Christian Homekeeping

We are finally moved across the country from Washington state to Ohio and I absolutely love it here.  We had some warm days in the 80's but it is now back to "normal" for here and about 60 with lots of fall colors and leaves.  We bought our house without even seeing it in person and it is great and the neighborhood can't really be beat.  The neighborhood is actually way better than Google photos showed us.  We have walking trails, tree-lined streets, a fishing pond, basketball court, large playing field and playground and then we live across from the lake - all of these amenities are for residents only, so it is very private, serene and quiet.  We are in the country but only 5 miles from everything in the next town - shops, restaurants, etc.   People are extremely friendly and our neighbors are great and have already offered just about everything in the way of help.  Our next-door neighbor is actually the coach of a big homeschool sports program in the area that plays the public/private schools.  Homeschool is HUGE here!  My head is spinning from how many groups and homeschoolers there are - I've never seen so many in one city.

Our church is small but the people are again, very friendly.  We have only been to 2 services so far, but in both, God was very real and the preaching was right on target.  We had a wonderful surprise when we pulled in for our first service - they had a welcome to our family on the church sign!

Of course it hasn't all been roses - our transmission died on the interstate and we had to put another one in it to keep our car.  However, God had worked ways to get us all our money back that we spent for this move!  People kept giving us money and I added it up and it practically paid for the whole move.  Then, the car thing happened and we had the cash to pay it.  We hope to continue to be debt-free (besides the home) as God allows or really, as we believe in faith He will.

Moving here and everything about it involved FAITH.  The pay is drastically lower - $13K lower.  The cost of living isn't that much different as far as food goes, and housing is cheaper only if you buy.  We had never been here and didn't know anyone, other than meeting our current Pastor one time a year ago.  To leave all that we knew and come to a place where the pay is lower and having to start over in many ways (friends to church, etc.) - took FAITH.  My husband and I finally came to the place that we knew beyond any doubts this was God's direction. The doors opened like crazy as soon as my husband lifted up his hand to God one night and said, "God, I will do what you want and move!  Please provide the way for us!"  The next morning, this house was listed for sale in the town we wanted, at the price we needed and exactly what we needed inside and out of it.  Then, my husband's company in this new city listed his job - they were hurting for help!  They gladly took him.  The finances and means of moving poured in like a wave to where we felt drowned in God's provisions!  It was a continuous click, click, click of open doors all the way.  Whereas all we got in WA was closed door after closed door.  I THANK GOD FOR EVERY CLOSED DOOR!!  We may not understand it but sometimes God lets us see the "why" later on and I'm so thankful.

We are moving back east!  We have lived on the West coast for over 17 years and we are moving near my family next month.  We have a house in a great neighborhood with fishing pond, basketball court, playground, walking trails and we will be across from the lake!  It is amazing how it all happened.

My husband has been praying for years as to what God wanted him to do.  He did get a place but he didn't want to leave WA.  At one time we thought we were supposed to go through Seminary but my husband never got a call personally.  Thursday night at church my husband got a miracle!  Not only did God work this miracle in his life but also mine as Nate finally had NO doubts about what God wanted us to do!!  We shared all this with our Pastor and we are all rejoicing in the wonderful miracles God performed that night.

The next morning - the perfect house in the town we wanted came for sale and we got it!  Not only did we get it but more miracles just keep happening with the extremely low interest rate we locked in to a possible free move through the company.  I'm telling you - when you accept God's will - He starts moving!!

I had written this sad post about accepting our situation as I waited for years for my husband to make up his mind.  I had come to the place in my mind that I had given up with things ever changing.  That next night is when God brought these miracles!  To think - I was so depressed and down - and the blessing was just around the corner.  God is so good!!

My family is flipping out - they have always wanted us closer and other than parents, my family has never even met my son and he is almost 4!  They also haven't seen us in 6 years - so not only is this a big move to a new place, and a new (first) house but we will also have the biggest homecoming ever!!  I will be just 5 hours away from my family because we wanted to stay with our wonderful church organization and they have a great church where we are moving.  We know the Pastor and his wife and they are AMAZING people and are also so excited for our move.

