budgeting.

budgeting is exhausting. i am rather obsessed right now, but honestly. every time i sit down to look at something, i realize 42 differences from the last time i wrote the perfect, balanced budget. (is there really such a thing?) so then i have to redo everything. it's like i'm redoing it every day. what good does that do me? i'm hoping that once we're caught up, it will run easier.

i don't think i ever posted about how i found out God is apparently on board (along with the rest of you) with dave ramsey and the debt snowball. remember how i posted that day that we'd use any tax return money to pay off some major stuff? well, our tax return money, along with extra from the economic stimulus package (i learned the official term from my fabulous cpa...) is totaling, wait for it, $5,000.

um. holy crap. or praise the Lord. or both.

that amount does not get us out, but it puts us on our way with a TREMENDOUS amount of momentum and excitement. ever since i found out, i have been obsessing over that stupid budget. there is not a penny that has not been designated for a purpose.

funny thing, my budget does not have us eating on $5 a week and pouring the rest into debt. we have decent money for food (eating out and in), clothes, gifts, spending, entertainment, etc. no, it's not a lot. but, with the right perspective, it's enough to be enjoyed. and all the while, we're chipping away at debt.

goes to show you what being a good steward can do, huh? just keep track of things and the money will go where you tell it.

and though it seems that every time i have everything just right, something else arises, i've also noticed that several times in this process, i've made mistakes on my behalf. as in, there is extra money within my budget that i missed.

i believe that is the Lord showing me the blessing He has and will continue to pour out if i would only open my eyes.

He has provided plenty - more than i could have ever imagined.