So I just watched this show on the History Channel (my all time favorite channel, even though I don't get to sit down and watch very much of it.) The show was called "Gates of Hell". WOW. It was a 2 hour show and I wish I would have recorded it for Chad.
It referred to 6 places on earth that are believed to be portals or gateways to hell. I fully and completely believe in a physical hell. I also believe that over a year ago I was headed straight for it. Only by the GRACE of God was I rescued from being eternally doomed.
Two of the six places mentioned was Mt. Masaya in Nicaragua and the infamous volcano in Iceland that erupted a few months ago and caused quite a stir all over the world. I have seen Mt. Masaya from a distance. For centuries it has been believed to be a portal of hell. It is constantly smoking and I even have pictures of the never ending plume of smoke. However, I did not know the full history of it until now. Several centuries back, the natives would actually sacrifice humans. Men, women, AND children were thrown into the seemingly endless pit of fire and smoke to appease the demons that they believed lurked below.
When the volcano erupted in Iceland, some believed it was hell and Satan and the demons in control of hell escaping. I actually do not doubt this. I believe hell exists.
As I was telling Chad about the show, he agreed. In the Bible it states that believers of Christ who have made public confessions of faith, will not be left on the earth after death. However, this earth is full of sin and evil, and it is scientific fact that the core of this earth is a burning fire. Who's to say that hell isn't lurking beneath our very feet?
At one time I wanted to be a follower of Christ just so I could be saved from the fires of hell, just in case there really was a hell. Now I truly believe there is such a place, but I know I can't be a follower of Christ just out of fear. I WANT to be saved because I know I deserve eternal separation from God. I am His creation, yet I am a filthy, sinful human. God loved me so much that He wanted a way for me to spend eternity with Him. Only by His grace and His son, Jesus, was I able to escape the eternal damnation that I deserve. It is not fear of hell that drives me to believe. It is acceptance that I once was lost and now am found. Regardless of what I have done and what thoughts I still struggle with, God loves me. God forgives me. And He is the only strength I have to get PAST my PAST.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
I got nothin'........
Well, my blog is feeling ever so neglected. But I have hit a brick wall. I have lost all motivation to blog or try and find anything to blog about. It's not that my life has been dull and boring. Quite the opposite. I have been on the go and so busy I can't even keep my head on straight some days.
I guess sometimes we all get there.
Just for MY sake, since I like to use my blog as a journal and look back at things, I will update on some goings on.
August 9th, Brennan started first grade. We have gotten into a good routine. He has a new teacher, but she is new and it is the end of the 3rd week of school and I have yet to see anything that he has done in class. No papers have been sent home, no nothing-- with the exception of her weekly newsletter she sends out on Mondays. And she strongly encourages parents to follow her class on Twitter. Not sure how I feel about that. I will give her one more week, and then I won't be able to keep my mouth shut. I like to see progress. Especially in my child's education.
This past weekend I went to Natchez with a group of Sunday school girls. It was a short 24 hour trip, but we had a great time. I hope to borrow some pics that one of my friends took and post it on my blog. We ate at the King's Tavern and Fat Mama's Tamales (where some of the girls fell in love with the Gail Pittman toilet in the bathroom) and we did a small amount of shopping. I found some BEAUTIFUL bird pictures at Darby's for a steal of a price. And, well, since I can't resist birds, I had to buy the prints. Never mind they were the EXACT colors of my living room. I had never been to Natchez, and we didn't have time to do any of the tours or get outside of downtown, but it was still fun, and a neat little southern town.
I am currently reading Laura Bush's book, "Spoken from the Heart". I love that Bush family and have an incredible amount of respect for them. The book is slow-going at first, but it is really getting good halfway through when she starts sharing about the years in the White House. I want to get George W. Bush's most recent book next. I am also reading the Bible in chronological order. It breaks it up into 15 minute sessions a day, for 365 days and then it is written in the order the events actually occurred. I am doing it with one of my sweet friends, so it's good to hold each other accountable and keep up with the reading.
On September 23 Chad is being "arrested" for the Jerry's Kids MDA telethon to raise money to help children with neuromuscular disease. This should be interesting.
And that is all I have for today. I need some motivation.
I guess sometimes we all get there.
Just for MY sake, since I like to use my blog as a journal and look back at things, I will update on some goings on.
August 9th, Brennan started first grade. We have gotten into a good routine. He has a new teacher, but she is new and it is the end of the 3rd week of school and I have yet to see anything that he has done in class. No papers have been sent home, no nothing-- with the exception of her weekly newsletter she sends out on Mondays. And she strongly encourages parents to follow her class on Twitter. Not sure how I feel about that. I will give her one more week, and then I won't be able to keep my mouth shut. I like to see progress. Especially in my child's education.
This past weekend I went to Natchez with a group of Sunday school girls. It was a short 24 hour trip, but we had a great time. I hope to borrow some pics that one of my friends took and post it on my blog. We ate at the King's Tavern and Fat Mama's Tamales (where some of the girls fell in love with the Gail Pittman toilet in the bathroom) and we did a small amount of shopping. I found some BEAUTIFUL bird pictures at Darby's for a steal of a price. And, well, since I can't resist birds, I had to buy the prints. Never mind they were the EXACT colors of my living room. I had never been to Natchez, and we didn't have time to do any of the tours or get outside of downtown, but it was still fun, and a neat little southern town.
I am currently reading Laura Bush's book, "Spoken from the Heart". I love that Bush family and have an incredible amount of respect for them. The book is slow-going at first, but it is really getting good halfway through when she starts sharing about the years in the White House. I want to get George W. Bush's most recent book next. I am also reading the Bible in chronological order. It breaks it up into 15 minute sessions a day, for 365 days and then it is written in the order the events actually occurred. I am doing it with one of my sweet friends, so it's good to hold each other accountable and keep up with the reading.
On September 23 Chad is being "arrested" for the Jerry's Kids MDA telethon to raise money to help children with neuromuscular disease. This should be interesting.
And that is all I have for today. I need some motivation.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Brennan's first day of first grade. Still so sad, but I took it a lot better this year than last year.
Chad and Brennan.
Ready for the big day.
Ethan and Mama.
Yes, my bathroom is a disaster right now. But, we are in the process (LONG process of redoing it.) This is where I found Ethan when I got out of the shower. He climbed up on top of Chad's counter and was playing in the paint supplies.
So began our day.......
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Boys.....
Seven years ago when I first learned I was expecting, I wanted a house full of boys. I mean really, why would I be dumb enough to wish for a house full of girls who are full of drama and more drama? Boys are so easy, low maintenance, and drama free. Really? Did I REALLY believe that?
Here are some highlights of what it's like living with a house full of boys:
-- While eating lunch with my mom and Chad on Monday, Ethan decided to drop his styrofoam cup of Sprite on the floor. It busted, and therefore the floor became a river of sticky Sprite. Ethan then proceeds to dig through my mother's purse and drops an assortment of important phone numbers and notes, her sunglasses and a few dollar bills into the river of Sprite that was flowing abundantly. Then he thought it was a puddle and slid out of his chair to splash in the puddle of Sprite. He kept turning around to stare at the people trying to eat peacefully behind us. I don't know what was so fascinating, but apparently Ethan kept finding something to turn around and stare at. Then he has a meltdown just because he wanted to, and Chad finally had to take him out to the car and straighten out his attitude.
--Yesterday while I was at the school doing something with the PTO, Ethan dug through my bag and got my phone out. I kept checking my phone making sure he wasn't doing anything illegal on it, and saw that he had pulled up the iPod application. Harmless, since he was content with listening the music. However, at some point he was making random phone calls and sending out random texts. As a matter of fact, he was even able to copy and paste a text I had sent someone, and he sent it to another person. This is what the text messages looked like that he typed himself: Pppppp hgfkghflghfmvbjgjfbnfk mfmkfjkvkfkk dfjdfuejhcdjdk
I didn't realize he had called anyone until I got a call from a senior citizen in my church who was on my call log from earlier this week. I had no idea why she would be calling me yesterday. It was to return my call that Ethan had obviously made.
