93 days of Lent

Didn't know Lent had 93 days in it did you? Neither did I! Until I felt God calling me to do something pretty sacrificial and challenging. I was at work...a little bored because the week of New Years is not busy at all. I started thinking about common New Years Resolutions and what people strive for so much at the beginning of each year...lose weight, work out more, save money etc.

Saving money definitely is probably the top of everyone's list in this recession, so it got me to thinking, maybe I should give up spending money for Lent. The more I thought about it the more it seemed to become a clear image in my mind. Then I thought...well why just lent? It seems silly to know what I want to give up but wait until the middle of February to start, so we're going from January 1st until the end of Lent which is April 3rd.

Rules: I cannot spend money on anything other than regularly occurring bills right now, example: Rent, Electricity, Food, Car, Gas, Insurance, Day Care etc. etc.

So, no more: Eating out, Movies, Clothes, Scuba gear etc.

My goal is to put at minimum $350 in savings each month, which will total a minimum of $1050. And on April 4th I will make a check of 10% of that total $105 to Life 102.5 our Local Christian Radio Station as my saving tithe.

It's not going to be easy in the least, but I think it will be good for me. Wish me good luck, and all prayers are appreciated!

Christmas Baking

I know I haven't posted in a while. With Christmas coming up so quickly and everything at work I think everyone has been busy!

Ava and I have had a nice couple of weeks though, and Larry is coming today!! Woo hoo!! We are so excited!

We had a Christmas Party at work...of course you can't call it that anymore so it was a "Holiday Party" anyways...I was asked to bake some homemade cupcakes, cake pops and cookies!

So I decided to do Santa hat and Christmas Tree Cake pops with chocolate cake and butter cream frosting. Gingerbread cupcakes with lemon cream cheese frosting (I make a REALLY good cream cheese frosting) and shortbread window cookies with homemade raspberry jam!!

Everything turned out really well, and we had a lot of fun! Pictures are below!