I don't expect too many read this blog since I haven't been keeping up with it, but I have decided to try to write a few things this evening mainly for myself.
I have realized that my two best friends are very similar. Not the way they look, but the way they live their lives and their opinions on life and things in general. They don't have the same gifts or hobbies, just a similar outlook on life. I think it is interesting how that happened.
I am also happy to say that I have started to become friends with my cousins! Who would have thought that would have happened a couple of years ago. I generally don't get in contact with anyone unless they are my sisters(either blood, or in spirit), or parent figures. I have discovered that I do have things in common with my cousins and we might even be "kindred spirits"(Anne of Green Gables reference). And I think they might even like spending time with me too.
On the negative side, this job change that I took because I thought I would be assured a better quality of life is a struggle to keep that way. I really only want to have to worry about work during the 45 hours a week I am scheduled. I know I generally have had a "work-a-holic" title attached to my name but at this point in my life I want to be working on relationships rather than P&Ls and checking in on people that are supposed to be able to do a job. I don't like to remind people that they made a commitment when they decided to become part of the company and if they don't want to fulfill that commitment they just need to move on to another job. I also don't like having to deal with the consequences of choices that my employees have made. I made my choices in life in order to stay away from the influences of drugs, alcoholism, domestic abuse, etc. and I don't like that I am still affected by these things due to someone else's choices.
Any way Asi es la vida.(sp?) I used to say that all the time. Is is true? That's just life? I don't think so. I just finished reading "The Shack." I am not going to give a literary review here or even decide what I believe about what is stated as truth in this book. I only know God is powerful enough to do that if he wants. But why do humans, I include myself here, continue to carry all their burdens around with them? When God is reaching out and loving us no matter what why can't we just give in? Choose to be loved and learn to love Him? Why do I give so much value and power to pain, fear, sin, and so on? Why don't I let Him make me free? I have no answers for my questions. Generally I am good at knowing my faults, I just do a bad job of fixing them. I know my questions and rants aren't original and I suppose that should be comforting but I think it is scary. Who does know the answers? How do I change? How do I hear God? I don't know how to listen to Him. I only know how to see Him in His creation. In the mountains and meadows, waterfalls and lakes, animals domestic and wild. But aren't we supposed to be the best creation? The pinaccle of His thought? I sure don't feel I live up to all that.
I also wonder how my choices in life have affected other people. I like to think I'm not as bad as other people because a lot of my sins aren't pasted on my forehead for the world to see like a lot of people. That doesn't mean I make good choices though. Have I made someone's life misery because of my sin?
How do I hear you God?
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
St. Charles Memorial Works
I have now spoken with Jane Downing who works for St. Charles Memorial Works. They are the ones that have to install the stone whether we use them for the monument or not. Jane talked to the cemetary and found out that the stone has to be flat, it needs to be 20x32x4 and include an apron. I'm not sure what an apron is but I do not know if the internet company includes an apron in the price they quoted me. This company quoted me $1,485.65 to include the cheapest granite, engraving, apron, and installation. If we use another company for the actual stone, they would charge $640 just to install. I am planning on calling Wichman again to find out about the apron since I didn't know about that when I talked to Tonja the first time.
You can go to their website at www.stcharlesmemorialworks.com. I didn't find it particularly helpful, but it made me think the Wichman price might be to good to be true. A woman I work with told me about a company in southern Indiana that went out of their way to help when her dad died three years ago. She was going to find out a little more about them for me and see if they might be more helpful or at least help me get a better idea of what I should be looking for.
Anyways, I have a few more leads to follow and sorry Bethany that we can't do one of the beveled markers. I do like that style myself but aparently it isn't allowed in that cemetary anymore. I'll update you all again when I find out more information.
You can go to their website at www.stcharlesmemorialworks.com. I didn't find it particularly helpful, but it made me think the Wichman price might be to good to be true. A woman I work with told me about a company in southern Indiana that went out of their way to help when her dad died three years ago. She was going to find out a little more about them for me and see if they might be more helpful or at least help me get a better idea of what I should be looking for.
