72 Larry King's story

I'm still reading it. There's a discussion of wealth, and what it means to people in its pages.

We have money to pay our insurances, and to buy gas and food. Tithing, too!

71 Writing

I got a newsletter article written, ahead of time.  I got some housework done, found a job to apply to, for light manufacturing, temporary job; I talked to Sarah today. 

I worked on Sister Boyce's book a little, research, mainly.

It snowed almost three inches last night.  Tomorrow the roads will be dried, and I will do many things then.

70 Sabbath rest

The bishop gave a talk about ward conference, which I felt was directed at another person in the ward and me.

Does the gospel of Jesus Christ provide a car to someone who needs it?  A job for a long-time job hunter?

He recounted the people who had lived and who had died in the ward in the past year, who had surgeries and illness, and the death of his own mother and both grandmothers in an 18 month period when he was a boy.  He discussed blessings, of  James 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
the priesthood authority, the anointing, the sealing of the anointing, the prayer, the will of the Lord.
He told of peace and comfort, and there there may not be the car or the job, but there will be the refuge from despair.

I remember him and other priesthood authorities, promising that this too, shall pass.

My husband is getting his paperwork done, and there looks like there will be enough to pay the bills this month.

I talked to my daughter about my hopes in going to her college graduation.  She hadn't planned on me being there, as she knows I need the work and the income,and that it would cost so much. My mom has offered to pay my way. My husband thinks I should go.  I feel that I should stay.

69 Death came for Delmer

My husband got the news that Delmer (age 92) died on Valentine's Day, his wedding anniversary.  His wife died a few years ago, after a long illness.

Ever since I knew them, they were flat broke it seemed. They'd sold their house in California and moved to Oregon to get their boys away from the drugs there, like so many other families. And like so many other families, it didn't stop the drugs.  I remember how sour Delmer was, commenting on the house that they'd owned selling for a quarter of a million ten years later.

They'd also bought out the relatives' shares on a piece of property in Medford, where they were always going to build a house. He'd looked forward to that, but I don't think that they had a dime to do any building.

They always seemed to be in some financial scheme that didn't work out, the last one being apartment managers in the Portland area.  They got the job, with promises of benefits and retirement and long-term employment, and after Delmer did all the repairs and Beverly got the place filled with quiet, paying tenants, the owners decided they could take it from here, thank you very much, and fired them. After that, they lived in a number of smaller and smaller places, including one that was just a few miles from the Portland temple, but they couldn't go, as they had no money for gas.  They ended up living with their daughters, and after Beverly died, Delmer went into assisted living, as his income from veteran's and social security bumped the household income too high for the place his oldest daughter was living at.

I don't want to end up in the same financial boats that they and their girls were in. But here I am.

On another note, my daughter who is graduating from college says it's okay with her if I don't go, as she knows I need the paycheck, and I have no money to go down there. Her sisters will be there to watch her get her diploma.

And on another note, the hot water heater is acting screwy, and the water seems to be getting hotter and hotter when we take showers or wash our hands. Fortunately, we have another hot water heater for the kitchen and another bathroom.

68 Views outside myself

While at Fred's I saw Gina.  Her husband worked at a truck stop in LaPine. When the owner sold it, the new owner said he'd keep everyone on.  He did, for a few weeks, and then he fired everyone who made more than minimum wage.  So her husband is on unemployment now.

I saw Angie, and she told me about how it was at Touchmark, and that the girl that they hired didn't pass the drug test, and that they still haven't hired anyone, and that there is a flu epidemic going on.  We discussed our husbands' businesses, and she said that the only way to keep them from making crazy decisions is to throw their clothes out on the front sidewalk. Basically, she said, there was nothing I could have done that would have made any difference.

I gave her one of my cards.  If there's something for an electrician that comes up with their business (he's a finish carpenter), she'll give a call.

67 School day review

I went to work at the school again.  I was doing testing, got to see the Warm Springs display, and one of the tribal elders came and gave a talk, and the Rotary gave a presentation and flags to the first graders, and it was a Battle of the Books reading competition final in the gym, with almost the whole school attending. While I was on the playground, doing recess duty, one of the kids from the day before came over to keep me company. She enjoyed my reading "The Cremation of Dan McGee" yesterday. (I'd told the kids that if they kept to the task, there'd be reading time at the end.)

