Another day, another dollar...

This post is actually not about the kiddos or Baby Rogers (I know - shocker, right?). This post is dedicated to money. Yep, money.

Back in December, when we were planning our goals for the next, Jonathan & I spent a lot of time looking at our finanical situation, or the pending trainwreck. :-S We signed up on Dave Ramsey's website, http://www.mytotalmoneymakeover.com/, for their free trial week. Well, we signed on with them and have enjoy (yes, enjoyed) making ourselves more disciplined with our money.

Then yesterday, our carpet-cleaning work at my MIL's house last weekend arrived. Jonathan had really been wanting Dave Ramsey's DVD teachings on financial peace, and I wanted the books and computer software. So in exchange for going the extra mile at her house and doing the carpets, she bought the set for us on top of paying us for our work, which was very lovely. So yesterday was a financial day while the kids were at school. We watched the start of the DVD's, the software went on the computer and we went through every single stinking bill and debt we have and put it on paper. I even called the creditors (never fun), spoke with them, and we now have an on-paper plan to attack our debt. We're looking at wiping it out over the next 3 1/2 years, a little longer than our goal was when we first got married (we wanted it gone by our 5th wedding anniversary).

In some ways, it was fun retweaking our budget. Jonathan was shocked that we in fact could save some every month for things like car replacement and matience, even set some aside every month for our next journey to Colorado to visit my family. He even has his own "BLOW" money; it's not a ton, but enough. And the software help us discover what we can (and how much we can) pay to every debt each month using their pro rata worksheets, which was a huge load off of my shoulders; I'd been very overwhelmed with trying to figure that out on my own.

So our current goals are thus: finish putting $1000 in the bank for our emergency fund (and finding the right bank/money market account to put what we already have into it), so when the unexpected does happen (and it will), we don't have to go farther into debt. Also, starting in March, we are going to the cash/envelope system with our budget - everything but our bills. We've had a budget in the past, but swiping that debit card is so easy, so we've struggled with overspending. Hopefully, the envelope system will help. The only thing is, we need a new safe to do that; our other is just a tiny one for the crucial documents, so Jonathan is looking on e-bay and overstock.com to see what they have. But we're excited and so ready to get this debt monster off our backs.

Okay - money post is done! :-)

And it's a...

Well we went in for our ultrasound on Monday and got to see our little one via my insides. The baby has grown a lot since it looked like a gummy bear at 8 1/2 weeks! We got to see hiccups and even a yawn, which was very adorable.

And yes, I had a moment's of weakness in the middle of the ultrasound and found out that we are going to have a girl! That makes for a second granddaughter on Jonathan's side (there is also a nephew) and a second granddaughter on my family's side as well. Girls of the world unite! :-)

In other news, Jonathan has been sick, which leaves him somewhat depressed. :-( But hopefully he'll be feeling better soon and back to himself. I'm working hard trying to get my calendar full for the month of March and have two more shows this month. Pray that God would continue to lead our path in the way of Premier. I love this job but I need some more shows on the calendar for the spring. But I'll keep you posted on God's provision in that area!

I think that's it for today - I'll try to post more this week.

PS I like blogger, but I miss the easyness of xanga. No matter how I format my blogger posts, even in HTML, the last 2-3 paragraphs never show breaks. Grr...

The simple pleasures of life

Nothing like a morning tea party in your pajamas to start the day off right. :-)

The Bug Hits At Last

For the past month, the kids have had very nasty upper respority colds, as well as some with the stomach bug. I've been very proud of myself for not getting it; I even had a husband who weathered it for three days. Today thought? Yuck city... sore throat, feverish, sinus congestion. So bring on the Throat Coat and Breath Easy medicinal teas, vicks vapor rub, and when it the sinus pain his migrane level, the Tylenol cold and sinus. I hate being sick, and as mommy of the house, I don't get a break from laundry or cooking. *sigh*

In other news, we are traveling down to Columbia tomorrow (or rather, Lexington) for a Leadership Club dinner organized by my Premier "grandmother". So 24 hours off duty for us and dinner at the Crab Shack to have a night talking about Premier! Oh, and I love my parttime job! I will have a fairly full month, which is good, and I would love to pick up some shows in Columbia this spring as well, since we are going to be in town a lot this spring. And speaking of jobs, we will be busy for the next couple of months while we are on our relief weekends. We are being very diligent in trying to pay off our debt, and both his parents and grandparents have several matiencence/organization type jobs they are will to let us do instead of hiring out. So that will be good - we are trying to boost our savings before this baby comes and if we'd rather work for it than just be given it.

Did you know some states have a state fruit? My husband swears it is so. Not so sure I believe it...

what do you think?

I think that is it for now... I have to sort Valentine cards for these kiddos to make tonight. Do you know how many stinking Valentines seven children need? Even our preschoolers have been told to take them to Mom's Morning Out; I don't remember this mania when I was kid.