Mission Accomplished

We did it. We finally, finally DID IT!  Our family is 100% debt-free as of Friday, May 27!

This goal has taken us over three years to complete. We have paid off more than…hold onto your hats, folks… $70,000 (gasp!) in medical bills, student loans, car payments, credit cards, miscellaneous debt (i.e. stupid choices), three sets of braces, big yearly tax bills, a trip to Sweden, and most recently, an unfortunate track accident.

While we haven’t been perfect in this process, we have been persistent. The range of emotions has been everything from discouragement, frustration,  hopefulness, satisfaction, impatience, relief,  joy, the list goes on…

On top of being debt-free, we have grown as a family over the course of these three, long years. We are a family that can persevere through challenges. We can work hard together. We can make personal and family sacrifices. We can encourage and support each other, and we can communicate  more effectively than ever. This alone is priceless and worthy of the commitment we made to see this goal through to completion.

While our family has worked hard, we would be ungrateful if we didn’t recognize the many ways we have been blessed. Our blessings have come  from the Lord and through the kind actions of others. In a difficult climate of unemployment and financial struggles, Clint and I have had steady and gainful employment. Our family has been relatively healthy, have not had to take on additional debt that we were unable to quickly pay off, and have been the recipients of financial gifts from family. Thank you mom and dad for the kind and generous things you have done for us.

Bye bye Baby Step 2- we’re done with you! We’re moving onto Baby Step 3. But first, we’re celebrating in Disneyland!

Closer by the Day

We spent our Saturday running from store to store buying  an assortment of strange things: water shoes, quick dry towels, shirts, and socks, lightweight, warm bedding, rain gear, etc. We’re running out of time to help Caleb prepare for his month long adventure in Alaska. Our house seriously looks like the result of the scout store and REI exploding. As crazy as today has been, it’s the easy part. I’m starting to freak out, wondering what in the world we’re doing sending our 16 year old son to the land of bears, whales, mosquitos, and Boy Scouts- oh my!

Honestly, I never would have guessed eight and a half years ago that Caleb would be actively involved in the scouting program. If left up to his parents, it would have been over before it began.

When Caleb turned eight and became a Cub Scout, we had just learned of Caitlin’s cancer recurrence. We were so overwhelmed with treatments that any additional activity or commitment was overwhelming. Thankfully, my friend, Jessica was an amazing Cub Scout leader. She was truly an answer to our prayers and took Caleb under her wing. Thanks to her, Caleb made it through the first several years and was able to pass off the necessary requirements to progress in the scouting program.  

Since then, he’s continued through the program. There have been times he’s had great leaders, and other times, not so much. When he was 12, we learned a respected man in our community would be taking a group of scouts to the National Jamboree in 2010. We wanted Caleb to have this experience and signed him up. He worked and prepared for the next three years. Last summer, he  went and had a once in a lifetime experience. He also became an Eagle scout a few months later.

        

It was during the Jamboree that Caleb learned of the opportunity to work at a scout camp in Alaska. We didn’t know if he would choose to continue in the scouting program once he became an Eagle, but the experiences and accomplishments worked together to keep him interested. Little did we know that in December he would be invited to the World Jamboree in Sweden this coming summer and that he would actually be offered the job in Alaska (usually they choose young men entering their senior year of high school). Now he’s a Venture Scout, is the President of a committee of 40 scouts going to Sweden, and will be responsible for training our stake leadership how to organize a Venture group.

To me, scouting is so much more than tying knots, campouts, and endless merit badges. It’s an organization that gives boys the opportunity to try new things, leadership experience, and wonderful male mentors.

Okay, I think I’m feeling better… for now.

Caitlin’s Poem

Caitlin had to write a poem. She really struggled to come up with something she was happy with and it took her a LONG time to get it right. She did it all on her own though and I love that it is so honest.

 

Reading is something I do not like

I’d rather ride around on my bike

I would not like to dance like a fool

I might as well just go to school

I know that I am on the right path

I just need to focus more on my math

Everyday I’ll try my best

Even if I need a rest

If I finish this on my own

I will be done with this poem

Beware, We Get Even!

 

Our house has been “flamingo’d” a couple of times since we’ve lived here. It’s pretty funny to wake up to the lawn covered in pink plastic birds. This time we decided to get even. We gathered up all but one flamingo and hid them in our garage. The one little remaining bird got a ransom note hung around it’s neck demanding cookies.

We let a night or two go by and started to feel a little guilty so Clint, Caitlin, and I returned the flamingo’s to the rightful owners. The funny thing is, Caleb got the cookies delivered to him at school.

Caitlin and Daisy

While Caitlin was out of school for a month, she gave Daisy a lot of attention. While Daisy likes attention, she doesn’t necessarily like it from Caitlin in large quantities. I had to sneak a few photos of the “care” Caitlin took of her dog by making her beds, tucking her in for her naps, etc.… The last photo is taken of Daisy hiding under my desk using my purse as her pillow.

Sadie Hawkins

Caleb’s date to Sadie Hawkins was almost two weeks ago and I’ve been too busy to post about it. A couple of days before the dance, Kailee came over to bring Caleb a matching shirt and told him she would pick him up at 3:30 on Saturday. When the time rolled around she walked over to our house and I made them take a couple of pictures, then wished them a fun night. Caleb just sat there. Finally he said, “Aren’t you going to carry me?” Poor Kailee looked a little confused, but Caleb kindly reminded her that she had told him she would come “pick him up”.

The date consisted of two additional couples of great kids and it sounds like they had a fun time. They spent the afternoon playing games, having dinner, and then going to the dance. I love to see Caleb enjoying these fun years of high school.

Extending Our Weekend

Like usual, our weekend went by way too fast. It was Stake Conference weekend and with that came leadership meetings, youth choir practice, youth council, a Young Men’s campout, the adult session, and finally the actual Stake Conference. I loved the adult session. The talks were inspiring and I was happy that our Stake President talked about social media, which happens to be more of a pet peeve to me than a blessing. It is also so fun to see the friends we’ve made in our previous seven Daybreak wards. Funny how we all live in the same community and don’t run into each other as often as I’d like. I wasn’t able to go on Sunday, due to my work schedule, but apparently one of my kids was on the stand in the choir shivering and the other was falling asleep (in view of the camera that was sending the feed to another building).

Since we didn’t  have time for our normal weekend fun, we decided to play today. I have a new schedule at work with Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday off, so I’m trying to get used to having the beginning of the week off, rather than the middle. However, we still have unlimited overtime, so the only day I usually take off is Saturday anyway. We went to Tucano’s for a late lunch and then to see “Born to Be Wild” at the IMAX theater at the planetarium. The movie was about orphaned orangutans and elephants and was so cute. Caitlin is absolutely convinced she needs one of each.

This is Caitlin’s last week of freedom, so we’re trying to fit in last minute fun. She’s been a good girl while off track and is easy to have around.

The rest of the week is full. I have an all day work training tomorrow. I think I would dread it, but spending the day with friends from my team is serious fun. Caleb has his AP World History test and his date this weekend.

It’s a good day for the USA. While I don’t think taking out Bin Laden brings an end to terrorism or true comfort to those who have lost loved ones on 9-11 or in the fight against terrorism, justice has been done. God Bless the U.S.A., our troops, and our freedom.