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Our Debt Free Family

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Confession: We’ve Taken On A Little More Debt

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Confession We've Taken on a Little More Debt

This update isn’t one that I’ve been looking forward to sharing on the blog. In general, everyone here in the debt-free community is making strides to decrease their debt, no matter the cost. While I really have made some fantastic progress in our debt freedom journey, debt is sometimes necessary in today’s world. We’ve been trying to build our credit to buy a home – which requires taking on some debt. Additionally, we desperately needed a new car that fit our new family.

So, without further ado, here’s my confession and a look at the latest debt numbers.

Why We Took on More Debt

There are a number of reasons our family decided to take on more debt after we’d paid a generous amount off. First, I recently talked about how we’d like to buy a home this year. To do that, we need to have a good payment history. As you know, in the past, many of our bills went into collections before they were settled. So, keeping things current is relatively new for us.

It’s exciting because, after time, it will allow us to build the life we want. However, taking on more debt wasn’t ideal. It never is.

On top of needing to build up some credit, we also had some medical emergencies that needed to be paid for. That went on the credit card! Things are tight and that’s how it is sometimes.

We also desperately needed a new car. Our little hatchback Golf GTI was no longer cutting it, especially on road trips. Between the car seat, stroller, highchair, and any luggage we needed, the car was slammed full. If we wanted the dog to tag along, forget about it! So, we decided to upgrade to an Audi Q3. It’s nice, reliable, and something our family will be able to drive for some time. Most people will say we didn’t need to spend that amount on a car, but we’ve got a good plan for paying it off early.

A Look At The Numbers

Now, the moment you’ve been waiting for. Here’s a look at the updated numbers…

  • Credit cards: $1,108 (up from $0 last year)
  • Collections: $1,205
  • Car loans: $34,640 (up from $16K)
  • Student loans: $24,185

Two notes here – our credit card balances are higher right now due to paying for a medical emergency, as mentioned above. Additionally, I have not made any payments on my student loans as the Biden Administration is still figuring out what is going on there. Tentatively, I will have 50% of my loans forgiven, which would be fantastic. So, we are just waiting on the decision from the state of NC now.

Where the car loan is concerned, we are paying more than the required monthly payment. We will also be looking into getting it refinanced within a year or so.

Our Philosophy Moving Forward

We definitely have more debt than we did this time last year, but things have changed drastically for our family. Our new philosophy moving forward is to change with what our family unit needs. Whether that is a bigger, more reliable vehicle that is still under warranty, or it is buying our own home (hopefully later this year), we are willing to bend and change for whatever is needed.

Readers, have you ever found yourself taking on more debt when you didn’t expect to? Let me know about your experiences in the comments.

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Bills Are Going Up And We Want To Move

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Bills Are Going Up & We Want to Move

Our bills are going up. Really, all of them seem to have crept up and up over the last year or so. In December, the biggest hit was our rent going up to nearly $1,800 per month (yikes). So, we’re putting our heads together and trying to figure out a way to move later this year because we have to renew again.

However, I know that picking up and moving isn’t the right option for most people. So, here is what we sat down and talked about to come to this decision.

How Much Are Bills Going Up?

When we moved here in 2020, our rent was $1,400. So, in just two years, our rent has gone up $400. On top of that, our car insurance went up when we bought a new car, along with our car payment. Utility prices are also creeping up there, especially when it comes to natural gas and electricity in my area.

Not to mention, we have a little one whose needs are constantly changing. We are always buying new clothes, she is eating more, drinking more, and just doing more things. To nourish her life completely, we need to find a way to decrease some of our expenses. For our family, that will likely mean relocating (yet again).

Our biggest deciding factors here are: the cost of living, moving before Dahlia is in school, and still being close enough to family.

Deciding To Move

After a lot of discussions, my husband and I think it will be in our best interest to try and move by the end of the year. We are likely going to have to relocate to find something cheaper to rent, though. So, here’s our plan currently.

  1. Start saving money for the move. We’ll need between $5,000 and $8,000 to move, especially if we are going across state lines again. This will cover movers, the moving truck, deposits, and getting things set up at the new place.
  2. Begin scouting areas we think we might like and visit. We’ve made the mistake of moving somewhere before we ever saw it (Atlanta). So, to avoid those same troubles, we are likely going to take some trips around to cheaper places to see how we like it. Our sights are on Eastern Tennessee for now.
  3. Slow down our debt payoff so that we can focus on saving and prepping for the move.
  4. Put all of our windfalls towards this goal of moving.
  5. Start downsizing things and cleaning out closets so it’s easier at the end of the year.

