tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52552029675931014592024-03-05T23:35:53.085-06:00not the last to know{what I know, so you're not the last to know}beKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01668373232454676900noreply@blogger.comBlogger325125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255202967593101459.post-15814218232608171632020-03-09T09:58:00.004-05:002020-03-09T10:44:22.649-05:00Lady D<span style="background: none; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">This popped up in my journal entry for 2 years ago. I’m sure I sent it to my dear friend, but I couldn’t find a way to reshare it so I’m reviving the old blog to send her a link.</span><br />
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<span style="background: none; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">When I was 5 and in kindergarten, I met this girl. She was one of my classmates and also a neighbor of a boy in our class. That’s about all I remember of her from that year. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span> </blockquote>
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<span style="background: none; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">When I was 13, I met her again because she came back to our school. She was taller than me and she was fun and adventurous! I had spent the majority of elementary school being the tallest girl, so her being taller made me feel so much better about fitting in with my classmates. The other 2 the things (fun and adventurous) I would not have said about myself so I was especially glad to know such a person! </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span> </blockquote>
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<span style="background: none; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">We seemed to always have things to laugh about and with her there by my side, she made junior high so much better. She was warm and caring and always had an encouraging word for me. Her kind words spoke to my soul. As a poet and good writer herself, it was through her influence I chose “writer” that year when we had to pick a future occupation. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span> </blockquote>
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<span style="background: none; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">She had a huge crush on an older boy, and I was always amazed at how openly she discussed said crush. I would hardly whisper the name of the boy I liked and here she was writing poems and letters about hers. The hilarious stories we made up about the two of them were pretty epic! Those were some fun times!! #pickles </span> </blockquote>
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<span style="background: none; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">We went to high school together and our friendship grew. Even when I was gone for sophomore year, our friendship continued through letters. I was glad to come back for our junior and senior years. Those years solidified our sweet friendship - for life. I have fond memories of our senior trip. Exploring new places with friends is something I cherish. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span> </blockquote>
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<span style="background: none; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">College had us going off to pursue different things at different places but we still wrote letters and occasionally called (neither of us are phone people). Now even with the twists and turns of life, we have manage to deepen our friendship. Miles separate us today, but our friendship remains even after 37 years. I believe we’ll still say that after another 37 years! </span> </blockquote>
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<span style="background: none; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I love you, Danna Dear! Happy birthday!</span></blockquote>
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beKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01668373232454676900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255202967593101459.post-79010581415623981742015-01-01T13:21:00.002-06:002015-01-01T13:21:46.808-06:00{10-Day Do Over Challenge}New year's resolutions can be tough to keep. This year I'm changing it up a bit and approaching my usual list of yearly goals differently by participating in a 10-day challenge hosted by <a href="http://acuff.me/10ddoc/">Jon Acuff</a>. I also combined the first day's assignment with coming up with <a href="http://oneword365.com/">one word for the year</a>.<br />
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Here's the first day's assignment:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxFObU4hKRT3atFaho5IH6nLi5L2c_xiMYgt6YkVK7l4TziWNI1UsojWp0cgfQrYNNxaaua0nfXfh7Qxooj9WY0tgDf8wtn2UEK8KXXq7b4unorcJ73q38OsQ7iuQNypeWLvn_Lm_0Ks/s1600/2015+Connect.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxFObU4hKRT3atFaho5IH6nLi5L2c_xiMYgt6YkVK7l4TziWNI1UsojWp0cgfQrYNNxaaua0nfXfh7Qxooj9WY0tgDf8wtn2UEK8KXXq7b4unorcJ73q38OsQ7iuQNypeWLvn_Lm_0Ks/s1600/2015+Connect.png" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />beKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01668373232454676900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255202967593101459.post-68211810790539792892014-06-12T22:00:00.000-05:002014-06-13T14:45:28.027-05:00{Gotcha Day!} & Now Introducing......the Four Forman Brothers:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNd3CgA2uJeiTsvSRjACdhDqtUdpJI9xcodYhyDsX-gwKzpKeV7ewJRqUY6ebyVS4R5on6nQW7A-edyr9afnTL3kkNRv1ezQmSdjYAwVfig0cfSDXfmuZN_RTfbe-jbUxtlkh7vCMNx5Q/s1600/20140214_174807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNd3CgA2uJeiTsvSRjACdhDqtUdpJI9xcodYhyDsX-gwKzpKeV7ewJRqUY6ebyVS4R5on6nQW7A-edyr9afnTL3kkNRv1ezQmSdjYAwVfig0cfSDXfmuZN_RTfbe-jbUxtlkh7vCMNx5Q/s1600/20140214_174807.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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So glad to be celebrating this special day. I've been waiting and waiting to share these little faces and names!<br />
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Elijah John (5), Vincent Sheldon (3), Isaiah Frenzy (2), Joshua Isaac (9 months)</h2>
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Jess and Luke first brought home Elijah, Vincent & Isaiah two years ago in March 2012. Isaiah was one week and a few days old. Isaiah birth name was Frenzy, but with the adoption came his name change.<br />
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We have celebrated several birthdays and all kinds of other special days, but today's celebration TAKES THE CAKE!<br />
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Welcome to your forever family, Forman brothers!<br />
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<br />beKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01668373232454676900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255202967593101459.post-44367483710331797562014-06-10T06:00:00.000-05:002014-06-10T06:00:05.882-05:00{52-Week Challenge} Update & Weekly Mission<div class="MsoNormal">
<h3>
Weekly Mission</h3>
You may recall that I'm participating in the <a href="http://notthelasttoknow.blogspot.com/2014/01/we-savers-january-question.html">52-Week Challenge</a> to <b>create a habit of saving money</b>. Occasionally the participants receive an email with an extra challenge. One week the challenge was to read this <a href="http://www.52weekmoneychallenge.net/things-that-make-you-wealthy/">post</a> and then list 3-5 things that make me wealthy besides money. </div>
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Here's what I came up with for my wealth list:</div>
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<ol>
<li>Jesus</li>
<li>Family, Church & Friends</li>
<li>Health</li>
<li>Job</li>
<li>Writing</li>
</ol>
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I'm very thankful to God for the <i>wealth </i>He has provided me. I don't think I say, "Thank you, God," enough though. I think the next challenge should be to thank God more!<br />
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<h3>
52-Week Update</h3>
So far I've been able to keep up with the weekly deposits of the 52-Week Challenge. I believe this challenge has promoted a culture of saving in my daily life, and I'm grateful. Not only do I have a savings account for this challenge, but I also have two other savings accounts (funds) with monthly contributions. Each month a set amount is automatically deposited into these funds - my travel fund and my miscellaneous/car repair fund.<br />
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Side note: I use <a href="https://r.capitalone360.com/DPVe5Kjhto">CapitalOne360</a> which is an easy-to-use online bank. They let you set up as many savings accounts/funds as you need! As I look to the future of my savings culture, I get excited about the possibility of additional savings accounts/funds. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Along with these savings accounts, I've been contributing to a Roth IRA account (also at <a href="https://r.capitalone360.com/DPVe5Kjhto">CapitalOne360</a>). My initial intention for the Roth account is for it to be my emergency fund with 6 months of expenses saved up. I opened the Roth at the end of 2013 with a small chunk from my year-end bonus which was a great start. Now automated monthly contributions are set with what I thought I could afford. My ultimate goal is to max out my contributions each year (<a href="http://www.irs.gov/Retirement-Plans/Plan-Participant,-Employee/Retirement-Topics-IRA-Contribution-Limits">$5,500</a> for 2014). $5,500 is a lot of money for a previous non-saver. As I'm now almost half-way through 2014 I am eager to reach this goal, but I realize the goal may have to be met through year-end bonus money. (<i>just keep swimming, just keep swimming</i> comes to mind...)</blockquote>
I know I haven't finished this year yet, but I plan to do the 52-week challenge next year, too!<br />
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<h3>
One More Thing</h3>
So awhile back I read about this rewards site called <a href="http://www.saveup.com/s/beflaming">SaveUp</a>. <span style="font-family: inherit;">SaveUp is a <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">program that rewards you for saving money and paying down debt</span> </span>(think Facebook meets Mint.com but with prizes!).<br />
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Well, I've been busy so I just signed up, but never add my accounts until a couple of weeks ago. And that's when I found out why I like the site - it encourages me to save! Just today it gave me a challenge to save $100 into my miscellaneous car fund. Wouldn't you know, I could actually accept that challenge and did so right away.<br />
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Now, I'm not sure that I'll spend a great deal of time on this site, but the few minutes I have spent are already worth it because it's encouraging me to save. Since "creating a culture of saving" seems to be my theme this year, it fits. Anyway, just wanted to mention the site here and if you want, give it a try! (Yes, I get points if you sign up with my link <a href="http://www.saveup.com/s/beflaming">www.saveup.com/s/beflaming</a>!)</div>
beKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01668373232454676900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255202967593101459.post-28980518266815216302014-06-04T06:00:00.000-05:002014-06-05T12:55:49.085-05:00{We, the Savers} March Post<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Remember January's <a href="http://notthelasttoknow.blogspot.com/2014/01/we-savers-january-question.html">We, the Savers'</a> post, when I won $100?! I was <a href="http://wethesavers.com/saver-blogger-contest-official-rules/">one of four</a> grand prize winners! I recently saw that my article was <a href="http://wethesavers.com/saver-bekahs-accepting-the-challenge-the-retirement-challenge/">posted</a> on the <a href="http://wethesavers.com/">official site</a>. They did a wee bit of editing, but it's generally the same...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I started to write the below post back in March, but never finished it. I took a few minutes to finalize it, but I guess it's a little bit late to submit. Enjoy!</span><br />
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<h2>
Let's time travel, Savers. What's saving & personal banking going to be like in 100 years?</h2>
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<a href="http://www.alt-market.com/images/stories/wilson-signing-the-federal-reserve-act.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.alt-market.com/images/stories/wilson-signing-the-federal-reserve-act.jpg" height="114" width="200" /></a>Thinking about 100 years in the future makes me think...<i>What was it like 100 years ago? I</i><i>n 2114 w</i><i>ill anyone care what banking was like in 2014?</i><br />
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When I Googled to do some research about 1914 the first thing that I found was that the Federal Reserve was created 100 years ago. I don't know much about the Federal Reserve or even 100 years ago. I do know 100 years ago they didn't have online banking or bill pay. Did they have free checking?<br />
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One <a href="https://www.wafedbank.com/node/66">banker</a> wrote about his grandfather who opened a bank in 1913: "He wanted to help people save money to purchase their first
home, send their kids to college, launch a small business or simply save for a
rainy day." 100 years later I think those are the same reasons people use a bank today, and I think that will be the same in another 100 years.<br />
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My grandpa was born in 1916 so he would have 100 in another two years. My grandpa passed away in 1995, but he was a saver. I wish he here now for me to ask him about banking back just 80 years ago when he was starting out. <i>When did you open your first bank account? When did you start your first savings account? How much did you open the account with? How big was your first paycheck? What was your biggest paycheck ever? When did you start saving for retirement? Would you do it anything different? Did you give my dad an allowance? </i><br />
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My grandparents weren't necessarily rich, but I always considered them wealthy for more reasons than just money. I'm very thankful for the Christian heritage they gave me. The values they taught to their children have been passed down to multiple generations.<br />
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Speaking of family...I'm looking forward to a family reunion in just a few weeks. Even though my grandparents are no longer with us, I look forward to getting together with my aunts, uncles, and 1st, 2nd and 3rd cousins! We're meeting up in Kansas City. It's going to be fun!<br />
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But back to the 100 years in the future topic...Looking forward 100 years is tough to do, but I don't think you can do it without looking backwards. Now looking back (and re-reading this post) I see it leaves me with more questions than answers: <i>What am I saving for? Or maybe, WHO am I saving for? What is my legacy?</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaDmUpNaWGjbUnOb4I1NRXekHzOieuZh_s-JVSrFEdqD_uylh_AQdk4pdKCRIi4TK10Mb3rKY8NzkIkkT15EqywzBtW-Ak9CVHEoYkVf_FWHo5c03sXRXiDr-c7_T9CdH5FXDQSFtMMUk/s1600/Bek+Christmas+Pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaDmUpNaWGjbUnOb4I1NRXekHzOieuZh_s-JVSrFEdqD_uylh_AQdk4pdKCRIi4TK10Mb3rKY8NzkIkkT15EqywzBtW-Ak9CVHEoYkVf_FWHo5c03sXRXiDr-c7_T9CdH5FXDQSFtMMUk/s1600/Bek+Christmas+Pic.jpg" height="149" width="200" /></a></div>
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<i>Bekah was born in Kansas, raised in Wisconsin, and lived three years on Guam. Her Midwest roots go deep though, since she has been a Minnesota resident for almost seven years. Bekah commits daily to serve God, to be healthy, and strives to be financially fit.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">This post was originally written in order to participate in CapitalOne 360s <a href="http://wethesavers.com/ready-to-be-the-next-we-the-savers-blogger/">WE the SAVERS'</a>s blog contest, but was never submitted.</span></div>
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beKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01668373232454676900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255202967593101459.post-14464809639522999282014-05-29T19:07:00.000-05:002014-05-29T19:32:12.659-05:00{Has Anyone Seen My Blog?}Well, hello, there!<br />
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It's been a while since I've been here, I guess. In fact, the last time I posted was just to <a href="http://notthelasttoknow.blogspot.com/2014/04/how-to-avoid-studying.html">avoid. studying</a>.<br />
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I'm at it again, avoiding studying, but this time it's because I truly need a break! Since my last post I have read Volume 1 and part of Volume 2 of the Series 7 books, attended a 6-day class, taken multiple chapter tests, and basically studied every. day. for the past 3 weeks. Only 6 more days until Test Day!<br />
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Today was an unusual day in that I was able to study most of the day at work (albeit interrupted with actual work). So when I got home I prepped some dinner, watched a bit of news, and decided to check in on the old blog.<br />
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A few times in the past couple of weeks I've been able, or rather, compelled, to get away from studying and take a few walks. My usual walk is the East Medicine Lake Park bike/walk path and it is the best. I'm always encouraged greatly after my walks there.<br />
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So during the walks, you'll be happy to know I've come up with many ideas for new posts. You have much to look forward to in the coming months! Lucky you. Also, the past month has included the Markgraf May <a href="http://notthelasttoknow.blogspot.com/2013/05/lilacs-in-bloom-happy-birthday-mo.html">birthday</a> <a href="http://notthelasttoknow.blogspot.com/2013/05/ethan-is-5-no-more-e4.html">week </a>and a kindergarten graduation. I have lots of picture posts I need to share.<br />
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Oh, and stay tuned for a lovely post, say mid-June, that you won't want to miss. I'm pleased to let you know that I get to introduce my <a href="http://notthelasttoknow.blogspot.com/2013/09/its-boy-new-addition-for-jess-luke.html">newest</a> nephews! My four <a href="http://notthelasttoknow.blogspot.com/2012/03/7-things-to-know_18.html">foster-nephews</a> will become my adopted-nephews in about two weeks!! This over 2-year journey has had lots of twists and turns, but is ending with a beginning.<br />
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And that folks, is about all I've got for now. It's back to studying for me. Until next time...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuO5b83Cobfud45rIYaVKhAx41UrccSb1jRf0YVBiCtUH9Vnknh1m_Oc925M7J0W_PZrTKG1PLXM2R3bfvE64ftKF_GYdYoBJ3iuQ0vVI9KGN5TnBG7gaOwA1Nn6AXRwSVFY3bE84aKZo/s1600/20140528_090848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuO5b83Cobfud45rIYaVKhAx41UrccSb1jRf0YVBiCtUH9Vnknh1m_Oc925M7J0W_PZrTKG1PLXM2R3bfvE64ftKF_GYdYoBJ3iuQ0vVI9KGN5TnBG7gaOwA1Nn6AXRwSVFY3bE84aKZo/s1600/20140528_090848.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_q2E6UvetGu8qTsOqUAHhftdSMbX3qnXCwGnZV8mgmXQCz4I4HROmvyBzxiuIPCdkK2SsWcIeyKwZaBD7rxFLz3gARsVopIDO3w0zUyK4jbI2pgzmDaLLpn7DZxmYqy2N_WguP61mckk/s1600/20140527_084005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_q2E6UvetGu8qTsOqUAHhftdSMbX3qnXCwGnZV8mgmXQCz4I4HROmvyBzxiuIPCdkK2SsWcIeyKwZaBD7rxFLz3gARsVopIDO3w0zUyK4jbI2pgzmDaLLpn7DZxmYqy2N_WguP61mckk/s1600/20140527_084005.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These lovely flowers have been gracing my desk at work since last week. <br />
A beautiful, thoughtful gift from a dear friend who lives far way. Thanks, Danna!</td></tr>
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<br />beKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01668373232454676900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255202967593101459.post-36100273746770828522014-04-27T21:52:00.000-05:002014-04-27T21:52:00.651-05:00{How to Avoid Studying}Remember this <a href="http://notthelasttoknow.blogspot.com/2014/01/employment-past-present-future.html">post</a> about my new position at work? May is almost here and that means I am running out of time to study for my first course (the first of my several Series tests). Sounds weird to prepare for a class, but the class is mostly just to prep me for the big test. This week I'll actually be scheduling the test for the end of May or first of June, so I have got to get cracking on the books!<br />
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But today, when I had plenty of time, what did I do?<br />
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<li>Write a blog post</li>
<li>Clean the bathroom - well, the sink and toilet anyway...</li>
<li>Do a load of laundry</li>
<li>Prepare steak salad for lunch with a side of cucumber salad</li>
<li>Make chili with any ingredients available in the freezer, fridge, or cupboard</li>
<li>Watch Sunday afternoon movies - PBS, anyone?</li>
<li>Bake never before made dessert to take to work - Jiffy Cherry Cobbler - hope they like it!</li>
<li>Post on Facebook about needing $25 to reach my goal for the <a href="http://www.notthelasttoknow.blogspot.com/2014/03/worthy-cause-5th-annual-mwc-walk.html">Walk</a> on Saturday</li>
<li>Wash dishes - taking my time to ensure proper scrubbing of pans...</li>
<li>Post on Facebook about reaching goal to raise $500 for the <a href="http://www.notthelasttoknow.blogspot.com/2014/03/worthy-cause-5th-annual-mwc-walk.html">Walk</a> on Saturday! Many thanks to my friends and family who helped me reach this goal. What a blessing!! I'm very thankful for those who chose to partner with me in helping the Metro Women's Center and the Amazing Grace Home.</li>
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Ok, now to buckle down for a little studying before I hit the hay...<br />
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Seriously. I've got to study!</div>
beKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01668373232454676900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255202967593101459.post-1817834922817870132014-04-17T06:00:00.000-05:002014-04-17T06:00:07.077-05:00{Throw Back Thursday} Island Style<div class="MsoNormal">