I helped out with a project in the office and thought about the teaching certificated I didn't get, and the jobs I didn't go for, and knew that I will miss working at the school, once I find/get a "real" job.

I'm home now, and I need to mail off stuff to the girls.  I don't know what I'll be doing tomorrow, but I hope that my demons won't be tormenting me.

I called Kat in the morning to let her know I had applied at Park and Rec, and she had my application in hand, and news that there weren't many applying for custodian, which she was told, is what happens when it's lumped in with the general summer work application. So maybe I will be hired back there.

66 posts

I'm going to stop typing "Today I decide to be wealthy." The sixty days are past, and I'll continue saying it, but not here.

My oldest daughter has a job! The temp agency she was using wasn't panning out, so she went to the competition and got a part time job, for more than $10 an hour, in the same building as her youngest sister works in, and it will be for more than a month!

Unfortunately, my middle daughter isn't doing so well, and won't even try for an internship.  Her sisters are worried for her, her attitude is as bad as it's ever been, and she won't go for help.

I had work today at the elementary school, and have some tomorrow, too.

65

Today I decide to be wealthy.

Today I used up the last of my first unemployment claim, buying food, and I paid a bill for the emergency room physicians, $10.  $637 left to go on that one.

Today I decide to be wealthy.

64

Today I decide to be wealthy.

I need to lose weight. 

Today I decide to be wealthy.

63 Busy, busy!

Today I decide to be wealthy.

Today I got my cover letter, application, and resume sent in to Bend Park and Recreation.  I also delivered cookies to Karen, who was a Riverbend Park.  and I took a one mile walk with the dog down Baker Road and went to a Star Trek theme party. And I worked on my Isaiah lesson for Sunday School tomorrow.

A pretty good and busy day.

 Today I decide to be wealthy.

62 I fight with demons

Today I decide to be wealthy.

I had bad depression today, and had trouble focusing.  I finally did get some housework done.  That was about it. My husband had work. I didn't even look at job listings.  I thought about the job where I'd be getting paid "up to $150" a day for changing oil in scent bottles in town, and it just seems too good to be true.  And if it's that wonderful, why isn't the owner doing it, or finding someone to do the job?

I need to get the Park and Rec application done and emailed.

Today I decide to be wealthy.

61 A day of work and a recipe for molasses cookies

Today I decide to be wealthy.

The sixty days are up, but I'll go on.


Today was busy.

I got started on Park and Recreation application.

I baked up the cookie dough I'd made last night, and delivered three dozen cookies to a friend to take in to the blood drive, and I went to the school, taking 2 two dozen cookies there.  I told the staff I'd been there so often, I figured it was my turn to contribute.  They were happy to have them, as was one of the custodians, who declared them to be delicious. (Cookie recipe is below.)

I worked at the school from 11:15 to 3:00.  It was uneventful, which was very nice, and afterwards I went to the blood drive and donated blood, and over heard more praise for my cookies. (My blood pressure was 150/98.  Not good.)

I went to the doctor's office, and saw Dr. K and Roxie, his nurse, both who've been with us since after my oldst was born.  I hadn't been there for a while, and when I was, I hadn't seen either of them.  Roxie and I visited for a bit, and then I went shopping at a couple of thrift stores, and didn't buy the velour shirt. Four dollars is four dollars. I may go back and get it tomorrow.

Home, where my husband fixed dinner, and then to a neighborhood association meeting, where there were three board members and only four members. I took the minutes.  Got a lot of ideas for newsletter articles.

I should just mark out an hour a day and write. Thank you letters, newsletters, articles, the books.  Nothing but production.

And an hour for job hunting/applications.

And an hour for housework, so I can find my way around and get ready for the next major employment adventure. (Speaking of which, I need to talk to Tina about the air freshener thing, explain why I'm not going to pursue it.)

And make sure I get to bed at a decent hour.  Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.  ~ Benjamin Franklin.  

Today I decide to be wealthy.

