Pictures As Promised!

Before I talk about the pictures I have to tell you all to check our store out online. There is a link on the right side called Mountain Lighting. It is still a work in progress but we are getting there.



Finally I have got pictures on the computer to share. This picture is from this morning. If you click on the picture you can see a bigger picture to see his new tooth.
This is a picture of Spencer peeking through the back on my bar stool at work. He loves to play looking through the holes and he always tries to lick my face or hand through the holes also.
We have put Spencer to work in the warehouse as forklift operator. Just Kidding! But he does love to sit up on the seat and play with the wheel.

Spencer's First Tooth!

Hey Everybody!

Spencer cut his first tooth through this morning! He is a little fussy but handling the change well. Not much else is happening but I thought I should blog such an accomplishment. Pictures to come soon!

We Are Going To Do It!

Get out of debt that is. We are going to get out of DEBT! We hate debt!!! We truly believe that debt enslaves you. The leaders of the Church have been telling us this for years. Mark and I have been attending a financial class the past four weeks and we are now on a path that will get us out of debt. Many of you might say, good luck and giggle behind our backs and we don't care. We are going to do this, even if it means eating top ramen for the next ten years. Because when all is said and done in July or August of 2017, less than 10 years of signing the mortgage papers on our house, we will be able to say:

WE ARE DEBT FREE!!!

That means at the ages of 32 and 35 we will live in a house that is totally paid off! We have a long road ahead and still a few bugs to iron out but we will do this. Why? Because we want to. So, this is me totally committing myself to something that will make my life better.

Here are some thoughts that I like about debt

"The number of marriages that have been shattered over money issues is staggering. The amount of heartbreak is great. The stress that comes from worry over money has burdened families, caused sickness, depression, and even premature death... Remember this: debt is a form of bondage. It is a financial termite. When we make purchases on credit, they give us only an illusion of prosperity. We think we own things, but the reality is, our things own us."
~Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

"Material blessings are a part of the gospel if they are achieved in the proper way and for the right purpose... Paying tithing is discharging a debt to the Lord."
~N. Eldon Tanner

Thank Heaven!

To start off I just have to say, THANK HEAVENS FEBRUARY IS OVER!!! This past month has been very hard on me personally and on my family, both immediate and extended. For starters, February is always our slowest month at work. And since the economy is so rough it was even slower than normal. We have a lot of stuff coming up in the next couple of months as the weather gets better, so we are totally ready for spring.

Second, Spencer is adorable! We all know it is true so let us all just succome to the facts. However, he is at that stage where he wants to be exploring but can't do it on his own. He hasn't mastered the rolling over yet which I have mixed feelings about. I want him to continue progressing but I don't think I am ready for him to terrorize everything. So, I have been holding him a lot lately. I don't think I am spoiling him but you never know. Because he needs/wants more floor time I have been staying home a little bit more to give him that time. But then when I am at home I see all of the cleaning and other projects that I need/want to get done. I try to tell myself that they can wait another day and Spencer is only going to be little once but I find myself letting him cry so I can put that stack of folded towels away (or something like that) more often that I probably should. So then I make myself feel guilty one way or another.

Last, I have been really stressed out about my family. Everyone is healthy and fine, but I am a worrier (I know, big shock to the world). My sister Heidi was put on bedrest for a couple of weeks and I felt bad that I couldn't go up to her house and help her out (By the Way: this past weekend we went up to see her very handsome baby boy, Issac. He is so tiny but he is almost the same size Spencer was when he was born. They grow up too fast). My brother Tim has had a rough time at work and had a few days of not feeling well so I worried about him. The only family I hadn't worried too much about was Steph, well, until I heard she crashed on her brand new motorcycle. Then I started worrying that she might get hurt and maybe she shouldn't ride because I can't stand the thought of her getting hurt seriously, etc. (Steph, when you read this do not get mad at me. I love you and your bike is beautiful I just am me.)

So, now that I have gotten all of my worries and complaints off my chest (well, I could complain about a lot of other things but we won't go there) I will also say, I am so very blessed. Mark and I have really gained a new perspective on life in the last three months or so. We truly are thankful to have the Gospel in our lives. I am thankful I get to spend most of the day with my entire family and that Mark is willing to take Spencer for five minutes when I just need to breathe. I am thankful for a listening Heavenly Father who cares about me. I am glad that on those Sunday mornings when I don't want to go to church but I go anyways (you know you have had one of those so don't act like you don't know what I am talking about) that those are the Sundays each lesson and talk are for me directly. I am glad to have friends who help me remember how strong I am and help me change my thinking to: "Why not me. I am strong and this trial will only make me stronger. So, why not me?"

I am ready now to face the month of March! Thank you to all who put up with my ranting and raving.