I can't explain how absolutely EXCITED I am.. loud enough, hard enough, full enough... and just so busting-at-the-seams HAPPY an excited.. that this momentum is on its way.
* From a seed, knowledge will come... *
It all started when I got a note from my insurance advisor saying that he'd like to meet with me to review a renew of my life insurance policy. Straight forward - however, timing was of the essence. I had to drive all the way to the office to see him at a time that would work for both of us, in and amongst my busy schedule at the time, review my policy and decide if changes needed to be made and he could try to work me into a renewal. In hindsight, that was probably the best thing he could have done for me at that moment of my life.. and of course.. my life insurance coverage!
Life insurance.. Hmm what a concept huh? I finally hit 40, I've had a few different coverages for life insurance and had to let a few go over the years, but all in all, I knew I needed to leave something behind to those that I love and to take care of things after my leaving. So I had it.
I went into his office and sat and read my policy, from what I could understand, and listened to his reasoning for renewing NOW instead of a few years down the road when I was older, explained the difference in cost to me... but not once did he explain that I wasn't going to be covered if I didn't renew it when it was due.... I had no idea what I bought, signed for and was paying for monthly.. except the knowledge that I thought that if something happened to me in the next few years, and I died.. TK was going to have some money left to her. Not a lot either, and again, knowing what I know now - not nearly enough for her to do the things I had in my plans when I purchased it.
I was 30+, a newly single mother, and I just wanted to know that if I were to die, she would be able to pay for the costs that come at my death, and maybe something to invest for her future life that I wouldn't be there for.
My first husband and I paid for our own wedding. We got a bit of help, but it wasn't the extravagant and elaborate that little girls dream of. I borrowed my dress, we picked the sub-par site in the park we wanted to be married in, and 2 wks before the wedding, the catering company/restaurant we planned to hold our reception with, told us that we wouldn't be allowed to have any minors in the building after 9pm... so I called everyone on the list and said"It's now POT LUCK!"
Now skip ahead 10 yrs from that date, and I'm looking over my life insurance policy and worrying about the impending end of its coverage... and I'm seeing how badly that could end up if it were to end in 4 yrs. I don't plan on being dead within 4 yrs... my coverage is a small amount that isn't really based on any tangible numbers other than "Sure - I can afford that."
After that call from the insurance agent, I had some questions, and went to a local businessman and friend and asked what I was really looking at on this piece of paper, what the technical jargon meant, and how it was going to effect me and my current situation.
He came over - we looked at what I had, and we included DH in the process. I found out that my investment wasn't healthy like I thought it should be by now, and that DH and the 3 kids weren't so much as considered along our paths.... time for a change.
Now fast forward back to present day....
This past weekend, DH and I went in and completed our pre-licensing exam for Life Insurance. We passed, and we're both so proud of each other. That wasn't the simplest task I've ever done, but for the first time in a very long time, I was not afraid of failing the exam. I wanted to know what I learned...
Now, I have life insurance that covers me and the three kids, and an investment that is actually moving in an upward motion instead of slowly disintegrating because of inflation rates, potential tax implications etc... an Im on mu way to a new career to help other families and single moms (okay, other people too! lol) ... and I know that what I'm doing now is making a difference for her when she turns 18.
I can't remember how excited I was to write an exam that took many hours to write. I can't remember the last time I looked at myself in the mirror and knew in my heart that I was going to be ok... and if anything happened to me, so would TK.
Did YOU know that there are taxes AT death...? That the government wants money just because we died? I didn't. I also didn't know just how much leaving something for my daughter mattered until that moment that I moved my insurance and investment (though small) somewhere else. Somewhere that was moving my money and it was increasing instead of just sitting around for someone else to take it over.
When my mom died, I had NO idea what was in the wil. I could barely function then between new baby and caring for my mom's failing health on a daily basis. If she'd only kept up her life insurance. if shed only told us where to look to see if there was one.. something that said we could go on to try to recoup any of the costs involved when you bury someone.
My excitement is wrapped up in what I am already accomplishing. What lied beyond my horizon. And my future's so bright, i have to wear shades > :)
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Refer to March 21/2011 and then come back and read...
It's a gorgeous day outside.
Here I sit.. sipping a glass of chilled white wine.. all by myself ... enjoying some tunes on the radio... and thinking.
I went back and was reading my previous posts... wondering what I've posted and trying to discern whats still stuck in my head .. floating around that needs to come out. When I ran across the March 21 post.
Today I was talking to one of my mentors.. asking if I am by nature a "positive" person or not. I certainly think I am, but I wanted an outsider's opinion today.
He said, Yes. You have a gift to see past whatever issues are going on - and that's not to say that you are ignoring them - you're seeing PAST them, and feeling the positive things and influences in your life instead of being sucked under by the issues.