Moving is one of my least favorite things, but if it decreases our cost of living and improves our quality of life, I’m here for it. Both of us think that will be the case with this move.

Readers, when was the last time you made a big move? Do you have any advice?

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Here Are My New Year’s Resolutions For 2023

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Our Christmas celebration was a hit. Although I have been reflective in my blog posts (and in life) over the last several weeks, I’m thrilled to be entering a time of year when everyone is excited about the future. Of course, like every year, I’ve set some intentions and new year’s resolutions for myself, my marriage, and my family. Here they are.

Word for 2023

After a few hectic years, I am putting it out in the universe that the word for 2023 is going to be calm. I’ve picked this word for a number of reasons. The world around us has seemed to be so loud in the last few years. It has become hard to unplug and it feels like there is always something that needs to be done.

For me, a lot of what goes on in the world and in my life causes me anxiety as well. So, choosing the word calm has a bit of a personal meaning as well. Here’s a breakdown of the specific goals I’m setting for 2023.

Personal Goals for the Year

Personally, I like to set a few goals for myself outside of what my family and I would like to accomplish this year. These are the five things I’ll be focusing on this year.

  • Take control of my health with diet and exercise. I have had a lot of health problems in 2023 and taking better care of myself is the first step to mending from that.
  • Stop avoiding things that make you uncomfortable! Oftentimes, you will find comfort by doing the uncomfortable things. This goes for financial change, lifestyle shifts, everything.
  • Write more. It is something I enjoy and something that brings me peace. I want to do more of it in 2023.
  • Yoga! I want to get back into weekly classes and daily practice. It has been nearly six months since I’ve been able to do that with consistency.
  • Read! Continue reading at least one book per week.

New Year’s Resolutions for Our Family

When it comes to the family as a whole, there are a few things we’d like to do this year too.

  • Travel more. After taking our little one to Tennessee for a Christmas get-together, we really would like to travel more. We both miss road trips. So, we are going to try and fit a few trips into the budget this year.
  • Pay down debt. Of course, we are always trying to pay down our debts. With a new car and some things shifting in our finances, this will continue in 2023.
  • Save to move. Our rent went up to $1,760 on December 1 and it’s so expensive. Both of us would like to own a home, but with the current state of the market, it is difficult. Either way, we are going to be saving to rent or own elsewhere by next Thanksgiving (hopefully).

New Year’s Resolutions for My Marriage

Marriage is work, whether you like to admit it or not. While I have a really happy marriage, there have been fewer moments with just the two of us since our child was born in 2021. Next year, I’d like to do a few things for us, including:

  • Date night every other month with a sitter
  • One weekend trip with just the two of us
  • At-home date night once a week
  • Find a new game or hobby that interests both of us

I’m looking forward to 2023 being a much calmer year for us – and hopefully for you too.

Readers, what are your new year’s resolutions for 2023? Let me know in the comments!

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Financial Update: November 2022

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Our Debt Free Family Financial Update for November 2022

We have been trying to keep up with the changes happening in our family recently. Unfortunately, that meant taking on a new car loan. Our family had outgrown our previous vehicle and it was also beginning to have problems. With my husband’s new job and our improved credit scores, we both took time to think about it and decided a new car was worth it. Following that decision, we did a review of our finances. Here’s what things are looking like…

Income Changes for Last Quarter

First, there have been some changes in our monthly take-home income. My husband was extended an offer to become a full-time employee at the company he was temping with. This increased his salary and decreased the amount of money we are paying for insurance month-to-month.

How much of a change are we talking here? Well, it’s quite a bit actually. He is taking home $600 to $1,000 more each month. Plus, I have been taking on small projects to earn some extra cash to stash away too. So, we are steadily increasing the amount of money coming in.

Making the Car Decision

When it came to taking out a new loan for a car, we were both hesitant. We were pretty close to paying off our old car, but it was starting to have some issues. Not to mention, the backseat was a struggle when it came to getting the car seat in and out. On top of that, there was no way we could bring the dog along with us if we wanted to.

Budget wise, we wanted to make sure that the payment stayed in the same range we were paying before. This is because we know we can afford that payment, even on the tighter months.

