(no subject)
After a time, it feels as if so much time is past that one does not know where to begin, so beginning becomes more difficult and never happens.
I suppose I should begin with Austin's job, and the lessons we have learned during his unemployment. He lost his job the week before Thanksgiving last year, and got paid unemployment for 6 months, until May of this year. During that time, we pared down but still managed to make minor progress on our debt. We saved some money, still gave some (but a smaller amount) to charity. Then May came and he still didn't have a job. We pared down more, continued learning more recipes using beans and rice, honed our Sale Shopping skills, built up reserve meals in the freezer, stocked up when things were cheap. We managed to make ends meet on my paycheck, which continues to amaze me. There were unexpected boons. Like, we had paid ahead enough on his car payment that we could skip 2 months. He had no income so we got a forbearance on his student loans. His parents sent us a couple gift cards for King Soopers. All of that helped.
We also were eligible for help from WIC, which helped us out for 3 months. Now that he has a job, we are going to pay that forward, and continue giving food to our church's food pantry. He did end up getting a part time job with UPS which has been very useful for the last month and a half. Now, we are planning to continue living frugally, pay off our debt more quickly than we would have before the unemployment, and save to move to a safer neighborhood with better schools.
I did find a good school in our district, Crown Point Academy. It is a public charter school, and I put Michael's name on the waiting list to get in, should we still be there when it's time for him to start school. We may not be, but if we are, it's really the only good public school in the district in which we live.
He has been covered by CHP+, which is a health care plan subsidized by the State of Colorado for kids whose parents don't have/can't afford insurance. It's been a comfort, even though we've not needed it.
Now, we are going to have to figure out child care again. It looks like we will need care in the mornings, so we are brainstorming that. I would ask you, Andrea, but it is my understanding that you don't do mornings, and that you may be watching Inara. I don't want to overburden you, or put you in the awkward position of having to say no. So, there it is. God will provide, He always has. I trust that He always will. In His own time.
There is so much else going on right now. Inara (which fills me with a happy warmth every time I walk with Linds). Walking. I'm down to 195 pounds, which I've not really lost weight since Austin started working for UPS. My exercise schedule has been severely disrupted. But I've maintained, which is good. And, this morning, I was 1.3 pounds down since Friday. As long as I keep not moving in the wrong direction, I am pleased. After all, at my heaviest, when I was pregnant with Michael, I weighed 285 pounds.
In fact, I do like pointing that out. 10 more pounds and I will be down 100 pounds. Can you imagine that?
I've got a friend who is hurting that I don't know how to help, or if I can even help. I've got a new church and seem to argue with the teachers there, too. In fact, one of the older teachers in a Sunday School class I took last year calls me the Smart-aleck one. I'm disturbed and pleased all at once. It's not my fault he doesn't like to be questioned. I won't stop questioning things. Not any more.
I don't know who else is still here. I miss coming here and catching up, it used to feel like passing notes to let someone know you were still around. Well, to anyone who sees this.......I am still here, and I still care, and, well, leave a note and say you stopped by.
I suppose I should begin with Austin's job, and the lessons we have learned during his unemployment. He lost his job the week before Thanksgiving last year, and got paid unemployment for 6 months, until May of this year. During that time, we pared down but still managed to make minor progress on our debt. We saved some money, still gave some (but a smaller amount) to charity. Then May came and he still didn't have a job. We pared down more, continued learning more recipes using beans and rice, honed our Sale Shopping skills, built up reserve meals in the freezer, stocked up when things were cheap. We managed to make ends meet on my paycheck, which continues to amaze me. There were unexpected boons. Like, we had paid ahead enough on his car payment that we could skip 2 months. He had no income so we got a forbearance on his student loans. His parents sent us a couple gift cards for King Soopers. All of that helped.
We also were eligible for help from WIC, which helped us out for 3 months. Now that he has a job, we are going to pay that forward, and continue giving food to our church's food pantry. He did end up getting a part time job with UPS which has been very useful for the last month and a half. Now, we are planning to continue living frugally, pay off our debt more quickly than we would have before the unemployment, and save to move to a safer neighborhood with better schools.
I did find a good school in our district, Crown Point Academy. It is a public charter school, and I put Michael's name on the waiting list to get in, should we still be there when it's time for him to start school. We may not be, but if we are, it's really the only good public school in the district in which we live.
He has been covered by CHP+, which is a health care plan subsidized by the State of Colorado for kids whose parents don't have/can't afford insurance. It's been a comfort, even though we've not needed it.
Now, we are going to have to figure out child care again. It looks like we will need care in the mornings, so we are brainstorming that. I would ask you, Andrea, but it is my understanding that you don't do mornings, and that you may be watching Inara. I don't want to overburden you, or put you in the awkward position of having to say no. So, there it is. God will provide, He always has. I trust that He always will. In His own time.
There is so much else going on right now. Inara (which fills me with a happy warmth every time I walk with Linds). Walking. I'm down to 195 pounds, which I've not really lost weight since Austin started working for UPS. My exercise schedule has been severely disrupted. But I've maintained, which is good. And, this morning, I was 1.3 pounds down since Friday. As long as I keep not moving in the wrong direction, I am pleased. After all, at my heaviest, when I was pregnant with Michael, I weighed 285 pounds.
In fact, I do like pointing that out. 10 more pounds and I will be down 100 pounds. Can you imagine that?
I've got a friend who is hurting that I don't know how to help, or if I can even help. I've got a new church and seem to argue with the teachers there, too. In fact, one of the older teachers in a Sunday School class I took last year calls me the Smart-aleck one. I'm disturbed and pleased all at once. It's not my fault he doesn't like to be questioned. I won't stop questioning things. Not any more.
I don't know who else is still here. I miss coming here and catching up, it used to feel like passing notes to let someone know you were still around. Well, to anyone who sees this.......I am still here, and I still care, and, well, leave a note and say you stopped by.