Taking Risks...

Risk - exposure to the chance of injury or loss; a hazard or dangerous chance

I was recently told I don’t take risks. Actually the conversation was more like, “You don’t let me take any risks!” After thinking about it, it's true. I don’t take risks. I’m a planner. I like to be organized and know what’s going on. This is especially true when it comes to money. I log on to our checking and savings accounts everyday or every other day to make sure everything is accounted for. I have a breakdown of where every paycheck or bonus check is going for the next 6 months, how much credit card debt we should have at the end of the 6 months and how much we should have in savings. Yes, I have to adjust this monthly but at least I have a plan of what should happen.

So, what happens when one of us wants to take a risk that might affect us financially? The idea of not knowing exactly how much income is going to come in monthly scares me. Although I know that we’ll be fine, I hate the idea of not knowing - Not knowing if the risk will be worth it, not knowing how much of our savings we will have to use, just simply not knowing…. I have so many what if scenarios that play out in my mind.

So again, what happens when one of us wants to take a risk that might affect us financially? I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately and well, I guess it depends. If the risk involves taking money to Vegas with hopes of winning at the blackjack or poker table then you laugh and say NO (unless it’s $ you saved for that reason). If it’s something that has to do with your husbands career, his passion, and his dream of being his own boss then you support him. You prepare as much as you can for the unknown and let him go for it. The last thing I would ever want is for him to look back 5 or 10 yrs from now and regret not taking the risk and I wouldn’t want to be the reason he didn’t take the risk or follow his dream.

I know we will get through whatever life throws at us. I might do a lot of praying along the way and he might have to calm me down every now and then but we’ll get through it and I’m sure the risk will be worth it in the end.

Recap of my week...

It’s been a busy week! Sunday, I finally felt like I had some energy back after being sick the previous week so I ventured out to my little neighbors football game. It was so cute to see these 9 and 10 year old boys playing football and to see how excited and proud the parents were of their children. There were also 4 little cheerleaders cheering them on, yelling their chants and doing little dances during the timeouts. I can’t wait until Brian and I have children. He can coach our little boy’s golf team (or girl’s team) and I can go to all the football games and cheer our little boy on as our daughter cheers. Anyway, Sunday night I decided to treat myself to a night in with the pups while Brian was at work. I watched a chick flick and took a nice hot bath. Monday night Brian and I had our first outing with the little girl we are mentoring. We took her to Dave and Busters for dinner and game playing. We had a blast. Brian won so many tickets that she was able to get 3 prizes to take home with her! She was elated. Tuesday – Thursday my days were filled with work. I decided to pick up a part-time job for several reasons and I had to work the past three nights. As for tonight, Brian and I are heading over to a friends house for dinner. Although I am looking forward to it, part of me just wants to stay home and sit down in front of the TV with the pups and Brian.

Looks like this weekend is going to be busy too! I have to work tomorrow from 9am–3pm. After work, I’m heading home to watch the game (OSU/Northwestern) I plan to relax for the night and maybe take the pups for a long walk. Sunday we are heading to our neighbors football game, then we are taking Hannah to a Blue Jackets game.

Have a good weekend!

Another season coming to an end....

Although there are about 21 days left of summer, my summer officially ends tomorrow. The Ohio State Buckeyes start their season tomorrow at noon against Youngstown state. While I’m sad to see summer come to an end, I’m eager for my favorite season to begin. I’ve always enjoyed this time of year. It’s cool enough for sweaters but warm enough to wear open toed shoes. The leaves will begin to change and we’ll have new colors to enjoy. I’m looking forward to going on hayrides, cheering for my favorite football teams, tailgating, and carving pumpkins. I’m also looking forward to hot chocolate, hot apple cider, caramel apples, and chili! Right now I’m picturing myself curling up on the couch, reading a good book in front of the fireplace. Another thought…having a nice romantic dinner with Brian at home in front of the fireplace! Oh how I love fall!

So here’s to another summer coming to an end and a new fall season beginning!