Conclusion

Sometimes, it is going to feel like you are taking steps backwards in your debt-free journey. However, you have to take into consideration your own quality of life. For us, having one car makes sense because we both work from home. That being said, we need to ensure that the car we do have is reliable, safe, and fits the whole family.

Saying goodbye to our old car and hello to new debt was no easy decision, but we are SO happy with the new car. It will last us a long time and we will continue to keep you updated on paying it off here on the blog.

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Meet the Newest Addition to Our Debt Free Family

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newest addition

As you know, towards the end of August we were counting the minutes until our baby arrived. Thankfully, our little one, Dahlia, arrived on August 31, 2021. She is a beautiful, healthy baby girl and she has completely changed our world.

Meet Dahlia

Let us formally introduce you to Dahlia. She was born 7 lbs. 14 oz. at 8:54 p.m. on August 31. From the moment we met her, she amazed us both.

newest addition

Of course, there have been plenty of ups and downs. Labor was not easy. I was technically in labor a little over 32 hours and in the hospital four days. Breastfeeding was extremely difficult and caused me a great deal of anxiety. We’ve had to address the cost of formula, find a formula that sits well with her, pacifier or no pacifier, swing or no swing, and the list of decisions and concerns goes on. But, from what I understand, that’s parenthood. We are just along for the ride!

Right now, she is a little over two months old and sleeps really well. Both of us are adjusting to our new lives as parents who work from home. Kids change your life in so many amazing ways. Of course, I went through the life-changing experience of giving birth, but we have also brought a life into this world who is so special to us both. Neither of us knew we could love anyone as much as we love our little girl. As we look to what’s next for us, she is at the center of every decision, every move we are making.

What This Means For Our Debt Free Journey

Preparing for Dahlia’s arrival was our main focus throughout 2021. We’ve been stocking up on things, saving money, and paying for medical care to get her here safely. All of our prep work paid off well. We have been prepared for just about everything that has been thrown our way since she arrived. As far as our debt freedom journey goes, it is still slow moving. However, our journey has a whole new meaning now.

Now, our debt-free journey is about providing a more financially stable environment for our child, something we both lacked growing up. It gives us a new sense of purpose and more urgency behind paying down and paying off our debts. At the beginning of the year, we will be shifting our focus to paying off large sums on our car loan. After that, we will focus the efforts on student loans and small debts. That is our plan for now. The sooner we are debt-free the sooner we are able to look at buying a home and building the life we picture for our family.

To me, this is the magic of the debt-free community. Everyone has their reasons behind their journey. Some people want to be financially free, others want to avoid hardship (because they’ve been there), and people like us want to build a positive, health environment for their families.

What is the reason you decided to pursue debt freedom? 

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Pre-Baby Debt Update

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debt update

We have less than two weeks before our baby arrives and things are falling into place. As mentioned in some of our recent posts, the main focus for us has been saving and preparing for the new arrival. That doesn’t mean we’ve stopped paying off debt by any means, but it hasn’t been a hyper-focus of ours in a few months. We are preparing to shift our focus back to paying off debt. Before we do, here’s a quick snapshot of where we stand.

Where We Stand

This year has brought some MAJOR changes for our family. First, my husband started pursuing a new career. He is freelance writing for several websites and is doing a phenomenal job! (You can catch some of his posts over on Clever Dude). He has quickly caught up to my salary with what he is able to produce each month with his writing, which is fantastic. This takes a lot of the financial burden off of us and will make it easier to pay off debts and reach our goals.

Speaking of debts, it has been a while since I provided a numbers update. Here’s where we stand:

  • Credit cards: $451 – This will be paid off in full soon.
  • Collections: $1,213 – We are working on getting these removed.
  • Car loans: $16,398
  • Student loans: $24,185

We are continuing to take the federal student loan payment break during this time. Once payments resume, we will attempt to tackle that debt in a similar way that we plan to pay off the car (see below).

Plans for the Coming Months

There are some things changing in our finances over the next few months. Of course, we are having a baby. So, household expenses may be a bit higher than they have in the past. Additionally, we will need to add our little one to the health insurance. We are also looking into purchasing life insurance just in case something was to happen to one of us.

