I POSTED THE FOLLOWING ON MY MONEY SAVING BLOG AND THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE IT ON MY PERSONAL BLOG AS WELL.
People have been asking me why I am doing this blog and why I am so adamant about saving money. Last night as I was watching Alvin and the Chipmunks (checked out from the library-of course) and clipping a couple hundred coupons, I thought to myself- "Why am I doing this?"
How many other New York Times Best Selling authors are clipping coupons and always looking for the next possible way to save their family money? What most people don't realize is that 1 million books sold does not translate into dollars in my pocket. I make much less than a school teacher, but I am blessed to be able to stay at home with my kids. You have to be Martha Stewart or Rachel Ray to really make money. And if I went that direction, I wouldn't be able to stay at home and be mom.
My husband and I have lived very frugally over the years to get to where we are today. We scrimped and saved while he was in graduate school to stay debt free. How often do you hear of a New York Times Best Selling author living in married student housing? After tithing and taxes, my book royalties went into a savings fund for a house after graduation. Miraculously, Ivan and I were able to finish his PhD with three children under the age of 6, a $50,000 house fund, and no student loans (thanks to a working fellowship which paid for tuition and paid him $9-10 per hour to do research part time).
We went to Idaho hoping a one year visiting faculty position would turn into a full time position in Ivan's home town. We bought our dream home, continued to live extra frugally with the goal of paying off the home in 3 years. The University came down hard that year on their policy of visiting faculty not being able to apply for a permanent position. They had previously been lax on this. To me, it confirmed to me what I had been feeling in my heart that Heavenly Father didn't need us in Rexburg, Idaho. He needed us somewhere else. So, we prayed that God would get us where he needed us to be.
Miracles happened, and it worked out perfectly to get us to Tucson, Arizona. We were able to sell our home in Idaho without even listing it or putting up a for sale sign. There is no doubt that this is where we needed to be.
Unfortunately, we arrived at the height of the housing boom in Arizona. We bought at the high. Our 2 year plan to be completely out of debt including the house turned into a 10 year plan. We took out a 30 year mortgage with the hope of paying it off in 10 years. We've been in the house for 3 years and have already taken 10 years off our home by paying extra to the principle each month.
Some days I feel like we are running a financial marathon. It's hard. Some months I am more disciplined than others. Lately, I have been feeling the urgency of removing the debt of our house from around our necks. Thus, I am back to coupon clipping as I was when we were in college. I took a hiatus for a few years. So, here I sit with the scissors clipping my coupons and searching for ways I can cut expenses so we can pay off our home even faster!
If I can also inspire and help you along your journey, it makes it even more rewarding. So, happy clipping!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
A White August
You don't see very much white in Tucson. Everywhere you turn there is brown-brown dirt, brown shrubs, brown rock, brown dust. This August we have seen a beautiful amount of white. This Saturday will be the 9th baptism that I have witnessed this month. "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool" (Isaiah 1:18) This is what happens each time someone enters the waters of baptism. They become as white inside as their white jumpsuit they wear on the outside. It's wonderful!
It also amazes me that each person being baptized has an individual conversion story. We don't tell people to trust us and to just believe what we say. We tell them to ask God if what they are learning and reading from the Book of Mormon is true. The Holy Ghost is the one who whispers to their hearts that it is true. Each person gets that witness in a different way. Some describe it as an inexplicable joy that they feel as they learn and go to church. Others explain it as a calm peaceful feeling. Some feel a burning in their heart while others just feel a desire to do good and a desire to be baptized. I call it a miracle of Heavenly Father's love for each of his children that he communicates with them in such a way that they can recognize it individually.
On Tuesday, I attended the baptism for three members of the Oesterling family. Heather dated our bishop's son before he left on his mission. She started coming to church before he left over a year ago. Several months ago, her mother, Sheree, and her sister, Hailey, started coming to church with her. They came almost every week. They felt the Spirit. They started studying with the missionaries. They gained their own testimonies. At a beautiful baptism service, our bishop was able to baptize all three amazing ladies. Heather's brother is now coming to church and studying with the missionaries as well. We'll be excited to attend his baptism as well a little down the road.
I love this quote by Joseph Smith. “Our missionaries are going forth to different nations, and in Germany, Palestine, New Holland [Australia], the East Indies, and other places, the Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done." This was prophetically published on March 1, 1842 in what latter became known as the Wentworth letter. Look at where we are today! Here are the statistics from December 31st, 2007
And then there are wards like ours that look like stake conference. We have 128 children ages 3-11 attending primary. By the end of the year, we will have 70 in nursery. We are starting our 4th nursery in two weeks.
