diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index b22bff2..01e1512 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ wheels/
 .installed.cfg
 *.egg
 MANIFEST
+Pipfile*
 
 # PyInstaller
 #  Usually these files are written by a python script from a template
@@ -103,3 +104,5 @@ venv.bak/
 # mypy
 .mypy_cache/
 .idea
+
+secrets.py
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b43cfc1..4a101ba 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -6,24 +6,12 @@ As members of the Python guild, you will be working through the challenges of Tw
 
 We assume that before you begin, you will have [Python](http://www.python.org/) and [pip](http://www.pip-installer.org/en/latest/) installed on your system and available at the command line.
 
-Before you can run this project, you will need to set three system environment variables.  These are:
+Before you can run this project, you will need to make a copy of secrets.py.example and name it secrets.py. Edit secrets.py and change the string values as follows, and then save the file:
 
 * `TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID` : [Get it from your Twilio Console](https://www.twilio.com/console).
 * `TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN` : Same as above.
 * `TWILIO_PHONE_NUMBER` : A Twilio number that you own, that can be used for making calls and sending messages.  You can find a list of phone numbers you control (and buy another one, if necessary) [in the console](https://www.twilio.com/console/phone-numbers/incoming).
 
-For Mac and Linux, environment variables can be set by opening a terminal window and typing the following three commands - replace all the characters after the `=` with values from your Twilio account:
-```
-    export TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID=ACXXXXXXXXX
-    export TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN=XXXXXXXXX
-    export TWILIO_PHONE_NUMBER=+16518675309
-```
-On Windows, the easiest way to set permanent environment variables (as of Windows 8) is using the `setx` command.  Note that there is no `=`, just the key and value separated by a space:
-```
-    setx TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID ACXXXXXXXXX
-    setx TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN XXXXXXXXX
-    setx TWILIO_PHONE_NUMBER +16518675309
-```
 ## Running the application
 
 1. Clone this repository. Navigate to the folder with the source code on your machine in a terminal window.
diff --git a/app.py b/app.py
index 66469aa..6744938 100644
--- a/app.py
+++ b/app.py
@@ -5,9 +5,13 @@
 from twilio.rest import Client
 
 # Pull in configuration from system environment variables
-TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID = os.environ.get('TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID')
-TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN = os.environ.get('TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN')
-TWILIO_PHONE_NUMBER = os.environ.get('TWILIO_PHONE_NUMBER')
+#TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID = os.environ.get('TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID')
+#TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN = os.environ.get('TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN')
+#TWILIO_PHONE_NUMBER = os.environ.get('TWILIO_PHONE_NUMBER')
+try:
+    from secrets import TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID, TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN, TWILIO_PHONE_NUMBER
+except ImportError:
+    print("Please create a secrets.py that looks like secrets.py.example")
 
 # create an authenticated client that can make requests to Twilio for your
 # account.
diff --git a/secrets.py.example b/secrets.py.example
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c98b788
--- /dev/null
+++ b/secrets.py.example
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID="ACXXXXXXXXX"
+TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN="XXXXXXXXX"
+TWILIO_PHONE_NUMBER="+16518675309"