Budget!

Matt & I just spent part of an hour reviewing September's budget and checking that we were on track with it all (and we didn't have any fights!). Then we spent the rest of the hour thinking about Christmas/holiday budget and how that relates to our monthly budgets for the rest of the year.

In the past 7 months (ever since we signed up for MyTotalMoneyMakover.com) I feel like we've finally gotten the hang of doing a budget. We've tried a few different methods over the past 5 years of marriage from the "ignore-it-budget" to the "try-to-guess-everything-that-we-could-possibily-face-in-the-next-12 months-and-divide-by-12-budget".

Nowadays we do a simple "Zero Based Budget" and spend every dollar on paper on purpose before the month begins taking into account each months personal idiosyncracies. It's so freeing! And we feel like we've gotten a raise!! Seriously, we are always amazed at just how much money we have to spend. And it's great to spend money on things and not have that nagging guilt feeling of "I think I just spent the money we might need for the phone bill." Because I know I budgeted for that too! Thank you Dave Ramsey for introducing us to this novel way of doing things...the simple way often is the best way.

FIVE YEARS

Each year on our wedding anniversary Matt and I re-say our wedding vows to each other. We just finished doing it right now with Shelby jibbering along in the background and then participating in a group hug. Hopefully as she gets older she'll appreciate it and come to understand what it means. In the meantime, Happy Anniversary to us!

Matt, I just wanted to publicly say thank you for "recognising my God-given talents and gifts" for "listening to my point of view, encouraging my interest and working alongside me to further God's Kingdom on earth". You are my "rest when I'm tired" and my "comfort when I'm sad" and always and most definitely "stability when life seems stormy". I love you and hope to share many more years with you.

If you don't know how we met you can always catch up on all the ins-and-outs of how we met, got engaged and view more wedding photos over here.

Today I am celebrating my mother-in-law!

Sound strange? Well, it's because on this day, 29 years ago, my mother-in-law gave birth to a baby boy. And not only that, she gave birth via induction to a breech presenting baby whilst laying on her back with only a little "gas" to take the edge off the pain!

My hat goes off to her as I don't think I could've done that. Thank you Mum for letting that little baby become my husband. You did a great job raising him!

And of course HAPPY 29th BIRTHDAY, to my favourite man! I'm so glad you're in my life. Thank you for the way you take such great care of Shelby & I.

Marriage Quote

Matthew & I both love books. We try to enjoy books together and his mum gave us a copy of the book Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas last year. We are about 1/2 way through it at the moment and really enjoying it. Well, I'm not sure that enjoy is the right word but it certainly is thought-provoking!

Just have to share a quote that both gave us a thrill when we read it tonight.

Becoming one--in the deepest, most intimate sense--takes time. It's a journey that never really ends, but it takes at least the span of a decade for the sense of intimacy to really display itself in the marriage relationship.

--Gary Thomas "Sacred Marriage" pg 107

In this chapter Gary was discussing the concept of persistance and it's being a part of a good marriage. What he calls a "sacred marriage". One that is focused on God and eternity. Another quote which I think is great so I'll also share it goes:

Persistence doesn't make sense unless we live with a keen sense of eternity....Christian endurance is based on the idea that there is another life, commonly known as heaven, which is eternal and for which this world is a preparation. The coming world is so glorious, weighted with so much honor, that it is worth making sacrifices now to receive glory, honor, and immortality there.

--Gary Thomas "Sacred Marriage" pg 110

This thought is based upon Romans 2:7-8 which says:

"To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger." (emphasis mine)

Thought provoking stuff huh? I know that it is probably more profound to me as I've read all his explanation and other thoughts but it is a really challenging book. I really encourage those who are engaged or married to give it a read and let it's thoughts and principles seep into their hearts and minds and challenge them.

Disclaimer: Of course not everything Gary says it to be taken as "Gospel truth" as he is a fallible human so you will need to test everything against Scripture.