how prepared are YOU?

all of this talk of unemployment (oh wait! that's ME doing all the talking.) leads me to this post.


i find that we (especially me) live a world where i often wonder about our "need to" (needs) and "want to". (wants)


as i have blogged about previously, being in this situation (without work) begs the question...


"HOW PREPARED ARE YOU?"


i belong to a church that consistently "preaches" preparedness. they encourage monetary savings, food storage, and living with the least amount of debt possible. ("good debt" which could be incurred while pursuing an education, in the purchase of a home and possibly a car. they claim all other debt is "not good.")


depending on the season of my life, i have been more prepared in some areas and less in others according to those guidelines.


but as we have worked our way forward through this latest challenge in our lives, i have often paused to ask myself that question. (the one about being prepared.)


because it is something we ALL should be thinking about.


did you know that the national "average", the length of time one can expect to be unemployed right now in our country is a year.

did you read that right? a year?

YES! you did.

certainly people are finding employment sooner that that, or taking LONGER than that. but according to "statistics" that is the length of time it is taking to find gainful employement again.


Utah, at the moment is slightly less than average on statistics, but regardless, those are frightening numbers.


so, again my question. how prepared are you?


*how much debt do you have?

*how much savings do you have? (we are encouraged to have on hand 6 months worth of our take home income, i know for some that is not possible--and for some that is EASY!)

*how much food storage do you have? what could you live on if you had to?

*how much frivolous spending do you do? do you REALLY need that thing you just bought?


*how long could YOU live without a job?


these are just questions that have been brought to the forefront of my mind, and MY LIFE, right now. (obviously)


i certainly know that when my husband DOES get a new job, it will really make me rethink my saving and spending habits.

it will make me think about, and reconsider, what is REALLY important...really really important.

it has been a good lesson for us, to think about these things.


because, it can happen to ANYONE! ANYWHERE!
no matter how safe you think your job is!

i know people (including ourselves) who have thought they were "safe" and were not. people that were accountants, business men, lawyers and even doctors. it is a crazy, uncertain time we live in right now.

just some food for thought today....

how prepared ARE YOU?

grateful...

...for good news, even in trying times.


...for rain.


...for friendship, that strengthens.


...for the lifting of my burdens, by people surrounding me, in a million, gazillion small and wonderful ways.


...for my ears to hear my son play the piano.


...for my eyes to watch my daughter run a race, try her hardest with something new.


...for books to read, brought by people dear to my heart who keep restocking and restocking my supply.


...for prayers answered. and prayers NOT answered.


...for hope.


...for sails that blow in. (must see a previous post on my ramblings about "sails" and the movie "Castaway".)


...for love.


...for tomatoes. for how can one eat a grilled cheese sandwich without them?


...for faith.


...for a Heavenly Father that loves me, and mine.


tonight, I am grateful.

a strange thing happened today...

While I was out running my errands today, I drove past Great Harvest Bread Company. My windows were down and I was enjoying the very first "fall like" day of the season. (THAT is not the strange thing!) A fall day that was a bit overcast, cool and wonderful. While passing Great Harvest, I got a WHIFF of baking bread and my heart went pitter patter. OH! how I love Great Harvest Bread (who doesn't?). ESPECIALLY when it is fresh out of the oven. They have honey whole wheat, farmhouse white, Cinnaburst (the BEST!), and chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. (to name a few) How can anything that tastes this good actually be good for you? I mean, really? COME ON!


I sighed and thought, "Well, when you have no steady income, Great Harvest is NOT in the budget! So, keep driving woman!" (yes, i do actually talk to myself in the car when i'm alone...call me a nutter!)


I longed for it though, one good slice of warm bread.


With my errands done, I came home, and what to my wondering eyes should appear? Nope, not 8 tiny reindeer! BUT, HOLY CRAP! Someone left Great Harvest on my doorstep...one warm and delicious loaf of Cinnaburst bread! I was in heaven. I was certain that someone could read my mind. (and I wondered what else I had been thinking about today?) I had NO CLUE who to call and thank for this moment of deliciousness! So thank you mystery bread giver, they say that "bread is"....something? What is it?? Good? Edible?
Yummy?


POST EDIT: the "deliverer" has been identified....THANK YOU!
I asked if she could read my mind when she called, and the answer was unclear. BUT she DID say if someone IS reading my mind, than next time I should aim higher than a loaf of bread!