-- Tuesday Brennan went behind my back and sneaked a box of cereal in his room. (We have quiet time from about 2:45 to 3:45 and Brennan likes to go in his room and build with blocks and watch PBS.) I did not discover said box of cereal until we were tucking him in for bed and pulled back the covers to discover a whole box of Cocoa Puffs dumped in his bed. So, I made him clean it up as best as he could himself and then he had to sleep in the crumbs that remained.
-- Yesterday we had our family pictures done for our church directory. Our appointment was at 5:40. We got home from school at 2:30. We left our house at 5:20 (which was putting us behind since we live a good distance from our church in another town). It took me from the time we got home from school until the time we walked out the door, to get my kids showered, bathed, and dressed before our pictures. That is not an exaggeration . It took me 5 minutes to put on my clothes, while the rest of the time was spent corralling my boys.
-- While we were at the church waiting to have our pictures made and WHILE we were having our pictures taken, my boys were the ones I would have been talking about. The pictures were VERY expensive, but I kept waiting for a piece of equipment to get broken so we would have to take out a second mortgage on the house. Nothing got broken, but I know those poor photographers danced a jig the moment we left the building. That's all I'll say about that one.
-- Ethan climbed on the kitchen table last night while I was cleaning up supper and stood up and started dancing.
-- While ironing our clothes for our pictures yesterday afternoon, I walked in the kitchen and he had moved a chair from our dining room into the kitchen so he could reach my phone on the counter. And play with it. Again.
-- Yesterday morning while trying to take a quick shower before my day started, I got out of the shower to discover Ethan on top of our bathroom counter playing with some of the paint supplies we had left out since we are redoing our bathroom. It took quite some maneuvering to get himself up there. I still haven't figured out how he got up there.
-- I found Brennan's shirt this morning that he had on last night on one of the shelves on my baker's rack in the kitchen and I found an array of cereal in his closet as I was putting away laundry.
-- Mopping the floor this morning, Ethan liked the bubbles in the bucket so he dunked his face in the dirty mop water.
-- Brennan and Ethan both like to run around as naked as possible. Ethan has also learned to take off his diaper and loves the freedom it gives him.
Don't get me wrong. I love my boys more than life itself. And we also discipline. But, they are a handful. This week our office is closed for vacation so I didn't work my normal 2 days. I consider going to work a sort of vacation for me. I guess I wouldn't if I didn't like my job. But, I do. And I am READY to go back to MY vacation. All I ever wanted was to be a stay-home mom. I don't think I could do it full-time, though. God didn't bless me with enough patience for that. I am so glad to stay home with my boys AND be able to go to work. It's such a nice balance.
But lately I feel like I'm not good at my job as a mother who stays home. I am a dog chasing it's tail, and I can't clean while my kids are awake or not being entertained by something else. If I'm cleaning the toilet, Ethan is trying to play in the toilet water. If I mop, he plays in that water. If I load or unload the dishwasher, he's trying to pull out dirty dishes and silverware or stand on top of the dishwasher door. If I am cooking someone is in the cabinet pulling out Tupperware, cans, pots and pans, or the Cascade from under the sink.
I sit here and blog because it's when I can keep a good eye on my child. When I sit, he usually sits. He's curled up next to me watching Mickey Mouse. If I were to get up, Satan starts to come out in him and he finds something to get into.
I hope I survive parenthood.
Here are some highlights of what it's like living with a house full of boys:
-- While eating lunch with my mom and Chad on Monday, Ethan decided to drop his styrofoam cup of Sprite on the floor. It busted, and therefore the floor became a river of sticky Sprite. Ethan then proceeds to dig through my mother's purse and drops an assortment of important phone numbers and notes, her sunglasses and a few dollar bills into the river of Sprite that was flowing abundantly. Then he thought it was a puddle and slid out of his chair to splash in the puddle of Sprite. He kept turning around to stare at the people trying to eat peacefully behind us. I don't know what was so fascinating, but apparently Ethan kept finding something to turn around and stare at. Then he has a meltdown just because he wanted to, and Chad finally had to take him out to the car and straighten out his attitude.
--Yesterday while I was at the school doing something with the PTO, Ethan dug through my bag and got my phone out. I kept checking my phone making sure he wasn't doing anything illegal on it, and saw that he had pulled up the iPod application. Harmless, since he was content with listening the music. However, at some point he was making random phone calls and sending out random texts. As a matter of fact, he was even able to copy and paste a text I had sent someone, and he sent it to another person. This is what the text messages looked like that he typed himself: Pppppp hgfkghflghfmvbjgjfbnfk mfmkfjkvkfkk dfjdfuejhcdjdk
I didn't realize he had called anyone until I got a call from a senior citizen in my church who was on my call log from earlier this week. I had no idea why she would be calling me yesterday. It was to return my call that Ethan had obviously made.
-- Tuesday Brennan went behind my back and sneaked a box of cereal in his room. (We have quiet time from about 2:45 to 3:45 and Brennan likes to go in his room and build with blocks and watch PBS.) I did not discover said box of cereal until we were tucking him in for bed and pulled back the covers to discover a whole box of Cocoa Puffs dumped in his bed. So, I made him clean it up as best as he could himself and then he had to sleep in the crumbs that remained.
-- Yesterday we had our family pictures done for our church directory. Our appointment was at 5:40. We got home from school at 2:30. We left our house at 5:20 (which was putting us behind since we live a good distance from our church in another town). It took me from the time we got home from school until the time we walked out the door, to get my kids showered, bathed, and dressed before our pictures. That is not an exaggeration . It took me 5 minutes to put on my clothes, while the rest of the time was spent corralling my boys.
-- While we were at the church waiting to have our pictures made and WHILE we were having our pictures taken, my boys were the ones I would have been talking about. The pictures were VERY expensive, but I kept waiting for a piece of equipment to get broken so we would have to take out a second mortgage on the house. Nothing got broken, but I know those poor photographers danced a jig the moment we left the building. That's all I'll say about that one.
-- Ethan climbed on the kitchen table last night while I was cleaning up supper and stood up and started dancing.
-- While ironing our clothes for our pictures yesterday afternoon, I walked in the kitchen and he had moved a chair from our dining room into the kitchen so he could reach my phone on the counter. And play with it. Again.
-- Yesterday morning while trying to take a quick shower before my day started, I got out of the shower to discover Ethan on top of our bathroom counter playing with some of the paint supplies we had left out since we are redoing our bathroom. It took quite some maneuvering to get himself up there. I still haven't figured out how he got up there.
-- I found Brennan's shirt this morning that he had on last night on one of the shelves on my baker's rack in the kitchen and I found an array of cereal in his closet as I was putting away laundry.
-- Mopping the floor this morning, Ethan liked the bubbles in the bucket so he dunked his face in the dirty mop water.
-- Brennan and Ethan both like to run around as naked as possible. Ethan has also learned to take off his diaper and loves the freedom it gives him.
Don't get me wrong. I love my boys more than life itself. And we also discipline. But, they are a handful. This week our office is closed for vacation so I didn't work my normal 2 days. I consider going to work a sort of vacation for me. I guess I wouldn't if I didn't like my job. But, I do. And I am READY to go back to MY vacation. All I ever wanted was to be a stay-home mom. I don't think I could do it full-time, though. God didn't bless me with enough patience for that. I am so glad to stay home with my boys AND be able to go to work. It's such a nice balance.
But lately I feel like I'm not good at my job as a mother who stays home. I am a dog chasing it's tail, and I can't clean while my kids are awake or not being entertained by something else. If I'm cleaning the toilet, Ethan is trying to play in the toilet water. If I mop, he plays in that water. If I load or unload the dishwasher, he's trying to pull out dirty dishes and silverware or stand on top of the dishwasher door. If I am cooking someone is in the cabinet pulling out Tupperware, cans, pots and pans, or the Cascade from under the sink.
