on how january turned out.

only four days late, i am posting final thoughts on january's "new beginnings."

*****

first, the outcome of the "eat from the pantry" challenge. a guest post on money saving mom wraps it up pretty darn well.

simply put, it is amazing how much food i really have when i think i really don't. even when it whittles down and whittles down, there is still plenty left! no, we did not have enough to have steak and potatoes every night. but it's a comfort to know how creativity and self-restraint can last us a very long time in the eating department.

in the spirit of full disclosure, we did "break the rules" several times and eat out. and i did go to the grocery store more than once. never for the full on, $170 shopping trip, but i went. our resolve faltered especially toward the end of the month.

but habits have started to change. we didn't have anything in the house to make a super fancy, well-rounded meal on tuesday night, but i didn't want to go out. we settled for noodles and red sauce. i was more than satisfied.

going forward, i plan to try to institute meal planning on a regular basis using the approach that builds from what is already in the pantry and adding staples as needed.

because you know what? we have plenty.

*****

next, the shopping fast.

it is incredible what i found while entering reciepts into pear budget last month:

bank balance - excessive target trips = MORE MONEY.

yeah, dude. crazy math, right?

i had a couple insights while fasting in this way. both were definitely Holy Spirit-inspired.

the first one came as i was talking to a friend (the soul mate, kindred spirit kind) who found out around christmastime that her mom has cancer. again. every part of me ached to get on a plane and fly to her. just to sit. she, an only child, is dealing with the difficulty alone for the most part. i wanted so badly to sit with her. buy her coffee. take her shopping. play mad libs. anything. i just wanted to be there instead of on the other side of the computer screen. buying a last-minute plane ticket across the country is impossible at this time, but i heard a whisper from He who whispers revelation with every breath: "this is why I want you right in your finances. so I can use you and your abundant blessings to bless others, to touch others through your hands."

if that's not motivation, i don't know what is.

the second insight came through a post on simple kids about resisting consumerism. smack dab in the middle of my fast, it was a timely post. while chewing on the ideas megan and her readers posted, these thoughts were made clear:

"...i’ve been on a fast from shopping this month (minus necessities like milk and bread and eggs) because of the cycle of consumerism i felt myself caught up in after the christmas rush. i did a lot better at christmas than i have in the past — want, need, wear, read and lots of handmade and sustainable/long-lasting gifts — but it’s still so easy to get into the habit of shopping constantly. those clearance end caps are target are my trap.

i could ramble for days on this topic; i feel like God is really revealing what it means to be content with what He has blessed me with in my husband and children and family and friends. it’s a slow process. sometimes i wish i had it down pat already.

one of the most enlightening things i’ve come to realize recently, though, is that consumerism robs me of my creativity. i am too caught up in shopping and finding “stuff” that i need that i can’t be creative with the wardrobe i ALREADY own or the wardrobe my kids ALREADY own or all of the beautiful things in my home that i ALREADY own or the craft supplies i ALREADY own. i am too caught up in shopping and finding “stuff” that i need that i can’t be creative with ways to show my love to my husband and my kids.

in stepping away from the cash registers this month, i’ve had the chance to realize that i AM creative, that God will give me inspiration in my every day in the places where i have more than enough."

(found in the comments section of original post.)

God is doing a work in me in these mundane, everyday areas that are so essential to the fabric of life. stay tuned for more.