Debt Reduction

We are watching videos of Dave Ramsey at church. Yesterday he talked about gazelle like intensity in getting out of debt and recommended selling everything you could lay your hands on. So that got hubby and I thinking about what to sell. Before our move, we sold alot of furniture and downsized considerably. But it has crossed our mind more than once to sell our car. Our only car. Our only means of transportation. The only reason we could even consider this is that we live downtown Boise, close to most everything. Neither of us work outside the home, and Boise has a decent transit and is a bicycle friendly town.

The main drawbacks would be not being able to continue to go to our church and if I needed to go to Joe's school, that would be difficult, if not outright impossible. So tho, we talk about it I don't think we will follow through.

So how bout you? Would you sell your car to get out of debt? What have you sold to downsize your debt?

Cute Giveaway

Have you heard of Frugal Girls? Its a great frugal website that I have been visiting for a little while now. They have great giveaways, but this latest one is really exceptional. Thus my reason for posting about it. I'm not being altruistic, Cause I really don't want anyone else to win. I am getting my name entered one more time by blogging about it to you, my dear readers. Of course, if you insist, go ahead and check it out for yourself, but I'm warning you, I am going to win!

Frugal Girls is giving away what's called a Card Cubby where you can store biz cards, gift cards, even a small cell phone will fit. And the person who sells them has the cutest colors. Once you go over to Frugal Girls she has a link where you can see the Card Cubbies in all their glorious colors.

But remember, this one is mine to win!

So, what have you won lately?

Summer???

Today and yesterday we have been in the mid 80's. Spring lasted 2 days I think. Actually, tomorrow will be in the mid 50's so I think spring is coming back. I hear of other places in the country having snow, and California breaking record temps. I'm not sure about global warming/cooling or whatnot, but something strange seems to be happening.

But the longer I live, the more convinced I am that the Lord God Almighty is in control. I wanted to post another WFW, but my computer is still not quite right and I haven't reloaded my pictures onto the machine. And I kinda need pics in order to do WFW, ya know?

My cardio workouts have been going well. I walked 5x last week and am shooting for 5x again this week. Hubby has promised me a professional pedicure if I complete 4 weeks of cardio 5x each week, so I am extra motivated to make it happen.

I have also been making cards. Lots of Mothers Day cards that I'm sending to my sister for her to sell at her school. A few thank you cards and some b-day cards as well. The last few times I've worked on the cards, they have really fallen together. Love that!

Last night, we went to a nearby park. It was so pleasant, and crowded! Who knew all these people would have the same idea. Thankfully, it is a large park. Lots of places for the kiddos to play, lots of picnic tables with people having bar-b-q's and b-day parties. A "beach" volleyball game was in play when we got there, teens playing frisbee on the grass, the nearby tennis courts in full use. Bikers, walkers, and skateboarders were all around. Mike and I had time to chat and relax on the grass and Joe had fun going down the slides. I defintely recommend going to parks in the spring and summer. Esp when one lives in a crackerjack box of an apt.

Til next time ....

Have You Missed Me?

Remember me? Ya, I'm the one who took a bloggy break, and then promptly fell out of the blogging habit after coming back. Only 3 posts this month and its already the middle of the month. The 15th--smack dab middle!

But I have an excuse! And its a good one. I know you want to hear it too. Even if only to poo-poo it. I've been swallowed up by the sparkspeople site! Yes, its true. I have left my first love of blogging and found a new best friend! It's not you, oh no, never, it's me. Yes, its me you see. I'm now a sparks junkie. I spend many minutes a day checking in with the different teams I'm on, I record my fitness accomplishments (45 minutes on the treadmill today!! woo hoo!!!), track the amount of water I ingest, share with others how I'm feeling emotionally and whether I've avoided the M & M's that have been calling my name. They even give you points for things you do throughout the day. And you can take those points and redeem them for "goodies" for own page or give to someone else for their page. Oh those sparks people. They are tricky. They lure you in and pounce. And they know my weakness. They have set up their site so that I even have a blog on "my page". For the last two days, I have been writing all my good stuff on that blog! Oh the shame of leaving you, my treasured readers. So I had to come and confess.

