Going radical 7th month!

This month was a real struggle. It was rather painful for me to read the lessons I learned from last month, particularly, lesson Number 1: not to be angry over this affliction.

A day before we left for our family reunion in Utah to celebrate my grandfather's 94th birthday, I got a call from BMO Harris bank. They said that we would be getting a letter in the mail soon telling us that our Home Equity Line Loan (HELL loan) would now have a maturity date of November 17th 2014.  Our loan would now be due in full in 4 months! I told them that I had called over a year ago asking when the loan was due and they had told me over the phone in the year 2017.  It was now going to be due 3 years early! They told us not to worry we could re-apply for a loan with them, with interest rates double what we are currently paying.

I got off the phone and bawled. All this scrimping and going with out for what?! What of our miracles, our hope, our righteous desire of getting out of debt? I took a full day literally crying over what we were going to do and feeling like the bank was really shoving us up against a wall.

After my full day hissy fit, I had the most excited feeling of knowing that Heavenly Father is a God of miracles and knowing he delivers His children from their afflictions if they put their trust and efforts in HIM. I was excited to see how He was going to do it this time when all the doors seemed to be closing in on us.

As we were driving to Utah the thought occurred to my husband that we might have enough money in his 401k retirement plan to pull out and cover the difference of what we owe. We could cut out the need for the bank and use our own funds! The interest rate we would pay ourselves back was lower than our current rate and far lower than what they would offer us in a new loan.

The only way this new loan is possible is because of that generous  gift we received in May. Without that money we would be short and unable to pay the bank in full.  It is only because of that gift that we are going to be able to close the loan. Without that gift we would not have enough, that gift was the exact amount. I am so grateful that we put the entire amount on the loan not even a penny on something we wanted otherwise we would be short.

When we got back from Utah we had both cars in the shop, our AC had died, our microwave stopped working and we needed to replace carpet in my classroom. The repairs on Benjamin's car were going to cost more than the value of the car, so we sold it. We are now a one car family. Since we don't live close to our kids' schools or Benjamin's work it is going to be a challenge. It is a 9 mile commute to Benjamin's work and in the heat on a bike, it is lots of fun. But come November Benjamin's miracle request of lets be done with our equity loan in 2014 will be true, hallelujah!

Lesson learned in July:

1) Wait on the Lord, he will deliver in unusual ways.

2) He puts things into motion months (sometimes) years before you even know you need it. I can't imagine what kind of true panic we would be in if we hadn't have declared this the year of the miracle. We would have made very little headway on all of our loans. And when that dreaded call came of "you have 4 months to pay this off or incur crazy high rates," it would have been financially devastating. But because we decided in January to invoke heaven's help we are down to just one loan in a matter of months!

3) The longer you try to keep a budget the more you realize you have fewer needs and old needs are reevaluated to be wants.

Utah trip!

So my awesome twin was visiting my grandmother's grave for memorial day while she was there she met someone who was visiting her husbands grave who knew my grandfather. She said that when my grandfather was a young men's leader he gave her husband a silver dollar coin for his mission with the blessing that he would never grow hungry. This ladies husband kept this coin in his pocket his entire mission his sons did the same thing and now grandchildren are carrying this coin. My grandfather unbeknownst to him was apart of another families legacy. My twin asked if they would come speak to our family about this traveling coin at my grandfathers 94th birthday party. We were so excited to see and hear this story in person. It was awesome to see my grandfather to be so touched by an act of love that he did many years before it was awesome.

Thanks Lou for the pictures! http://lindseyslemonade.blogspot.com/2014/07/harold-merrell-standers-94th-birthday.html

 

Swim Wrap-Up

Oh what do we do in the summertime? Swim!! This year we mixed it up and changed teams so that we could swim in our neighborhood swim team. It was awesome being so close and swim lessons for the little's was free! We like to joke that when the Howe family joins your team you will win championships well this year was no exception :) Everyone did great broke some personal records despite everyone being the youngest in their age group, next year they will be the oldest so it is all good.

Bella did great even with 3 weeks off from swimming, she traveled to Alabama to visit cousins and go to girls camp. She was vital in her teams relays and made the finals in all of her strokes. I love the fly picture of Bella great shoulders!

Olivia was awesome she placed in all the finals and placed in both the backstroke, butterfly and freestyle races! Look how far she can get out of the water on her fly, that takes some killer abs! 