I found this letter to family and friends in my files and thought I would share on my blog. Remember while reading this that I was only 25, I had been living on Guam for almost three years, and it was pre-Facebook!<br />
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If I get a chance, I'll scan more pictures, but the koala will have to do for now.</div>
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April, 2001</div>
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G’Day Mate!<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is kind of a long narrative of my Australia trip, so I won’t be offended if you skim it!</div>
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The Harvest Christian Academy senior class, five chaperons, three children, and myself, all landed in Cairns, Australia at 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 5. After exchanging some money, we headed for the hotel to unpack. We were very glad the American dollar was doing well in Australia—our exchange rate was almost two Australian dollars for one American dollar! It was the best shopping sale ever…everything half off! <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Horseback riding was on the agenda for 8:15 a.m. on Friday, so we needed some sleep after our 4-½ hour flight. It had been almost 15 years since I had been on a horse, so I was a little hesitant about our morning ride. I relied on my mom’s good riding genes to get me through the day. As we entered the corral and the horses were being assigned to each of us, I realized I was not the only one who was nervous. Most of the senior girls had never been on a horse before, so this ride through the rain forest was going to be quite the exciting activity. My nerves were calmed as I saddled up with Eor, a quiet looking mount. Our two-hour rain forest ride did not go without mishap, as one of the girls was thrown from her horse as we headed into a slight trot. Because the horse had picked up speed, slight as it was, the girl, not being familiar with horses at all, was caught off guard and lost her balance.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYjBHPITV-crxwPd3eEnRMt88tlMaJRU8tTWOkBg07qQ_gY8XdEd4Xgr07J5C7byOMaW1xN_A1o5aD-2mVi41cZJH19VyVCNODri8_-1qKEhwBThmAm1WgVYQQDzxZbxmGce_OpIKAiM/s1600/Bekah+holding+Koala.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYjBHPITV-crxwPd3eEnRMt88tlMaJRU8tTWOkBg07qQ_gY8XdEd4Xgr07J5C7byOMaW1xN_A1o5aD-2mVi41cZJH19VyVCNODri8_-1qKEhwBThmAm1WgVYQQDzxZbxmGce_OpIKAiM/s1600/Bekah+holding+Koala.jpg" height="320" width="251" /></a>After our horseback riding and lunch, we went to an Australian zoo, called Wild World. Holding the Koala bear was a definite highlight. In order to hold the Koala, you had to pay $12.00 for a picture. It was worth it, though! We also got to feed and pet the kangaroos. Throughout the afternoon several animal shows/demonstrations took place: crocodiles, snakes, and tropical birds. Charle’, my co-worker, and her three children loved the zoo so much that they came back the next day!<br />
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Friday evening I went out to dinner with two of the group’s chaperons, Rebekah and Wanda, at Hog’s Breath. We had heard this restaurant was a local favorite. The steak was excellent!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Saturday, while the rest of the group went white water rafting and ATV driving, I spent the day shopping. I went to two malls. One of the malls was within walking distance, and the other I had to take a bus to get there. After I shopped until I dropped, I went out to Dundee’s Restaurant to try some kangaroo and crocodile, but chickened out and went with Macadamia Chicken.<o:p></o:p></div>
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On Sunday, we got up early to catch a boat to the Great Barrier Reef. Even though I am not a salt-water or snorkeling fan, I figured I couldn't miss this chance to see the Great Barrier Reef, right? As we headed out to sea, we enjoyed the view and the choppy ride. After a while, the crew of the large boat instructed us to go inside on the lower deck to listen to a safety lecture. We all went down and listened, and listened, and listened. The guy kept talking, and talking, and talking. Soon, however, I was not feeling so great anymore. He finally finished his safety talk and I headed for the outer deck. I did not get very far, though. I saw several other passengers with complimentary bags in their hands, and I knew that it was time that I get one of those…but it was too late for me. After a while I felt much better, but not 100%. Soon I knew I would need another complimentary bag from the helpful crew. The crew was standing by with glasses of water and encouraging words, but I just needed to be left a lone. The boat finally dropped anchor; it was time to snorkel! Everyone kept saying that if you just get in the water you should feel much better. So finally I geared up with a wet suit and all, and jumped in! Saw a few fish, but did not go far from the boat because the waves were too rough with my inexperience in snorkeling. <o:p></o:p></div>
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That evening we dressed up to have a small church service before heading to Tim’s Surf ‘n Turf for dinner. At the restaurant, many ordered the Surf ‘n Turf meal, but we could barely chisel through the steak (turf) and the meal only came with a few shrimp (surf). Our table had about three orders of chips (Australian name for French fries) for everyone to share. The menu did not say that the meal came with chips, so to our surprise, when the food arrived we had chips coming out our ears!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Monday morning: our last day in Australia. I woke up early, but not as early as those that went hot air ballooning (4:15 a.m!). Not having planned anything to do, I decided to rent a car and drive up the coast to see what I could see. Now, normally renting a car would not be a problem for me, but I was a little hesitant about driving on the left side of the road, and on the right sided of the vehicle! I finally convinced myself that I could do it and went to rent the car. Driving away in the very small car, I knew I was in for an exciting journey.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As I drove up Captain Cook Highway, I knew this scenic coastal drive was worth it! My drive took me about an hour north to Port Douglas, Queensland, a beautiful little tourist town, and then up a little farther to Mossman. On my return trip, I drove on an inland road that wound me through a mountainous area that was also very picturesque.<o:p></o:p></div>
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After returning the rental car, I went to pack as we were flying out that evening. After packing, we headed to a seafood buffet restaurant, called Charlie’s. Charlie’s was also a local favorite for seafood, and we agreed with their choice!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Australia was great! We arrived back on Guam on Tuesday, April 10 at 4:00 a.m. Thankfully, I had a week of Spring Break left to recover from our outback adventures.<o:p></o:p><br />
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BEKAH</div>
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beKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01668373232454676900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255202967593101459.post-45047926438176357872014-03-22T13:43:00.001-05:002014-03-22T13:43:29.206-05:00{Worthy Cause} 5th Annual MWC Walk<div style="text-align: center;">
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<img src="http://metrowomenscenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/5thannregthumb.jpg" height="66" width="400" /></div>
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It's that time of year! </h3>
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Will you help me raise money for <a href="http://metrowomenscenter.org/">Metro Women's Center</a>, again?! </div>
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You've been very generous the past <a href="http://notthelasttoknow.blogspot.com/search/label/MWC">5 years</a> (click link to read past blog posts). </div>
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I'm asking that you please reach into your pockets and hearts one more time to help this organization further their ministry to women in the Twin Cities area.<br />
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<b><span style="background-color: #6aa84f; color: white;">You can use the green <a href="http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/bekah-flaming/5th-annual-amazing-grace-walkbike">DONATE</a> button to the top/left.</span></b></div>
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If you're not able to give, please remember to pray for MWC's continued work and the upcoming Walk/Bike event on Saturday, May 3rd.<br />
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MWC prayer requests from this week's email update:</h4>
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<li>For attitudes of the heart to be overcome by God's
Word</li>
<li>For the Gospel to be shared with power and
boldness</li>
<li>For abortion-minded women to choose life</li>
<li>For future planning for the Center and Home</li>
<li>For housing options for women with new babies</li>
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<o:p></o:p>If you have a minute, take a look at their <a href="http://metrowomenscenter.org/">webpage</a> and check out the story and pictures of the <a href="http://metrowomenscenter.org/amazing-grace-maternity-home.html">Amazing Grace Home</a>.<br />
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If you want to participate in the walk/bike event, you can register <a href="http://www.firstgiving.com/MetroWomensCenter">here</a> or let me know you want to walk with me!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MWC Walks 2011-2013 <br />bummed there is no picture available for 2010 :/</td></tr>
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Thank you for your generosity and for your prayers! Come walk with me!</h3>
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beKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01668373232454676900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255202967593101459.post-31327800018172342202014-03-20T06:00:00.000-05:002014-03-20T06:00:00.216-05:00{Throw Back Thursday} Island Style<div class="MsoNormal">
I found this letter to family and friends in my files and thought I would share on my blog. Remember while reading this that I was only 25, I had been living on Guam for almost three years, and it was pre-Facebook!<br />
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Date: Tue, 01 May 2001 <o:p></o:p></div>
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Subject: PAIN and Blessings <o:p></o:p></div>
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Hi!<o:p></o:p></div>
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The subject is PAIN because for the last three days I've
been in terrible pain. Sunday morning I
was getting ready for church and went to pick up a shoe from the closet...You
remember the commercial "I've fallen and I can't get up!" I can now relate! As I went for the shoe, I was suddenly in
great pain, and I then I was on the floor.
