Nothing majorly new to report....just don't want to get out of the habit of blogging, since I know you are all anxiously waiting to see what I will post next...haha!
House/Moving: The lot that would work with the house we want in Cranston is still on hold until the 15th. The salesman is going to grab it for us right away if these people don't take it. The house will be going up 7000-10000 in the next week so we need to act fast if we want it. I guess what they do is "fire-sale" the first, I don't know, say 20 or so and then they get a deal from all the trades people and then once they have their 'deal', they jack up the price... odd. So, we are trying to line up banking etc this week and hopefully make it happen. We are going to go to the Cardel design centre so check out all the upgrades ahead of time so we know more of the final price. The upgrade options are CRAZY!! We are being very particular about what we choose to get and what we choose to leave behind...we can't have it all so we are trying to prioritize which things we like best. Some are not options for us at all....I need to have doors on my office, without the kitchen extended we don't like the house, having the house developed down to the basement eliminates having the 'closed in' feeling on the main floor and is easier for future development, a pocket door so that the lint and dirt from the laundry/mud room don't get into the walkthrough pantry.... WOW...it all adds up fast :)
We've decided to paint the girls room just a plain light blue for the purpose of selling. Chris has finished most of it and they should be down there next weekend...they are excited.
Sunday: I had my first experience as an "Elders Wife'. Apparently when the Elders make a decision that not everyone likes, they don't go to the Elders for answers...they go to their wives....who knew? I was quite taken back. I didn't even know about the decision much before....Chris was nervous to tell me because he didn't think I'd agree with it...initially, I didn't. Once I heard the reasonings and how they came to their decision etc, I came around and I'm sure most will too. Part of me says "why fix what isn't broken? (and what we all love)" but looking to the future is important too.
That's about it for now...on with the day :)
Monday, April 06, 2009
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.