On top of those additional expenses, our rent is also going up by $110 per month. This is to renew it another year. If we were to renew for two years, it would go up another $140. Neither of us wanted to make a two-year commitment to renting here, so we are going with the one-year renewal. So, our rent is going from $1,495 to $1,605 (plus the $25 pet rent). Hopefully, within a year, we will have some savings and enough debt paid down to look at buying a home.

Our car payment is another big monthly expense we are hoping to trim down. The car still has under 75,000 miles and we will drive it for several years. However, the $488 monthly payment can be crippling. So, we are hoping that my hubby’s additional income will help us pay it off sooner. We hope to double the monthly payment and get it paid off within the next year or so.

Outside of that, we are going to continue trucking along our financial journey with our new baby. We can’t wait to keep you updated on our progress!

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Slow Progress is Better Than No Progress

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slow progress

When it comes to our debt freedom goals we are pretty far off from where we’d thought we would be a few years ago. Of course, life has thrown some unexpected curve balls our way. We moved to Atlanta for a job that didn’t quite work out and then the COVID-19 pandemic rocked the entire world. Through it all, we have been able to maintain at least the minimum payments on everything and have avoided taking on new debts altogether. So, slow progress is better than no progress, right?

Our Slow Progress

If you read last month’s debt freedom update, not much has changed. We’ve made a payment on each of our accounts to stay current but there are not any huge changes. In June, we will make a little bit more money, but most of that will be stashed away in savings as we prepare for our firstborn child to arrive at the end of the summer. There are only 10 short weeks before she makes her appearance!

While the slow progress can be a bummer at times when we consider where we wanted to be by now, there are times we sit back and think to ourselves, “Wow, look how far we’ve come.” Just a little over four years ago we were living in a motel. We were trying to pay off rental debts to get into an apartment. Things looked pretty bleak and we were taking on new debt just to improve our lives.

Flash forward to now when the only significant debt we hold is our car and my student loans. We’ve paid off accounts in full, moved four times (once four hours away to a different state). Debt or no debt, we love the lives we are beginning to create for ourselves.

A Few Motivational Thoughts

Sometimes this slow progress can be discouraging. However, slow progress is better than making no progress at all. Or worse, we could be going backward. Thankfully, we are trucking forward. Here are a few reasons even slow progress is a reason to pat yourself on the back.

  1. Slow progress doesn’t mean you are failing. Progress is progress. You are not failing just because you are moving slower than the person to the left or right (or how fast you think you should be going).
  2. It adds up over time. As mentioned above, my husband and I have come a long way. We were essentially homeless living in a motel a little over four years ago. Every financial change we’ve made has been for the better, even if the progress has been slow for us.
  3. Slower progression allows you to adapt to more things. If there’s anything I can attest to it is that we’ve both become adaptable to changes as they come. We have a tight week financially? No problem! I’ll just trim the grocery budget. We’ve learned to roll with the punches.
  4. You become resilient. Slow progress will make you more resilient. You will learn not everything is the end of the world and that, eventually, you’ll reach the goals you have your sights set on.
  5. It teaches you not the give up. Most importantly, slow progress teaches you to keep pushing forward. Things don’t always work out according to plan and that’s okay!

Readers, how do you monitor your debt freedom progress? Share your methods in the comments!

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Debt Update: May 2021

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debt update

If you are a regular follower of Our Debt Free Family you may have noticed there hasn’t been a hard numbers debt update from us in a while. Honestly, with COVID-19 last year, moving, and then finding out we are expecting a child, our debt progress hasn’t been front-and-center like it used to be. However, that doesn’t mean we haven’t still been making progress.

Debt Update: Where We Stand

As of May 2021, we are holding about $42,000 in total debt. Here is the breakdown…

  • $525 credit card debt
  • $621 in collections
  • $24,185 student loans
  • $16,842 car loan

Considering where we started just a couple of years ago, we have paid off more than $20,000 in debt. That is great progress, but we thought we’d be so much farther along by now. Last year, my husband lost his job and then switched careers. I have been taking advantage of the break from student loan payments, for now, trying to save for our new baby (and praying for student loan forgiveness to pass). We’ve been paying minimums on everything else just trying to get caught up from last year and the move.

All in all, that’s okay for us. We’ve stayed afloat and that’s more than a lot of Americans can say after the cards that were dealt to many people in 2020. For that, I am thankful.

Goals

So, what’s next for us?