Gingerbread molasses cookies. Oven at 370 F, makes 5 dozen cookies

1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 cup molasses
1 egg
2 tablespoon vinegar
Combine
Add 5 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon cinammon
1 teaspoon cloves
Mix thoroughly
(I use a cookie scoop, that measures out about 1 even tablespoon at a time)
Roll ball of dough, about a tablespoon size, in a small bowl of granulated sugar, and place on ungreased cookie sheet, 2 inches apart, about 12 balls per sheet.
Press down to 1/2 height, using bottom of drinking glass.
Bake 8 minutes, or until tops are puffy and cracked. Allow to cool 6 minutes on cookie sheet, transfer to cooling rack.

Day 60 The challenge is met

Today I decide to be wealthy.

In the book, Evans' niece and her husband get their lives in order in 60 days, using the mantra, and are very pleased with themselves at this point.

Me?

Well, today I'm not panicking. He didn't make any promises of financial gain or such, just hope.

I don't know if the hope has more to do with the sunlight increasing each day, or if the national financial mess shows glimmers of hope, or that the election is coming up, and people are realizing that President Obama has been keeping his promises, and that the Republican contenders are imploding. I don't know if it's because there are more places to try, or knowing that there is the possibility of having a full-time job for six months coming up in April. Maybe hope has to do with my husband going to work almost every day, and that almost every week, I've had something that has earned us some money, and I still have unemployment, at $99 a week.

Maybe it has to do with that I didn't quit this blog before the 60 days were up.

While I was at Freddy's today, I talked to a long time employee, who said that the woman who was fired the same day I was, for the same thing, has reapplied a number of times, and has not been hired back either, even though she was non-union and would have started out at ground zero on the pay scale.  She said that things are bad at the Bend store, real bad. (I can reapply 60 days after I put in an application.)

So when this sixty days are past, I'll head up to Redmond, talk to a former supervisor there, and see about how successful my application may be there. It's nonunion, which means my retirement package will probably be completely dead, as Bend refuses to take non-management transfers from Redmond in the CCK department, and I haven't been picked up by the union Safeways here.

This afternoon, I stopped at Goodwill, and went to the linens in the back of the store, and imagined what clothes I could make from them.  I like to touch the textures and dream.  I thought about buying some clothes to practice alterations, and found a funny velour shirt, rich with dark colors and possibilities.  There was also a black umbrella, crying for art.  I looked at the yarns, and remembered a woman who wore beautiful sweaters, who told me she buys her yarns at Goodwill.

Maybe I should be creating stuff.  Learn to photograph and sell them in craft places, like Saturday market and on the internet. that would be lesson #3, Make money in the margins.  

Learn to use the internet.

Get the books done and sell them.

And quit hiding in my fears.

Today I decided to be wealthy.

59 A lull in the storm

Today I decided to be wealthy.

I went through my various unemployment debit cards and bank account and was a bit happier than I was before. (Lesson #2--Take responsibility for your money.)  My husband continues to get service calls, so it looks like this month we'll pull through.

I got two applications done, one handed in, and the other one proof-read. I also got a phone call to see if I'd be able to substitute again next week, for two days.

I should have had both done yesterday, and handed in then, just because sometimes, time is a factor in the decision to hire. I still have the Park and Rec one to do.

And I got the official brush off from the library; it came in my email this time. Save them the trouble of mailing out a card.

I looked on the internet about the air scent company; it looks like a good company, but one that I would expect the owner to save more money by doing the stuff himself.  I haven't called back--I don't trust something about it.  I need to talk to Tina (the one who recommended me) about it.

Today I decided to be wealthy.

Day 58 Panic in slow motion

Today I decide to be wealthy.

This is day 58. I was hoping by now to have a sense of a floor under me.  That I'd have a job, that debts would be reduced, that there would be some light at the end of the tunnel and that it wouldn't be another train heading toward me.)

I spent the day wringing my hands over job applications, and did not get any submitted.

Today I decide to be wealthy.

57 Take a deep breath

Today I decide to be wealthy.

Why do I want to be wealthy?  Or in this definition, why do I want money?

To pay my bills.  To be able to share.  To not worry where I will sleep in the future.  To be able to take care of my health.  To be able to have freedom to go to town without worry about the gas in the car.  To help my daughters if they need it. Sarah will, when she gets out of school.  Elizabeth will, if she doesn't find work soon.