I could go on with the details - how we already made connections with some people there, etc. - but I will not make this a really long post LOL!  Just remember, when it seems all is lost and you are ready to give up - THAT is when the blessing is just around the corner - hold on!!

I'm busy planning our move - to where, I can't say yet until hubby gives the go ahead but I can tell you that it is an unbelievable miracle of God!  Just how it has all come to fruition and God's hands have been all over it is simply welcoming to my soul as I've honestly not been myself for a long time now.  I've been in a bad place in my mind, emotions and even spiritually.  However, God is always on time and I'm feeling better and gaining more faith in His goodness everyday!  More to come soon!!

I did want to show you all some things I've been working on in the home as I'm able.  I got these chalkboard labels from Amazon for just a few dollars and then some white chalk markers and I labeled my son's baskets with his toys and then some of my spices and some bins in my laundry/linen cabinet.  I plan on doing ALL of my spices, herbs and pantry items.  I also want to use more in the homeschool storage area and more areas I'm sure will come up.  Here are some pics:

I was thinking about love this morning as that was the message that I received and the thought came to my mind of considering others.  It is very easy to say we love because we have wonderful happy feelings but it is another to have actions to prove that we love.  Something that is becoming more rare as the days go by in our world is consideration of others.  We have become a bunch of bulldogs fighting one another to establish our just causes that we fail to miss the spirit we have allowed to persuade us.

This is everywhere but it shouldn't be so amongst the born-again believers who have been changed but it is.  Let's consider the Word of God in Hebrews:

Hebrews 10:24

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

We are clearly instructed here (and other scriptures) to consider others but there is a surface definition that prevails that we soothe ourselves with as if we have done our part.  We think, "Well, I thought of them, that is enough."  Is it enough?

Clarke's commentary:

Let us diligently and attentively consider each other’s trials, difficulties, and weaknesses; feel for each other, and excite each other to an increase of love to God and man; and, as the proof of it, to be fruitful in good works. 

I usually love what Clarke has to say because he seems to say it so well!  It is like pulling out the liquid in a honeysuckle - it is good!  It is time for us to become attentive to other's trials, difficulties and weaknesses.  But we live in a day and age where we stomp them down to the ground even more instead of lending a hand to get up.  Are you considerate that your brother or sister is struggling with something?  Are you considerate that they have personal feelings they struggle with that you are only provoking them to harm?  Do your liberties destroy the brother next to you?  Do you even care that they do?

Our world is full of justifiers.  People will justify themselves but they won't consider another.  I dare to voice publicly that THIS is our greatest problem.  It isn't Satan that is entirely destroying us - it is ourselves and our lack of consideration for others that is destroying us from the inside out.  Until we face the truth and ourselves - we will only be a tool to cause more people to stumble and fall.

Matthew Henry's Commentary:

Christians ought to have a tender consideration and concern for one another; they should affectionately consider what their several wants, weaknesses, and temptations are; and they should do this, not to reproach one another, to provoke one another not to anger, but to love and good works, calling upon themselves and one another to love God and Christ more, to love duty and holiness more, to love their brethren in Christ more, and to do all the good offices of Christian affection both to the bodies and the souls of each other. A good example given to others is the best and most effectual provocation to love and good works. 

Tender.  I think that could be the word of our time and our solution to all that is going on - being tenderhearted!  You want love - show me by your tenderness and your consideration for my trials, difficulties and weaknesses.  The world needs more tenderness and consideration.

Black lives and blue lives and all lives matter!  Homosexuals are still people with souls.  Have you considered their souls?  Or is it more important to police the world and beat them into our ways than letting the love of God, the tenderness and consideration, tear down their walls?  Prayer still works and staying sweet in your soul still works!

Consider others and think before you do things.  I have to do it all the time when I blog - I try and consider other people before I hit send.  Sometimes I hit send and then delete it later because I see that maybe I wasn't being considerate.  However, there are times where you just stand for what is right - because that is being considerate of someone's soul - saving them from hell verses rocking them asleep to hell.  But you have to decide what is what.

