BABY STEP 6 * PAY-OFF THE HOUSE

 BABY STEP 6 * PAY-OFF THE HOUSE

Home Sweet Home is even sweeter when the mortgage gets paid off early! I know, because I did it!

This is the next step in the Dave Ramsey Baby Step Program.

So, you have gotten rid of your debt in the first few baby steps, you have a fully funded emergency fund, you are working on your retirement fund, or have funded it fully...

This step could take quite awhile, but will be worth it! I took on an extra job to put all of the income from it towards paying off our mortgage.

Consider some popular strategies for attacking a home mortgage:

• Make half payments every 2 weeks rather than a full payment monthly.  The trick here is that a 52 week year has 26 two week intervals which equates to 13 payments.  One payment more per year than the 12 month calendar.  On average, this approach will shave 6-7 years from a traditional 30 year mortgage.

• Many folks are electing for a 15 year mortgage rather than the traditional 30 year term.  Given how mortgages are amortized, cutting your term in half does not equate to a doubling of your monthly payment.  Often it is only a couple hundred dollars.  An easy increase to handle if you’ve eliminated your consumer debt.

• Extra payments are valid if you have an irregular income stream or are unable to refinance into a shorter term.  Pay raises, gifts, bonus payouts, etc are easy ways to ply additional dollars against your mortgage.

• Tag Team… imagine paying half payments every 2 weeks against a 15 year term loan and tossing a healthy chunk of your annual bonus into the mix as well.  Suddenly 30 years looks like 15 which looks a lot like 9, which can begin to look even smaller

Home Sweet Home

Thankful today for our little "doll house" that God

provided for us

It's not big and fancy--but it is warm and cozy

We enjoy our large yard, and are so thankful for space

to grow veggies, fruit, and to play

We've tried to use our home to minister and

bless others whenever possible

We raised our children here and have made many sweet

memories in this house over the last 26 years

Bless His name

 

I'm so thankful for my family!

We have our share of struggles, but we also have had our joys too.

God choose to put us four together for a reason, and I pray

that His will and plan get accomplished through us.

 

 

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,

 and into his courts with praise:

 be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Psalm 100:4

Free At Last! :0)

Before May is over, I wanted to hit a couple of highlights...

Our yard looks so lovely in this shot--I just love it!

The BIG news from the month of May???

We paid of our MORTGAGE!
Yippeeee!!!!!

We had a fun family bonfire to celebrate :)

We burned the rest of our payment slips :)

My husband worked a lot of hours to get that paid off!

No wonder he's smiling--all paid!!!

Brad has been learning some golfing tips from his grandfather,

and he gave us some pointers...

Bri turned out to be a natural!

Fun stuff!

(although Brad hit one clear back into our neighbors yard--yikes!)

We thank God for providing for us and allowing us to have a home...that's paid for!

And, we're one step closer to being debt-free!

It seems like we should have extra money right now, but we don't yet.

We have to save for the real estate/school tax bill due Sept 1st,

and for our Homeowners Insurance.

But, we're getting there!!!!

Everyday Is A Gift!

I know that everyday is a gift! Since I was sick in 2011--I am constantly reminded of this when I wake up in the morning!

And so, when I saw this great wall art at the Dollar Tree--I couldn't resist!

Well worth the $1!

I also picked up these as well:

I thought that these added thoughts that truly reflected my own, and love

seeing them on the walls of my home.

Another neat feature about these is that they can be removed easily, and repositioned

elsewhere.  I think they were a great bargain!

Hope that throughout this month of January you have felt that....

EVERYDAY IS A GIFT!

Blessings, Sharri

Simpler Times...

Today I am remembering simpler times...back when I would stay in the summertime with my grandparents,

we would often sit (almost daily) on the porch at some point during the day/evening.

It was a time I loved then, and cherish now.

Back in those times it was commonplace for people to sit on their porches and visit with one another, or with neighbors who pass by.

Perhaps the ladies (and children) of the house would shell peas, snap beans, drink lemonade, eat a popsicle, do handwork, or tell stories to the children.

Perhaps it was just to get a breath of fresh air as there may have been no air conditioning then.

