Wishing For Summer

Oh, world, I had the best day today that I have had in ages and I am craving summer so badly that I can physically feel it in my bones! Started my morning by sleeping in a deliciously perfect amount. There's something to be said for waking up at six thirty and realizing, "Self, you don't have to get up! Get back to sleep, crazy." I wandered out of bed by about ten or so, though I'd been lounging and relishing in the laziness for about an hour or so.

Once my lazy butt decided to get out of bed, I convinced the hubby that we needed to go have some breakfast. A Sunday isn't a Sunday without some yummy breakfast! We called Dan and Ash to see if they wanted to join us, and, SURPRISE!!!! They already had planned on breakfast with their fam and invited us to join them! We headed to Jim's and proceeded to have a nummy breakfast with even better conversation. It was so nice to just relax with some friends, enjoy some good food, tell some good jokes, and ease into our day.



From there, we had a bit of time, so we decided to head to Wal-Mart where I finally got my bike I've been wanting! Ron tried on hats. He didn't find one there that he liked.


We got home and I rode my new bike around for a little bit. Good God, the weather was amazing today! The sun was shining bright and the wind had just enough bite to take the edge off the heat. I was in heaven! I can tell how out of shape I've gotten, though! I remember when I was 13 and 14 I would spend hours on my bike! My friends and I would spend our entire evening riding around the neighborhood. I just went around a few streets and I could feel it! Ah well. That will change as I spend more time doing so this summer.

We spent a little bit of time shopping around Costco and found the item I'm currently lusting over.

I can't wait to go camping this summer and this is what I want to have when we do!!! It looks like just what we need, and I could definitely see it up in the middle of the woods with Kandice and Matt's tent close by!

After that, we met back up with Dan and Ash at the golf course. Chase and Jessica decided to come, too! Of course, they brought their two-year-old, Mason, and Dan and Ash brought little Zachary. He was an angel while we were there! Hard to believe he's a week old already. The boys spent about an hour and a half shooting some balls at the driving range while us girls sat around and gabbed.


As we were leaving, all of us were chatting about what we wanted to do after that. A few ideas were raised. Bowling, Poker, etc. What did we decide on? Just what every wannabe summer night needs! A barbeque! We planned on six or six thirtiesh over at Chase and Jessica's. Lo and behold, Dan and Ash showed up just after we pulled in! We were still getting out of the car. Talk about perfect timing. Chase barbequed up some awesome burgers and brats for the crew and there was plenty of pasta and my yummy contribution to go around.

Yep! Yummy yummy grape salad! We brought the beer, too. ;) All in all, it was the perfect end to SUCH an amazing day. I hope we have lots and lots just like it in the near future. Until next time!

-M

What A Month!

Oh, what an interesting month it's been!

We are well on our way with our debt free goals. Our bill we are mostly concerned with will be paid off by the 29th of this month. (Even though there was an additional expense this month!)

And what, might you ask, was that expense?


Ta da!! Meet Beth. She's 26 years old. ('85 Chevy Blazer) Ron's newest baby. She has her fair share of issues, but he has been hard at work to get her all fixed up.

He's even been getting his fair share of help. Dan and his father-in-law came by to help him after Beth stopped idling. They brought a thirst for beer, a timing light and between the three of them, they got her running again!
On top of that, I spent a day in the ER. I woke up at about 1AM with some severe pelvic pressure. By 3AM, I was in such severe pain I was in tears. I waited until about 9AM to call Jaymi and have her take me to St. Mark's. I was there until 3PM. They performed all kinds of fun tests and concluded that.... Well, they didn't know. I showed my tests to the doc I work for who came up with an answer fairly quickly. I had a cyst that ruptured on my left ovary. That damn left ovary. I'm just about sick of it complaining at me. Look! They couldn't even get a vein in my arm. In my hand, it went!


Thank goodness it wasn't anything more serious! It was kind of fun getting to meet some of the people I talk to all the time at work. Somewhat awkward having the ultrasound tech work on me, though. ;)

Now, my final update for the month. I got some somewhat upsetting/exciting news just a few days ago. My work spouse, and best friend, who is five months pregnant, is going to be leaving us after the little one comes along. She's been with the company for six years and her and I have been working together for two and a half. I can't even imagine that place without her. It's even more difficult to imagine someone else there in her stead.

However, the good news? That means I am going to become the new office manager. That also means a pay increase for me and a huge step for Ron and I in reaching our goals!!

I guarantee that I will have lots of crying spells before she leaves, particularly the final week she is there, but I think it will, ultimately, be a good thing and step in the right direction for me.

Well, that's all the news I have for you right now!

To infinity... And beyond!

I am currently embarking in a grand adventure! A vital stepping stone in the course of any young woman's life.

I'm planning a baby shower!

No, it isn't the dreary, nail-biting, nerve-scraping, terror-inducing type of baby shower that seems, for some reason, to be the norm. I'm planning it for the most easy-going, laid back, fun person in the world! I think, were I planning your typical shindig for anyone else, I could still have fun with it, but I wouldn't enjoy it nearly as much. K wants a celebration! A relaxed get together for everyone to enjoy and not feel pressured or obligated by.

I went to my sister's house tonight to look at all of her scrapbooking supplies. It was unbelievable how much she actually had! She sent me home with a ton of things that will be so fun to incorporate into the invitations that I'm making. I'll post pictures as soon as I can sort through half of it! I don't know what I would do without her.

Behold, the joys of window shopping!

So, the hubby and I went to his place of employ last night (insert random large furniture company name here) to partake in some day dreams and window shopping. We proceeded to walk in and promptly fall head over heels with just about everything we saw.

I found a bed set, he found a home theater set, and we had a blast laying on all fifteen+ mattresses.

I'm so excited for the day when we can go in ready to make purchases. When that day comes, we'll be debt free, in our own home, and ready to pay for all our furniture outright. No financing for us, thanks!

I don't see two LeBarons, Freddy.

He did it! My husband got the job! He starts tomorrow, first thing in the morning. I don't know who is more excited, him or me. This job is going to make our goals so much more reachable, now. It's going to change everything.

Is it really happening?

Well, after a long and arduous search, it's finally happened. My husband found a full time job! It is still being finalized, so I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much, but it sounds like it should go smoothly. If it does, it would be an answer to my prayers.

If this job of his works out, he keeps his part time job, and I keep both my jobs, we can pay off all debt by July 15th. We could have a decent down payment saved for a house by this time next year. A house! Our very own home!

After four years off constantly saying, "I think things are starting to look up," is it finally happening? I am so blessed..

Thank you, Dave Ramsey...

...and thank you, K and M!

My husband and I are starting the new, exciting journey of becoming 100% debt free!

We have a strict monthly budget that, by God, we stick to. It has been two months since we started, and I am so thrilled with how relatively simple it's been to stick to. Albeit, not easy... There are always those fun things that you want to buy, but priorities!!!

Our biggest debt that we have to deal with is the Altima that was repossessed of Ron's years ago that has been hanging over our head ever since. By April 1st it will be gone! Finally. It is a huge weight off of my shoulders. After that, it should be smooth sailing!

Once we have accomplished that first goal, which will be difficult, we plan on starting to save up to buy our own home! Now that I can see progress, although slow coming, I can't even begin to describe how excited I get. Every cent that we pay down is one step closer!!

-M