I paid my tithing today.

I miss my daughters sitting with me.   The Holmes baby is having "routine" heart surgery tomorrow.  Brenda sat next to me in Relief Society, and I told her about my visit with her son.

I wanted the bishop to say something to me before I left the church building. I was considering asking for help again from the bishop's Storehouse.  I was sitting in the foyer, when he walked by.

"How are you? and how are the girls?" he asked (he was headed out to get something from his car.)

"The girls are fine," I said.

"And how are you," he said, ten feet away from me, and everyone listening.

I hesitated, and he smiled at me.

"Everything is going to turn out fine," he said, and then headed to get something from his car.

Tomorrow, I have a lot to do.

Today I decide to be wealthy.

56 Looking back, looking forward, looking to God

Today I decide to be wealthy.

Lesson #2 in the books is to "take ownership" of one's finances.

I realize that I am so deep in doo-doo financially.  I have good intentions, like making charts showing what bills need to be paid, and I do make them, and then misplace them. I intend to make phone calls, and then forget. I find one excuse after another not to follow through. I went through my check books to see how much I still had out, and how much was available for paying bills.  Tithing money was put into money orders yesterday, so that it wouldn't go through the checking account, so that I wouldn't mistake it as mine.  "Pay your tithing and a fast offering," Elder Golden said. "Many people in Africa are very poor, but they do it, and miracles happen."  I see myself as still being in this financial situation for the indefinite future, but really, if it were anything else, would I do any better?  I think a certain woman I know has been through three or four marriages, and now she's single again, and on disability.  Would I handle her challenges any better?

I have three major job applications that need (for my sake) to be turned in on Monday.  Deadline for one is the 12th, another is the 22nd.  The other one, I'll turn in Monday, when I go to town in the afternoon.  Today I worked on Ida's book, got some research materials, and I also combed the internet, looking for jobs to apply to.   One of the people I used to work for told me that it was just as well that I didn't get hired on at Touchmark, and explained why.

I noticed when I was driving down Third Street, that the dry cleaners has vacated its building. The laundromat is still there.  The real estate agency that was a couple of blocks away was also empty.  Grover's Pub, where one of my co-workers said had the best pizza in town, had its lights turned off.  Craigslist has more openings, but they are professional ones.  I suspect that people are still moving out of the area.

Monday I'll take these applications in, and go apply at motels as a motel maid, at the larger motels, and go to Labor Ready, which is a work-today, pay-today/job placement and Goodwill, which is also a job placement place.

I was at Fred Meyer, and saw two of my former coworkers and a young man who works there, who is the same age as my daughters, whom I used to teach in church.  I said hi to them, and they back as we walked past each other, and Shelly stopped to care about me, asking me how I was doing, and giving me her time, showing that she cares.  She could see that I was just figurative when I said that I was doing fine.  "Hang in there, she said, "that's all you can do sometimes."

I thought some about a talk in church a Sunday or so ago:

We people are first watch people, but God is a fourth watch God.  The speaker explained that the Hebrew day in the Bible was divided into night and day, with the day having twelve hours and night having four three-hour watches.  God will always answer our prayers, but in His time. We want our prayers answered now, but God sometimes wants us to learn something first, and sometimes what we want or need takes time to arrange, but they will be answered, even though the answer is not what we would have thought it would be.


I had my blessing last Sunday, and I was told that Heavenly Father is aware of my challenges.


Today I decide to be wealthy.

55 Service

Today I decide to be wealthy.

My job at the school got cancelled.  The woman I was going to substitute for called, and said her flight had been cancelled, and the following flight was booked solid, so she's not going to be able to leave for another week-end or so.

Which was just as well, as I was to bring up two large serving trays full of au gratin potatoes to a missionary luncheon, and I hadn't noticed the part about needing 4 1/2 quarts of boiling water, each.  I had to measure out and boil the water twice, one for each pan.  The potatoes were sliced and dried, and in two boxes, both had two dried sauce pouches, and all that was needed was a stick of butter, each, which was provided when Jackie dropped everything off at my house.  Then Jo called, and she had some jam that needed to be delivered, that she had planned to help at the luncheon, and those plans went out the window.  So the potatoes, that I had planned to have nice and hot at a bit before 11 a.m. didn't get to the church until a few minutes after 12.

