(27) A House of Financial Order
About 12 years a go we decided to follow some wise council that has blessed us tremendously. We got out of most of our debt. We paid off and cut up credit cards. We paid off our cars. We lived within a budget. We started saving more. It was HARD but it was as if as soon as we decided to take this action and make these changes that God poured out blessings upon us in abundance. Its the only explanation for how we went from owing over $10,000 in debts to having a couple months of living expenses in our savings account, within about 6 months. The only debt we carried was our mortgage and we paid extra on it each month to get it gone faster. We had started a food and supplies storage years earlier but we were more intentional about this also. Seven years ago we decided to sell the home we had build in 2002. Another blessing came when it sold above market value. With what we had saved over the years, the sacrifices we had made, and an investment that we could cash out 30 years early without penalty we were able to put over 20% down for a larger more expensive home. We continued to only spend what we had to, saved for the future, and our only debt was our home. I will admit now that we could have had a more modest, less expensive home -we aren't perfect. These practices over the years have given us financial freedom and peace. About the time we made these changes we got life insurance policies and started investing but never set up our wills or a trust. We had only set up short term policies because we figured we could be financially independent by this time in our lives. Well as I alluded to we weren't perfect and could have made some better choices to get further ahead. Needless to say we are not financially independent and wealthy. The Lord is so merciful in rewarding our simple, imperfect efforts.
When you're about to go on a vacation do you every try to get everything in order before you go? I've heard a friend say that his wife tries to put the whole universe in order and establish world peace before every vacation. I think my husband could say the same thing of me. If having the fridge cleaned, the laundry all done and put away, the dishes all done, the bathrooms clean, ...and a few other odd jobs like the windows and baseboards wiped down, the walls washed, and everyone of my unfinished project completed before we go to be equal to putting the universe in order and establishing world peace...then I'm guilty. I know its unrealistic but I can dream, right? So maybe updating our life insurance was one of those things but it was pretty important too. Ours would expire while we were gone and the rates were going to go up significantly. A few times I had missed a call or asked the agent to call back another time to do our health histories over the phone. On October 23, 2018 I felt to take the call. Each time it had been a different agent and 2 hours later I understood why this was the time I was to take the call. There had been questions in the process that brought out that we planned on being out of the country for several months, as well as where we would be and what we intended to do. At the end of the call the agent asked if she could ask a few questions off the record. We talked for maybe another 20-30 minutes. She asked if she could pray for us; and what I would want her to pray for, in our behalf. I became so emotional I could hardly talk. My request was that she pray that God will continue to guide us in this work. I gave her our blog so she could follow our story. She shared how God called her to be a clown about the time she began working with insurance. She said it was an ironic combination but she has seen His wisdom in it over the years. This was such an incredible moment. She said her heart has always been drawn to orphanages and that she doesn't believe it was an accident that we talked. I would STRONGLY agree. I offered a tearful prayer of gratitude for the wonderful time we talked together and asked for blessings on her and our future relationship.
Another financial matter to take care of was our wills and trust. It was a benefit we had signed up and paid for in January and would expire with Ben's layoff. We had tried in times past but didn't agree and who we would ask to care for which details in our behalf. This time it came together so smoothly and quickly. I was clearly a miracle. On October 25th we met with our lawyer and got it squared away. An added piece of peace.
We haven't done any earth shattering things to be in this financial position we are in. We have done small things that add up over time. We made a number of choices over the years that could have been better and given us even more advantage. In all truth without God magnifying our efforts and blessing our path in inexplicable ways we wouldn't be able to do any of this.
Pics
RS cleaning
lawyer
When you're about to go on a vacation do you every try to get everything in order before you go? I've heard a friend say that his wife tries to put the whole universe in order and establish world peace before every vacation. I think my husband could say the same thing of me. If having the fridge cleaned, the laundry all done and put away, the dishes all done, the bathrooms clean, ...and a few other odd jobs like the windows and baseboards wiped down, the walls washed, and everyone of my unfinished project completed before we go to be equal to putting the universe in order and establishing world peace...then I'm guilty. I know its unrealistic but I can dream, right? So maybe updating our life insurance was one of those things but it was pretty important too. Ours would expire while we were gone and the rates were going to go up significantly. A few times I had missed a call or asked the agent to call back another time to do our health histories over the phone. On October 23, 2018 I felt to take the call. Each time it had been a different agent and 2 hours later I understood why this was the time I was to take the call. There had been questions in the process that brought out that we planned on being out of the country for several months, as well as where we would be and what we intended to do. At the end of the call the agent asked if she could ask a few questions off the record. We talked for maybe another 20-30 minutes. She asked if she could pray for us; and what I would want her to pray for, in our behalf. I became so emotional I could hardly talk. My request was that she pray that God will continue to guide us in this work. I gave her our blog so she could follow our story. She shared how God called her to be a clown about the time she began working with insurance. She said it was an ironic combination but she has seen His wisdom in it over the years. This was such an incredible moment. She said her heart has always been drawn to orphanages and that she doesn't believe it was an accident that we talked. I would STRONGLY agree. I offered a tearful prayer of gratitude for the wonderful time we talked together and asked for blessings on her and our future relationship.
Another financial matter to take care of was our wills and trust. It was a benefit we had signed up and paid for in January and would expire with Ben's layoff. We had tried in times past but didn't agree and who we would ask to care for which details in our behalf. This time it came together so smoothly and quickly. I was clearly a miracle. On October 25th we met with our lawyer and got it squared away. An added piece of peace.
We haven't done any earth shattering things to be in this financial position we are in. We have done small things that add up over time. We made a number of choices over the years that could have been better and given us even more advantage. In all truth without God magnifying our efforts and blessing our path in inexplicable ways we wouldn't be able to do any of this.
Pics
RS cleaning
lawyer
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