My Future's So Bright...

***a note before beginning: Please forgive me if it seems I am not commenting. Evidently Blogger has been eating my comments just recently, and I am too lazy to go out to every place that I remember making comments to see if they are there and replace them if not. I AM visiting all of you, I promise!***


Well, taxes were done yesterday. As usual, we are getting quite a bit back (thank goodness). There are some good things about making little money, having lots of kids and having nothing really to be taxed on.

Mr. Barefoot is already planning on using our return to finance his trip to CA this spring (to visit his dad) and the rest will be going towards debt reduction. A good plan, I think, since Mr. Barefoot's father will not be able to visit us this year due to job issues.

Mr. Barefoot believes that we will be able to be in our own home by Christmas time. I think that perhaps TWO Christmases away is a bit more realistic, but if we can manage it sooner I won't mind a bit. I am finding, however, that I am a lot more picky about what house I want than I thought I would be. After all these years of dreaming and wishing, I had been feeling like I would take anything that kept me dry as long as I could own it. Now that Mr. Barefoot is actively trying to get us to the point of buying, though, I am finding that it is not so easy. I do not want either of the Sprouts to have to change school districts, and that limits our options quite a bit. However, knowing that I will be in the house for 10-20 years (so the kids both can stay with the same school), I don't want to just take something that won't work for us.

Right now my wish list is about a mile long, and getting longer by the day. Our poor future real estate agent!

I also worry about what will happen with my folks' yard when I have my own place (and my own gardens). I have done a lot of things to their yard over the years, and don't think I will be able to keep up with two yards. I have pretty much decided that if and when this all happens, I will end up asking them how much they want to keep, and pay to sod over the beds I have dug that they don't want to keep. After I take out all the plants I want, of course.

One good thing about all this is that I have a ready-made source for perennials when I do get my own place. I can just take divisions from all the flowers etc. I already have growing over at my folks' place. That way we can both enjoy them.

It is actually scary to actually begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel (financially speaking). I thought I would feel more excitement. I AM excited, but I am also anxious. So much change, so fast. Mr. Barefoot is like a different person, full of hope and determination and drive to make this happen. I like it, don't get me wrong, I am just not so good with change. I have made myself a nice little nest here with my parents so close and things comfortably the same. To think of taking the next step is a little nerve wracking.

We'll have to see what happens, won't we?