Here's a light post for the day - I've been using ebay to buy & sell stuff since 2005, but it's not until the last couple years that I've perfected my technique for winning auctions. After some really good buys this past week (i.e. $175 snow pants for Jen for $13.06), I'm feeling pretty good, so I figured I'd share my secrets.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Dave's ebay secret
Posted by Dave at 10:01 PM 0 comments
Friday, December 11, 2009
The real tragedy of Global "Warming" (btw, the polar bears are fine!)
Posted by Dave at 9:01 AM 0 comments
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
A financial milestone
Besides being December 1st (WHITE RABBIT!), today marks a significant event in our family's financial history.
We don't owe anything on credit cards. Zip. Nada. Zilch.
Four years ago, Jen & I were introduced to Dave Ramsey & Financial Peace University. Both with good jobs, in debt up to our eyeballs, Dave encouraged us to take steps to change our situation.
We learned that that dread "B" word...budget...isn't a dirty word but a tool intended to gain control of the money we worked so hard to make in the first place.
Then came the debt repayment plan. Almost $40K in credit card debt is hard to ignore, and even harder to pay off playing by the card issuers' rules, especially when they CHANGE the rules frequently (ex. "New changes to your account terms and what they mean to you.") Four years later, that debt is gone & we never wanna go back!
Next are the car loans & student loans. We're working toward having those completely paid off within the next 1 1/2-2 years.
We're already talking about saving for and paying cash for a house. How crazy is that?
Posted by Dave at 10:21 AM 0 comments
Labels: Dave Ramsey, debt, freedom
Friday, November 20, 2009
Where's my stone?
I'll be honest. There are times that I'd like to throttle people. There's one in particular, right now, that I'd like to kick the royal ####### out of.
"David!" (I can hear my mom gasp)
As a husband & father, I was made aware last night of a supposed follower of Christ who recently announced to his wife (with infant son) that he was leaving. Reason given? He wanted his life back & his wife and child were holding him back.
Wanna take turns swinging? I'll share my bat.
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged." Luke 6:37 NIV
Ugh! Ok, God, I'm listening...
In this passage, Jesus isn't asking us to abandon discernment. It's not popular to say such things nowadays, but there still are things that are right and wrong. What Jesus is saying is that we should avoid self righteously judging others, whipping those rocks at someone who may honestly have 'em coming while we ignore the sin in our lives that deserve our own helping of judgement.
Pray for this family!
Posted by Dave at 9:31 AM 0 comments
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Memories of home
Spent some time last weekend transporting some things for my sister as she prepares to move back home to my parent's house. After bringing the last of the boxes inside, I found myself walking around the yard in the moonlight. It was amazing all the memories that came to mind...
* That scraggly little tree in the front yard that looked like a mop
* Dodgeball in the front yard with soaked Nerf footballs
* The apple "bush"
* Our dog's "minefield," especially when cutting the grass
* Riding bikes on the patio 'cuz dad didn't want us in the street
* Mom's chive plant by the back steps
* Throwing dried dirt clods at each other like hand grenades
* The grits I dumped into the evergreen bush when I made too much
* The play fort (manly 'til mom & Vikki painted flowers on it)
* Playing catch with Dad next to the garage
* Kickball games at the side of the house
* The Prayer Tree
Posted by Dave at 8:46 PM 0 comments
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Louis Vincent Albano - 1933-2009
Posted by Dave at 11:30 AM 0 comments
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Ugh, another month has gone by!
Yes, I'm still alive. Not much new to post besides the fact that life is crazy as usual. Olivia continues to grow at an accelerated rate...Hattie is developing into a little girl with a unique personality (she laughs & smiles a lot!), Jen's busy with school & parenting, I'm trying to stay on top of the wave that includes being a good husband, dad, and camp program director (without a fulltime assistant) during a crazy busy fall outdoor ed season.
Posted by Dave at 9:14 AM 0 comments