I stayed and helped with the dishes, and visited with Jackie, and the others, and the missionaries sang a thank-you song to us.  I  thought about their moms, and was sad to think of one missionary who had to be sent home from his mission, what he'd missed.

Afterwards, I went to Elk Meadow Elementary School and shelved books for a while. Toni was glad to see me, as she had a full cart. I managed to get half of it shelved before it was time to leave.  One of the students had a J.R.R.Tolkien book that puzzled her, and I explained that it was a collection of his writings that he was working on when he died, and that there were bits and pieces of where the elves came from and stuff, all jumbled together.  Another wanted to know where the mystery books were, and I turned her back to Toni and continued to shelve books. Toni seemed pleased with my actions.

Afterwards, I called Jackie and offered her a ride to Worksource. She couldn't go this time. However, when I got there, I saw a sign-up list for counseling, and she was happy when I called her again, and offered to put her name and phone number on the list, so that the office could call her and set up an appointment time.

Interestingly enough, one of the places I had the job posting number for was Touchmark, the same company that said it could only do 30-35 hours a week (this one posted that it was 40 hours), and the same one that sent me a rejection letter two days ago. The job was posted today.  I didn't take the referral, and I explained why to the clerk.

One of the books I read recently was "Five People You Meet When You Get To Heaven," a gentle reminder that heaven has a different measure of success than what we experience or expect in this life.  I didn't make any money today, but at least I'll have some unemployment money next week. And I did well today.  And I will do more tomorrow.

I had some fortune cookies tonight, and one of the fortunes was this: Enjoy the fine goods life has to offer & friends with whom to share it.

Today I decide to be wealthy.

54 Today is Thursday

Today I decide to be wealthy.

I did stair laps today, to get my heart rate up.  I did some laundry.  I did dishes.  I looked at the computer. I got a notice back for NeighborImpact that my documents have been sent to the state for verification.  I wrote a newsletter article. I stayed inside the house, except when I went to put gas in the car.  I got a bill from the doctor's office, for going in to have my heart listened to, my blood pressure taken,  and to be sent to get my blood tested at another place, which still charged me money.

Money.  I have no idea how to pay all of my bills.  My husband has some work, but when will he be paid?  I have work, and I will be paid next month, while my unemployment takes a hit.  I don't want anymore taken out of the 401(k) account.

It's day 54. Six more days to go to the magical 60 that the book set out as a goal, that perhaps things would be different.

I'll probably continue this blog.

My depression seems to get worse each day. I am grateful for food to eat, for my bed that I sleep in, that I am still in my house, and have gas for my car.  I am trying not to imagine the future, but to stay here in the present.  My youngest daughter sent me a note through Facebook, telling me that she loves me and her father, my husband.  I played the keyboard today.  Tomorrow I have work for a few hours. I feel sorry for the people freezing in Afghanistan.  I feel bad for the people of Cambodia, not having their day in court.

I had made a "to do" list, and I did accomplish a couple of items on it.  Maybe tomorrow will be one of accomplishments.

Today I decide to be wealthy.

53 25 things I should have done...

Today I decide to be wealthy.

Got the verification papers into NeighborImpact!  (I still need to get the budget papers done and handed in.)

While I was going through box and box of papers, I found this.

25 Things I should'a, would'a, could'a while I was unemployed.

I. While I was employed
  A. Tried to expand my knowledge of Fred Meyer (jewelry, home, apparel, etc.)
  B.  Tried to expand my skills
       1.  Uscan
       2.  Front desk  BUT I was afraid I'd make a mistake and be fired as Carlene and Nick were (even though they were hired back)
       3.  Child's department.  (in-store babysitting)  I was qualified-didn't do it. Didn't think until now.
  C. Bought new clothes (needed them for job interviews later)  Needed every penny for the family
  D. Took care of my health
      1. Physical checkups (cost $100 a visit, even with insurance)
      2. Lost weight/exercise
  E.  Been more diligent in volunteering My being available and coming in whenever called got me up to Journeyman & got the max I could for my unemployment benefit





