I injured my shoulder this fall.
It didn’t happen suddenly, it kind of crept up on me. I started feeling discomfort, and instead of stopping what was causing the discomfort, I kept going, thinking it would go away.
It didn’t.
Eventually the discomfort turned to pain. It kept getting worse, and I had to almost completely stop using my right arm because I was in so much pain - pain washing my hair, pain playing the piano, pain chopping vegetables, pain reaching for something, pain doing normal, everyday things.
In January, I decided it was time to get it checked out. After doctor’s visits and X-rays, I am thankful to report that I don’t have permanent damage. Just a strained rotator cuff that requires physical therapy.
Read more...Sticking to a budget can be challenging as a young widow. There are many expenses that we have no control over, but the grocery budget is one area that I found I can bring my monthly expenses down. I have control over what I buy, and when meal planning is applied, it can make such a difference in this area. Today I am sharing three easy, versatile, kid friendly recipes that are easy on the budget.
Black Bean Soup
2 16 oz. cans black beans, rinsed and drained
1 ½ c. chicken broth
1 c. chunky salsa
1 tsp. ground cumin
Read more...Discovering joy through music has been a constant thread throughout my life. From the moment I first sat down at a piano, I knew I had found my passion. Over the years, music has provided solace, comfort, and a sense of purpose. And when tragedy struck and I found myself as a widow with young children, music became a comfort.
My first piano teacher nurtured my love for playing the piano. She was kind, patient and set high expectations that she knew I could meet. She encouraged me to play in church at a young age, which began a love for being a church pianist.
In high school, I joined the choir. My music teacher saw potential that I didn’t see and encouraged me to audition for the Chamber Singers, local and state competitions, and eventually colleges. He gave me the opportunity to accompany many of the choirs in our school, and my love for doing music every day multiplied. It was also during high school that I started teaching piano lessons, and found I loved it!
Read more...Originally, this series was going to be 4 parts, but I’m adding a bonus post. I wanted to give you a practical list of financial things that should be done early on after losing your spouse. This isn’t an exhaustive list, but it should cover the basics.
1. Death Cerificates
Get at least 20 death certificates from your funeral home. You will need these when contacting companies that were in both of your names or just your husband’s name. They are easiest to get immediately, and many companies require an original. I found that some companies did accept a faxed copy, so you may have some left over. That’s OK. Just file them in case you need them in the future.
Read more...Get at least 20 death certificates from your funeral home. You will need these when contacting companies that were in both of your names or just your husband’s name. They are easiest to get immediately, and many companies require an original. I found that some companies did accept a faxed copy, so you may have some left over. That’s OK. Just file them in case you need them in the future.
Budgeting is not always the most exciting topic, but it’s and imporant part of how I was able to make ends meet as a widow with young kids.
Having been budgeting for several years, I had a pretty good feel for it. But after Jon passed, I got out of the habit and struggled with motivation to continue. I was tired, sad and overwhelmed by life, and budgeting just seemed like one more thing. I had reduced our living expenses quite a bit and didn’t think I needed to account for every purchase.
Something Had to Change
I became aware of how important a monthly budget was several months into my journey as a widow. We were halfway through the month, and I only had $50 left for the month to buy food, and the fridge was looking bare. While my kids were only 5 and 7, they had healthy appetites. I couldn’t continue to leave it to chance. I needed to make a change.
Read more...
