Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover

Well it sure has been a while since I've posted on here.

I just finished reading Dave Ramsey's book Total Money Makeover (I've only had it for 6+ years so I suppose it was about time!).  I'm assuming that this is all God's timing much like everything else in life is.  I want to and need to do this.  We are not made to be servants of debt and it's time to be free from it.  I believe in my heart that this is the right way to do things and now it's a matter of putting the "rubber to the road" and implementing the baby steps.
I will try to post progress on here and if anyone else has done this or is doing it or wants to do it - I encourage you to speak up.  I think a little accounability and encouragement is needed!!

So begins Baby Step 1: Emergency Fund of $1,000.  First things first, we need to build up a small cushion.  Looking through things to "liquidate" at home and see what we can do to get this money set aside so the real hard work can begin - Baby Step 2: The Debt Snowball.

Please pray for me and for us as we begin this journey to do as Dave Ramsey says - we will live like no one else so we can live like no one else.

Falling into place...

Since we've even made the decision to move back to Texas, things have just fallen into place.

1. We got a SUH-WEET deal on the PODS for moving back to Texas.
2. We found an apartment within a week of moving.
3. Chris found a job.
4. I found a job.
5. Our schedules are offset just enough to not kill my mom with watching CJ.  It's been a while since she's had a 2 1/2 year old around so it is a bit of an adjustment for her.

So my new job... I just started on July 27.  We are in a period of transition - they are changing the job roles so that our customers have a single point of contact despite where they are in the process.  I think this is fabulous!  However, it also means that even though I've been there for a week and a half now, I still don't know exactly what I'm doing... or supposed to be doing.  I am just being positive and patient and I know that once I catch on and find my groove, I'll be golden.  I'm just so thankful right now for a great group of people that I work with.

CJ is just amazing.  I know that all parents out there think this of their kids - but he is just so smart!  He recognizes all his letters (though sometimes he likes to play games and point out all the wrong letters first) and is recognizing numbers now, too.  He's already been saying his alphabet and counting to 20.  Now he is also tracing lines (a pre-writing skill) and drawing lines from one point to another.  Grandma is really helping out with this during "school" when she is the teacher and CJ is the student.

CJ is also really comfortable in the water now.  He loves his life jacket so he can just float and kick his way around the pool.  And with this heat wave, he's realizing that sunglasses are a necessity at all times during the day and the pool is best in the morning!  You know, before it has evaporated into thin air!!!

It is amazing to me just how independent CJ is.  He is funny and smart and definitely has his own opinions about things.  Now if we can get him interested in potty training... and eating a wider variety of nutritious foods...

I love that kiddo!

Just like riding a bike?

I had my first real in-person interview today... first in I'm guessing in 11+ years.  I can't lie - I was definitely nervous going in, but I prayed about it a lot between last night and this morning.  "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" has been my mantra as of late.  It was much easier when I framed this interview in a new way - if nothing else, this was an experience to get my feet wet again in the interview arena.  However, I must say of all the gifts bestowed upon me by my Creator - reading people is one of my assets.  So once I'm in front of a person and can get a good "read" on them, I can do really well.

Now I wait... I have another interview with a different company on my horizon.  I can rest easy though - and I have to say, this is one of the best perks of being a true believer - this is all in God's hands.  He has a plan and it is the perfect plan for me at this time.  Whatever comes, I can pray over it and feel good about my decisions.

Working out is hard to do

As most of you know, I'm on a weight-loss quest.  I'm not proud of how far I let myself go, but know that I'm well over halfway - close to two thirds of the way! - to my (healthy) goal weight, I can admit that it was BAAAAD! 

At any rate, if anyone else out there needs to be encouraged, I'm your gal.  And I wouldn't mind a reciprocation either.  I do make my posts on Facebook on my weight loss, though sometimes I slack.  It has been slow and steady with little spikes of weight gain (1-2 lbs) but generally in a downward trend.  Let me just tell you, it's hard for several reasons: 1) being a female has some serious challenges in losing weight 2) having a 2 1/2 year old can sometimes wear me out and 3) sometimes I just flat out don't put myself into the equation - meaning I don't make myself a priority.

Neither here nor there... I'm healthier now and getting healthier everyday.  Chocolate continues to be my kryptonite, but at least now I can enjoy it in moderation.  :)  And as long as I remain active, it will all work out!

Keep up the great work to all of you on my same quest...

Is it the middle of June already???

Ok, I don't know about you... but it's true what people (adults) always said when I was younger, "Time flies the older you get."  It couldn't be more true.  Wasn't it just yesterday that 2011 was starting?