Good Point!

it's coming...

...don't let it fool you.
even though summer temperatures are holding on with a vengeance this year during the day, the nights are getting cooler.
The air has changed.







If you don't believe me, look out your window and you can see it. You can feel it.







The light is different.
It is now infused with amber, dripping with honey. gone are the glaring blue skies of summertime, that beckoned us to the pool.
It has been replaced with a hazy subdued sky, opaque, more gentle somehow.







There is no season I love more than Autumn.
(except for maybe spring.)







But glorious autumn with its crackling, crisp leaves crunching under my feet.
The scents of pumpkin spice and apples, baking, the aromas holding hands, mingling and mixing, blending and combining, together, in my kitchen.
The smell of fires burning leaves, or keeping us warm on a chilly night.







The frosty breath of nighttime left on the window panes, hinting of cooler days ahead.
Cheering for "the team" and football lights on Friday nights.
The looming promise of Halloween, and dressing up, and then, being Thankful.
Filling our plates to over-flowing, our hearts brimming at the blessings we enjoy.







Cooler mornings, sweatshirt evenings.
The muted hues of leaves and grass and flowers, mixed together with shocking, unexpected oranges, reds, and yellows begging to be photographed, or plucked from the earth to brighten my kitchen.







It's coming, and I, for one, am glad.

Potty Talk...

because sometimes i have the sense of humor of a 14 year old boy...
...and i just cannot resist.


the other day when Bompie was in the bathroom, going potty, I ran buy and
banged on the closed door as hard as I could (YES! in a pathetic attempt to shock her,
surprise her, and scare her to death.)


She yelled at me, "Mom, you just scared the POOP out of me!"

I yelled back at her, "Well, it's a good thing you were sitting on the toilet then!"


giggle giggle tee hee hee.


hey, I warned you ...


"Potty Talk!"


i am pretty sure she will NOT want this story retold at her wedding luncheon.

turn, turn, turn

it is unexpected. for me, sometimes.
that even while in the midst of turmoil,
the days keep turning.
going by.
my breath keeps on coming, in and out.
the seasons changing. summer flows into fall.
nights begin to chill, colors become richer.
the children keep growing.
taller, older, becoming more of who they already are.
and we keep moving.
and going. ever forward.
time marches, refusing to stand still.


turn.


my focus lately seems to be on "surviving", and it weighs
heavily on my mind most days.
as i pay my bills.
as i sort through my food storage.
as i wonder about our future and what each new day will bring.


turn.


as i sat with my mother and sisters yesterday,
while my father lay on a table.
an operating table.
in the hands of capable (we hoped) surgeons.
making idle chatter, our eyes ever watchful on the clock,
waiting for news.
how had it gone?
as i hugged my mother good bye, thinking about the burden
on HER shoulders. for HER to carry HIM.
the weeks that lay ahead. weeks of healing.
the hope that even after the DR. said "all is well"...
it would be.
the hope that my fathers body would be strong.
enough.
to heal, and mend, and regain strength.


then my life turned again.


a new chapter.
this time my eldest. the one that came into this world
weighing just shy of 9 pounds. the one who completed a circle in my life. a circle that started with heartache and sadness, then left me brimming to overflowing, with a sense of joy and being whole.


turn.


a text. from him. to me.
he wanted to ask "her" to Homecoming (a dance? a girl? my SON?) he had to hurry (there were others lining up to ask)
a girl? my son? (holy COW!) then it was done, and now it was his turn to wait for an answer from HER.
it came as a yes! (a girl and my son, i am happy for them)


and i realized that in the midst of it ALL, the worry, or pain, or fear, or difficulties, that life carries on. Blessed, wonderful life! Chock FULL of good things (even WHEN, especially when, there is "bad".) And we carry on with it. for no matter what we are going through, the fact is, we keep going.
forward. moving with the current. changing daily.


i am holding on for the ride.
waiting to see what happens next.


turn.
turn.
turn.

4493...

...that would be the number of texts Josh sent/received last month.


Him: "well, it's not as many of SOME people."


Me: "well, it is certainly MORE than others!"


thank goodness for unlimited texting.



possibly he's trying to hit a friends all time record of near 10,000 in a single month?


if so, he is just about 1/2 way there!


go Josh go!