Keep things in perspective.

We’ve had a rough couple of days at our house. It seems like the fates are conspiring to cost us money.

• We’ve had to hire someone to do some painting on the exterior of our house where the wood was starting to show through.
• We have some windows where the framing is leaking and causing some rot. That’ll set up back some coin.
• Our bathroom is leaking. We heed a new shower head, some plumbing repairs, and  – because of the leak – we’ll probably need some floor repairs
•  As November approaches, we’re finally ready to put on the heater. Guess what? It’s not working! I’m sure that will cost us something.
• On top of all that, a few family members have hit some rough patches. When you’re family (in whatever definition you choose that to be), you step in. So we have.

I was getting a little nervous about all the out-pouring of money.

And then, I realized that at least i don’t have a hurricane barreling down on my neighborhood and I remembered after Hurricane Katrina, we lost contact with a friend who was in its path. We were scared that something had happened to her. Several days later, she contacted us. She was okay. However, the roof of her house was gone. She said she was really blessed.

“Blessed,” I asked? “You just lost your house.”

“But I’m still here to tell you. And everyone is fine. I’m really lucky.”

It was a great lesson.

Sometimes, we’re better off than we realize – especially when we have others who watch over us.

(To our friends in the path of Hurricane Sandy – we’re thinking about you, sending our best wishes, and praying for you. Be well. Take care of yourselves.)
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