Crutches

I have always loved horses.

At the age of 12 in California, I began riding and showing horses. I learned so much and loved every minute of it. I joined 4-H and took my sweet horse, "Pixie", to county fairs and local horse shows. We won many ribbons, lots of cool horse stuff, and had a blast.

Then, I moved to Georgia.

Pixie was not able to move with us and went to a wonderful home. I was heartbroken to leave her, but excited about the possibilities of a new horse in GA. I went through several horses- "Rooster," "Autumn," "Colonel"- but then came "Celtic," a beautiful Thoroughbred off the racetrack in Louisiana. He was a young horse and so very sweet. I loved him.

 

One day while I was out training him, I decided to take another lap around the pasture. During that last lap, something must have scared Celtic or stung him. Either way, he began bucking and I could no longer hold on. I slipped right over the front of his head and landed squarely on my bottom with Celtic looking right at me like, "What happened?"

 

I tried to get up and couldn't. I realized right then and there that something was broken. Something big. I was all alone in our back pasture and yelled for help. My mom came running down the hill to find me sitting in agonizing pain. She pulled off my boots and sure enough, the left ankle was very swollen. She drove me to the hospital and there it was confirmed that I had broken my ankle. Bummer.

 

6 weeks in a cast and everything would be good. 6 weeks on crutches and everything would heal itself. Well, that's what everyone thought. On my 6 week appointment, things did not look good. The bone had not reattached, in fact, it had slipped further into my foot. It was time to do surgery.

 

3 weeks later, I was in the operating room where a titanium screw was placed in my left ankle. Then, 3 more weeks in a bandage and crutches. It was torture. Once the bandage was off, it was a walking boot, 3 months of therapy, and having to learn how to walk all over again. I broke my ankle in November and was finally able to walk again, without the help of crutches or a walking boot, by March.

 

Being on crutches was not easy, but because I was broken, I needed them. I couldn't function without them. Until I had surgery, something I couldn't do myself, I was going to need those crutches. Coming off those crutches wasn't easy either. I had found a need for them and learned to function with them. Trusting myself to walk again was a challenge mentally and physically. I had learned to rely on the crutches in order to compensate for the brokenness in my life.

 

So often, we do the same thing in life. A devastating diagnosis, a messed up marriage, wayward children, a financial hardship- these are all things that can drive us to find crutches- something to help us compensate for the pain. A crutch can be anything that numbs the pain or allows us to continue functioning- drugs, alcohol, an affair, overspending, overeating- and once that crutch becomes part of life, it is hard to take it away.

The only way to get rid of the crutch is for surgery of the heart to take place. It is not something you can do for yourself. Just like I had to see a surgeon to have my ankle fixed, so you have to see Jesus in order for your heart to be fixed. Without Jesus, your heart will constantly be broken. You may be able to take yourself off the crutches for a little while, but you will fall, it will hurt, and it will be more painful than the time before. A spiritually surgery of the heart is necessary to come off the crutches that so easily allow us to cope with the heartache of this world.

Once the surgery is over and Jesus has come into your life, that's when the work truly begins. You won't be able to just toss the crutches away and run for joy! No, it takes therapy, it takes tears, and it takes a constant focus on Jesus Christ to rise above the crutches in this life.



 As I strive to become more like Jesus in this life, I constantly have to be aware of the things I allow to be crutches in my life- busyness, a fit body, money in my bank account- I trust these things to bring me joy and happiness in the midst of pain rather than focusing on the One who is true Joy and Comfort in the midst of pain. Only when we allow Jesus to heal our hearts, to mend our hurts, can we truly leave the crutches of this life behind and follow Him.

Living the Unplugged Life!

Recently, a dear friend of mine posted this link to my Facebook page:
10 Ways You Waste Your Money

After reading through the list, I was quite pleased with myself. Yes, yes, pride goeth before a fall and a haughty spirit before destruction, but listen, we have been working hard over here and I was pumped to know that by the world's standards, I was doing okay. But, I can always do better. The two areas that we were wasting money in were: 1) having gym memberships (which we don't see as a waste of money because we use them and reap the benefits of them) and 2) keeping all appliances plugged in. Not a big deal, right? WRONG!

Did you know that there is such a thing as "vampire electronics"?? There are things in your house that even when turned off are still sucking the life out of your electric bill! After doing a little research, I found that we have electronics plugged in that are costing us an additional $100 a year just to have plugged in...not even on! This website has a great list of things that we can easily unplug to save money- 25 Ways to Save on Your Electric Bill.

The morning after deciding to make this change in our lifestyle, I awoke to find the washer and dryer, toaster, coffee maker, coffee grinder, microwave, lamps, hairdryer, computer and fan all unplugged! Though it has taken a little getting used to, it is kind of fun to know that in this simple change in lifestyle we are making big change in our pockets!

Now, I know $100/year sounds like nothing. But it is SOMETHING! That's about $8.50 a month... a date to Starbucks with my husband, lunch out at Chick-Fil-A, or an extra $100/year in my savings account!

