In your face Dave Ramsey!

Well, we paid off the land rover today (Jan 27th)!! In your face Dave Ramsey! LOL We are so excited that we took the opportunity to get some "in your face" and "the real world" lessons on finances. We are now back on track and have a GOAL!! The car was $6,504.09 to pay off! That is such a big number! We decided to use the student loan money to pay it off. In the end, the interest is WAY lower, that gave us $172 instantly to be putting towards savings, and we are one step closer to our goal: me staying home!! This also allowed us to drop our car insurance to liability...we were paying $176 per month....now it will be right around $90! We've also decided to get rid of our internet service, which is $32 per month. We always use our neighbors WIFI (with his permission!), and haven't logged on to our internet in months. This gave us a savings of $290 per month! We've re-worked our monthly budget. We are now tithing 10% (which we've always done) AND "paying ourselves" 10% of our paychecks (which we have NEVER done!)!!!! This is so awesome! Our new budget started today, with the first paycheck of February! I'm SO very glad that we are saving! This will help us get to the next goal: 3-6 months of living expenses in savings! It seems like a lofty goal, but with our new found extra money, we will be there in no time flat! It is amazing to see God's hand at work on our finances. We've decided to get central heat and air with our tax return. Even though that would be a huge chunk of change to be able to hang on to...I don't really want to stay at home in a house with kiddos that is miserable in the summer and miserable in the winter! I consider this as a huge investment for when, someday far away, we sell our house. It is, by far, the biggest and most costly project on our list. It will make our house SO much more enjoyable, not only for ourselves, but for our guests as well. I can't wait to get it done! We are on week 2 of Dave Ramsey, and so far....awesome! I will be posting more about this as the class continues, and Jeremy and I are supposed to be looking at some numbers that I will also post later.

"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:11

On another note, my baby is 13 months! I can't believe how fast the time just flies! She is such a joy and is so dear to my heart! She is talking away...at about 20-25 words! My mom calls her a little myna bird...always copying what you are saying! Her newest word that I LOVE: Bible! Every time I sing "Jesus Loves Me" and it comes to the word Bible, she will just say it over and over again! I will have to get a video of this, but haven't yet! We went to Dalhart for a quick trip, and had fun with Grammie at the park (even though she was running fever). It was just too beautiful of a day to miss out! I will post those pictures in a little while, when I update this post!! Anyway...off to hair bow making! Valentine's Day is just around the corner!

Krystole

Just a swingin'

This looks fun!

1st time in a swing 1/28!

Cinderella?

So, Jeremy and I are now in the Financial Peace class, and we are LOVING it thus far! We feel so much more focused on our finances already (which I may have already said!). One of the reasons we are taking the time now to invest in our finances is because this will be my last year of work!! Yes, you read that right, as of Christmas break 2011, I will be a stay at home mommy!! I cannot express how truly happy and excited I am about this! Of course, this is all GOD willing, but I feel that the timing is right so far! So, in order to prepare for the cut in our budget, we are paying off debt! In fact, I am about to pay off our CAR in just a few more minutes!! What a wonderful feeling! That will be $172 a month that we will have extra (and my extra, I mean deposited into a savings account!!)...not to mention the fact that we have only had that car since November, so we are also saving a bundle on interest by paying it off 4 years early! Thank you GOD!! Anyway, back to the main reason for this post.

I have (as of Monday) started a new cleaning schedule. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am pretty much a clean freak, and not having my house the way I feel it should be REALLY drives me crazy! From helpful tips from friends, I've come up with a daily "chore" list. I'm going to post it on here...to help keep me accountable, and just in case I lose the paper copy, I will have a back-up:

Monday: Deep Clean the Kitchen, Wash Socks/Undies/Towels, Clean the family room
Tuesday: Deep Clean the Bathrooms, Wash the whites
Wednesday: Clean the dining room/living room, Wash the darks
Thursday: Deep clean Natalee's nursery (including toys to the tub for bleaching...which is currently happening now!) Wash Natalee's clothes
Friday: Clean the bedrooms (Guest room and our bedroom), Wash sheets, Clean the office