Paul was even willing to never eat meat again in consideration of a weaker brother!  It clearly says it is a sin against Christ to wound a weak brother's conscience:

1 Corinthians 8:12-13

But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. 

There are some people who eat only organic - would you laugh at them and make them eat non-organic at your house?  Or would you rather consider them and their convictions and serve them something that wouldn't offend them?

The Bible teaches us clearly to consider one another in many ways.  Think of this in everything you do - we must be so careful because we have to stand before God one day and give an account of our lives and actions.

Something has seriously changed my life.  I didn't realize it would so much but since I got my Instant Pot, I have hardly even touched my stove!  This has been what I've been waiting on all my life - I know that sounds out there but I'm for real!  I make NO commission and as you all know, I don't even advertise on my blog or allow pay for anything.  You can take my word for it - the Instant Pot is amazing and I think everyone should own one.

Some Christians repeat phrases and sayings without really thinking about them.  Then, some also think about them and still say them!  Let's review some of these illogical conclusions people come up with and expose them for what they are - myths.

The old phrase about renting is that you are throwing your money away but how come some people that rent have way more money and assets than those that have a mortgage or even own their home?  We recently set out to buy a home because we really wanted something to show for our money every month.  However, as I really thought about it, if we just stay where we are, we will save so much money that in 10 years, we will have the same amount the house cost but in CASH.  Paying on that mortgage for 10 years, we wouldn't even break half-way to having that.  If anything, when I looked at our closing disclosures for the mortgage - we were paying $172,000 in interest over 30 years for that house!  If we just waited 10 years and buy it with cash - we will save ourselves NOT JUST the $172K in interest but the next 20 years in NO payments.

I don't know what all the hoopla is about when a man says he is a woman and puts on a dress and long hair and then a "Christian" woman in her pants and short hair say that is not normal.  I hate to be the one to fill you in honey but you are cross dressing too!  At least the transgender man/woman knows how a woman should dress.  A transgender woman that says she is a man - wears pants and cuts her hair short.  They aren't confused on the proper look of the sexes but some "Christians" have been for quite some time.

I'm so glad that things are getting this way because it will show us how cross-dressing is wrong and always has been.  Have you seen a gender neutral bathroom sign?  It still has a man in pants and a woman in a skirt - there is a still a difference.  You can't judge transgender people when you yourself are dressing like the opposite gender.  No wonder the world thinks we are a bunch of hypocrites!  God's abominations haven't changed - cross-dressing is STILL abominable to our Creator!

Deut. 22:5

The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God.

The Geneva Bible's notes on this verse:

For that alters the order of nature, and shows that you despise God.

Matthew Henry's thoughts:

If we would prove ourselves to be God's people, we must have respect to his will and to his glory, and not to the vain fashions of the world. Even in putting on our garments, as in eating or in drinking, all must be done with a serious regard to preserve our own and others' purity in heart and actions. Our eye should be single, our heart simple, and our behaviour all of a piece.

Some so-called Christians have brought shame and reproach to the gospel by allowing the world to come in to all facets of their churches.  Proclaiming Christ while looking, acting, thinking, talking and being like the world - you aren't fooling anyone, I know Satan isn't fooled.  The Bible has told us in many areas to NOT BE DECEIVED - there will be those that will tell you everything is ok.  There will be those that say dress doesn't matter.  There will be those that say you don't have to follow the Bible - once saved, always saved, no matter if you sleep with everyone in town, show your body, lie, cheat, steal and skip church altogether.  Wow, sounds like a religion made by the devil himself as it goes against God's Word.  God clearly said such and such would not inherit the Kingdom of God - yet Billy Bob Joe down the street will tell you as long as you prayed that prayer, it don't matter if you wear daisy dukes and paint your face, your ready to go.  Are you really THAT stupid!?  I guess when you want to sin bad enough, you will believe anything and find any church to tell you exactly what you want to hear.

What is the first thing that a lot of women who leave the truth do?  They put on those pants and cut their hair and paint their faces.  It is to make them more like Christ right?  Or is rather to make them more like the world?  I think you know which one.  It serves no purpose in God - it is all carnal, fleshly and serves vanity and pride and selfishness.  Then, you get people patting them on back for sharing their new, sinful, worldly selves on Facebook - you know why?  Because they want it too and they rejoice in others being licentious.