I sit here and blog because it's when I can keep a good eye on my child. When I sit, he usually sits. He's curled up next to me watching Mickey Mouse. If I were to get up, Satan starts to come out in him and he finds something to get into.
I hope I survive parenthood.
Monday, August 16, 2010
A challenge....
So one thing I did while I was away on my mission trip, was commit to something financially that I otherwise would not have done without first discussing with my spouse. We've always had a sort of unspoken rule that when making a "big" purchase, we are to discuss it with each other. Well, you're probably wanting me to define "big". In our marriage, it is a $20 or more purchase. I know, $20 seems like a measly amount, but you have to understand that Chad and I were married at a young age and hardly had 2 nickels to rub together, and we have just always stuck to that agreement over the years. Let me get back to my financial commitment in a minute. For now, I need to offer some (hopefully) encouragement to someone who might need it.
This is not to share my business with you, or any financial issues with you. But, I hope to offer somebody something with any small amount of wisdom I may have gained through thick and thin over the past 8 years of marriage.
When Chad and I started out, we bought a house before we were married. He lived there from February until May when we were married. It was a brand new house, in a brand new neighborhood, and with all the perks for a first time home buyer in a "rural" community, we were able to buy a 3 bedroom/2 bath home for cheaper than apartment rent. Chad was a college graduate, but because his degree at the time was in such a broad area (business administration) he either had too much experience or not enough when it came to finding a job with his degree. So, he continued his college job full time as a teller at a bank. I do not mean to knock someone in the banking business, a teller is a great job and he loved it (mainly because he got to run his mouth and socialize all day) but it's not exactly a job that really "brings home the bacon." Especially when you have a VERY expensive college degree under your belt. I had just graduated from Hinds C.C. Nursing/Allied Health Center with my dental assisting certificate. I made almost twice as much as Chad when we first got married. He had been a college graduate for 2 YEARS with a bachelor's degree, and I had been employed 5 MONTHS with a dental assisting certificate.
We were sort of waiting, wishing, and hoping that Chad would find a job as the first year of marriage trudged on. Of course, I did sort of like to give him a hard time about being the breadwinner of the house, and what a tough job it was for me..... It took him about 9 months after we tied the knot of making his meager paycheck every 2 weeks before he decided to go back to school. And he had to go to his alma mater. The most expensive school around. But that's okay. We were just racking up MORE student loans and we would worry about them down the road. (Mississippi College LOVES us.)
In September of 2002 Chad and I purchased our first new/used car together. I hated his hoopty Thunderbird, he loved it. The odometer quit working and the car sounded like it was going to fall apart anytime you turned the steering wheel. Well, I decided it was time to move on. Let's just say, Chad and I got in the biggest fight EVER over the car purchase. And to this day, as much as Chad and I have been through, it is probably the biggest, loudest, harshest fight we have ever had. But, we still have that car, and Chad LOVES that car. It was our 2000 Camry we purchased. And his name is not even on the title. (At least it wasn't originally.) I went against everything he said to make that purchase. Would I ever do that again? HECK no. We didn't even know how we were going to make the payments. But at that stage in my life, I was all about the new car/new house. They were supposed to go together, right? Well, that's what I thought! Moving on......
So, then in 2003 Chad returned to school, and I got knocked up. Chad also started a job that he HATED at Hinds Community College. He didn't even need a college degree, but it was offering more than the teller position at the bank. At the time we had a few credit cards that I had opened to establish credit so I could buy a house with Chad. (I was very naive to the fact that you had to HAVE credit to GET credit.) Together we had about 4 or 5 credit cards that were not maxed out, but we did make purchases on them and had a remaining balance on most of them every month. We really thought nothing about having credit cards and making payments every month. It's the American dream, right? Borrow so you can borrow and have a white picket fence and a shiny new car and shiny new toys......It becomes a sticky, slimy pit.
In January of 2004, Chad got another job at the Mississippi State Tax commission (I was still making more money than him by about $100 a paycheck) and our church offered a Dave Ramsey course. I had never heard of Dave Ramsey, but I knew from the sound of what was being offered, that Chad and I needed to jump on it. Chad was about to be finished in May with his accounting degree, so we were going to have to start paying up, and Brennan was due at the end of May, and we knew we would have a hospital bill the size of Texas when it was all said and done. It was time to put on our grown-up underwear and deal with the small mess we had made financially. (And I do mean small. Chad and I have never gotten in over our heads, although, I could see how easy it would be for young couples to do.)
We finished the class, started a budget, and stayed the course. For about 5 months. Then the baby came, life continued to happen, and we just got off track. It happens. But, we had been educated thanks to Dave Ramsey, and we payed off all of our credit cards, payed a good chunk on the car, and the doctor's office, and we started a real savings account. Dave Ramsey recommends closing ALL credit cards and just having enough in savings to live on for 6 months to a year, in case someone were to lose a job in the family. We did not heed all of that advice. We had ONE joint credit card that we did NOT use. But, it was our safety net because we didn't have much in savings, nor were we strict about putting what we should have in our savings.
By the end of 2004 we were almost through paying off the Camry, but we still had student loans and the hospital bill to deal with. In 2005 our neighborhood sort of changed dramatically. And the housing market was doing extremely well, and we also knew we could make a LARGE amount of money on our house if we got out before the housing market went bust. Our house sold in 7 days and we got exactly what we asked for it. We made a nice chunk of change off of that first house. But, even though it was a great market, it was also a seller's market. Meaning, people could easily jack up the asking price on a house, and they could get almost what they were asking for. Chad and I searched high and low and couldn't find a house to agree on. There's just nothing like that first house, I guess. We looked all over the suburbs of Rankin County. The first house we came to in this town we both fell in love with. And this town was a rival of my town growing up, and I was convinced I would NEVER live here, nor would I send my kids to the schools in this town. Nothing but a bunch of backwoods rednecks. (However, I have learned that there isn't enough sugar in the world to try and sweeten the words I have now had to eat.)
So, when we came upon this modest, 4 year old home, it didn't take us long to realize that the seller's were asking way too much. We tried to counteroffer, but they didn't budge. Afraid we would lose the house we wanted so badly, we ended up paying nearly what they were asking for. Stupid? You bet. Would we do that again? Probably not. But, I lost my crystal ball somewhere along the way, and now we just have to go with what we feel and what we can agree upon. Fortunately we were able to put a big down payment on this house because we made so much off of our first home. But, it still doesn't quite take out the sting of our house note each month.
Well, 2005 came and went, first house sold, second house purchased, Chad started his job at Grantham Poole, LLC were he would remain until this past May, and he finally started making a good bit more than his wife. The next year sort of came and went also, but it was a rough year. There were a lot of things going on that I won't share, and in December of 2006, I was out of work for 6 weeks, with nothing to back up on. That's when I decided to work part-time. We had gotten through those 6 weeks better than we expected, but still by just the skin of our teeth. I sort of had this perfect job opportunity literally almost fall in my lap, and it was too good to pass up. Not only was it part-time, but it came with retirement benefits.
In 2007 Chad and I took what I had earned in my 401K from my first job, got penalized, and took some money out to pay for some things that we needed the money for, but just didn't have the extra. Again, was that stupid? Yep. Would I do it again? Sadly, I probably would. Hey, I'm human. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.
2008: Baby #2 is on the way. No maternity insurance, and very TERRIBLE health insurance. But, we felt it was time to have the second baby since nobody was getting any younger in this family. Bills pile up fast. Even though the hospital and the doctor's office gave me a nice discount, it still costs almost $10,000 to birth a baby, especially when it's a C- section.
