It's been almost 7 weeks now without my wife here at home, she has been helping our daughter in another state with her second child birth. I have been missing her, especially when I come home and the house is so quiet and no aroma of dinner coming from the kitchen. I had been so used to just coming home and giving her a big hug and kiss, and then almost immediately sitting down to a nice meal and relaxing. We would have a short conversation about the day and then I would dose off for a short nap on the sofa. The TV was always on and she would usually be working on a new craft project. I took for granite how nice it was to have a warm welcoming home each evening.
"Even so"
The bachelor life is not that bad as long as it is only temporary. I welcomed the alone time at first: I could almost forget about the family obligations and just think and do what I wanted to. I went out and bought some of my favorite snack foods,worked on a couple of projects that I had been putting off, watched some movies and napped a lot. But as the days went by the dishes were piling up, dirty clothes by the laundry, and the yard needed mowed. Reality was setting in and I needed to do some housework.
I am so thankful for my daughter who lives here in town. She calls me often to see how I am doing, and if there is anything I need. Several times she has brought me pre-cooked dinner, so I have been well taken care of.
Two weeks ago I received airline tickets from my daughter and son in-law to come and spend the weekend with my wife, it was a surprise for her, and a thank you for all the help she has been. The visit was short, but worth it. My wife is still there , and will be as long as she is needed.
This is what simply living is all about; It's doing what needs to be done each day.
Earl
Usually optomistic
Directory of ezines
Showing posts with label Home. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Home. Show all posts
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Paycheck to Paycheck OR Paycheck to Savings
I am a paycheck to paycheck kind of guy. I've been that way all of my life. Way back in my teenage years I started working partime while still in high school. My dad was away alot working odd jobs and barley bringing enough money home to support our growing family of eight kids. I started working so I could help out with the financial obligations of our family.
Since I was the oldest, I was given most of my fathers responsibilities at home to help my mother raise my brothers and sisters. I was in the 10Th Grade when I started my first partime job, and I gave my WHOLE check to my mother. ($7.50) I really wanted to keep it , but back in the 50's that amount would buy a few groceries. From then on it was decided that I would keep 1/2 and give the rest to support the family. I continued working all through high school, and was able to buy a new console TV and pay for my first car. I bought a 1942 ford for $75.00 down and $5.00 a pay period. That was the beginning of my paycheck to paycheck life.
I finished high school and went right into the Army. It was kind of a relief to get away from home and work. I continued to give half of my Military pay to my family all through my 3 year tour of duty. My dad was killed 8 months before my discharge, and I was stationed overseas and not able to get home. At about the same time I was planning to marry a German girl that I had been dating. I was married in a German court and then brought my new wife to the U.S.. Most of the money from the military was spent on travel and setting up a new apartment. Then it was like beginning all over again living paycheck to paycheck. BUT you know what, for me that was OK ,because I was determined to simply Live life as it Came , and I have.
Now it's time to change my attitude about money. I have been semi-retired for a couple of years, and slowed down on the spending. I still want to spend all of my pay each month, although I have developed the habit of putting some into a savings account each pay period. My new plan is to work the Internet to build up a steady income, so that I can put 90% into savings and live off of the other 10%. I now have three programs that I am working, and the one I like best is the click bank code, ( http://46cd3dk80cae0naqv8p8dfk63-.hop.clickbank.net/ )this is some of the best training I have gotten so far. I am not to old to learn new lessons, and keep on simply living life.
Since I was the oldest, I was given most of my fathers responsibilities at home to help my mother raise my brothers and sisters. I was in the 10Th Grade when I started my first partime job, and I gave my WHOLE check to my mother. ($7.50) I really wanted to keep it , but back in the 50's that amount would buy a few groceries. From then on it was decided that I would keep 1/2 and give the rest to support the family. I continued working all through high school, and was able to buy a new console TV and pay for my first car. I bought a 1942 ford for $75.00 down and $5.00 a pay period. That was the beginning of my paycheck to paycheck life.
