Our little family is truly blessed.
A year ago Damon and I decided to work smarter not harder. We were no longer going to play our stupid little game. You know the game, I'm sure. At tax return time, you get out of debt just to get back into it over the next few months. Sure we can justify our debt... our house, a car, student loans, medical bills. But really should we justify debt? No.
So we decided to get out of debt the Dave Ramsey way. "If you will live like no one else, later you can live like no one else." We made a budget and have stuck to it, we sold a bunch of random stuff on KSL, we stopped going out to eat, and pretty much put all our energy into paying off our debts.
Also, we have started focusing on the basics. We spend more time together as a family, Damon and I go on regular dates, we go to the temple regularly, and we have family prayer and scripture study together daily. I have to tell you, we have less stress, we are more patient, and really everything is working out perfect.
Well one day we met this man. He had been through a lot in his life and had become an awesome example to those around him. The more we got to know him, we found him to be a truly amazing person. We shared our own story and he seemed to be very proud of us. (I'm not completely sure why.) Later on in the evening when we were getting ready to leave, he took my sweet hubby aside and asked him a quick question. I didn't know about this until later, but I am so grateful for him and his generosity.
Later Damon told me about his brief conversation with this man. He had asked Damon how long it had been since he took Jen out to a nice dinner. "Not for a while."
"No really, how long since you took her out to a really nice dinner?"
"Ummm?"
"Well, I want you to take your wife on a really special date." Then he gave Damon some money. Of course Damon tried to refuse, but this wonderful man wouldn't allow it. He said that he felt this a great opportunity to give this gift to us. I didn't know what to say. Thank you.
Also, we have started focusing on the basics. We spend more time together as a family, Damon and I go on regular dates, we go to the temple regularly, and we have family prayer and scripture study together daily. I have to tell you, we have less stress, we are more patient, and really everything is working out perfect.
Well one day we met this man. He had been through a lot in his life and had become an awesome example to those around him. The more we got to know him, we found him to be a truly amazing person. We shared our own story and he seemed to be very proud of us. (I'm not completely sure why.) Later on in the evening when we were getting ready to leave, he took my sweet hubby aside and asked him a quick question. I didn't know about this until later, but I am so grateful for him and his generosity.
Later Damon told me about his brief conversation with this man. He had asked Damon how long it had been since he took Jen out to a nice dinner. "Not for a while."
"No really, how long since you took her out to a really nice dinner?"
"Ummm?"
"Well, I want you to take your wife on a really special date." Then he gave Damon some money. Of course Damon tried to refuse, but this wonderful man wouldn't allow it. He said that he felt this a great opportunity to give this gift to us. I didn't know what to say. Thank you.
The more and more we do what we know we should, the more excited we get to continue moving forward. So now we do more to achieve our goals. Damon put his resume out to a few companies and we are so excited that he got a job offer. He will be an industrial mechanic (same as before), but with much better benefits. He will have better pay, more opportunity to move up, and they even pay for schooling. What a blessing. He will start his new job Sept. 19th.
Damon turned in his notice and cashed out his vacation time from his current job. (He needs to get a few more tools before he starts the new job.) With the "bigger shovel" as Dave Ramsey would call it, we are even more excited to finish off this debt and never get into it again.
Well the other day Damon and I went out on a "date". We went to the adult session of our stake conference, had refreshments, then went grocery shopping. (I don't get to go shopping without the kids very often.)
While at the store, we ONLY bought things that were on the list. Flour, sugar, rice, corn, green beans, tomato sauce, etc. The basics- it's case lot sale time, so we gotta stock up. We decided that we would use some of the cashed in vacation time for the groceries.
I felt bad for the young mother in line behind us. We were price matching almost everything, which made it take even longer. Actually, I am proud to say, we only bought 1 thing regular price. Our total was close to $140 dollars. I had $28 dollars left for our grocery budget for the week, so I decided to use that, then pay the rest on the debit card.
Just as I was about to pay, this young lady with 2 kids behind us, asks if she can pay for her groceries and we can pay later?
Really? We have already rang everything up and now you want to go ahead of us?
Then she clarified. She wanted to pay for our groceries. She said that she felt that it was something that she needed to do. She had been there one time before and wanted to "pay it forward and God Bless". She wanted us to save our $28 and use it later.
Neither Damon nor I knew what to say (nor the cashier). I started to cry and said Thank you. She gave me a big hug and proceeded to add her groceries to ours and pay for them all.
I don't know who she is, but I want to say Thank you again.
One day, we too will "pay it forward". The Lord truly blesses those who do as he asks.
I do think sometimes that we are blessed "better than we deserve".
Damon turned in his notice and cashed out his vacation time from his current job. (He needs to get a few more tools before he starts the new job.) With the "bigger shovel" as Dave Ramsey would call it, we are even more excited to finish off this debt and never get into it again.
Well the other day Damon and I went out on a "date". We went to the adult session of our stake conference, had refreshments, then went grocery shopping. (I don't get to go shopping without the kids very often.)
While at the store, we ONLY bought things that were on the list. Flour, sugar, rice, corn, green beans, tomato sauce, etc. The basics- it's case lot sale time, so we gotta stock up. We decided that we would use some of the cashed in vacation time for the groceries.
I felt bad for the young mother in line behind us. We were price matching almost everything, which made it take even longer. Actually, I am proud to say, we only bought 1 thing regular price. Our total was close to $140 dollars. I had $28 dollars left for our grocery budget for the week, so I decided to use that, then pay the rest on the debit card.
Just as I was about to pay, this young lady with 2 kids behind us, asks if she can pay for her groceries and we can pay later?
Really? We have already rang everything up and now you want to go ahead of us?
Then she clarified. She wanted to pay for our groceries. She said that she felt that it was something that she needed to do. She had been there one time before and wanted to "pay it forward and God Bless". She wanted us to save our $28 and use it later.
Neither Damon nor I knew what to say (nor the cashier). I started to cry and said Thank you. She gave me a big hug and proceeded to add her groceries to ours and pay for them all.
I don't know who she is, but I want to say Thank you again.
One day, we too will "pay it forward". The Lord truly blesses those who do as he asks.
I do think sometimes that we are blessed "better than we deserve".
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