Box Jumping, Budgeting and Consistency

Last weekend after the 5k, we stopped at this cute little coffee shop and I had the best iced chai latte of my life thus far. Perhaps it was so good because I had just ran/walked a 5k and my body needed to refuel. Regardless, I can't stop thinking about it and though I don't have one in my hand right now, I'm going to pretend I am drinking one as I write this week (and I will 100% drive back to the coffee shop one day just for an iced chai). For now, I'll grab my water, you grab your drink of choice and we'll cozy in for this weeks musings!

If you know me at all, you know going to the gym is apart of my weekly routine. Lately, when we have had box jumps in our workouts, I have gotten nervous and my legs have started to panic. It's silly because I've been doing box jumps for over a year and I'm not exactly sure where the sudden lack of confidence has come from. Earlier this week, as I was gearing up to do said box jump, I almost modified with a step up (out of fear), but quickly decided, "No, I just need push through the nerves and do it, because theoretically if I keep doing it, my confidence will come back." The first round was a little rough, my legs needed a little pep talk. BUT by the second round, by some miracle, I jumped up with little hesitation and I felt like a normal level of confidence was restored.

It was a pivotal moment in my week, a reminder that we can overcome and move through fear. Fear doesn't have to hold us hostage from pursuing the things that God has called us to. Today in my prayer journal, I listed out all of my fears before the Lord. I fear a lot of things guys. There is so much out of my control that I try to take on. As I listed out these things, I discovered an area of unbelief and I confessed "God I'm having a hard time believing that you will answer my prayers." I feel like a broken record each time I pray about certain areas of life. But my life history shows, I have seen Him answer so many other prayers and I know that He is faithful to answer. Often, above and beyond what I ask, also sometimes in bits and pieces as I continue to pursue Him. I know right now, in this moment, I am only beginning to live out prayers I had prayed two years ago.

In other news, somewhat related (to my fears anyway ;)), I have been focusing more diligently on budgeting this week. Instead of trying to brainstorm ways of making more money without killing myself, I've been focusing on how I can save more of the money I do have coming in. I already have been working on meal planning, but the last month or so I've been focusing on not doing take out to help me save some money. I will say (yes I want a gold star), this week I did not waste any of my meal prep and I did not purchase any take out! This is a big deal, okay? Cooking for one person, me, myself and I, is actually more difficult than one would think. Cooking for one person on a budget, without wasting anything means eating the same things all week. I get bored and it's hard to say no to take out when you don't want to eat the same thing for the third night in a row. Breakfast, I can eat the same thing everyday, I don't get tired of my breakfasts. Lunch and dinner, that's another story.

Anyway, I'm going for that goal again this week and I am actually really excited to meal prep tomorrow. I got my groceries today, so I'm all set. For lunches I am going to use the rest of the yummy bone broth my friend gave me last week to make a high protein chicken noodle soup. I have some frozen chicken and appropriate spices on hand. So all I needed to pick up were some protein noodles, carrots, celery and onion. For dinner, I am going to make cheeseburger pie. This is a childhood fave, if you've never heard of it, it's basically a pie crust made out of meat loaf, with mashed potato pie filling topped with cheese. Very basic, but delish. I am going to modify a bit, just for funsies. I'm going to make mini cheeseburger pies in my muffin tin and I'm going to use mashed sweet potatoes for the filling (because yum!). It will be perfect, with a side a veggies.

Requesting another gold star, I also saved $10 using the red circle app at Target and I shopped the weekly deals instead of just blindly shopping. Thank you, thank you. Also for fun, I started using an app called Fetch. It's been around for awhile, but it's an app where you upload your receipts and it gives you points based on products you purchase (you get a minimum of 25 points per receipt). Once you collect a certain amount of points, you can redeem gift cards for different stores for varying amounts. I have my eye on a gift card that would help me get some things I would like to buy. So I've been uploading every receipt I can. Shameless plug: if you join and use my code and you'll automatically get 1000 points (and yes, I'll get some points too!). If you are interested here is my code: Q6NYGM

Consistency. This word as been swirling around in my mind as I've pondered these things this week. Because really, growing and getting to a better place comes down to consistency. Like a flower consistently needs water and sunlight in order to thrive, there will be fruit when we consistently show up and cultivate the things we want to grow in. If I want to get stronger, I have to consistently show up at the gym and consistently do exercises that will strengthen my body. If I want to grow my savings account, I have to consistently look at my budget, shop the deals, stick to my grocery list, meal plan and discern when to say yes and when to say no something. If I want to know God's heart more and to more easily recognize His faithfulness, I have to consistently pursue Him, in His word, in church community, in prayer and worship. If I want to heal from pain of the past, I have to consistently seek to identify where the wound is, feel what needs to be felt, put boundaries in place that need to be set, so I can move forward and new leaves can grow in that place.

Consistency allows for change to be cultivated in our hearts, minds and bodies. This summer, along with simplicity, I am seeking to be consistent and I can't wait to see what fruit comes from it. Consistency may seem boring, but I'm okay with that because I think consistency is where the most sustainable growth happens and I want that. I don't want high highs, and low lows that deplete me anymore. I want sustainability.

"But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes, it's leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." Jeremiah 17:7-8

Lord, help me trust and have full confidence in You this summer as I pursue simplicity, consistency and joy in You. Show me what it is like to be a tree planted by the water that does not fear when heat comes or in the middle of a drought. Amen.

Thank you for joining me friends, until next time,

Melissa