How the Love Story Began Three Years Ago

I met my boyfriend on an online dating site.  It was love at first reading.  He contacted me by sending me an email through the site.  Then, we exchanged instant messenger screen names, and the rest is history!  We did the obligatory first coffee date.  The funny thing is, I don't think either of us ordered coffee! That night, we bonded over a story he told me about taking a return at a department store of a camera.  The lady had brought it back and told him that it was broken and she could see the wires and the inside of the camera.  This grossed her out!  I said, "Why would it gross her out unless she was some kind of Droid?!"  We both laughed, and he agreed with me!  From that point on, we have barely spent a moment apart!  This was three years ago.  We are still just a couple of geeks! 

He's the best boy friend in the world. He does so many nice things for me, that sometimes, I can't even believe it!  I know by his actions that he loves me. He's always cheering me on in all of my endeavors.
I love him very much!
Happy Anniversary, Ian!
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

New Years Goal Update: Finances

Here's a quick update on my financial goal for 2013 of getting out of debt.  After much encouragement from my friend Brian, Ian and I took and finished Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University! We have started the Baby Steps, and this is what I (we) have accomplished so far:
Step 1. Save a $1,000 for a cushion during emergencies. 
I have done this.  I actually finished this a couple weeks in during the class, because I had already started it.
Step 2. The Debt Snow Ball
This is the current step I am working on.  I'm in a crapton of debt, if you didn't know.  Well, now you do!  My debt included two credit cards, a car payment, college loans, and moneys owed to the government.   During the class, I paid off a credit card that I had been working on paying off since 2004.  It was the card I used to pay for medicine and other necessities in college. This was a MAJOR accomplishment for me!  Not that I wasn't working on having it paid off this year, but now it is done! It is off my back!  The load is getting lighter!
I'm currently working on the second credit card.  Using the Debt Snow Ball, I plan on having it paid off by December! 
Originally, at some point last year, Brian was working with us and explaining how would could be out of debt withing seven years.  At first it was hard to see how that was even possible!  Being in debt sucks!  I was to the point were I was like, how did this even happen?!  I mean, I know where debt comes from. I get it!  But when your at the bottom looking up, it's hard to see the light.  Well, my friends, there is light at the end of the tunnel! (I'm trying to see how many cliche puns I can throw in this blog!)
Ian and I are setting goals and working on this together. These goals include everything from getting out of debt, buying a home, and even vacation planning!
I hate to seem like I'm all hopped up on Dave Ramsey and Financial Peace University, even though I know I am.  The thing is, it works! If you have any questions about it, please ask!  Ian and I will try to answer them, and if we can't, we have some really good friends that might even teach the class!
I'll give more updates later in the year as we work on the Debt Snow Ball.

Mental Misconceptions: A House

When I was little, I didn't understand what a house was.  I know this sounds very strange.  My family lived in a trailer until I was 11 years old.  It was pretty small.  I thought we had this tiny mobile home because we were poor.  That may have been part of the truth, but not all of it. When I visited other peoples houses, they all seemed to be these grandiose mansions to me.  Maybe I had really rich friends.  I'm not sure.  But I never understood that, most homes average around 2,000 square feet or smaller. (This could also be a misconception as an adult.) Or maybe as an adult, the average home is getting smaller.
As a teenager, it started to sink in a little bit.  My friend's mom started to look for a little home to move in to.  She would take my friend and me with her when she toured these houses.  They all seemed extremely small to me!  The idea that someone would by a home so small was a little baffling!  The thing was, it was just my friend and her mom.  They didn't need a gigantic home.  They just needed a enough space for the two of them.
What does this all mean now?
I'm currently an apartment dweller.  I'm O.K. with that!  I do have a thing with space. I like having a lot of living space.
I do want to get a house eventually, but I'm in no hurry.  Getting out of debt first is more important.
I've learned that I need to decide what I think is most important in a home, and make choices based on that.  For me, that would be an amazing kitchen! I do want space in other rooms, but a kitchen that has space, whether that's counter space or cabinet and storage space will be the important things to me.  
I've had to tell myself, a house for two or three people with cats is not going to be gigantic. In fact, it's probably going to be on the small side.  

