Monday, October 5, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Budgets, Schedules, and Blessings of Mom!
Yesterday I got my days and nights mixed up. I slept almost all day, but then I felt rested and I was up all night working on paperwork and setting up a new 2009 system for bills. Last year I was overwhelmed and I got behind a few times resulting in a few late fees and increased interest rates. I am working hard not to let that happen again!
I am blessed to be able to take care of my 83 year old Mother. However, it's a big job to keep up with her bills and mine too. I am thankful for online Bill Pay! My dear daughter-in-law taught me how and helped me set up an online Bill Pay account. It has really been a blessing! I am working on a 2009 budget for Mom right now and a new filing system for keeping up with the bills/statements/checks/receipts.
As for the budget, just counting the items she uses on a daily basis is a trip. This includes stamps-she uses about 100 per month!; Cigs-I wish she'd quit, but at least she's down to one carton per week now; Wine-Her doctor told her it's good for her so no one else can convince her otherwise! And hair care-she has her hair done every two weeks by her long time high school friend and hairdresser! I also take her to the Chiropractor three times a week and to her regular doctor visits.
She is very set in her routines and does not like to change anything. I keep her in envelopes and stamps and she writes her friends daily, telling them what she did that day. She loves to make Pecan Tarts and S'mores and gives them to the mailman, the garbage man, recycle man, and anyone else who visits. She enjoys her sweets, yet she weighs herself daily and never gains a pound!
I try to make sure she has enough fruits and vegetables, easy to fix meats and dinners, and I take her meals I've prepared. If she doesn't like it, she lets me know! She will give it away if she can. I have to watch her because if she has more than one of an item, she will try to give that away too! I try to make sure she has enough in the freezer so she won't run out, but not too much either, so she won't give it away.
A few weeks ago I bought her two packages of bacon so I wouldn't have to go back to the store in a few days. It was on sale and she goes through it pretty quickly She cooks the entire package and keeps it in a Ziploc bag with hard boiled eggs and snacks on it during the day. She tried to give the extra package of bacon away. I'm glad I was there to stop her. I have to watch to make sure she doesn't freeze things that are better left unfrozen too, such as cottage cheese, tomatoes, whole squash, pork and beans... She has peanut butter and crackers and Smores in the freezer now.
It's a delight to be able to do things for her, after all those years she took care of me. I just hope I'm not letting her get too dependent on me. I've noticed the more I do for her, the more she wants me to do. I don't mind at all, but I don't want to take away her independence either. I had to take over when she was trying to bail out my nephews friends and 'inmates' with her credit cards. They were calling her collect for the credit card numbers for their bail money!
Last week she decided she was depending on me too much, so she told me she decided to be more 'independent'. She told me I could buy her some taxi cab vouchers. I don't think she'll use them, but if I'm not available to drive her to the store when she's out of wine or cigarettes, at least she can call a taxi. I can't let her have the checkbook anymore, or cash either, because she writes checks and mails cash to her favorite charities, not realizing if the money's not in the bank, the check won't clear! Or that if she spends the cash, it won't be there for the hairdresser on Wed. After having to pick up a few, she let me take over the check book. At least she realized it was too confusing to keep up with and now she lets me do it.
I'm thankful I have her with me and I hope and pray I will have her for a long time!
I am blessed to be able to take care of my 83 year old Mother. However, it's a big job to keep up with her bills and mine too. I am thankful for online Bill Pay! My dear daughter-in-law taught me how and helped me set up an online Bill Pay account. It has really been a blessing! I am working on a 2009 budget for Mom right now and a new filing system for keeping up with the bills/statements/checks/receipts.
As for the budget, just counting the items she uses on a daily basis is a trip. This includes stamps-she uses about 100 per month!; Cigs-I wish she'd quit, but at least she's down to one carton per week now; Wine-Her doctor told her it's good for her so no one else can convince her otherwise! And hair care-she has her hair done every two weeks by her long time high school friend and hairdresser! I also take her to the Chiropractor three times a week and to her regular doctor visits.
