On with the saga....

So far we've cut up 2 credit cards, hooray!!! What a great feeling. It's going to take a while I'm sure but we'll slowly get all our debts paid and be back to normal. No credit cards (with balances that is) and no large mortgages. I can't say no more boat because that was the best thing we have ever bought for our family. We'll just have to be happy with one we can afford next time. I don't think we could live without one now--nor could the YM and YW of our ward (or the cub scouts for that matter). Although, we'll have to live without it until everything else is paid off. You know, as bad as being in this situation is, I still consider it worth it. We sure had a great time thinking we were getting all that interest. We made some wonderful memories over the last two and a half years that we probably wouldn't have. And we would've been able to afford all of it too if we just wouldn't have bought this last house, darn it. Oh well...at least we got to live in the BEST neighborhood and ward we've ever been in. I still know that we were supposed to be here. Perhaps it was because I really need to learn humility--and I am. And, I've really got to say that I'm so grateful for it. I love me more now than before. I'm a much better person for having to go through this. I know that sounds like pride, but I, like Ammon, "...do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God." I continue to see God's love for me and He has shown me my weaknesses and I am trying to strengthen them with His help. "Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behod, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever." (Alma 26: 11-12) I sincerely think this will be my all-time favorite Christmas ever because of this. I feel like I say more earnest prayers, I read my scriptures more diligently and I continually have a prayer in my heart and think of my savior Jesus Christ more often. Truly this will be the best Christmas because I have been compelled to be humble. "And now, because ye are compelled to be humble blessed are ye;..." Unfortunately I had to be compelled. Alma goes on to say, "And now, as I said unto you, that because ye were compelled to be humble ye were blessed, do ye not suppose that they are more blessed who truly humble themselves because of the word." So my homework is to be humble without being compelled to do so. It's a lot less painful that way anyway.