We hit that wall again. That wall where we can't possibly make ends meet. That wall where we look at the credit card and try to decide if we should use the credit card or just not eat. Thank goodness that we sometimes choose to just not eat. Thank goodness that we just decide to do without. Those choices are not fun to make, but have to be made. Sometimes they have to be made. I'm proud of us that we choose to live differently, rather than just try to live the same with a different income.
I was offered a job at Anakin's school. Can I deal with three-year-olds (or whatever age they give me) for 6 hours a day? I don't know. But it can't possible be any worse than dealing with the idiots I dealt with on a daily basis when I had an office job. I mean seriously--at least the 4 year olds don't stab you in the back? Well at least not figuratively. Maybe literally. Anyway, all that to say, I told them I would take it. I told them I would be honored to take it. I want desperately for Anakin to be back in daycare and this will give us a little bit of extra money. Also, its 1.4 miles from the house, so I can walk, or ride a bike. I would only have to take the car when it rains or its too cold. So that will cut back on our costs tremendously.
So, anybody want to give me a bike?
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Friday, August 1, 2008
TGIF!
Just a few updates. The claims adjuster and Ralph with Ark Enterprises came by on Wednesday and we are going to have to replace the entire roof. Luckily, they are going to cover everything except $500. In addition to the roof, they are replacing one piece of siding, a gutter and a section of sheet rock. Because a single piece of sheet rock is being replaced, they are going to paint the entire garage. Which is pretty awesome. While Ralph is here, he's going to fix a few other things for me as well. Unfortunately they can't fix anything until the roof is done and that won't even start for 3 weeks due to shingles being backordered because of all the stuff going on in the midwest.
The other thing to update you on is the baby-sitting gig. Christina decided to keep her son at daycare, which is fine. My house just wasn't convenient for her. Now, however, I have gotten an offer from the daycare Anakin used to stay with. They called me yesterday and have a teaching position open. I told them I would take it. While I don't especially want to go back to work right now, we have got to get out of debt. We can make ends meet with just Dennis' paycheck, but if I can work for 6-12 months, we could be out of debt and even without me working, we would still have the same amount of extra money. Basically, without car payments, we'd have an extra paycheck. We've been smart not to increase our standard of living even when we get increases in pay and I think that's really helped. Dennis has made incredibly smart decisions so that we can get what we want and what we need. I believe me losing my job was God kicking us into gear about our debt and I don't take it lightly. We are going to continue to live as if I do not have a pay check and we will get that debt gone in no time.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
rain, roofs, and insurance adjusters
Ok so it all began a few days ago, when a rain storm came so strong I thought truly we were in that scene from Forrest Gump when he talks about the rain going siiidewaays, and forwaaard and sometimes even from underneath. (please insert southern accent here) The rain and wind was so incredibly intense that I literally stood at the back door, watching the pines sway just praying that Lord if they fall, let them fall the other way.
The next morning I went to get in my car to go running (I know you're impressed that I run. I mean, I'm impressed.) and I saw that there was spackle (is that what I szhould call it) on the floor. I looked up, and saw this:
The next morning I went to get in my car to go running (I know you're impressed that I run. I mean, I'm impressed.) and I saw that there was spackle (is that what I szhould call it) on the floor. I looked up, and saw this:
I instantly called Ralph Jester over at Ark Enterprises, and if you live in the Southeast (they go as north as Charlotte and as South as Orlando) then I highly recommend this company. I had a working relationship with them anyway, and that's why I knew they were trustworthy, but they have by far exceeded my expectations. They showed up within 4 hours, have worked out the whole claim with the insurance company, and have been friendly and knowledgeable. Ralph also offered to go ahead and pressure wash for me when he does the work. He even met the insurance adjuster here so that he could see what she sees. He had made every effort to earn my trust and I couldn't be more impressed.
All that to say, they are coming back later today to do the final measurements on the highest part of our roof because they had to go get a bigger ladder. But I have every confidence that Ralph will take care of me and do a great job. What I really hope is that we don't need a whole new roof and that he is able to fix it with patches. I also hope he is able to do all the work for whatever the insurance is willing to pay so I don't have to do anything out of pocket. **fingers crossed!!
All that to say, they are coming back later today to do the final measurements on the highest part of our roof because they had to go get a bigger ladder. But I have every confidence that Ralph will take care of me and do a great job. What I really hope is that we don't need a whole new roof and that he is able to fix it with patches. I also hope he is able to do all the work for whatever the insurance is willing to pay so I don't have to do anything out of pocket. **fingers crossed!!
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
I'm a blogger?
This has been a funny little journey lately for me. I think sometimes I just want to look up into the sky and give God that "rachael" look and say "God... you're a thumbs up guy!" with my oh so inconspicuous hint of sarcasm. I don't have to understand His will to walk in it, but sometimes it would be nice.