Holman did great too, he wasn't too excited about switching teams but by the end of  the season he had a "Holman fan club" which consisted of girls that were "crushing" on him. He almost broke a smile hearing this. This year he did awesome in fly and free and killed it in the back. All the other boys were doing back flip turns for their backstoke, Holman said doing it slowed  him down. He was right he did a touch turn and because of it he won the race. He placed as one of the top swimmers in his age group.

This was Parkin's first swim year he did awesome!! He was worried about it but by the end of the season he was rocking it! He now crosses the pool with minimal breaths and stream lines like a champ!

Anna looking thrilled to be at meets luckily she had to go to very few. This year she too has made great strides in the pool. Swimming without floaties and mastering putting her head in the water.

 One of the best quotes from summer time was when I asked Holman after he wins an Olympic medal would he kiss his mom in front of everyone. He said sure, but I think they will think you are my girlfriend. Yes son they will!

Going radical 6th month! Independence Day!

I always tell my kids to visualize success. On this great day of celebration of the United States of America's independence from England, I can't help but to visualize my own success of getting out of bondage from my debt.  It can be quite consuming but just as our country's forefathers they saw the need and fought like lions and achieved their goal. Miracles can happen.

June 21 through June 28th. I was so excited to go to girls camp for a week, the car was loaded and I was ready to go. I got in the car to start it up... nothing. Benjamin came out to give the car a jump... nothing. We were going to switch cars and I was going to take Benjamin's van but it was chock full of bags we were going to donate to the DI thrift store and it is just not that reliable of a car. So I said we need to petition the Lord for this car to work. People were counting on us and I needed to drive a bunch of girls up the mountain. Benjamin said a prayer. We had gratitude for our cars and for the opportunity that I had to serve for a week at girls camp. He then said we needed the car to work. He said amen and we went outside to try again. It worked! The 1st miracle of the week. Up at camp I was so excited to go on a 3 day  2 night backpacking hike. There was a girl in my group that was struggling really bad so I offered to carry her pack. I carried that pack for 9 miles and it felt like nothing, the Lord lightened my load, 2nd Miracle. This young woman on the third day of our hike carried her pack all the way back to camp, a 3 mile hike that I think testified to her that she was indeed strong enough, 3rd Miracle.When I was packing to go to camp I happened to pass by the pile of clothes to donate, on a whim I grabbed a pair of jeans I was going to donate and put them in my pack. At camp I was talking to a Young woman who only has one pair of jeans she didn't want to break the rules and wear shorts but her jeans were filthy from the 3 day hike. I said hey I got an extra pair, she is the same size as me, same weight, I gave her my extra pair and told her to keep them because I was going to donate them anyway. I was so happy I grabbed that pair of jeans, the Lord knew her need and I got to be His hands! 4th Miracle.

At camp during personal scripture study, I made the connection that; afflictions + consecration = deliverance. When I carried that girls pack I kept thinking this was a huge affliction for the girl, I will consecrate my ability to carry her pack and we will both be delivered, and we were! She consecrated her best efforts and on the final day she did it, huge victory. This week I have made 3 columns in my scripture journal and have noted when people have gone through afflictions and what they have consecrated and what they are asked to consecrate and I especially have noted passages on their deliverance. Our family scripture that we all memorized this month (even Parkin!) was "But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance. We are chosen when we choose to follow the Savior and consecrate our hearts and actions to help others.

I can't wait for my independence day, it will come maybe sooner than I expect! 

Lessons learned in June:

1) This month I am trying to not be angry about my situation/ circumstances. I am focusing on how I can consecrate my efforts to be worthy of deliverance. 2 Nephi 4:29 Do not anger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions. 

2) Always return people's things. If you brake it, fix it. If you borrow it, return it. If someone leaves something behind, hunt them down and give it back. Because I am on a strict budget everything I own has a great value, I don't want to replace what I already have so I must treat other's property with that same respect.I will  assume they are on their last dime and that their things are very precious to them no matter how small.

Loved camp, love this lady! What a blast we had. I have such confidence in the future women of the church our young women are amazing!

Going radical 5th Month! Who does this happen to?!!!