I am ashamed, but I know I will be drawn back. Even now my email box is filling up with notices of new topics being discussed in my teams and people responding to my blog. Tho I know I cannot give up sparks, I will come back here often. I will continue to write on challenges and adventures. I will not be unfaithful forever ... Forgive my absence. And if you're brave enough, come visit me at sparkpeople.com you can find me under Gails Adventures.

Til next time ....

This n That

Wasn't Easter wonderful? As we were driving to church yesterday, I was thinking that we don't have to wait for one day a year to celebrate. We can celebrate Christ's resurrection every day! Aren't we a blessed people? I know I am.

Easter sunday at our house was great. Had a great service with awesome, inspiring, humbling worship, had a great meal afterwards that I didn't have to cook (thank you honey for taking us out), had a great, tho short nap, and had an awesome evening with the family, doing nothing much at all.

Last week I stumbled across a great site. I had seen it awhile back but this time i really looked it over. its called sparkpeople.com and is a fitness/diet/tracking/community site. I have jumped in with both feet. If you're already on, or signing up my nickname is gailsadventures. You can add me as a friend, join many, many groups/communities, give people gifts, track your progress and so much more. It is the inspiration and encouragement and accountability that I've needed.

This afternoon I'm going to a 30 minute walk and doing some weight training. What are you doing today?

Blessings on you, my treasured readers,
til next time ....

A New Normal

What is normal? for you, for your family? I've been thinking about "normal" alot lately. Our family is not normal. We are not your average run of the mill American family. But maybe I'm missing the point. Maybe there aren't as many "normal" families out there as I think there are. But I've been thinking alot about it, because I tend to look at other families and compare myself, our family, to theirs. I know, bad, bad, bad! I guess I compare myself because I want to be like them. What I see from the outside, the way it looks normal to me, looking at them.

But when I step back a moment, I remember that its ok to be who we are. Didn't God create us this way? Didn't He allow for a reason, for us to have the challenges and adventures that we have had? I am working on embracing who we are, whether it looks normal or not to others. And I'm working on accepting this way of life, this "normal to us" life we live.

I'm letting go of my expectations to be able to do certain things in life that maybe others do. If it doesn't work for our family, then I can let it go. And if something works for us, even tho it might seem strange to others I can accept that too. And go ahead and use it. My life doesn't have to look like yours or hers or theirs. I'm learning to be ok with that. Being a sheep, I would rather be like everyone else. But that isn't what God has called me to be. Not now, maybe not ever.

And just because I'm not like other wives, other mothers, other people, doesn't mean I'm less than, worse off; it just means I'm different. Different can be good.

"I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from whence shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth." Ps 121

April

DO YOU HAVE A LEAST FAVORITE MONTH?
I do. Its April.

I don't particularly like April Fools Day, and I really don't like tax day. Then there's the fact that most often April can be a rainy month. Especially when we lived in the Seattle area, rain was on the menu every day. Or so it seemed. This year in Boise we are having storm after storm flow through our beautiful valley and I'm not liking it, at all. I moved away from Seattle for a reason!

But if your word for the year is contentment than you'd better find something to enjoy about your least favorite month. And really, there is alot to enjoy about April.

Easter is coming. A wonderful time of year to be thankful for God's perfect gift for us. A reminder that we are loved and cherished by the King of the Universe. And that Christ died for our sins, so that we can stand clean before our Heavenly Father someday, hearing His welcoming words. Come my son/daughter, enter the Kingdom!

There are signs of spring as the forsythia is in bloom, daffodils, crocus' and tulips are sprouting and showing their glorious colors. The days are getting longer and are warming up the earth.

Life is resuming its rhythem. I enjoy rhythem. As much as I like to go on vacation or have something exciting to look forward to, the older I get the more I like the normal rhythem of life.

So how bout you? What are you enjoying about April?