Ok... my thoughts are somewhat on track with what some think of me. That's good to me. Someone that I respect and look up to recognizes that about me. YAY!
I could sit here and list off a million things "wrong" or "going wrong" in my world.. but my optimism is keeping me up in my happy place. (without needing to resort to the fetal position!) and really.. there IS a lot of crap going on in my world... but who's got the energy to be negative? You only get one shot on this big go round, and I want mine to be better than wallowing in self pity.
however - I have to say this... after reading march 21, I'm still sick that some, that say they love me and that I matter to them, are still friends with my ex on FB. Why, you ask? Because what you do on FB - even if you have blocked someone, not just deleted, but gone so far as to block them - they can figure enough out via posts and photos posted by your friends. yuppers. Read that again.... they can either figure out whats going on in your life by photos posted by friends, or the little bits of posts that they CAN see on your mutual friends wall can very easily be figured out by following the conversation. Its just like being on the phone... sure its one sided, and you really DON'T know what the blocked person said... but it usually isnt far off if you guess the topic or comment. especially if the blocked party lived with the blockee. Some things are habitual.
I've had friends ask me to delete their recently ex'd partners.. and I usually do, because I really don't have any interest in remaining friends with them on FB because I don't need to be connected to them. (Does that make sense?)
I accept that a couple of our mutual friends will keep the connection open for their own personal needs or reasons... and I know they won't share whats going on in MY life with them. I trust that. But that's only a couple of them.
Lucky for me, recently someone I thought was my friend chose my ex and those friends over me. I was deleted off FB as her friend, and I actually couldn't be happier. If I'm not the one you want to be friends with in real life, I'm all the more pleased to not have to delete you in order to maintain my sanity over what I post or what you might post, thank you very much.
For now, her kids are my friends - but that won't last long. Just trying to preserve peaceful and condusive conversation if required at that moment... but we'll see how that goes, right?
Here I sit.. sipping a glass of chilled white wine.. all by myself ... enjoying some tunes on the radio... and thinking.
I went back and was reading my previous posts... wondering what I've posted and trying to discern whats still stuck in my head .. floating around that needs to come out. When I ran across the March 21 post.
Today I was talking to one of my mentors.. asking if I am by nature a "positive" person or not. I certainly think I am, but I wanted an outsider's opinion today.
He said, Yes. You have a gift to see past whatever issues are going on - and that's not to say that you are ignoring them - you're seeing PAST them, and feeling the positive things and influences in your life instead of being sucked under by the issues.
Ok... my thoughts are somewhat on track with what some think of me. That's good to me. Someone that I respect and look up to recognizes that about me. YAY!
I could sit here and list off a million things "wrong" or "going wrong" in my world.. but my optimism is keeping me up in my happy place. (without needing to resort to the fetal position!) and really.. there IS a lot of crap going on in my world... but who's got the energy to be negative? You only get one shot on this big go round, and I want mine to be better than wallowing in self pity.
however - I have to say this... after reading march 21, I'm still sick that some, that say they love me and that I matter to them, are still friends with my ex on FB. Why, you ask? Because what you do on FB - even if you have blocked someone, not just deleted, but gone so far as to block them - they can figure enough out via posts and photos posted by your friends. yuppers. Read that again.... they can either figure out whats going on in your life by photos posted by friends, or the little bits of posts that they CAN see on your mutual friends wall can very easily be figured out by following the conversation. Its just like being on the phone... sure its one sided, and you really DON'T know what the blocked person said... but it usually isnt far off if you guess the topic or comment. especially if the blocked party lived with the blockee. Some things are habitual.
I've had friends ask me to delete their recently ex'd partners.. and I usually do, because I really don't have any interest in remaining friends with them on FB because I don't need to be connected to them. (Does that make sense?)
I accept that a couple of our mutual friends will keep the connection open for their own personal needs or reasons... and I know they won't share whats going on in MY life with them. I trust that. But that's only a couple of them.
Lucky for me, recently someone I thought was my friend chose my ex and those friends over me. I was deleted off FB as her friend, and I actually couldn't be happier. If I'm not the one you want to be friends with in real life, I'm all the more pleased to not have to delete you in order to maintain my sanity over what I post or what you might post, thank you very much.
For now, her kids are my friends - but that won't last long. Just trying to preserve peaceful and condusive conversation if required at that moment... but we'll see how that goes, right?
Overheard conversation...
Dad: Chase... what are you doing?... Where did that dirt come from?...
Kenzie.. where did the dirt come from? ...
Okay... was this dirt in here before?
Kenzie... Chase... come HERE! ....
Where did you get this dirt?
Was it in the house?
