On November 13, 2010 I gladly became the primary caregiver of my mother. She has Lewy Body Dementia, the second most common memory loss condition after Alzhiemers. I knew nothing about Lewy Body Dementia until I brought Mom to Indiana to live with me. My mother is a resident at the Waters of Covington, a rehabilitation center near our home. I would like to have her live with us but her care is more then one person can provide. The staff at the Waters fell in love with Mom immediately. She may be losing her memory and her ability to care for herself but she hasn't lost her sense of humor or her gentle grace. This blog is meant to be a journal of our days together.



On May 15, 2011 My Mother peacefully and fearlessly passed into the here after. Now I journey alone, yet not alone. I have a lifetime of memories.




Thursday, July 7, 2011

Thanks to God and Financial Peace University

Everything is beginning to look a lot better. Unexpected funds and refreshing what I already learned from FPU we are almost out of the mess that happened after Mom died. Looking back, I can see that we were very definitely under attack. I do not like to use those terms but there is no other explanation.

When Mom started to decline, I cut my working hours by 12 hours a week so I could spend more time with her. It put a strain on our budget that slowly festered into a really big problem. My car died two weeks before Mom died. I used our emergency fund to buy a different car. I needed that money for Mom's burial expenses. Then Myron's truck broke down a few days after Mom died. Cremation expenses, decreased work hours, car repairs, truck repairs and grief all at once. YUCK!!

But, counseling and good steady friends have seen us through and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I made myself sit down and redo our budget.It is amazing how much we waste when we do not keep track. I got an unexpected bonus and we got Myron's truck back today. No more asking for rides or long waits to be picked up. And I just made payment arrangements with our mortgage company. I would not have been able to talk to them the way I did without the knowledge from FPU. I took control of the conversation and I told them what I could afford to pay and when. God did the rest by giving me favor. The bank officer even told me how to tell them where to apply my extra payments so I would get the most credit for it. By the end of the month they will be caught up. They were going to start foreclosure on Aug 4. With all back payments caught up I can re-establish our insurances, the last step tore-establishing our financial responsibility.

It took some serious steps. I downgraded my iPhone. We will still cut the cord to our satellite tv, no eating out for a very LONG time and NO CRAFT SUPPLY BUYING. Even when I can spend on crafts again it will be very controlled and thought out. I have pledged to use what I have. Mom would be proud.

With the finances coming under control, I will be able to concentrate on Mom's memorial service. I hate that I haven't officially buried her yet. But, now I am relaxing and I think we can come together and honor her the way she deserves. The service is not for her as much as it is for us. I can now imagine her happy and strong. It's a good picture.
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