changing of the guards

Image: MoneySavingMom.com

Today has been so productive for me.   I made a freezer batch of MoneySavingMom's Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole - Yum!   I can't believe how easy and quick this was.  I am a work at home wife and mother.  This may sound like the dream life/job but trust me when I say there are times that the walls start to close in on me and the housework seems to slide to side and become something else that I just didn't get to today.   I've been working on managing my time - the main reason is because I am a stress and worry magnet.  If something isn't done and is just sitting on my To Do list I will worry about it for days, weeks, months and yes years if it doesn't get done.  It's like I have an elephants memory for what hasn't been done and what needs to be done.  


Personally, I work best with everything in it's place.  Beds made, no laundry (yes, one piece of clothing in the laundry basket can throw me in a tail spin) and sitting down to organize a shelf makes me happy.  Seriously, nothing calms me quite like order. :) 


That being said, lately has taken a vacation and become a fixture at "furthest" away from wherever I am in regards to order. 


I decided that I needed to get back on track.  I have a lot going on at work and I need to balance that with home life.  So with that in mind I made a conscious effort to change things. 


Want to see some  of things  I was able to cross off my list?   

1. Kitchen cleaned (no dishes in sink OR drying in the strainer) - no wayward forks or spoons in sight!
2. Cleaned up the whole downstairs
3. Did 2 loads of laundry (washed, dried and put away.) 
4. Cooked the deliciousness MSM chicken broccoli rice casserole for dinner AND froze 3 other servings for those "I don't have time to cook" nights.
5. Cleaned room and made bed 
6. Worked (I have a whole to do list for work that I was able to cross off my list!) 
7. Went to Andie's awards ceremony at school tonight - it was supposed to be an hour but ended up being 2 hours!  So glad I had made up the CBRC earlier in the day!
8. + Cleaned the master bathroom 

I am so proud of myself that I was able to get these chores done and cook some freezer meals for later.  PLUS, do my job.  Want to know what is making me happy right now?  The fact that I cooked MSM's casserole earlier this morning and when time got away from me this evening I didn't have to worry about what was for dinner and feeding my group because I had it under control AND I have more nights under control - I am starting to get ahead of the game!

 Seriously, if you haven't tried MSM's casserole you really need to give it a go.  It's quick, easy and delicious.  

the home stretch?

Why is it that when you are at the home stretch time seems to drags on?  I feel like that is where we are right now.  We are sooo close to getting out of debt well, credit card/loan debt.  But right now it's so hard to keep our eye on the prize.  I really (REALLY) want a new soft.  Particularly Pottery Barn or Ballard Design slip-covered comfyness.  Who am I kidding I want all new furniture, a whole house full and new clothes, and a new car for me and well - I'll even take the moon right now.  You can see that I hit a struggling spot.

I feel good  that we have paid off this debt and embarrassed that we had that  kind of debt and saddened that we were blessed financially this year and the only thing we could do was pay off things we bought previously.  The really really sad part is that we have nothing to show for it :(   Crazy right?  You'd think that would make me not want to spend money but au contraire mon frere  I want to spend, spend, spend.

So much is out of my control right now - maybe that's where this is coming from .. well, that plus shopping makes me so happy.  :)

If only, if only.

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thought i would share

I was so excited this morning and had to share.   I'm sure you know that we have been working on paying down our debt (can anyone say Dave Ramsey?)  This morning I got up and saw that we owed $13,749.55!

Now, that is a whole lotta money - but to help put it in context and perspective in 5 months we've paid off $59,100.00!!  cah-razy right?

Nope, God. :)

We've paid off that much money because and through the grace of God.  During this time, the company I was working for was acquired, I started a new job, Andie (my baby) moved out of the house, Caleb and Haley (son and grand-daughter) moved out and Heiko received a promotion. - Talk about a lot going on.  Such a stressful time but I kept praying and little things started to happen.  We cashed out my 401k which allowed us to pay off one of the discover cards outright!  When we started on this road to financial freedom back in December, I thought that it would take us a full year to get this debt paid off but God had other plans for us and he continued to  bless financially.  Thank you Lord! - We still have a long way to go - The $13k Navcheck, Heiko's car and the house.  Plus as you know things do pop up but one thing I have learned through all of this is to keep my eyes on God.  You know why - because through him any and everything is possible.

Navy Visa: $19,300.00

Gap: $2,500

Discover 1: $12,300

Discover 2: $15,000

Truck: $10,000

$59,100 +(15,000 navcheck) =$74,100