There...I said it....it's now in writing! So far this week, I am right on schedule. The only other goal is...once you have cleaned the room, keep it cleaned. So for example, Monday I cleaned the kitchen, so before we went to bed on Monday, I made sure the sink was emptied, cabinets were wiped, etc. Tuesday, I cleaned the bathroom, and then before bed, made sure everything was still picked up in the bathroom....and in the kitchen....see the point? I'm doing this that way by the time Friday rolls around, I will have the whole weekend to relax and enjoy a clean house...meaning more quality time with family, and less stress about cleaning! YAY! This is preparing me for my stay at home journey. I know that it will be important to me to have a clean house and have supper on the table, something that has always been important to me, but even more so when this is my only "job." So, it may sound a little like Cinderella, but I don't have a big fancy dress waiting for me at the end, although I do have my prince charming, and am so blessed by his love, it's a little ridiculous!

I'm really trying to focus on being a better steward of not only our money, but of our belongings, my time with God, and of my time in general! Speaking of time...the toys need to be rinsed!

"Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

Krystole

Strep, Psycho-ness, and Sleep Deprived

This past week has been rough! First, Natalee and I came down with strep (1-16)! Poor baby...and poor mommy! Jeremy had 2 cranky girls to deal with this past weekend! Jeremy's mom (Robyn) also had to go to the ER by ambulance for chest pains on the night of the 15th. Jeremy met her up there...stayed with her...took her back to Canyon at 7:30am the next morning...and finally came home about 8am. His sleep was short lived as Natalee and I awoke at 9am...both not feeling well! He was such a good daddy, got up, and took us to the doctor! This whole week has been a mess! This week at mother's day out, our kiddos were CrAzY with a capital C! Everyday presented a whole new set of challenges! There are some days that I just want to run away, never to return! But, overall for now, I KNOW that it is such a blessing from GOD to our family. Where else am I going to work where I am with my child, and get paid for it, and she goes for free? Wednesday the 19th was our first Dave Ramsey class. It went very well, and we already feel more focused on our finances. Dave Ramsey is pretty hilarious, and it seems as though we will have a pretty large support group! Thursday the 20th, Natalee and I were both upset to our tummies. Natalee threw up once...and gagged several times throughout the day. I never threw up, but I also didn't eat until 8:30 that night. To end this crazy week, Natalee's one year well child check-up was today. What I found out was...she wasn't really well at all! They gave her a breathing treatment in the office because she sounded so wheezy. We were there for 2 hours!! She had to have 4 immunizations (all separate pokes!)...and to top it all off...we found out the urgent care we went to on Sunday gave her the wrong dosage of medicine...so she STILL has strep! Talk about one hot momma! My poor baby...I hate that she has suffered all week long, and there was no way of knowing it!! She also has double ear infections! :( On a quick positive note: she was 29 1/4 inches long and 21.4 pounds!! This has definitely been a rough week, but then I think about people such as Lot in the old testament. He lost EVERYTHING, and in the end could still give the glory to God and remained faithful to Him. WOW! What a servant! I hope that I can remain faithful to God in the easy things...and even more so in the hard times. I pray that I see the blessings that God has daily poured out for me...instead of the small disasters and discomforts that life brings. In the end of this psycho week...I choose to remain faithful to Him!

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1

Krystole

PS: The benefit for the Gomez family at Rosas today seemed to be a huge hit! All day long, the lines were wrapped around the building, and the inside was packed! Thanks be to God, once again, for His faithfulness!

Smartie Pants

Natalee seems to really be catching on to this whole "talking" thing! Just today...she repeatedly said "duck" while in the tub! She never ceases to amaze me! She can now say (2 weeks shy of 13 months): ball, baby, bow, blanket, momma, daddy, dog, duck, bubble, balloon, "roar" like a lion (refer to video posted!!), "ahhh" for her cup, book, diaper, that and uh-oh! She can shake her head "yes" and "no." She can sign more, please, all done, and thank you. She can look at the wall, ceiling, light, and floor when asked. She can headbutt, blow kisses, and give hugs to her baby. She can do patty cake. She can "turn the page" in her storybooks when it is time. She's just a sponge! Today I took her to the park after work. She loved walking on the sidewalk...of all things! She would walk to the grassy areas, and then walk excitedly over to the sidewalk, where she would "stomp" her feet a little harder while she walked. She loved looking at the ducks! She would lean far over and do a crazy laugh, while hitting herself in the head with her hand! This was her way of being crazy and excited! She is such a crack up! She loves being outside exploring God's creation. I try to say things like, "Look at what God made for us and what a beautiful day God has given us." I figure the more that I can "implant" the word God in her head, the more she will become accustomed to it being a part of her daily life! I posted a comment on facebook the other day...."Our children are the future, and the future NEEDS Jesus." I was pretty proud of this post. It really just hit me...the children that are growing up with Natalee are the same ones that she will attend school with, go to football games with, dance with, play with, and become friends with. That is when I realized that not only does MY child NEED Jesus, but all of my friends' children need Him too...we all need Him. Oh how I wish that every child would be in a home where the name of Jesus was honored, loved, adored, and cherished! Natalee will be taught Jesus in our home, but what about all of the children she will grow up with? Now, I want to add them to my list of "daily" prayers...Natalee's school mates. I pray that they will grow up in Godly households, know the name of Jesus, have parents that are actively involved in church and their spiritual growth, and that they will grow and develop into the wonderful gifts that God has in store for them. I know...a lofty prayer indeed, but I feel that for some, prayer is all that will get them through....besides, a prayer never hurt anyone!

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6

Having fun on the slide!

Playing with Kate!

Looking at the ducks...

Krystole

Pigtails!

I was able to put Natalee's hair in pigtails for the first time today! She looked adorable (of course, and no, I'm not bias!). I can't believe how long her hair is getting! It's a beautiful auburn brown color, although it is straight and thin just like her mommy's! I did trim her hair (barely) for the first time on Tuesday the 4th. She has always had some hair on the right side of her head (by her ear) that was longer than the left side, since birth! I finally cut that little strand off to even it up! I'm saddened to say that the hair got lost, before I could put it in a baggie, but I'm not counting that as her 1st "haircut" anyway! :) I was organizing all of the many photos that I have today, and just looking back to the beginning of the year made me realize just how much she has changed! Little things that you don't really notice on a daily basis (how long her hair has gotten...) just really stood out to me in those pictures! She looks so grown up now! When you are around her everyday like I am, you don't notice just how much they have changed. She is such a wonderful gift from God!


My pigtailed girl!

Luke 12:7 "Indeed, the very hairs on your head are numbered..."


On another note, Jeremy and I are about to take the Dave Ramsey class, "Financial Peace." I'm nervous and excited about this new adventure. We haven't had any financial goals in what feels like forever. Jeremy has a new job now, and I would like to stay at home too. We know that we need to get our finances back in control for any of this to take place. Our church is offering this class, and I am super pumped about it! I'm a little nervous on what they may say that we need to get "rid" of in order to save properly, but I am always up for a challenge. We need help, because we want to be good stewards of God's money, and to be able to teach Natalee how to manage it well! I will keep you updated on how this all goes!! We are also looking into college tuition for Natalee. There is a program (Texas Tuition Promise Fund) that lets you start paying for their college tuition now! It is expensive, but if you do it, you pay for tuition as it costs today...not the cost that it will be in another 18 years when she is going to school. This would help us save a lot of money. I don't know....just a thought, we shall see what it becomes.


