Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Worth the Read

I sat down the other day to ponder on our recent trials and why we are going through them and what I can and have learned from them.
One of the huge reasons for me, I believe is so that I can share some of my experiences with others. So, after being inspired a number of times to speak up and talk about it - I'm finally doing it.
I am not ashamed or embarrassed of what I want to share or I wouldn't be doing this, but I also don't plan to divulge every nitty gritty detail of my life either, some things are meant to be private and are probably better left unsaid.
Also, let me just say, I am not a writer, nor will I pretend to be. If you are anything like my mom, you will read this and first off notice all my grammar and punctuation errors - so for that I apologize ahead of time!
Rather than just post these entries on our family blog I decided that I would separate the two. I will still maintain the other blog and what you see there is and will always be a major and real part of our lives. I believe that often, if not always most blogs you click on depict this perfect image of a family and their lives, but really that is just a small part of our lives and of course - probably the good parts, the parts we want to share with the world! Who wouldn't want everyone to think life is so happy and cute and fun all of the time?! Of course, it is all of those things, but as we all know there is so much more...hence the purpose of this blog.
The first thing I would like to talk about is something that I think is effecting everyone to some degree. I feel like it has effected us for quite some time and now it is finally hitting the rest of America too, but that may merly be my perception. If you haven't already guessed, I am referring to our financial world.
For the past 5 or so years my husband has been involved with mortgages, real estate, investments and developing. As you can imagine, it created quite the nice income. He did very well. We lived a fairly lush lifestyle - driving fancy cars, owning multiple vacation homes, eating out all the time, shopping whenever I wanted, traveling often, etc. and all the while not really having to worry about money. I'm only telling you these things to paint a picture for you.
Well, since the line of work that my husband is in basically hit a turn for the worse, and among some other things too - we have had to essentially live on savings for the past two to three years. Knowing what we know now and looking back we sure would have done things differently.
I would like to say that we have been taken care of and I am so thankful. I truly have a testimony of tithing and fast offerings as well. I believe the Lord helped to prepare us for that lull in our income, or lack there of.
Meanwhile, my husband was working hard every day, optimistic of a turn around and to make a long story somewhat short, we made decisions that have led us to where we are today.
Now, let me back up for a minute ...when we first got married about 7 years ago we had both just gotten home from our missions and were totally broke. We struggled big time and it was such a huge stress. Looking back now, it is kind of funny because we had no debt at all. And, now to take us to the present time we are struggling again but in such a different realm and I think I would love to be back in that situation again! Ironically, I am not near as stressed about our current circumstance as I was back then. Like I keep saying, I know we are going through this for many reasons and that comforts me.
My husbands work has started to turn the corner and is looking up. We are excited, but realistic too. We know we have a long road ahead of us, so we are learning to cut back and we are learning what is a necessity versus a want - all over again.  And, it will be more of a permanent change too - regardless of what the future will bring.  We have learned to view money and "things" differently.  Honestly, it is kind of refreshing.
It is funny that when my husband first started to make good money, I wasn't used to it and preferred not to spend it or make any major changes with our lifestyle, but slowly things changed and now I have to admit it is not the easiest thing to just go right back to the way things were before, but I know it is not a big deal at the same time.
I have been comforted time and time again over the past couple of years that we are doing what we are supposed to be doing and we are on the right track. I know that we were and are supposed to be going through this at this time in our lives because there are things Heavenly Father needs to teach us and this is how we are going to learn them! I have told my husband, he is one that has to be hit on the head to pay attention and see what needs to change. I will say, he is being hit HARD on the head right now, but I know when all is said and done we will forever be grateful.
It is interesting to me as I listen on TV to all this stuff going on about the great bailout and I think of the counsel from our prophets for the past how ever many years to stay out of debt, pay off your house, and stock up on your food storage. I hope the majority of us have been able to do some of that! What a blessing now, to those who had faith and heeded their counsel.
I am not writing this to make it seem like I am down on life or a person who likes to dwell on the negative because anyone who knows me will know that is not me at all. I am doing this to give each other strength and to help people talk about things that they wish were easier to open up and talk about.
My hope is that we can all be uplifted by this blog and that it might be a source of inspiration and motivation. If for nothing else - it will do that for me.

15 comments:

Unknown said...

Summer, I think you are a wonderful writer and I enjoyed that post very much. Times are challenging right now for everyone and it's a great time for friends to bond together and support one another. My family has a wonderful spiritual blog if you want to read it. Feel free to pass it on!
www.allowingmorelightin.blogspot.com

Meaja said...

