Friday, July 20th at 1:30 p.m. we officially said good bye to ownership of the place we called home for 6 years! Six years doesn't actually seem very long, but in reminiscing I've remembered to bringing all 3 babies straight home from the hospital to our cozy little house. I remember having birthday parties for the kids there, setting up our trampoline, playtime in the basement and the kids all sharing ONE bedroom :). I remember when Matt and I purchased the home, and how proud we were to share something so special with one another. I remember my dad coming over to show Matt how to hang new doors on our home (one of the last good memories I have with him because he got sick just shortly after our purchase). I think back to all of the times I slept entirely too late (no kids to wake me up). Times surely have changed!!! I have shed many different emotions through this experience. Tears of sadness, when I felt the home was a burden. More tears of sadness, when I realized we would have no more memories in our "first" home. I've definitely had my fair share of tears of joy, recognizing how GOD has perfect timing and the sale of our home was in His time.
Now, on to the next chapter of life. Since taking Dave Ramsey's financial peace university (yep, another plug.. because the program is life altering in the BEST way possible!!) we have definitely 360'd our life. I'm still a wanter.. I want, and want and want and want and want!!! However, we have learned a discipline that has bettered my life in suuuch an amazing way! This summer I have worked 3 days a week to save for some of those wants on my never ending list :). I am SOOOO glad to announce that Matt and I will be enjoying a cruise together in January! We never went on a honey moon and we started our family a little over a year after marriage, so this is a long awaited time away with eachother. Might sound crazy, but bring on the winter :) :). The best part about our cruise is.. were going 100% debt free, not even a mortgage! Ok.. so we don't OWN a house, but I'm celebrating just the same ;). I will say, we have been searching the market looking at homes. We haven't found the house we can't live without yet. Were doing what we can to save, save and save some more and the interest rates on mortgages are crazy low, but we just want to make the best decision possible. Were renting right now and trying to "live like no one else".. and we have even considered living at my moms when our lease is up if we don't find the 'right' house. It sounds pretty drastic and crazy doesn't it??? However, its an opportunity to SAVE soooo much money while benefiting my mom with some extra income. I'm all for making sacrifices to set my family up for financial success.. but even I'm not sure this is a step that I should make :) Love you mom, Nick and Dylin :) But at the same time I can't help but think... HOW CAN I PASS UP THIS OPPORTUNITY!!?
Guess who is turning 5 in one week?? Noah is such a kind hearted soul :) He is extremely thoughtful and generous. I can't even stop at a gas station to pick up a bug juice without him saying "mom, can we get one for Miles and Kendra?" I love that boy, and its nuts to think that in just one month he will probably be entering kindergarten! Yep, I may have made a decision about something :) Matt would say that he knew that long ago and just needed some time for me to warm up to the idea of letting my biggest helper go off to school this coming fall :)
Kendra and Miles are still neck and neck as far as how they are growing, but Miles has the edge ;). He is a little cuddler, and very much an outside kinda guy. Miles has expanded his vocabulary to include words like "no" "stop it" and "get down!" which about summarizes his personality :). He is always getting into something! Kendra has moved on from her streak where I was certain she despised me. It was really upsetting for quite some time, and I was a bit shamed at how she treated me. She has really grown to appreciate me this summer. I have to admit, I give some of the credit to working and not being as "accessible" to her. I think I became chopped liver because she saw me day in and day out, and her Daddy was a rare commodity so she showed him great appreciation. Either way you look at it, I'm glad that phase has passed and she is able to express her love for me :)
It has been a pretty great summer so far. Memories have definitely been made! To God be the glory!!!
