HOLA
Welcome to day 2 of summer vacation! Amanda and I finished our school years on Tuesday and have been looking forward to this for a long time. Plans for the summer include vacation, running, hopefully a half marathon, and watching Bry grow up!
We sat down with the family a few days ago and discussed the upcoming vacation. My main concern was to figure out what our financial needs were in order to budget ourselves for it. After looking at different options and events we wanted to do, I had an idea of what we needed and it was going to make things tight. I enjoy very much being able to splurge a little while on vacations. I want my vacations to be just that. I want them to be relaxing and energizing. However, after looking at our financial responsibilities, we could have done all those things, but, but it would have made the rest of the summer unstable.
This is where, I believe, God played his hand. A few weeks ago at Willow Creek Community Church we heard a sermon about giving. Not just money, but time and talents. The thought that stuck with me from that Sunday was that giving should be a sacrifice of our time, money or whatever else. Alot of times we give what fits into our budget or day, but does not disrupt our plans. Well, making a true sacrifice has to put a wrinkle into our plans or our budget. So with that thought, we have been tithing as much as we could. Sometimes this meant putting things on the credit card that we HAD to get, mainly like food for Bryson. This has meant not going out to eat, even though we could not find anything or were too lazy to make something. This has meant not driving anywhere because we just do not have gas money for a while. It made things uncomfortable and it increased our stress level a little, but it also increased our reliance on the one thing that we could put everything on, GOD.
So, getting back to the vacation, it was looking like the fun, relaxing, splurge a little vacation was not going to happen. We would still go, but with a very tight and closed budget. This is when God played his Ace of Spades, the highest trump card (if your playing Spades, which I plan on doing with God when I get there by the way...). We get a call asking if we would be interested in an opportunity before we leave. As small as this example is, I truly think God has rewarded us for being faithful and sacrificing for Him. Also, our credit card bill is lower than it has been in a long time and, financially, things are turning up for us. Thank you God!
Quickly, our goal is to run the Chicago half marathon in September. We have a long way to go in preparing for it, but Amanda has great self-motivation which turns into motivation for me. I recently ran 6 miles and it was a task! Amanda is also quickly improving on her distance as well. It would be so awesome to cross that finish line with my wife right next to me!
Also, this summer will be the first time since Bry was born that we will all be together day in and day out. We are looking forward to firming our family identity as it develops. It is constantly changing as Bry's personality becomes more defined and especially he develops physically. He has taken a couple pseudo-steps and VERY soon will be walking like he has been doing it for years. We have the camera on hand in case anything goes down.
Well, in case I don't see ya..
Good afternoon,
Good evening,
and Bosco's Blogfeed!
Love Will Amanda and Bry
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