Proud

My friend posted this quote on Facebook and it got me thinking:

"Look back at yourself five years ago. Where were you? What were you doing? And did you think you'd be where you are today? Imagine what another 5 years will be.  Life is full of the unknown and that's what makes it beautiful."

Five years ago brings me back to 2007. I was graduating college, newly married, and just moved to Columbus, MS with Joe while he was going through pilot training. After a year and a half there, we were off to Okinawa, Japan.

Now our tour here in Okinawa is coming to an end (4 months left), I look back to where we started when we first got here, and am really proud of our little family!

When we came to Okinawa, Joe was a 1st Lt., we were living pay check to pay check and had a few measly hundred dollars in our savings account {that we more than often dipped into}, two student loans, a credit card bill, and a car to still pay off.  We weren't necessarily struggling, but we were the typically newly married and fresh out of college couple still trying to get the house set up and things in order.

Three quick years later, we're so proud for having no credit card debt, one small student loan still left to pay off {we could easily pay it off, but it's considered "good debt" for now}, all cars are paid for, and an entire year of pay saved up in our savings account.  It's refreshing not living paycheck to paycheck, and ultimately we feel very blessed and secure knowing we can make all the purchases {and then some} we need to in order to provide for ourselves, Tyler, and two dogs.  We feel guilty when holidays like Christmas and birthdays roll around and people ask what we want, and we really have nothing major on our wishlists. We are fortunate enough to buy the things we want and can easily afford them.

Hard work pays off and we can live comfortably and have saved {and will continue to do so} for things in our upcoming future like a nice house, new car, and furniture for the house.  We plan to have another baby sometime in the future and want to continue to save for our children's college funds.

We've come a long way from 2009, and I can't wait to see what the future has in store for us!