On June 11th, I started my new career as a stay-at-home mom. "Congratulations on taking such a bold step!" you may say. And I will quietly reply "it was not by choice" and then quickly change the subject. In this new career, however, I have found this secret sub-culture of stay-at-home moms (SAHM they refer to themselves as) and I am awed by them. I feel like a tourist thrown into an unfamiliar culture--only its a culture I thought I understood. It's like going to Guatemala after two years of Spanish, thinking you can handle it when all you really know how to say is "Donde estas el bano?" My two greatest fears among these women are failure, and offense. On one hand, I feel like I can't measure up and that in time, I will go back to work not because we need the money, but because I can't possible stay at home all day and maintain normal life. The other is that I will think I am better than them or something and end up offending them beyond repair. Both of these fears are, of course, built on a foundation of paranoia and have no grounds, but if you are reading this, you know me and know that paranoia is an every day thing for me and the fact that I recognize it is there means all of nothing. I have grown to understand that we all choose to parent our children differently and in the end, they all turn out ok.
Just today I was at the mall with Anakin where we had met some other mommies to see a free movie the theatre offers for children during the summer. After the movie, I took Anakin down stairs to go play in the fountains outside but he threw a fit on the way because we couldn't ride the carousel. He decided to throw a tantrum so I left him there, in the corner he was crying in and walked about 20 feet away so he had some time to calm down (and so I had some time to cool off myself) I was far enough away that he knew he was in trouble, but close enough that he was safe. While I waited in viewing distance for his tantrum to run its course, a Mom and her daughter walked by, saw Anakin, whispered to each other and then turned and gave me an ugly look like I was the worst mother in the mall. All I thought in my head was, "Keep on walking lady--your kid is 16, you obviously don't remember what terrible 2s was like." I keep in mind that these bad days are better than most kids best days and I can get through it.
I also remember that he is 2. And 2 is 2. That's all there is to it. What I wish I knew is that as a parent, you often stop getting the things you want--you often don't get to do what you want to do because your life revolves around making sure this baby who can manage to make his voice the volume of a loudspeaker is appeased so you are not embarrassed. I wasn't bothered at all that the mom in the mall looked at me the way she did. I have to do what is best for me and my child. Not what is best for him. Not what is best for me. But what is best for both of us. Sometimes that means walking away so I don't lose my cool.
An opportunity has come up recently for me to keep another child just a few months younger than Anakin. A huge part of me hopes it works out because Anakin does so much better with other kids around. We'll see. Then I'll be a double stay-at-home mommy. DSAHM?
On June 11th, I started my new career as a stay-at-home mom. "Congratulations on taking such a bold step!" you may say. And I will quietly reply "it was not by choice" and then quickly change the subject. In this new career, however, I have found this secret sub-culture of stay-at-home moms (SAHM they refer to themselves as) and I am awed by them. I feel like a tourist thrown into an unfamiliar culture--only its a culture I thought I understood. It's like going to Guatemala after two years of Spanish, thinking you can handle it when all you really know how to say is "Donde estas el bano?" My two greatest fears among these women are failure, and offense. On one hand, I feel like I can't measure up and that in time, I will go back to work not because we need the money, but because I can't possible stay at home all day and maintain normal life. The other is that I will think I am better than them or something and end up offending them beyond repair. Both of these fears are, of course, built on a foundation of paranoia and have no grounds, but if you are reading this, you know me and know that paranoia is an every day thing for me and the fact that I recognize it is there means all of nothing. I have grown to understand that we all choose to parent our children differently and in the end, they all turn out ok.
Just today I was at the mall with Anakin where we had met some other mommies to see a free movie the theatre offers for children during the summer. After the movie, I took Anakin down stairs to go play in the fountains outside but he threw a fit on the way because we couldn't ride the carousel. He decided to throw a tantrum so I left him there, in the corner he was crying in and walked about 20 feet away so he had some time to calm down (and so I had some time to cool off myself) I was far enough away that he knew he was in trouble, but close enough that he was safe. While I waited in viewing distance for his tantrum to run its course, a Mom and her daughter walked by, saw Anakin, whispered to each other and then turned and gave me an ugly look like I was the worst mother in the mall. All I thought in my head was, "Keep on walking lady--your kid is 16, you obviously don't remember what terrible 2s was like." I keep in mind that these bad days are better than most kids best days and I can get through it.
I also remember that he is 2. And 2 is 2. That's all there is to it. What I wish I knew is that as a parent, you often stop getting the things you want--you often don't get to do what you want to do because your life revolves around making sure this baby who can manage to make his voice the volume of a loudspeaker is appeased so you are not embarrassed. I wasn't bothered at all that the mom in the mall looked at me the way she did. I have to do what is best for me and my child. Not what is best for him. Not what is best for me. But what is best for both of us. Sometimes that means walking away so I don't lose my cool.
An opportunity has come up recently for me to keep another child just a few months younger than Anakin. A huge part of me hopes it works out because Anakin does so much better with other kids around. We'll see. Then I'll be a double stay-at-home mommy. DSAHM?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
