Freedom!!!!

Jeff and I were baptised on Sunday! Immediately afterwards when Jeff and I were still standing backstage dripping wet I was almost giddy. I told Jeff that I was so happy that I just wanted to crack up laughing. It was wonderful. And I am so happy that Jeff's older brother Steven was able to do the actual baptism for us. Isn't that so special? Of course, God always has plans for us. But it is so cool to see them unfold. All these years I wanted to be baptised but just never made the commitment. I really know that God put this on my heart now because we were supposed to go through this as a family; Jeff, Steven and myself. So, I am so excited and I feel like a new person. I feel more confident knowing I have the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit walking around with me everyday! It is such a blessing and a relief.
Big news in the Bales house (not as big as being Baptised). How amazing is God? Jeff and I are living free in Christ and soon we will be living financially free too. Our only debt is our mini van. We owe a little over $10,000. Our monthly payment is an even $200. Recently we started making $500 month payments. I really thought that way we have it paid off in a year and a half. However, I called the bank and asked them to do the math. Their calculations were 22 months! I was so upset. So, I have been telling Jeff (yes, I was the one pushing this issue) we need to sell the van and get something with cash. Then we will be debt free. I hate making those monthly payments. Seriously, this has been weighing on me for a couple of weeks. We have been looking in the Indy auto and rv but haven't seen anything in our new extremely low price range. On Monday I was driving to April's house to babysit and right around the corner from her house was a van almost identical to the one I am driving with a big price tag of $2900!! Okay, Jeff looked at it and purchased it Monday evening. I am thrilled. I am extremely thrilled. I will take pics later and upload all my new van photos and photos from the weekend later today. The new van and the old van look seriously identical. Our 'new' van is a 1999 and it has 106,000 miles. And it does have some rust, but it is paid for!!! We were able to pay cash for it! Tomorrow our good friend Steve will be detailing our old van for us and hopefully we will sell it soon. But I told Jeff, even if it takes six months to sell we are still way ahead and eventually debt free but the house. Oh, and we will be focusing next on paying off our house. It may be crazy but it will be done! I have to mention a big thanks to my Dad for opening my eyes to Dave Ramsey. When Jeff and I were at our hardest moments financially I asked Dad for advice. That is when he bought me a copy of Dave Ramsey's book. He brought it over that night and it has changed our lives. I know money isn't everything. And I know we will probably not be millionaires. But to live free without debt is amazing. We are the most average people in America but we are living like no one else in financial freedom! Thanks Dad!