But I can't say I'm sad about the time that has passed.  Many great things have happened, some disguised as not-so-great things.  I'm trying to just let God lead my footsteps and to simply follow obediently.  That's not exactly my strong point, but I'm doing the best I can with it.  I know God has some amazing things in store for me and my family.  I have faith.  That's all I need right now.

I'll just try to act a little more like CJ looks here...

CJ relaxing at the pool

Road Trip Day 4 (a couple days late)

Whoo!  So sorry to not have posted but I'm sure you can find it in your heart to forgive me.

Let me give you a quick rundown of what our fourth and final day of travel was like:

1. 5:54am (mountain time): CJ wakes up, so Chris and I wake up in our hotel in Denver, CO.
2. Around 6:15am: Chris and CJ go down for breakfast while I get cleaned up.
3. Around 7am: I go down for breakfast and the CJ hand-off takes place so Chris can pack up the room and get ready for travel.  I attempt to make a Belgian waffle while CJ alternates sitting at a table and running down a hall.  Finally, I give up and take the waffle upstairs to try to eat while CJ can run around the room.
4. Around 7:30am: Chris and CJ head downstairs to try to load the car while I attempt to smuggle the cats out one by one... before Chris even gets down the hall, he warns me that the cleaning service is a couple doors down.
5. Around 7:40am: I try to bring Baby Girl down covered with my jacket.  I think I'm being stealthy going past staff to the stairs but the realize after passing several people - Baby Girl's tail is down by my leg... *sigh*
6. Around 7:45am: I give up being too stealthy and grab Houdini, cover him with my jacket and hoof it to the car.
7. Around 7:50am: I am looking for Cassie... she is wedged between the headboard and the wall, but fortunately just close enough for me to pull the nightstand out, lay on the ground and barely reach her scruff to yank her hissing and growling from her "safe" spot.
8. Around 8am: I have completely given up being stealthy and just make for the door.
9. Around 8:05am: We are headed to Walmart and Starbucks for cold medicine and coffee, respectively.  We look back and CJ is passed out cold from lack of sleep.
10. Around 8:15am: We are on the road!

So that was our morning.  Our intention was to hit the road early and make it all the way from Denver to Frisco... gas and go's the whole way.  Most of our family wanted us to stop in Oklahoma City to recharge our batteries and not push ourselves.  Chris and I just couldn't do that... three hours from home was too close to call it quits, so we pushed through.

And then... 32 miles from the Texas border on I-35 southbound at close to 9pm (central time), we spot a sign.  A construction sign.  A sign that reads expect stops... I'm pretty sure Chris and I just felt our hearts drop.  We spent the next 45 minutes stuck in traffic until finally it freed up.  They had closed the southbound lanes completely closed so traffic was being routed down to one lane in each direction... it was U-G-L-Y!!!  It was smooth sailing from there.  If anyone was outside when we crossed into Texas, you may have heard a loud "Whoohoo!!!"  That was us.

We finally made it to my parents' house around 11pm, I think.  We were beyond delirious but so happy.

CJ was a real trooper through all of this.  He still isn't quite back to himself - his schedule is so off and he's pretty much refusing sleep at this point.  I'm sure that will get better as we get settled.  Chris and I are looking for an apartment (or even better - a house) for rent and know that once we're settled with all our stuff back, the cats, CJ, Chris and I will finally feel at home.

So keep us in your prayers - that we find a great place to live and jobs (quickly).  I know we can use it!

And I know CJ isn't a native Texan, but we got him here as quick as we could!  A short four years and fourteen days after Chris and I moved... we were back in Texas.  Not that anyone is counting, of course.

Road Trip Day 3

Let me sum today up rather quickly...

1. Driving through Wyoming may have been the most monotonous thing I've ever done in the world.  Cheyenne was just the icing on a poo-poo cake.  I drove from Ogden, UT this morning to just outside Cheyenne before Chris took over.
2. We are staying in Denver to get a good night sleep and see what we can accomplish tomorrow.
3. CJ has just about had it with the car I think - he has had two big meltdowns today - the worst one as we pulled up to the hotel and Chris ran in to check us in.  I think it lasted the better part of 30-45 minutes and may have caused delays at Denver International Airport.  Sorry!
4. Had "fun" smuggling the cats in again.  If I never had to do that again, it would be too soon.
5. If we have to stay the night in Oklahoma City tomorrow, 3 1/2 hours out of Frisco, I may just cry.

Tomorrow is a new day.  A better day.  A lot of prayers needed for Chris, CJ and I for tomorrow.