The Invisible Woman

This is a great video...if you have a few minutes, check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YU0aNAHXP0

Changes

Ok...so if you've read my previous blog, you know Bill and I are making some big changes in our house. Today was my turn. I am am out of gas for our van. Usually, I'd go to Fred Meyers and write a check (since they still take them) and PRAY that it doesnt clear before our next payday which is a week from Friday! But, I cant do that anymore. In fact, I dont want to do that! So, I figured I could walk to work.....it only takes me 4 minutes to drive there, so walking shouldnt take too long, right? Not so much. 45 minutes later, I arrived at work-30 minutes after I was suppose to be there! Oops. (Tomorrow I think I will leave a lot earlier!! ) Thankfully I remembered my umbrella because it was pouring down rain.
Actually, it was a nice walk, and I really could use the exercise anyway. :)

Baby Steps

It seems like every time you turn on the news or even talk to anyone, the biggest concern on everyones minds is finances. It's the same with us......actually if you've known us for very long, you'll know that finances have always been our biggest stress in life.
For about a month now, Bill and I have been working with a financial counselor certified by Dave Ramsey. For years now, I have listened to Dave on and off and we even took Financial Peace University at our church...TWICE! But Bill and I could never get on the same page with our finances for one reason or another.
I think it took moving over here to get us to the place we are at now. God, like always, knew what He was doing.
We have been working together so well over this last month-more than ever before. It's amazing what a difference I've seen and felt since we've been working together. The accountability is awesome! I cant believe it's taken us so long to get here.
We have a long rode ahead of us..and I know we will have some slip ups, but if we keep doing what we are doing now, we are going to make our goal! I'm so excited! This is the first time I can see the "light at the end of our tunnel"


http://www.daveramsey.com - Get REAL debt help: Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover Plan (Link to http://www.daveramsey.com/)

Growing up

After waiting and waiting....Elliot finally lost his first tooth! I have mixed feelings over this. I love toothless kids-they are so cute! But its just one more reminder that my "baby" really is growing up. I know, it's just a tooth, but it's also Elliot's tooth.....in my eyes he should be only 3 or 4. Not 6 1/2 and in the first grade!!!
I took some pictures of him on my cell phone, because my camera is broken and I tried uploading the pictures of him on here, but they didnt come out so well. So, the picture will have to wait.
As for Elliot, he's excited because he's seen his brothers lose teeth and he wants to be just like them and tries to do everything they do!

Football Pictures....Brady is #81. Riley is the "team manager"

Football is Over, What Now??

Well, after 2 hour a day 5 days a week football practice-once a week games, our 2008 football season is now over.
Over the last couple of years I have grown to absolutely LOVE football. In fact, right now, I'm watching the Monday night football game between the 49ers and Arizona Cardinals. But my favorite games to watch are my son, Brady's football games. This year was a fun but difficult year to go through. Our team lost every single game :( It was so frustrating at times to watch, especially those last couple of games when they really should have won if it hadnt of been for a couple of mistakes!
But, even after losing those games I am still in love with this sport. It has been so fun watching Brady try new positions and really grow as a player. What I'm most thankful for is that Brady has a new love for football also. You'd think after a losing season, he wouldnt want to play again, but he wants to play more now than he did last year after being on a championship winning team! Last year at this time he was questioning whether or not he even wanted to play again.
Next year Brady will be in 7th grade and the 7th graders will have a team of their own. Thankfully most of the boys will have played before and hopefully we will have better results than this year.
We are done with sports for now. We were going to sign Elliot up for basketball but missed the sign up date. That's ok. I've enjoyed being home at night and I've been cooking and baking like crazy. I think my family appreciates that too.

On another note, last year about this time, I started testing for a job at our counties 911 dispatch center. In April I passed the final test and was put in the hiring pool. I was called last week and had a second interview. I really thought I bombed the interview, but within 2 hours they called me back and offered me the job. I still have to pass a physical and they have to receive my reference checks and finish my background check, but hopefully, I'll start around the first of December. The schedule will be something I'll have to get used to and training can last up to nine months! This is a bitter sweet thing because I'm so excited to work there, but am so sad to leave the people I work with now.

Riley and Elliot are doing good too. Both are doing great at school! Elliot has been having some tummy issues since July and we just went to the GI dr on Friday and had a couple of tests done. Hopefully we'll find out what is going on with him. Riley is our little charmer and is having so much fun going around the houses in our neighborhood to rake leaves. He started his own little business of walking dogs too. Jeesh.....I feel like I'm writing a Christmas letter!!! I guess that's coming soon, right?

Vote and Pray

This is a big week for our county. I've never been so into an election before because I really do not like politics. I know what I believe in and why but I really dont like the debating that goes along with it all. This year is different. It seems like there is a lot more at stake this time. Part of me is scared, but then I remember to pray pray pray and I remember that God says no one is put in authority unless God puts them there. I have to have peace that God will protect us and His will-will be done. God is good...All the time. Even so, the closer it gets to Tuesday, the more anxious I feel but Gods word says "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Phillipians 4:6-7). So, no matter what happens on Tuesday, I will continue to trust God and know that He is in control and He is good.

(One thing I will be thankful for is the end of all those political commercials!!!! Ugh.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61wj4tJICcc