IT'S BEEN AWHILE...

My last post was really long ago.  I was getting way too tired of elections, and, as it turned out, here in Wisconsin, we did very well.  I pray for our country to turn around, however. 

In the spirit of the season, Thanksgiving, personally, I have been truly blessed.  We have a new addition to our family of a second Ethiopian granddaughter, the real joy of my life.  I remain employed. by the grace of God, and, with His help, will remain to be.  On a sad note, however, an old family friend was put out to pasture.  Our 1998 Ford Taurus SE wagon was traded for a replacement.  This car was actually like a family member.  She took our daughters to and from colleges, took us to our beloved St. George Island, Florida thirteen times, including my older daughter's wedding and five year anniversary, as well as on countless other family excursions and hauling expeditions.  The last trip being to a family vacation in , of all places, central Illinois.  The car refused to give us cold air on a 98 degree return trip with a granddaughter in the car, so, it was time to allow her to retire.  She will be remembered fondly.

We made another major purchase this week as well, replacing my commuter car, a 2007 Kia Rio5, in-kind, this one a 2013, signal red.  Two cars in one week, another new first.  If one looks a little deeper into our two purchases, one will notice a philosophy of moderation .  Unlike the federal government, we purchased our cars with the intent of being able to pay for them, even though we incurred a little more debt, that being the second car.  The first one has the same payment as the old one did.  We even could have paid cash for the second one, but, we thought it better to hold onto a little more cash and spend a small amount on finance charges over time than lose the cash.  I could never be elected in many places with a philosophy like this because there is no room for real expansion of a debt ceiling.

Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year to all.