She is very set in her routines and does not like to change anything. I keep her in envelopes and stamps and she writes her friends daily, telling them what she did that day. She loves to make Pecan Tarts and S'mores and gives them to the mailman, the garbage man, recycle man, and anyone else who visits. She enjoys her sweets, yet she weighs herself daily and never gains a pound!
I try to make sure she has enough fruits and vegetables, easy to fix meats and dinners, and I take her meals I've prepared. If she doesn't like it, she lets me know! She will give it away if she can. I have to watch her because if she has more than one of an item, she will try to give that away too! I try to make sure she has enough in the freezer so she won't run out, but not too much either, so she won't give it away.
A few weeks ago I bought her two packages of bacon so I wouldn't have to go back to the store in a few days. It was on sale and she goes through it pretty quickly She cooks the entire package and keeps it in a Ziploc bag with hard boiled eggs and snacks on it during the day. She tried to give the extra package of bacon away. I'm glad I was there to stop her. I have to watch to make sure she doesn't freeze things that are better left unfrozen too, such as cottage cheese, tomatoes, whole squash, pork and beans... She has peanut butter and crackers and Smores in the freezer now.
It's a delight to be able to do things for her, after all those years she took care of me. I just hope I'm not letting her get too dependent on me. I've noticed the more I do for her, the more she wants me to do. I don't mind at all, but I don't want to take away her independence either. I had to take over when she was trying to bail out my nephews friends and 'inmates' with her credit cards. They were calling her collect for the credit card numbers for their bail money!
Last week she decided she was depending on me too much, so she told me she decided to be more 'independent'. She told me I could buy her some taxi cab vouchers. I don't think she'll use them, but if I'm not available to drive her to the store when she's out of wine or cigarettes, at least she can call a taxi. I can't let her have the checkbook anymore, or cash either, because she writes checks and mails cash to her favorite charities, not realizing if the money's not in the bank, the check won't clear! Or that if she spends the cash, it won't be there for the hairdresser on Wed. After having to pick up a few, she let me take over the check book. At least she realized it was too confusing to keep up with and now she lets me do it.
I'm thankful I have her with me and I hope and pray I will have her for a long time!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
A New Day
Today is a good day! I just had a long chat with my stepdaughter. It's the first time we've chatted in about 6 years. It was really nice to catch up and learn about what's going on in her life. She is growing up to be quite a beautiful young woman, inside and out! I'm so proud of her!
Today I heard from a good friend I haven't talked to in awhile too. I feel like a nice breeze is blowing, cleansing out my soul! I feel healing in the air, for my family. It's been a long time coming. I heard from my niece today too. We exchanged a couple of emails. I didn't hear from her for almost a year until a few weeks ago. I hope to meet her tomorrow for dinner and a nice visit.
Yesterday I had my first attempt at writing on another writing website. It was refreshing and fun. My goal is to start writing 1 hour per day! I hope to start working on my book again soon. I'll keep you posted how it's going, as soon as I find the outline I started over a year ago.. Lol
Today I heard from a good friend I haven't talked to in awhile too. I feel like a nice breeze is blowing, cleansing out my soul! I feel healing in the air, for my family. It's been a long time coming. I heard from my niece today too. We exchanged a couple of emails. I didn't hear from her for almost a year until a few weeks ago. I hope to meet her tomorrow for dinner and a nice visit.
