Hurst Family News

Sunshine: that dries the laundry, soothes the soul and brings with it hope of brighter days and longer hours.   Children who still want me to hold them and read with them and enjoy life with them.  We had some "Mommy time" in the last weeks spent painting and creating and enjoying.  It was lovely.  My baby who is still ok with being called my baby, despite his intense need for independence.   A dear sweetheart who spontaneously tells me often that I'm wonderful.  Music: singing with the church choir speaks so deeply to me and I am grateful for our great director who gives countless hours and challenges us with music that is amazing and difficult.   Color: to be blind would be an awful loss in my mind.  A month that brings family and celebrations of milestones.   When I was having a difficult time with homesickness working 2000 miles from home, a dear friend told me to count my blessings, find 3 things every day to be grateful ...

Well Hello Wednesday. Remember back in February and April when I mentioned finances?  Yeah me either.  Well we're back in the saddle again.  Did up a new budget with the new income.  I'd like to say it's exciting to see exactly where the money is going... but... how is it possible that it still feels like we don't have much?  If rent got bumped up to $850 a month we could manage--- but just barely.  Apparently that's what housing costs around here.  Which is ridonkulous if you ask me.  So we're looking at different options: renting vs buying.  And when I say buying I mean cheapo- fix it up type- so we can get this debt out of the way and pay less than we would in rent.  Today just may be one of those days but I'm kind of hating money and bills and all things grown-up. In other news: made it to the gym today.  And now I'm thoroughly wiped out for the remainder of the day.  So I wonder--- is it worth getting up extra early (5...

Money Update: Today I paid the last of our medical bills. Phew. What a blessing and relief it is to not have that hanging over our heads. Medical Bills you ask?  Well back in December Sean went to the ER with chest pains.  Life was crazy at the time.  Sean's former platoon  Sargent  was killed in Afghanistan, we were in limbo with a lot of decisions and the holidays kind of stressed us all out. He's had these pains before but never this bad.  Ran a gagillion tests.  Nothing.  They ruled OUT a heart attack but we still don't know what it was- other than a smidge of a financial crisis.  You see we are part of the population that doesn't have health insurance (don't judge).  We make too much for Sean to qualify for Medicaid and too little to afford much else.  (Though in the near future we will be shopping around.) So one trip to the ER left us with a hefty $4500 bill. (Or really a bunch of little bills totaling...