Here is a picture that I took as I was snapping away at any and everything as we first arrived at our new house after closing. At first glance it almost looks like a picture that was taken on accident. It's blurry and it's not really focusing on anything interesting. The real story is that at the very moment that this picture was taken, I wanted to capture exactly what you see.
In the upper left hand corner of the picture you will see our house numbers, "418". In the distance, there is Ben just about to start unloading our things into our new home. In the foreground, you will see our Financial Peace University study materials. This picture tells a huge story.
When Ben and I were engaged, Ben suggested that we commit to a nine week class on Sunday mornings to help us learn how to manage our money. I was so against this idea. I knew I had never had any issues with overspending or bad money management. I thought that meant I had everything figured out. I decided to follow my future husbands lead and respect his decision for us to participate in Financial Peace University.
I thought the study would ruin all of my wedding plans and that it would make us boring and stingy. Turns out we actually learned ALOT about managing our money and about how to manage it TOGETHER. We have been working towards the money goals set out for us in this study ever since. We began by working towards a basic emergency fund and continued to work on paying off our debts. We learned about buying a home and that we should try our best to put 20% down on it. Working on common financial goals together is actually fun and extremely rewarding. We tell our money where to go and not the other way around.
When we began our financial journey, we were working retail and fast food. Just a year ago we were still in that position and living with my parents. Working towards these goals was hard on low wages, but it gave us hope for our future in the midst of having very little take home pay. The Bible says, "Whoever can be trusted with very little, can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much." Luke 16:10. I am so glad that we decided to be faithful with a little. If you're in a similar situation as we were, be encouraged. Everything can chance so fast.
So as you can see now, this picture tells a story. The story of how Ben lead me to do something wise and, in doing that, enabled us to buy this house. Ben, Financial Peace University, and our home. :) Three wonderful blessings that God has put in my life.
