How Do You Know When You've Been A Success In Life?

I believe I heard the answer from a friend.....

A friend of mine is 83 years old, and I just love her dearly. She's widowed, and she is lonely, living in her big house by herself. She is so wonderful, that I told her she could come live with me! But at this time, she has declined, beings that I am 120 miles away from her home where several of her children are.

When she had shingles sometime last year or so, her daughter would stay with her quite a bit, trying to be a help to her, while also running her own home with her little girl.

I remember what she told me about my dear friend-her mother. She told me that her mother is so sweet, she just loves to hug her all the time.

You know, money, fame, recognition from strangers, and many other things do not make you successful.

I think that when I am 83, if my children want to hug me all the time and describe me as sweet, I think I will have achieved success in my own life.

When we take our last breaths, I'm sure we will not wish that we had been famous, or had lots of money. We can look our children in the face, and if they knew how much we loved them, and they will miss us because we were so sweet, that will be the only thing that will matter. :)

Every Home Needs These....

After a long absence, I'd like to say....
Hello again!

If you have read my blogs, you know from a few posts that my family lost our home and belongings to a house fire on March 4th, 2009. Thankfully we ONLY lost STUFF-my family is ok-only my husband was home, and he had let our cat outside shortly before the fire happened, so even my baby girl Jazz survived, even tho we are still searching for her.

A month and a day after our house fire, my husband and son were taken to the hospital because they got carbon monoxide poisoning due to a fault with the furnace in our rented home. Thankfully, that was fixed the following day.

And then 4 days after that, my husband, who is a tree climber, fell out of a tree and spent 10 days in the hospital. Fortunately for us, this was a blessing in disguise-Dan had a fusion surgery while he was there, due to severe pain in his stomach area, and we learned that he needs another surgery in his neck due to a very serious problem that we weren't aware was so serious(we knew he had a problem in his neck, but we didn't know that he is just a wrong move away from being paralyzed). The doctor said it was a miracle that he isn't already paralyzed. And yes, we TOTALLY believe in miracles! Because of the severe pain, which I think was due to nerve damage, they had to do the back surgery first-the neck surgery will be scheduled in a few months.

I'm sure you are just like me when it comes to a house fire and serious accidents-and that is, that you never dream that it will happen to you. But fires and accidents do happen, and there are a few things I'd like to encourage everyone to have in their homes:

1. A fireproof safe. This will save you quite a bit of hassle. We did not have one, so I have to get all new birth certificates, social security cards, titles for our cars, new copies of our insurance policies, and probably another paper or two I can't think of.

My sister-in-law has one, and also keeps a few pictures in hers of her family. We lost all of our pictures as well. Actually, a few were salvaged, but they are almost all damaged, and smoke damaged.

2. Pictures of your belongings, and maybe even a list of things you have in storage, or tucked away. When you lose a house, if you have insurance, part of your insurance will be for your contents. If you have pictures, or even a video of what is in your cupboards and closets, it will help you when you have to write out your content list. Trying to remember everything you owned by memory is not easy-especially when your belongings are completely burned to ash, as most of our things were. Keep your pictures, videos and list in the fireproof safe.

One more note on insurance-check over your policy! I know I was completely un-prepared for all of this, but hope I can help someone else to be prepared. Look and see what your coverage is, and if you've done updates on your home, maybe re-evaluate your coverage, to make sure it is sufficient.
We still have to turn in our content list, but as far as our structural coverage, our insurance has made the process as stress free as possible. We have replacement value coverage for our belongings, which I understand is them reimbursing you for the amount it will cost to replace your items, up to a certain dollar amount. Please look into this with your own policy.
I know a woman who also had a house fire and lost everything. Her fire happened around Thanksgiving last year, and my fire happened in March. She has a different insurance company than I do, and she does not have a good experience to share. She is STILL frustrated after these several months with things that happened with her experience. I know that we are not finished yet with our own yet, but from the two of us talking, I know that my own insurance company has treated us much better. It sounds like she might not have had replacement value coverage-as they wanted her to list her content, tell where she bought it and how much she paid for it. Even tho I'm not finished with my list yet, I don't think they do it quite this way with replacement value. And if they do, I'll have to let you know so that you can start keeping track, in case you someday face a similar situation, which I hope you don't!