Not sure what to do, and kind of scared, I somehow got to my bed. Realizing my deadbolt was locked (and knowing
my friends only had a key to the doorknob), I got up, slowly, of course, and
practically crawled to the door, then I got the phone, some ibuprofen, and
somehow managed to get back to my bed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I tried to reach someone by phone, but, of course, everyone
was at church by then. Cristin and
Brenda eventually called, 2 1/2 hours later, and took me to the doctor. Well, they took me to the waiting room where
I waited for 2 more hours. The doctor
gave me plenty of drugs and I went home to sleep. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I took Monday off and went to the chiropractor, twice. Today I'm back at work, but still in a lot of
pain. I've already been into the
chiropractor this morning and am headed there again this afternoon. The chiropractor said my hip is out of place
and my spine is crooked. I'll be going
in for treatments a couple of times a week for a while.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Funny thing is that Charle', my coworker woke up this
morning in pain, as well. She's headed
to the chiropractor right now. We're
really messed up here.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The blessing in all of this is that going to the
chiropractor is free! Dr. Miller is a
Christian and gives free treatments to those is full time Christian
work/missionaries. I'm so
thankful!! The regular doctor only cost
me $4 with my insurance, and the pain/spasm medicine was $6. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Hopefully I'll be healed by the end of this week! <o:p></o:p></div>
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BEKAH<o:p></o:p></div>
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beKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01668373232454676900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255202967593101459.post-24480806615817847322014-03-18T06:00:00.000-05:002014-03-17T13:09:56.067-05:00{A Year Ago} on Not the Last to Know<br />
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3711499960627407"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This day in </span><a href="http://notthelasttoknow.blogspot.com/search/label/1Year"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">{my}</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> history, plus pictures that I may not ever have posted.</span></b><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Happy Birthday, Dear, Dad!</span></em></div>
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2013</h3>
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2012</h3>
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<li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://notthelasttoknow.blogspot.com/2012/03/7-things-to-know_18.html">{7 Things to Know}</a></span></span></li>
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<b>2011</b></h3>
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<li><a href="http://notthelasttoknow.blogspot.com/2011/03/happy-60th-birthday-dad.html">Happy 60th Birthday, Dad!</a></li>
<li><a href="http://notthelasttoknow.blogspot.com/2011/03/what-happened-in-march-1951.html">What Happened March 1951?</a></li>
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beKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01668373232454676900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255202967593101459.post-77300792269793106402014-03-10T06:00:00.000-05:002014-03-10T06:00:00.961-05:00{A Year Ago} on Not the Last to Know<br />
This day in <a href="http://notthelasttoknow.blogspot.com/search/label/1Year">{my}</a> history, plus pictures that I may not have ever posted.<br />
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<b>2013</b></h3>
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<b>2012</b></h3>
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<li><a href="http://notthelasttoknow.blogspot.com/2012/03/springtime-in-minnesnowta.html">Springtime in MinneSnowta</a></li>
<li>Oh Life Post - Full day. Up early for Deo Rehearsal. Nice lunch with the
group. Dad brought bread mom made - yum. After rehearsal we met everyone at Jen’s
and said goodbye to mom and dad. Carsten and I then went and washed my car and
took a walk at Medicine Lake. We had a really nice time. At then end of the
hour long walk we made boats from a magazine I had in the car. We tried to
float the boats in a huge puddle but while we had fun making the boats we were
not successful in our floating efforts. I brought Carsten home, and I had a pancake
dinner with them. I came home and crashed. I think it reached 65 today...so
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<b><br />2011</b></h3>
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Work Fashion</div>
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<b>2010</b></h3>
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Kids' Choir - Listening to a Missionary during Missions Conference</div>
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beKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01668373232454676900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255202967593101459.post-22977235496847736622014-03-06T06:00:00.000-06:002014-03-06T06:00:00.181-06:00{Throw Back Thursday} Island StyleI found this letter to family and friends in my files and thought I would share on my blog. Remember while reading this that I was only 20-something, I was living on Guam, and it was pre-Facebook!<br />
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If I get a chance, I'll scan some pictures.<br />
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December ‘99<o:p></o:p></div>
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Dear Friends and Family, <o:p></o:p></div>
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Hafa Adai! My second Christmas on Guam—I can hardly believe it! Things at the office are winding down for a much-needed break. The school kids are extremely eager to get on with their Christmas Holiday. The teachers and staff are also ready for them to be well on their way! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>God’s Blessings Year Round<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>January</b>—Guam brought in ’99 with a big bang! The fireworks I saw—I should say felt—at Tumon Bay were very exciting! We had front row seats, right on the beach. The grand finale' was enough to give a not so hearty person a mild heart attack! People had said the fireworks were quite a show, but you had to feel it first hand to know what they meant. I also went with my good friends Patty, Brenda, and Cristin to a church family’s home for a Filipino New Year Celebration before the fireworks. The food was pretty normal, I guess, but maybe I'm just getting used to eating lumpia and pancit. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>February</b>—Jennifer came for a short visit towards the end of the month. We had a great time. I was able to show her around the island, and we also went parasailing, an exciting adventure we’d never tried before.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>March</b>—I had some work to catch up on because I took the afternoons off while Jen was here. Report cards came out and I was busy entering grades into the computer—with 550 kids in grades 3-8, each student taking 7+ different subjects, that’s almost 4,000 grades I had to enter in a few short days!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>April</b>—Spring break came and went with not much excitement—a few days at the beach here and there. Our church choir and drama put on a semi-big production for our Easter cantata. The church platform was given a face-lift and a huge platform with steps leading up to the baptismal was added to reenact the Easter story.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>May</b>—Does the school year ever end? This was a question we often asked ourselves during the month. The kids are eager to be gone and the staff definitely felt the same! I spent most of my time working on final exam schedules, signs for graduation, book inserts for a gift that the principal was working on, field day ribbons, student awards, entering more grades, etc. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>June</b>—On my own? June 6th my roommate, Christa, left me to spend some family time at home before she got married on July 10th. I did come to enjoy the quietness that I had to adjust to, but I don’t think it’s a life-long calling. June was also a slow time at work. With teachers and students gone, there’s not much to do exept work on the files.<br />
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->July</b>—Stateside visit at last! After a very, very long flight from Guam to Honolulu to Houston to Chicago, I spent my first week of vacation in Wisconsin and Illinois. Jennifer picked me up at O’Hare and the next day I headed to Illinois, for my roommate’s big day. We got them married off and headed to Puerto Rico. That Monday, Jen, Jess, Anna, and I started our trek to our new house in McPherson, KS. I enjoyed the Flaming Family Reunion that weekend and also had a nice time just being at home.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>August</b>—Back in the saddle again. August brought me a new roommate and Harvest also gained a few new teachers and staff members. My new roommate is Missi Evans, a fourth grade teacher here at Harvest for over 6 years.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>September</b>—School is in session once again and I spent a lot of time getting to know the kids’ names. I give the students frequent flyer miles when I know their first and last name and who their teacher is—that means they've been tardy way too many times!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>October</b>—I think everyone here got one kind of virus or another, anything from the flu to the chicken pox. Thankfully, I got by with only a sinus infection. A typical week for me was usually quite full.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Monday and Wednesday after school I tutored a Korean ESL student. Monday night was also Bible Study or “Family Night” at Danna and Abe’s (married friends of mine) with Cristin, Brenda, Patty, Scott and Kendra. Tuesday and Thursday after school I worked in Extended Care—for the leftover kids whose parents didn’t pick them up until 5:00pm. Wednesday night was AWANA. And Friday Brenda and Cristin usually have something planned—babysitting a church family or some other outreach kind of activity. Saturday night they usually have something planned as well—One weekend we had a Mexican Night at their house. Sunday, of course, was church. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>November</b>—I had a great Thanksgiving at some new friends, the Webbers. We enjoyed an outstanding time of fellowship, food, and fun. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>December</b>—I just got back from a lovely four-day vacation in Rota, a small island north of Guam. I enjoyed our quiet, relaxing time at many different beaches with my good friends, Cristin and Brenda. We also enjoyed visiting their small zoo and a trip around the small island—interestingly one road takes you around the entire island, unfortunately, only one side of the island has the road paved. I also tried my hand at poetry…<o:p></o:p><br />
