A Planner Planning

We were walking to the grocery store last night and enjoying the conversation about our upcoming California vacation and January plans when he said, "Over the past 2 years we've probably paid off about $17,000 in school debt. That's pretty good since the cars are paid off and we're paying over on the loan payments."

$17,000 - that blows my mind! Props to a fantastic financial planning husband! Especially since we started the debt reduction payments we have not carried a single balance (excluding our payment for the white car for 9 months or so) on a credit card, have shifted loans about to get the best interest rate, payed over for most loan payments, consolidated loans, and still gone on a vacation to Niagra Falls last year, California this year, and Matt's already saving for vacation next year. With the budget we're on - and he's made it flexible to incorporate extraneous spending like going to the theatre tonight with Matt's parents- we should be doing quite well come January.

"We were going to use the tax return to pay off the Ed Financial loan, but it looks like that'll be pretty much gone by then, maybe like $400 left which we'll probably just pay off. So I'll probably just put the tax return into savings for just in case."

Matt's already been setting aside a "nest egg" which we can use as a buffer while the January childcare gets on it's feet. But with one solidified kid for January, Matt basing our entire budgeting for January+ on his current salary (just to make sure we're not banking on an amount that we're guessing to be his raise), October's passing of the church budget will tell us how many more kids I need to add on to the January childcare.

But I tell you what - this January "great escape" is taking flight before our very eyes!

I also just found the equivalent of an $80 double stroller for $25. I brought it home last night and washed all the fabrics and that stroller looks GREAT and is extremely functional! And then I was given some more toddler toys from work and a wooden dollhouse! Let alone being given some toys and a wooden swing set from Jenney. It's just absolutely amazing to watch God orchestrate this all. Absolutely amazing! January is coming alive - right before my eyes. And it's such a blessing to look at Rachael and know that I'm going to be blessed to join in the discovery - much more than I already have.

Thanks be to God!

Summer Fun

We've been having a great summer. Here's a few peaks at this summer's joys through Rachael's eyes. It's nothing fantastic, just a little summer fun.

we've been going for walks a lot

here Rachael helps Daddy play video games.

who needs expensive toys when they have a pacifier clip?

hanging out with the cousins
(they are crazy big too)

Rachael likes John - "he's my size!"

and sweet Bekah.

sitting now

always loving Dakota - who is doing impressively well with Rachael

the new swing (a steal from the thriftstore - not literally)

So that's pretty much been our summer. We've been enjoying church activities like lock-ins and Matt went to Summer camp with the youth (which was hard on Rachael and I but totally worth it to see God work through the youth). We've kept busy, but still kept the balance of the precious things in life. And while work still continues to tax me, the countdown continues until January. Matt has been a blessing to me in the midst of this trial called work. But life presses on and the smiles that await me at home are worth the current sacrifice.

Rachael's getting so big and it blows my mind. She's been growing like one of those weeds in the backyard that we can't get rid of no matter our desires or efforts - only wanted. =)
But when it all wears down at the end of the day, she's still my little cuddlebug.