3. A carbon monoxide detector. Remember that carbon monoxide is a "SILENT KILLER". You cannot smell it, so you cannot depend on your senses to tell you something doesn't smell right. My husband and son were the only ones home when they were poisoned-my daughter and I had gone shopping, while my oldest daughter was in Indiana. Only when my son was already feeling very sick, and then Dan realized he was ready to pass out himself, did he realize that they had been poisoned and needed to get out of the house immediately. He had his cell phone on him, so he called his parents. They were closer to our place than I was at the time, so they took him and Dakota to the hospital. When I got there, my husband's eyes were completely bloodshot, and my mother-in-law said that when she brought them to the hospital, Dan could barely stay awake. And just like a fire, you never dream you will be poisoned someday. We had never even thought of a detector-but we have one now, and will have one from now on. And let me tell you, when you see your loved ones in the hospital on oxygen, and know it was only the hand of God that helped them to get out of the house, it will deeply affect you and make you wish you had taken more measures to prevent tragedy. I never thought to have a carbon monoxide detector, and maybe you haven't either. But that is why I am telling you-so that you will never face this situation.

This post may seem a bit boring, but I really wanted to share these things with you. Even if only one person is saved from heartache and tragedy because of this post, I'll be very glad.

And as always, remember to tell your family you love them!

Tell Them You Love Them!

This is my blog about the joys of family life. Unfortunately, it's been neglected, and I apologize!

To give you the details in a nutshell, my home and nearly everything we owned was lost in a fire on March 4th, 2009.

Just like you, unless you have already survived a house fire, I never dreamed I would see the day that everything I owned would go up in flames.

Please think of these two things, in case you ever find yourself losing your home to a hurricane, flood, fire, or other happening:

1. Stuff is just....STUFF. My children were not home when the fire happened, and my cat was even outside(we're still going out to the house calling for her, hoping to find her any day now). I was in town, and my husband was the only one home, and in the house at the time of the fire. I am grateful that I did not have to bury my husband this past week, and that we are all alive today-this could have happened in the night, and since the entire house was engulfed in flames within about 10 minutes, we could have all died. But God is SO good, and all I lost was STUFF. I can replace STUFF-I cannot replace my husband and children.
   
2. You'll never regret telling your family regularly that you love them. If Dan had died, or my children had died, I would not have the regret that I didn't tell them I loved them enough. While our insurance helps us find a place to live, our family is separated-our teen girls staying with one family, while we stay with our son at another home. Sometimes you think they just know, and they do, but how much nicer that you've expressed it time and time again, especially when tragedy hits. No regrets with thoughts of, "I should have.....".
   

So as we rebuild our lives, I may be a bit neglectful-please forgive me! Blogging became a passion for me, and will look forward to when I am able to post regularly once again!

Brownie Pie

Mmm...Yummy! Try this delicious, and very easy dessert!

You will need:

1 box brownie mix
2 medium tubs of Cool Whip
2 graham cracker pie crusts
1 1/2 c. chopped pecans(optional)

Bake brownies according to box directions. While still warm, crumble into mixing bowl. Add 1 medium tub of Cool Whip and 1/4 of other bowl. Stir and add 1 cup pecans. Mix well.
Fold into pie crust. Add remaining Cool Whip to top of pies and sprinkle with remaining pecans. Let chill in freezer overnight before serving. Let thaw for about 15 minutes before serving.

Let's Get Out of the Rat Race!

The more time goes on, the more I just want to be with my family.  

I know that new mothers cannot imagine that in the blink of an eye, their babies will be old enough to get married and spread their wings and fly on their own, and that's ok.  New mothers really do need some understanding--none of us are probably too old to remember the times we cried because our babies wouldn't stop crying.  But really, this isn't the point.

It's just amazing, and I don't really think in a good way, at all of the things that clutter our lives, many with the disguise of convenience flashing before our eyes.  It's almost like we've been invaded and mesmerized by aliens!!!

