Money Woes

After a great start back in September with the house...things have slowed down again. We figured we would start rolling again in the spring after tax season. Well, we just heard how little our refund is going to be and for the first time ever - we have to pay the state! Overall we will be getting something back but it's nowhere nearly enough for what we had plans to spend it on. I am feeling very split right now. Technically we are doing the right thing by taking the maximum allowances we can afford from our paychecks so that the government isn't holding onto our money interest free for the year. However, we should have been taking that extra money from each paycheck and putting it into an interest-bearing account. But of course, we didn't. Lesson learned. I will be lowering my exemptions to lessen my paychecks and let the government hold my money since I'm not disciplined enough to do it myself! UGH!

We did it!

Wow I can't believe I haven't written since August! A lot has happened since then! I was getting ready for a week's vacation with the family - which turned out to be wonderfully restful, relaxing and fun! My husband and I were conceding defeat once again, that we wouldn't be able to finish our house. Well, September rolls around, the kids start school and BAM our house is being worked on! Long story short, we got a great reference who came out with a great price and was able to start right away! Passers by couldn't believe how fast the second floor went up! (We couldn't believe it either)It was just so nice to see our kids' faces when they came home from school! It was a dream for all of us that was finally becoming a reality. Time has passed and the initial shock has worn off but we are all still very excited to move forward. The outside of the house is finally finished after 7 years! We are planning on taking a break through the winter and moving slowly on the inside because of birthdays and Christmas. We hope to be fully moved in by the Spring.

It's the most wonderful time of the year....

It's almost time for the kids to go back to school! While this summer has flown by, I still can't wait to get back into a routine! I've already started school supply shopping and hope to finish by next week. I'm waiting until the last minute for clothes because as history tells me, the kids will outgrow the clothes within the first month of school! I'm almost set with my girl scout meetings for the year and my PTA involvement will significantly decrease now that the kids are older. I've started thinking about what I should be doing with all my freed-up time. I would love to go back to school myself, but don't know if I can afford it. Maybe I can volunteer more or get involved in something else to feed my spirit....only time will tell!

Reflecting.....

Today I had a nice visit from my parents, grandmother, brother, aunt and cousins. After the chaos died down, I started to think about my life and what I've made of it so far. On a bad day, I can easily complain that my house still isn't finished therefore, I don't have enough room to entertain overnight guests. I can bitch and moan that my kids' friends can't come over because they'll see that we live in a smaller house. I whine that I the completed house I want isn't lavish but enough for our needs - but yet we still don't have it. On a good day, I realize that my house has been a "home" since we lived here. Our guests have always felt welcome and even with some crowding and maneuvering, have stayed overnight in comfort. I think back to my parents struggling to give me the same homey feeling which they never realized I always felt. I am grateful for that. I am also grateful that (I think) my kids feel the same way, and that I had something to do with that.

Music helps...

Wow this has been a crazy ride of ups and downs emotionally! I've made sure I've been exercising and taking vitamins, but I haven't been able to shake the slump I've been in. I'm sure everyone knows exactly what I'm talking about! Anyway, today I finally figured out what works for me! I have the music blasting and I'm dancing around the living room with my daughter - dancing our cares away! Actually, dancing is exercise which is also why it helps me. I'm just letting the music pour through me and get lost in it, singing at the top of my lungs! Next time you're feeling low, having "one of those days", turn the music up and get your silly on!

If I don't laugh, I'll cry...

Tonight we spent the evening with neighbors. People, just like us, who are are through some shit. Sometimes it's good to see other situations to help realize that you're not alone. In this case, we were able to just hang out and vent our problems, then put them aside to enjoy the small stuff - like good friends, our health and a wonderful evening with good people!

This was going to be my year...

I had some crazy idea at the beginning of 2012 that this was going to be a great year. We were working hard, enabling us to pay down some credit card debt. We were able to send our daughter to camp and our son to another country. We applied for the permit to continue working on our house and obtained certificates of occupancy on the work we had already done. Our jobs were good, the money was coming in. Our community is great, we have wonderful friends surrounding us and our kids seem happy. I still believe this is our year, but with extenuating circumstances, we are nowhere near where we were just a month ago. It's important to remember that life is going to have it's ups and downs. Unfortunately we are in a "down" moment. I still feel very fortunate and know that things will get better. I think I will take my kayak out tomorrow on the lake just across the street and revel in the beauty and appreciate the small things.