Baptism

Sunday, a man got up in Fast and Testimony Meeting and stated how, his Baptism Day, when he was eight years old, was one of the happiest days of his life!  It's right up there with his wedding day and children's births.
Well, that got me thinking about my baptism day.  I remember a few things about that day, but there is one huge thing I think about that day. Guilt. Down right guilt. That's all I thought about that entire day.  I was supposed to be washed of my sins and be perfect. But I wasn't perfect, nor would I ever become perfect.  I had some huge sins on my mind at the time, yes, even at eight years old.  In my mind, at that time, I could never over come them.
I don't think I've ever over came that guilt.  It has stayed with me for 25 years. I've just learned to live around it. At the time, I felt like I joined the church based on lies, and continually lied my entire life.
I'm over living in guilt.

A little pet peeve...

I'm glad that your grandchild/child/niece/nephew/godchild has shown an interest in music, and you've decided to teach them yourself to "save some money."
My issue is, when I show you a beginning level book for that instrument in his/her age level, because you asked what book to use, and you don't even understand the first lesson, maybe you shouldn't be the one teaching said child!
Pay for the lessons!
End of rant.
*I would say this about teaching any subject!

The Day After: Valentine's Day

It's the day after, which is fine.  I've never been a sad or bummed person on Valentine's Day.  I've always just tried to celebrate it in my own way.  I would try to find people to hang out with that day.  I would make treats.  I would wear pink or red, mostly pink. I hate red. Though I HATE seasonal clothing.  Here are a few random Valentine's Day memories.
I think it was when I was in 5th grade, but I could be wrong, February 14th fell on a Saturday. So, that meant that we were celebrating Valentine's Day on Friday the 13th.  I remember having so much fun and loving the whole day!  It was such a good feeling!
This one is a little negative: I used to try to bring snacks on different holidays at work.  One year for Valentine's day, I brought in my favorite cupcakes: Strawberry Cupcakes with Strawberry Icing.  Three of my coworkers at different times, basically told me, I was just trying to make them fat. (They had said this on other occasions too.) After that, I decided I wasn't going to bring them treats anymore.
Now, I actually have a Valentine.  This is pretty awesome.  He's pretty awesome.  He sends me flowers every year to work.  Like I said, he's pretty awesome. He always remembers, yet, I fail at getting him something pretty much every year!  This year, I've had a cold all week.  I barely left my apartment, except to go to work.  I thought he wouldn't do the flower thing this year, because we are taking the Dave Ramsey course, Financial Peace University.  But he still did! 
Even though I didn't always have a Valentine on the day, I always tried to make it into doing nice things for others.  I know people get lonely.  I understand that.  Some people turn a day into a bunch of negativity!  I suggest going out and doing nice things for people.  Buy the person in line behind you at the fast food place their meal.  Open a door for someone.  Give a friend a phone call just to say, "Hi."  It's all good stuff! You'll feel better knowing you helped someone else have a better Valentine's Day!

Third Grade Memory: The Tiger Report

I have this memory of the third grade. Mrs. Robertson was my teacher. We were sitting at a table in our reading group discussing reports we had written on animals. Mine was on the tiger. We had to answer provided questions for our reports. One question was, "What are your animal's enemies?" Well, I gave the answer out of the book I had read: The tiger has no known enemies. Mrs. Robertson turns to me with this weird look on her face and says, "Yes it does! He stands on two legs and holds a gun!" I was so in shock that she talked that way to me, I just stared at her! She got this "Well duh!" Look on her face and said, "A man!" 
I remember being extremely upset by her attitude and actions towards me. I answered her question by what I had read, yet I'm sure she counted points off because I didn't read between the lines and give the answer she wanted!
I'm sure this has psychologically affected me for the rest of my life!