Getting rid of debt is an emergency not just something you work on (thanks for the new mantra Mr. Money Mustache, this is my husbands new favorite line).  Last month was a miracle what could top last month?! Oh wait May did!  Debt is an emergency but it is not the #1 thing.  What is truly important? It is becoming who God wants us to become. Prayer+ Do = Be. When we pray with full purpose and do all we can to serve others and to help our our situation, then we become what Heavenly Father wants us to become. Happiness is created when we prioritize and put the Savior first . When we do this miracles happen, they really do!!

Our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Say Saints, believes in paying tithing, we tithe 10% of what we make and give it to the church to distribute to the needs of operating the church. This pays for maintaining buildings, church grounds, purchasing church materials, basically everything from toilet paper to pews everything but paying the clergy. I know this first hand, my husband is our congregations preacher known as Bishop. He does not get "paid" for his service, but we sure get blessed! There is also another thing that church members do and that is pay "fast offerings." Once a month we fast from food for two meals and donate the money we would have spent on the meals to help those families that are in need of food, rent money, utilities bills etc. The Bishop then distributes the money collected to those in need and seeking assistance.

On Saturday May 17th we sold a large item that we were in possession of. Normally any extra money we get, goes to our debt, but this time it didn't feel right about using it for our own good. Benjamin asked me where he should put the money. I told him donate it to Fast Offering. He put all the money in an envelope and we felt good about where it was going to.

Sunday May 18th (will be forever a Benjamin and Lesley Miracle Day) we had someone come to the door with tears in their eyes and hand me an envelop with instructions to read whats in the envelop with my husband when he got home from church. I thanked them and said "now I have something to look forward to."  After a long day at church Benjamin finally got home. Dinner had already started but I pulled him away from the table and told him about the envelope. I asked him if he wanted to wait to read it or read it now. Too curious to wait we left the table and went into the bedroom to read the letter. Ahhh the letter. It was beautiful. I wept as I read such beautiful words. They expressed gratitude for our Savior, for us for reaching out to others and admiration for working so hard to get out of debt. The letter was amazing and the letter alone would have felt like a miracle that someone would be so kind to take time to write. We were stunned that in the envelope was cash! Cash! Who does that?! It was so unexpected, so out of left field. We cried uncontrollably as we counted the bills. I kept saying why us? Benjamin then turned to me and said its the fast offering money, Lesley!  You gave to the Lord and he magnified our offering. Speechless it was over 30 times what we had offered!

This debt has felt like a burden, a huge burden. Recently an apostle of the Lord named Elder David A Bednar spoke in a church conference. He spoke about a friend who traveled up to a mountain to get fire wood. His truck got stuck and rather than sit there wondering how he was going to get out of the snow bank he decided to load his truck with fire wood . Benjamin and I have decided rather than let the debt consume us we would open up a preschool, accept the calling of Bishop and Do something.

Elder Bednar said:"Sometimes we mistakenly may believe that happiness is the absence of a load. But bearing a load is a necessary and essential part of the plan of happiness. Because our individual load needs to generate spiritual traction, we should be careful to not haul around in our lives so many nice but unnecessary things that we are distracted and diverted from the things that truly matter most...Consider the Lord’s uniquely individual invitation to “take my yoke upon you.” Making and keeping sacred covenants yokes us to and with the Lord Jesus Christ. In essence, the Savior is beckoning us to rely upon and pull together with Him, even though our best efforts are not equal to and cannot be compared with His. As we trust in and pull our load with Him during the journey of mortality, truly His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/bear-up-their-burdens-with-ease?lang=eng


Lessons Learned in May :

1) Give to others, it blesses them and it blesses you. I know the couple that blessed us has something amazing around the corner for them!!

 

2) Do not put limits on the Lord, miracles happen. They really do. You might have a different load that you are carrying, a different burden.  Put useful things in your truck load, work, service to others, and love and then step on the gas!!

Going Radical Fourth month!

We started this year and named it "the year of going radical" this was the year we were going to reign in our finances and clean up our bad investment debt and student loan debt (thanks Dave Ramsey). April was the month I wanted our student loans to be paid off. We crunched the numbers and this was a far fetched, but if going truly radical, a goal we could achieve. As unexpected things would come up I would worry/complain about not reaching our goal month. I literally would visualize me in a dark tunnel and running to the small light in the distance the closer I would get to the light the harder I would run, leaving the tunnel meant I was debt free. I could smell the fresh air, see the blue skies and look at the beautiful flowers outside the tunnel, I would be free!! Free to spend our hard earned money, free to focus on other financial pursuits.