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<i>Another year is goes out the door. I can’t believe I’m twenty-four! <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>On December 18th, the big day arrives! I thank the Lord that I’m alive!</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>January 2000</b>—Happy New Year! I’m not sure what the Lord may bring, but I’m looking forward to a great year serving Him. This month our church will be bringing out the second pastoral candidate since last December when our previous pastor resigned. We’re all praying this candidate is a keeper. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I trust everyone had an enjoyable holiday with friends or family. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you! I’ll be thinking and praying for you in this new millenium!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Love,</div>
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Bek<o:p></o:p></div>
beKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01668373232454676900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255202967593101459.post-64055288799521402092014-03-04T06:00:00.000-06:002014-03-04T06:00:10.123-06:00{A Year Ago} on Not the Last to Know<br />
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This day in <a href="http://notthelasttoknow.blogspot.com/search/label/1Year">{my}</a> history, plus pictures that I may not have ever posted.<br />
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<b>2013</b></h3>
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<b>2012</b></h3>
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<li><a href="http://notthelasttoknow.blogspot.com/2012/03/7-things-to-know.html">7 Things to Know</a></li>
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Oh Life Post - After a nap I went to church to help
make sandwiches for the New Member Reception. We had 14 new members including 5
baptisms. Three of the baptisms were from one family. The parents of the family
speak mostly Spanish so Sam Horn translated for them. Lindsay was in charge of
the reception and she mostly hung out with Chris to show off her ring! The
reception really is down to a science, so she wasn't that needed anyway. :-)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>2011</b></h3>
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<b>2010</b></h3>
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Fried Rice - it's what's for dinner.</div>
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<br />beKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01668373232454676900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255202967593101459.post-43642762283712606392014-02-28T21:08:00.000-06:002014-06-05T13:01:57.928-05:00{We, the Savers} February Question<span style="font-family: inherit;">Before I get to the actual post, I have to share a piece of exciting news! For last month's <a href="http://notthelasttoknow.blogspot.com/2014/01/we-savers-january-question.html">We, the Savers'</a> post, I won $100! I can hardly believe it, but it's true!! I was <a href="http://wethesavers.com/saver-blogger-contest-official-rules/">one of four</a> grand prize winners! I think that was my first paid writing gig! What blessing! I am thrilled! So here's hoping for another $100! Enjoy! :-)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Winter's been rough. Let’s hear about your spring/summer vacay plans & how you're saving up to make them happen.</b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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To say "winter's been rough" is an understatement for most of us around the country this year. From subzero temps for days on end, to piles and piles of snow, we've had more than our fair share of winter. But what can we do? It's not like complaining will help. Neither will posting the daily temp on Facebook - um, not that I've been guilty of that...gulp!</div>
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So what *can* we do about the rough winter? We make plans for spring, of course! Well, in Minnesota, we plan for a few weeks of summer more than spring, because, let's face it, this part of the country doesn't really get much spring. And it certainly doesn't come on March 20th! More like May 20th - ha!!<br />
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But since other parts of the country get spring, we Minnesotans still like to talk about spring and plan for Spring Break Vacations. In fact, I'm planning a vacation of my own this year.<br />
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It so happens that my brother lives near a balmy beach in North Carolina. It also so happens that mid-January I booked a flight to visit him during his Spring Break. He's a teacher so he still gets one of those, you see. And you can trust me when I say, the countdown has begun!<br />
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I'm very blessed to have been able to pay cash for my ticket due to a very nice bonus that I received at the end of 2013. However, there are more expenses for a vacation than just airfare, as you know. To pay for the extra expenses, I plan to also use funds from one of my three CapitalOne 360 Savings account, my Travel Fund. <br />
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My Travel Fund could also be labeled my "Go see Lily and Ella" fund. My two nieces are the main reason for my trip and I couldn't be happier to spend the money! I get to see them once, maybe twice a year, so I'm very excited about this upcoming trip to see them (and my brother and sister-in-law).<br />
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So how do I build my Travel Fund? Very easily: I have set up automatic transfers each month from my checking account. This is really the only way to go. If something is this easy, then it's much more likely that you'll do it! <br />
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What are you saving for this spring? What's getting you through this rough winter? For me it's Spring Break, don't-cha know?!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaDmUpNaWGjbUnOb4I1NRXekHzOieuZh_s-JVSrFEdqD_uylh_AQdk4pdKCRIi4TK10Mb3rKY8NzkIkkT15EqywzBtW-Ak9CVHEoYkVf_FWHo5c03sXRXiDr-c7_T9CdH5FXDQSFtMMUk/s1600/Bek+Christmas+Pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaDmUpNaWGjbUnOb4I1NRXekHzOieuZh_s-JVSrFEdqD_uylh_AQdk4pdKCRIi4TK10Mb3rKY8NzkIkkT15EqywzBtW-Ak9CVHEoYkVf_FWHo5c03sXRXiDr-c7_T9CdH5FXDQSFtMMUk/s1600/Bek+Christmas+Pic.jpg" height="149" width="200" /></a></div>
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<i>Bekah was born in Kansas, raised in Wisconsin, and lived three years on Guam. Her Midwest roots go deep though, since she has been a Minnesota resident for almost seven years. Bekah commits daily to serve God, to be healthy, and strives to be financially fit.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">This post was originally written in order to participate in CapitalOne 360s <a href="http://wethesavers.com/ready-to-be-the-next-we-the-savers-blogger/">WE the SAVERS'</a>s blog contest.</span></div>
beKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01668373232454676900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255202967593101459.post-55521895804761134992014-02-27T06:00:00.001-06:002014-02-27T06:00:10.054-06:00{Throw Back Thursday} Island StyleI found this letter to family and friends in my files and thought I would share on my blog. Remember while reading this that I was only 20-something and it was pre-Facebook!<br />
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If I get a chance, I'll scan some pictures.</div>
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Christmas '98<o:p></o:p></div>
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Dear Family and Friends,<o:p></o:p></div>
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Hafa Adai and a Merry Christmas to you! I’ve tried to send warm
greetings with this letter, but I was wondering if someone could send me some
snow – wishful thinking, I know. The weather outside is not very frightful, and
we definitely don’t need any fire to warm us – the sun is hot enough. I’ve been
on the island of Guam now since July 21st, and I’m continuing to adjust to this
lovely tropical climate. Changing of seasons doesn’t exist in the weather
forecast out here, except for rain or no rain. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m sure some of you would like an update on my job here at
Harvest Christian Academy. In July I started working as an accounts receivable
clerk in the Main Office, but I was soon bored with just taking money from people.<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span>
As of the second week in September, I was moved to the School
Office to be one of two secretaries up here. <o:p></o:p></div>
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My official title, if you will, is Middle School Secretary,
which basically means I am in charge of 550 students' academic records. I also
keep track of attendance for that many students: filling out tardy forms in the
morning and recording attendance in the computer. Another part of my job is
working for the Middle School Principal. Since November 13th I’ve been the only
secretary up here because the High School Secretary is on maternity leave for
six weeks. Needless to say, I’ve kept very busy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Christmas vacation plans are to go to the beach, go the
beach again, and go the beach some more! Some of my great new friends and I are
also planning to go on a deep sea fishing expedition for a few hours some
weekend soon. I think someone is also planning a jungle hike sometime during
the break, as well.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Through a special WorldPerks/Northwest mileage promotion,
Jennifer will be able to come out here to Guam for about a week in February. I’m
really looking forward to showing her the island and introducing her to the
Harvest Family.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Starting a life “on my own” was a big step, considering how
far I've come (almost 10,000 miles!), but I love every minute! I’d also love to
hear from you. I especially like real mail, but I’ll settle for e-mail! <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Miss you all! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Love,<o:p></o:p><br />
BEKAH</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwF9R2C_Ol5iHPE8CFzwKDRP79-LHdSyf5CNJLXsmu6OWY2UdZ7tZuIW1fw1xwyBuHMDgHhgwFPmm2qredVuPTmA0QPYepqWH9_RpfVWcGW58c0t7XjEoVzlrqc7F4kvUy1BspvGTE5oI/s1600/1998+HCA+staff+ID.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwF9R2C_Ol5iHPE8CFzwKDRP79-LHdSyf5CNJLXsmu6OWY2UdZ7tZuIW1fw1xwyBuHMDgHhgwFPmm2qredVuPTmA0QPYepqWH9_RpfVWcGW58c0t7XjEoVzlrqc7F4kvUy1BspvGTE5oI/s1600/1998+HCA+staff+ID.jpg" height="127" width="200" /></a></div>
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beKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01668373232454676900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255202967593101459.post-80754370723463079452014-02-26T19:44:00.000-06:002014-02-26T19:47:59.774-06:00{What's Happening.} Not MuchI set the timer for 30 minutes. 30 minutes to write whatever. This is what you get. Enjoy!<br />
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<h2>
Daily Work</h2>
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Work was <b>not </b>busy the last couple of days. Wow. I haven't said that in a
while. Don't get me wrong; I had stuff to do. It just wasn't crazy or anything.