2009 and 2010: Don't ask me where we sort of lost it. Again, we're human. Little things can add up to big things fast. Somewhere along the way we racked up credit card debt. However, keep in mind we never get in over heads and we still only have ONE credit card that is NOT maxed out. But, things did start to pile up that shouldn't have.
When Chad started his new job this summer, we immediately put his student loan payments on our budget right below our tithe so we could start paying it down. We had deferred the payments WAY longer than I am proud to admit. We have always tithed (except a few times during the years when we got off track) and now we have nearly $60,000 in student loan debt. Not that I think that's any of your business, but I would tell anyone who asked. It's not a huge secret. It is what it is. You can't exactly take your education back to a store and get a refund. Chad has also come a very long way. He's come from a job as a bank teller to the chief finance officer for a very thriving corporation.
But, last week, Chad came home with a budget. He listed out all of our bills individually, any of our donations we make to different charities/organizations, and our tithe. (Actually, our tithe comes out before anything.) What we have leftover is just that--leftover. One problem I have is not using cash. I just swipe my debit card, and let Chad balance the checkbook and deal with it. Starting September 1, I am going to a "cash only" system. I will have a grocery envelope, an "allowance" envelope (for eating out our buying coffee, or any other spontaneous buys). I will still continue to be a crazy coupon lady, and I will make sure that there is more than $1 leftover to our name at the end of the month. Dave Ramsey is a stickler for the envelope system, and the short time Chad and I lived out his advice, it actually WORKED.
So, back to my purchase I made without consulting my husband..... While I was in Nicaragua, I really saw things that I had back home, that were meaningless, yet somewhere along the way I thought I HAD to have it.... I go to a place like Nicaragua and realize I sometimes spend my money so selfishly. I'm not a big spender, but I do make purchases that I shouldn't and they add up mighty fast. I mean do I REALLY need 10 different pairs of flip-flops? On the last night of the trip, one of the missionaries who heads up BMDMI went through the different ways we could be financial supporters of BMDMI, which is actually based in Hattiesburg. All the missionaries, the Bible College, and the orphanage for sexually abused girls is financed by supporters of BMDMI. I decided in about half a millisecond that I wanted to commit to the cause of BMDMI. But, I guess I dream big. Instead of committing to something small that I KNEW wouldn't be a problem in our budget, I decided to be a 3 year member. (They have some name for it, but it's a loss for my brain as to what the official name is to someone who commits 3 years of financial support.) I knew Chad was going to get onto me, but I could easily defend the cause since I am a huge supporter of missions. And I also knew Chad could be easily swayed because it was going for a good, Christian organization. But, the level of commitment is outside of our comfort zone. But I have made a vow to myself, to Chad, and to God that I would do whatever means necessary to be able to continue to financially support this cause. If it means less impulse buying and more walking away from things that I don't need, then by golly, I am going to make it happen.
Chad and I have made a budget and a plan to have any remaining debt payed off within the next year. (Besides his student loans.) I also have a plan to try and save as much as I can to pay as much as I can towards my trip to Nicaragua this year.
I don't tell you my business just for entertainment purposes. But, I know a lot of people are struggling financially right now. Chad and I have come along way, made some stupid decisions, spent too much money, but now know how to better serve others with our finances. Our money is not ours to begin with. It is God's to use for His will and it's for us to be good stewards of. It's taken us 8 years, but I think we are slowly beginning to realize God's purpose in our finances is not to go from a hoopty to a Hummer, but to give back to Him and use it for His good. Not our selfish gain.
So, who will take this challenge with me? I'm not asking you to be a supporter of BMDMI, but if you don't tithe, take the challenge. If you do tithe, and your bills are paid at the end of the month, get a little outside your comfort zone. Give a little more than 10%. Or give to another charity or organization. Sweat it out for a few days, but then see how God will bless you beyond your imagination and use your finances for His Glory.
This is not to share my business with you, or any financial issues with you. But, I hope to offer somebody something with any small amount of wisdom I may have gained through thick and thin over the past 8 years of marriage.
When Chad and I started out, we bought a house before we were married. He lived there from February until May when we were married. It was a brand new house, in a brand new neighborhood, and with all the perks for a first time home buyer in a "rural" community, we were able to buy a 3 bedroom/2 bath home for cheaper than apartment rent. Chad was a college graduate, but because his degree at the time was in such a broad area (business administration) he either had too much experience or not enough when it came to finding a job with his degree. So, he continued his college job full time as a teller at a bank. I do not mean to knock someone in the banking business, a teller is a great job and he loved it (mainly because he got to run his mouth and socialize all day) but it's not exactly a job that really "brings home the bacon." Especially when you have a VERY expensive college degree under your belt. I had just graduated from Hinds C.C. Nursing/Allied Health Center with my dental assisting certificate. I made almost twice as much as Chad when we first got married. He had been a college graduate for 2 YEARS with a bachelor's degree, and I had been employed 5 MONTHS with a dental assisting certificate.
We were sort of waiting, wishing, and hoping that Chad would find a job as the first year of marriage trudged on. Of course, I did sort of like to give him a hard time about being the breadwinner of the house, and what a tough job it was for me..... It took him about 9 months after we tied the knot of making his meager paycheck every 2 weeks before he decided to go back to school. And he had to go to his alma mater. The most expensive school around. But that's okay. We were just racking up MORE student loans and we would worry about them down the road. (Mississippi College LOVES us.)
In September of 2002 Chad and I purchased our first new/used car together. I hated his hoopty Thunderbird, he loved it. The odometer quit working and the car sounded like it was going to fall apart anytime you turned the steering wheel. Well, I decided it was time to move on. Let's just say, Chad and I got in the biggest fight EVER over the car purchase. And to this day, as much as Chad and I have been through, it is probably the biggest, loudest, harshest fight we have ever had. But, we still have that car, and Chad LOVES that car. It was our 2000 Camry we purchased. And his name is not even on the title. (At least it wasn't originally.) I went against everything he said to make that purchase. Would I ever do that again? HECK no. We didn't even know how we were going to make the payments. But at that stage in my life, I was all about the new car/new house. They were supposed to go together, right? Well, that's what I thought! Moving on......
So, then in 2003 Chad returned to school, and I got knocked up. Chad also started a job that he HATED at Hinds Community College. He didn't even need a college degree, but it was offering more than the teller position at the bank. At the time we had a few credit cards that I had opened to establish credit so I could buy a house with Chad. (I was very naive to the fact that you had to HAVE credit to GET credit.) Together we had about 4 or 5 credit cards that were not maxed out, but we did make purchases on them and had a remaining balance on most of them every month. We really thought nothing about having credit cards and making payments every month. It's the American dream, right? Borrow so you can borrow and have a white picket fence and a shiny new car and shiny new toys......It becomes a sticky, slimy pit.
In January of 2004, Chad got another job at the Mississippi State Tax commission (I was still making more money than him by about $100 a paycheck) and our church offered a Dave Ramsey course. I had never heard of Dave Ramsey, but I knew from the sound of what was being offered, that Chad and I needed to jump on it. Chad was about to be finished in May with his accounting degree, so we were going to have to start paying up, and Brennan was due at the end of May, and we knew we would have a hospital bill the size of Texas when it was all said and done. It was time to put on our grown-up underwear and deal with the small mess we had made financially. (And I do mean small. Chad and I have never gotten in over our heads, although, I could see how easy it would be for young couples to do.)
We finished the class, started a budget, and stayed the course. For about 5 months. Then the baby came, life continued to happen, and we just got off track. It happens. But, we had been educated thanks to Dave Ramsey, and we payed off all of our credit cards, payed a good chunk on the car, and the doctor's office, and we started a real savings account. Dave Ramsey recommends closing ALL credit cards and just having enough in savings to live on for 6 months to a year, in case someone were to lose a job in the family. We did not heed all of that advice. We had ONE joint credit card that we did NOT use. But, it was our safety net because we didn't have much in savings, nor were we strict about putting what we should have in our savings.
