101 List Update

I have a little over a month to complete my 2 year 101 list. I wrote this list around the time I met Judd in 2012 and have mentioned it a few times but now I am proud to report on some of the latest goals that I have checked off. 

#4 Sadly I couldn't cross this one off because I actually did it, I just waited too long. I have always wanted to have another conversation with a sweet man I befriended in Bulgaria. Unfortunately I received the news a few months ago that he passes away. So a conversation will just have to wait for my 101 list in the spirit world! 

#11 Pay off Student Loans

I had to get two small student loans for BYU-Idaho and Cosmetology school and because of the hard work my husband puts in EVERY DAY we were able to pay off one completely and the second one will be gone by January!! Getting out of debt feels so good!

#14 Go to Mount Rushmore

It would have been pathetic to have lived in South Dakota and not have gone there. Luckily we were able to make the stop as we were moving away!

#22 Read the Book of Mormon in 3 months

Yeah I know that that isnt the shortest amount of time that someone has read the book but for having a new born at the time I was quite proud Judd and I could do it!

#29 Have Children

"It is a crowning priviledge of a husband and wife who are able to bear children to provide mortal bodies for these children of God. We believe in families, and we believe in children" Neil L. Andersen

I can honestly say that being a mother is the most rewarding part of my life. I love it! And I am so excited to welcome baby girl #2 in just 17ish weeks! 

#32

Pay off Law suit

So this one needs a little explaining and I can't without getting a little personal. To put it simply, when Judd was 19 he got a loan for a $7,000 dirt bike. At the time he was getting paid fairly well working construction. When the economy crashed he lost his job and after making the payments for two years the dirt bike was repossessed. 

Well, in November 2012, over 5 years later, just a few weeks before we were to get married Judd received some confusing legal papers claiming that he owed over $12,000 to a company Judd had never heard of before. It took hours of phone calls and digging to figure out where this $12,000 was coming from and after talking to some RUDE lawyers we became bitter and for a few months we didn't even like mentioning the words law suit or dirt bike!

 Living in Miller and working for Judd's parents we were able to stay under the radar of getting Judd's wages garnished and come up with a game plan to take care of this huge debt. But honestly the more time passed, we became further and further away of coming to terms with paying (TO US) a huge chunk of money for something WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE ANYMORE! Thoughts of bankruptcy and getting unsecured loans were discussed in our home but it always made us sick to our stomach.

Now, 22 months after first hearing about this debt, we are FREE OF THIS DEBT!!!!

It wouldn't be possible without my sweet mother-in-law and my hard working husband. Because of the work Judd was able to do remodeling his parent's motel, doing his own construction work on the side and alot of saving and sacrificing we were able to reach a settlement of $11,500 and finally say good riddance to stinkin debt collectors! I can't say enough how amazing it feels to get further and further out of debt and chose everyday to USE CASH AND NOT CREDIT!  It makes our future look and feel so much brighter! 

#86

Get off Food Stamps

Again we are getting personal here! ** I first have to mention that I believe that its great that the government has programs out there for those that TRULY need help and I DO NOT judge those that need them because I am one of them! ** Ever since Judd and I were dating we always agreed that we would live (to the best of our ability) debt free and be self-sufficient in growing our own garden and living within our means. 

Growing up the thought of being on food stamps was always like a sin in my mind and I always believed I would never be one that received money for my food. I think that this judgement was created by all the horrible stories I heard of people abusing the program. A month after being married reality set it. Judd and I got pregnant fairly fast and it seemed like the next step was to walk over to the WIC office and get signed up as a pregnant woman. Walking into the office it was like they were trying to give me everything I would ever need for FREE. Diapers, wipes, clothes, cribs and car seats... and after signing my name a few times I was handed a magical card that would always have money on it each month. Who could say no to that?!? I always had a bad feeling in my gut while spending this money ( not that we were being dishonest or were buying candy and pop with it) but because I always knew we probably could have been sacrificing in other areas to be paying for our own food. Looking back on it now I can see how Satan was slowly convincing me to lower my standards and get more and more comfortable with NOT BEING SELF-SUFFICIENT. 

Moving to Montana we were pregnant again and I found myself filling out the same papers for government assistance for my medical visits. This time we received the news that we didn't qualify for food stamps and I did a little happy dance! It feels so good to have graduated from that and have a husband that works so hard to support his family!! I love you Judd!