We certainly want to shift our focus back towards paying off more debt. Of course, having the debt paid off means more cash flow month-to-month. More specifically, we’d like to pay off the car loan and free up the $488 per month we make in payments there. With the new arrival coming, our main goals have been focused on saving money and preparing though.

Some of our main goals right now include having a substantial emergency fund stashed away before the baby arrives, paying off all the credit card debt, nixing the new phone upgrades in September to save money on our bills, stocking up on items for the baby and food so we have lower month-to-month expenses when she arrives, and creating a nice space here in our home. We haven’t gotten much of a chance to settle in yet over the past few months. We are still in need of a dresser for our room, for instance. My husband needs a desk (so we don’t have to share one) and we need a frame for our bed.

Once all of those things are properly tackled, we are going to focus on doubling up on our car payment every month to hack away at that quicker. If we are successful, it should help us have it paid off within a year (a full two years early). Then we will shift our focus to getting the rest of our finances in order to hopefully buy our own home and save a good chunk of the $1,520 in rent we pay each month.

While we haven’t made the progress we were hoping for by now, the debt freedom journey is always humbling. You have to go with the flow and shift your focus as needed.

Readers, how have your goals changed during your debt-free journies? 

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How to Tell If You Are Suffering From Burnout

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burnout

Here lately I’ve been feeling pretty burnt out. I’m burnt out on work. I am feeling burnt out with friendships and daily activities. All in all, I am really feeling the need to unplug, take a step back, and just breathe. However, I always find myself feeling guilty for taking that time off. I should be working, doing this and that. That guilt got me thinking about how burnout affects other parts of my life and how to identify when that break is needed.

Signs of Burnout

Signs of burnout can be different for everyone, but there are some common symptoms that many people experience. According to Psychology Today, if you are feeling any of these things you may be experiencing burnout on some level:

Physical/Emotional Exhaustion

  • Anger
  • Anxiety
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Depression
  • Increased illness due to weakened immune system
  • Insomnia
  • Impaired concentration
  • Loss of appetite
  • Physical symptoms, such as chest pains, heart palpitations, and headache

Cynicism/Detachment

  • Feelings of detachment from others
  • Loss of enjoyment in things you usually love
  • Negative self-talk or pessimism
  • Self-isolation

Lack of Accomplishment Due to Burnout

  • Feelings of apathy
  • Irritability
  • Lack of productivity
  • Poor performance

Avoiding Burnout

Burnout is not unavoidable. In fact, there are a number of things you can do to make sure you don’t run yourself ragged (I just haven’t been doing them). Mommy Thrives is a mom blog that has covered some great ways to avoid burnout that you should try and implement in your day-to-day life. Here’s a quick list…

  • Change up your routine
  • Keep up with self-care
  • Schedule days where you are not working at all (or doing anything else for that matter)
  • Start a gratitude journal

How Burnout is Affecting Me

Like I said, great ideas, but I have not been doing any of that. I’ve been feeling a bit drained recently and I began thinking about the last time I truly took time off for myself. When you look at the list above, I ticked just about every box. Getting things done has been difficult. Some days it is hard to focus on all of the things that need to be done. It impacts my mood, my productivity, and, at times, it has an effect on our finances too.

More recently, I have had a lot of trouble sleeping, which was the biggest sign for me. Normally, I sleep pretty well and get around eight hours per night. Over the last few weeks, however, I have been waking up multiple times throughout the night. The sleep tracker on my smartwatch says I average between 30 and 50 minutes of deep sleep per night (Woah!). Now, this lack of sleep could be contributing to the rest of my symptoms, but when it comes down to it, I am burnt out. Period.

My mom always says, “The only thing you have to get done today is what you get done today.” I laugh when she says this because I think of my to-do list, which is normally about a mile long. But, really, how do you start to recover from burnout? What do you need to do to climb out of it and come back to your regular duties actually feeling refreshed?

Steps to Recover

Healthline wrote a great blog post about burnout and how you might be able to best recover if you hit that wall as I have.  Some of the suggestions include things like being firm about your boundaries and leaving work at work (two things I always struggle with). The blog also talked quite a bit about being in-tune with your own personal needs. On your days off, clear out your schedule and just relax. I’ll be honest, on my days off I’m usually running around checking even more things off my to-do list.

The Mommy Thrives blog mentioned mental health days and going on a hike. Hiking is one of my favorite things to do and I have not been on a hike since August 2019 (Yikes!). When it boils down to it, I’m not taking my downtime to truly tune into my personal needs or do anything I really enjoy. Instead, I’m thinking about all the things I could be doing.

