the orange sled

This plastic orange sled is almost 30 years old! I rode on it when I was little.

See!

 I was so proud of both kids for getting out there and trying it.

 Especially proud of Ella because she normally passes on any activity that she doesn't think she can do perfectly on the first try (inherited this from me). And she doesn't like water in/on her face.

She even got up on her knees!

 Eric was his normal dare devil self.

 5 seconds into his first time on the orange sled and he was going for the standing position. He fell off and for the first time experienced bobbing in the water alone while the boat circled back for him. My prediction was correct. Pure terror and tears. Once we pulled up next to him, I said, "Why are you crying? Because you want back on the boat or back on the orange sled?" And he whimpered, "Back on the sled." lol

 I'm so proud of him for getting right back on!

 Eric is my extremely shy child... around people he doesn't know well.

When strangers speak to him, he will not even look at them, much  less speak. He hides behind me and when it was shorter he hid between my legs. Most acquaintances haven't ever heard his voice.

 But once he is comfortable around you, he is Mr. Personality, a comedian,  and such a charmer.

"How you do'in?"

4th of July

 Fun at Lake Jacksonville

 If you look very closely in the center of the picture you can see Patrick Dempsey. Seriously!

 Jen and I

 sideways picture...this is so annoying and why I don't like blogging.

 Gorgeous moon that night.

 Ella screaming on the jet ski

girl time

Eric spent a few days with my parents this week.

It has been such a treat this week to have some quiet time.

Ella has been begging to have "girl time".

We went to her favorite restaurant: Chili's

 We had the best time talking and laughing.

Then we went home and painted our own toenails.

Ella is pink and I'm purple.

Contentment and stuff

This entry has been floating around in my brain for a while.

Over 3 years ago, Scott and I discovered Dave Ramsey and committed to getting out of debt and staying out of debt forever.

Have you ever sat down and listed every single debt and calculated the grand total.
 -gasp-

When we did, it was a

 tightness-in-our-chest,

cold sweat,

Dear Jesus helps us

kind of moment.

Then, we looked at each other and asked, "What in the heck is all this debt from?"

Yes, a lot of it was medical bills that we couldn't pay out of pocket, but at least half of our debt was from: "stuff"

STUFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Stuff" we couldn't afford, but wanted right then.We couldn't even name the things we had spent so much money on. Delayed gratification was not in our vocabulary.

3 years ago we started our climb up an enormous mountain.

3 years ago we started selling most of our "stuff", working every chance we were given, and we cut our written budget down to the bare minimums.

no cable,

no eating out,

no buying gifts,

no new clothes

no new shoes

no vacations,
no pedicures,

no going to the movies,

no memberships to gyms,
no trips to Target for more stuff

etc. etc. etc.

And 1 year ago, we sold our beautiful home because it was owning us.

We have experienced a lot of  pain the last 3 years. Cried too many times to count. And I'll admit that I've whined, "but it's not f-air" 3 millions times.

I kept thinking "I'll be happy when our last debt is paid off. I'll be happy when we don't have to work 2 jobs."...
Clearly paying off debt is no fun and I saw no way to be content until the debt was gone.

When going out and buying more stuff every time you are sad, mad, happy, depressed, anxious, isn't an option, you learn who you really are because you aren't hiding behind all your stuff. (HUGE life lesson for me)

In the beginning, without all the "stuff" around me, it was uncomfortable. I was letting the "stuff" give me a false sense of contentment. I also had to remind myself that everyone else isn't as perfectly happy as they appear on Facebook.


Through endless praying and the continuous support of Scott, I have stop saying, "
I'll be happy when..."

I'm so blessed to be married to Scott and mommy to Ella and Eric. I'm thankful to have a roof over our heads and food on the table. I'm thankful God has given opportunties to increase our income through second jobs.


I have a strong faith in God and His timing.

For the first time ever I have a sense of peace.
Peace of our past, present, and future.

So here we ...a little more than 3 years into our journey:

dwelling in a rent house,

driving cars that are more than 10 years old (but paid for!!), and

 living with minimal stuff.

And I am content right where we are.

"Be joyful in hope,
patient in affliction,
faithful in prayer."
Romans 12;12

 

 

father's day

Happy Father's Day!

June 2007

Scott holding Ella looking at brand new baby Eric

 June2007

 Fall 2007

 Christmas 2010

Like father, like son.

Scott is doing bunny ears on Ella and Eric is doing it, too.

Reasons not to own a dog:

1. Friday I took the kids to the library for a program on Search and Rescue Dogs.

It was very informative for the parents, but the kids were pretty bored and just wanted to pet the dogs! Eric isn't a "dog person".

The blood hound in the picture is Maggie and she needs her face wiped every 3.5 seconds because of slobber.

2.  This weekend we got to dog-sit for Sammy.

Sammy is a sweet boy, but a litle naughty.

I had to sprint and chase him on 2 separate occasions. All I could think of while I was running was- what would I do if Sammy gets run over while I'm in charge.

Thankfully Sammy is safe and back in his mommy's arms.



Morning at the pool & sibling fighting

We had a fun morning at the pool. It wasn't too hot and we had the pool to ourselves the majority of the time.
I think the kids jumped in over 100 times.
After the pool, we came home and had "school". Each weekday I work with both kids for about an hour. Ella is reviewing and Eric is getting ahead for kindergarten. Following "school", I read aloud to them for about 30 minutes. Then they have to read in their own rooms for 30 minutes. Both kids really enjoy our routine and want to do it on the weekends, which does not happen.

Currently Ella & Eric get along with each other about 25% of each waking day, which leaves me taking deep breaths 75% of the time.

As an only child, I always assumed siblings were perfect playmates.

I was wrong.

Ella and Eric stay awake at night planning how they will pester the crap out of each other.
I know this is normal, but no less maddening.

This is my first time to blog from my phone (pics and all).