I tried to find this newspaper clipping when my grandma passed away, but couldn't. Yesterday I happened upon it. It's my Grandma & Grandpa Sweetie's 50th wedding anniversary announcement. Aren't they darling? I love how perfectly retro they look. So classic! Had my grandpa still been alive this summer would have been their 70th anniversary.
Our autumn leaves peaked this week. I'm already mourning them, and they're not even all the way gone.
They were so beautiful that I would often find myself gasping in awe. Literally. Sometimes a scene was so breathtaking that it would almost hurt to look at it because I was overwhelmed by the beauty, the majesty and the gratitude that I feel for our Heavenly Father and Savior who gave us such an amazing world. I feel their love through nature. We are blessed.
...The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator. Alma 30:44
Here's the thing. I'm not worried about the economic "meltdown". I'm really not. Thus far, it's not the next Great Depression (and I honestly don't think it will be). It's a lot better than that. A lot. So, I kind of feel like people need to get over it and stop panicking.
Sure, our IRA's and 401(k) have taken a hit--as of yesterday 7.2%--but they've got time to recover. Lots of time. We don't depend on that money to live, so why worry about it right now? The whole point of a retirement plan is to put it away, let it do it's thing (with ups and downs), and use it in retirement. So, no, I won't be pulling my money out of the stock market. In fact, I'm a little bit excited for Craig's next paycheck when we'll be putting more into his 401(k) because we'll be getting an awesome deal....just think of the returns when the market goes back up!
Have you ever seen It's a Wonderful Life? It's like that. What was the problem that kept George from going on his honeymoon with Mary? A run on the Savings and Loan. People panicked. Not good, that panicking. But Potter, he bought while everyone else was wanting to get rid of stock. And he eventually made a lot of money off other people's panic. So, while I never imagined myself saying this, be like Potter.....or at least like George and stay calm, don't do anything rash.
Let's talk about the economics of "Main Street" since we're hearing so much of that lately.
The biggest chunk of our budget is our mortgage. Because we bought a house that was within our means and we were smart enough to get a fixed-rate mortgage, that amount stays the same. Not a problem. Choices have consequences, I think we made a good choice.
The things that have put a little bit of a strain on our budget in the last year are groceries and gas. But, we simply cut back on the unnecessary items. For example, since Craig started working from home we decided that we could drop down to one car--two was a luxury.
Most of the people I come into contact with are in the same situation as we are--maybe things are a little tighter than they used to be, but you drop a couple of luxuries and it all evens out. In fact, those who I know that are having a rough time of it were already having a rough time of it because they have failed to make wise financial choices in the past, and are often still continuing to make those choices.
So on my Main Street, things are looking pretty okay. In fact, I'm pretty sure that those trying to "fix" Wall Street have no idea what's really happening on Main Street.
This morning I promised Dogger we could make chocolate chip cookies if he made it to the potty before his poo poos started coming. He did it! Small victory for mom. Fun reward for Dogger.
Craig's on his 7th business trip in the last 13 months. For a job that "doesn't require travel" he sure travels a lot. He says he's tired of business trips. He doesn't like them--he misses us, etc., etc. I don't get it.
At this moment, nothing sounds better than someone making my bed and cleaning the bathroom each morning while I'm away. And eating at all my favorite restaurants while someone else picks up the tab. And interacting with adults on at least a somewhat intellectual level. And driving a nice, clean car that someone else fills up with gas. And going to the movies with a friend, because, well what else do I have to do? Oh, and cable TV beyond the basic channels. And shopping. And, just because I can, standing in the stand-by-line for General Conference and getting in.
I'd take all of that in exchange for the laundry, and the dishes, and the spilled milk at every meal, and the snotty noses, and the early rising, and the complaining about dinner, and the potty-training.
