Is it spring yet???

 

Nope. Clearly not.

The forecast says it will be above freezing on Friday.
I will believe it when I feel it.

 

 

Unrelated but relevant to my life right now, I got rid of the facebook app on my phone two weeks ago. Okay...13 days ago to be exact...almost 2 weeks:) And here is the shocker...I don't miss it! I thought I would. I mean I thought I would really, really, really miss it. Possibly even go through withdrawal. But I don't and I didn't. And for good measure I got rid of the pinterest app as well. Both big time wasters for me. I had considered doing this before, but just couldn't take the plunge. I just loved scrolling through and "checking in" on an all too frequent basis. So what finally got me to say goodbye to my favorite time wasting apps?

Here's the full story. One morning as I was bathing the girls I got sucked into a conversation on facebook and wound up with my feelings hurt. In this conversation a facebook "friend" told me that she felt it was wrong of us to take out loans for living expenses and that we need to live more frugally. That we shouldn't take out loans so we can live in comfort! I kindly informed her that we have three children to house, feed and clothe and that is why we take out extra* loans each semester. (We aren't friends in real life so I wasn't sure if she knew this fact or not.) To which she responded that we shouldn't have children in med school and that we should have waited. I then explained that we had children before med school and that this is Joe's second career. Can't exactly send them back! Anyway the conversation was going downhill FAST and I was feeling sad and hurt, so I ended by saying that I believe God gave us these children at just the right time for our family and I believe they are a blessing...even if that means taking out more loans:) And then I looked up and saw two of my blessings playing in the tub and I realized it was time to step away from facebook and back into my real life.

So I did it. I deleted the apps. And I couldn't be happier with my decision. Sure I still log-on to facebook occasionally. I haven't de-activated my account or anything drastic like that:) But I have given myself a little space. And the desire to "check in" just isn't there anymore. All of this to say, if you and I are facebook friends know that I am not ignoring you or your posts and funny/cute/exciting/sad status updates. I am just taking a much needed breather. Because when I get so wrapped up in what someone on facebook thinks about my life and ignore my life that is unfolding right before my eyes that is a problem! A problem that took just a few taps of the phone screen to fix.



*For the record (not that I need to justify this to anyone), by "extra loans" I mean living stipends. The same living stipends that all of Joe's classmates are given. We are NOT taking out private loans or additional loans to the ones offered through his school. So that means we are living as a family of 5 on the same amount of money each semester as Joe's single classmates. Living in comfort? Nope just living...as frugally as possible! Which means, when friends at church this morning gave us 2 bags full of clothes for Charlotte I was ECSTATIC! Felt like Christmas morning for me. We are truly blessed to have these children. And we are blessed to have friends and family that believe in us and help us along the way! And lastly, to illustrate just how frugal I really am...Isaiah is 6 (nearly 7) and last week for the first time EVER we bought him a brand new pair of tennis shoes. Before that all of his shoes had been from garage sales, thrift stores, hand-me-downs, or gifts! In fact, in his ENTIRE life I can count on both hands the number of times I have purchased brand-new-from-the-store clothing for him. So please don't tell me I am not frugal enough...it will hurt me feelings.