I’ve been traveling with our kids since they were babies and I’ve learned lots of tricks and tips along the way!

Our final year in business

Gosh I can’t believe I’m really typing this.

After 12 months of prayer, seeking God’s voice, and coming to experience abundant peace,

I’ve decided that it’s time to close the doors of Nancy Ray Photography.

I’m just going to be real : if I didn’t have this monthly goal blogpost waiting for me, I don’t think I would have made any actual goals for the month of April. Life with three kids has dominated me lately!

Get ready! This is a gamechanger. For you, the parent, as well as your kiddos!

It’s called “Mind Body Soul Time.”

Say this with me:

My phone is not a photo storage device.

It is a PHONE.

My current obsession: Jess Ray’s latest album.

I’m going to come clean right away:

Yes, this crazy talent is my husband’s little sister. Yes, she’s the auntie to my kiddos, she was a bridesmaid in my wedding, and she will forever be one of my very best friends (and favorite humans) in the world.

Beaufort’s Newborn Session

So, February feels like it was the fastest month of my life. Honestly, it was all a bit of a blur, and I’m still getting the hang of this mom-of-3 life. In short, it’s crazy. I’ve been a bit more brave, getting out of the house more and actually handling all 3 kids for preschool pick up and drop off by myself, which is nuts. (One day in the freezing rain. That was fun!)

Graham Cochrane is a YouTuber and Business Coach who helps people build passive income style businesses. Download his free 30 Day No Hustle Business Plan and go from zero audience to income in just 4 weeks.

A few years ago I heard about the Navigator’s Council - a tool created by a couple I follow and love: Jeremy and Audrey Roloff. In a nutshell, there are 6 questions they ask each other every single week, to stay in a place of healthy communication in their marriage.

I’m sitting here with Beaufort sound asleep on my chest, both girls are napping (insert victory dance here!! All 3 kids asleep at once!), and I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that I’m about to write my THIRD child’s birth story. For so long I wasn’t ready to become a mama, it is purely God’s grace and goodness to me that I am one today. If you’re new around here, or if you just love birth stories, I’m including some links that will fill you in on my journey to becoming a mama to three. And then you’ll hear the crazy story of how Beaufort William came into our lives.

While I’m in the middle of the Contentment Challenge, I find that refraining from buying all the things makes me appreciate things that I REALLY love and want to own. It makes me super intentional and thoughtful with what I buy.

So what happened after we paid off our house the first time?

In the 5 years following us reaching Baby Step 7…

We saved a lot.

We gave a lot.

We lived a little more, and I’m so glad we did!  (Because I can tell you one thing: it was HARD those first 5 years living on such a tight budget! We were ready to eat out a little more and take a few vacations!)

We also experienced life with a new lens: We became parents.

If you’ve followed our financial journey in the past, you know a few important things about me and my husband Will:

• We enrolled in Financial Peace University when we were engaged and it CHANGED OUR MARRIAGE.

• We followed Dave’s Ramsey’s 7 Baby Steps to a T!

• We lived on a tight budget for 5 years, then paid off our first house at ages 25 & 26.

This Fun Friday is for those of us who are just DELIGHTED by clean floors!

Meet the Deebot.