Meet the Family
MISTAKES ALONG THE WAY
We have been blessed as we have based our marriage and family on our belief in Jesus Christ as our Savior. We try to follow His leading. We have made plenty of mistakes along the way but His grace has been sufficient. To make our long story a little shorter, I’m going to start only about 2.5 years ago when we felt the Lord shifting and moving us. We knew something new was coming, although we did not know what that entailed. We also knew there were some things only God could take care of to release us from the place we have called home for 12 years.
MAKE A CHANGE
We were, what most would call, your typical American family. We had a mortgage, car payment and credit cards. We were not in terrible financial disarray, but we were caught in a financial cycle of get what you think you need or want and then worry about paying for it later. We just did not realize the chains this way of thinking put on us until we were free from it. We decided we were tired of doing financial things backwards. God is always right on time. My sister was reading and talking about Dave Ramsey’s book The Total Money Makeover. I knew who he was and how his ministry has changed many families. I thought this was the perfect time to make a change.
PAY CASH
Jamie and I went on a little get-a-way, which was paid for by a credit card to be paid off later of course. This would soon be the last vacation we took this way. During our vacation time we both read his book that is full of common sense and financial wisdom. We came home and laid out all of our debits on the table. We told our children our plans and intentions and we then started taking action. We sat at the kitchen table and cut up our credit cards as a family. Within three months we paid off our credit cards. In six months we paid off our car. In 9 months we had saved enough for our emergency fund and in 12 months saved enough cash for a new car. We now pay cash for EVERYTHING and we are not a slave to the lender. (Proverbs 22:7)
WE ARE DEBT FREE
This spring we prayed as a family over our mortgage and threw a piece of paper with our payoff amount into our fireplace. A few months later we closed on our home. We broke those chains with an act of obedience and the power of the Holy Spirit. We are DEBT FREE! In two short years we have seen His hand moving the chess pieces around to allow us to be released for this new phase in our lives. Today as I write this, we are traveling to pick up our RV that we will pay for with a trade in (our paid for vehicle) and a cashier’s check. God has led us to this point and I know He is faithful to complete what He has started in us. We owe no man and freedom feels so amazing. Thank you Jesus. Our plan is to seek the Lord and go wherever he leads us. Follow us as we go where the Lord leads us, as we homeschool for the first time, live in a RV for undetermined amount of time and drag the cat Lucky with us. We feel blessed to be on this “One Lucky Ride.”
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