3 years 7 months ago we took the next exit to Financial Freedom. Was it easy? Heck no! $48,000 of debt seemed an impossible mountain to climb. But we knew we had to do it. 3 years 7 months ago we were at the point that we were charging all of our groceries and gas and there was NO BIG BONUS that year coming to bail us out. Tough decisions had to be made. Cancel Cable, Sell Husbands Prize Truck, No Fancy Phones, No Eating Out, Very Small Grocery Budget, Lots of Coupons, No Clothing Budget and on and on.
18 long, exciting, grueling, rewarding months we climbed the mountain. WE WERE DEBT FREE in April 2008. Relieved, excited but we knew we had more work to do. On to saving. In 10 short months because we were debt free, our tax refund and by the GRACE of GOD we had a fully funded EMERGENCY FUND....6 months of living....$20,000 cash. Wow! We had climbed that impossible mountain.
Feburary 2009 it happened. The economy was struggling and my husband was laid off. We started our journey to honor God with our finances and I know He blessed our journey and emergency fund. We were going to be okay... well at least for 6 months!
3 months later and 1/2 of our emergency fund gone my husband was employed again. Note to you readers: Don't forget to save so you can pay for your own health insurance. COBRA insurance cost our family over $1000 a month while my husband was unemployed.
May 2009 my husband was employed again but for a lovely pay decrease of 39%
Our budget is tight and it is not as easy to save money with a 39% pay cut but we are slowly building everything back up.
Here is what our finances look like today:
Emergency Fund: $1013.17
6 Months Living Emergency Fund: $16987.38
Christmas Fund $200.52
Car Savings $86.92....I know we need to work on that one
Medical: $379.28
Daughter Preschool $215
401K: 5%.. we will save 10% once our 6 month emergency fund is in place....just a side note/ that is the only thing we have always done right from the beginning :) We have always put away for retirement and never touched it.
Savings Goal $3012.62...that will fully fund our 6 months Emergency Fund
Goal: To have it saved by the end of summer!
That is where we sit today. Was it worth the sacrifice? Yes, Yes, Yes!!!!! We will continue to live frugally. We have changed our family tree and will leave an inheritance to our children. Thank you God for opening our eyes.
As for this lovely blog, it has been an amazing 365 days. Thank you for all the emails. Just yesterday someone emailed me and told me that they paid off their last debt and are now Debt Free. Yea! Amen!
I am not going away. I will giveaway a Dave Ramsey book on 2-22-10 and will be back to contine sharing great deals and hope.
Thanks for coming on the journey with me.
I love the special touch of naked Barbie and Spiderman band-aids on Brylee
New Easter Shirts from MiMi...
As you can tell Jake is very exited to have his picture taken.
"Jesus is the Rock on which I stand"
Another visit with my Mom has come and gone. I wish we lived in the same town or closer so we could have more times like this. 
Brett is 9 years and 5 months old this moment in time. He loves 3rd grade and is working grade levels ahead of himself. He just plain loves life. He can walk into any situation and make friends with the whole room. He plays football, basketball and baseball and of course enjoys every moment because sports involve his friends. I was running on the treadmill the other day just lost in thought of how incredible it is to watch him grow spiritually. This year he has memorized more verses than I have in my lifetime. He can recite all the books in the bible in 55 seconds. He rocks! And is sharing God's word with his friends as we load up the car and head to church on Wednesdays.
Jacob is 5 years and 5 months this moment in time. He is Brett's clone and runs with the big kids. He is wise and has a heart of gold. He loves school most of the time unless he is in a bad mood and then threatens to drop out of preschool. He loves to take care of Brylee when Brett is in school and calls her "baby." He plays basketball and baseball. And surprising loves to take swim lessons even though Brett does not...usually he only likes what Brett likes. He gets nervous easily and if you know him he does the cutest thing with his mouth when he is nervous. He has a heart for the Lord and is the sweetest kid I know.
Brylee is 3 years and 5 months this moment in time. She is everyones princess and she knows it. She spends alot of time singing, spinning and dancing around the house. She loves all things, princess, barbie or polly pocket. She loves to wear dresses, paint her nails and put 20 clips in her hair. But can run with the boys. Brylee loves both her brothers and if her brothers allow she will play with them but if not she is stuck on me. She has the sweetest voice that will melt your heart. She likes to talks about Jesus and the other day told me "Mom the bible says Hallelujah and Amen."
Yea for Mom's Day Out~ 4 hours of swimming, eating luch, rock wall climbing and crafts. Jacob and Brylee are both going once a week but for whatever reason Jake would not let me take his picture. Brylee calls it Y school and is so proud she "goes to school"
Distance...what distance? We may live 1000 miles away from MiMi but now she hangs out with us almost daily.
All the kids in Jake's preschool class take turns taking Church Mouse home for the weekend. He was so excited when I picked him up from school and he got to take the prized mouse home.
Look at the sweet angelic face. 
This rarely happens anymore. Both sleeping during the day. So I smile and take a picture.
Her new passion....dancing. All day...spinning, turning, singing. I love my girl. Her favorite day...Saturday, dance class day. 
Geez... Brett just played his first basketball game on Saturday and now it is already time to sign up for baseball.
A Letter from my son:
