Our First Home!

We bought our first home in May 1979, in the same neighborhood that Jeff grew up in! It's a small (816 sq ft) single family home built in 1951. It has 2 bedrooms & 1 bathroom across the back of the house & an open living room/dining room with a tiny kitchen across the front.  The kitchen doesn't even have a stove or a refrigerator! A friend loaned us an old icebox that keeps things cool but it doesn't freeze ice well & milk spoils quickly.  I am very pleased with it, though, it's a cute little house! It even has a detached garage!

989 Bonnie St, Memphis, TN 38122

Of course, this puts us on a very tight budget! The house payment along with the car payment (we had to buy a new car because the Pinto died. You can see our Toyota Celica in this photo.) puts a strain on things & we are learning to budget. We have to make a shopping list to avoid buying unnecessary items at the grocery store & I've had to make out the week's menu & pretty much stick to it - which seems to have helped me get dinner on the table everynight without too much panic.

I am not a fan of cooking & cleaning & I do not seem to be gifted with domestic talents. I feel like I have been very blessed with other talents that enables me to work with young girls in gymnastics. That brings me loads of satisfaction & a feeling of success. It helps to make me feel special because not very many people have talents like mine...I just wish it was more important to the success & happiness of one's family. I am trying to improve my domestic skills by making a valiant effort.

Ben keeps things lively - he's trying to communicate more but he's not saying a whole lot. He loves to play with his grandaddy & dad. His little personality develops more each day. I'm anxious to have his little brother/sister for him to play with. We are expecting another baby in January (the reason for the new house). Although we are looking forward to the new baby, Jeff & I aren't agreeing on any names at all! He doesn't like anything accept "Jill" for a girl. I like several names - these are my favorite:
1- Jennifer Jill Carter (call her Jill - Jennifer is just to give her a middle name only I like the sound of Jennifer Jill better than Jill Jennifer.)
2- Kelsea Linn Carter (call her Kelsea - although Jeff liked Kai when we were expecting Ben, he decided it was too far out there. He's not crazy about Kelsea.)
3- Tyler Glen Carter (call him Ty - Glen is for my mom Glen-da. Jeff doesn't like either.)
4- Colby Glen Carter (call him Colby - Jeff doesn't like this one either.)

At least it's a switch~ With Ben we couldn't agree on any girl names & now we can't agree on any boy names so maybe we'll have a girl this time? It really doesn't matter although I do hope there's a little girl spirit waiting to come to our little family someday. She's really gonna be special to her mommy! I hope they'll be a few more children after this next one, too!