Friday, April 03, 2009
2 down...one to go!
Raya is officially out of pull-ups!!! She has been dry through the night for a week now and I'm very thankful. Yesterday I took her to the store and she picked out a Webkinz as her special "I'm a big girl now" gift. She chose a kitty-kat and has named it Candy Apple. She so cute...and was soooo excited! She just wiggled and jiggled and giggled the whole way there, while we were there, and the entire ride home. She couldn't wait to show Hal and Dad.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Upgrading?
We have been thinking about/dreaming of/wishing for/praying about the possibility of moving to a home that is more suitable for our family right now and in the long term. I really like our current house and it seems to suit us. It's not fancy, it's simple. It's not big, it's average. However, there are a couple of things that I don't appreciate about it and the biggest is that I can't see my children in the back yard from the main living area of my house. They are constantly begging to go out and play and I want them too as well but it just doesn't seem like it ever works for me. I'll be making supper and they are wanting to go play, and I'm wanting them to get outside but the way this house is laid out, it just doesn't really work right now with the ages that they are. We have a few other reasons as well but the main reason to move would be for a more functional layout.
There really wasn't a chance this could happen in the next two years but Raya got approved for Child Disability Tax Credit (and they are backdating to her birth) so this will allow us to pay off the only other loan we have left (besides our mortage). We've really been working on our finances for the last 7 months or so and have seen God to great things with the money we have. We can't wait to have that debt pay off. It's such an unhealthy debt to have and it weighs heavily on us. We've been trying out best to follow "Dave Ramsey's" Total Money Makeover and it's working well for us. Some fantastic friends of ours got us hooked on it last year. It's been great to handle our finances more "biblically". We've realized that borrowing isn't an option for us(with the exception of mortgage and possibly a vehicle). And lending isn't an option either...we will give. The book states, if you have it to lend, you have it to give. We have been enjoying seeing how God has used our (I mean *His*) money to bless people.
All this to say that it seems like we are getting ahead and are possibly in the position to move....YAY!! We found a house we love, a community we love....but...the community doesn't have a lot we can afford to put the house on :( I know it will all work out and we will move when we are able. We are still going to proceed with getting our house ready to sell and will hopefully list it in the next month or so. I don't have a problem buying an existing house, in fact that's what we'd planned to do along. I get so nervous and stressed about the timing of everything .... and well, basically, I need to sit back, enjoy the ride and remember that God is bigger than all of these worries I have. The house in Cranston just seemed so *right*. It's not huge or glamorous but it's big enough. It's got a great kitchen and I could see the kids playing in the backyard. If we are going to homeschool, I NEED to be able to have the kids outside for some fresh air most days.
Well, I think that's all for today. I'm on my way to enjoy a day full of coffee, kids, cleaning, laundry, and work and I'm going to do my best to release all my worries and stresses to the Lord.
There really wasn't a chance this could happen in the next two years but Raya got approved for Child Disability Tax Credit (and they are backdating to her birth) so this will allow us to pay off the only other loan we have left (besides our mortage). We've really been working on our finances for the last 7 months or so and have seen God to great things with the money we have. We can't wait to have that debt pay off. It's such an unhealthy debt to have and it weighs heavily on us. We've been trying out best to follow "Dave Ramsey's" Total Money Makeover and it's working well for us. Some fantastic friends of ours got us hooked on it last year. It's been great to handle our finances more "biblically". We've realized that borrowing isn't an option for us(with the exception of mortgage and possibly a vehicle). And lending isn't an option either...we will give. The book states, if you have it to lend, you have it to give. We have been enjoying seeing how God has used our (I mean *His*) money to bless people.
All this to say that it seems like we are getting ahead and are possibly in the position to move....YAY!! We found a house we love, a community we love....but...the community doesn't have a lot we can afford to put the house on :( I know it will all work out and we will move when we are able. We are still going to proceed with getting our house ready to sell and will hopefully list it in the next month or so. I don't have a problem buying an existing house, in fact that's what we'd planned to do along. I get so nervous and stressed about the timing of everything .... and well, basically, I need to sit back, enjoy the ride and remember that God is bigger than all of these worries I have. The house in Cranston just seemed so *right*. It's not huge or glamorous but it's big enough. It's got a great kitchen and I could see the kids playing in the backyard. If we are going to homeschool, I NEED to be able to have the kids outside for some fresh air most days.
Well, I think that's all for today. I'm on my way to enjoy a day full of coffee, kids, cleaning, laundry, and work and I'm going to do my best to release all my worries and stresses to the Lord.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
It's been a day...
Admit it...we've all had days that we've wanted to do this...
Disclaimer: I promise this was only taken for "shock factor" for when Chris drives up! I love my little man, he's just hitting the 'terrible twos' a little early.
Disclaimer: I promise this was only taken for "shock factor" for when Chris drives up! I love my little man, he's just hitting the 'terrible twos' a little early.