By the end of 2004 we were almost through paying off the Camry, but we still had student loans and the hospital bill to deal with. In 2005 our neighborhood sort of changed dramatically. And the housing market was doing extremely well, and we also knew we could make a LARGE amount of money on our house if we got out before the housing market went bust. Our house sold in 7 days and we got exactly what we asked for it. We made a nice chunk of change off of that first house. But, even though it was a great market, it was also a seller's market. Meaning, people could easily jack up the asking price on a house, and they could get almost what they were asking for. Chad and I searched high and low and couldn't find a house to agree on. There's just nothing like that first house, I guess. We looked all over the suburbs of Rankin County. The first house we came to in this town we both fell in love with. And this town was a rival of my town growing up, and I was convinced I would NEVER live here, nor would I send my kids to the schools in this town. Nothing but a bunch of backwoods rednecks. (However, I have learned that there isn't enough sugar in the world to try and sweeten the words I have now had to eat.)
So, when we came upon this modest, 4 year old home, it didn't take us long to realize that the seller's were asking way too much. We tried to counteroffer, but they didn't budge. Afraid we would lose the house we wanted so badly, we ended up paying nearly what they were asking for. Stupid? You bet. Would we do that again? Probably not. But, I lost my crystal ball somewhere along the way, and now we just have to go with what we feel and what we can agree upon. Fortunately we were able to put a big down payment on this house because we made so much off of our first home. But, it still doesn't quite take out the sting of our house note each month.
Well, 2005 came and went, first house sold, second house purchased, Chad started his job at Grantham Poole, LLC were he would remain until this past May, and he finally started making a good bit more than his wife. The next year sort of came and went also, but it was a rough year. There were a lot of things going on that I won't share, and in December of 2006, I was out of work for 6 weeks, with nothing to back up on. That's when I decided to work part-time. We had gotten through those 6 weeks better than we expected, but still by just the skin of our teeth. I sort of had this perfect job opportunity literally almost fall in my lap, and it was too good to pass up. Not only was it part-time, but it came with retirement benefits.
In 2007 Chad and I took what I had earned in my 401K from my first job, got penalized, and took some money out to pay for some things that we needed the money for, but just didn't have the extra. Again, was that stupid? Yep. Would I do it again? Sadly, I probably would. Hey, I'm human. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.
2008: Baby #2 is on the way. No maternity insurance, and very TERRIBLE health insurance. But, we felt it was time to have the second baby since nobody was getting any younger in this family. Bills pile up fast. Even though the hospital and the doctor's office gave me a nice discount, it still costs almost $10,000 to birth a baby, especially when it's a C- section.
2009 and 2010: Don't ask me where we sort of lost it. Again, we're human. Little things can add up to big things fast. Somewhere along the way we racked up credit card debt. However, keep in mind we never get in over heads and we still only have ONE credit card that is NOT maxed out. But, things did start to pile up that shouldn't have.
When Chad started his new job this summer, we immediately put his student loan payments on our budget right below our tithe so we could start paying it down. We had deferred the payments WAY longer than I am proud to admit. We have always tithed (except a few times during the years when we got off track) and now we have nearly $60,000 in student loan debt. Not that I think that's any of your business, but I would tell anyone who asked. It's not a huge secret. It is what it is. You can't exactly take your education back to a store and get a refund. Chad has also come a very long way. He's come from a job as a bank teller to the chief finance officer for a very thriving corporation.
But, last week, Chad came home with a budget. He listed out all of our bills individually, any of our donations we make to different charities/organizations, and our tithe. (Actually, our tithe comes out before anything.) What we have leftover is just that--leftover. One problem I have is not using cash. I just swipe my debit card, and let Chad balance the checkbook and deal with it. Starting September 1, I am going to a "cash only" system. I will have a grocery envelope, an "allowance" envelope (for eating out our buying coffee, or any other spontaneous buys). I will still continue to be a crazy coupon lady, and I will make sure that there is more than $1 leftover to our name at the end of the month. Dave Ramsey is a stickler for the envelope system, and the short time Chad and I lived out his advice, it actually WORKED.
So, back to my purchase I made without consulting my husband..... While I was in Nicaragua, I really saw things that I had back home, that were meaningless, yet somewhere along the way I thought I HAD to have it.... I go to a place like Nicaragua and realize I sometimes spend my money so selfishly. I'm not a big spender, but I do make purchases that I shouldn't and they add up mighty fast. I mean do I REALLY need 10 different pairs of flip-flops? On the last night of the trip, one of the missionaries who heads up BMDMI went through the different ways we could be financial supporters of BMDMI, which is actually based in Hattiesburg. All the missionaries, the Bible College, and the orphanage for sexually abused girls is financed by supporters of BMDMI. I decided in about half a millisecond that I wanted to commit to the cause of BMDMI. But, I guess I dream big. Instead of committing to something small that I KNEW wouldn't be a problem in our budget, I decided to be a 3 year member. (They have some name for it, but it's a loss for my brain as to what the official name is to someone who commits 3 years of financial support.) I knew Chad was going to get onto me, but I could easily defend the cause since I am a huge supporter of missions. And I also knew Chad could be easily swayed because it was going for a good, Christian organization. But, the level of commitment is outside of our comfort zone. But I have made a vow to myself, to Chad, and to God that I would do whatever means necessary to be able to continue to financially support this cause. If it means less impulse buying and more walking away from things that I don't need, then by golly, I am going to make it happen.
Chad and I have made a budget and a plan to have any remaining debt payed off within the next year. (Besides his student loans.) I also have a plan to try and save as much as I can to pay as much as I can towards my trip to Nicaragua this year.
I don't tell you my business just for entertainment purposes. But, I know a lot of people are struggling financially right now. Chad and I have come along way, made some stupid decisions, spent too much money, but now know how to better serve others with our finances. Our money is not ours to begin with. It is God's to use for His will and it's for us to be good stewards of. It's taken us 8 years, but I think we are slowly beginning to realize God's purpose in our finances is not to go from a hoopty to a Hummer, but to give back to Him and use it for His good. Not our selfish gain.
So, who will take this challenge with me? I'm not asking you to be a supporter of BMDMI, but if you don't tithe, take the challenge. If you do tithe, and your bills are paid at the end of the month, get a little outside your comfort zone. Give a little more than 10%. Or give to another charity or organization. Sweat it out for a few days, but then see how God will bless you beyond your imagination and use your finances for His Glory.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Catch-up
Well, it has been a long, long week, and I feel like all I have been doing is playing catch-up, and I am no good at that game.
I must say, I have to say a HUGE thanks to my mom for spoiling me rotten and helping me with my laundry. Not just since I have been back from Nicaragua, but she helps me out twice a week when she is here keeping my boys.
Some highlights (most of them not so good) from my week:
#1. Brennan started 1st grade Monday. I took it better than last year when he started kindergarten. But for some reason, I feel like it was a whirlwind summer and school started before I really had time to stop and think about it. Maybe it's better that way. Too much thinking can sometimes be overrated.
#2. Sunday night my grandfather fell and broke his hip. He had surgery on Tuesday, and is still in the hospital. Yesterday afternoon he started vomiting and they have not been able to stop it. They think he now has a bleeding ulcer. As I type I am waiting to hear from my mom on what is going on with the tests they are running this afternoon. He is such a sweet man, and it is so draining on my mom when he gets sick. He doesn't want anyone but her at his side 24 hours a day when he is hospitalized and sick. At 85, he been through so much. He has buried 2 wives, and has been through numerous illnesses and surgeries all within the past 13 years.