Anyways, I have a few more leads to follow and sorry Bethany that we can't do one of the beveled markers. I do like that style myself but aparently it isn't allowed in that cemetary anymore. I'll update you all again when I find out more information.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
An Exciting Note
I got to babysit Jasper this weekend. He is the sweetest little boy ever. He is so smart and learning so much, i.e. he knows animals, colors, his favorite number is 9. He can identify which blackberries are ripe for picking. Jasper named his puppy Nano. He just saw him and said Nano! He has learned how to call Nano(he slaps his thigh.) Jasper loves to play outside with his puppy. He loves bubbles, and playing in the pool too.
Then on Sunday I went to the Peru amateur circus with Debbie, Grandma Lena, and Grandma June(Claire's mom and grandmas.) It was really good. This was only the second time I have been to this circus, but each time I am really impressed what local kids and parents can acheive. They do the same stunts you see in a professional circus. I really enjoyed that! Anyway I jsut thought I would share an actual fun weekend with you guys. I hope you are all doing well!
Then on Sunday I went to the Peru amateur circus with Debbie, Grandma Lena, and Grandma June(Claire's mom and grandmas.) It was really good. This was only the second time I have been to this circus, but each time I am really impressed what local kids and parents can acheive. They do the same stunts you see in a professional circus. I really enjoyed that! Anyway I jsut thought I would share an actual fun weekend with you guys. I hope you are all doing well!
Newest Info
I met with the man that owns the monument store in Indiana. He got information from me and contacted a local monument company in St. Charles. He told me that they are going to the cemetary to take a picture of Mom's grave stone, and then they will call me to talk about options. Once they call me, I will be able to figure out if the local company is more cost effective than the one I found on the internet. They will also be able to tell me who will need to install the stone and what kind of charge there is for that.
On another note, I called the attorney who forwarded the information for Dad's life insurance policy. He gave me the name of a lady who works for Northwestern Mutual that I talked to. She explained the options for me. The longterm plan is just us being able to decide how much and how often we want them to send us payments. I was curious about the difference in how the money is taxed, and she informed me that there is no tax on life insurance inheritance, only on any interest that we would earn if it was invested. If any one wants to talk to her, Phyllis, directly, I have her phone number.
Well, thats all for now on this topic.
On another note, I called the attorney who forwarded the information for Dad's life insurance policy. He gave me the name of a lady who works for Northwestern Mutual that I talked to. She explained the options for me. The longterm plan is just us being able to decide how much and how often we want them to send us payments. I was curious about the difference in how the money is taxed, and she informed me that there is no tax on life insurance inheritance, only on any interest that we would earn if it was invested. If any one wants to talk to her, Phyllis, directly, I have her phone number.
Well, thats all for now on this topic.
Monday, July 14, 2008
FYI
I am going to the monument company in Peru today. I will update later with any new information I find out.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
A Few More Things...
I have a few questions...
1. Do you guys think anyone else wants to see this information (i.e. Anzhela, Grandma and Grandpa, Uncles and Aunts?) Please forward this URL to anyone you think ought to be involved. I will continue to consider my audience as the sisters until you notify me of anyone else I should be talking to.
2. If you have questions you would like me to ask the monument company, just let me know. I am going to try and check this blog at least every couple of days if you want to leave all this business here in this space instead of talking over the phone but you can call me too if you want. If you want to call yourself, Tonja is keeping the email I sent her inquiring about all this so I would ask for her and tell her you are my sister.
3. Does anyone want any ashes in an urn? There are lots of ashes if you remember so I can ask about that if you want.
4. I want to keep the URL spelling incorrect. Even though it ws a mistake, I think it may keep this more private from people that have no interest in this. That may be an unfounded assumption, but it makes me feel better to think that.
I think that should be enough for one day, I just wanted to make sure I was using my time with free WiFi wisely. I think Bethany and I decided that we weren't going to actually bury the ashes until the fall. I need to make sure we don't do it the first couple of weeks of September because the Balsbaughs are on vacation and they will be coming with me when I bury the ashes. I haven't asked anyone else if they wanted to be there(uncles, etc.), but I am not planning on another service just for me and the Balsbaughs. 'Til next time, take care!
1. Do you guys think anyone else wants to see this information (i.e. Anzhela, Grandma and Grandpa, Uncles and Aunts?) Please forward this URL to anyone you think ought to be involved. I will continue to consider my audience as the sisters until you notify me of anyone else I should be talking to.