Well, thankfully, I have a supportive husband who has seen this burnout coming from a mile away. He has been pushing me to do more things I enjoy and things to help my stress levels. I have started taking two yoga classes a week (which has been amazing) and in about a month we will both be unplugging for a long weekend at the beach. We never got our honeymoon and still actually have an Airbnb gift card from our wedding two years ago, so we will get one night free. While I’ll still have a month of work to do in the midst of this burnout, it is so nice to know I have these things to look forward to, to help me re-center.

Readers, how have you been able to recover from burnout in your own life? What tips do you have?

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Update: Settling Into Our New Home

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new home

There has not been a lot of time to stop and reflect on financial or life updates for the blog recently. We have been running around like crazy for about four weeks now preparing for a move, moving, and settling in. Finally, we are starting to have what resembles home and a new routine for our family. Here’s how we are settling into our new home.

Goodbye, Atlanta!

new home

I met some truly fantastic people in Atlanta, but living there was not good for my mental health, my marriage, or my relationships with others. My husband and I started looking at homes to rent closer to our original homes again (back to North Carolina). A few weeks into our search, we decided we would probably wait until March to move so that we could be financially prepared. No more going into debt just to improve our immediate circumstances, right?

Well, the universe had different things planned.

Our tiny 450-square foot apartment got bed bugs (again – the second time in two years). Thinking about having to deal with an exterminator coming in, finding a place to go during COVID, and the multitude of other concerns on my plate, I was pretty close to having a mental breakdown. I didn’t even want to be in Atlanta anymore, why were we fighting so hard to stay?

A few things crossed my mind. “Just abandon the lease, there are bed bugs in the apartment.” “We can sleep on an air mattress for a few weeks.” “We have to call the landlord.” “Oh, God, we are in no way financially prepared for this right now.”

Help From Mom

I started talking to my mom about what was going on. She was there throughout the first ordeal with bed bugs. I just needed to vent to someone, but she offered to help pay for us to move out immediately. Who could turn that down? So, we started looking for a new home as if “money weren’t an issue,” as mom said.

Within a couple of days, we found a cute three-bedroom and two-bath house close to where my husband and I grew up. We were approved within a couple of hours of applying and mom helped with all of the deposits, moving truck, and other moving essentials. Just like that, our lives completely changed (and for the better).

The move, in general, has been an immediate improvement in the quality of life for us. We are happier, there is more space, we can see people we love. More importantly, we have so many things to keep us busy.

Shopping and Gifts

We did not bring a single piece of furniture from our apartment in Atlanta. There was no use in risking us bringing bed bugs into our new home. So, instead, we started saving every penny we could to get some small essential things (i.e. a cheaper mattress, living furniture, new towels, etc). We have furnished the house (pretty much) for under $2,000 out of pocket.

Amazon has some great buys as far as mattresses go. We grabbed our 10″ mattress for about $300. My grandmother had a box spring she did not need that we got for free. We also got a side table for the bedroom for free. The living room furniture took some more digging. We spent $300 on a futon and ottoman for the living space and used our old coffee table, TV stand, and television.

new home

A family friend came by with a glass dining table, four chairs, and two barstools. These were a gift. They need to be reupholstered, but that will only cost about $100 to $120 in total. That isn’t too bad for a dining set and stools. Then, last, but not least, my mom bought us a refurbished washer and dryer set ($750 with delivery and installation).

new home

Today, a new desk arrived for my new office space ($65 on Amazon). A new office chair will arrive within a couple of weeks. By February, a beautiful sectional my grandmother purchased as a gift will be here.

Making This Our ‘New Normal’

Overall, as I sit curled up on my futon which will eventually be in my spare room, I can’t help but think about how very blessed we have been. There is no doubt this year has been hard for everyone, but I am feeling hopeful. It is hard to settle into this space when it feels like there is so much to do – so much to straighten up, so much to organize, so much to decorate – but it is already home.

In the mornings, we open the back door and the dog goes into our new backyard. We have a cup of coffee together, then I go into my make-shift office (photo for the laughs).

new home

We are beginning to have what we never did in Atlanta: a routine. Eventually, this little place will fill up with things that depict our character. Memories will flood the hallways and we will make a wonderful life here. For now, there is still a little bit of settling to be done.

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