It is time to look like a woman ladies - give the men their pants and hair back and wear the glory (long hair) that nature itself (of course God) has already taught us is right.  It is time to self-identify as a real woman.  Otherwise, maybe you should be using the men's restroom, p.s. it's the sign with the pants on.

After I wrote this post, a news story came up the following day about this very topic.  Watch the video here: http://www.christianhomekeeping.com/2016/05/you-dress-like-man.html

The tulips started blooming the week after Easter Sunday and they are so beautiful to look at, I wonder why I've never had any before!  I love the yellow ones as yellow is my favorite color and there is an even an orange one.  I also noticed today one that was yellow and red, so pretty!  They aren't even all bloomed yet.  I love how they make me smile in the morning when I open the curtains - the beauty of God's creation can take your breath away!

My friend had some cute star string lights draped across her headboard on her bed and I was in love and set out to find some to match my decor.  I found these beautiful metal silver stars with a brown cord at Bed Bath & Beyond for $12 and I love it!!

I've been cooking a lot of recipes from one of my anti-inflammatory diet cookbooks and here is a recent one the whole family loved:

I was reading over some things by A. Philip Brown II and this was so amazing I had to share.  I don't know who this man is, nor therefore do I agree with everything he writes, but he has some good stuff and this was most especially good.

Holiness is both a negative and positive principle in relation to the Body of Christ. There is no true unity, biblical unity, that does not have truth as its center and holiness at its gates. Holiness separates and it unites.

Separation
I. From the World
II. From False Teachers and Factitious Men
III. From Disobedient Brethren

Is it not interesting that what those who emphasize unity decry the most–separation– is the very means by which Scripture says unity is to be preserved?

So if we don't separate as God instructs from these things (world, false teachers, disobedient brethren) - we are therefore, in essence, destroying the purity of the gospel and the Body of Christ and the unity and protection of the saints and ultimately are partakers in the disobedient brethren's demise for eternity because we deny him the shame, for which his sin should bear to draw him to repentance!  You can become the very reason someone doesn't return to God because you don't let them feel the sting of shame for their sin.

This is why those that don't want holiness do all 3 of the things that holiness requires separation from!  They UNITE with the world.  They UNITE with the false teachers.  They UNITE with the disobedient brethren.  They do the opposite of what true holiness does and thereby, they reveal they are not of God.  So think about that the next time someone you know gets a stink about separation - they are looking to unite back with what they were once separate from!  It won't be long they will show their true desires, which is to be unholy.

Our society began the degradation of men in the name of women's rights.  Under the guise of liberating the woman and being "free" to have a career, they skillfully made men obsolete and only to be used to help the woman gain whatever it was she wanted.  Now, we are left with a culture that came from these Godless women.  A culture that hates children.  A culture that thinks it is a WOMAN'S right to kill her baby and thus, a culture that says murder is a right - but only for women, because if the other half of the baby's DNA wanted to kill the baby, that would go against a woman's right.  We currently have a woman of this mindset running to be President, she is on a mission to have that final stomping ground over her husband, she must conquer him at all costs and she will be, basically already is, the virago queen of feminists everywhere.  However, she will never be satisfied, though she trample over man and reaches the top, because she was made to be what God intended and seeking after the opposite is a endless endeavor.

Is it is any wonder that we have a society full of fornication, adultery, pedophilia, gender-confusion, homosexuality and all other manner of perversions?  No, it was and still is something that originated from a woman.  Men have become the laughingstock of the entertainment of our society.  They are constantly ridiculed, made a spectacle of and demeaned to be lower then women.  Are men ok with this?  They seem to be because I don't see a men's rights movement coming in the future.  They are deadly silenced by the mighty woman.

What will it take to bring the respect back to men?  It will take women returning to ladies for men to return to gentlemen.  The power is still in the hand of the woman because men have proven to be weak by allowing women to rise to where they are now.  I'm not saying women should be beneath men - although these women seem to think it is ok for men to be there - but I'm saying they should be who God made them to be; man's help meet.