Impatient

I’m an impatient person. I admit it. But being an impatient person and wanting what I want is driving me crazy and least that’s what I’ve been told…

I want something that I truly have no control over. I thought I did but it turns out… I don’t! I think that’s the part that’s driving me crazy. I’m a planner and I can’t plan for it. I can’t say okay, I want it now and have it now. I can’t go buy it and I can’t make the things that need to work, work in order for me to have it. Anyway, hopefully I have this thing that I want someday and when I do, I’ll let you know.

This weekend...

Brian and I have been working hard, trying to get our house ready this weekend. Pat, Maya and Zane are coming to visit and they’ve never been to the house before. Plus, Brian’s parents are coming and they haven’t been to the house since we moved in. In addition to that we decided to have a summer BBQ at our place while they are in town - We now have about 30 people coming to our place Saturday!

This was the first month Brian and I were home for more than a week at a time so it was the perfect time to do the things we’ve wanted to do around the house. Brian started painting the trim (including garage) outside and it looks fantastic. He did such a great job. The house looks 100x’s better than it did. I painted the trim (including doors) inside…it definitely brightens up the place. We also replaced the lighting in the kitchen and the fan in our bedroom. I shampooed the carpet in every room and finally organized the 2nd spare room. I have to say, I think we did a great job!

We have so much more we want to do in the house but I think our next big project will be to replace the flooring in the bathrooms. We have a close friend who just laid new flooring in his bathrooms and it looks great!

As for this weekend, the whole reason we planned the summer BBQ was so Pat, Maya, and Zane could meet everyone and so everyone could meet them but I kind of wish we had planned our BBQ for a different weekend so we could have more one on one time with them. I hope they enjoy their visit and the next time they come, we’ll have to plan to go to the Short North to see the art galleries.

Unanswered Prayers

I’m not sure of the name of the song or who sings it but it goes something like this…. “Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers, Remember when you’re talking to the man upstairs, Just because he may not answer, doesn’t mean he doesn’t care. Some of God's greatest gifts are answered prayers”.

The song is about a man who thinks he wants to be with a particular person and he prays about it all the time but his prayers are never answered. One day he runs into this person, he thinks about their relationship and how he prayed so hard to be with this person. Then he looks at his wife and sees all the good things that have happened in his life and how he can’t imagine being with anyone else.

I hear this song from time to time and just smile. I think of my past relationships and how I prayed and prayed for those relationships not to end. At the time, I thought my prayers where not being answered but the truth is they were. God had someone better in mind for me, I just had to wait for him.

You Can’t Dream What You Don’t Know

How can a child dream of becoming a professional golfer when they’ve never picked up a golf club, seen a tournament, or stepped onto a golf course? How can child dream of becoming a figure skater or hockey player when they’ve never stepped foot in an ice rink or watched a competition? How can a child dream of becoming an author if reading and writing isn’t an activity that is stressed in their home?

Last night Brian and I completed our Children Services Friendship Volunteer training and these are a few questions that popped into my mind when a coordinator said “How can a child dream what they don’t know”. I am so excited that Brian and I have decided to become volunteers for this organization. I am looking forward to not only being a friend for this child but a person who she can depend on, a person that can expose her to new thoughts, ideas and activities and a person who can show her or help her learn that she can be whatever she wants to be if she’s willing to work hard and over come the difficulties in her life. God won’t give you more than you can handle.

I know when Brian and I have a children I want to expose them to everything I possibly can. I want them to play sports, take music and dance lessons. I want to take them to arts festivals and plays. I want to travel with them and expose them to other cultures. I want to have them volunteer at an early age and learn that helping people is a great thing. I want them to have every opportunity possible. I want them to know they can be whatever they want to be.

I have to give credit to the parents that allow their children to have volunteers through Children Services. It has to be hard to allow another adult to come into their child’s life and give them or expose them to things they can’t. It just goes to show that no matter who you are or what difficulties have been thrown your way, you always want what’s best for your child.