Moving!

So these two weeks will be packing days for us!  Samuel and I have definitely been procrastinating... Did coat closet, which had everything but coats, last week and now I have come to a halt!
We are moving into Matt's mom's house to finish paying off our school debt in a more extreme or intense way!  And after, to save for a down payment for a house!  That day will be an exciting day!  :)

This past August, we were re evaluating if we wanted to re sign a lease at the end of February, buy a house, or this suggestion came up to move into his moms.  We really didn't want to resign a lease for another year unless we had too, and know we are not financially ready to get into a house commitment... so we decided and talked with others and ultimately his mom, that we would move in late February.

We've been paying off loans from school a little less than a year after we were married!   We paid off the car Matt bought while we were engaged, right after we got married!  That felt good since they depreciate so much!  Matt read Dave Ramsey's financial peace book (I'm sure many of you are familiar with him!) and it changed his view on finances or more yet, just gave him/us direction on how to manage finances!  Most importantly what scripture says about money...  It's been such a GREAT journey thus far.  God has used this extremely, in my own heart, to show me so much of my sin!   Not just in money itself but in jumping on board with Matt and seeing where or what I really put my significance in!  Its been great to trust Matt and back him up with my mind, heart and actions.  I am very opinionated and too, love to try to control things.  Needless to say, it has made us feel even more like a team together, being on the same page about things!
 
When we were both working, we would put all of what I brought home towards our debt.   It was good for us to do this not only because of our plan but we knew and had talked about wanting me to be home with our kids, if possible and if I enjoyed it.  So it got us used to one income from the beginning!  I'm so grateful for that!  It's taught me so much self discipline and taught me the difference between "wanting" something and "needing" something... and in appreciating more, the small treats every once in a while!  It's caused me to search my heart and question:  the eternal vs the temporary or the things that satisfy but a minute, weeks, months ("..while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal" 2 Cor 4:18-19).  But mostly its challenged me (still even today) to see what the Lord says in the bible about debt, money, idols, etc.  To not be a slave to debt!  At the end, I plan on really going through and thinking about every way the Lord has used this in my life and in our marriage!  
We definitely plan on making our trip to TN and going to Dave Ramsey's show, or rather, his building!  You go to the lobby and call in his show and talk to him and on every Friday he lets callers yell that they are DEBT FREE!!!!  haha... we want to make that our little family trip to the mountains and while we're their, to go yell it out!!  I think his show comes on 107.3 FM 1:00 to 4:00pm... should check it out.  I've listened to it maybe 3 or 4 times.. he's really funny, and sarcastic and its encouraging to hear people's stories!   


His mom is great... we've or she really, has talked to other wise friends and gotten advice for this time while we are there.  So we will have some good structure to start out with to protect Matt and I's family time with Samuel and everyone's time/ space really!  Will take constant communication, and I will take on new house duties which I'm excited about! (apartments are so easy to maintain and clean)  Think it will be a great season of life, with a lot of learning.    Mrs. Lucy, a sweet, wise lady at our church always says, The Lord puts us in classrooms (seasons of life), we can be discontent in these times, whether good or bad or ask the Lord, OK Lord, what do you want to teach me in this classroom?  I over heard her sharing that with someone one day, and it has stuck with me always always!  

So, needless to say we are excited that we have this opportunity and that she is allowing us to move in!   Some of the pluses are: Samuel (we) will have a yard!  He will have so much room to crawl and walk!  and Matt and I can enjoy little get-a ways to the store at night, leaving Samuel home to sleep, and we can go on as many needed (cheap :) dates because someone will always be home for the most part!
 Speaking of crawling.... my little man is about to do just that!    He is definitely growing growing growing DAILY!  Matt and I have seen so much change in him this past week every day, then we ever have!  It's crazy....I get so emotional when I'm playing with him and see him changing but too all these milestones are SOO exciting!

He's already working out hard for the ladies!

Can't wait to know what his little voice will sound like when he can talk, what he will look like, if he will be a cuddler, etc!  He's learned to sit in the last 2 days, hes rocking on his knees some, and I transitioned him out of his sleep sack!  He's so long, I was about to have to order an XL sleep sack.  This one he was in, went up to 18 months, ha but I feel like it gets twisted on him when he is turning in bed or rocking on his knees.  So I decided, why not remove it now.  So seeing him sleeping with out one is crazy!  He looks so cute and much older to me.