I have to be careful that in my own marriage and dealings with other men that I don't allow the degradation-mentality to infiltrate my thoughts and words.  It is difficult to grow up in a society that drills it into you in every aspect of your life from public schooling to music and movies.  I've had to eradicate a lot of junk that was fed into me that I didn't even realize the spirit behind it as a growing child and then a woman.  Putting God's Word into our minds and constantly renewing our minds through it is a big factor in this purging process.  However, not allowing certain messages through media to enter our thoughts is also important.  We are truly in the world but we are not to be of it.

The silent women that do follow God's Word and are the Biblical model of a woman, wife and mother need to arise and make their presence known if we are ever going to win back the minds of women.  So many older women are realizing they bought into the lie.  As they sit lonely, unmarried by choice and childless by choice, it is too late for them and there are no do-overs.  They are realizing that the corporate career is not so fulfilling as they once thought and won't be there holding their hand at death's door.  These are the women that are starting to voice their mistakes and warn the younger generation to not chase after careers by forsaking motherhood and the family.  It is time the world listens and it is time to start a new revolution, that of returning home.

I was looking back at my word for last year and it was "Adapt" because I was pregnant and expecting a new baby in 2015.  Not only did I lose that baby but 2015 was the most painful, debilitating year of my life.  I still can't tell of all I went through because my body actually relives it as I even THINK on it, I start feeling the pain as if I'm there again.  I felt as though I was broken in pieces and hit the bottom and then the bottom fell out!  I felt ground to powder - I felt forsaken by God but I know that is not true but in the midst of it, I wasn't so sure.

I began to think on what my word for 2016 would be.  I knew it was going to do something with recovery as I'm still recovering and it is a long road.  I prayed and the word came - REBUILD!  I started shouting actually because I felt the Holy Spirit so strong - this is the year that not only I, but our family, rebuilds all that has been broken down!  We are so broken on so many levels that the only thing to do is either die, spiritually speaking, or rebuild what Satan and hardship have destroyed.

I'm rebuilding my body, mind and soul!  I'm going to strive to rebuild the structure of our home, my children and I believe my husband is also on board to rebuild in his own life.  This year was a test - would we still continue for God despite the infirmities, despite the losses, despite the friends that walked away...?  Satan - I WILL continue!  

I get Paul now - I glory in my infirmities!  I'm thankful that God allowed what I went through this year.  It made me a better person and it made me stronger.  It showed me things that I needed to let God burn off in my life.  Truly when we are weak, we are strong if we let God have His perfect way.  I pray that God will help me as I endeavor to make this year one of rebuilding.

My theme song for the year is one called, Building Up the Wall, and it is best sung by the Ambassador Youth Choir, but I couldn't find it online, so provided the words:

Chorus:

I’m building up the wall, and I won’t come down
I’m building up the wall, and I won’t come down
I’m building up the wall, and I won’t come do - own
Building up the wall and I won’t come down

Verse I:

The walls of Jerusalem were broken down to the ground in shame
But Nehemiah had a heart to rebuild them up again
And when the enemy came to mock, Nehemiah stood his grou - nd
He said, "I'm building up this wall, and I won't come down"

Verse II:

The devil he dropped by today, just to have a little chat with me
He said “Son, you’re workin’ way too hard! Come on down and rest your feet!”
Well I didn’t even stop to take the time to turn arou - nd
Because I’m building up the wall and I won’t come down

Verse III:

The world is lookin’ on; they just shake their heads and say
“That wall’s way to high! You don’t have to live that way!”
My answer is still the same, and it will never, ever cha - ange,
Because I’m building up the wall and I won’t come down

The year of pain, desperation, hitting rock bottom... that was 2015.  But it was the also the year that I grew closer to God, trusted Him like never before, had to allow others to help me and realized how judgmental I had been in so many ways.  Ouch!  What a painful, yet needed experience this past year was!  It was the year I started getting back the "old Bev" - not the sinful one but the one that was strong and able to stand up for herself and say NO when needed.  Not sure how I lost her but she is back.