2. If you have questions you would like me to ask the monument company, just let me know. I am going to try and check this blog at least every couple of days if you want to leave all this business here in this space instead of talking over the phone but you can call me too if you want. If you want to call yourself, Tonja is keeping the email I sent her inquiring about all this so I would ask for her and tell her you are my sister.
3. Does anyone want any ashes in an urn? There are lots of ashes if you remember so I can ask about that if you want.
4. I want to keep the URL spelling incorrect. Even though it ws a mistake, I think it may keep this more private from people that have no interest in this. That may be an unfounded assumption, but it makes me feel better to think that.
I think that should be enough for one day, I just wanted to make sure I was using my time with free WiFi wisely. I think Bethany and I decided that we weren't going to actually bury the ashes until the fall. I need to make sure we don't do it the first couple of weeks of September because the Balsbaughs are on vacation and they will be coming with me when I bury the ashes. I haven't asked anyone else if they wanted to be there(uncles, etc.), but I am not planning on another service just for me and the Balsbaughs. 'Til next time, take care!
A New Purpose
I have decided to use this blog for another reason. I thought it may make picking out a grave marker easier if you could see what information I have gathered so far.
So, here is what I have done. I did a search for companies that made grave markers and the one that came up first was Wichman Monuments. Their website is http://www.wichmanmonuments.com/. They have a pretty nice website so I would suggest taking a look at it so you can see what they offer. I talked to a lady from there today. She told me that we would need to order a single headstone that measures 12 by 24 and is 4 inches thick. She suggested the granite marker and to make sure there weren't too many designs on it so the writing would all fit. I would agree with that. She said that the marker with the engraving and everything would be $488. The shipping is free so they would just deliver it to the cemetary. I would have to call the caretaker when he gets back from vacation to find out how much it would cost to dig up the old one and put the new one in. I am unsure but I assume it would be an additional charge on top of the charge for burying the ashes. (By the way it costs $400 to bury the ashes unless we want to do it on a Saturday, then its more.)
I asked the Tonja, the lady from Wichman Monuments, what people normally do with old markers. She said that some people put them in gardens, but if we didn't want to we can just ask the caretaker at the cemetary to dispose of it. I think that since none of us has permanent lodging at the present we should discuss this in more detail and perhaps ask some of the relatives if they are interested in keeping it, especially Grandma and Grandpa.
If we decide to go this route, we can pick something out and she can email us what it would look like so we can approve it.
I am planning on talking to someone from Peru that the Balsbaughs know to see if what I have found out so far is correct or if there is a possibility for a better deal. At least a second opinion seems like a good idea since I am so unfamiliar with all of this.
Please let me know what you think about all this so far. We don't need to do anything immediately, but I think we should at least discuss it.
So, here is what I have done. I did a search for companies that made grave markers and the one that came up first was Wichman Monuments. Their website is http://www.wichmanmonuments.com/. They have a pretty nice website so I would suggest taking a look at it so you can see what they offer. I talked to a lady from there today. She told me that we would need to order a single headstone that measures 12 by 24 and is 4 inches thick. She suggested the granite marker and to make sure there weren't too many designs on it so the writing would all fit. I would agree with that. She said that the marker with the engraving and everything would be $488. The shipping is free so they would just deliver it to the cemetary. I would have to call the caretaker when he gets back from vacation to find out how much it would cost to dig up the old one and put the new one in. I am unsure but I assume it would be an additional charge on top of the charge for burying the ashes. (By the way it costs $400 to bury the ashes unless we want to do it on a Saturday, then its more.)
I asked the Tonja, the lady from Wichman Monuments, what people normally do with old markers. She said that some people put them in gardens, but if we didn't want to we can just ask the caretaker at the cemetary to dispose of it. I think that since none of us has permanent lodging at the present we should discuss this in more detail and perhaps ask some of the relatives if they are interested in keeping it, especially Grandma and Grandpa.
If we decide to go this route, we can pick something out and she can email us what it would look like so we can approve it.
I am planning on talking to someone from Peru that the Balsbaughs know to see if what I have found out so far is correct or if there is a possibility for a better deal. At least a second opinion seems like a good idea since I am so unfamiliar with all of this.
Please let me know what you think about all this so far. We don't need to do anything immediately, but I think we should at least discuss it.
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