Life has been so busy lately that we haven't had a chance to sit down and update everyone on our progress since the arrival of our sweet boy. For those of you reading this who don't already know, our precious bundle of joy, Max Danger Culbreath, joined us on June 14th, 2011 and we couldn't be more in love with him. We are adjusting to life with a baby, to include, but not limited to: learning to live with the lack of sleep, less time together as a couple, attempting to maintain our social lives, and balancing an entirely new, entirely different budget. And, for the record, I think we're doing pretty well in all of these areas, but that's not to say there's no room for improvement. Max is a pretty awesome baby and that helps us out a lot - he's been sleeping through the night since he was 2 weeks old, so there's really not much for us to be complaining about in this area. As for having less time together as a couple, we openly acknowledge to each other the fact that yes, we have less time together but we also strive to make that time count. Quality over quantity, people, and this can be applied to many instances in life. Socially, we still are getting out to spend time with our friends and having "game night" about once a week, even though it takes longer to get ourselves out the door and we're always late (ok, so we were late before we had a kid, but now it's just gotten worse...). And then there's the budget.
Remember that since January, I have been looking for a job? Countless applications resulting in few interviews and no jobs. Yet, somehow, we made it through until now. God provided us with the funds we needed, whether it was a bonus, a tax return, or a gift - we made it. John and I both knew that after Max was born, I needed to work to make this debt snowball work, so when Max was about 5 weeks old, I continued my search. One quiet Sunday evening I was sifting through posting after posting and finally found one I thought might be a good opportunity. So, I applied. The next morning (not even 12 hours later), I got a phone call to set up an interview. The day after that, I interviewed. The day after that, I got the job. Wow. After 7 months of nothing. AND, on that same day, my dear friend posted that she was looking for a new nanny gig and so I was able to snag her up right away! AND I got hired on as ECB (Emergency Call Back), which translates to I make my own hours and work only when I want to work. So my new schedule is this: three 12 hour shifts/week, Sunday, Thursday, and Saturday (sadly, I will be missing my favorite thing of all, College Football Saturdays, but it's not forever....sigh). This cuts down on any crazy childcare costs we might have incurred had I had to work a M-F, 9-5 job. I will say it again. Wow. AND I like my job. What? Yeah. It's not what I would want to do forever, but it sure is a great fit for this season of my life and totally meets our needs. So financially, where does this get us?
It gets us out and it gets us out FASTER. By our next paycheck, we should have our emergency fund back up and running and I can't even tell you what a great sense of security that brings. We are able to pay for things we need like medication, gas, dr.'s bills, etc., without worrying about having enough money left over at the end of the budget. In recent months, it's really been "there's too much month left at the end of the money". I feel the winds of change blowing through. I feel refreshed, motivated, and encouraged. And while it is SO hard to leave Max on the days that I do work, I know that he is in good hands and that this is temporary. I look at his sweet, angel baby face and know that I am providing for him and giving him a better life - a life free from the bondage that debt brings, free from being a borrower that is slave to the lender. Lord willing, this precious child (and any more we are blessed with) will not make the silly mistakes his parents made.
To continue to stay motivated, John and I have signed up to attend another Financial Peace University class, where we can share in the fellowship of others with the same goals and dreams of living a debt free life. We are winning every battle and we WILL win the war. We are able to breath more deeply and dream more vividly of the life we can't wait to experience. We are living like no one else so that one day SOON, we can live like no one else.
Faithfully,
The Culbreaths
"And the Lord said to Moses, 'I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.' Then Moses said, 'Now show me your glory'".
Exodus 33:17-18
