Halloween 2009

Melody branched out for last Halloween and decided not to be a cat (she has been a cat for the last 4 years!) The pretty bat costume caught her eye after I turned down the WAY too expensive Dorothy costume with the sparkly shoes and toto dog in a basket. I was excited because it wasn't a cat and because i could curl her hair and put a little make up on her :)

Day at the Zoo

Ok, before any of you think I am crazy and took my child to the zoo in the 115 degree weather, these are old pictures. I havent posted anything really from the last year. So, I am going through the pictures and posting things so I have the last year documented. This was last October during fall break. Melody and I went and spent a day at the zoo. Mel is SO much fun to be around. Her laugh is the best and we had a great time laughing at the monkeys and seeing all the animals. Melody wants to be a vet and LOVES animals so the zoo is always a big hit.

Mary Poppins

Melody was in a Singing camp again this year, thanks to Chrissy taking her! I brought Melody to Chrissy's house every morning for a week and Melody got to play and swim with Kaeli and Paige and the boys and then after lunch Chrissy took them to singing camp and brought them home after. THANK YOU CHRISSY! Melody had a blast and this year they learned songs from Mary Poppins. We sang Mary Poppins every minute of that week to be ready for the performance Saturday. Melody had a solo in Supercalifragilis and I put the clip above so you can see what a great job she did. Kaeli and Paige did great on their parts, too. It was fun watching them. The Gardners came to watch the performance and cheer the girls on, thanks for coming guys!

Our New Place

FINALLY, here are the pictures of our new place. Melody and I are settled in and have been here about 7 months...time has just gone way too fast! We have adjusted (kinda) to living on the third floor and being by the pool (where there is a party until 3 am most nights, no joke!). Since moving in, Melody had a broken arm and I broke my toe and had a surgery...all not that big of a deal until you have to carry groceries up to the third floor! Good thing we healed up fast (and had friends to help us out :)

2nd one gone!

I just paid off my 2nd credit card in my debt snowball and I am SO excited. Current debt paid over the last 6 months is about $8000.00! Every month I gain more momentum and love seeing the balances on my debt go DOWN! I got a little off track on my budget the first of this month with a couple things that I failed to plan for but I was able to adjust some other areas and make sure everything balanced out. I am almost giddy now. If you are wondering how I am doing this, see my last post on my favorite guy, Dave Ramsey. He is amazing and so is his plan!

MY FAVORITE GUY! DAVE RAMSEY!

I LOVE Dave Ramsey! He has totally changed my financial life. I first heard about Dave from Randy Quinn, who listened to The Dave Ramsey show in Texas. I got on-line and read about the "baby steps" and ordered the Total Money Makeover (a must read!) that night. I read it and have put it into action. I cut up the credit cards and am using cash or debit card for everything. I make a written budget every month and have made myself stick to it. In January, I signed up with Donelle and Randy to go through Financial Peace University, Dave's 13 week series and I am really enjoying it and learning a lot. So far, I have paid off $5,000 in debt and working hard on paying off more. SO, what is this all about? It is common sense. It is not buying things unless you have the $$ and cash is the way to go. It is amazing how making a budget and telling your money where to go can make you feel like you got a raise, even though you didn't. There is no more wondering, where did all the money go? I know. It went where I told it to. And me, being me, make sure to tell the $ to let me have some fun still, and I do a little but I know that, as Dave says, if I live like no one else, later I can LIVE like NO ONE else! Which means sacrifice now so you can enjoy life later with more satisfaction because you worked hard and earned it. He has 7 baby steps to break things down:

1. 1, 000 starter emergency fund
2. Pay off debt using the Debt snowball (smallest amount to largest amount) to get out of all debt but your house.
3. 3 to 6 months of living expenses in savings
4. 15% of household income in retirement
5. kids college fund(s)
6. Pay off the house
7. Build wealth and give

I just had to put this on here to spread the word that if you try this it will change your life for the better. If any of you were like me, stressed, worried about the bills every month, and thinking this is just "how it is" then you have to check this out. Because it isn't how it is. It is a great thing to have HOPE and that is what I have had for the first time about my finances. I am so excited for the day I can say I'M DEBT FREE! It will be a while but progress is being made. If anyone wants more info go to daveramsey.com. You can read more about the baby steps and listen to his radio show on-line. Or you can call me! I love to talk about this Dave:) I will post at big milestones in my debt snowball. I have paid off 1 credit card and am working on the second....more to come :)

GoodBye

Melody and I have been busy the last couple months and I have a lot to catch up on. The main reason we have been so busy is that we moved. Today, with the help of good friends, we cleaned up the house and I locked the door for the last time. I have to say that I got a little emotional saying goodbye to our home for the last 4 1/2 years. We have SO many good memories from living here and have made great friends. I am SO grateful for all of you that helped me move: pack and unpack, clean, have a yard sale on the coldest morning yet and go up the stairs to the 3rd floor! Melody and I moved into an apartment on the 3rd floor and are still adjusting to the climb. Luckily, we got to stay close by all our good friends! Tanisha and Coleman have been out shopping with me to get a few things for the new place, I will have to post pictures after it is all put together. This move has been difficult and it has tested my faith a bit but I know Melody and I are where we are supposed to be...hopefully, I get to find out why someday :)