Snow Days!

Wow. How awesome to be snowed in for a weekend. This is so like a mini vacation....sleeping in, watching some tube...spending time with the kids...this is the best! As long as the power stays on, I could do this for a while. Life is sweet!

Tonite!

I'm sitting here cruizing the internet, waiting for American Idol to come on before I hit the sack. I got a lot done at work today, but was there for 7 hours - my 15 hour schedule that I signed on for is definitely more like 30. I thought I'd come home and get the kids schooled, but...alas...another showing, this one from 4-6...that threw my schedule right on out the door. We went to Walmart, picked up some deli foods, crashed at Grandma's to eat and hang out while waiting. Too bad she was already at church, we only got to visit with Sassy and her conversation consisted of whining and drooling for the food while we ate...soooo gross.....and yes, we gave her some! I sure hope mom was not saving those paper plates for a special occasion or I really owe her one.
And thanks for the anniversary card, I saw it laying there with our names on it, so I took the liberty of opening it. Pretty pink!

While there, Sandy got a call from a potential employer and has an interview tomorrow morning at 7:30am. SO COOL. This is the first interview, and it's for a grading superintendent position- which is his specialty. I'll be praying....

PS: I just got a call for another showing from 12-1 tomorrow. And on it goes...

Aaaah.....The joys..... NOT

It usually takes something significant to jerk my chain and compel me to write. So I now break my blog silence…..to put this experience into words.
Caution: TMI coming up…if you don’t want details….don’t read on.

Sandy was laid off November 6th. And the journey began…
We already had some financial issues going on, and that was while earning $75,400 per year + truck pay + food allowance. We filed for unemployment in NC, and after waiting a week for an answer, we were told to file in VA where his last job was. So off we went to file in VA. After another week – 2 weeks with no income-we were approved for unemployment at the whopping amount of $400 per week. – That translates into $20,800 per year….for a family of 8!!!
I promptly applied for Medicaid and food stamps, and called everyone I could to get our payments lowered. I got our cable/phone/internet cut to $70 per month, dropped the girls dance classes, stopped our K-Love pledge, canceled Netflix, applied to Rex for help in paying our medical bills, applied to our mortgage company for help in reducing our mortgage payment, and put our van and truck up for sale.

God graciously provided some great things along the way. Miraculously, in my eyes, He provided a buyer for Sandy’s truck who paid all but $200 and relieved us of that $15,000 debt. Cianna was given free tuition for her dance classes while Sandy is unemployed. Rex paid all $2,000 of my medical bills and sent a letter giving our family free care through any Rex facility for 3 months. We were just approved for Medicaid for the children for the next year, and just received a letter (a full month after applying) stating that by next week we would get an EBT card for groceries for 6 months.

And finally, the GRAND FINALE!!!

Wells Fargo Home Mortgage called tonight to tell us that our application for assistance has been denied. According to their calculations, we are at a deficit of $-3,000 per month because we only get $1,600 a month and our mortgage is $1,236 per month – therefore, we can’t be helped. If Sandy had a job, then we could apply for a program that would reduce our interest rate from 5.75% to 5%, and lower the payment – especially considering that we owe $15,000 less than when we bought it…BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, you have to be employed for the “Investor” to allow that option. The best Wells Fargo could do for us is to set us up on a repayment plan where we pay the $1,200 per month plus an additional amount to help make up for the two payments that we are behind. Nice plan, eh???

I then explained to the Rep. that I had gotten a job in December and was working 30 hours per week. That would bring in an additional $1,440 per month, and that with food stamps our food budget would drop. But since that still left a deficit of $-500 according to their records, nothing could be done to help us lower our payment.

I asked the representative, “ So this Investor would rather foreclose on our home, which has been on the market for 4 months, and have us leave, and let it sit empty…, rather than work with us and accept a lower amount until Sandy finds employment?” Her response, “Yeah, I know it sounds crazy.” I told her it didn’t just sound crazy, it IS crazy. Then I thought, of course they’d rather kick us out, we have over $20,000 equity in this home. They’d love to sell it cheap – screw the American dream.

She did say that if anything changed, aka: Sandy got a job, we could call back and they might be able to help. Otherwise, pay up or you are out.

Question??? Didn’t Wells Fargo receive our tax dollars bail out money???

I believe there is a Bible story about this subject….hmmmm….

The Moral of the Story: Don’t lose your job, or get used to living in a tent!

For you, Lacee...

So it's been almost 7 weeks since my last post....and guess what...I'm still not bored! Between all the ball games, running the concession stand, homeschool, life chores, etc... I'm finally writing tonight.

Lets see: Gall bladder surgery went well...4 holes laproscopically and boom, dying organ out, then 1 week later...feeling about normal!
I could go on about the busyness of getting kids to dance and ballgames, about Sandy's truck breaking down and plunging us into poverty, or about the endless weeks of Yaks soccer concession stand (that is going well, mind you), but I won't. And after this week of meds, the diverticulitis seems to be under control again...
So off to Anchor Soul Preparations. I just finished the AS Menu plan for the week (starting tomorrow), which probably made Mom very happy since she has been waiting for weeks for it.

Tomorrow the craziness begins, but it is a short craziness, and it's good to hang out with friends - even if that means 10 hour days on my feet cooking and serving. I love it, but glad it is only once a year!

