August 26, 2010

Today we had a little balloon adventure... or at least for a 4 year old.

We went to lunch and got this balloon... a blue one.

The first adventure this little balloon had was it was almost lost into space. Brock let go of the balloon, but fortunately for the balloon it was caught on a sunshade and then later rescued by the restaurant manager.

We then get home... and the balloon is almost lost to our high ceilings...

It was at this point that Brock says "this Balloon sure is having a bad day".

Little did we know... the adventures were not over.

After Brock let the balloon go in the livingroom it was captured by the fan!

In a panic Brock ran to the switched, turned it off and said... "It's still alive!".

I sat there and laughed so hard... I have never seen him run so fast and look so panicked!

He asked if the balloon was going to make it... I told him "I think so".

After telling Brock "This balloon has had a rough day"... he responds..."I know, it keeps having problems".

I love these cute little problems a 4 year old faces!

PS: You will be glad to know the balloon is safely tied around his armorer for the night. So it is safe till tomorrow morning :)

August 25, 2010

This was a really good side that we had with dinner tonight.

And it is EASY!

It is a tomato (cut the top off), sprayed with olive oil, topped with oregano, basil, parsley. I used fresh herbs, but you can use dried too! I also added garlic for a little extra taste!

Cook it at 350, for 20 minutes.

I didn't know what to expect... but it was a lot better than I thought it would be.

Enjoy!

August 24, 2010

Knitting... it is my new discovered (almost) talent!

I have been wanting to take knitting lessons for a long time.

A friend got me lessons for Christmas... and we finally went last night!

I am finding it a little challenging.. but with a little practice, I hope it will get easier!

I will let you know how it goes! I will have to blog about my first knitting project!

August 23, 2010

This past year has been a huge year for Robbie and I.

It was about a year ago that we decided to get serious about saving money. The year before was a rough year for us. Robbie's company went through a reorganization... his position was cut and he was moved to a different position. It is always hard to go through a change... and this change also affected our finances. We had to learn how to live on a lot less money, real fast.

After making some changes, we found that we were able to live... but wanted to know more about how to live intentionally and how to save in case we ever had to deal with a situation like this again.

Fortunately about 6 months later Robbie got his old job back... but we still thought it was important to learn how to manage money and not let it manage us.

This was about the time our church offered the Dave Ramsey's course on money called Financial Peace University.

I cannot say that at the time I really cared... because at that time all I cared about was the day to day. In my mind I simple thought "I have money today, I am good". But I was supportive of Robbie (he is the long term thinker in our marriage). Not that it wasn't important to me to save for tomorrow... but it was definitely more important for Robbie.

Robbie started going to these classes and would come home... He was on passion to SAVE SAVE SAVE... I will even be so honest with you to say I was a little afraid of what was ahead of me. The only thing I could imagine was living on P&J and water for the next 30 years. I remember thinking... I will never get to go on another vacation in my life at this savings rate :)

I also have to say that money was never really anything that Robbie and I argued about.... but I will say that I am sure I frustrated him more than he told me.

I didn't make the money in our family, so I never thought really anything about money when it came to our family. The problem with that was... I didn't know if we had money or not. So when it came time to buy something, I put it on the credit card.

Even though I never bought enough to get us into financial trouble... I also wasn't allowing us to save for emergencies. (Which I found would have been really helpful during our job situation earlier in life).

So as much as I got tired of hearing Robbie come home and talk about saving saving saving... I knew I needed to open my eyes and see a bigger picture other than the "today".

After a long talk about where our money went, and a compromise on what was reasonable to "live in today" and still "save for tomorrow"... we started our cash budget.

The first few months were really hard. I found myself without money about two days after payday. I was realizing just how fast I could swipe a card and not think twice. However, with no debit or credit card... I thought twice!

About month three I found it very comforting to know if my kids needed shoes... I had the money (because I had saved for it). I learned that waiting and planning ahead was way more rewarding than the quick fix.

Six months in we had paid off my college loan, our timeshare, and had built up our emergency fund.

This was also about the time we had decided that now was the time to go through with our adoption. Because of this, we have been able to pay cash and will not need to take out any loans!

On Saturday we got to hear Dave in person... I didn't know what I would walk away with. We had been through his class... so what was left to know?

Let me tell you...

One of the questions I ask most in life is why did we grow up so poor... but seem to have it together now? What is the point of money, and why at a young age have we (Robbie and I) been blessed with the ability to want to manage money (and it not manage us).

My question was answered this weekend.... and I believe we are given money to serve our families and others with it.