When I became unemployed-
1. I should have gotten a blessing.  I didn't until I'd been unemployed for 6 months
2. I was fired in July. I did work on exercise and walking the butte.
3. When September came, I should have started my school volunteer work
    1.  I had the idea to volunteer Tuesdays at High Desert Middle School--didn't  (gas costs money)
    2. I could have volunteered at Bend High Library or Elk Meadow or Pine Ridge or Jewell or all three media centers (gas costs money)
   3.  I should have thought about where I wanted work, and volunteered there. Like Park and Rec., COCC library. I could have increased my network and made a nicer resume.
________________

So I didn't even make it to 25 items.  Just as well.  I need to just work on getting a job this go-around. Although I do have work on Friday at Pine Ridge, and it looks like I'll be working on the budget thing tomorrow for NeighborImpact. And applying for work at Goodwill and something I saw on the WorkSource site.

(What is it, with all of these combined words?)

Oh, and Touchmark sent me my official word that I didn't get the job. And I'm still here.

Today I decide to be wealthy.

52 And another day

 Today I decide to be wealthy.

I woke up in the morning and thought about getting the paperwork all pulled together.  And then thought about how I didn't have a document 1099 from Sister Boyce, about my working for her. I'll have to find the records I have.

I found the last two bank statements I needed.  They were with the other ones, but behind a divider. I'd gotten up early and felt sleepy in mid-morning and dreamed that a couple of people I'd known at Fred Meyer were asking me to return. I know it has far more to do with my own loneliness than anything else.

One of my daughters called. She was excited about her grad school interview. She still doesn't have a job, but she may have a chance at being accepted in a master's program at a quiet university. It would be interesting it she got it--the third generation in that town! My mom got her bachelor's there, and I lived next to campus when I lived there while trying to make it on my own.  (I ended up going back to U. of Oregon. I should have stayed another year for my grandmother's sake and to grow up more.)

In the afternoon, I went to the school and assisted in taking care of a couple of kids that need one-to-one attention. One is a small girl with Down's Syndrome, who doesn't talk.  I thought about my own daughters, and how hard it would have been to take care of her, and wondered about the girl's parents.

I went to the copy shop to copy the papers, and make sure I had everything with our names and our case/loan number on the top, and then I got groceries and came home.

 Today I decide to be wealthy.

51 A new day

Today I decide to be wealthy.

I got called to work at Pine Ridge Elementary for a few hours in the afternoon, and asked if I'd work a couple more tomorrow. I did recess duty, and helped with reading classes.  Some of the kids were the same ones I'd worked with before, and they were happy to see me. They told their teacher that they didn't like another substitute they'd had the week before.

Tina came by to visit teach me in the morning.  She asked about if I'd go back to Fred Meyer. She was the third person to ask me that.

Short answer:  I really, seriously doubt that the store management would hire me back.

I found one of the missing papers I need for NeighborImpact.

I need to get more applications out, and I need to work on my family history book and Sister Boyce's book. Those are what I find myself thinking about when all is quiet.

 Today I decide to be wealthy.

50 Sunday is for start-overs

Today I decide to be wealthy.

While cleaning out the sewing room yesterday, I rediscovered a book I'd read over a year ago:  The Job Hunter's Survival Guide, by Dick Bolles.  He puts out an annual job hunting guide, entitled What Color is Your Parachute? which I bought a copy of, and read it, years and years ago. I'll reread it this week. The book is a how-to guide for looking for work in this specific recession where jobs are so scarce and job hunters so plentiful.

Today is Sunday, always a "start over" day, a way to rest and prepare for the next six days.

Shea announced in Fast and Testimony Meeting that she's lost her job.  I almost started crying for her, and I talked to her later.  She's relieved, as the political pressure was so heavy there. When I'd applied last spring, she called to warn me that it was not a healthy place. She seems to be a few years old than I. don't dye my hair, so everyone sees how old I am, but most other people are determined to stay with the color, thank you very much.

