timing and provision

We've been trying to really bang out a budget here. On paper, we shouldn't be having money be as tight as it's been. We shouldn't be as behind as we were getting. Then I crunched the numbers, are realized that with two parties in three months earlier this year, plus other 'fun' things like meals out on trips to the city (and, ahem, alcohol consumption up significantly with the summer heat), we were spending 3 times what we thought we were on food and drink. 3 times. Let that sink in a bit.

As a result of that shocking discovery for May and July (June wasn't that bad, nor was August), we are making cutbacks and tightening the financial control a bit.

We've been coasting along since then, and doing alright. Still feeling the pinch, especially with Norah's birthday and party this weekend.

Then I got the mail on Friday. Apparently, we picked up a photo-generated ticket while visiting my mom last month. And by "we", it was actually Rob. He didn't come to a 'complete, total stop' while at a red light, and we got dinged. Apparently, it's an intersection where the city is 'making a killing', and he did stop, just not long enough. BAH. It's a BIG ticket. A ticket that had us thinking we were going to be putting the groceries on the credit card for this half of the month. I was cranky about it, as was Rob - who was also rather sheepish about the mistake.

Well, imagine our surprise yesterday. Someone stopped by yesterday to drop off some cards for Rob and the church, thank yous for the funeral that was done this weekend. Inside the card for Rob was a (very unexpected) cheque. For the amount of the ticket, PLUS the new PS2 Hockey game that Rob was wanting. *as an aside, Rob buys one PS2 game a year, and this is the one, so it's hardly an addiction or expensive hobby*. Wow.

Thanks, God, for your provision when we were just starting to worry. The game was just a bonus. :)