does anyone else do that?

Let me tell you one thing though, even if you don't plan on setting a budget budget, track ALL your spending for an entire month! Make sure you do it all though, down to the last stick of gum, or it's worthless. You realize stuff you thought you needed or could afford, you can easily do without.

Kremlin

Isn't this beautiful?? I love different countries and how they express themselves in a way that would NEVER fly in the U.S. My dad took that picture yesterday and e-mailed it to us. It's the Kremlin building in Moscow. I googled it to try and figure out exactly what the "Kremlin" is and didn't really get an answer. Does anyone else know? I can't figure out if that itself is the Kremlin or a bunch of buildings together make up the Kremlin... and does the president live there? Anyways, it's so cool - thought I'd share!

An Excellent Wife, Who Can Find?...good question;)

"An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above rubies." Proverbs 31:10. I am SO thankful for all the people in my life who value and respect a person like that. I can't imagine how difficult it would be to live up to a standard like this woman sets if all you heard, saw and learned about all day was something totally opposite.

Tonight was the second meeting for Far Above Rubies (well really the first one that we actually got something accomplished in;). Tonight we learned to save. I know my moto is 'yer not saving unless it's puttin' money in the bank,' but "saving" money on groceries and stuff is good too! Our task for class was for us and our partner to go through this week's Meijer grocery ad and put together 5 nights worth of dinners to feed a family of 4. The coolest/simplest thing I learned from doing this was planning meals for the week AROUND what's on sale. I mean it makes sence, you get the ad at the beginning of the week, go through it a few times and list out what you are going to have each night. Back to making our list...we went through the ad writing down what we would need for each meal with the prices next to it. Assuming we had the staples (basic ingredients) at home already, my friend and I were able to plan meals for a family of 4 for 5 nights for under $30. It was crazy, one night was speghetti and I can't remember exactly but for everything we needed (plus salad) we made the whole meal for under $6! No wonder my parents never take us (all 6 of us!) out to eat that often, that's like a whole paycheck to do that! Don't you hate it when you are so excited about something you learned and want to help EVERYONE out but obviously you cant?? Maybe my mom will let me do the shopping, I wonder if shes likes it or not...? Needless to say, I didn't really think there was a whole lot I could learn, but I did! I learned! Now my next step is working on verse 16...when does that house I want come into the picture?;)

we went to lawrences tonight...

I hate when things in life seem/are contradicting. Like, for example...I always am burdened to help people. If ever I hear of someone in a tough spot I want to make them a meal, or bring them cookies, or help them move, or invite them to a church function...whatever the case may be. Either I want to help or I want them to be helped so I look at other people and think, "why aren't they stepping up to the plate? Why don't they help, can't they see the need?" I am starting to learn that not everyone has to have the same burdens, you don't have to (and can't really) help everyone who needs it in order to be a good Christian/person. The contradiction lies in this... I am one of the most unsocial people. I am horrible at meeting new people, and starting and holding conversations is next to impossible for me. Why would God or whatever give burdens that we "can't" do anything about? I realize there's about a hundred answers you could give that questions. Believe me, I'm sure I've heard them all...I guess that makes it kind of a retorical question, huh? But anyways, I guess I can be thankful that I am still having these burdens for people even though I've chosen to ignore them in the past (only to the avail of having much regret in the following days). There has to be some point where I quit looking to other people to take care of my burdens. Maybe I'll have a second chance at a few oppertunities I have passed up in the past and have since regretted.

My next question is something I am hoping you all could maybe help me out with. I should just ask Pastor Doug but right now I am just trying to study up on it a little first. I am wondering why WCBC has decons and no elders. The church I attended in Wyoming had both, that was new to me. Up until then whenever I read about elders in the Bible, I just assumed "deacon" was another word for that and that it was the same position. What I was taught out there (and in a lengthy discussion with a friend on my last trip out) is that they are two seperate positions. Elders are what are described in Titus (I think) and they are susposed to do all is says there but their big job is holding the pastor accountable. The deacons, however, are basically full-time volunteers. Men(I think it is restricted to just men) who are qualified in some type of craft that could help the church and they would be ready and willing to help. Then pops into the question...assistant pastors. Are they biblical? Do they kind of fill the position of the 'biblical elder'? I'm going to have to read more about it, but the main reason I wonder is someone mentioned in conversation that they think the way WCBC's leadership is set up, is that the head pastor is kind of all by himself with little direct accountability. I don't really know, just wondering if anyone else has any views on that from their studies.

Peace out - everytime I say there I think of Rob telling us he didn't like that phrase, but I can't remember why...so if you happen to be offended by it, blame my short term memory

Oh yeah - McKenna's new pictures are back that she got taken with her cousin. Click here then go to "Erickson" on the drop down list.

Wow, October already. Wings play their first game of the season Monday. I guess that's something good to look forward to for the winter. I did horrible on both my skeet and trap shooting tonight. We'll see if anything changes before next week. Thursday is Far Above Rubies. Maybe we'll have a class on finding a husband so I can put all this knowledge into practice;) haha You know what'd be perfect right now? If I could buy a house and find a roommate who only will need to use it at night. Then I can get out of my house now, have someone else staying the night every night and get a little rent outta them. Part of me kinda wanted to go back to school just for fun and another part of me wanted to be working at a kids camp next summer so that's why I was initially putting off my purchase. Now, realistically, I can't see myself taking next summer or school year off. Especially cause the baby is due in April. Goodness, who knows. Well the mind is yielding absolutely no more topics for discussion, possibly later. Good night.