When you believe...

If you took the time to watch this video (click the title) and listen to the words, truly listen, you will feel what I feel today. Life has always been a sequence of challenges and then "pick me ups." I could write a book on the many miracles I have been blessed to experience in my 26 years of life thus far. However, there is not enough time today to tell you of all of them. But one in particular has touched me beyond belief and I felt that it was only right to share it with you today.

Around the second week of November, Toby and I learned that I was pregnant. As you can imagine, all types of emotions began to pour out. I was unsure of what kind of mother I would be and I was unsure if we were going to really be able to give our baby what he/she deserves etc. So in those times of thinking, I began to realize that Toby and I were not prepared financially for a family. We were selfishly spending money on ourselves and unaware of the situation we had gotten ourselves into. I was only working part time to bring in a little income for extra things, however it was not enough to pay any significant bills.

It has been a long time dream of mine to be a mother, but now I was forced to see that my selfish actions were not a place to bring this blessing into. I began to lose hope. I knew early December I had to consciously make a decision for our little baby growing inside me. I wrote a dear friend of mine who was my mentor when I first came to know the Lord. She is full of wisdom and unconditional love. I knew she would have something to say. As Carol has always done, she encouraged me first by reminding of all the blessings that I have or had and that they were gifts to honor the challenges/trials I had overcome. Then she began to tell me that if I was "that" concerned about our finances than I should attend with Toby this workshop that was going to be offered in January. The workshop was called "Financial Peace University (FPU)." You might recognize the name and know that Dave Ramsey is the creator of this marvelous and life-giving idea.

As you might imagine, I was a little weary because I hate church events in which they try to tell you how you SHOULD be living your life. But MY FATHER is much greater than that... so I began to pray with great intent. I knew that if I decided to attend this it was going to be a commitment unlike one I had ever made. Well, guess what, I decided it was the only thing that was going to bring me hope for our situation, so we joined. Our initial investment was only 100$ (for materials), but our product was over 20,000$ (and still growing!).

Now some of you are curious to know how such a difference of a class could make such a difference in Toby and I's life. But we had no choice but to believe it would. To put it in simplest terms, it was truly a miracle for us; this FPU class. I believe for you to understand this miracle that took place you'd have to understand our circumstance.

Toby and I had a B-E-A-UTiful wedding in August of 08. And even better an unforgettable, once in a life time, honeymoon. Unfortunetly, we put most of our expenses on credit; which was well over 30,000$. Not only did we together bring this burden into the marriage, but myself brought a 16,000$ car loan and 80,000$ worth of student loan debt. Yah, many will tell you this type of selfishness is doomed to ruin a marriage. But let me put them in their place, because I tell you, this type of selfishness actually made (is making) Toby and I much stronger. With the initial responses to finding out I was pregnant, I knew I could no longer do what I was doing (job), so I quit. This added another burden for Toby and I. We were going to have to try to make it on just Toby's income. It's possible, right, well when you have the kind of debt we have, it's not. At least not when you want the best for your baby. And that is why FPU was our miracle.


FPU follows a simple "seven baby steps." Are you ready to hear how simple they are?

1. Step one : Save 1,000$ for an emergency fund
2. Step two : Pay off all debt except the house using the "debt snowball" (smaller debts first)
3. Step three : Save 3-6 months of expenses
4. Step four : Invest 15% of your household income into Roth IRA's and pre-tax retirement plans.
5. Step five : Save for college (your kids)
6. Step six : Pay off your home early
7. Step seven : GIVE and build wealth!

Today, Toby and I are barely to step two, but the information we gained in this class was priceless. It was life giving and such a relief to know that "peace" was easily attained. And here is the miracle (or at least one), the miracle is the will and strength that God gave us to follow these steps with true intent. And the other miracle, not only were Toby and I able to save OVER 1,000$ for our emergency fund, but we were also able to pay off my car, all 16,000$ worth. We were blessed with a financial gift in order to make this happen. We put that gift with our tax return etc, and we our now without car payments! Oh! You have no idea what a relief this has been to us and our marriage. Plus there is nothing like having enough faith in God and believing HE is going to answer the desires of your heart. We believe we should have our credit debt paid off within the latest two years. It is at that point we will be able to start paying off my student loans.

With great trust in the Lord and hope, we will continue to feel blessed by our change of life. And if you're thinking we'll never be able to enjoy our vacations as we have in the past, you are wrong. FPU also teaches you the tools you need to save for these type of things (vacations, Christmas, entertainment etc.). We have learned so much. We have learned about finances in every way (from saving for emergencies to saving for retirement and nursing homes, etc)! We have learned about faith! We have learned that God truly will always answer the desires of your heart if they are to be blessed.

It is now that I look and reflect on this miracle in hopes to encourage other miracles in our loved ones hearts. FPU is truly what this country and world needs. Everyone should consider such a blessing. It will change the future of our generation and the next. That's a bold statement, right, well, I believe so conciously in this program that I will stand by that comment until the day I die.

May you experience this type of miracle for yourselves. And may you always know that we would love to share with you what we have learned.

"Miracles can happen, when you believe..."