Robbie and I have a passion to give and know that sometimes a few extra dollars in someone else's hands can mean the world to them. But to do this... we need money to give. So by having no debt... we are free to give.

Next year we will have paid off all our debt and look forward to living a life debt free. Our last goal is to pay off Robbie's student loans.... then we will forever be debt free!

We now have short term goals (how to live in the "today") and also have our future goals (how to be prepared for "tomorrow").

I am thankful for our jobs today, and thankful we are able to serve others with our income.

I would highly recommend this program. I was telling Robbie... I love Dave's wisdom and the fact that he doesn't set out for everyone to be millionaires in the end. But allows for all people no matter what they make to be debt free, be prepared for their future and give back.

For us.. we hope this is a value that we will pass down to our kids.... and it becomes a legacy that will make a difference.

www.daveramsey.com/fpu

August 22, 2010

It's the final birthday this month that I am going to blog about... and this person is really special to me as well..... My friend Lindsey!

Happy Birthday!

I met her a few years ago when she booked me to do photos for her wedding. I remember thinking..."this has to be one of the nicest people on earth". And today I still think that!

I stayed connected with her through another friend who is also a client/friend, Seana. Lindsey and I did a jewelry party for her this summer... and since then I have really gotten to know Lindsey.

She has a heart that is so genuine. She is another person in my life that I can look up to and strive to be more like. She is beautiful not only on the outside, but inside as well.

We are now workout partners! I love this for two reasons:
1. Working out is 100% better with a friend!
2. I have a new friend that I get to see twice a week and am more thankful for each day.

I know Lindsey is going to be a person in my life that I will forever be thankful for!

I look forward to many more lunch dates, movie nights and getting to know you more!

Happy Birthday...

August 21, 2010

Happy Birthday Miss Teen Arizona!

While out for our friend Jason's birthday we met the sweetest girl.... the Hostess at the LivingRoom in Ocotillo.

While celebrating Jason's birthday, she had mentioned that it was her birthday too. So as we were leaving I told her about the yearlong blog and that this week was dedicated to birthdays...asked if I could take her photo and so here she is!

I am sorry about the photo quality... it was taken in the dark.

As I was taking her photo she went on to say that she is Miss Teen Arizona.

I was telling Robbie, it has already been fun blogging about so many different people, and it hasn't even been a full month. I cannot wait to see what the year brings!

Happy Birthday to Miss Teen Arizona!

**Speaking of the LivingRoom... definitely a place to check out! The food is great!**

August 20, 2010

Happy Birthday Jason!

Last night we celebrated a birthday with one of our very best friends. (Along with his wife KIM!)

I have to take you back in time.... It's important for the story.

Growing up, my husband and I knew a great couple through our church that were just amazing people. The Sugai's. The husband of this couple would later become my husbands small group leader (mentor) and later a good friend. I tell you this because we grew up in a town where people grew up together and just stayed close. The Sugai's were not only wonderful people they had a great group of friends to share life with.

So making the move out here was really hard for us. We left behind friends that we always thought we would do life with... but were now realizing that we were going to be on our own for a while. And to be honest it was a little lonely for the first few years.... and we talked all the time about "will we ever have friends like the Sugai's?".

We wondered if it was possible to meet such great people in such a big city.... ????

Then we met the Riggs. Little did we know at that time, they would become our friends that we do life with!

I cannot tell you exactly how our friendship became what it is today. I do know a few date nights turned into more date nights and then more date nights.... and then family trips.... and couple trips.... and here we are today.

I could tell you so many funny things... but I will save that for another blog post.

There have been so many moments where they have helped us figure out what to do next in life. Helping us make hard life decisions.

They are friends that have just the best hearts. They truly care about people and love people.

I have met very few people in life that would give you anything you would need just because. They are both people that I look up to and respect.

I have learned so many things from them along the way... but I am especially thankful for they way they talk about issues and take time to decide on what is truly the right decision for them and their family. They have shown us that there is a perfect timing for everything that happens in life and it doesn't always have to happen right then and there.

The reason why I am especially thankful for this new wisdom in my life... and am grateful I have gotten to see how waiting can be more rewarding that the "quick fix".... is because of our current situation with our adoption. Waiting for that right time has made all the difference in this whole situation. We have been able to save money for it (not needing to take out loans) and now we will begin a waiting period till we get our referral (child). This is going to take months.... But I can say today that I know God has a plan for our lives and the wait will be worth it. I have this outlook on life... only because of great friends that have set this example for us.

I can go on and on about just how much they mean to us...but I cannot think of the perfect words.... So with that being said...

Happy Birthday!

I am so glad that we get to share life with such amazing people!