Ready for February

Needs Over Wants

The only debt Matt and I have ever had is our mortgage and our student loans. We've never had credit card debt and we've always bought our vehicles with cash. That is a reflection of the Lord's hand and our parents' good examples rather than any sort of merit or iron discipline on our parts. When we didn't have enough money for groceries as students we bought a big bag of potatoes and raided the less than desirable canned food storage we had at the back of our cupboards. When our cars were broken down and couldn't be fixed then we walked and bussed (and bummed rides- oh how that part humbled my prideful self) where we needed to go until we had the money saved for the repairs.
We were always blessed to have what we needed. 

But now that we have more disposable income I find it's easier to get caught up in wants and for wants to somehow become needs. I feel like Matt and I have mostly done well but I know we could do better. We're not in any way reckless or careless with our money but we also don't plan and cut out unnecessary expenditures as much as we could to pay off student loan debt faster. For example, I've been dreaming up a glorious baby room full of new purchases but I think I would ultimately be happier using what we already have and balancing that with a couple things I want most. And really who would the glorious nursery be for? The baby that only wants to be cared for and loved? Probably not.

After our convocation in May 2009 we set a goal to have our loans paid off in full by February 2015 (when we re-mortgage our house and when interest rates could potentially be much higher or our vehicle may need to be replaced). 

This just came in the mail today and it feels great! It means my Canada Student Loan is non-existent!
We have officially paid off half of our student loan debt so we're on track to our goal of paying off our loans completely in three more years.

Matt and I have been really blessed with opportunities to make extra income to pay off our student loans.

First I got a teaching contract right after graduation.

Then four months of full-time teaching qualified me for full government mat leave pay for a year.

And miraculously we were able to make money on a home we'd only lived in for a year and a half.

We have no idea where the rest of the extra income we need to pay off student loans will come from (except that Matt's company now actually pays the bonuses it promises) but I know if we continue to pay generous fast offerings, a full tithe, and the hardest part of all: 

focus on purchasing what we NEED and avoiding the WANT purchases so much we will continue to be blessed to pay off our student debt.

So here's to help me remember. I have enough. I need to be a careful steward of the money I've been given. And I need to stop thinking about what it would be nice to have and be more mindful and grateful for what I have already been given! Worldly soul that I am that is a challenge!

Buds

Me and my cousin Dal are best buds.

Matty

Cousin Time

I love all the cousin time Jonas logs living in Lethbridge. This month we drove up to Calgary with Eva and Aunt Karen to meet up with Aunt Amy, Jack and Todd for a Zoo field trip and next month we'll meet up at the Science Center and go to the West Edmonton Waterpark to hopefully meet up with Edmonton cousins. 

Vulcan Tri

I just realized I never did a post on the Vulcan Tri because I was on hiatus at the time. I'd like to at least post photos and write a little about it though because what girl is lucky enough to do a triathlon with both their mom and mom-in-law? I am, and these women inspire me more than I can tell. Mom Stoddard was the one who inspired me to do my first triathlon in Magrath four years ago and Mom Harker inspired me to complete a half-marathon this past August. Right now Mom Stoddard is training for an OLYMPIC triathlon this summer and Mom Harker is training for a MARATHON in May. I love and admire these women so much! They are seriously SUPER-WOMEN!

Jonas' Room

I'm still working on my 31 day organization challenge but after the first twelve days I've switched to organizing finances instead spaces around the house. Jonas' room has been organized for a little while but we finally hung his artwork and organized the furniture how we liked it best this morning. Thinking about how soon Jonas would be in a bed today almost made me cry. He's not a baby anymore!

Matt's talented Mom made this darling quilt for Jonas' bed which is just like one Matty had when he was little. 

It still feels a little funny to me that Jonas' room doesn't have stripes anymore!

First Franchise Obsession goes to...

Thomas the Train.

Jonas won't go anywhere without his Thomas the Train (which I don't think is nearly as good looking as his simple wood train set even if it does play the Thomas theme song) and he loves to watch the seven minute episodes while I make dinner.

I suppose it was inevitable.

The 100 m Dash

That's what Matt jokingly calls the running circuit Jonas has from the living room to the kitchen. It is such a large open space and it gets incredible lighting which makes it one of my favourite things about this house. I hope these pictures give a better visual of what our house looks like than all the random photos of nooks and crannies I've been posting.

No Ultrasound Today...

or for another two months. Less than an hour before my appointment I fell victim to a flash flu. I choked back all of the large cups of water necessary for the ultrasound as long as I could. But a half hour later it was all in vain and the entire contents of my stomach were on the floor. So now it's another two months before I get my ultrasound. I could already be thirty-two weeks pregnant by then.

Growing Up

Jonas is getting so big I can almost believe he is going to be a big brother in a few months.

Speaking of which my ultrasound is tomorrow so I can find out the baby's gender and due date tomorrow!

Thanksgiving 2011

It's a little late to post this but the scowls in some of these pictures are too good to miss. Apparently some of us weren't particularly excited to get family photos taken at the farm that weekend.