I was actually bored a bit. Boring days have been rare days at this job.</div>
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I did make progress on a large mailing that
was 2 pages and going out to about 240 people: printing the letter, printing the envelopes, and collating & stuffing the envelopes. Sometimes all this printing can really get the best of me, but thankfully this event was mostly drama-free with only a few jams and only minor cursing - j/k, Mom! :-) </div>
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This mailing is a result of a database cleanse and it has taken several months, maybe years, to get to this
point. The list of clients was scrutinized by many people in our firm and generally the clients have
either small accounts or just life insurance policies with us (and no potential business in the future). An advisor within our group was selected to take over the servicing of these accounts and
policies. </div>
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Giving away these clients will enable us to focus more of our
energies and resources on our paying customers. We often spend a lot of time servicing these give-away clients, and it takes away time we could be spending on the paying clients. With the firm growing the way it has over the past few years, this was inevitable.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There are several steps in this client give-away
process, but for now the letter is printed and ready to mail. These other steps will probably have to get done in the midst of crazy, because these quiet days won't last: spring is coming!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<h2>
Workout, Schmirkout</h2>
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Yesterday I determined to workout, but was very close to talking
myself out of it when I got home. I was cold. The bus had been late. I was cold. I
just wasn't up to popping in a video. I hadn't worked out in a couple of weeks, why start tonight? I don't feel like it. I was cold. The excuses were piling up even if some were redundant or illogical. I was cold.</div>
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So to ignore my excuses I tried something new. I found a site,
<a href="http://www.7-min.com/" target="_blank">www.7-min.com</a>, that
was too easy to pass up. It's 12 exercises that you do for 30 seconds each with
a 10 second rest in between. </div>
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You can do it as many times as you want. I got
through 1 1/2 times before I quit. I'm giving myself a B- for the
day - mostly because I'm a twinge sore - a good sore, I think!!</div>
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Today I will do more. I will do better. It's time to kick winter
in the butt. It's been dragging me down for the past few weeks and
I'm done. Winter, be gone! Goodbye! ...I'm figuring the only way I will get out of this funk is
to give myself a kick! Let's do this!! <img alt="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/images/cleardot.gif" border="0" height="1" src="file:///C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.gif" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1" width="1" /></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">What are you doing to say goodbye to Winter, even though he won't leave?</span></i></div>
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beKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01668373232454676900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255202967593101459.post-4934839903966133562014-02-26T06:00:00.000-06:002014-02-26T19:13:02.054-06:00{A Year Ago} on Not the Last to Know<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
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This day in <a href="http://notthelasttoknow.blogspot.com/search/label/1Year">{my}</a> history, plus pictures that I may not have ever posted.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<b>2013</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></li>
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<b>2012</b><br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://notthelasttoknow.blogspot.com/2012/02/7-things-to-know_26.html" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">{7 Things to Know}</a></li>
<li>Luke singing at church</li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMnkx-XXnihP5Cq5pDx7Ozj3N4_BUAiZNkgH5DlHSpUHVDEjd0PkCOk7zeq4X5LtH3PKwjeNqERgagP_DPU3UvkjvokWhQTFggnvZ3IM85-C65s6wRzLy8rKTINg-BwBQ-kU9BjaEPx8/s1600/IMAG1295.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMnkx-XXnihP5Cq5pDx7Ozj3N4_BUAiZNkgH5DlHSpUHVDEjd0PkCOk7zeq4X5LtH3PKwjeNqERgagP_DPU3UvkjvokWhQTFggnvZ3IM85-C65s6wRzLy8rKTINg-BwBQ-kU9BjaEPx8/s1600/IMAG1295.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<b>2011</b><br />
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<li>Jess coaching basketball</li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2zCmP8Z95Cr3pLDYJWEyBjFIFJXbEly5uJsHXPV6wQyoMbNSxNcanqlOiWELrzPMDxpbnXqTV98cXGu_mq4ZwWQXN7V5m2bfdrTk5uH-6QD9dBAMc2QFpf9NEdMl5VWm7EctZnZsv9KI/s1600/2011-02-26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2zCmP8Z95Cr3pLDYJWEyBjFIFJXbEly5uJsHXPV6wQyoMbNSxNcanqlOiWELrzPMDxpbnXqTV98cXGu_mq4ZwWQXN7V5m2bfdrTk5uH-6QD9dBAMc2QFpf9NEdMl5VWm7EctZnZsv9KI/s1600/2011-02-26.jpg" height="227" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>2010</b></span><br />
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<b>2009</b><br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://notthelasttoknow.blogspot.com/2009/02/in-boxes-and-such.html" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">in boxes and such</a></li>
<li>Winter Storm</li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNOPq4qI6pt9iRYsCFjl_TgCPuc52OMdLeTxppGH7bBmM44g39iIVasZjySnhEC5qHUd0yIGSVZ_s1bJSGVi-yx2IvtmwnqQ5BPufbH2W1n4dCR9wF6hEatXxQyxZDib9DPXZrxOvo0Y/s1600/2009-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNOPq4qI6pt9iRYsCFjl_TgCPuc52OMdLeTxppGH7bBmM44g39iIVasZjySnhEC5qHUd0yIGSVZ_s1bJSGVi-yx2IvtmwnqQ5BPufbH2W1n4dCR9wF6hEatXxQyxZDib9DPXZrxOvo0Y/s1600/2009-02.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<b>2008</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://notthelasttoknow.blogspot.com/2008/02/i-know-two-great-coach-flamings.html" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">{i know} Two Great Coach Flamings</a></li>
</ul>
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<i>What did you do last year on this day?</i></div>
beKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01668373232454676900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255202967593101459.post-84173695855789876582014-02-17T06:00:00.000-06:002014-02-17T06:00:02.015-06:00{A Year Ago} on Not The Last to Know<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!</span></div>
<br />
<br />
This day in <a href="http://notthelasttoknow.blogspot.com/search/label/1Year">{my}</a> history, plus pictures that I may not have ever posted.<br />
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<br />
<h3>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2013</span></span></b></h3>
<ul>
<li><br /></li>
</ul>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">
2012</span></span></b><br />
<ul>
<li>OhLife entry: Got to Jess's around 4:30 and the rest arrived by 5. We enjoyed a yummy steak, salad, green beans, garlic bread
and mashed potato dinner. Finished it off with blueberry cupcakes made by Jen
and Ethan. Mom opened presents before we had the cupcakes. Tomorrow
while dad and I are at Deo rehearsal Jen and Jess are taking mom shopping to
spend her birthday money.</li>
</ul>
<h3>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2011</span></span></b></h3>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://notthelasttoknow.blogspot.com/2011/02/happy-60th-birthday-mom.html">Happy 60th Birthday, Mom</a></span></li>
<li><a href="http://notthelasttoknow.blogspot.com/2011/02/what-happened-in-february-1951.html">What Happened in February 1951?</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
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<tr><td><img height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1/426127_10150677516042930_1109742018_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="214" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Deflated Dome - February 2011</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2010</span></span></b></div>
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<ul>
<li>FB post: Happy birthday to MJ & of course my mom!! ;o)<div class="MsoNormal">
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</li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What did you do last year on this day?</span>beKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01668373232454676900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255202967593101459.post-90598598883394672382014-02-07T06:00:00.000-06:002014-02-07T06:00:13.123-06:00{A Year Ago} on Not the Last to Know<br />
This day in <a href="http://notthelasttoknow.blogspot.com/search/label/1Year">{my}</a> history, plus pictures that I may not have ever posted.<br />
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<br />
<h3>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2013</span></span></b></h3>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://notthelasttoknow.blogspot.com/2013/02/saying-goodbye-is-hard.html">{saying goodbye is hard}</a></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2012</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2011</span></span></b></h3>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2010</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2009</span></span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTE1ogEShVjVoqC9Nck91wP3BCidtOcvSeFzc_WnPfSNMlDOME2TnoTxjXq963lzeQTFVkpuK3GG6BGR7dWbRF749scXdf3nT3vKxgl79xdMY1-nG4Nd5pr5FVbXZ-9VzcdR8oIXdr80/s1600/AdvisorNet+Financial+50th+Anniversary+Gala-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTE1ogEShVjVoqC9Nck91wP3BCidtOcvSeFzc_WnPfSNMlDOME2TnoTxjXq963lzeQTFVkpuK3GG6BGR7dWbRF749scXdf3nT3vKxgl79xdMY1-nG4Nd5pr5FVbXZ-9VzcdR8oIXdr80/s1600/AdvisorNet+Financial+50th+Anniversary+Gala-1.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What did you do last year on this day?</span>beKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01668373232454676900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255202967593101459.post-39989136563890948062014-02-01T06:00:00.000-06:002014-02-01T11:00:27.816-06:00{Snow, Snow, Go Away}So let me tell you about my SNOW DAY.<br />