My purpose for writing tonight is to appease my precious Lacee and make a birthday list for my 40th birthday that is coming up on Tuesday. I have tried to ignore it, but it just won't go away, and my children keep reminding me of the approaching deadline. -only 2 more days to be 39....But I LIKE it here!
Anyway: here goes...my rambling, selfish lists of wants- you know we all have them, I'm just going to be so forward as to list mine in Cyberspace (finally catching up with the younger generation).

White spacemaker coffee maker at Target- attaches to bottom of cabinet
White spacemaker toaster oven at Target- attaches to bottom of cabinet also
Cato gift card for clothes
6 Tim Hawkins Tickets for the Smithfield show
Air Bake Cookie sheets/Pans
Target or Kohls Gift Cards
Clean and not broken Couch for Livingroom in a tasteful color

Thats my current list that I keep posted here, just in case I forget what I want - like that would happen. But wait, there is more!!!

My Van paid off
My second mortgage paid off
My first mortgage paid off
A larger kitchen that can fit more than 2 of us at a time - seriously... the holidays are just around the corner.

Too much? No doubt, but if I'm going to dream, I might as well dream big!!!

How about:
A local job for Sandy with a decent income, and medical/dental insurance
World peace.........oops, just kidding...I've read Revelation in the Bible...

So with that...off to bed I go to prepare for a busy Sunday tomorrow. I sure hope I get to see a football game tomorrow...last week I missed the Panthers while at the Urgent Care, this week the Pittsburgh/Vikings game ought to be a GREAT one, I'm looking forward to it...just not to turning 40. Aaaaaagh

Life is never dull...

How long has it been since YOU said you were bored...that just isn't an adult concept, now is it. At least for me, as an adult raising 6 children, volunteering regularly, and trying to make my house as near perfect as possible while it is on the market!

CJ surprised me this week by bringing a fawn to the back glass door...I mean truly, made me JUMP!



He was very cute, very afraid, and very trapped in our back pasture. CJ had gone out to mow the yard when he decided to take a leak in the back and spotted this little guy trying to break thru the fence unsuccessfully. CJ chased him down and brought him to the deck for us to see. After calling the wildlife rescue, we put him over the fence as they said to do.


This is Caressa modeling some tutu's for a friend's website. She wasn't very cooperative. I should have fed her before going.





Sweet!!!


As for the home renovations, they are coming along, slowly...but nicely.

I need to take a few better photos now that the trim is painted and looking sparkly white!

As for my gall bladder surgery, it is scheduled for Monday the 14th. I really liked the surgeon, he seems like a very good guy. As long as all goes well it will be done laproscopicly, with 4 small incisions and should keep me down for only 5 days. I hope that is the case as the fall soccer season has come and means each Saturday getting the concession stand ready.

It seems as though Lacee will not be able to attend SCAD this fall, we just weren't able to gather the $4,100 needed to get her there. It is a bummer, but very much like life, eh? I do hope the bonus eventually comes thru so that she can attend January's session. I really, really, really want her to be able to go! It's not always easy accepting that God's plan is better for us than our own...especially when you aren't privy to His plan.

I should be painting...

I had a test done at the hospital in Raleigh today. It had to be done fasting, and I left the house at 7:30 am. Traffic around the beltline was moving between 5-10 mph. Needless to say, I was half an hour late. It took an hour and a half to get there this morning.
Rex is a big place. They gave me a map to find Radiology with - it's a good thing, I'd have never found it on my own. Then they sent me down to Nuclear medicine.
I really didn't know what I was going for, just a test to check my gall bladder, after having 2 painful episodes last week, 5 over the past year and a half. My abdominal x-ray last week was normal, so this was the next step.
Ive been told by 3 different ladies in the medical field the same info now. There are 5 "F" factors for gall bladder problems:
1. Forty (or fifty)
2. Female
3. Fat (or fluffy as one lady said)
4. Fertile
5. Flatulence
After putting a catheter in my vein, they injected a nuclear medicine in and watched it enter my liver and make it's way to my gall bladder through their super technological machine. After 1/2 an hour, they took pictures with their bigger machine, gave me another injection to mimic a meal and took another picture of my gall bladder. 2 1/2 hours later, I was done and on my way. I went straight to McDonalds for coffee, even if it was 90 degrees out at 11:30am. I missed my morning routine of a double espresso with cream. I'm supposed to have the results back this afternoon. Now if the Dr. callsme with the info, that's a whole different story!

For more info on gall bladder issues, click on the following link: http://www.womentowomen.com/digestionandgihealth/gallbladderhealth.aspx

So it's back to painting. I'm almost finished with the Master Bathroom, but am taking on painting Seri's room today. She just is not as quick as I am. My years of painting experience are really coming to fruition. I'll post some pics when I have finished the projects.

Day 4 HT Coupon Deals

Today's trip didn't seem to save as much as usual, but I did get things we need now, or will use as time passes. I stocked up on the bandaids, seems like we are always out of those. Although I paid $5 for the Cascade, it was a 32 count pack, and I am just about out anyways.

Overall, the total came to $67.41, after coupons and sale prices, it was $25.56.

...and I have used up all my under $1 coupons. I hope the newspaper delivers some good ones tomorrow!