Livin' the SIMPLE life and lovin' it!!

This is my 3rd week of being a stay at home domestic diva and I am loving it!! We have been in our new little abode for a month too and I also love it!! Life is so much simpler it seems. A smaller house means less to clean and organize but also means I have to stay up on it hourly, to insure that it does stay that way, LOL!! But I love it! I am even enjoying cooking more, I am trying some new and different recipes that we are enjoying, I have enjoyed cooking more the last couple of weeks than I ever have, oh the bliss!! I hope it lasts:)
I have not left myself time for my blog and I feel like it is being neglected, but now as I have cubed steak in the oven, potatoes and beans boiling on the stove and I have a few minutes to update!
It is unreal the stress level right now for me, almost at a zero, what a cool blessing!! I recommemd simplifying to anyone who is desiring the low stress life! Its amazing!
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
Come on,  start living the simple life,  give up those things that for years you felt you had to have but are definitely NOT necessary in life, examples(from personal experience): Large house with big mortgage and high taxes, new cars with high car payments, all the name brand clothes (esp for the kiddos), Dining out too much, buying to many unecessary toys for you and the kids,and using credit cards, and  not tracking your spending ect.... you get the just!
We did the Dave Ramsey program a couple of years ago with a small group bible study, it was life changing (in many ways) and as I started to apply his teaching for financial peace it really hit home, that we here living way above our means and would always be in financial bondage if we didn't change our ways and start a major pay down on our ever growing debt!! The stess I was having was so unecessary that we had to change something!
Well we went in head first and started by paying things off that we could- little by little using Dave's plan and the more we payed down the more it made me want to keep going!! It also meant changing the way we did things, like, using credit cards and eating out too much. Having a budget and sticking with it, is also necessary for staying on track. We now even have an emergency fund so if something happens we don't have to go into debt to fix it.  If you don't have the cash to buy it and you don't need it, pass on it. As time went on, I was amazed how we could live and be happy without buying the extra's, in fact, it was more satisfying to cut back and take charge of your spending than buying stuff ever was! Don't get me wrong, I am no expert and every once in awhile I splurge on something I don't need and should have passed on, LOL.
 I never imagined that selling our home, paying off our vehicles (and driving older ones, but hey, we OWN them:)and living with-in our means would be so attainable and so life changing!! I can't give Dave all the credit, without God's guidance and wisdom through prayer, He was the giver of Grace the I so desperately need, with HIM all things are possible!!

Mommy, honey, maid, domestic diva, taxi driver, teacher, cook, ect......

Well its officially here, I am now a proud stay at home mama! For eleven years I have waited patiently for this day in time!! It came upon me so quickly that I didn't even have the time to really think about it ot let it sink in, but its here and I am enjoying EVERY minute of it!! I will have to say that being a stay at home mom is way harder  than any job out there! Way more multi-tasking expected out of you and no room for error or failure, these are your children and hubby you are working for and you want to do your best for them! But we just don't think of it that way, we just wake up in the morning (sometimes a little too early, thanks Marcus) and get right into mommy mode and start the day, everyday brings some kind of different, you just have to ride the ride and enjoy it, there is no way to get off of this type of ride, LOL!! Starting in the fall I will have another job to add to my list, teacher, as I begin homeschooling Jack this year. Do you think I will get a raise then? Kidding;)

No time, No time!!

Well, we moved, and wow what a job!! We are all settled in to the new pad, its alot smaller but its very comfortable and very affordable!! And it was worth it, the debts are getting smaller and smaller, and tomorrow is my last day at work, I was going to work longer to get more stable in the new house, but circumstances are making it sooner than later, but I am glad to be able to be home with the boys for spring break and this summer for sure! Things work out for a reason and I am thankful for that and the support of my family!!
Well gotta go, things to do and people to see! God Bless:)

WE ARE MOVING!!!!!!!!!!

We are sooo busy packing up and moving this family of 5 that I will get behind in my blogging!! As soon as I am settled and have a free moment(if ever, LOL) I will update!! Wish us luck....and many prayers!!!

Remembering Grandma

The last couple of days I have really been thinking about my grandma, I miss her. On sundays I remember as a kid that after church I would go with her and her friends to lunch, they called themselves "the widowers" club, they would get together for lunch after church on sunday afternoons and go to different little towns to their resturants and diners, we went to so many over the years , I cannot even begin to remember them all! A couple of her lady friends that I distinctly remember was a little lady named Vivian, she had cool watches that she would let me play with and usually sat in the back with me, she reminded me of a sweet Betty White, then there was Jean, a tall gray haired lady that was the "Bea Authur, type "Maude" of the group, they seem to stand out in my mind the most , the others came and went and they are all dead now. I think grandma lived the longest of them all! It must have been hard outliving all your friends and sisiters and brothers and 2 husbands, I know she was very homesick for them, she told me that the last year of her life, for she was ready to be reunited. Even though I miss her, I remember the good times for there was soooo many of them, that I will be comforted by them forever, whenever I think of her, I have good memories and love. Thanks Grandma for sharing the last 35 years of your life with me!

Preparing for the big move. I think!

Well March is here, and hopefully spring is right behind it! We are preparing for a move if all goes as planned. I am trying to get myself ready for it, downsizing with 3 kids is no easy task! But I feel it is necessary at this time in our lives and I believe that it will make a significant change within our family life as we venture into new territory of homeschooling and being able to stay at home with my boys ( as I have always dreamed of being a stay at home mom)! So with that said we had to make considerable changes like moving out of our comfy home to a less expensive smaller one, which hopefully is a freeing experience and transition. I pray for strength as I begin this journey of packing up the last 8 years in this house and learning how to let go of items I no longer use or need. Letting go of material things can be very hard to do, but remembering that they are just "things" is what I am gonna have to remind myself of throughout this move and getting rid of stuff will make my life easier and more organized, as I wish it to be!!

Things are about to get crazy around here!!

Well, change is on the horizon for the Fortner five!! I think we have sold our home and are ready to embark on a new and different journey, I must add that it was lead by God, He definitely listens when we call! For awhile now we have dreamed of downsizing the budget and making our financial load a little easier and less stressful, and since we have dedided to homeschool next year, we know we had to make some sacrifices and change things around here to make that happen. So, as things fall into place, we will just go where the good Lord leads us! Even though we have about 2 weeks to find a house and get moved with 3 boys, 1 dog and a cat!! Tomorrow we are going on a househunting marathon and hoping we find just the right fit for our family!! Then I can discuss the other changes that will occur after the move, woohoo, I am excited and ready for the change. Albeit sad a little, because I have always loved my home and this neighborhood, I have been raising my children here for the past 8 years, It is necessary to let it go to reach some goals as a mom that I have wanted for a long time!!!
This weekend I attended my first homeschool convention, very cool! I think I have got Jacks cirriculum all lined up for 6th grade!! I am going with Sonlight for history, reading and bible, SOS for language arts and science and Teaching Textbooks for math/algebra. I am excited and ready for this new venture and season of my life and motherhood!! Wish me luck!!