Down Mulberry Lane

God is good!

Yesterday, was the beginning of a new step for me... limiting myself to a budget for food.  I am pretty frugal for the most part.  But if someone wanted something (reasonably priced) I usually didn't avoid getting it.  We are trying however to run within a set budget and for the first time, groceries, gas and entertainment are being added to the budget.   I've always tried to stay close to a reasonable amount anyways, so it is not horrible for me to think about being on a budget.  But I am trying to stay within $75 a week for gas for the van, groceries,  household expenses, and entertainment.  The gas I have never added into my budget and that worries me a bit.   We have a full pantry, so really groceries just need to be incidentals... out of milk, fresh fruit and veggies, that sort of thing.  I can bake our own bread, we have lots of beans, chicken, lamb and burger in the freezer. 

Anyways, I was trying to get at this week's temptation for me.  I wanted nuts... mixed nuts to munch on.  We have plans to head out next week for a short trip.  I knew we needed some munchies and I was trying to keep it to a minimum, so that the grocery money would be on hand for groceries on our trip.  (Dh's overtime paid for the trip).  It would be very tempting to just blow money on eating out just cuz we wanted to treat ourselves, but we are limiting ourselves to what needs to be spent.   This going debt free is really touching every aspect of our lives, it is such an adventure to think that every decision really works to help us be debt free or not to be.  I suppose that is much like a Christian life... each thing we decide to do either brings us closer to Christ or away from Christ.   Back to my nuts... I wanted some, but decided I didn't need to have nuts for the trip.  They were more expensive than what I was allowing and even though I wanted them, I didn't need them. 

So, that brings me  to today.  I was at church and a gal comes up to me.  She says, my daughter wanted to thank you for taking her to MN on several occasions with you.  She enjoyed the trips and just wanted to say thanks.  Well, she had already "said" thank you, but they got me a gift.... a tin of mixed nuts!  Isn't God good?  He knew that I would be wanting nuts.  He knew that I might deny myself of the nuts.  He knew just when and what to impress this family to get me when thinking of me for a gift... nuts.  My Dh might roll his eyes at the coincidences, but I choose to think on this as a God thing.  God moved someone else in such a way that I can see His love touching my life.  Affirming our decision to go debt free, affirming my choice to live without the mixed nuts.  But still loving me enough to give that which I didn't ask for, but He knew that I would enjoy.  God is truly good to me.   Has He been good to you?

Warmly, ~Melissa

Untitled Comment

4:57 PM, January 12, 2008 .. Posted by homesteadinthemaking

God is so good to us. Have a great trip!
Blessings,
Trixi

God

5:42 PM, January 12, 2008 .. Posted by smmagers

God is so good! What a example of him and his love to show your children. Have fun on your trip. God Bless. mj

Untitled Comment

7:28 PM, January 12, 2008 .. Posted by gabbie427

God is so good. What a wonderful story!!! Thanks for sharing and enjoy your trip!

God's Blessings,
Amy Jo

HE IS GOOD!

4:42 PM, January 13, 2008 .. Posted by blessedmomof10

Melissa ~ What a wonderful God we have! He does bless us! I loved your expierence you shared about the mixed nuts..... such a simple thing...... but you were blessed for sticking to what you feel the Lord's leading you to do at this time! What a wonderful & simple testimony of God's goodness & provision!

Thank you for sharing with us!

~ gloria ~

Hi

5:29 PM, January 14, 2008 .. Posted by leighannwhitten

Hey Melissa,
I love this post. Last week our son and I saw a t-shirt that said, "Coincidence is God wanting to stay anonymous". Have a good trip. Thanks for adding me to your friends list. I added you to mine too. I really like the look of your blog.
God's peace,
Leigh-Ann

Untitled Comment

8:27 AM, January 15, 2008 .. Posted by a1health

Melissa,
Good luck with being frugal. That's one of my goals for this year. You can do it!
The Lord is a good provider!
Have a blessed day.
~Farrah

Yes Yes , he has .

8:35 PM, January 18, 2008 .. Posted by Shaune

i thnk that was a test form the Lord and you passed it well . We just have to wait sometimes to see what He has in store for us. We live in such a fast pace life time. But he still wants us to depend on him. And he allows us to make choices , to either bless or stress us . Because that is how he test us and he alrealy knows our needs . We just need to need him more and the blessing just flow from heaven !!! Shhaune

PEACOCKS

11:25 AM, January 19, 2008 .. Posted by poppy

Dear Melissa,

I would greatly appreciate information on Peacocks. I really would love to learn a lot about them. We would need to keep them penned since we have lots of woods and I would hate to lose one some where on our seven acres. We also have neighbors that would not like it if they were loose. And my Father has already been driven crazy by my ducks and chickens.

Sincerely,

~Mary-Ann~