Just looked at my blog and realized it’s been a month since the last time I wrote. It’s been a busy, productive month. Some things going on in my life right now.

• diligently creating margin in my life and family
• getting house ready to sell
• stripped wallpaper in bathroom, repairing walls and painting
• loving my husband and kids
• working on a bazillion projects at work
• looking forward to michael’s mom coming to visit next week
• working with some of the most incredible interns, luv u guys
• checking out various options of where to live (in Wilmington)
• meeting with realtor
• got to clean my house
• started a second job
• meeting some of the most incredible people on the planet
• getting ready for double services starting Aug. 30

Ok, well I think that does it. Um, I think I’m forgetting something…

Those of you who’ve read my previous budgeting posts know that before the beginning of this year I budgeted for all of 2009. It was great, I was prepared for the year and felt good about the challenges ahead.

Recently we hit some speed bumps and roadblocks. Some of them are…We’ve received two very unwanted hikes on our auto insurance and home insurance premiums. My car is way too old, needs 4 new tires and sounds like it’s going to fall apart. My clothes dryer sounds like a donkey with a bad cold. I got very sick and had to go to Medac twice and received to big bills and two not so big bills (but they were bills none the less)… we have no health insurance.

Meanwhile I have dreams and desires for the summer. Ya know, like do some stuff with my kids and maybe take a vacation. I’d like to visit family and friends. Wanted to plant a garden, except dirt cost money. Amongst a few other things.

Ok, so all this could make me crazy if I let it, or I can look at this as an opportunity to learn from yet some more challenges. I choose the latter. So where do I go from here?

• First, I will need to redo the budget for the second half of the year. Oh, can’t wait until I dig into that. (I better make sure I have an ample supply of chocolate!)
• Second, I need to realize this will set us back a little on our time frame of getting out of debt. Too high of expectation can cause stress and produce a miserable attitude.
• Third, need to make a decision on whether this is the time to sell our house or not. Won’t help the other debt but will eliminate homeowners tax, one of our home insurance, maintenance and repairs. Renting might be a better option.
• Fourth, resist the temptation to eliminate fun from the budget. This past week, while our kids have been away, Michael and I have had a couple of date nights and spent much needed time together. Last week was a busy work week and we took the time and money to invest in one another, going out to eat rather than cooking and cleaning up. We also went to the movies and you all know it’s ridiculous how much a ticket costs, but it’s still fun to go.

The main reason I’m sharing this is to say if you find yourself in a similar boat, don’t give up. Use wisdom and what you’ve learned already to apply to your situation. That’s what I’m choosing to do. Oh how sweet it’s going to be when I get to say we’re debt free!

If you have not started a budget I will again recommend a book that helped Michael and I. It’s a great book, I WAS BROKE NOW I’M NOT and the author, Joseph Sangl, didn’t stop there. He has a mission to help as many people become debt free and financially free as possible. His website contains several tools and links. Why try to tackle this alone? Having the right tools makes all the difference.

Don’t give up!

Obviously my technical abilities are not the greatest. A couple of months ago I bought the upgrade for my blog, only problem is I have no clue about how to use it. I did figure out how to move my picture, but I am at a loss. So I’m up for any artist who would like to redesign my blog. Yes, this is a cry for help, but think of it as an opportunity! About a year ago someone offered to do this but I didn’t buy the upgrade and it never happened. I wish I did now.

So any adventurous artist willing to give me a facelift?

*Just in case you were wondering, this has nothing to do with my previous post

I have a desire. It’s not huge but I believe it’s something that would be good. The problem is that it will cost me. From some perspectives the cost would not compare to the gain, but it will still cost me a chunk of change. It’s not a huge deal, but for me it could really be a help.

I have to think and pray about it some more. One thing I have learned about desires like this is that if it’s within God’s plan and purpose for me, He will guide me and give me wisdom as I seek Him.

I get excited when I think about the possibility, but wisdom tells me to wait. I believe God will lead me, I trust Him to do so. No matter what, whether this desire happens or not, I know God’s desire is to bless me according to his purpose for me.

Ever feel like your on a rocking ship that just won’t stop rocking? You try everything to steady yourself and walk without falling. You try to keep your eyes focused on the horizen while praying with desperation that you won’t get sick. All this effort but it’s just taking too long for the boat to settle and there”s nothing left for you to do. The inevitable happens and you head for the side of the boat praying you won’t fall overboard as you loose your lunch.

This scene can easily stand in for a numerous of circumstances. So much is going on right now that can cause the best of us to head for the side of the boat after trying so hard not to loose it. The thought of loosing control freaks most people out. Let’s face it, most people like to be in control. The minute someone says I surrender is a moment they give up control, they have just given up their position. The key however is what or who you surrender to.

Christ paid the ultimate price for us. He made a way that no one or anything can for all mank kind. Loosing control of my life was the best thing I have ever chosen. I can not stand on a rocking boat and maintain complete control of my body and how it may respond. Mentally trying to keep myself stable is near impossible. The boat is bigger than I, the waves unpredictable. Having given up control and choosing to hand it over to Christ has given him the right to do whatever he sees necessary with me. I can tell you it hasn’t always been pretty and most of the time it’s been messy, but the end result has always been for the best.

Loosing control means freedom to me. Freedom from trying so hard to make everything in my life look like it just popped out of a glamour magazine. Oh thank the Lord for that! Loosing control means stability because God is stable, constant, he never changes. Friends, relatives, people change. Sometimes they can be there to help you, but sometimes they loose control in the not so good way and help rock the boat even harder. Sometimes everyone you know is unavailable, they have their own rocking boat or they’re already helping someone else. I don’t like to go through things alone, but sometimes I have to. That’s when I’m reminded more than ever that my God is always the same. He’s constant, stable and I’m able to hold onto him and allow him to hold onto me as the storm passes.