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!