As I type this, I am enjoying a bite of dark chocolate and contemplating just how to put the significance of it into words.  Let me start with a story. 

I love Above Rubies magazine.  It is published by Nancy Campbell and her family.  It is available for free through the donations of others.  Mrs. Campbell is a grandmother desiring to mentor mommas!  Thank God for her!  I read an article this week that described an incident in Mrs. Campbell's life. 

She lived in the country with no transport.  She was preparing tea for her family when she realized she needed a lettuce.  There was no way she could get into town to get one so she prayed, "Lord, I really need a lettuce.  Could you please send me one?"  Within a very short time a truck drove past her front gate, hit a bump, and a lettuce fell off the back of the truck!

So funny and yet miraculous!  What an amazing God who created the universe and hears someone's prayer for lettuce! 

No, I didn't pray for lettuce.  However, God did provide some much desired items to our family through the gift of a friend.  I'll just call her Angel.   

Last weekend Angel left me a message that she felt led to give us something and she'd like to bring it by our house.  She arrived in her car laden with boxes of food.  Among the food?  Dark chocolate. 

The Trent Tribe is by no means without food or the ability to purchase food.  We have our Dave Ramsey budget and food is always above the line!  (You fellow FPU's will get that.)  It was my grocery shopping day.  Angel's gift meant my grocery expense was greatly reduced (possibly for the next month or so)!  I only needed to purchase a few perishables to round out our meals.  What a blessing! 

Angel reminded us that we are loved by God.  He truly cares for us. 

"But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:19

Regardless of what the world is experiencing, God made a covenant with us, through His Son Jesus Christ.   Amid the bad reports and temptation to become fearful about the future, we can turn to the Word of God for strength and wisdom. Our knowledge of His promises gives us the confidence needed to weather the storms. 

Be sure to participate in Dave Ramsey's Town Hall for Hope this Thursday.

I have big dreams of becoming the person that God wants me to be.  Don't you?

No toddlers were harmed in the making of this post. 

Always looking for new and exciting ways to reduce the grocery costs and spice up the menu plan!  Pretty tall order, huh? 

A great resource I've found is CheapCooking.com.  I especially enjoy the Chronicles of a Curious Cook Blog.  Lots of great tips, notes, and recipes. 

A great place to start saving or just get new ideas!  Don't y'all need a little inspiration sometimes? 

For more Works for Me Wednesday visit We Are THAT Family.

So, you gotta have a budget.  You gotta.  This is a no excuses, don't delay, you can't be too busy cause it only take ten seconds tool.  Go make your budget.

Gazelle Budget Lite

In case you haven't heard, Brian and I are in a FPU class at our church.  Brian and Duane Garrett are coordinating it.  They are determined to bring Financial Peace to LCF, like it or not.    Well, I like it a lot.  Financial Peace is near and dear to my heart and I can't help sharing. 

So, for all of you who said you wish you could be in the class but... 

Here's some freebie info just for you.  Nothing can take the place of going to a class.  You need the accountability and all that good stuff but until you can join a class here are some proactive steps to take. 

Save a $1000 emergency fund!  (This is so easy!  Sell, sell, sell...   Books you've already read?  Clothes that don't fit?  Collectibles that don't mean as much to you anymore?  Give up that Starbucks coffee.  Give up that lunch out.  That's right, pack it.)

Make a budget!  Fine online tools to help here.

Read Dave's books.  The library has them. 

For those of you thinking of joining a class, it's not too late.  Brian is ordering student kits this week.  Our church gets a discount.  Get the entire kit for $99.  It has a lot of materials.  An overwhelming amount of materials.  Which will be much less overwhelming over the remaining twelve weeks!  Attend class on Monday's at 7:00pm. 

Here is  my personal reason to be so excited, "FPU CHANGES YOUR LIFE!"  It really does.  Brian and I have a personal goal for 2009 to complete baby steps 2 and 3!  What does that mean?  That means we will be debt free except our mortgage and we will have six months of living expenses saved!  I told you, "FPU CHANGES YOUR LIFE!"  It RAWKS! 

Financial Peace University

Monday, Jan. 5th

7:00 - 9:00pm

Lebanon Community Fellowship

Financial Peace University is a life-changing program that teaches you how to make the right decisions with your money. You'll be empowered with the practical skills and confidence needed to achieve your financial goals and experience true financial peace!

I know from experience that it works!

Here's a great Frugal Friday tip!  Shop Dave Ramsey's online store and save!  All books, cds and dvds are 50% off.  Purchases over $65 receive free shipping.  Find friends, family members or coworkers to shop with you and combine your orders to get free shipping.  Not only will you save on your purchases but by applying the principles he teaches to your life - you will save your financial future!  Best money you'll ever spend. 

This is beautiful and budget friendly with the emphasis on beautiful. 

Holiday Centerpiece

If you live in the Southwest Virginia area, you don't want to miss Financial Peace University.

You are invited tonight (Monday, Dec. 8) at Lebanon Community Fellowship for a free preview class.  It starts at 7:00pm.  To get to LCF turn at Wendy's, drive down the hill, the church is on your right. 

Can't make the free preview class?  It's okay.  You can still have financial peace.  The real class doesn't start until January 5th (Monday's at 7:00pm).

This class will change your life.  The average couple will pay off $5300 in debt and save $2700 during the 13 week class!  I love having financial peace! 

Unfortunately, my kids are coughing like "old men".  So, I'll be home in my cozy socks, sipping hot tea and praying over them.  Think of me while you are changing your life. 

Why are we frugal?  Why be frugal if we don't need to be? 

It is helping us to accomplish some wonderful things! 

You see, we don't have to make our own laundry detergent.  I suppose to some it may even seem a little extreme.  The truth is that I like homemade laundry detergent.  Even as a multimillionaire I would still choose to make my own laundry detergent.  It's simple to make.  It doesn't require a bunch of time.  It's really really inexpensive.  It's really really good detergent. 

Finding easy enjoyable ways to cut corners allows my husband and I to achieve our goals.  Big holy audacious goals! 

We want to know that we can easily provide for our family's needs.  Sufficient food and proper shelter are big on our list of things to provide our children. 

We also like the idea of paying for college.  Pretty tall order for our more than average size family. 

Being frugal allows us to give more to the causes we care about.  Money and time. 

It's important to us to give our children experiences rather than things.  Being frugal gives us more time for these experiences.  If our focus was things, my husband and I would work 100 hours a week to provide those things.  Living simply allows us to spend more hours at home than away. 

All this talk of cutting corners, pinching pennies ... isn't glamorous.  Don't worry, I do know.  I just don't care.  I like living simply.  Practicing frugality adds humility to my life.  I don't want to be flashy or flaunty.  My worth is not measured by what I have. 

We enjoy our life.

Go to Biblical Womanhood for more Frugal Friday.