Genealogy, Technology And A Whole Lot More

Thursday, November 30, 2017

How Will You Light The World?

https://www.mormon.org/christmas/25-ways-25-days

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Today I went to the credit union and took care of some financial business and this evening got the recycling out. I also took a drive and found out where the Grief Counseling is going to be held at and took a nice drive up Mill Avenue.

I almost forgot to mention the delicious slice of pie I had at Cracker Barrel. Apple Pecan Streusel pie. Yum.

Monday, November 27, 2017

Christmas Came Early!

At least for me!

Starting Again - With A Twist

Yesterday I took another load of items to the donation center and started filling out my budget for December.

I'm feeling like I'm starting a new life - and in a way I am.

For the first time since 1994, I'm no longer caregiving for anyone

My budget no longer includes debt payment. This is going to take some time to adjust to.

I'm starting on a new and crazy-feeling adventure, it's going to take a little while for me to figure it all out.

1. I've started two new bags for donations - one for clothing and the other for everything else to be donated. I've already started filling both up.

2. I've made a list of sinking funds to have created as separate savings accounts. This will be done in December.

3. I am having new blinds put up in my windows, the next step will be to call and have a new HVAC unit installed and get a new hot water heater installed. Both are past their life spans.

4. For Black Friday, I ordered some cleaning cloths and some beauty supplies. Yes, you heard that right, beauty supplies.

5. Yesterday I stopped off at Costco and picked up two diffusers that are on sale, then stopped off at Whole Foods to pick up some essential oils.

Sunday, November 26, 2017

My Newest Find

I finally got a good night's sleep without medication for the first time in a while, and I've finally figured out why.

I get cold when I sleep.

My basil temperature drops when I sleep, so I wake up (a lot) freezing in bed.

The solution?

A thermal pad for sleeping bags.

Yep, this little beauty worked for me last night. It's a keeper. And I don't need to inflate it, I just need the thermal properties for it.

Therm-a-Rest Trail Scout Sleeping Pad

Pay Thy Debt And Live

These words bring new meaning to me in light of what has happened over the last six months.

I'm assuming you know I lost my Mother on July 13th, 2017.

I was within a year of being completely debt free, having worked for over three years to get to the last remaining debt that I owed, due to an overwhelming prompting I received to get out of debt in order to be in a better position to take care of my Mother.

In a way, I was able to do just that.

Because of my emergency savings, I was able to pay cash for most of the remaining costs of her funeral expenses.

Because of my low expenses that I have been living on, I was able to bankroll the utility costs and the costs of taking care of her pets during the initial probate period in order to keep her house running while things got sorted out.

Because I have a home with extra space, I was able to house my sister who wished to be a co-representative with me in the affairs of Mom's estate.

Because I owed so little, I was able to take a reduced amount of the shared inheritance in order to acquire property my parents owned in another part of Arizona.

Because of the money I continue to earn with my job, I was able to continue to maintain life until the estate could be settled.

Because I had spent over three years working and paying off debt, the Lord's desires to bless me and to make my burden lighter (not gone, but lighter) were far easier for Him to accomplish.

Because of my preparations, while finances did get tight, my "barrel of meal" did not "waste" nor did my "cruz of oil" fail. The Lord truly blessed us.