Last Day of 2015-2016

Today was the last day of the 2015-2016 school year.  Our students were out on Friday, but we had to finish today.

Funny how much you can get done when you are home.  Once I left school, I managed to cook a healthy lunch, take an hour nap, start/finish a load of laundry, put on chicken for the next few days, do a 15 minute walk, and upload pics and documents to clear up my desktop.  If I accomplished that much in an afternoon/evening, I wonder what I will accomplish in the coming days. :-)

Happy summer, everyone!

2nd Day of January 2016

Happy Saturday to each of you! How are you spending the first Saturday of the new year?

I got up early to let a co-worker in the building, which meant I got to unload some items I have been meaning to take to work all semester. I then dropped off a box of items at Goodwill. My clothes are all ready for the week, and I'm still downloading pictures from my mini iPad to the computer.

I need to get my sew machines working so the girls can sew scarves next Saturday. If I were ready to make decisions about various items around the house, I could get together more to donate, but I'm not ready for that yet.  I could work on the quilts I started with Mom's clothes.

What do you do to pass the time?  I don't do well sitting and doing nothing.  I could read, but I don't have a book that is jumping off the shelf to be read.

Whatever you choose to do today, enjoy it!

Happy New Year!

Do you have traditions you follow today?

We traditionally we have black-eyed peas, cabbage, cornbread, and ham. Even though I am starting 2016 alone, I have soaked my beans and have now started cooking them, and I've started my cornbread.

As the food cooks, I am sitting here watching the birds on the back patio enjoy birdseed. It makes me so happy to see the male and female Cardinal each day.

Do you have plans for the new year? Resolutions? I'm not a resolution girl, and at this point, I am just taking each day one day at a time, so we will see what the year brings.

The Literacy Triad is planning to attend two conferences here in the state, and we are presenting numerous times at one of them. Those will be my little mini vacations and time to rejuvenate.

I enjoy my work, and it will keep me busy in the coming weeks and most of the semester.

I'm on a new committee at church, so I'm looking forward to seeing where that will lead.

I'm sure I will be going to see my nephew wrestle and play soccer, and it will soon be dance competition season.

Whatever this year holds and you choose to do, I wish you a very Happy New Year, everyone!

Saying Good-bye to 2015 and Hello to 2016

When 2015 began, I would never have imagined it would have encompassed all that it did.  

• I would be parentless (burying my mom) by the time summer began.
• My brother and his family would move out of state that same summer.
• I would be alone (in a sense), making the decisions I am, and trying to figure out who I am and what I'm supposed to do now.

I have noticed since June that I have become so negative.  Things just pop out of my mouth, and at times, normally at work, I don't sound like my old self.  But . . . who am I? This is an area I plan to work on this year. I have to find myself--whether it be the old me or a new me.

While the negativity has become a way of life, it seems, and not something I am happy about, if I sit and ponder, I can come up with positive moments where I have been blessed. (These are in no particular order.)

• My brother survived an accident at the end of June that could have taken his life.  He walked away with only bruises and pain b/c God protected him as the truck crossed three lanes of traffic on a busy, rainy highway during rush hour after hydroplaning and bouncing off the cement median. No one hit him miraculously.
• My niece and nephew continue to thrive and find success in school and extra curricular activities.
• My niece is is doing well with no changes in her Chiari.
• I got to chaperon a trip with my niece and nephew to Washington DC. It was a great experience and tons of fun.
• I have a great job with great people and administrators who support me and push me to be better.
• I have seen the power of prayer, support, friendship, and family through everything this year.  For this, I will always be grateful.
• I have two of the best friends anyone could ever have, and they are here for me day and night, whenever I need them. Jill and Robin are the best!
• My Moss and McDonald staffs/friends are amazing, and I will forever be grateful for them.
• First Presbyterian Church of Rockwall truly is all about Feel the Love. Be the Love.
• Friendship Baptist Church sent two men to pray with us and Mom, and within the hour, she made her journey into Heaven. These men and this act mean more than I can explain.
• I have a roof over my head, food on my table, clothes in my closet, a car to drive, and a job. I also have a sweet kitty who needs me and follows me everywhere I go.
• My Great Aunt Darlene calls to check on me nearly every night. Again, there are no words. Her love, care, and concern mean so much.  Her kids also make me feel loved and not alone.  I love this family!
• God protected me and got me home safely on December 27th. There was so much rain, high water, and a detour that could have left me trapped, hurt, or dead.  
• I was able to attend six conferences this year, so I got to see Houston, TX, The Woodlands, TX, St. Louis, MO, Austin, TX, Ft. Worth, TX, and Costa Mesa, CA. I met great people and learned a lot.
• I made it through my first start of school, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Eve without Mom.

