It Doesn't feel Like I've Retired!

Today is August 1st and I have yet to feel like I am a retired person. I'm thinking that will happen when I don't go set up the classroom on August 28th and school starts on August 29th without me! 

And spending the summer in Utah has also kept me from feeling the retirement blues as well! Dad and I will return home on August 20th and then we'll see how I'm doing! I have made a list of things I want to do with my time and none of them involve watching TV or sitting around the house. I want to attend the temple weekly, study Isaiah with my scripture study group, attend an exercise class with friends, lead book club, work with my young women, use my sewing machine, work in the yard, can all of our harvest and blog regularly! And there's family history and managing the house. 

And now let me tell you what's been bothering me about my acceptance of retirement. For quite a few years I was a stay-at-home mom and I loved it! I was the one who told other moms that our value to our families was more than monetary! We were the heart of the home, we were the ones who brought comfort to our families when the world tossed them around. We told our families they were loved as they headed out into that cold world and we welcomed them home with unconditional acceptance and love! We were truly the unsung and unpaid heroines of the home! And then after Brady graduated I went back to school and then out into the work force where they actually paid me money at the end of each month. And you know what? I liked that paycheck. We were able to get out of debt, to pay off our home and to build up our emergency fund! I liked knowing that at the end of the month I could contribute monetarily to our home. And then I injured my back and for the last year I struggled with working in extreme pain and taking lots of over-the-counter medications so that I could go to work and earn that paycheck! And I realized during Christmas break that I had the choice between continuing to earn that paycheck and risk becoming permanently disabled or retiring and waving goodbye to the money. And sadly, I tried to justify working maybe another year or 3! But the Lord sent me a sign in the gift of triplets to Becky and Brian and I realized that I was needed elsewhere and that if I wanted to be the kind of grandmother I had always dreamed of being, I needed to put myself first. So I officially ended my contract with the school district. And I am giving myself those pep talks again about my value as a stay-at-home wife and mom and grandma! And as I begin this journey I am going to take you all with me as I learn to budget with what we have and how to:

"Use it up,

Wear it out,

Make it do

Or do without"

For crying out loud we raised 6 children, bought a home, sent you all to dance classes, piano classes, soccer games and all the other stuff on ONE INCOME! I think I can raise dad and I on his income again! 

Thanks for letting me rant and I hope you will stay with me as I post ways I will NOT SPEND MONEY!