Fortified

We always keep a budget, some months more loosely than we should, but we still try to keep tabs on what is coming in and what is going out.  That said, July was a wretched month.  With two birthday's and summer fun, our expenses were far more than necessary.  Mr Medic and I have spent the entire month of August buckling down and practicing self control.  It's been such a rewarding experience, and quite exhilarating too.  There's just something about making a plan and sticking with it.  It almost makes me feel superhuman when I can accomplish what I set out to do.  I'm proud to say August was much better for us.

I'm going to throw us under the bus to show that improvement is possible, but no judging k?

In the month of July we ate out or got treats 20 TIMES.  That's almost once a day folks!  As I went through the bank statement and counted it all up, I felt sick.  I had no idea we were spending that much time outside of the home eating.  I knew it wasn't good, but not that bad.  In my defense I do have a pretty full plate with other responsibilities, so it's been easy to let the meal-making responsibility slip and go the quick and easy route.  But, enough of the excuses.

At the beginning of August after we'd bought a Hot n' Ready Pizza on a busy night, we decided that we were not going to eat out at all.  So, along with that one Hot n' Ready and one other treat Mr Medic had with the boys (paid for with money I got from selling something) we ate out a total of 2 times.  That's a 90% improvement from last month.  Not only is that money saved, but I was able to make meals that were definitely more healthy.

Along with our budgeting goals, I've been working hard at my own weight loss goals.  From all this recent practice making and achieving goals, I've had time to really think about why it is so satisfying to me.  I came across a couple scriptures that made sense to me:

"He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls."  -Proverbs 25:28

When I don't work to control my actions it's like having no protection when and where I need it.   But, governing my natural desires builds self control and strengthens my ability to withstand difficult or harmful experiences.

This is an example of a city(spirit, in my case) that does have walls and is fortified

"Yea, he had been strengthening the armies of the Nephites, and erecting small forts, or places of resort; throwing up banks of earth round about to enclose his armies, and also building walls of stone to encircle them about, round about their cities and the borders of their lands; yea, all round about the land.  And in their weakest fortifications he did place the greater number of men; and thus he did fortify and strehgthen the land with was possessed by the Nephites.  And thus he was preparing to support their liberty, their lands, their wives, and their children, and their peace, and that they might live unto the Lord their God..."  -Alma 48:8-10 (The Book of Mormon)

Having self restraint or 'ruling your own spirit' provides protection and ironically liberty.  The equation control = liberty doesn't make sense, but I know that it works.  I like how it said that the most support was placed at the weakest places.  Wherever it is that I am weakest requires to most effort to fortify or control.

It's been so rewarding to be more in control of myself and I'm grateful for the strength I've gained.