#3. I have been driving our Camry all week. While I love that car dearly, it really is a hassle and a bother to try and load and unload 2 kids out of the backseat. It proves how spoiled I have become. My van's air only cools off when my foot is on the accelerator. So, it sometimes takes 15 minutes on the highway or interstate to get any cool air flowing. I sat in the car rider line Tuesday for 25 minutes and Ethan and I were dripping wet with sweat when we finally got home. So, I'm giving the van a rest until my air is repaired or the weather cools off. Whichever comes first. I'll just have to put a helmet on Ethan's head when I load him in the backseat of the Camry. I've almost knocked him senseless a few times already.
#4. I got a haircut for the first time in 4 months. I am trying to grow it out, and I am losing my patience.
#5. For my birthday my mom gave me an Elvis Blu-Ray collection. It has 2 of his movies, and the Elvis documentary I saw in the theater. Last night Chad was gone, and there was nothing on television, so I put the documentary in. It is mainly a collection of performances at concerts he did the year the documentary was originally done. My boys loved it. Brennan was dancing all over the living room in nothing but his underwear, and Ethan just sat on the couch and occasionally squealed with delight when Elvis did something dramatic.
#6. Brennan has already gotten in trouble for talking too much at school. Imagine that. This is going to be a long year.
#7. Today has truly been a Friday the 13th. I'm not usually superstitious about that kind of thing, but it has been a bad day. Ethan has had numerous meltdowns, and this morning I came down with a terrible headache that I was afraid was a migraine. I was nauseated and had terrible pain on the right side of my head. Since Ethan was having dramatic meltdowns, I put him to bed 3 hours ahead of schedule, took some Motrin, and passed out on the couch. I'm feeling better now, but would still like to go to bed until tomorrow. Of course, that may not have anything to do with feeling bad. I just want to go to bed and not be bothered.
#8. Brennan's school collects Box Top labels. If you read this, and currently do not collect them for anyone else, please start cutting them out and mail or give them to me. The school has set a goal for $1,000 this year, and they get .10 per label. I will gladly give you my address if you will be willing to mail them to me.
#9. I have realized that after such a wonderful trip last week, that Satan is nipping at my heels. If it could have gone wrong this week, it did. It was full speed ahead the minute I got back to Jackson, and this is the first time all week I have been able to truly sit down and do nothing. It sounds harsh, but I told Chad that I'm ready to go back to Nicaragua where no one knows my name or even speaks my language.
#10. And this too shall pass.......................
I must say, I have to say a HUGE thanks to my mom for spoiling me rotten and helping me with my laundry. Not just since I have been back from Nicaragua, but she helps me out twice a week when she is here keeping my boys.
Some highlights (most of them not so good) from my week:
#1. Brennan started 1st grade Monday. I took it better than last year when he started kindergarten. But for some reason, I feel like it was a whirlwind summer and school started before I really had time to stop and think about it. Maybe it's better that way. Too much thinking can sometimes be overrated.
#2. Sunday night my grandfather fell and broke his hip. He had surgery on Tuesday, and is still in the hospital. Yesterday afternoon he started vomiting and they have not been able to stop it. They think he now has a bleeding ulcer. As I type I am waiting to hear from my mom on what is going on with the tests they are running this afternoon. He is such a sweet man, and it is so draining on my mom when he gets sick. He doesn't want anyone but her at his side 24 hours a day when he is hospitalized and sick. At 85, he been through so much. He has buried 2 wives, and has been through numerous illnesses and surgeries all within the past 13 years.
#3. I have been driving our Camry all week. While I love that car dearly, it really is a hassle and a bother to try and load and unload 2 kids out of the backseat. It proves how spoiled I have become. My van's air only cools off when my foot is on the accelerator. So, it sometimes takes 15 minutes on the highway or interstate to get any cool air flowing. I sat in the car rider line Tuesday for 25 minutes and Ethan and I were dripping wet with sweat when we finally got home. So, I'm giving the van a rest until my air is repaired or the weather cools off. Whichever comes first. I'll just have to put a helmet on Ethan's head when I load him in the backseat of the Camry. I've almost knocked him senseless a few times already.
#4. I got a haircut for the first time in 4 months. I am trying to grow it out, and I am losing my patience.
#5. For my birthday my mom gave me an Elvis Blu-Ray collection. It has 2 of his movies, and the Elvis documentary I saw in the theater. Last night Chad was gone, and there was nothing on television, so I put the documentary in. It is mainly a collection of performances at concerts he did the year the documentary was originally done. My boys loved it. Brennan was dancing all over the living room in nothing but his underwear, and Ethan just sat on the couch and occasionally squealed with delight when Elvis did something dramatic.
#6. Brennan has already gotten in trouble for talking too much at school. Imagine that. This is going to be a long year.
#7. Today has truly been a Friday the 13th. I'm not usually superstitious about that kind of thing, but it has been a bad day. Ethan has had numerous meltdowns, and this morning I came down with a terrible headache that I was afraid was a migraine. I was nauseated and had terrible pain on the right side of my head. Since Ethan was having dramatic meltdowns, I put him to bed 3 hours ahead of schedule, took some Motrin, and passed out on the couch. I'm feeling better now, but would still like to go to bed until tomorrow. Of course, that may not have anything to do with feeling bad. I just want to go to bed and not be bothered.
#8. Brennan's school collects Box Top labels. If you read this, and currently do not collect them for anyone else, please start cutting them out and mail or give them to me. The school has set a goal for $1,000 this year, and they get .10 per label. I will gladly give you my address if you will be willing to mail them to me.
#9. I have realized that after such a wonderful trip last week, that Satan is nipping at my heels. If it could have gone wrong this week, it did. It was full speed ahead the minute I got back to Jackson, and this is the first time all week I have been able to truly sit down and do nothing. It sounds harsh, but I told Chad that I'm ready to go back to Nicaragua where no one knows my name or even speaks my language.
#10. And this too shall pass.......................
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Nicaragua 2010
"But the needy shall not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish."
Psalm 9:18
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
Matthew 5:14-16
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Luke 4:18-19
"For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light."
Colossians 1:9-12
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
Matthew 5:14-16
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Luke 4:18-19
"For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light."
Colossians 1:9-12
Well, I made it back to the States safe and sound. It was a great week. Anyone that has ever been on a mission trip like this knows that many things don't start hitting home and TRULY touching your heart until you return and have time to reflect on things that occurred throughout the week.
Last year I was very emotional for about 2 weeks after returning home. Last year was also very different in a lot of ways. Now that I have made it back safe, I have to confess something: I was VERY nervous about this trip. I was physically sick to my stomach and literally shaking with fear the 24 hours leading up to our first flight. It was one of those "gut feelings" that something didn't feel quite right.
We had received an email from Mark, our team leader, about Quilali, the village we would be going to. It was very different than any village a team had ever been sent to before. By Nicaraguan standards, they were very well off. Truthfully, by American standards, it didn't look much different than the other villages of Nicaragua. But this town had an established medical clinic and a nice, well equipped hospital (again, by Nicaraguan standards.) It was political gain that the mayor asked us to visit this village. It was just a strange feeling all around. About 2 hours before we arrived at the village, we were stopped by the police. It didn't take long for us to be told that we were going to escorted by the police the rest of the way through the mountains to the village of Quilali. I didn't know whether to be relieved or more apprehensive.
The village of Quilali is an 8 to 9 hour bus ride from our mission home in Managua. The last third of the trip is through the mountains on unpaved roads, and over unstable bridges, and the roads are generally a car width wide. It rained so much while we were there during the week, that a lot of people began wondering about our bus ride back, thinking some of the roads would be difficult to pass or washed out.
After being escorted in by the police, we began to slowly realize that we were almost like celebrities to them. They were videoing us--as in walking around with a camcorder all day every day while we did our jobs and came to do what we were there to do, and we had armed guards 24 hours a day. We were locked in the school where we stayed at all times, with armed guards at the gate. At night, we had police walking around our rooms and the school with what looked to be machine guns. This is probably the most well protected trip that any BMDMI team has ever been on.