On the way home from church, I pointed out the place I'd applied for the housekeeping job, and that I blew it when I admitted to looking for full-time work.  June was with me in the car, and said that she'd be surprised if any jobs were full-time anymore. She told me how she'd talked to a banker some years ago, and he admitted that the jobs were all at 30 hours, so that they wouldn't have to have benefits.  She scolded him, but that's as far as it went.

I got set apart for my calling in the Relief Society, to be a visiting teaching coordinator.  In the blessing I was reminded that the Lord knows my challenges, and that fulfilling my calling would bring spiritual and physical benefits, and there was more. Basically, I'll be made aware of the needs of the sisters in the ward, and reminded that mine are small compared to others.

Decades ago, I had a blessing that told me that I think my sufferings are great, but the Savior's was far greater.   I was reminded of that blessing today.  The one who gave me that one died some time ago, but his spirit still visits me from time to time, sometimes to encourage me, sometime to call me to repentance. I wondered if he was there in the circle.

I had signed up a couple of weeks ago for the missionaries to come for dinner.  My husband was working on a service call, so they couldn't come here. I was very grateful that I had the stuff to make a broccoli and chicken cream soup, which I took over to the West's, where they would be able to pick it up.

Tomorrow I will do more, do better.

Today I decide to be wealthy.

49 Another step

Today I decide to be wealthy.

Finished reading "Children of Cambodia's Killing Fields." I noticed in the biographies that a number have lost their U.S. employment, too, so it's not just me.  It's too bad that, after everything that they've gone through, that it isn't all peaches and cream for them from now on. (Or mangoes and rice milk. My college associates from Asia didn't like cows milk.)

I read another article in the Bulletin newspaper about meditation, and how the subject makes ten minutes a day for it. The article reminded me of the need to just be still and listen when I pray.    Doctrine and Covenants 112:10: "Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers. And  Psalm 46:10: "Be still, and know that I am God" 


So that is what I'll do this week. I'm grateful for the time this week to go through papers and get the mortgage verification papers pulled together, as I had to go through a lot of papers to find it.  

There are only eleven days left of the sixty.  I'll probably keep blogging.


Today I decide to be wealthy.

48 Odds and ends

Today I decide to be wealthy.

I found the January statement, and discovered that there was no statement in February, due to inactivity on the Redicard that month. (I was working full-time, and did not collect unemployment.) So now I'll get the stuff ready to go to NeighborImpact on Monday.

I spent the day looking for it, going through box after box, except for when I went to get my eyes checked and to go shopping, and when I was exercising.

The blood vessels in my eyes show some damage from high blood pressure. No surprise there.

There is an advertisement showing an over-weight dog exercising and loosing its weight, starting with stair exercises, where it would drop a ball down the stairs and go get it and carry it back up, and then do it over again. I have stairs in my house...so when my husband was gone on a job, I cranked up my playlist on the computer, and did the stairs.  Good workout!

Today I decide to be wealthy

47 Paperwork fills the day

Today I decide to be wealthy.

Today I worked on finding and making copies of the documents I need for NeighborImpact's verification for us to be able to stay in the house a bit longer. I went to the library and to the copy shop.  I also went to a gym to find out about fees, and one of the companies I applied to on-line had a job come open here, and I needed to go to the library and use a computer to update/complete the job application.

Right now, I appreciate not having an outside job, as I'm able to work on the verification documents.

I found all but four of them, which are dated the same two months, so I suspect that they're together, in some strata of papers from January and February.

Bedtime now. I'll look tomorrow.

Today I decide to be wealthy.

46 Another blank

Today I decide to be wealthy.

I practiced the piano today. I worked on some paper work for the house, for NeighborImpact and OHSI. I deposited my unemployment checks. I exercised.  I found myself grieving for the future loss of this house. The printer doesn't work anymore, and the other printer is not hooked to this computer. So everything either goes through the other computer or I'll have to go to the library to print stuff out. And the keyboard is acting weak, too.

I'm reading a book,  Children of Cambodia's killing fields : memoirs by survivors / compiled by Dith Pran.  

They lost their homes, their parents, their siblings, their families, their youth. They came to the United States and were serious about their schooling and their futures. Many report still having nightmares.

I found the church's employment handbook. I'll go through it better that I did last time.

Today I decide to be wealthy.