Stewardship Prayer

0 God, I resolve to put You first in my life.I recognize that You have blessed me with all that I have and all that I am.
As your steward, I resolve to sacrifice when necessary but always to do so out of a spirit of sincere love, just as your Son, Jesus, did for me.
I humbly accept the challenge to share from my means rather than from my excess.
I recognize that being a good steward is nothing more than being truly Christian.
Dear God, I resolve, to be generous with my time, talent and treasure, giving in proportion to the gifts I have been given.
I commit myself to taking care of my body and all of creation.
I know there will be times when I will fall to be a good steward, but I pledge to keep on trying.
I will confidently live each day with a spirit of true peace and joy in knowing that I am doing your will. Amen


This is my prayer...that God would help lead, guide, and direct us into His perfect plan for our lives, and that I would be open and willing to follow.

Krystole

Mini Mommy

Natalee LOVES playing "mommy." I know that she is only 1 (and barely at that!) but she totally gets this whole "mommy" thing! She got a few babies for her birthday, and she only wants to play with them! She loves going around the house, purse in one hand, baby and bottle in the other! It's so cute to see her love, pat, and rock her baby. Today I bought her a baby doll stroller at Once Upon a Child (home away from home!). She played with it walking up and down the aisles of the store while I browsed before I could even get it home! She started throwing a hissy fit when I "took" it from her to pay for it! By the time we got to the house, she waddled into her room, found her baby, and I help her put it in the stroller. She loved walking back and forth with it. I think she is going to be just like me in this area. I've loved babies for as LONG as I can remember. I have the best childhood memories...and babies are a part of it. My all time favorite doll was Timmy Lee. Now he is in Natalee's room! I've always been a mini mommy, copying everything I saw my mom doing with my brother, and it's just neat to see Natalee copying everything that I am doing with her! I look forward to teaching her how to love on her babies even more as she grows...not that I am rushing that! Until then, I will continue to love on her, and SHOW her love that she can see, and hopefully pass on to her future children. She is such a joy to my heart!
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14

On another note, day 5 of working out is now complete! We are through for the week, and will start back up on Monday! I'm really looking forward to it, and I'm not dreading it at all, so that is a definite plus! I am sore all over, but consider it a blessing, because at least that proves that I do have muscle in there somewhere!! In the words of my husband, "I will feel like jello now, so I don't look like jello later." That just cracks me up!! I guess this will be my gym motto...who knows, maybe I will make some shirts with this logo on it! Anyway, off to bed, I'm one tired girl!
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Hebrews 12:1

1-6-11
Mini Mommy with her new stroller!

12-28-09
Mini mommy with her purse, baby, and bottle!

Krystole

All Grown Up

Yesterday (3rd) Natalee and I spent some time outside. It was a beautiful January day, and we didn't even need jackets! I had fun taking pictures of her (as always), and we blew some bubbles too! She loved looking at the bubbles, and watching them blow away in the wind. Just in the last week and a half, she has started saying balloon, bubble, and diaper! She is just too smart! I caught her saying ball and bubble on the video that I posted!! I just love watching her learn and explore. She is such a sponge, soaking in everything around her. This makes me think of how I need to be with Jesus....soaking in all the the things that He has blessed me with, and soaking in His word for spiritual growth. Child-like faith at it's best...

January 4th
Natalee's first day in the one year old room at St. Paul's CDO was today! The best part, I got to move up with her!! YAY! Thank you Lord for yet again providing for us! She had a great day, and LOVED going to the gym. She walked in and out of the big plastic playhouse, and really liked looking through all of the windows! She ate at the "big" girl table and drank out of her big girl cup, which she has been doing for forever! Anyway, all in all it was a great first day! I'm really glad that I got to move up with her and am so thankful that I get to spend every day with her. I just don't want to miss a moment, because it goes by so fast!

"I thank God every time I remember you." Philippians 1:3



Who is that standing in front of me?



Taking a stroll!



Doll Face!

Watching the bubbles!

1st time on the wagon at CDO!

Krystole

Flab-be-Gone!

