Month End.

Theose two words used to control our life. When I first met David, literally in the first night's conversation, he said to me, "I get the first two weeks of the month, and Countrywide has the last two". We had JUST met. I was googly-eyed over this man, did I really care about what that really meant? No.

Don't worry, I quickly learned - he was not lying. You heard people call Countrywide: a legalized sweat shop - we were in 2005 - is that possible? Yes. Our wedding date is December 2nd - it was planned around month end. Our honeymoon was the first week of January in the new year - it was planned around month end. David wasn't lying to me! I can't tell you how many "date nights" we had at Countrywide or that David's employee's became like family or his boss asking when I wanted to be hired to work there or I knew how to input loans and do submissions better than half the staff..... yep, those were the good ol' days of Countrywide Home Loans. While the money was 'good' Countrywide will forever rest in hell.

Haha. Just kidding, but seriously - isn't it funny that you think something is SO important while you are involved in it and couldn't imagine what your life would be like with out it? Even if it was so unhealthy - in so many ways? Crazy thought, right? Not so much.

What is an even crazier thought is when after all those long hours, years of dedication, working Saturdays, late hours every night of the week and the list could go on and on. When you are handed a box and said "thank you for your service - it's not personal, it's business" after 11 years of service, it seems unfair, unreal, unjust. Somehow none of what you thought was important or a priority, is anymore. Is there a world out there that we can live in that doesn't include Countrywide Home Loans/Bank of America? Much to our surprise, there is!

Totally ironic that now neither of us could imagine David still being employed at BOA! God really does sometimes go to drastic measures to help us. While we thought our life was over, (seems dramatic, but some days very real), God was smiling down on us, watching, and saying your life is just now beginning. It still amazes me to think about all the distractions that we allow ourselves to get involved with and then once those blinders at lifted - it is like WOW there is a whole, big, bright world out there! We have come to very much love this world and our life - without the company of Countrywide or BOA. :)

Month End.

Time heals all wounds, well sort of. Now those words are ones filled with delight and a sense of achievement. We get to look back over our goals for the month and see all the ones that we were able to accomplish! Instead of being beat down, we are continually encouraged. I love the freedom of not being controlled by a place of employment. That sounds like a very 'duh' statement, but you would be shocked at how many people still are very controlled by their work. David and I have incredible hopes and dreams of working in corporate in the future but we have learned some new words: boundaries, balance, priorities.

There will be so many things different when David graduates and goes back into the work place. He will have to work hard and probably pay some dues, but he will never be controlled by anyone or thing again - except God. Every month we are one step closer to being debt free, one step closer to graduation day, one step closer to accomplishing another set of goals we made for ourselves. Who doesn't want to be a part of that month end?! It is incredible to me that God really can do a work in your life and mold you to be a better person, wife, friend, sister, daughter and so many more. We are constantly reminded how wonderful our life is and how thankful we are for second chances.

Month End is now a time of celebrating successes. We will forever keep this concept of that small little phrase.