Sure, this past year was full of losses - my baby and my uterus - but it was also a year of miracles.  As a wise older woman told my husband; it was the year your wife didn't die!  Yes - instead of saying this was the year that I lost my baby, that I lost my uterus, that I developed numerous health issues and believed I was dying........It was the year I did NOT die, though Heaven would have been nice a bit early but my husband is thankful it wasn't my time!

I'm still having so many health problems but I still believe that God knows all about it and He ALLOWED these things to happen for my good.  Above all, I must make it to Heaven.  Above all, my family must make it to Heaven.  So many friends have quit - they stopped!  They went back to the world, they resurrected their dead, sinful self and sadly, they are dying and going to hell but I chose not to be one of them!  It's still You and me Jesus!!

I thought I was done with this blog and closed it down earlier this year but decided to reopen it and see what happens.

Here are my most memorable posts of 2015:

• 5th Baby Awaiting Us In Heaven
• Thoughts On My Miscarriage
• I'll Never Be the Same
• Living On One Income - Full Series
• Robbing God, His House & His Pastors
• God Created Family

We purchased a TV, not cable or anything, but an actual TV monitor, along with the Amazon FireTV and a TV stand.  I don't even like the word TV - and some of you may remember why in posts from year's past about how the TV was my enemy as a child, at least in my mind.  We didn't have one until I was 9 years old and it took away my parent's attention and my sister's and it caused a host of other things.  It was the enemy.

So, when I sat and reasoned what was different from having a "TV" screen that was 43 inches from our Kindle Fire - I couldn't come up with much difference, other than the obvious size.  It wasn't like we were getting cable television or even going to watch bad things.  I couldn't even press the button to purchase the thing, I had my daughter press it.  From that moment on, even when it was here, I felt horrible.  I would wake up in the morning and see it and it would turn my stomach.  I couldn't stand having the thing in the house.  I did like watching our history videos on WWI and YouTube channels I like but there was just something about it that bothered me.

I figured out it had to probably do with my past experience and I was just going to work that out myself and let my family enjoy the big screen's benefits.  However, I didn't like that it caught my daughter's attention so much to where that is all she wanted to do or look forward to doing was playing games on there.  My husband doesn't even watch movies, so he wasn't using it.  I finally decided to just keep the thing and not let my personal issues get rid of it. 

That is when my husband said, "I don't want the thing in the house."  He couldn't even stand to say the word, "TV" either.  When I drilled him about it, he said that greater men than him have fallen to this thing and sinned and he didn't want to sin.  He didn't feel like he would sin with it but he didn't want that door there.  My heart sank - wow!  It was then I realized that it wasn't just my issues with my past but my husband also realized the potential of this beast and so we sent it back.

He had already put together the "TV" stand and didn't want to return it, so I was wondering what in the world we were going to do with it, probably sell it.  Then, I saw this space between our bookshelves in the dining/homeschool room and I asked my husband to measure it and wouldn't you know, it fit perfectly!  It makes a great little window seat for my toddler, as it holds 90 pounds and it is great storage for his learning toys.

Yesterday, I took pics of my house and how horrible it was because I had planned to blog about living with chronic illness.  I was going to show the reality of it all and how my house has been looking for a long time because I've been physically unable to clean, pick up, etc.  I woke up this morning and felt good - which is not normal LOL!  I ended up, along with my husband and daughter, being able to do a clean up and I was amazed at how much we got done and so I decided to take some after photos!

I will start with the living room - things everywhere and toys as usual and the after after my daughter vacuumed and we all picked up and folded the throws.  Yes, I'm aware our ADT yard sign is IN the house, we hope to eventually get it in the yard.

The President of a Christian University wrote this to the University's students and I'm sharing some of the quotes but go read the whole thing - it is that good!!

This past week, I actually had a student come forward after a university chapel service and complain because he felt “victimized” by a sermon on the topic of 1 Corinthians 13. It appears that this young scholar felt offended because a homily on love made him feel bad for not showing love! In his mind, the speaker was wrong for making him, and his peers, feel uncomfortable.