Love Passionately,
Autumn-Rose

Oh' the Joys of being Pregnant....

So I started going to the gym this week. And I am loving it. Don't worry I am not lifting weights or any of that. Instead, I took up a water aerobics class with thirty other women, none of which are even close to my age! AWKWARD! Even more awkward is thinking that all of these women don't even know I am pregnant yet! I just look like an over-weight little girl. HA!

I am also experiencing the "do da" ness of motherhood as well. YIKES! So, I get out of the gym on Monday morning and guess what!? I am walking out to my car, or should I say I THOUGHT MY CAR. You're laughing right, it gets better. I stand at this 2006 Blue CRV (mind you identical to mine) and wonder to myself why I can't open the door. Well, if you know me well, then you'll know that the interior is COMPLETELY purple! So I take a look inside and notice there is no purple. So my next thought was instantly, "Someone stoll my seat covers, AHHH!!!" I try unlocking the car again and realize I hear the clicking just a few cars away. Thats when I look in the back and realize all of Gracey's things are not there. "Oh, MY GOSH!" I have just stood five minutes at this car that IS NOT EVEN MINE! I was so embarassed. I have NEVER done anything like this before, and it didn't even phase me that I could've very well been standing at someone elses car.

So if that wasn't enough to make me crazy for the week, it gets better. On Wednesday when I returned to the gym, I realized I had put two VERY different flip flops in my bag. Well, I am sorry, but I am not about to pick up any unwaranteed dieseases on my feet, so I wear the darn mis-matching flip flops out to the pool. I looked like I was limping because one of the flip flops was high heeled. LOL.

Those of you who know me well, know that I am probably the most modest person you will ever meet. Well, today, Friday, I am at the gym, again, and there is this woman who comes walking out of the shower Butt*** naked! No, seriously. IF thats not awkard enough, she's standing there for like ten minutes all lotioning up and stuff (NAKED!). As if I can just continue getting dressed while there is a woman infront of me all naked. And you know I am not into that, but my gosh... I guess some women just don't have any cares! However, I guess that part of me is really changing too because I don't seem to care so much if my towel drops by accident. Heck in a few months the towel's not even gunna fit around my preggo belly anymore. So I guess I need to cut back on the modest part of me.

I am sure I will have many more stories of what my parents would call, "my blonde moments!" On another note, many of you do not know how lucky I am... I am so lucky! Not only did I marry the ONLY person that could put up with me, but I married the only person that is PERFECT for me. To celebrate our love, Toby recently got me a new 1/2 karrat platinum band to add to my other 1/2 marquis engagement diamond. It makes me feel special and its a reminder everyday about how much he loves me. I am so blessed. I have the best in the world! I have a perfect husband. I have a perfect little girl growing inside me. We are getting our way out of debt and I have a life that is abandoned to God. Who could ask for anything more? I love it!

BTW - our baby girl says, "HI!" She kicking as I type this now. Gosh I love that feeling!

Welcome Baby GIRL!!!

So this is the first of many posts I am sure I will love writing. Have I ever told you how much I am loving being a mommy! I am not sure it really hit me until about the 18th week when I felt our precious baby kick me. It's funny because everyone said, "It feels like little butterflies inside!"

Ha... well one night I am sitting at the computer typing away at Facebook, when I feel a bug scatter across my belly. I "Shu" it away only to realize it wasn't a bug at all... it was my baby! LOL. After that her kicks/punches got more intense. Now I would describe it as literally someone sticking their finger out from the inside. It's the coolest, yet weirdest feeling I have ever experienced. And I absolutely love it! In fact, I think I will miss it tremendously when it is gone!

On March 6th Toby and I (along with Nana) got to go listen and watch the 20 week ultra sound. After thirty minutes of amazement as the technician explored all of her precious growing body, we were informed that there is a 100% guarantee that she's a girl! And if that wasn't enough news to be joyful, we also were told that she is 100% healthy and so is mommy!

Now I know you are looking at this picture and probably thinking to yourself (just as I did), "How in the WORLD is that a girl!?", RIGHT... well... let me explain. If you look VERY closely next to where the technician wrote, "BABY GIRL" you can find three white lines. These white lines are the girl's sexual parts. So for all of you who are clueless... her "lips" are not developed yet so you can pick out her anatomy by looking at these lines, i.e. the Clitoris, the Urethra and the Labia. Boys don't have those parts so thats why it is a 100% guarantee. As you can imagine I was ecstatic to find out such news as I LOVE THE COLOR PURPLE! YEAH... So guess what our little girl's room is going to be colored, PURPLE... duh... as if you really didn't know that.

We are so excited about this wonderful blessing and miracle! In fact, Toby and I are so excited that we are doing as much as we can to prepare. We believe she deserves the best life and all the possibilities of life abundance. While we know that, that is not promised without God, we are doing our part to make it easier on all of us to welcome such a miracle!

Please stay tuned as I, Autumn-Rose, have so much to share with you. Would you consider subscribing to this blog so that I don't have to message you every time I post. We would love to share this wonderful life with all of you, our dearest family and friends.