Then, this got me thinking. This whole "living the unplugged life" thing. How often am I so "plugged" into my electronic life- Facebook, email, movies, texting- that I begin to have the content life sucked out of me? When I see a friend with a new car on Facebook and I think, "Oh, I wish I had one of those! Why am I working to get out of debt anyway?!" or the friend that is taking a trip to the beach, or buying new clothes, or...you get the idea. And maybe it is not even the stuff but the time. Time reading and responding to emails, time texting back and forth with friends, time sitting in front of a computer or television. Time I COULD be spending with the ones I love, being outside, or doing something fun and creative. Maybe it is time to put down the phone, close the laptop, turn off the TV, and "unplug" from life for a little bit to become content and thankful for what we have right here. right now.

Take some time this weekend to "unplug" from life...and while you're at it, don't forget to unplug those electronics and save on your next electric bill!!

Joy in the Journey

 

 

 

If I were to say that this getting-out-of-debt journey has been easy, I'd be lying.

 

If I were to say that living frugally was fun all the time, I would be fibbing you.

 

If I were to tell you that I regretted taking this debt free journey, I would be telling a falsehood.

 

Though the journey has not always been easy and some weeks felt like all we were eating were leftovers and clean-out-the-fridge soup, it has been one I do not regret taking. For those of you that have been following our journey to becoming debt free, thank you for staying the course with us. For those of you that are just joining us, welcome!! We are on the road to be being totally free of debt and the journey is finally starting to wind down. Though we aren't there yet, we are just beginning to see the destination.

 

Back in October of 2013, my husband and I made a choice. A choice to live within our means. A choice to put off instant gratification and save for future satisfaction. A choice to get rid of debt and learn the models necessary to try our best to stay out of debt.

 

In August of 2014, I hit a roadblock. I was done wearing Goodwill clothes, eating leftovers, and saying no to fun activities all in the name of getting out of debt. So, I came up with a visual model in order for me and my husband to daily, weekly, monthly see the progress towards our goal. Here is where we were when we began keeping track in August of last year:

 

 

We had been doing so well and I was so excited to see from a visual standpoint just how far we had come! I was also excited to have a goal to work toward- a trip to Australia- a place both Dave and I have wanted to go for a long time!

 

Through hard work and God's unending grace and blessings, I was shocked when I compared our chart in February of this year from just 6 months prior! Here is where we are today:

 

 

 

So, as you can see, we have made incredible progress! There are still mountains to climb, terrain to traverse, and obstacles to overcome, but we can do it! And so can you! Keep clipping those coupons, counting the pennies, and cutting up the credit cards! It will all pay off in the end!

 

 







The debtor's curse

  Have you ever thought about the word "bondage?" I usually think of the word "bondage" in connotation with the word "slavery." Slavery was horrible. Slavery was brutal. Slavery was more often than not a death sentence. In fact, Webster's Dictionary defines "bondage" as "the state of being a slave; servitude or subjugation to a controlling person or force."

Debt goes hand in hand with bondage. We become slaves to our desire for more and in turn we become subject to this controlling force we call debt. Debt will bind your hands and feet and ask you to beg for mercy all the while quietly restraining until you can no longer get out of its binding force.

Our society has gotten to the point that many in slavery do, they give up and give in. Instead of fighting the bondage, they embrace it and live in it forever.

There is a way out.

The way out is called discipline and self-control.

Lately, the ties of debt have been so suffocating. My desire to give gifts, to give to those in need, to buy things I want are choked out by the binding tendrils of debt. Yes, we are so close to pulling all those tendrils out, but as you get close to the finish line, it gets harder. Harder to say no to more and yes to less. Harder to be patient and not give in. Harder to stay on budget and not overspend.

For those of you that are feeling choked by debt, there is a way out. Webster's Dictionary defines "discipline" as "control that is gained by requiring that rules or orders be obeyed and punishing bad behavior." In order to break out of the bondage of debt, you have to set down boundaries, rules, orders- a budget. When the budget is followed and the discipline is set in place, slowly, slowly the ties of debt will loosen and you will begin to feel the freedom again.

I am so excited for the day when we can finally be free of the ties and bondage to debt and say, "We're debt free!" That will be a glorious day!

Share, Share, that's Frugal!

Do you ever think about the joy that comes from sharing a meal with others? The conversation, the laughs, the encouragement, the yummy food- I love it all!

Because I live so far away from my family, I tried very hard (especially the first year) to have my 5 younger siblings come and visit me and Dave in PA! We had a blast!! Trips to Philly, trips to NYC, trips to Sight and Sound Theatre in Lancaster, dinner out, shopping sprees, and lots of late night chats! Sharing and seeing the joy on their faces was so much fun!

The same is true with living the frugal lifestyle. Okay, maybe not daytrips to NYC and Philly, but you know what I mean, the sharing part!

