Ok, it wasn't all that hard, but it was fun to do. ;)  Some of the answers were definately goofy...

Hello to all my friends!  I haven't been here in forever!  In truth, I almost forgot about this blog.    So much has happened since I last posted!

The Lord has led us out of the city!!  Thank God!  The day we were moving (to an area nearby, although not smack-dab in the middle of the city), DH got a call that he had prayed for, and thought the Lord had closed the door to:  a job in rural Wyoming!  (OK, as we found out, everywhere in Wyoming is rural, but that's another story...)  Anyway, while we don't live out on the range, we did pack up (sort of) and moved ourselves out here!  We're in a town (sort of... it's what passes for a town.  Has 2 grocery stores!!), but we're hoping to move out of town next year or the year after! 

Trust me, it's been quite the move!  But so, so well worth it!  We've found the most AMAZING church family, with other homeschoolers!  They've pretty much stocked our home library with freebies for the forseeable future!  We had to leave most of what we had in a storage unit in Indiana, so we were SO very grateful!

We've gotten away from the city, which, in and of itself, is a good thing!  We've also gotten away from less than wholesome family influences, most of which we didn't even realize were as bad as they were until they were gone.  Leading us away was the blessing we truly needed to resume our walk with the Lord!

So, where does living frugally come into this?  The cost of living out here is slightly higher.  (Seriously, with all the cows out here, how can beef be this expensive??)  Plus, we're wanting to have another baby next year, and we might have to pay out of pocket, if we want a homebirth.  (Might not, but better to be prepared!)  And, we still have to buy the kids' curriculum... the list goes on of things we have to do! 

So, in my search for living frugally, of course, I've come across some very godly women who have related to me how being budget-minded is essential to being a home missionary.  Proverbs 31 speaks of the virtuous woman, whose "husband safely trusts her, so he will have no lack of gain."  She isn't afraid that her heat's going to be shut off in the winter, or that she won't be able to afford new blanket sleepers for the baby.  She's budgeted all of that!!  That struck me, in my studies, and I filed it away for future reference.

Then, I was looking at another blog (it was this blog, the article 18 Ways a Wife May Be a Glory to Her Husband), and one of the ways was to ask your husband, "Is there anything I can do differently that would be a blessing to you?"  So, I asked my husband.  Know what he said? "Make a budget and stick to it."   

At this point, I'm thinking, "OK, God, I can take a hint." 

SO, I've revamped our budget.  You know, the one we made and never actually used??  Yeah, that one.  I figured out the software program I had been using (myspendingplan.com, it takes a minute to figure it out, at least it did me, but I definately think it was worth it!), and actually sat down and did it.  DH just got home, so I'm going to go over with him here in a few minutes, see if he wants to tweak it any.  We get paid Friday (bi-montly now, instead of weekly, which is another adjustment to us!), so I'll let you know then how it goes, our budgeting.  Pray for us in the meantime!