My kiddos have been ill the past few weeks and we can't seem to shake all the bugs we're passing back and forth. Yesterday my oldest had Strep, I felt bad for him he was pretty sick. Thank heaven for telephones, mini-vans, doctors, antibiotics and a warm house. Every time I have to go to the doctor I'm grateful for all the things that go into getting a child healthy.

All Hail Visa

It's finally happened! I got a call from Visa Fraud Protection last week telling me that they had some questions on my account. I didn't think too much of it because I had just purchased some magazine subscriptions online and I thought that's probably what they were concerned about. Flash forward 3 days....I finally get around to checking my account online and guess what, I have $148.21 worth of unauthorized charges. Someone got a hold of my card number and used it online. Things they bought- weight loss products, money making literature and a "My Life Reunion Search" membership.
I've got to admit, I am impressed that Visa could tell that I didn't make those purchases and contacted me. I am able to dispute the charges and get a refund on the items.
I've purchased LifeLock identity protection and will be loading all my information into that. It will monitor my credit, alert the credit bureaus, protect my SS# and a few other things. It costs $200 a year but I figure someone just stole $148.21 from me last week so it's worth it.
I have no idea how someone got my card number but it must have been pretty easy because they used the information without a whole lot of problem. I'm just grateful that Visa caught it fast and without a lot of money at stake.

Watch out!

I'm really excited to be teaching coupon classes. I've learned to save so much with coupons and smart shopping that I'm excited to teach it to others. The Grocery Smarts system is so easy anyone can do it and save at least %50 off their grocery bill. My first class will be April 9th at my house, 7:00 pm. If you're interested, let me know. I'll be sending out invites soon!

New Developments

I'm registering my oldest for Jr. High tonight. Holy Cow, I think I need some Prozac or oxygen or something. He's picked his classes (which includes brass band, film study, Tech 7, Intro to languages and the standards Pre-Algebra, Literature and History.) I can't believe I'll have a child in Jr. High!

Are your children growing up too fast?
What's your favorite age?

I have often chuckled when I see these crackers on the shelf at the store. Are these the black sheep of the cracker family? Have they been through "stoned cracker rehab"? How do they test a cracker for illicit drugs? Hmmmm, I think someone should alert the media, we could have an epidemic. Seriously, there could be a real problem in the cracker world. All those packages of stoned wheat crackers, lying around on the couch, not living up to their potential gazing through red, half closed eyes! What a shame.

Two Roads Diverged

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and share a little of what's happening in my life. Most of you know that my husband is self employed, a new business that is trying to get off the ground. We still have ties to our old company as well but for the day to day stuff, we're pretty much on our own.
My hubby enjoys what he does, the people he works with, but it's been especially hard the last month or so with the economic winter that our country is in. I watch him each day do the best he can to provide for our family but some days it's a battle to make any headway.
If you had asked me 2 years ago what I would think of this situation, I'm not sure I could have told you. The woman I was two years ago wouldn't have been able to handle the possible future we're facing now. Don't get me wrong, things really are going as good as can be expected. It's just such an uphill climb.
I have two futures, the first is where this economy starts to climb out of this hole and right itself. It's the future where I don't have to worry if we'll have to live on savings and food storage. It's also attached to the future where we are able to make enough money to pay our bills and get by. It's the future I prefer. The second is the one where this really is another great depression and we lose our house and live like Cinderella Man. I don't like that one.
The funniest thing about this crossroad is that I have come to feel a peace about either path. I used to try to "sense" the future. I would often find myself saying, I think this is the right way to go, it "feels" the best. I "feel" okay about either of my possible roads.
I have developed such a love and appreciation for my husband and children that I cannot help but be grateful for the challenges we are facing. There is nothing that brings me a greater joy than to spend time with my family, to be a mom. I am eternally grateful that my husband and I agree that I should be home with our kids. I can't imagine how difficult it would be for them to navigate through this with me unavailable to them.
I'm grateful for the lessons I'm learning about prudence and self-reliance. Gone are my days of overspending. I have become fiscally responsible and I love the way it feels.

I decided to share these things because it just makes sense to me that there are others out there who are feeling the same way. I figure it's better to find friends in adversity than feel alone.

*Do you feel you have two futures?