This year, I moved up the food chain...I mean, the seniority ladder at work and was able to move to dayshift! WAHOO! A huge answer to prayer! But, that also came with the cost of parking in the city and a slight pay cut. Two things that were not accounted for in the budget! So, I revamped the budget and began looking into transportation ideas:
Take the train= too much variability in my schedule to make it on the train home in time.
Drive= $13 a day to park and a 6 block walk.
Carpool= don't work the same schedule as my friend all the time

What to choose??? Well, thankfully, my coworker and friend who lives 5 minutes from me only works part-time, so we share her parking pass! I pay her less than half of what it would cost me to park and I only have a 3 block walk! PERFECT! And, on the days we both work, we carpool together! Makes for a lovely ride in and out of work after long, hectic days!

Another way I have found to share this year to help with the frugal lifestyle is couponing for others! Since you usually have to buy a larger amount of product to get the coupon/sale price, I decided to see if others wanted the same products as I did. I do all the work (which I would do anyway), go shopping, and they pick up the items from me and pay me what I paid for it. I don't pay as much for a good deal and someone else gets to share in the same deal too...without all the work!

So, whether you are sharing meals with friends or carpooling to work, sharing is caring...and frugal!

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's Off to Work I Go!

People ask me what I do. A lot. And as soon as I say, "I am a nurse," a whole new level of conversation begins- their medical history, their mother's medical history, and their great aunt Phoebe's medical history. It's great!! No, really, it is! Then the next question they ask is, "What kind of a nurse are you?" And as soon as I say, "I am a NICU nurse- I work with babies." The "ahhhs" and "oohhs" and "You must LOVE your job!" begin. And for the most part, they are right. However, there is a reason I say I am going to "work!"

WORK can be a bad four letter word. Like, "You have to WORK for your food"; "You have to WORK for your education": "You have to WORK for what you want." But you know what the great thing is about work?? It doesn't have to be a bad four letter word.

 From a young child, I always knew I wanted to work with babies. I thought I wanted to be a Labor and Delivery nurse until junior year of nursing school when I watched as each sweet baby once delivered was whisked off to the nursery and I was left with...well, we won't go into the details. So, I got rid of that idea. Then, during my senior year of nursing school, I came across this place called a NICU- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit- and I was in awe. Not only did I get to work with babies, but I was also able to apply all my nursing knowledge that I had learned during 4 years of intense schooling, unlike working in the newborn nursery where the knowledge base was very specialized. I was hooked. After graduation, it was off to the NICU I went. 2 years later that is.

 I started my career off in Adult ICU and although it was a great learning experience, it was not where I wanted to be. But, I did my best. I worked hard running to do compressions as an elderly woman's heart stopped; yelling for help as I held a 200lb woman in the bed who was convinced that we were holding her captive; crying as I watched three different families lose a loved one in the same day; proving doctors wrong as I worked to care for people they said wouldn't make it and are here to tell about it today- I worked hard. Did I love every minute of it? Nope. But I did my best and stuck with it.

Then, 2 years later, my dream job opened up and there I was in the NICU. Still doing compressions; still saving loves; still holding little one's down for IVs and blood draws; still crying as families lost precious little ones; and still doing my very best. I love what I do!

Do I always want to go into work? Nope. Am I was always happy and chipper when I get home from work? Nope (you can ask my husband!). But, I go to work with a good attitude, work hard, and try to find the blessings in every day.

Work. It is how we make a living. It is how we get out of debt. It is how we make this world go 'round. We were created to work. Work is part of who we are. Work can happen anywhere! Behind a desk, in a field, in a home, with kids, without kids, in a hospital, in a school, anywhere!

As you go to work tomorrow, remember that because of what you do today you are impacting what happens tomorrow! Choose to do your best and stick to what you have set to do today!

I have a dream...

 

I don't know about you, but I am definitely a dreamer. I love dreaming about the future- kids, our own house, a new car, traveling to new places, a puppy, etc.

 

Then, reality sets in. Bills come in, cars breakdown, and the school loan is still there. Bummer. Guess the dreams have to go to the back burner...NOT TRUE! You know what the great thing is about a dream? Reality can't squash it! I can still keep dreaming. I have to work on the contentment part when the dream can't come true right away, but I can still dream.

 

As Christmas nears, I become more of a dreamer. Dreaming about the day when we will have our own home with little ones running around the house with shrieks of joy as Christmas approaches! Ahhh, can't wait!

 

I have had this idea for a while and due to a lovely winter cold, I have had a few days off from work to do things for FUN (that never happens!) So, I finally did it. I made a dream board. As a frugal wife and career woman with hopes to be a stay at home mom one day, some of these dreams may be a little far fetched (like the 4 story house with a boat) but I can dream, can't I??

 

It gets hard living on a budget. It gets hard being patient for things you have been working so hard for. It gets hard working day in and day out only to see the check get whisked away to Sallie Mae. This little board makes all of that a little easier!

 My dream of being a mommy some day!! Look at all of those sweet babies!!

 

 

My dream of my own home some day! HAS to have a front porch!

 

 

 

My dream of traveling!! Australia, Hawaii, and Alaska are on the must-see list right now!!

 

 

 

So there you have it- my dream board. I love looking at this as I sit and coupon knowing that someday all of this frugal living will be worth it!

 

Okay, maybe not the boat...and horse...and barn...but I am going to dream it anyway!