The Joy of My Life

I have alot to say but can't really put it into words right now.  So for now here is a picture of the joy and love of my life.


                         Here  is my big boy when he was 2 months old!   Check out his little dimples!

Here he is last week on Valentine's Day.  Check out his Jordans!  Put excuse the ugly green throw pillow.

Have a wonderful Tuesday!!!

New Year, New Me!!!

Happy New Year Readers!

I can't believe the last time I posted was in June! Yikes!!! So much has happened and I am feeling so blessed. In July I started my new job as an Assistant Principal at a high school and I completely love it. This week was one of those weeks when a lot of challenging things happened and even with everything going on I can honesty say that I love my job.

But I also have another new love. In October I had a beautiful, healthy baby boy who is the love of my life. His name is Dhani and he is absolutely gorgeous and happy and just makes me look at life very differently.

Its time for me to get back on track with my finances and goals but I also want to write about the joys and challenges of being a working mother, wife, and this journey we call life.

Ah... it feels good to be back in the saddle!!!

5:50 AM

Its 5:50 in the morning and I'm feeling good. I hear the birds chirping and I'm in my new office listening to the Kirk Franklin "Hello Fear" album. This is my last full week of working as a teacher. The students are gone, yearbooks are given out and tomorrow is graduation.

I haven't posted much but I feel like I'm back for good. Baby is good, husband is good, rental property is good and I have a new job. I'm going to be an Assistant Principal at a high school with a salary in the low six figures. My family is very happy about this because we will be able to give more, help my little brother pay for college, and pay off debt and save.

This job is a prayer answered. Many years ago I prayed to God and asked him to give me a job that would help me build a legacy for my family including my little brother and sister. Last month my little brother, who turned 18 last Thursday, called me and told me some things that broke my heart. The only place I could turn was to God. I cried and cried, and prayed and prayed for a breakthrough so that I could help him. I prayed that God would heal the hurt in both of us.

And he did.

My little soccer player is kicking up a storm.........and I need to get ready for work.

Blessings

I'm going through Changes

Hello Dear Readers!!!


I hope you all have been well during my 2 and a half month hiatus. The time I wrote a post I had just found out I was pregnant and was in the midst of killer morning sickness. Now, with much joy I can write that the morning sickness is over ( Praise God) and my husband and I are having a little boy.

We also moved... last week in fact. We decided it would be best for us financially to rent out both parts of duplex ( we own) and rent a house in a quieter more family friendly and convenient neighborhood. We found a great house in a beautiful multicultural area of the Delaware Valley and we love it. In fact a couple days ago I came out of my house to go to work and a little rabbit was hopping around on our lawn.

So with all this newness, there are changes in our budget, goals, and more. I can't wait to start posting about them.

I have to say

I'm pregnant and sick as a dog! Will post more later!

Brakes, Tires, and Batteries

My car needs several maintenance requests taken car of as soon as possible. The month of January was tough and there was something wrong with my battery. Every time the temperature hit below freezing I would always have to start my car with the automatic car starter. I had some money in the car fund last month and I used it to buy a new car battery.

Now I hear my brakes grinding. Right now I have about $150 in my car account and I am going to use that to shop around for brakes. I hope I can buy them and have someone put them in for roughly that amount.

Finally, I need new tires! I have never replaced the tires and my truck I have had it for a year come May. I have no idea how much tires cost and where to go to replace them. I know that sometimes places like Sears have buy three get one free deals but I don't enough know how much one costs.

Time to research!!! Once I figure out how much it should all cost I will up my savings to the car account so that I can get them done sometime in March.

In closing, one thing I have learned about saving for purchases is when I save and pay for something rather than put it on my credit card or have my husband buy it, I appreciate it more. With my car getting close to 90,000 miles its important that I keep some money in my car account for maintenance and other expenses that will occur with my car.

I will max out my Roth

This is the year I will max out my Roth IRA. I have been saying that I would max it out since I was like 20 but I have never done it. Alas, this will be the year! I have already set up payments of $208.00 to come out every two weeks, and during the month of January I didn't even feel it.

February is a new month and I'm ready to conquer it. By December 31, 2011 I will have $5000 in my Roth IRA account.

Are you maxing out your Roth IRA account this year?