Living within your own means...at times it gets easy to want to covet and wish we had more but at the end of the day or after reading a inspirational "read" like this makes me bow in reverence for the truly greater "things" we do have. Gospel, health, and family. Thanks Summer for a truly your honest perspective.

Sabra said...

Boy did I need to read that tonight. Thanks for sharing. If it wasn't almost midnight I would probably be calling you right now. All that keeps coming to my mind right now. Is what I remember hearing Pres. Hinkley stating over and over the first time I heard him speak, "Go forward with faith and be believing!" So lets do just that. I think you are great!! SABRA

Lori said...

Thanks for the great post summer I agree with you times are a little tough right now and it's crazy. Your post made me think of those days of first being married and the stress of what we were doing and where we were headed. I'm thinking of all the times we ate out with our coupons, those were some good times! I love you sum,and keep writing we need it!!!

Jen said...

Summer, Thanks so much for writing this. I think that everyone needs to read this. Sometimes we get too caught up in things that we forget what is important. I know we haven't talked much lately, but that is why I have always felt close to you cause of the view and values that we have always shared. Thanks again for writing this! I loved it.

Tracie said...

Summ...

You are something, you know that? A breath of fresh air to everyone you touch...even when you yourself are going through a tough time. I am so glad you found this venue to express yourself in this fashion. It is a true benefit not only to yourself, but to those who read it. I have never known you to "sweat the small stuff," and I don't see you doing that now. You are probably one of the least worldly people I have ever met...exactly the type of person who is most likely to be blessed with the things of the world. Please know that you are not alone in your struggles right now. There are many who struggle with you, and yet don't even begin to have an INKLING of the big picture that you possess. Keep on keepin on. I miss you.

Shannon said...

I totally agree with you that bogs just show half of peoples lives. This is a great and refreshing idea. So good to run into you at the happiest place on earth yesterday!

Marsha Lueck said...

Sum, Sum, Sum!
I can remember those good ole days, the days of the begining for us all! I will always have a testimony of visiting teaching because of you!I so miss the newly wed appartments, new couches, couple dates to a cougars volleyball game, workout buddies, the introduction to bunko and just the simplicity of having an awesome friend like you! You are an amazing individual, thanks for a moment of reflection on life and looking beyond the lessons of the world. What a great way to lay it out! It's crazy to see how with time moments never stand still. The plan is so perfect and we are ever so enduring to the end in all and every trial. You Rock! K.I.T
Marsh

{jane} said...

hey Summer {nice to meet you!}

thanks for the comments on my blog, your old & new blogs are great.

you're a Warner? I know Melody {and Scott} and Matt/Lynn pretty well. They all lived in our old neighborhood at one time...small world!

KESLER KREW...Cami said...

summer, luv the truth behind the purpose of your post. i have often felt the same way when i check out blogs...somewhat "stepfordish". what you wrote about in this post is life and even though it may not seem like the "good stuff"...if it doesnt kill us it makes us stronger and helps us, i believe, prepare our children even better. cam and i are totally in to dave ramsey...just started his program 2 weeks ago, has some great advice. luv ya girl, cami

Spencer, Erin, Parker and Ben said...

Angie and I were talking about you the other day and how it's always refreshing to talk to you because your always so real. So thanks for being real Sum- I always know I can REALLY tell you how things are because of it. I love you.

Anonymous said...

Sum,
LOVE your post and LOVE your guts.. I appreciate your words and your wisdom. If there is one thing you can always give insight to is the spiritual side of life. What matters most.. What helps us in our lives and what really happens behind closed doors in every home. Love this blog.. Wish we could go to lunch and just chat.. I really miss all my friends in Utah.
Big Hugs,
Nat

King Family said...

summer, such a great blog and post...as much as i love to read about the fun times it is refreshing to read that other people go through the same things. i love your perspective...as i have been watching the news and pondering things lately i have thought that if we go through another "depression" the worse thing that could happen is that we turn out like our grandparents (aka the greatest generation) and that's not so bad!

Judy said...

I'm so happy to see your new blog, because just last week I was thinking I would start my own separate blog to talk about more spiritual/personal things like you have done. I'm totally going to do it now. I have kind of used my blog as a journal, but it's true - that only shows one small part of my life, and I want to record the rest of the story.

Thanks for sharing this!

wendy said...

Thanks for this blog and for this post. I am amazed with the power in paying your tithing also; it got Cam and I through so many times when we were in school. Thanks for posting this type of info-it is always a good reminder and that is what friends are for-to help us each do our best, to learn from our pasts and to share what we have learned with others. Thanks Summer!