Some cool stuff.

Cool things that are happenin' in our lives...

Danny's Viper job (1/2 his job) just received funding for the next 3 years! (This is the job that only had 6 weeks left, as of last month)

Our Citrus house closed, and we are living mortgage-free!

We always pay off our credit card every month, but this month we couldn't, due to the money we needed for closing on the Citrus house. By the end of this month, it will be paid off, and we'll be completely debt-free!

I have been continuing my work as a real estate assistant for some good friends in Phoenix. I really enjoy working with and for them!

We hired a sitter to be with the kids so I could stay on top of the work and not get stressed. That has been so helpful! I am looking for someone for 8-10 hours a week starting in mid-August. Send possible applicants my way.

We're heading to see my family in South Dakota in a few weeks! Yay for cooler weather!

My thyroid (Graves) disease is in remission! I am off the meds, as of last week. I was diagnosed when I was 3 months pregnant with Corban in 2007.

My joint pain is gone too. I think it's a combination of eating differently and quitting the thyroid meds.

I found out I'm allergic to... avocado, coconut, corn, tomatoes, tuna, eggs, oats, and buckwheat. I'm also possibly allergic to peanuts, salmon, and shrimp... And beef, cow's milk, soy, and banana may be a problem. Don't forget that I have Celiac so I already avoid gluten. You might be thinking, "What does this girl eat?" I'm actually thankful to know all of this! Because I'm tired of dealing with stomach troubles.

Due to the above discovery, we are eating almost exclusively organic fresh foods, including meats and milk. I'm learning to use lots of alternative flours - teff, chia, sorghum, arrowroot, and more - and we're eating almost nothing processed (anything that comes from a box, bag, etc). I've been making everything from scratch.

I'm learning how to feed my family healthy organic foods without breaking the grocery budget.

Josh's eczema is very minimal these days, in thanks to the new diet quite possibly.

Corban's 2-year struggle with constipation seems to be getting better, and I'm positive it's the new diet, plus way less gluten (though she's never tested positive for Celiac).

What's new?

I haven't posted anything in 7 months so I thought I'd give a little update on life...

I started working full-time, went part-time, and then quit altogether.  The day I put my notice in, we found out Danny's job would start full-time the day after my last day.  What a blessing that was!  I know that working was in God's plan because it enabled Danny to get a wonderful job as an epidemiologist at the UofA tracking diseases and working on an anti-venom for coral snake bites.  He truly loves his job.  Working full-time also pushed me to get my real estate license!  I've been licensed since January, really enjoy what I'm doing, and am working on growing my business.

We are still very much content with our 2 little blessings.  Josh is almost 16 months old and finally walking.  I love to see his personality emerging.  He is a kiddo who needs social interaction daily and doesn't really enjoy being at home.  It was really hard when I was working full-time (from home) because we very seldom left the house.  Corban just turned 3 yesterday.  I can't believe she's "free years old."  She is such a blessing and a joy!

The Lord has really put on our hearts to be completely debt-free, including no mortgage (Proverbs 22:7).  We do not have car loans and have no credit card debt.  Our next step is to own a house outright, with no loan.  We are putting a cash offer on a house tomorrow, on the south side, in a neighborhood we used to own a home in.  We are very thankful we sold our house in that neighborhood because the property values tanked.  We sold that house and made quite a bit of money off of it in 2010.  Our plan now is to buy a house in that neighborhood (because we can pay cash), sell our house, and live in the "new" house for a few years with no mortgage while saving up money to buy a bigger house with cash or to invest in other properties.  We know people think we're crazy, but we don't care.  It only makes sense to be debt-free in this economy.  There is a possibility Danny's job will go back to part-time in June, and we want to make sure we're in a position where we can afford to live like that, at least for a while.

I'm slowly working on giving up sugar in my life.  Whew.  It's hard.  Some days are better than others.

I feel like my priorities are out of whack.  I feel very lukewarm/complacent in my walk with the Lord.  I have been praying for the Lord to light a fire under me.  I have been praying for discipline in my relationship with Him - to spend way more time in the Word than I am doing now.  If you think of me, please pray for this area in my life.

Well, the kids are sleeping, there are toys and things everywhere, and I think I will be productive for the rest of naptime... or I'll go take a nap too.  We'll see :)

Things I love

• I love praying and singing with Corban at naptime and bedtime.
• I love the way Josh cuddles his Eekie (a big stuffed mouse) when I put him in his bed.
• I love how excited Josh gets when Danny comes home from work.  Yesterday, Josh heard Danny close his truck door, and he started yelling "Dada, dada, before he even got in the house."  I truly love his love for Daddy!
• I love Corban's creativity and imagination.  I love her stories.
• I love my sweet girl's precious personality - always full of a little spunk and lots of joy (living up to her middle name).
• I love Josh's obsessions with motorcycles and bikes.  He knows the sound of a motorcycle and starts looking around when he hears one.
• I love reading books with Corban.
• I love sleeping.
• I love a clean house (though that is rarely the case).
• I love it when the dishes are clean and not piled in the sink like they are right now.
• I love hanging out with  my husband in the evenings.
• I love the quietness that comes with naptime.
• I love seeing my children swim during their lessons.
• I love being in Tucson.
• I love not having to work fulltime.
• I love being a real estate agent and helping others.
• I love being married to Danny.
• I love being a mommy.
• I love the idea of owning a CRV.
• I love my Friday night Bible study.
• I love getting phone calls from friends.
• I love reaching out to people in need.
• I love that Danny and I are working on being 100% debt free - including no mortgage but owning a house.
• I love the newness that comes with each day.
• I love my Lord.
• I love that I am forgiven.
• I love that I have been married for 7 years to my best friend.
• I love spending time with my children.
• I love Dr. Pepper but really need to stop drinking it.
• I love the support and love my husband gives me.
• I love that my husband loves me even when I'm a little crazy.
• I love taking naps.
• I love wearing pajama pants most of the time.
• I love the idea of being organized (meaning my house is very disorganized but I would love to actually be organized).