I finished high school and went right into the Army. It was kind of a relief to get away from home and work. I continued to give half of my Military pay to my family all through my 3 year tour of duty. My dad was killed 8 months before my discharge, and I was stationed overseas and not able to get home. At about the same time I was planning to marry a German girl that I had been dating. I was married in a German court and then brought my new wife to the U.S.. Most of the money from the military was spent on travel and setting up a new apartment. Then it was like beginning all over again living paycheck to paycheck. BUT you know what, for me that was OK ,because I was determined to simply Live life as it Came , and I have.
Now it's time to change my attitude about money. I have been semi-retired for a couple of years, and slowed down on the spending. I still want to spend all of my pay each month, although I have developed the habit of putting some into a savings account each pay period. My new plan is to work the Internet to build up a steady income, so that I can put 90% into savings and live off of the other 10%. I now have three programs that I am working, and the one I like best is the click bank code, ( http://46cd3dk80cae0naqv8p8dfk63-.hop.clickbank.net/ )this is some of the best training I have gotten so far. I am not to old to learn new lessons, and keep on simply living life.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Daily devotions
About three years ago I started to get serious about having a devotional time each day, things went pretty good for about two weeks then I would miss a day or two. I was serious about making a special time for GOD. (but you know what;) It's hard when you are trying to break from your normal routine and start a new habit. There was so many different times of the day I tried to stop and have some quiet time for reading and praying, it just never seemed to work.
Our pastor issued a bible reading challenge at church, to read a chapter a day or more if we could. That is what turned things around for me. I decided to do my reading first thing in the morning when I wake up. I don't always have a lot of time for praying ,but at least I read in the bible daily. There are days when I don't pray at all ,I just talk to god as I am doing my job or other activities.
This is my fourth time reading through the bible and I am becoming fascinated with the Israelite people. Today I am in the middle of Judges and learning about each leader god puts in place when they start worshiping other gods. I have to say the most boring books were Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy the first time I read them, but this time all the characters have come alive, and it's like reading a novel.
I would challenge anyone who struggles with their worship to try different ways until you find something that works for you, then make it into your habit. When it becomes a habit you will again be simply living life to the best of your ability.
Our pastor issued a bible reading challenge at church, to read a chapter a day or more if we could. That is what turned things around for me. I decided to do my reading first thing in the morning when I wake up. I don't always have a lot of time for praying ,but at least I read in the bible daily. There are days when I don't pray at all ,I just talk to god as I am doing my job or other activities.
This is my fourth time reading through the bible and I am becoming fascinated with the Israelite people. Today I am in the middle of Judges and learning about each leader god puts in place when they start worshiping other gods. I have to say the most boring books were Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy the first time I read them, but this time all the characters have come alive, and it's like reading a novel.
I would challenge anyone who struggles with their worship to try different ways until you find something that works for you, then make it into your habit. When it becomes a habit you will again be simply living life to the best of your ability.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Procrastinating
I like to think of myself as a positive and optimistic person, but then yesterday I realized I'm a pretty good procrastinator also. It was the 15Th of the month just one day before I would be accessed late charges on my mortgage, so I sat at my computer at 6:00 PM and made my payment. It wasn't that I didn't have the money , it was because of distractions and thinking I had plenty of time; any way that's my excuse. January 1st of this year I made my payment right on the due date, but each month since then I keep putting it off. I guess I need some divine intervention in this area.
On special occasions like birthdays and wedding anniversaries I used to totally forget them, now I remember them but wait until the last hour to plan a gift or outing for the occasion. I like to call this progress, which is simply living life to the best of my ability.
On special occasions like birthdays and wedding anniversaries I used to totally forget them, now I remember them but wait until the last hour to plan a gift or outing for the occasion. I like to call this progress, which is simply living life to the best of my ability.
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