No.. it wasn't... it was over there in the garden, wasn't it?
Kenzie: ... but...
Dad: I told you guys not to play with this dirt. Its got poo in it.... its poo dirt... its called "Manure" ..
Chase: Poo dirt?
Dad: Yes.. its got poo in it, and now you have poo soup... and you're running it through your hair now, stop. You filled my bucket... with poo dirt... and made poo soup. Now I want you to go dump it out.
Dump it.
Kenzie: ... but...
Dad: Use teamwork and go dump it.
(Dad goes inside)
Chase: Kenzie!!! C'mon!!! It's TEAMWORK TIME!!!
*LOL*
and this is what I picture I might find if I peeked over my fence after that conversation...
Kenzie.. where did the dirt come from? ...
Okay... was this dirt in here before?
Kenzie... Chase... come HERE! ....
Where did you get this dirt?
Was it in the house?
No.. it wasn't... it was over there in the garden, wasn't it?
Kenzie: ... but...
Dad: I told you guys not to play with this dirt. Its got poo in it.... its poo dirt... its called "Manure" ..
Chase: Poo dirt?
Dad: Yes.. its got poo in it, and now you have poo soup... and you're running it through your hair now, stop. You filled my bucket... with poo dirt... and made poo soup. Now I want you to go dump it out.
Dump it.
Kenzie: ... but...
Dad: Use teamwork and go dump it.
(Dad goes inside)
Chase: Kenzie!!! C'mon!!! It's TEAMWORK TIME!!!
*LOL*
and this is what I picture I might find if I peeked over my fence after that conversation...
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Canada Day!
Well, it's actually now July 2nd, but the festivities in the house are still going on.
Upstairs, the ladies are all laughing and playing cards and listening to music. Downstairs outside, the guys are jamming and singing on the guitar.
The two kids are upstairs playing video games.
I have a headache. A nasty one that has kept me laying low most of the day, unfortunately.
I was talking to a girlfriend the other day, and she asked if I noticed that there seems to be an awful lot of "crap" going on in everyone's lives right now.. the world in general. She said its because the universe is in a major shift. After watching the news a couple nights ago and seeing that Greece is facing economic breakdown, experiencing first hand the economic shift going on in my own life.. I guess I could believe that.
So it's definitely time for some new things to start going on in my world. I've signed up for some training that could lead to something new in my career field, which of course, I'd be adding to finishing up my Interior Decorating diploma and finding something I'd love to do in that field as well. But it would be nice to know that I could go through the ups and downs in time and jobs with both fields without much conflict.
Around the beginning of June I was officially laid off from my job. There just isn't much retail traffic going on. I'm sad, but I'm not complaining too much. Having the time off at the end of the school year sure made it a little easier to get TK back and forth from school on all those half days and parties she had going on.
I was really hoping today would be a great day for the three of us to spend the day hanging out and enjoying the Canada Day celebrations.. but unfortunately the headache got the better of my day. But on the other side, TK had a nice lazy day, and has had someone to play with since about 4pm.
They boys have changed to making up lyrics to whatever the guitar man plays... so I'm going to call it a night and sneak off to bed and see if I can make this thing go away.
Sweet dreams... wherever you are. Happy Canada Day!
Upstairs, the ladies are all laughing and playing cards and listening to music. Downstairs outside, the guys are jamming and singing on the guitar.
The two kids are upstairs playing video games.
I have a headache. A nasty one that has kept me laying low most of the day, unfortunately.
I was talking to a girlfriend the other day, and she asked if I noticed that there seems to be an awful lot of "crap" going on in everyone's lives right now.. the world in general. She said its because the universe is in a major shift. After watching the news a couple nights ago and seeing that Greece is facing economic breakdown, experiencing first hand the economic shift going on in my own life.. I guess I could believe that.
So it's definitely time for some new things to start going on in my world. I've signed up for some training that could lead to something new in my career field, which of course, I'd be adding to finishing up my Interior Decorating diploma and finding something I'd love to do in that field as well. But it would be nice to know that I could go through the ups and downs in time and jobs with both fields without much conflict.
Around the beginning of June I was officially laid off from my job. There just isn't much retail traffic going on. I'm sad, but I'm not complaining too much. Having the time off at the end of the school year sure made it a little easier to get TK back and forth from school on all those half days and parties she had going on.
I was really hoping today would be a great day for the three of us to spend the day hanging out and enjoying the Canada Day celebrations.. but unfortunately the headache got the better of my day. But on the other side, TK had a nice lazy day, and has had someone to play with since about 4pm.
They boys have changed to making up lyrics to whatever the guitar man plays... so I'm going to call it a night and sneak off to bed and see if I can make this thing go away.
Sweet dreams... wherever you are. Happy Canada Day!
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