Lent

Though I am not Catholic every lent I try to give something up... I think of the sacrifices that He made for me, and realize I can go without _________ for Lent. The last few years I've done the same thing over and over, which is to give up SHOPPING.  I'm addicted. I love buying new things. New clothes. New movies. New video games. New beads. New organizational tools. New whatever-the-heck-tickles-my-fancy.  Typically I do well each year... The tough thing is Lent usually falls during the time that the government has to give me back my over paid taxes.  The money burns a hole in my pocket... But I can typically do it.
This year in addition to giving up shopping (and by shopping I mean buying things I don't need, I can still buy food, gas and so on) I gave up fast food.  Why? Because right before lent I realized I was going to Mc Donalds for breakfast almost on a daily basis... and go somewhere for lunch too.  I figured this would be another good way to save money.
Well, guess who blew the whole giving up shopping/fast food for lent right out of the water?!?  THIS GIRL. I did pretty well... I decided buying Twins tickets was okay. It's not shopping, and well, it's the Twins.  If we learned anything by last years season (excluding the post season) it is that God is a Twins fan. How else would we only have one and a half weather postponed games the first year of Target Field??? 
Last week I called upon a client of mine whose family is in the shoe repair business. I've got this pair of boots that I LOVE.  They are my favorite pair of boots. They are high heel, black knee high boots with pointy toes. I've got big feet, and try to stay away from the pointy toe shoes, but these boots were designed for me. They somehow make my feet look SMALLER. Anyway, last week I noticed that little nubby thing that is at the end of the heel was gone, and in its place was a little nail... I called my client, who told me he'd pick my boots up and let me know if it's worth fixing.... Well, he took them last Friday... I think I'll have them back in the next day or two, I can hardly wait. So yesterday, I dug out these other pair of heels I have. They are super cute, but I forget each time I wear them that they HURT.  By lunch yesterday I couldn't take it any longer.... I went over to payless and bought me a new pair of patent leather pumps. They are super cute... I had them on for about an hour before I got my first compliment on them!!  So there you are. I purchased something... something I didn't necessarily need...
So, fast forward to this morning... I got up a little early as I needed to do some tidying up around my place... and still I somehow ended up in my car 10 min earlier than I typically leave work.  I was going to be 20 min early to work... and McDonalds was calling my name. I figured, I already bought shoes yesterday, so what is one McDonalds breakfast? I had cash....and it only costs $2.14 for what I get... So I did it.
Which only started a snowball effect.  Lunch, I had a $2 sub at Subway... and since I had so much fun trying on shoes yesterday I went over to Famous Footwear (though I didn't buy any shoes today)....  I decided since I still had 20 min, I'd go across the mall to Marshals to see if they have any Twins jackets... I need some Twins outer wear as I have a feeling this Saturday's evening game will be a chilly one. Yup they had one. And it's super cute... great deal $29.99... so I bought it.
So there you go people.  Jesus sacrifices himself for me, and I can't go through Lent sacrificing shopping and fast food for him. Sad :(
I think he will forgive me though. I've for sure changed my spending patterns. And I plan to continue that here out.