Yesterday I had my first attempt at writing on another writing website. It was refreshing and fun. My goal is to start writing 1 hour per day! I hope to start working on my book again soon. I'll keep you posted how it's going, as soon as I find the outline I started over a year ago.. Lol
Thursday, January 15, 2009
First Day Of The Rest Of My Life
Good Morning! Today is my second day writing a blog. I survived the first day and didn't even have a panic attack for fear someone might actually read my thoughts! Today I got up early and fixed breakfast of eggs, peppers, and cheese with multigrain toast. I usually like mushrooms too but I'm out, and some onions. I chopped them but used them all in the chicken I'm fixing for later. I chopped onions, carrots, and celery and poured them over a whole chicken, along with a can of chicken broth. I covered it and left it simmering on the stove. This will make a nice soup for lunch.
I heated the tea I made last night. I discovered just in time it was NOT Decaffeinated like I thought, so I put it in the fridge for this morning. It was a nice touch with my breakfast. I made a grocery list to restock my pantry, since it's getting bare. I'm using up items I've had for a long time, finally clearing out the pantry and starting over. I'm starting my NEW way of eating this year! I'm going to eat healthy and avoid things that affect my allergies. I want to find out how much better I'll feel when I really do this.. seriously! I will let everyone know the results! My goal... to lose a LOT of weight, reduce pain, and become more active, so I can play more with my grandsons, Gavin & Luke.
Gavin turned 2 in Oct and Luke was born early Dec. My goal is to heal my body and mind so I can be around to watch them grow up, and hopefully their children! Today is the first day of the rest of my life! Today I have decided to NOT let others change my plans and/or interfere in my health and healing. I am going to take care of ME first, THEN... if there's anything left of me to give, I'll do what I feel The Lord is leading me to do each day. I'm hoping to regain my health and be able to fulfill the Mission I believe God called me to in 1992, which is "Home Ministries".
I'll fill you in on more details about that later, and give you a link to my blog and website too.
Here's to a Brite New Beginning!
I heated the tea I made last night. I discovered just in time it was NOT Decaffeinated like I thought, so I put it in the fridge for this morning. It was a nice touch with my breakfast. I made a grocery list to restock my pantry, since it's getting bare. I'm using up items I've had for a long time, finally clearing out the pantry and starting over. I'm starting my NEW way of eating this year! I'm going to eat healthy and avoid things that affect my allergies. I want to find out how much better I'll feel when I really do this.. seriously! I will let everyone know the results! My goal... to lose a LOT of weight, reduce pain, and become more active, so I can play more with my grandsons, Gavin & Luke.
Gavin turned 2 in Oct and Luke was born early Dec. My goal is to heal my body and mind so I can be around to watch them grow up, and hopefully their children! Today is the first day of the rest of my life! Today I have decided to NOT let others change my plans and/or interfere in my health and healing. I am going to take care of ME first, THEN... if there's anything left of me to give, I'll do what I feel The Lord is leading me to do each day. I'm hoping to regain my health and be able to fulfill the Mission I believe God called me to in 1992, which is "Home Ministries".
I'll fill you in on more details about that later, and give you a link to my blog and website too.
Here's to a Brite New Beginning!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Todays Ponderings
This is the first time I've had a blog. I'm going to jump right in and start rambling. It's what I do anyway. Now I have a place to put my thoughts! Maybe someone will read them and actually enjoy them. It would be nice to find out if my thoughts hold any interest to anyone besides myself. After all, we're entitled to our opinions. I welcome yours if you would like to comment.
The people in my life I take care of on a daily basis like to call me a 'control freak'. I don't think I'm that way at all. I set boundaries and limit what I'll let them manipulate me into doing when they want to feed their addictions. I work with a few demanding, spoiled, and selfish addicts, and they don't like being told "No"! It's a tough life, but somebody's got to do it! Might as well be me! I like me... and that's what really counts, isn't it???
The people in my life I take care of on a daily basis like to call me a 'control freak'. I don't think I'm that way at all. I set boundaries and limit what I'll let them manipulate me into doing when they want to feed their addictions. I work with a few demanding, spoiled, and selfish addicts, and they don't like being told "No"! It's a tough life, but somebody's got to do it! Might as well be me! I like me... and that's what really counts, isn't it???
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