What a transforming year!

I can't begin to explain the transformation that has taken place in our home this year.  After making some resolutions at the start of the year, we began making some changes in our lives.  We began talking openly as a family about our spending habits.  My children have been very accepting to this gradual change.  From resisting the urge to eat out when we are in a hurry to bypassing the almost daily stop in at Walmart, we have changed our spending habits in many ways.  The biggest difference that we have seen has been in our spending in Walmart and Kroger.  We just don't go to Kroger more than once a week unless we desperately need one item.  We almost never go to Walmart for food items because if we do, we will buy at least 10 other things that we think that we "need".  I have also learned not to take my kids into Walmart unless it is absolutely necessary.  If they go in with me, we are usually in a dead run bypassing all of those tempting unnecessary items.  I haven't missed these trips at all.  I have been able to spend that much needed extra time at home with my family instead of browsing the many aisles at Walmart.  We also have been more intentional about eating at home.  My kids enjoy this so much more.  We have tried to limit this eating out to one time a week.  This has meant saying "no" to some dinner invitations, but our friends have been understanding of our endeavor.  In April, after much discussion and prayer as a family, we decided to tighten our belts even more.  While camping in our camper over spring break, we decided that we could live with so much less than we have.  It is just "stuff" after all, right?   Our heart was really opened up to spending less on ourselves so that we could open our family up to more opportunities to give and serve.  So, as a family, we decided to place our six bedroom house on the market and see what God had in store for us.  At first, we put our house on the market for sale by owner.  Because of our location, which is off the beaten path, we didn't get much traffic or interest. At the end of August, we decided to put our house on the market with a real estate agent.  We had two people look at the house and we got an offer within a  month and a half.  Ahhhhhhh!  We couldn't believe that it was happening.  We love our house.  We have put our heart and soul into this house.  We began to ask each other, "Are we crazy?!"  "What are we doing?"  We shared many tears on the front porch of this house trying to decide whether or not to accept the offer.  In the end, we felt that we needed to continue our journey down the path upon which our Lord had put us.  In the end, we came to an agreed upon price with the buyer.  Now what?!  Where do we go?!  Pray.  Pray.  Pray.  We considered renting, but felt that we would be pouring our money down the drain.  After much research and prayer, we settled on what we think is the perfect three bedroom one story (storybook) cottage.   The kids love it!  Surprise!  Half the house means much more together time.  They are thrilled that they will be sleeping on the same floor as their parents.  Shocker!  They love being with us.  Who knew?!  It is all happening so quickly, my head is spinning.  We know beyond a shadow of a doubt that we are within God's will.  We are honoring him in our efforts.  He keeps opening doors for us.  It is amazing!  While we are sad that we are moving away from what we considered our "dream home", we are overwhelmingly excited about our new journey into financial freedom and our new found ability to tithe as we are called to do.  As a side note...our new mortgage is going to cost us only half of what our current mortgage does.  Praise God!  As a family, we are so excited about the new opportunities that we will have to give and serve as the Lord calls us to do.  So it is with sadness that we leave our home that we love so much, but it is with even greater joy that we embark on the new adventure that the Lord has planned for us.  We are overwhelmed by His love and His provision every single day.  We know, without a doubt, that our Father will always supply us with all that we need.  To God be the glory!

Bible Verses Regarding Contentment

Happy New Year! 

As you may have noticed, I am hoping that this year will be a year of learning how to be content.  What better place to learn about contentment than the bible.  The bible has some specific verses for us when we begin to think about contentment. Here are a few:

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content" (1 Timothy 6:6-8).

"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:11-13).

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5).

 Paul learned contentment and so should I.  I doubt that it was a state of mind that came naturally for him.  Contentment is a process that involves times of hardship and prosperity. Contentment with plenty is obviously not as difficult as contentment with great need, but Paul states he had to learn it in both states. With God's strength Paul chose to take his thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 10:5) and be content. That is exactly what I need to do as well.

Please feel free to post some more verses as well.

Wow! It's the almost the New Year, and I haven't even set my goals...

There are soooo many things I want for my family in this new year.  I am really searching for contentment.  That is what this blog is all about.  What is contentment?  The dictionary states that it is being happy within the parameters of what you have.  Most days I feel that way, but then there are the days that all I want to do is shop and spend money.  What is that all about?!  Do we really need all the things that we have.  Other days, I want to sell off all that we own, downsize to a smaller house, and simplify our lives.  I go from one extreme to the other.  There has to be a middle ground.  I have decided to try my best to be content with what we have.  NO MORE BUYING THINGS THAT WE ABSOLUTELY DONT NEED and NO MORE SELLING OR GIVING AWAY THINGS WE ALREADY HAVE!  My new years resolution for 2011 is to make our lives better with what we already have, and quit longing for things we don't have or even need!  I am taking the following steps:

1.  Shop at Kroger and not Walmart for groceries.  (Walmart is far too tempting!)
2.  Continue to give my children allowance once a week, but only take them shopping to spend it once a month.
3.  Stick to the budget that we have set for our family.
4.  Lose weight so I don't have to buy new clothes.
5.  Shop at the beginning of the season, not THROUGHOUT the season for children's clothes.  Once we have the essentials, we can stop!
5.  Plan ahead for gifts in order to be frugal.
6.  Less eathing out ... more eating in.  (Plan meals at least a week in advance.)
7.  Less going out...  More family fun and movie nights at home (cards, video rentals, puzzles).
8.  Consider whether it is a NEED or a WANT before buying.
9.  Most importantly...pray about purchases and spending.
10.  Communicate as a family about spending!

Well,  I think that about covers it for now.  Feel free to comment or add suggestions to help us on our road to contentment.  I pray that we can find true happiness in the things with which God has blessed us.  I will continue to update you on our progress.  Happy New Year!