Well, as I'm sure half of the world did, I joined a gym! It's a new gym in town, Planet Fitness, and it is only $10 a month! Where has this been all my life? Finally, someone is beginning to understand that lower and middle class families want to be more healthy, but it is so hard to fit into a tight budget! I'm really excited about this, and I have an accountability partner, Mary, so that should help too. They have all the normal gym equipment, but then they also have a 30 minute express workout (similar to Curves). This is what I am very excited about. I keep telling myself, "Really? Do I not have THIRTY minutes a day?" Once I say that out loud, I realize that if I can't keep this up, I'm in some serious health dilemmas! Not only am I wanting to get rid of the baby weight (which, in all reality, isn't baby weight at all....it's my thyroid!), but I am also just wanting to be more healthy and energetic for myself and for my family. I know that I will feel better, and be better because of it. This is our second day to go. We plan on going Monday-Friday for the 30 minute workout, and then resting on the weekends. Planet Fitness buys pizza on Monday's....and they have tootsie rolls for you on your way out. It's the "No judgement zone" gym. Personally, I think they are testing me!! LOL So far....so good....minus a tootsie roll or two! It's not your typical...."You must be in perfect shape before going to the gym" gym...it's real. People are there who are struggling with their weight, and I am one of them! It's encouraging to see. I know that I will not be perfect, because life just happens, but I do hope to succeed more than fail!! Not only do I want to be around longer for Jeremy and Natalee, but also I plan on having more kiddos...and I just don't want to be fat forever! I've found a new doctor...who seems to be awesome. I'm hoping that she can help me get my hypothyroidism under control. As of the last lab work, my thyroid was at 119. Normal is between 1 and 4. The office said they had never seen that high before! This explains the sudden weight gain...at least I have a reason! I'm enjoying it thus far, and yes, I realize it is only day 2...but I am looking forward to doing it again tomorrow. 30 minutes......very do-able!

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Krystole

Our Little Lady

Natalee's Cake!






Mommy & Daddy with Natbug!


 


She LOVED it!!



Mesmerized by the light!

January 1st not only marked the beginning of a New Year, it also marked the day of Natalee's first birthday party! Her entire first year has been filled with Ladybugs, so that is what we decided to be the theme of her party! We didn't find out the sex of our baby, until SHE arrived! After we knew we had a girl, we then picked out bedding to decorate her nursery. We chose a ladybug theme, that didn't have much pink! She then became labeled "Natbug." She wore ladybug stuff home from the hospital, took pictures in ladybug attire, was a ladybug for Halloween....you get the picture. Now, it's time for her 1st birthday! I can't believe how quickly it has gone! It was held over at our house at 2pm. All of her Great Grandparents (Leon & Elaine, John, and Jim), all her grandparents (Brian & Tammy, Robyn), all of her aunt's and uncle's (Drew & Trista, Krysta), and SO many friends were there! What a great way to ring in 2011! We made cupcakes, and Natbug had her own little cake to devour, which she most certainly did! I redecorated the entire dining room in all of her ladybug decor from her nursery! It was a little ladybug land! We had black, red, white, and pink accents. I love "themes" and I love details! We had strawberry, chocolate, and vanilla cupcakes, all decorated with a #1, a ladybug, polka dots, or sprinkles! She got so many wonderful gifts, some of them include: Clothes, ladybug suitcase, ladybug pillow, ladybug Bible, shape sorter, keys and camera, babies, books, and bath toys! She is so loved! She LOVED opening presents, and has really gotten the hang of it since Christmas was just a few days ago!!
Now, it's time to go through her toys, get rid of the "baby" ones, upgrade to the new ones, and donate the rest. If you know me at all, you know that I can't stand clutter...although my life is usually still full of it! We are using my hope chest as her toy box, after it gets a little make-over. It's going to be used as a window seat in her room as well, I can't wait to see the finished product.
Her party was a huge success, and an enjoyable time for all that attended. We are so grateful that we have so many friends that love our little lady!

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:13-14

Krystole