Doin' It Dave Ramsey Style

Last year we sold our home in AZ, paid off all our debt, and began a new and exciting journey. Debt free living! It has become a fun hobby for us to work together to budget and live within our means. We enjoy the freedom and peace that we feel and hope to be able to keep this up for the rest of our lives. This sketch was on SNL. Aside from being really funny it pretty much encapsulates the way we feel about consumer debt and how we make purchasing decisions. So here it is for all of you to see.

So far...

Today is our anniversary.  Three years!  Although it’s not a long time, Matt and I both feel like we’ve always been together.  Until I met Matt I always felt like that circle in Shel Silverstein’s book.  Just rolling along till I found my missing piece.   Matt is such an extraordinary man.  I feel privileged to be married to him.  Every day with him is a gift.  I feel like my real life began when he entered it.  I love that the New Year ushers in our anniversary. 

Things have been really busy since we returned from our holiday in Utah.  Both kids have been sick and Matt and I felt under the weather too.  Everyone seems to be doing better now and I’ve finally got all the Christmas decorations put away.  So now that I’m a little back in the swing of my pre-vacation routine I thought I’d offer a little recap.

We introduced Ian to snow at a community holiday festival here in Houston prior to leaving for Utah.  In an attempt to demonstrate what you can do with snow I accidently got the little guy in the face with a little ball of ice/snow.  To say that he was stunned is an understatement.

When we got to Utah where the real snow is Ian was already somewhat familiar with the concept.  We had so much fun there.  The first few nights we stayed with Seanna’s family.  Adam and Brandon took really great care of Ian.

Matt and Ian went sledding with Seanna’s family and Uncle Thomas, who came over after work.

This was fun for me because I got to stay home and hang out with my sister.  I also got to go shopping with Seanna the day after Christmas.  That was a lot of fun because Matt kept Ian so I would get to enjoy myself instead of wrangle him.  (He is a handful these days.) 

From Christmas Eve till New Year’s Eve we stayed at Matt’s parent’s house.  We also had a great time there.  There were so many people to help with my kids and hold them that I really did feel like I was on vacation.  Ian got a lot of great presents and so did Matt and I.  But the best gift of all for us was just getting to be with family.

After Christmas my family trickled into town.  Matt went snow boarding with Eric and his kids, Seanna’s family, and Thomas while I spent the day in Sandy with Cathy.  The day before Lily was blessed my sisters and niece, Patience threw me the best baby shower I’ve ever had!  It was just with family and a couple of close friends.  Jen Powell (mission buddy) came as did Susan Westover (Young Women’s leader).  It was a special treat to get to see them.

On Sunday, December 30th we blessed Lily in Matt’s parent’s ward in Kaysville.  It was a very special experience for Matt and I.  Even my brother Craig made it to the blessing on his way to Idaho.  I was so overwhelmed with love and joy as I saw my brothers and Matt’s Dad, Grandpa, uncles, and brother go to the front of the chapel and surround our baby.  It was a moment I’ve always dreamed of and that I’ll never forget.  My family made such a great effort to be there and it really meant a lot to me.  It was so wonderful to share that with those we love so much.  

Following the sacrament service we returned to John and Jeanne’s for a great luncheon.  We really appreciate them hosting all our family and providing such a great feast.  Sadly, we packed that night and had to get ready for our flight home the next morning.  

The trip home was especially interesting because we had to get 6 checked bags and four carry-ons to the airport, on the plane, and then in our little CR-V.  Miraculously we made it home with everything except a jar of Aquaphor.  What a great trip we had!! 

Since then we have just been getting over illness, organizing, and getting back into our rhythm and routine.