October 9, 2010.

Well, I've been really neglecting this blog! It's so easy to get out of the habit of posting in something like this. My last post I sounded really depressed, but I'm over that depressed hump for now. Today it's actually been one month since we lost Rudy. For some reason, it seems like it's been a lot longer then a month. Not sure why. The first week or so was really hard adjusting, but now we've gotten back into daily routines and things are better. Charlotte seems to be over her initial sadness and is not moping around the house as she was. It doesn't hurt that we have been showering her with a lot more attention..also, Chris' new work schedule means she has one of us at home just about all the time.

Our bankruptcy is finally over, praise the Lord. That went on entirely too long. But now we can begin rebuilding our savings and just getting our finances back into decent order. We have pared things back at home as much as can be done. Reduced our cell phone bill, paid off Chris' car with the money we did get back from the bankruptcy. We now officially have NO car payments! And that is just how it's going to be...forever if we can help it. We have a big stockpile of wood pellets for our stove in the back room. This way we can turn up the wood burner and turn down even more the house furnace. I'm even thinking of buying one of those oil filled space heaters for our bedroom. We kept the thermostat on 62 last year. Downstairs was decent with the wood burner..upstairs was pretty darn chilly. If we buy a little space heater for the bedroom, I'm thinking of even trying to lower the thermostat to 60. We did reduce our heating bill last year, I'm hoping we can reduce it even more. Someday we will have the extra money to invest in having insulation put into this old house.

Been keeping busy with both jobs and lots of events at church. Chris is working full-time at Family Express here in town and seems to enjoy it. I still get worried over things going on in our life, but I am having an easier time letting go of that worry and relying on God to help me through. In two weeks Chris will be going on his Emmaus walk. I truly hope he gets as much out of it as I did. I will be praying for him as well as all the other pilgrims who will be joining him that weekend.