Lockdown

Lockdown-according to the Altic Family Dictionary; a lockdown is when the leader of the family declares no superfluous money will be spent for a particular period of time.  This can last a day, a  week or a month or longer depending on the reason for the lockdown.  The definition of "superfluous spending" changes depending on the severity of said lockdown.

Jared and I purchased an older suburban the first of January.  We had a special family reach out to us and offer us this great truck for a great price.  It was really a God thing.  We had decided to keep the vehicles we had since we found and fixed the problems with our Dodge.  Then we received a phone call from the owner about the truck and prayed about it.  We decided not to act on it until January (they called in Nov).  When the owner offered to hold onto the truck for us until Jan. we decided to try and sell the Kia.  It literally sold in a day for exactly what we needed out of it.  There's a lot more to this story and about the generosity of the family that owned the truck.  They were just wonderful and we are so thankful.


When we went to tag the suburban we decided not to roll the tags and taxes into the loan in order to pay it off sooner.  In order to do this, we had to enter a lockdown of epic proportions.  It's the longest and strictest lockdown in the history of the Altic clan.

It has been a month since we accessed our checking account for anything other than bills.  We have used any money that I have brought in (hair cuts/color, carpet shampooing, babysitting) for gas and groceries.  Last pay period I spent $57 on groceries and a total of $100 for the entire month.

While I'm giddy we are mere days away from the end, I am really thankful for this time.  We have worked through the bulk of the storage in our pantry.  We've eaten things that were stashed in there and ignored for who knows how long.

I've come across a few articles that suggest a No Spend Month in order to jump start a savings.  For us, it saved us 5 months of extra car payments and extra interest for that debt.  More importantly, it reset what we felt we had to have in order to function.  Jared and I are encouraged that we can do with so much less and save so much more.  One tight month in order to save 5 months payments?!  That's a great trade off.

It's been a blessing for the kids.  We used to frequent Happy Hour at Sonic.  We haven't been in a month and Saturday I took the kids and got them the smallest drinks after a free outing at the park.  I spent less than $4 total and they were thrilled.  It was the "best treat ever!!"  according to my boys.  They were so very grateful and there wasn't a single complaint.

In the end, we are better off and we have a great truck that fits our family.  Meet the Altic School Bus:

Sanctity of Life

Today is the March for Life in Washington DC.

It is also the 40th anniversary of Roe V Wade. 

In the words of the creator of Planned Parenthood, Margaret Sanger:

"The most merciful thing that a large family does to one of its infant members is to kill it."
Margaret Sanger, Women and the New Race
(Eugenics Publ. Co., 1920, 1923) 

Jared and I watched the movie, October Baby.  It is about a girl who finds out she was birthed at 24 weeks after a botched abortion and then abandoned at a hospital.  It is a difficult, but essential watch.  Here's an article stating why you must see this movie. 

After watching it I laid in my bed and mourned the loss of millions.  It's just so very overwhelming to think about the atrocities, these tiny innocent lives being torn apart in the womb.  

This has to stop.  We need to be on our knees in prayer and supporting our local Crisis pregnancy centers.  Sonya, my sis in law, is the director of Hands of Hope in Platte City. 

I want to challenge you to contact her, contact Hands of Hope.  Make a donation, offer to volunteer, do what you can in order to put up a fight.  If not the church then who?

I am so thankful for our Catholic friends and the stand they have taken.  

 

I am thankful for Hobby Lobby and the stand they have taken against the abortion inducing drugs our government is trying to force them to offer.  

It's time to love on these women who are scared and alone.  This isn't about forcing a woman to keep a baby she doesn't want.  It's about offering love and support to women who feel they have no choice. 

Best Tacos Ev-ah

I have become more and more creative as my gluten free life continues.  I am so thankful for the internet and other people's ideas to help me along.  I came across the most awesome home made taco seasoning.  I found it over at One Good Thing.  I made a triple batch and it was a huge hit with the kids.  I just boiled 4 chicken breasts in water and a ton of the seasoning.  When it was tender I threw it into my Kitchenaid and used the paddle to shred the chicken (yet another genius idea via blog world).  The kids and I ate and ate and ate.  Even the skinny ones asked for thirds.

Here's Jillee's recipe:

"Homemade Taco Seasoning
by
Whole New Mom

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp chili powder
1/2 t garlic powder
1/2 t onion powder
1/2 t red pepper flakes
1/2 t oregano
1 t paprika
1 Tbsp cumin
2 1/2 t salt (I used Kosher Salt)
2 t pepper
OK…here are the instructions…don’t blink…you might miss them!
1.  Combine all ingredients in a small bowl.  2. Mix well. 3. Store in a tightly closed container.   haha!  I told you!"

Absolutely divine and gluten free!