I’m not making this up. Our culture has actually taught our kids to be this self-absorbed and narcissistic! Any time their feelings are hurt, they are the victims! Anyone who dares challenge them and, thus, makes them “feel bad” about themselves, is a “hater,” a “bigot,” an “oppressor,” and a “victimizer.”

.........Oklahoma Wesleyan is not a “safe place”, but rather, a place to learn: to learn that life isn’t about you, but about others; that the bad feeling you have while listening to a sermon is called guilt; that the way to address it is to repent of everything that’s wrong with you rather than blame others for everything that’s wrong with them. This is a place where you will quickly learn that you need to grow up!

http://www.okwu.edu/blog/2015/11/this-is-not-a-day-care-its-a-university/

Who would have thought I would have gotten a blog post from a menopause video but I did.  No, I'm not in menopause but I'm preparing for the future so I can do it in the most natural way.  I found some interesting information from history that I had no idea about it and so far, everyone I've shared it with had no idea either.  Menopause is actually a modern problem because up until the 1800's, women's life expectancy's didn't go past age 50!

In Ancient Rome, women normally only lived until age 25!  In Renaissance times, most women rarely lived past age 35!  By the Victorian era, they were living till age 45 and it wasn't until the beginning of the 1800's that they lived until 50!  Today, it is around age 80 that we can expect to live on average as women.  WOW!

Here is a chart showing average life expectancy for men and women from the 1850's to 2000 showing how much longer we live now:

If it had not been for God and the lessons we learned the hard way, I'm not so sure we would have done what it was going to take to make it through the past couple of years financially.  Most of you remember our story that I blogged about in, Our Financial Story, and how we realized that health insurance was a must.  We went on to pay off debt, insure ourselves and plan for future crisis's.  Thanks to that planning, we have spent the past few years being able to pay off all medical bills through the numerous surgeries I've had and ER visits, etc.  We don't have to be covered in piles of debt anymore!  Preparation really does spare you the extra burden on top of a health crisis!

This week, I will be paying our last medical bill for the year.  It was a rough year with 2 surgeries and a surgical procedure, many ER visits, CT scans, ultrasounds and an MRI - along with all the doctor visits and more ahead the next few months.  However, we reached our out-of-pocket maximum and will have no more bills the rest of the year and will have paid all we owed already.  What a difference planning for crisis makes!

We haven't used a credit card in 6 years and it has almost been 5 years since we became debt-free.  I'm a number-cruncher and love to do it and I love seeing how things can be removed as financial stressors, if we just plan for it.  God allowed us to go through hard things to really cement these lessons in our minds.  God knew what was ahead with my health in the coming years and thank God I listened and learned the lessons beforehand.

What are some things that could happen to any of us that we must prepare for?

1. Health Crisis - Insure your family with medical insurance and make sure you have that year's out-of-pocket maximum in your reach with an HSA or savings.  If you can't have the full amount, at least have the deductible.
2. Job Loss - Have an emergency fund of your expenses for 3-6 months worth in your savings in case of a job loss.  That way, you can go on living, pay your bills, ease your worries and it will give your husband time to find the right job.
3. Disability - This could fall under health as well but make sure you prepare in the event that your husband becomes disabled and can no longer work.  Have long-term disability insurance up to at least 55-65% of income along with a good emergency fund.
4. Death - Have life insurance on both spouses and all children in the event of death to pay funeral costs.  Insure the husband's life at a higher level to cover lost income and even possibly the wife to cover childcare in the event of your death.
5. Auto Crisis - Auto accidents happen and autos break down - make sure you have car insurance and include rental car coverage if needed.  We had our car stolen in Alaska and thanks to our car insurance, we got money to cover the cost of the vehicle's damage (which was totaled) and put towards a new vehicle.  Also having a fund set aside towards the purchase of a vehicle once you know yours is nearing its end.
6. Home Crisis - Insure your property and home or have renter's insurance if you rent to cover your possessions in the event of devastation.  Also having a home security system will benefit you from burglaries or even protect your family from harm as the alarm will give you time to retrieve a weapon and protect your family.

Doing these things is not only wise, it will spare you a lot of extra heartache and burdens!