<br />
It started out just like any other morning: Me sleeping until my alarm goes off. Me hitting snooze <strike>a few </strike>several times. Me rolling out of bed. Me getting ready. Me going to my car...and that's where it takes a turn for not fun.<br />
<br />
The sidewalk had not been touched and I had to trudge through some snow to get to my car. Snow is still coming down, but I think, "Ah, it's just a 5 minute drive to the bus. I have plenty of time. I'll make it with time to spare." But as I started to <i>feel </i>a little rushed, I didn't do as the best job of cleaning my windows off and away I went.<br />
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My first clue should have been when I barely made it across the first intersection. My wheels were spinning on the slippery, snow-filled road, but I finally barreled across and merged into traffic. Not a lot of traffic, but enough.<br />
<br />
My next turn was up the road a bit. I made it through my first busy intersection without any trouble. As I got a few blocks from my turn I realized this is where all the traffic was.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBzgewJmbx5BR5Ecyodvd8pdzYF8QJj0_UXsdu9txLitldXYh9OEYn-H01T31P0abY2kWCqQHFSTG07q4JCYVa_ZatgWrCyT0xiZXRA9uq3ROaJ0VjHPFRIHBvEbxMsfVET28fxlCyGQE/s1600/20140130_080849-SNOW.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBzgewJmbx5BR5Ecyodvd8pdzYF8QJj0_UXsdu9txLitldXYh9OEYn-H01T31P0abY2kWCqQHFSTG07q4JCYVa_ZatgWrCyT0xiZXRA9uq3ROaJ0VjHPFRIHBvEbxMsfVET28fxlCyGQE/s1600/20140130_080849-SNOW.gif" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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There was quite a line to get up to my turn: the busiest intersection of my route. It wasn't until I was into the turn when I realized what may have been the problem. A car (see orange arrow) was two cars in front of me was being unsuccessfully pushed by two people. I waited (see yellow arrow) for about 10 minutes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTzgg5r-Zblyez__icLBTX0Deu1KUzqKKevJ9gZgW0OsXe2zy3Xf5ZzeLfYFAoHsleiRf3-2z2VoDdPZoQ6zQYoxgwAskusFqSEJEBMK8lGGWs39Z0VvS2Ffu_zZF7hmfSL2_pk9rwAXk/s1600/Snow+Day+Pics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTzgg5r-Zblyez__icLBTX0Deu1KUzqKKevJ9gZgW0OsXe2zy3Xf5ZzeLfYFAoHsleiRf3-2z2VoDdPZoQ6zQYoxgwAskusFqSEJEBMK8lGGWs39Z0VvS2Ffu_zZF7hmfSL2_pk9rwAXk/s1600/Snow+Day+Pics.jpg" height="99" width="320" /></a>*</div>
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I considered my options but there wasn't much I could do. Traffic was piled up behind me and anyone else who wanted to turn right, they were going up and around the stop light/median. I couldn't back up very well because of the road conditions. My tires weren't loving the slippery road. So there I sat. Waiting.<br />
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Finally, the stuck car (orange arrow) is moving forward. It is then I realize the two people helping to push the stuck car were the drivers of the two vehicles in front of me. I was very frustrated with the fact they had abandoned their cars in the middle of one of the busiest intersections! This whole time I had thought the cars were waiting like me! And I had been irritated why they didn't try to go around the stuck car!<br />
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Once the helpers scraped off their cars a bit, they started to move forward. The second one fish tailed and finally got going. I had to stay back while this happened. When I could finally move forward my intention was to merge quickly to the left onto the road because I didn't want to be stuck where the last guy had been!<br />
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Just as I was merging onto the road a large school bus came from behind and the only place I could go was right where the last guy got stuck. Sure enough. I got stuck. Couldn't move forward or backwards. Wheels spinning while I put my car in 2nd and 1st gears and moved my steering wheel back and forth. I kept sliding more and more into the main traffic lane but I wasn't going forward.<br />
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Now do you think anyone abandoned their cars to help me? No. I had to do all the maneuvering on my own. Cars where coming from behind and beside me the entire time. They went on either side of me as I slipped sideways.<br />
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Needless to say, I was freaked out. I also couldn't believe I had watched a guy for over 10 minutes try to get out of the same spot I was now stuck. <br />
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By some miracle after about 10 or more minutes I finally was able to move forward, but I was very shaky. After the event I decided I couldn't
drive all the way to work. There was no way. As far as I knew I had already missed the bus while I was waiting earlier so as I drove I called my boss to tell him I wouldn't be able to make it in.<br />
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I had to keep driving on Douglas as there wasn't any place to turn around. I thought about
turning into gas station at Duluth but it was on the left. As I came
up to the turn, there was a truck in the turn lane and I thought I would probably get stuck there too, so I kept going.<br />
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I got a text from my boss about this time. Since I was driving slow I read the text. It said he knew we hadn't discussed it but he wanted me to know I would have to take a Personal Day (even though I had said I would work from home.) With my trauma leaving me a bit shaky, that's when the tears came. I really had no rational thought (as a Personal Day was the protocol here), but the only thing I had in my head was, "I had told him I would work from home. So I have to work AND take a personal day?!" These thoughts put me right over the edge and had me sobbing the rest of the way home.<br />
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Continuing on down Douglas, I reached Golden Valley Rd and then
on to Winnetka Ave. I basically a big loop on main roads to get home. I was taking a risk I wouldn't get stuck again, but I didn't feel as if I had any choice. I didn't want to take side roads and get stuck there.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaEL2EfeT_nQq4vDYZi3069c_fO6lpeaua91oXvBfBcIeYPQe1i1BatmdFuIVeYSv2yXpl4UoR3E8KBa_5wcC4eg_HYoCrbuBdqlT6T2DMJcT9zcR-rInyUuaDu9X4MZBre31JUOYZLcM/s1600/Snow+Day+Loop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaEL2EfeT_nQq4vDYZi3069c_fO6lpeaua91oXvBfBcIeYPQe1i1BatmdFuIVeYSv2yXpl4UoR3E8KBa_5wcC4eg_HYoCrbuBdqlT6T2DMJcT9zcR-rInyUuaDu9X4MZBre31JUOYZLcM/s1600/Snow+Day+Loop.jpg" height="229" width="320" /></a>*</div>
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But sure enough, I was more than halfway home when I got stuck in the middle of another intersection. Couldn't move forward or backwards. Wheels spinning while I put my car in 2nd and 1st gears and moved my steering wheel back and forth. I kept sliding more but not really moving forward...sound familiar?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoi9IH0pWXJ07M1tzWK5Vf-io6fbDsjc5lUGuJFZtr51B9-mR_No-4g_V608XaK5-vI6CL77QYLl-qWRB0IwlSNEffQvWEdVBzPJny1EhPFIOQzBSzOHDQw8lzQvMgePHZuXmvc8FlnUE/s1600/Snow+Day+Pics+%232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoi9IH0pWXJ07M1tzWK5Vf-io6fbDsjc5lUGuJFZtr51B9-mR_No-4g_V608XaK5-vI6CL77QYLl-qWRB0IwlSNEffQvWEdVBzPJny1EhPFIOQzBSzOHDQw8lzQvMgePHZuXmvc8FlnUE/s1600/Snow+Day+Pics+%232.jpg" height="173" width="320" /></a>*</div>
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Since there wasn't as much traffic and I was now experienced, this time wasn't as traumatic as the first time; however, I was still not recovered from the first time. With sobbing determination I kept at the wheel turning and gear shifting and finally made it out of the intersection. Coming up was a railroad so I was really glad when I made it over to the other side and didn't get stuck over that!<br />
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Very thankful I made it home without any further incident. I even made a left turn through one more busy intersection safely. Still blubbering as I reached my driveway I saw my neighbor warming up her car. I didn't get parked and out of my car fast enough to warn her. She was back inside when I got out of my car. Since I was a sobbing mess anyway I was glad I didn't have to talk to anyone.<br />
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After posting the cliff note version of this on Facebook I was advised to have a cup of tea. And that's just what I did!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxe8_JTlOpGlIoK3kqEdz6iXyaHm70ch3CqLQBkCIUW_H1krQLESeJj3AoNxFiMl63RACRrJavPVnWZiqRfJCxPS7bl3aE3FqOFqsaWNKgPP2Z6NOrjY-rzj0bAN11bvAK5E-JyjCJAsE/s1600/20140130_092713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxe8_JTlOpGlIoK3kqEdz6iXyaHm70ch3CqLQBkCIUW_H1krQLESeJj3AoNxFiMl63RACRrJavPVnWZiqRfJCxPS7bl3aE3FqOFqsaWNKgPP2Z6NOrjY-rzj0bAN11bvAK5E-JyjCJAsE/s1600/20140130_092713.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<h3>
The moral of this story is: Snow Tires!</h3>
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Thank you if you STUCK around to finish reading this. I'm sure those I've told this to and those who have read this will receive an extra jewel in their crown!</div>
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Now let's end this season of Winter! Snow-be-gone!!</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Thanks to Google Maps for these pics</span></i></div>
beKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01668373232454676900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255202967593101459.post-37680498444721789352014-01-31T06:00:00.000-06:002014-02-18T22:08:14.680-06:00{We, the Savers} January Question<div class="MsoNormal">
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Let’s make 2014 the year of the Saver. What’s in your
“planner” to get there?</h2>
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A few weeks ago I began participating in a "<a href="http://www.52weekmoneychallenge.net/welcome-to-the-52-week-money-challenge/">52 Week Money Challenge</a>" in order to to save at least $1,378 over the next year.
