I won't go into numbers. I'll leave that for Sam. I think he's planning on updating the total we owe, monthly. What I wanted to share was a couple lessons from everyday life. Those things you randomly notice about your life that you love and hopefully thank God (or whomever you choose to thank) immediately for them. Those things that just make you feel like this is what you're supposed to be doing.
There's nothing better than cloth diapers on the line. Except maybe baby clothes (so cute).
First, if you don't have one already, I highly recommend a clothesline. Frugalista says: this is definitely cheaper than using your dryer (which I did learn is sometimes the #1 household appliance for guzzling electricity). Mostly though, it's calming. I love the way I feel when I'm hanging up laundry. It's quiet, simple, smells of crisp fall air are everywhere. It's a multi-sensory experience. It just feels right. It's a nice change from the mechanization of life. Everything we do seems to involve a "device." (Not to say this is all bad. I do love my iphone.) Just saying, it's nice. (An added bonus, sunlight helps fade stains and is a natural white brightener... especially important with cloth diapers!)
Second, we're building a deck. Those of you that know Dave Ramsey's philosophy, you know that the first step is taking your savings (except a small emergency fund) and putting it into that darned debt. We decided to put some into a house renovation and then put the rest into the darned debt. This was decided for a couple reasons:
- Our house is currently 762 square feet. The deck will add about 450 square feet. We believe this will help us reach our goal by giving the illusion that our living space is larger than it is.
- It was previously a muddy mess. It needed some type of solution.
- Decks are nice in the south. You can pretty much be outside on them 9 months out of the year. It WILL get used.
Lastly, I just wanted to share some pictures of a hike we went on a couple days ago. Not really a hike, just a chance to be outside and enjoy the weather and changing colors.
I just love the way this moss was blanketing this log. Lovely.
What have you learned from living lately?
Thanks for commenting...I am enjoy reading your posts...did not know you had a blog...so fun. Love the #1 onsie in your last post...may be making one of those for Parker...so cute. Love the bum genius diapers too!!! More work, but the savings is totally worth it, especially with two in diapers right now!!!
ReplyDeleteTotally! Glad you guys are well. Hi to Chris for me!
ReplyDeleteK, N, S -
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your idea of a clothesline, Hil has talked about doing this and we are on our way. Sadly we don't get 9 months outside in Cleveland, but we do what we can. Kathleen Norris talks about laundry and worship in an interesting way:
'The demands of laundry might have somethng to do with God's command that we worship, that we sing praise on a regular basis. Both laundry and worship are repetitive activities with a potential for tedium, and I hate to admit it, but laundry often seems like the more useful of the tasks.' I have to say they are both useful, and they both can be beautiful.... and tedious. Here's to seeing new things every day. - Greg