A friend posted this on her Facebook page:

"Psalm 23 tells us that God prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies. I can just picture Him, making my seating arrangements at my 2015 table. Like a bride preparing for the reception dinner, He's strategically placing the name cards at my table. Sitting with me at my 2015 table is Fear, Death, Grief, Regret, Sickness, Stress, and Worry. All of them make their presence known as each course is served throughout the year.

But God also promises in that same chapter that while we are sitting among our enemies, He has anointed us, and our cup overflows. I can stand today, on January 1, 2016, and tell you this is true. During each of these events, my cup has not just been filled, but has overflowed during each course with an abundance of love, peace, protection, and grace. Relationships have been renewed and restored, financial burdens have been lifted, protection has covered us, and I could go on and on."

"My challenge to you while your 2016 table is being prepared in the presence of your enemies is to cling to His promises that your cup will surely overflow with abundance."

I could have almost written those exact words.  I really liked what she has to say, so I am adding it here.  I don't know what God has planned for me in 2016.  I don't know who will be sitting at my table this year, but with friends, family, and most importantly, God, I will face each day with faith and hope.

December Girl Scout Meeting--Service Project

One of my seventh graders planned our December meeting. Today, five of our girls worked from 1:00-8:00 making blankets and ponchos. We threw in baking cookies and brownies, and I prepared dinner. They had a blast! They made nine blankets and ten ponchos to donate.

The thing that really struck me was how mature and self-sufficient they are becoming. I helped them get organized and started, and they took off from there. I found myself sitting on the couch watching the news, preparing dinner, sending an email to their parents, snapping a few pics of them working, doing dishes, and more while they worked, talked, and enjoyed their work and company.

During dinner, we had a mature, intelligent conversation that included the topics of politics, immigration, and citizenship. While they finished their final pieces, I listened as they talked about college, careers, and middle school and high school electives. 

I am so honored and blessed to be a part of their lives.

Loss and Banks

When opening a bank account or choosing a bank to use, people don't think about loss or what happens when somone on the account dies.

When Granny passed away, we had to go talk to five different banks.  They ranged from extremely friendly, compassionate, and helpful to extremely difficult and exhausting.  Actually, three were very helpful, one was fine/pretty helpful, and one was difficult and exhausting.  Mind you, Mom or I were on all the accounts/documents.  One or both of us could work with any and all banks.  However, one bank made things difficult.  Even though we were on the accounts and had the death certificate, we had to fill out a lot of paperwork, visit the bank various times, and it took a lot of time to get everything updated. It seems like there is a lot of red tape and rules that apply.

Now, with Mom gone, I have only shared the death certificate with two banks.  One, the same difficult one as before, b/c I need to deal with the mortgage.  Again, they did not want to talk to me, even with a death certificate.  Yes, I can access the checking account, but everything else has been difficult.  They have mailed me at least three separate sets of paperwork to complete and send back.  They already have the death certificate, but they want a lot more information that I am just not ready to handle. Oh, and they won't do anything else until I have Letters of Testimony, Executor, or Administration. None of which can I get without Probating the Will, which takes money I can't touch at said bank.  Crazy!  I'm glad the other bank accepted my word the first time and the death certificate the second time.  I was able to get what I needed.

Now, do not take any of this to think I have tons of money.  No, it is taking every cent I have. Granny assisted us when she was alive, and she is helping us again now. Loss takes a lot of money,  and if you can't access it, you are in trouble.  Take care of paperwork now so that you can handle business later.

