Shopping high...

No I didn't give up my previous post vow! I am working on how to manage my money better and after a crash course from Kate and lots of blog surfing I found some great coupons and deals. My high from today was from a trip to Safeway and Walgreen's. Walgreen's is a whole new world for me... Most of the deals are detailed on the cool blog Frugal Living. Here's what I got:

Spray 409 and Tilex Shower Cleaner 2 for $6 with a coupon for $1 off and Rewards of $2. Averages out to $1.50 each! Then I got another Rewards deal for Venus Razors at $2 off $8.99 and then I got $6 in Rewards, so that was only $0.99 in the end. So I now have $8 in rewards (basically cash you have to use in the next 2 weeks) that I'll use to buy the rest of my cleaning/personal stuff for the month. Oh, and I can get more rewards tomorrow with another sweet deal!

Safeway I had 4 manufacturer coupons that got doubled and two store coupons that totalled over $5 in coupon savings, and then using the good Safeway deals for the week (look in Sunday's paper) I saved another $38 or so. In the end my savings equaled my bill, that's right... I got all my groceries this week for %50 off!

Sigh of contentment.

No longer a Shopaholic?

Think I can do it? I think its something God is challenging me to try. I mean I love shopping. I find it a sport almost. If there was a competition, I think I'd have a shot at placing in the finals. I would actually frame receipts if it wasn't weird. I still relish the deal I got on those Banana Republic dresses (almost 75% off!!), not too mention the amazing leather jacket I bartered for in Italy. I love looking for good deals and fabulous things, but do I need things? I have a closet full of clothes and shoes. I don't really need more. At the retreat this weekend I really felt God calling me to see the resources He gives me as resources that are fully His. So in other words I need to be more responsible.

It was a bit of a wake up call when Nike announced layoffs are coming. I realized I haven't planned well for the unplanned. I have never even considered the fact that I might be laid off. I mean I'm amazing at my job right (I'm teasing here)? I think we are great at just living our lives on autopilot until something shakes us up and we realize we must change. It reminds me of many of the Old Testament stories where God had to shake things up because the people were apathetic or so entrenched in their sin they couldn't see Him and didn't recognize Him. I wonder if that's what God is allowing to happen to our country right now? Jody confirmed for me at the retreat that we are going into some hard times. I think its going to be essential in the future that we come together as a body and support each other. My favorite quote from the retreat was "If we stop thinking of it as ours but as God's resources we'll have enough". That's what God's challenging me to do. Start treating the resources He sends my way as His and not mine, where I just siphon some off for Him and the rest is for me. I'm just a steward of those resources. If He blesses me then He's blessing the body!

I think I'm supposed to fast from spending money on me. Essentials are ok, but no new jeans, no new shoes, no matter how cute. I'm not sure for how long, but for now I'm at least going through the Lent season. I'm excited to see how God uses this time to teach me and hopefully break some habits. Its like training for the marathon... I need to practice, because the time may well be here where there is no "you" in the equation but its all "us". How do we cover each other? Unemployment is rising and any held job is a resource to feed and care for the body and build the Kingdom. The Word says that they will know us by our love. Our love and community will directly be displayed and tested in this time. Are we ready for it?

Transitions

I don't care if you plan or are prepared for a significant change in your life or if you have the change pushed on you, it takes time and processing. I decided to stop working with the HS youth group as a leader. I'm going to stay on through February but then no more Sundays, no more Wednesdays, no more retreats (well unless I get asked to help with one). I've spent 6 years of my life working with this group. Its been such an important part of my life. At many times its been a frustrating job. I mean the kids don't see the mess they leave behind and it drives me crazy. They don't listen when we give talks and sometimes I don't think anything is sinking in. Then out of nowhere one of them will make a comment that is really insightful and it gives me hope. Not to mention its always fun to walk into a room and have your name yelled out excitedly. I cry often lately when I think that I'm not going to be a part of that anymore.

I've been working through this all in the past few weeks and I'll probably keep working through it for weeks to come. I feel its what I'm supposed to do, so there is confidence in that. I've actually tried to stop working with the kids twice now but could never really follow through with it. Now I'm on a journey to find the next focus of my ministry. This has been a struggle, because I really want to avoid another "position" of ministry. I don't want to do anything that feels like a job, and that I respond to just out of responsibility or because I'm expected too. So I've been more and more thinking about just building a philosophy of ministry. Something that I can just have as a standard for my life, and if an activity/event/interaction fits with that philosophy then I go for it. If it doesn't then I don't need to worry about it. I think this could be revolutionary for me. I am such a task oriented and responsible and loyal person that at times I've struggled with really ministering because of duty or because I want to really glorify God. This shouldn't be a struggle and it breaks my heart that it is.