If you are looking to start a budget, here is a great guide to download from Dave Ramsey.

On Saturday, we enjoyed visiting a NC Historical Site. We live very close to the James K. Polk Home. He was born in North Carolina, and there is a marker on the property of his exact birthplace.

We enjoyed learning more about life in the 1800′s, and seeing the type of house that the 11th President would have had.

There were some people there to give information about life in that time, and show off some fashions from that era.

The boy walking into the log cabin told us lots of information about the house, and gave us a tour of the 2 room cabin.

We were planning on visiting this Historic site eventually, but a free hot dog lunch did encourage us to go on Saturday! They were offering hot dogs, chips, and drinks to visitors on Saturday– in part, because there is a possibility of the site being closed due to state budget cuts. So, we signed a petition to keep this site open to the public!

Recently we have thought about how fun it would be to get some rollerblades. Both of us enjoyed rollerblading in our childhood. (Although Dan is more experienced) Last week, we went to try some on, and we both found a pair we wanted to buy. We weren’t intending to buy a matching set, but my feet seemed to feel better in a men’s pair. So, we now both own a pair of Bladerunner Pro 80′s. Right away, we went to Jack Hughes Park, which has a nice paved path that borders a baseball and softball field.

I wanted to put in a plug for my very creative, talented, and beautiful friend, Ashleigh Coleman. She is quickly establishing her photography business in Jackson, Mississippi.

If you are looking for a natural light photographer, who uses a photojournalistic style, she’s your gal! She is focused, and wishes to create quality and natural images that a person can cherish forever.

Check out her website.

I recently read a blog post from our pastor in Sumter, John Sorrells. I thought it was such a good post that I wanted to share the link here.

“Those who look to the Lord are radiant with joy; their faces will never be ashamed.” -Psalm 34:5

“A joyful heart makes a face cheerful.” -Proverbs 15:13

“The Spirit of the Lord God is on Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to the prisoners; to comfort all who mourn, to provide for those who mourn in Zion; to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, festive oil instead of mourning, and splendid clothes instead of despair.” -Isaiah 61:1-3

“Your beauty should not consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold ornaments or fine clothes. Instead, it should consist of what is inside the heart with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very valuable in God’s eyes.” -1 Peter 3:3-4

“If God is sovereign, then He is in control of all the details of my life. If He is loving, then He is going to be shaping the details of my life for my good. If He is all-wise, then He’s not going to do everything I want because I don’t know what I need. If He is patient, the He is going to take time to do all this. When we put all these things together– God’s sovereignty, love, wisdom, and patience– we have a divine story.”

A Praying Life , Paul Miller

“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from You, and we have given You only what comes from Your own hand.”  -1 Chronicles 29:14

We had a wonderful final meeting with our Crown Bible Study this past Sunday in Sumter. It was so much fun to be with our friends in person, and to study what God’s Word says about money. We have learned so much, and we are grateful for how God has provided for us financially, but for the wisdom and new perspective He has given us on possessions and finance. Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!

A friend gave us the book Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster. It has been very enjoyable so far. I was particularly interested in this paragraph from the chapter on “Meditation.”

“The church Fathers often spoke of Otium Sanctum, “holy leisure.” It refers to a sense of balance in the life, an ability to be at peace through the activities of the day, an ability to rest and take time to enjoy beauty, an ability to pace ourselves. With our tendency to define people in terms of what they produce, we would do well to cultivate “holy leisure.” And if we expect to succeed in the contemplative way, we must pursue “holy leisure” with a determination that is ruthless to our datebooks.”