Needless to say, it was definitely an experience. One that I am still reflecting on. I know that God was really at work and I am looking forward to next year already. I plan on really making a point to try and save money so that I can have it set aside and make plans to go. The past 2 times I have been, I have left a small piece of my heart there. You don't have time or any extra energy to really understand all that happens while you are there. It is when you return to our modern conveniences and spoiled way of life, that you really begin to understand what happened the previous week.
These are pictures I took during the week. They aren't all of them, because I took over 200, but these are some good ones of the work we did.
Last year I was very emotional for about 2 weeks after returning home. Last year was also very different in a lot of ways. Now that I have made it back safe, I have to confess something: I was VERY nervous about this trip. I was physically sick to my stomach and literally shaking with fear the 24 hours leading up to our first flight. It was one of those "gut feelings" that something didn't feel quite right.
We had received an email from Mark, our team leader, about Quilali, the village we would be going to. It was very different than any village a team had ever been sent to before. By Nicaraguan standards, they were very well off. Truthfully, by American standards, it didn't look much different than the other villages of Nicaragua. But this town had an established medical clinic and a nice, well equipped hospital (again, by Nicaraguan standards.) It was political gain that the mayor asked us to visit this village. It was just a strange feeling all around. About 2 hours before we arrived at the village, we were stopped by the police. It didn't take long for us to be told that we were going to escorted by the police the rest of the way through the mountains to the village of Quilali. I didn't know whether to be relieved or more apprehensive.
The village of Quilali is an 8 to 9 hour bus ride from our mission home in Managua. The last third of the trip is through the mountains on unpaved roads, and over unstable bridges, and the roads are generally a car width wide. It rained so much while we were there during the week, that a lot of people began wondering about our bus ride back, thinking some of the roads would be difficult to pass or washed out.
After being escorted in by the police, we began to slowly realize that we were almost like celebrities to them. They were videoing us--as in walking around with a camcorder all day every day while we did our jobs and came to do what we were there to do, and we had armed guards 24 hours a day. We were locked in the school where we stayed at all times, with armed guards at the gate. At night, we had police walking around our rooms and the school with what looked to be machine guns. This is probably the most well protected trip that any BMDMI team has ever been on.
Needless to say, it was definitely an experience. One that I am still reflecting on. I know that God was really at work and I am looking forward to next year already. I plan on really making a point to try and save money so that I can have it set aside and make plans to go. The past 2 times I have been, I have left a small piece of my heart there. You don't have time or any extra energy to really understand all that happens while you are there. It is when you return to our modern conveniences and spoiled way of life, that you really begin to understand what happened the previous week.
These are pictures I took during the week. They aren't all of them, because I took over 200, but these are some good ones of the work we did.
Brother Chris (Hillcrest's pastor) probably counting his "sheep" (his teammates from Hillcrest) making sure we are all on the bus before heading out to Quilali.
Brother Cliff, Brother Chris, Kerry, and Mark Brashier, our team leader.
This is sort of a tent city right in the middle of Managua. Nothing but houses made of cardboard and garbage bags.
Kelly, Jennifer, and me.
Stopping at a gas station and having lunch.
Look closely. This was a protected fence from broken glass bottles cemented in.
A random house in the mountains somewhere on the way to Quilali.
Nicaragua is a BEAUTIFUL country with so many shades of green.
This is our police escort in the city. The guy in white was recording us on video as we drove in.
I didn't post the other picture I took before this, but there were people washing in this river about 20 feet from the cows laying in the river.
I think the word of our arrival had spread to the surrounding homes because many people 2 hours outside of the village were standing outside waiting on us.
More beautiful scenery.
The village from a long distance.
Another picture of our escorts.
Arriving in the village.
Jennifer and me. We were the dental assistants. Jennifer just applied to dental school.
Residents of the village, on the outside of the fence.
The medical clinic. And Kelly and her sweet translator, Julio.
Another view of the medical clinic.
Triage outside of the medical clinic.
Patients waiting to be seen.
Precious little girl who, I was told, had a bad case of head lice.
The outside of the room where we slept. The left door is where the girls stayed, and the right door is where the guys stayed. No privacy whatsoever. This was taken standing inside the dental clinic.
Jennifer, Missy, and Dr. Dale. Missy came down from the medical clinic one afternoon and was fascinated by what she saw. Can't you tell by the look on her face?
Nurse Tina and some sweet, precious boys.
Ms. Sonja helping an elderly lady.
Holly, Jennifer, and me. The 3 assistants. Holly is a student at LSU and has applied to several medical schools. She speaks a good deal of Spanish and has been on "Wheel of Fortune". She was a lot of fun to get to know.
Bro. Cliff, Holly, and Dr. Dale showing off some muscles.
Dr. Dale counting the days extractions.
Kelly and Missy at one of the morning services.
Two local school girls.
Fog lifting off the mountain.
Sweeping outside one of the stores.
The whole dental team. Jennifer, Holly, Dr. Dale Vance, Dr. Leslie, Dr. Lus, me, and Caralina, one of the translators. The 2 female dentists are from Nicaragua and don't speak English. One thing I have noticed is that there are very few male dentists in Nicaragua.
So, I was assisting Dr. Leslie this day, and she started talking to this man in the chair. I could pick up on a few words and also the way she was using her hands. I asked Larry, one of our translators to come and translate the conversation for me. She was asking this young man if he had Jesus in his heart. He said he believed in God, but did not have Jesus in his heart. He had never asked to receive him. Dr. Leslie told him he looked like he would make a great preacher. He prayed the prayer while sitting in the dental chair to ask God into his heart and he then said he would ask God for the wisdom so that he could share the love of God with others. I started crying like a baby. This is the whole point of why we go out to remote villages and foreign countries to do this. Dr. Leslie then pointed at me and said that all these people save all the money they can so that they can come on trips like these and help all the people in need and to share the love of Christ with others. It was an awesome experience to be a part of.
Dr. Gene with a patient.
Standing in line at the pharmacy.
We had simple Mardi Gras beads to hand out to the children and women. The silly things we take for granted, these GROWN women loved and appreciated like nothing I have ever seen before.
This was a precious little girl who came over to me after I waved hello to her. I handed her some stickers, a couple of Silly Bandz bracelets, and a necklace, and she was so happy. I asked to take a picture with her and she hugged me like she had known me all her life.
A sweet little boy playing soccer. The metal boxes behind him were our showers.
I fell in love with this angel. She was one of the most beautiful girls I have ever laid my eyes on, and we had to extract all of her upper front baby teeth. They were totally rotten, for lack of more professional words.
Dr. Dale let me extract a tooth all by myself. It was a cuspid. I'm sure this poor lady was ready to get out of the chair.
Forceps in hand.
Dr. Dale being MY assistant.
Dale and me.
My birthday picture. Kelly wanted to take a picture of me on my birthday.
This was at the hospital in Nicaragua. Totally different than anything we have here in America.
The ambulance outside of the hospital. What did a stretcher look like? It was a piece of wood. Literally.
The view from the hospital.
The gate leading to and from the hospital.
The main entrance to the hospital.
Dr. Dale and me in our matching green scrubs.
Assisting Dr. Leslie.
A cute little boy. He looks like he should be in a magazine.
Getting ready to extract some teeth on him.
Sarah and Courtney with the children.
I could have taken him home with me.
Lining up all over the place.
Some more precious children.
The 3 dentists.
The 3 assistants.
I could have also taken these babies home with me. I wanted to just pack them in my suitcase and head for home.
Does it get any cuter than that?
I even got to hold them.
The eye clinic.
They loved the sunglasses.
Me, Larry, and Jennifer. Larry was one of the dental clinics translators.
