Dave is changing our lives...

...Dave Ramsey, that is. 
We are in his "Financial Peace University" and we are loving it!!!!  I have always thought of us (especially Troy) as very good in the financial arena, and we realize now that we were still not where we needed to be financially.  But now we are trying to get there.
The word for 2011 is "Frugalicious".  That is what I am shooting for as I grocery shop, go to the mall (or rather, don't go to the mall), etc.  For example, yesterday I went to my very favorite store on earth, The Pottery Barn Outlet in Dawsonville, GA.  I was on a frugalicious hunt for new bedding for Cate and Will, since they are now "roommates".  Now this is tricky, finding bedding that is not too girly for Will and yet not too boyish for Cate.  I found a good option, but for the comforters alone, the cost was going to be about $200, and yes, that was the OUTLET price.  And then I thought, what would Dave say?  He would say, That's not good enough.  So I asked the sales girl, what is a more frugal option?  She remembered some duvets that had just been marked down and showed me over to the frugal aisle.  They are the pattern that is called "Happy Children" and was perfect for boy AND girl.  So, the original prices were 129 for the twin and 149 for the full, but the new and improved and frugalicious price for each duvet cover was $17!!!!!!  Anyways, that is my new life...hunting for major bargains.  All that to say, Dave is changing my life and I highly recommend his class.

My Weekend in St. Louis!

Ah, I had a much needed mommy break this weekend...I traveled to St. Louis to speak at Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church.  I got to share with a wonderful group of ladies on Friday night and much of Saturday.  I was WORE OUT afterward, but it was worth it, for them (I think) and for me (I know). 
I missed Troy within the first hour that I was gone.  It took me another 23 hours, but I did finally miss the kids too!  ha!  I think that it was just nice to walk around without children needing me, hanging on me, wiping snot on me, etc...  Troy is such a trooper to keep them all weekend so that I could have this opportunity!! 
It was fun to reconnect with dear April Barber, one of my Berry College friends, and Becky Kicklighter, a friend from way back in high school  (thank y'all for getting me this gig!)
I spoke on "Your Story"...meaning... knowing, loving, embracing, and sharing the story of your life.  It was about seeing the Lord in the events of your life...what He was up to, even in the hard stuff.  We laughed, we cried, we talked a lot...a true women's retreat! 

Welcome to Our Newest Adventure

Well, I could call "starting a blog" our newest adventure, and I guess that technically it is, but we have an even bigger and better one that is on the horizon.  We are in the adoption process again!  I am nesting like crazy and Troy is getting our finances in order and we are asking God to bring us a little baby boy or girl sometime in 2011.  We are adopting through Covenant Care Services; they helped us to get Will and we just love them!  They predict having several bi-racial babies who will need adoptive homes in the next several months.  We are excited and we plan to use this blog to keep YOU posted.