Friendship was valued and nurtured.

Perhaps it was a good place to read the Bible...

Life seemed simpler then...why was that? Now we have so many modern conveniences that you would

think would make our homemaking easier!

Washers, dryers, microwaves, breadmakers, crockpots etc...

Yet how many nights do you spend during the spring, summer and fall sitting on the porch?

I hope it's a lot!

I don't have a pretty porch like the one above, I just have a "stoop".

But, I do have a patio in the back--it's just not the same.

I sometimes sit with my neighbors on their front porch and visit.

And, I really enjoy those times.

Truth be told, I truly miss those simpler days.

Homecoming

I thought that yesterday's Daily Bread went well with my "Home theme" this week!

Homecoming
Psalm 73:24
Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.


One of my favorite pastimes as a boy was walking the creek behind our home. Those walks were high adventure for me: rocks to skip, birds to watch, dams to build, animal tracks to follow. And if I made it to the mouth of the creek, my dog and I would sit and share lunch while we watched the biplanes land across the lake.

We’d linger as long as we could, but only so long, for my father wanted me home before sunset. The shadows grew long and the hollows got dark fast in the woods. I’d be wishing along the way that I was already home.

Our house sat on a hill behind some trees, but the light was always on until all the family was in. Often my father would be sitting on the back porch, reading the paper, waiting for me. “How did it go?” he would ask. “Pretty good,” I’d say. “But it sure is good to be home.”

Those memories of walking that creek make me think of another journey—the one I’m making now. It isn’t always easy, but I know at the end of it there’s a caring Father and my eternal home. I can hardly wait to get there.

I’m expected there. The light is on and my heavenly Father is waiting for me. I suppose He’ll ask, just like my father used to, “How did it go?” “Pretty good,” I’ll say. “But it sure is good to be Home.” — David H. Roper

He will be waiting for me—
Jesus so kind and true;
On His beautiful throne He will welcome me home—
After the day is through. —Vandall
© Renewal 1962, N. B. Vandall.


For the Christian, heaven is spelled H-O-M-E.

Not sure if you're going to Heaven? Click HERE to find out how!

Our Nest is Blessed pt 2

Here are current pics of our little nest with the flowers blooming...summer is grand!

Another nest in our yard...a Mockingbird...

I just love these Asters!

Don't sunflowers cheer you??

Home, the spot of earth supremely blest,

A dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest.~

Robert Montgomery

I've always wanted to live on a farm. But, even if I never do, my home here brings me lots of joy!

Home....

It takes hands to build a house, but only hearts can build a home. ~Author Unknown

Well, over at my dear friend Marci's blog today...she has Count Your Blessings Monday

So, today I am listing my home as the blessing I'm most thankful for today...

Home is a place not only of strong affections, but of entire unreserve; it is life's undress rehearsal, its backroom, its dressing room. ~Harriet Beecher Stowe

Where we love is home,Home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.~Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr

There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort. ~Jane Austen

My home isn't fancy. (I call it my little dollhouse, or my little nest) But it sure is comfortable. It is safe, and pleasant...a refuge and a haven. I am a true homebody ( as are my whole family!), so having a place like this is perfect balm for my soul.

Every house where love abides

And friendship is a guest,

Is surely home,

and home sweet home

For there the heart can rest.

~Henry Van Dyke

Is anyone else going crazy besides me? LOL

With the advent of Spring...

Comes projects around our house.... Above is the "front door project". Bri and I had our work cut out for us as we don't just have 2 front doors to sand down, wash, prime and paint, we have FOUR! Count them...FOUR! LOL

These were some of our supplies. The palm sander, the blue tape for taping off for cutting in, the bucket for washing after we sanded, drop cloths, and paint.

Usually I have to do this by myself...but I had the wonderful blessing of having Bri slug it out with me! Cuts the job in 1/2!

But, I was so happy when they were finished! It makes them look brand new!

One down...many more to go!

Spring Phenomenon

We don't remember our two cherry trees ever blooming at the same time, but this year they did! I think they are breathtaking!My mountain pinks are also blooming!
Are things blooming in your neck of the woods?