Isn't it exciting? And why? Because It's True!
It also amazes me that each person being baptized has an individual conversion story. We don't tell people to trust us and to just believe what we say. We tell them to ask God if what they are learning and reading from the Book of Mormon is true. The Holy Ghost is the one who whispers to their hearts that it is true. Each person gets that witness in a different way. Some describe it as an inexplicable joy that they feel as they learn and go to church. Others explain it as a calm peaceful feeling. Some feel a burning in their heart while others just feel a desire to do good and a desire to be baptized. I call it a miracle of Heavenly Father's love for each of his children that he communicates with them in such a way that they can recognize it individually.
On Tuesday, I attended the baptism for three members of the Oesterling family. Heather dated our bishop's son before he left on his mission. She started coming to church before he left over a year ago. Several months ago, her mother, Sheree, and her sister, Hailey, started coming to church with her. They came almost every week. They felt the Spirit. They started studying with the missionaries. They gained their own testimonies. At a beautiful baptism service, our bishop was able to baptize all three amazing ladies. Heather's brother is now coming to church and studying with the missionaries as well. We'll be excited to attend his baptism as well a little down the road.
I love this quote by Joseph Smith. “Our missionaries are going forth to different nations, and in Germany, Palestine, New Holland [Australia], the East Indies, and other places, the Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done." This was prophetically published on March 1, 1842 in what latter became known as the Wentworth letter. Look at where we are today! Here are the statistics from December 31st, 2007
Church Units
| Stakes | 2,790 |
| Missions | 348 |
| Districts | 618 |
| Wards and Branches | 27,827 |
Church Membership
| Total Church Membership | 13,193,999 |
| Increase in Children of Record for 2007 | 93,698 |
| Converts Baptized for 2007 | 279,218 |
Missionaries
| Full-Time Missionaries | 52,686 |
Temples
| Temples Rededicated (Nuku‘alofa Tonga) | 1 |
| Number of Temples Currently in Operation | 124 |
And then there are wards like ours that look like stake conference. We have 128 children ages 3-11 attending primary. By the end of the year, we will have 70 in nursery. We are starting our 4th nursery in two weeks.
Isn't it exciting? And why? Because It's True!
We Believe In Christ!
There is no heartache or hunger that he cannot heal. He is more necessary to us than our daily bread. This video clip from Youtube is entitled The Bread of Life. The clip includes one of my favorite songs, Come Unto Him. Enjoy!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Savvy Savings Tucson
Make sure to check out my new blog that I launched this week. You can click on my money saving picture (top right) to get directly to the site.
Or
you can click here.
Or
you can click here.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Tim and Jenn Get Baptized!
At the beginning of July, we sent out an email to many of our friends and family asking them to fast for Tim and Jenn Nelson. Tim and Jenn are an amazing couple who have been investigating the church over the last several months. They have two little boys-one in Primary and one in Nursery. We were praying that they would receive their own witness of the Book of Mormon and the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. We want to thank so many of you for fasting with us.
To our delight, Tim and Jenn were baptized on August 9th at 4 p.m. at the Avra Valley Ward chapel. Your praying and fasting paid off. Their baptism was amazing! We are so excited for their family.
Jenn and Tim and boys
Two and a half years ago, we were working with a young man who was wanting to get baptized. He moved away from the area right before he could get baptized. He recently moved back and started coming to church all by himself. He still wanted to be baptized. He was baptized at the same service as the Nelsons. We are so happy for Aaron as well!
Rob, our home teacher, baptized Aaron.
To our delight, Tim and Jenn were baptized on August 9th at 4 p.m. at the Avra Valley Ward chapel. Your praying and fasting paid off. Their baptism was amazing! We are so excited for their family.
Jenn and Tim and boysTwo and a half years ago, we were working with a young man who was wanting to get baptized. He moved away from the area right before he could get baptized. He recently moved back and started coming to church all by himself. He still wanted to be baptized. He was baptized at the same service as the Nelsons. We are so happy for Aaron as well!
Rob, our home teacher, baptized Aaron.Spencer's Birthday Party
We had Spencer's Birthday Party on August 9th. He wanted a batman party. Some kids came in costume. Spencer was excited that his good friend Garrett was able to come.
A favorite part of the party was the Pinata. The kids also enjoyed playing Water In The Thimble and Don't Eat Super Pete!
A favorite part of the party was the Pinata. The kids also enjoyed playing Water In The Thimble and Don't Eat Super Pete!
Spencer wants to marry Hallie after his mission.One day he came to me all excited.
He said, "When Hallie and I get married, we will get to live together
and I will be able to see her every day!"
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