Cell phones, ipods, computers, internet surfing, pagers...what else am I forgetting?  

Cell phones are wonderful, especially for knowing our children are safe, or in case of a car accident where 911 needs to be called-I've seen this scenario myself.  Ipods are nice company, especially when exercising or cleaning, computers help in many areas, and pagers are good too.  But they've taken over!!!

My husband made a good point a few months ago that I'd like to share...

It would be one thing if just a few men had laptops that they took home and worked on.  They would be the exception-they would be the ones who got ahead.  But the problem is-everyone has laptops, computers at home, cell phones, etc.  So what that means is, nobody is getting ahead because everyone is doing it.  Basically, we've just allowed work to fill our entire lives.  Business calls on the cell phone any time of day or night, computer work that needs caught up, etc. etc.

My heart is just sad at the breakdown of the family-and the neglect of togetherness that so many gadgets bring.  

No one in their right mind is going to lay on their death bed and say, "You know, I wish I would have spent more time texting my friends stupid messages."  "I wish I would have worked 85 hours a week instead of 70."  "I wish I would have played on the computer more than I played with my kids."

I've been guilty myself, and strive to do better.  

I love my family, and want them to feel that they are most important.  Something as simple as sitting around playing games can be so bonding-we play a dice game called Greed-we just leave the dice on top of the microwave and can grab them so easily, and we often do-we just need pen and paper too.  

I just want to encourage everyone to leave the rat race-who likes rats anyways?  I know we can't just quit our jobs, but how about we pay off debt so we don't have to work so much?  How about we turn the cell phone off when we get home?  How about we hug our kids more and put their needs ahead of the needs of a demanding life all around us?  Don't get me wrong-I think everyone knows what I mean.  There are times when I don't feel like sitting down and playing a game, but I do anyway because my children need my attention, and I don't go to bed with the guilty feelings of wishing I had taken the time, because I did take the time.

Even if you are parents to very small children, and you cannot imagine when you don't have to buy diapers anymore, and that the day will come when you get to sleep the entire night thru again, make wiser decisions than some of us did when we were younger-stay out of debt, don't try to keep up with the Joneses.  The day will come when you will be glad that you were able to be with your children-and our children don't care about stuff anyway-they really want us and our attention.

One thing I've been thankful for is that I've only worked part time while my children are growing up.  My own mother worked full time and then some--I've felt very blessed that I haven't had to.  It's meant a lot to me that I can be home a lot, and I wish the same for you. 

 

Want A Unique Dining Experience The Whole Family Will Enjoy?

If you would like to have a special dining experience for the whole family, let me suggest a Japanese restaurant!  

My hubby and I went for my birthday with another couple, and I left after the meal with the hopes of someday being able to take my children out for this special treat as well!

Seated around a table that faces your own personal grill(each table seats around 10 people, so you may be seated with others), your chef will come after your orders are taken.  With all of your fresh foods on a cart, along with seasonings, oil and matches, the show will begin!  

Our chef poured oil in the grill in the shape of a star, and then lit the oil.  The high flames were the beginning of a very enjoyable performance, while the chef made "music" with the utensils and shakers, and cooked a most delicious meal.  

Some of the meal choices are steak, shrimp, chicken, fried rice and lo mein.  

Take your family for this wonderful treat!  At our Japanese restaurant in Erie, Pa, they do have children's meals, which are cheaper than adult meals.  Adult meals run around $20 per plate.  Also at our Erie restaurant, if you go on your birthday, and have your license for proof, you get a discount on your meal(ours was $12 off our meal).  

I can't wait to take my children!

Every Child Should Read These Books!!!

If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Laura Numeroff

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff

It is my personal opinion that every child should read these books, even if you are a 30 year old child!!!  My family loved them!!!  They are absolutely adorable!  

They are actually for the age group of 4-8, but if you have little ones, you will love reading these ones with them.

Searching these books on Amazon(check out the book box in my right column!), I actually found there were several more than what we have read.  I'd love to read the others too!