Well we paid it off, early in the month to boot! I have a our third "You are paid in full" notice hanging on the wall in our bedroom. I wept when Benjamin sent me the email notice that said our balance was zero. I played my motivational song, the song I think about as I leave my tunnel.

This euphoria lasted about 24 hours. I felt on top of the world, like we had run our race and that it was awesome! Sadly after my 24 hour high was up I came out of my tunnel only to see that in order to get to the top of the mountain I had to enter another tunnel! This tunnel (the 2nd mortgage that had the brunt of all the failed homestead plans) was huge, almost 4 X what we had just paid off. I felt so discouraged! How could we sustain this kind of momentum? When looking at the money we had already used I couldn't help but look around and see all the things I would rather spend that money on. My duct tape couch, named that because it has been "repaired" with duct tape. My dinning table that is on stilts because the thrift store chairs we bought for it were too tall, my kids mattresses that are on the floor because I have not gotten them a proper bed frame... all of these "wants" just kept creeping in to my happy accomplishment. Had we done the right thing? Should we have used our money in other more tangible ways? Or should we have put the  money towards the larger mountain? My mother has always said that self doubt is one of Satan's largest tools. I think ingratitude is another one. How could we accomplish so much and I feel so unsatisfied? I was talking to Benjamin about it this morning of why I wasn't more happy with accomplishing this goal,  he quoted to me a line from The Family: A Proclamation "Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ." (https://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation) It doesn't say happiness is most likely to be achieved when paying off debt, or running a wonderful race, it comes when our priorities are in line with what Heavenly Fathers. He wants us to become a follower of his son Jesus Christ, where charity and love trump all goals.

When my twin and I ran our first and only marathon there was a part in the race in the very beginning where we ran through a tunnel, it felt really long because it was dark and all uphill. When we came out of that tunnel there was 24 miles of race still to run! Mostly hills, beautiful desert landscape and nothing but runners solitude to sustain you. Thinking on this financial race that we have signed up for I need to remember the path is long, the path is difficult, but it is my job to not focus on the end so much, but try to enjoy being out of the tunnel, breathing and seeing the the charity and love that others offer as well as what I can offer along the way. 

Lessons learned in April: 

1."Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ."

Parkin's seven year old scavenger hunt! May 3rd!

Our loving little boy turned seven yesterday!  Benjamin and I had so much fun putting this scavenger hunt family party together. We started with giving him some sunglasses "that weren't no dollar store pair" and asked him to go to the place that sold cheap items there. We went to the dollar store where all the kids picked up a pair of flip flops and Parkin got his next clue. That clue took us to the Clark's house where his clue was waiting for him by their bee hive in their backyard. The bees also gave Parkin peanut M&M's thoughtful bees!  We then were lead to McCormick park for our next clue. We played at the park for a bit and were on our way to Collin's house for our next clue. We passed by Ft. Lowell park and had to swing in to show Benjamin the neat oasis the kids and I had found. They had tadpoles there the size of small cuties! After a little hike around that park we were back on the road to the Holman's house. Our next clue lead us to McDonald's for a happy meal lunch. The clue at Mc'd's told us to go to Nana and Papa's pool. We swam and had a blast. Nana made delicious cupcakes and Parkin got some awesome presents including a Pokemon movie which we watched later. Another clue took us to Grandma Bab's and Granpa Ronnie's place for a present, legos!  Lastly we went home for dinner and a movie and to build legos. Geezz that was a lot of driving and a lot of fun! At each stop he got a gift mostly themed around Pokemon stuff. He was very grateful and I think he had a great time, the whole family really loved the adventure.

Parkin we love you! You light up a room just by breathing! You are super smart, one of the classes you have taken this year is Mandarin. You speak it really well and have learned to write it as well. I love it when randomly you can see Mandarin characters at the grocery store or dollar store and know the meaning of it. You like to test military families and returned missionaries who have learned Mandarin to see if they know what you know :) You are crazy loyal and will not allow others to be picked on. You stand up for friends, family and anyone you feel is being picked on. You have courage and compassion a beautiful combination! Son I love you and thank my lucky stars the I get to be your Mom!