Loss

I have talked about loss on here before, but this time, I want to talk about handling the death of a loved one.  Personally, I have lost all my great grandparents, grandparents, two great uncles, an uncle, my father, and now my mother.  I have seen and experienced loss.  Each one impacted me differently.  Some I dealt with fairly quickly, but others took months and even years to process.  One . . . I'm still processing and will for quite some time.

Granny passed away at home, and I was the one to follow the ambulance to the hospital to make final decisions, talk to the ME, and more. I had to take the lead on planning her funeral because Mom was in rehab with a broken ankle.  I assisted Mom with all the paperwork and important business b/c I was the Executer of the Will.

I learned a lot going through the process when Dad passed away--decisions we had to make, planning the funeral, buying cemetery plots for the family, and handling business afterward.  I learned even more when Granny passed away.  Even with all that experience, it was not enough to prepare me for Mom passing away and being the Executer of her Will.

Here are a few tips that might help you if you ever have to deal with the business left after a loved one passes away.

What should you do before you pass away to help your loved ones?

Write a Will
-My favorite line in Granny's Will said something about "If anyone questions the Will or decisions made, they will receive nothing."  That wasn't the exact wording, but it is close.
-Make sure the Executer of the Will or someone you trust knows where your Will is when time comes.
-Update your Will. Some write one when they are young or first married.  Time passes, things change, and Wills need to be updated.

Important Documents
-Bank Accounts, Safe Deposit Boxes/Keys, and other documents must be in a spot where the Executer of the Will or someone you trust can find them.
-Those planning the funeral will have to be able to get to money, so those accounts have to be available.
-Do you have insurance policies?  They need to know about these.

Funeral
-Plan your funeral and leave those plans where your loved ones can find them.
-Who do you want to officiate?  Music? Location? Burial? Sermon? Scripture? Flowers?
-Funerals cost money. How will yours be paid for?

Money
-Loss costs money. Money for the funeral, bills, flowers, food, survival, and more.
-Where will this money come from when you are gone and your loved ones are trying to plan and more forward?
-With a loss, families go from two paychecks to one. Some lose the one making the money. How will they move forward?

Automobiles and Mortgages
-Did you know you can pay monthly for a policy that when you pass away, these items are payed off? -Look into it.  How are your loved ones going to pay for automobiles or pay the mortgage?

Accounts
-If you are single, you have to put someone on your accounts.  They have to be able to handle your business when you are gone.

Property
-Houses and property have upkeep. Who will help cut grass, trim trees and shrubs, and more?

Probate
-I don't know the law in every state, but in mine, you have to Probate the Will and have specific documents to move forward with business. This cannot start until 30 days after death, and the process then takes 60 days.
-What money is available during this time?
-Probate is costly.


How can you help someone who has lost a loved one?
My friends, family, and co-worers have been amazing.  I receive phone calls, texts, and emails daily from at least one person just checking on me. My BFF has invited me over for Father's Day and Independence Day, two days I would have been home alone.

Set your calendar to check on your friend or loved one every week, two weeks, or month.  
-They need support after the funeral. More than a week or month after the loss.  It is on-going.
-Invite them to lunch or dinner.
-Don't forget about them, especially if they are now alone.

Do not go to those trying to survive asking questions about the Will, items you want, or about inheritance.  
-Those dealing with loss are not in the mindset to deal with what you want.  You must give them time, and a week or month is not nearly enough time. Period. They are doing the best they can to survive.
-Be respectful of their feelings and time needed.

Don't forget them. 
-Sometimes, when someone loses a loved one, they continue to have family around and loved ones to fill their days.  Other times, the loss leaves them alone.  Don't let them be alone.

Just show up.
-Not sure how to help?  They keep telling you they are fine?  Just show up.
Go cut the grass, weed eat, or trim trees.
-Take them a meal.
-Go over and offer to dust or do laundry.
-Drop off a gift card for food, groceries, or gas.
-Go over and sit and talk.

I'm sure, once I post this, I will think of several more things.  Each day is a new learning experience.  What company will call?  With what doctor did she have an appointment?  Be patient with yourself.  Work at your pace. Don't make any major decisions for a year.