Kelly, Julio, and Missy. Julio was Kelly's translator. I truly think he looks like the Nicaraguan version of Rob Pattinson (a.k.a. Edward Cullen). He had actually seen the "Twilight" movies and knew who we were talking about. He even signed my birthday card "Julio Cullen". We had so much fun with that. Julio is 30 years old and an architect. But because of the economy, he has had a hard time making ends meet. So, he does things like translating to earn some money. He wants to come to America, but for some reason is having a very difficult time getting a visa. I hope he is able to come here one day. He is so intelligent and hard working and educated.
Julio and Missy.
Missy, me, Kelly, and Jennifer.
Randy, our awesome cook. I was wanting to lose weight this past week. Instead, I gained it.
One of the little girls at the worship service on the last night.
At the last worship service in the village.
Look closely at the Nicaraguans worshiping. It was awesome.
Another little girl I fell in love with.
Some of the children outside of our bus as we were saying our good-byes.
Some more green countryside.
This was the view from our mission home the night we returned. It is always such a pretty sight. You never see the same view twice because the sky is always doing such wonderful things.
Everyone relaxing and socializing after the long trip back.
Mrs. Tina teaching us a craft before bedtime.
Bro. Chris even made one.
Showing off our bracelets or necklaces or anklets.
The Hillcrest group.
Randy and Missy.
Kelly has such a great sense of humor.
Julio and me.
Standing at "The Crater".
The Hillcrest gang.
Missy, Julio, Kelly, Israel, and me. Israel is an awesome guy. I wish I could tell you everything about him, but there just aren't enough hours in the day. He's 19 and is fluent in 3 languages. He wants to go to medical school in the U.S. (or major in airport management.) I think he would make a great doctor and he's got the intelligence to do so. His mom is a big part of BMDMI and runs the mission home. He's grown up around Americans his whole life and has a wonderful sense of humor. His dad used to work for BMDMI, but is now affiliated with another mission group. Israel went with us shopping and we had the best time with him. I am really going to miss him.
The Bible College for men. BMDMI sends men to this Bible college free of charge. Once they graduate, they send these men out into the villages that BMDMI teams have visited, and establish churches where there are no churches. They rely solely on financial support from BMDMI supporters, just as all the missionaries do.
Outside the college.
Coffee beans that grow everywhere in Nicaragua. Even on the side of the road.
Outside the orphanage for young girls who have been sexually molested, abused, or raped.
The Brassfield's who basically run the orphanage.
One of the sweet girls.
Sonja and a baby she fell in love with.
Tina and a 16 month old boy.
Kelly and the newborn baby. The mother is 12.
He started crying when I held him. I guess God is telling me to get rid of the baby fever I have right now.
Look at that face.
This is a sweet girl named Nora. I believe she is 14. The 16 month old boy in the previous pictures is her baby. She speaks a small amount of English and every time she would say something she had us laughing our heads off, as you can tell in this picture. She was hilarious.
The birthday cake they had for me at the mission home. I don't know who Raymond is.
The birthday card Missy and Kelly had most of my teammates sign. It was so sweet.
The birthday cake Chad and Brennan made for me. It is yummy.
So, there is my week in a nutshell. I was so tired last night when I got home. More tired than I remember being last year. It is such an emotional AND physical week, that once it all catches up with you, you sort of crash and burn from exhaustion.
I am so glad God sent me this year. And I am so thankful for the people who provided the funds for me to go. I missed my family, but I am already ready to go back again next year. God revealed himself in so many unusual ways this week that it would be foolish to say there isn't a God that still performs miracles all the time, each and every day. We all saw miraculous things happen, and all 50 of us could tell you something beyond comprehension that we witnessed.
Returning from a trip like that makes one realize what we have here in "God blessed America" (as my preacher likes to say) that we take for granted. Simple things like soap and toothpaste to more advanced things like healthcare. It makes you want to stop and weep for the things we have and almost feel selfish for the things we have that we don't NEED. Here in a place like
America, it's all about the bigger car, the bigger house, the expensive clothes, and where we send our kids to school. Some kids are lucky to attend schools. In a place like Nicaragua, most don't own cars. Most don't live in houses. At least what we would consider a house. A lot are lucky to literally have the clothes on their backs. And the clothes they do have on their backs aren't new, aren't fashionable, and are probably the only clothes they own.
I have such a peace inside me that I don't ever want to leave. But, just as anything, I know that as I slowly get back into my routine, and get back to my everyday life, this new feeling I have will wear off. I'll get back to wanting a bigger house, nicer furniture, a newer car, and spending money I shouldn't on things I don't need. When Christmas comes I'll spend a fortune on things for my kids that they will play with for 10 minutes and it will be a forgotten thing of the past to collect dust at the bottom of one of their many toy boxes. When Brennan starts school he will have 3 new pairs of shoes. There was a kid we saw in Quilali that wouldn't go to school because he didn't have a pair of shoes fit to go to school. Money was collected, and he was able to buy a brand new pair of shoes and a pair of new rainboots so he could return to school. Again, it's the simple things we take for granted like the shoes on our feet.
I would tell anyone considering a trip like we took, to do it. Stop thinking about it and do it. It is so humbling and really lets one see how God can work through us. I heard it said many times this week, that there are always going to be the poor and the needy in this world. While we can't help everyone, it is our job to be the hands and feet of Christ and do what he called us to do here on earth. Jesus reached and preached to multitudes, but even he couldn't reach and preach to every living person on earth. We should take the gifts God has equipped up with and run with them. Run to others with those gifts.
Hope you enjoyed the pictures. It was and awesome week. Only 51 more until the next one.
So, there is my week in a nutshell. I was so tired last night when I got home. More tired than I remember being last year. It is such an emotional AND physical week, that once it all catches up with you, you sort of crash and burn from exhaustion.
I am so glad God sent me this year. And I am so thankful for the people who provided the funds for me to go. I missed my family, but I am already ready to go back again next year. God revealed himself in so many unusual ways this week that it would be foolish to say there isn't a God that still performs miracles all the time, each and every day. We all saw miraculous things happen, and all 50 of us could tell you something beyond comprehension that we witnessed.
Returning from a trip like that makes one realize what we have here in "God blessed America" (as my preacher likes to say) that we take for granted. Simple things like soap and toothpaste to more advanced things like healthcare. It makes you want to stop and weep for the things we have and almost feel selfish for the things we have that we don't NEED. Here in a place like
America, it's all about the bigger car, the bigger house, the expensive clothes, and where we send our kids to school. Some kids are lucky to attend schools. In a place like Nicaragua, most don't own cars. Most don't live in houses. At least what we would consider a house. A lot are lucky to literally have the clothes on their backs. And the clothes they do have on their backs aren't new, aren't fashionable, and are probably the only clothes they own.
I have such a peace inside me that I don't ever want to leave. But, just as anything, I know that as I slowly get back into my routine, and get back to my everyday life, this new feeling I have will wear off. I'll get back to wanting a bigger house, nicer furniture, a newer car, and spending money I shouldn't on things I don't need. When Christmas comes I'll spend a fortune on things for my kids that they will play with for 10 minutes and it will be a forgotten thing of the past to collect dust at the bottom of one of their many toy boxes. When Brennan starts school he will have 3 new pairs of shoes. There was a kid we saw in Quilali that wouldn't go to school because he didn't have a pair of shoes fit to go to school. Money was collected, and he was able to buy a brand new pair of shoes and a pair of new rainboots so he could return to school. Again, it's the simple things we take for granted like the shoes on our feet.
I would tell anyone considering a trip like we took, to do it. Stop thinking about it and do it. It is so humbling and really lets one see how God can work through us. I heard it said many times this week, that there are always going to be the poor and the needy in this world. While we can't help everyone, it is our job to be the hands and feet of Christ and do what he called us to do here on earth. Jesus reached and preached to multitudes, but even he couldn't reach and preach to every living person on earth. We should take the gifts God has equipped up with and run with them. Run to others with those gifts.
Hope you enjoyed the pictures. It was and awesome week. Only 51 more until the next one.
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