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Twists and Turns
 I went Beyond the Bus Stop this past summer. My kids and our foreign exchange student from France took a 12 day trip through Oregon, Idaho, Arizona and California. It was a fabulous journey. I lost five pounds with all the hiking we did. I came home feeling refreshed and healthier. I am a busy mom and adjusting to being a newly single mother. Life sure takes on some curious unexpected twists and turns. I am feeling positive and optimistic about life and there is something Beyond the Bus Stop for me I am sure!
Tracey is a newly single mother from Oregon.
My Heavenly Day
 Ever since I was a young girl, I've loved to snow ski. Skiing was the primary activity our family did together when we were growing up. While I continue to ski as an adult with my own family, I never do it as often as I'd like to. Last winter I had a spontaneous moment and decided to head up to my favorite local ski mountain for the day. The kids were in school, my husband was working so I was on my own--and very excited to be so. I could not have asked for a better day. The snow was perfect. The weather was perfect. The sky was perfect. There were no long lift lines to deal with. No negotiating with anyone on what run to take. Not having to take bathroom breaks when I did not need one. I skied wherever I wanted for as long as I wanted. It was one of the best days I've had for myself personally in a long time. It was a Beyond the Bus Stop Day! And I'm looking forward to when I can do it again.
Sue is married,works, has two teenage children, and lives in Glen Mills, Pa.
I'll Never Go Back
 I opened my eyes and read the numbers on the digital clock; 2:18 am. I was sure that I had been lying awake for at least thirty minutes, even though I had not opened my eyes. I was trying to will myself back to sleep. It was not happening.
I got out of bed, half-stumbled downstairs, and went into my office. I flipped the power switch on my computer monitor, and the faint glow filled the room with an eerie light. The mouse cursor scooted across the screen as I surfed and checked e-mail. I tried to tell myself that I was doing something productive, but I was really just worrying. That is why I was waking up at 2:00 in the morning four nights each week.
Why was I worried? What was causing me to lose many precious hours of sleep and spend my days walking around like a zombie? I was a financial mess! I had thousands of dollars in debt, no savings, and I was having a very hard time living on less than I was earning.
My "Beyond the Bus Stop" moment came the summer of 2006, just before I celebrated my fortieth birthday. I started tuning into a radio program that was all about living your life debt free. At first I thought to myself, "Ugh! I do not need to listen to this money guy." But that was exactly what I needed!!
I started following the 'Baby Steps.' Every two weeks, when I received my paycheck, I spent every dollar on paper before I started writing checks. I established an envelope system; I now have an envelope for groceries, gasoline, dining, entertainment, Christmas, giving, even haircuts! Each time I get paid, every envelope receives a certain amount of cash. No more credit cards!! It is all about cash. When the dining envelope is empty, we do not eat out.
Christmas was such a joy in 2006. As I watched the news reports about how many people charged their Christmas gifts on their many credit cards, and would be paying for these gifts well into 2007, I was so pleased that I had limited my spending to cash only. And, you know what? My kids were happy with their gifts. They had a very nice Christmas.
This method is working so incredibly well for me. When I started following a budget, and really sticking to it, it felt like I got a raise. I now spend less then I make, and I am able to pay toward the principal of my debt.
Being in control of my money has given me so much peace in all areas of my life. When my kids ask me if we can go see a movie, we check the entertainment envelope. If there is some money in there, we get to go see a flick. If not, we check the envelope, and rent a movie instead! There is no argument. It is easy for my kids to understand that if the money is not there, we cannot do it.
At forty years of age, I finally have a plan. I am telling my money where to go, instead of wondering where it all went. I will never go back.
Diane O' Neil is the creator of http://www.allenebooks.com/ an online bookstore.
5-4-3-2-1-GO!
 This winter, I took part in an event that I waited months for to happen. At 44 and an avid skier all my life, one thing I did not conquer was racing. As race day approached, I went over the course in my mind, each gate, and how I would move side to side. My hope was to finish and not embarrass myself in front of my and kids. I lined up, with race number 86 pinned to my jacket. They counted me back, 5-4-3-2-1-GO! The gates flew by faster and faster; I crouched down lower and lower. Suddenly, I looked up and finished the race with a huge plume of snow behind me. I was excited with my heart pounding and my legs shaking. There I was with a big smile on my face and my teenage son by my side to share in the accomplishment. I waited all day to see how well I did in the race. I found out I did not get a gold, silver or bronze which saddened me a bit. But, when I saw that my individual results put me 5th out of 12 skiers in my age group; I knew I did more than finish the race. I did not need a medal at that moment because I was thrilled with what I had achieved after years of thinking I was too old or too inexperienced to race. I saved my bib as a reminder that it is never too late to live a dream. For me, this was a Beyond the Bus Stop moment that I hope to have again very soon.
**Follow up note: Tracy continues to seek new challenges and has recently taken her family to Greece to celebrate their family heritage and to experience new cultures. They returned to the States with a refreshed outlook on family and the importance of embracing life everyday.
Tracy, Medford, N.J., married, mother of two and a Nurse.
Grace and Confidence
 It wasn't until middle adulthood, with the trendiest of yoga and the concept of mind, body, and spirit connection, that I recognized mediation to be an integral part of Christian prayer life. As a child, my parents shared with me their passion for cooking, nature, and the arts. Gardening, cooking, walking in nature, music, lighting candles while noting the rhythm of the earth through the seasons. As a mother, I went about creating a massive flower garden, daily tending to it and my heart. It was a peaceful refuge for me and a magical place for my children. As I approach the time in my life when I needed to think about returning to work, I woke early, daily, and prayed meditatively, in this garden. I asked for guidance. I envisioned this time to be like "the peace that surpasses all understanding." It was the birds, the beauty of dawn and a spirit that blew through my heart and gave me the courage to make big changes in my life. The answers that came astonished me in the goodness of fit to my identity. As I find myself with little time now for my garden, following the path, which unfolded before me, I have to remind myself to sit down for prayer and strengthen my commitment and make new choices along the way. **Follow up note: Karen is pursuing a Master's degree in Counseling and is a volunteer for Inter-faith dialogue in her community.
Karen, Wallingford, PA., married, mother of two girls and volunteer.
Back In the Game
I am a 41 year old mother of a 10 and 7 year old girls who wondered "Is there really life beyond raising two girls"? The bus would come each day and off my girls would go. What direction do I need to take. Do I work, volunteer, exercise or a little of each. Finally after collapsing from exhaustion last January, bed bound for 2 months, my husband encouraged me to change my lifestyle. So out of bed I jumped and I walked 5-10 minutes a day and gradually increased it to 20-30 minutes. Scared to walk far from home but slowing opening up my fear and letting it go. The summer came and went without much difficulty except my 7 year old girl would never leave my side. But September came and the bus arrived once again. Again I am faced with what to do with my life. I joined a Seniors tennis club, I volunteer at a horse barn cleaning stalls for free, I work 2 days a week getting paid and I coach my daughters field hockey team. Every Wednesday I join my friends for "coffee talk"! I am getting ready to go to Disney World, go skiing again and watch my husband run the Boston Marathon in the spring. So, I feel I am living Beyond the Bus Stop now. Making a small difference in this world and getting out of bed each day.
Sandy, Medford, NJ., married, mother of two girls and a nurse.
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