I'm sewing again.

Beauty

You can find the most beautiful flowers in the scraggiest places. Kinda reminds me that God is everywhere.

Trip to Grammy's

I have to say it has been most eventful. From the closeness of my fellow passengers, who got to watch Resident Evil with me on my PSP, heading to Cleveland, OH. To the ear popping flight into Portland, ME in the Express Jet offered by Continental. I have to say, coming into this part of the country is beautiful.

I love coming here at the end of summer. The weather is wonderful, of course. I'm grateful for any reduction in the temperature I can get. Glenn Cove Inn & Suites has done more than take care of us. Bailey greets us at breakfast every morning, the rooms are cleaned and towels replaced by the time we crawl in bed at night. Free continental breakfast is comparable to the Holiday Inns, but the atmosphere is wonderful.



Grammy and Grandpa haven't changed, still plugging along. I pray they continue for a while. The kids are trying to convince me that buying a house would be cheaper than paying for a motel. LOL! It's wonderful seeing family, it's where you can go when you need to get away from the real world.

Now to prepare for Shannan's 10th birthday tomorrow. Happy Birthday, sweetie. Life has been sweeter with you in it.

Celebrating Birthdays

It's not the same. Brett turned 14 on Thursday, yeah, he misses his dad. So we had bad spaghetti and wonderful chocolate cake. No one really feels like celebrating. Still he's enjoying the P90 Airsoft Gun that he received and the money he's saving for our trip to Grammy's.

Life is hung in limbo as we wait on our house to be completed. Plumbing, A/C, and electric should be connected to the house tomorrow. Furniture starts to be delivered on Aug 19. Is it really only a week and a half away?

Another Beginning

A new home and a new car, I still feel like calling Richard to tell him what's going on. This IS part of his legacy, but I miss him so much at times. Last Saturday I was berating him for not turning off the alarm clock. This was in that stage between sleep and wakefulness. Then the real world crashed in. Oh well, life does go on.

I have started a healthier lifestyle in order to be around longer. I also have appointments to visit Grammy, get my mouth healthy, and lasik surgery. College funds have been set up for the kids. No cool cars, kiddoes. Education is more important, yeah I can hear it now.

Mind Wanderings

I mean this in the literal sense.

In the past week I have left my van running in the parking lot while I'm running errands. Keys in the ignition. It's not been stolen.

God is good to me and has taken care of me.

I was getting 3 to 5 hours of sleep at night. While that may be normal for some, it is not for me. I was this ( ) close to going street~rat crazy. LOL Anyhow, I caved and went to Dr Ari. She told me that what I am going through is normal, duh! That I have situational anxiety, ya think? So, she prescribed paxil, and after reading numerous complaints and praises, I'm taking it. Anything that can make me think straight is a help right now. Besides I get my 8 hours of much needed beauty sleep.

I have started sewing again, almost ready to send out sets that were sold last Thursday. A big thank you to my understanding customers, you are the greatest.

My kids are plugging along. They all have their moments, but they understand that it's ok to cry, to be sad, to be mad. Well, if I'm feeling that way, how can I not expect it out of them. I'm praying for them all the time, that this doesn't make them bitter.

Our faith has been made stronger through all of this. We see daily answers to prayers, and it eases the pain a little. Great is Thy faithfulness!

Beginnings

A new life as a widow really has it's ups and downs. You can cry at the drop of the hat, and please do so, it helps clear the clutter on the brain.
Ok, so everything has been put on hold. Must receive Certified Death Certificates before anything can be done.
I have been sitting, and waiting, in rooms for the past week and I have concluded that some people don't bathe. That is my biggest concern. I have one more place to go tomorrow and I just cringe. How people, in this day and age, forgoe a bath is beyond me.
The other is the way that veterans are treated. I've been to the VAMC here in Houston and it's one of the better, but not by much. I know the government alots so much money in their budget for the caring of vets, but it's not enough.

When your loved one dies, here's a checklist:
1. Find the will, if there is one. If you don't have one, make one. Even handwritten is better than nothing.

2. Find all insurance policies, 401K papers. If your spouse was in the military, find DD 214. These benefits don't kick in til at least 4~6 weeks from signing the papers through HR at the VAMC.

3. I emptied my hubby's checking, bills were paid from this account.

4. If you have children, sign up for Survivors Benefits through the Social Security. (This you have to do in person.)

5. Now will be an emotional time for you, but don't jump the gun and pre-purchase your funeral. Put that money somewhere s it will grow, therefore your suvivors get much more for them, than just you getting a funeral. Believe me, it will be needed. I particularly want to be shot into space, but that's just me.

This is it for today.

Checklist for me:

1. Open IRA account.
2. Open my own checking account.
3. Interveiw several financial advisors.
4. Find a good realtor.
5. Buy home for cash.
6. Buy new car for cash.
and most importantly,
Follow Dave Ramsey's advice and live debt free!!!