On February, Finances, and the Finer Things in Life

• In case you missed the memo, tomorrow is the first day of February--one of my (Amy's) favorite months of the year. Might have something to do with the fact that my birthday, my mom's birthday, and Valentine's Day all fall in February. I have to admit: I have a weakness for all things Valentiney. I mean, when else can you pair bright red with light pink and get away with it? I also like that February is short, which makes March come faster, which means Spring Break is on its way, right?
• A few weeks ago, I finished reading Dave Ramsey's "Total Money Makeover." I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn the basics of financial security. I was inspired to be more purposeful in how I'm spending the money God entrusts to me. My first step was to estimate my income for the month of January. Then I wrote up a plan for how I would offer, save, and spend that money. I committed to writing down everything I bought and how much it cost. I also kept track of everything I earned. The process was really eye-opening. It was empowering to set limits for myself in each spending category and to know I would say no to further spending once I hit those limits. I'm definitely planning to keep it up!
• This time of year, I usually start to experience the winter doldrums. Life takes on a monotonously stressful feel as homework and scholarship applications pile up. The pressure to figure out my summer plans and register for fall classes hits hard. It's tempting to let the stress rob me of my peace, and Lord knows I've done that a few times this week. But when I really stop to think about it, I have so much to rejoice in. I could write pages on that, but I have to get back to the aforementioned homework soon, so here are just a few things I'm thankful for right now :-): 1. Friends in my classes who love God and encourage me in my faith. 2. Opportunities to share our faith in those classes. 3. A new small-group Bible study to challenge me. 4. Some fun Young Adult Group events to look forward to this month.
• And today, I'm thankful for a jealous God who gives me peace only when I seek His face. I can't wander far before He breaks me and draws me back to HIm. And I wouldn't have it any other way.