Sounds easy enough - put aside $26.50 every week, and there you have it. The set up is a little different than a one amount per week. There's a chart to follow on the <a href="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/56309781/52%20Week%20Money%20Challenge%20Chart%20Correct.pdf">website</a>.</div>
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Up until a month ago I had never really saved that much money in my life. (Ok, that's not completely accurate
because I have a 401k that is definitely worth more than $1,378 since I've been
faithfully contributing to a retirement plan for about 14 years. It is worth
noting that "faithfulness" was the only redeeming quality for 9
of those 14 years since my income was pretty low AND I was working on paying
off school loan debt. I've been trying to make up for that over the past 6
years.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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So back to my savings accounts. I've been meaning to save and have even set up multiple savings accounts, but there was always something needed that any extra money would go toward. Usually extra money would go toward reducing my student loan debt, car repairs, or occasionally a trip to see family or friends. Oh, and this "extra" money was usually from my annual bonus at the end of the year or my tax refund.</div>
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This year I'm starting the year with only a small debt: my car, a 2011 Mazda2 that I purchased in 2012. Since I paid off my student loan last year, I was able to open a Roth IRA and purchase a few things on my wish list when I received my bonus at the end of the year.</div>
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So now I'm ready to create the saving habit and that's why I'm participating in the 52 Week Money Challenge. I want to cultivate a saving mentality since I'm no longer in "survive my debt" mode. What's in my "planner" to make 2014 the year of the Saver? My new habit is scheduled weekly on my calendar with reminders set so I don't forget to transfer the money to my CapitalOne 360 account. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaDmUpNaWGjbUnOb4I1NRXekHzOieuZh_s-JVSrFEdqD_uylh_AQdk4pdKCRIi4TK10Mb3rKY8NzkIkkT15EqywzBtW-Ak9CVHEoYkVf_FWHo5c03sXRXiDr-c7_T9CdH5FXDQSFtMMUk/s1600/Bek+Christmas+Pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaDmUpNaWGjbUnOb4I1NRXekHzOieuZh_s-JVSrFEdqD_uylh_AQdk4pdKCRIi4TK10Mb3rKY8NzkIkkT15EqywzBtW-Ak9CVHEoYkVf_FWHo5c03sXRXiDr-c7_T9CdH5FXDQSFtMMUk/s1600/Bek+Christmas+Pic.jpg" height="149" width="200" /></a></div>
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<i>Bekah was born in Kansas, raised in Wisconsin, and lived three years on Guam. Her Midwest roots go deep though, since she has been a Minnesota resident for almost seven years. Bekah commits daily to serve God, to be healthy, and strives to be financially fit.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">This post was originally written in order to participate in CapitalOne 360s <a href="http://wethesavers.com/ready-to-be-the-next-we-the-savers-blogger/">WE the SAVERS'</a>s blog contest.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
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beKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01668373232454676900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255202967593101459.post-78003554663224258752014-01-30T00:00:00.000-06:002014-01-30T00:00:03.077-06:00{A Year Ago} on Not the Last to Know<br />
This day in <a href="http://notthelasttoknow.blogspot.com/search/label/1Year">{my}</a> history, plus pictures that I may not have ever posted.<br />
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<h3>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2013</span></span></b></h3>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2012</span></span></b></h3>
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://notthelasttoknow.blogspot.com/2012/01/lesson-on-how-to-pray.html">{lesson on how to pray}</a></li>
</ul>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2011</span></span></b></h3>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2010</span></span></b></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://notthelasttoknow.blogspot.com/2010/01/100th-post.html">{100th post}</a></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What did you do last year on this day?</span>beKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01668373232454676900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255202967593101459.post-12071178433790082572014-01-27T06:00:00.000-06:002014-01-27T06:00:04.579-06:00{Thoughts on Moving} what's to like?<i>I just found this post I started a while back. I guess I never finished it. Hmm...and now I'm not entirely sure what my point was going to be...oh, well, enjoy!</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOxOEAKn1UQV6lT86tObsV8S3ldX2X7HtRu8tofrufsy5jMvaGtC0CIU3TiWMM8CgufmgP7vxKg3y_sIB0jYP8ipSu1F63u2-_BzRaiHBcuYQvuWyktpnZOnZVQ7mUUguVSVriZWZqUec/s1600/Moving-Boxes343232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOxOEAKn1UQV6lT86tObsV8S3ldX2X7HtRu8tofrufsy5jMvaGtC0CIU3TiWMM8CgufmgP7vxKg3y_sIB0jYP8ipSu1F63u2-_BzRaiHBcuYQvuWyktpnZOnZVQ7mUUguVSVriZWZqUec/s1600/Moving-Boxes343232.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
I'm not a fan of moving: boxes, packing, lifting, sweating - yeah, not really my thing. Now, something I do like is throwing, sorting, organizing, and reviewing memories that get stored away. But I can do that without moving, can't I?<br />
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June of 2007, almost seven years ago, I moved to Minnesnowta. I moved for a job firstly, but the big bonus was that two of my sisters lived here. The bigger bonus was that my niece and nephew lived here, too. I sure do like living near them. It was really fun to be here to hang out with them when their little brother was born about a year after I moved here.<br />
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The summer I moved to Minnesota I spent six weeks living in Jen's basement. Most of my things were in storage. Already in the works was Jess's purchase of a condo. We moved in the beginning of August (remember the 35W Bridge collapse? that day, I was unpacking at the condo).<br />
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Anyway, we were roommates for two years. After the first year I was here, we gained a sister-in-law. The next year I gained a brother-in-law.<br />
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When I gained the brother-in-law I got to move to my own place. I'd lived by myself two other times (once on Guam and once right before I moved to Minnesota) so it wasn't exactly new.<br />
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I think it took a while for me to adjust to living by myself again, and maybe I'm not as adjusted as I should be...<br />
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Two years ago my parents moved to Spooner, and it's been great to see them more regularly. Last year we had the chore of sorting through my parents things to help them downsize to an apartment. I was excited for them to get a smaller, better place to live, but it was hard to see many of their things move on to new homes or Goodwill. But since I have a small place myself, it wasn't like I could take much of anything.<br />
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Speaking of my small place...I keep telling myself that I'm not yet ready to do all the box lifting and furniture carrying that is required for moving again. In addition to my small space there are other things about my current living situation that get my mind thinking about a move: ants and mice to name two things. I've had three summers of ant issues, and this winter I discovered mouse droppings in a drawer.<br />
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When I do start to think about a new place, I usually add something to my wish list: garage, washer/dryer in unit, dishwasher, spare room or even just a den, be in my same area/town, be on the bus line, etc. Oh, and if it's an apartment or even a condo, I would also love a fitness room and/or pool.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hDaKyCRTuHp9UereHEMdI-jx_GGvUdMX64JHT7YxDW8QLqzlmEo0bd6AKnKSiipcBZKMjGXK0B1_ze3jVuoV5slrz1Mf5U5OyodObqY44IY-ZcNKY5jQ4_o7gEipeI4RJPjN42FIlks/s1600/aptlayout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hDaKyCRTuHp9UereHEMdI-jx_GGvUdMX64JHT7YxDW8QLqzlmEo0bd6AKnKSiipcBZKMjGXK0B1_ze3jVuoV5slrz1Mf5U5OyodObqY44IY-ZcNKY5jQ4_o7gEipeI4RJPjN42FIlks/s1600/aptlayout.jpg" /></a></div>
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I still don't have any firm conclusions on this matter...but I think I'd like to sort through some of my things in the next few months. It doesn't hurt to be prepared!beKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01668373232454676900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255202967593101459.post-62372029237773978092014-01-20T06:00:00.000-06:002014-01-20T06:00:06.573-06:00{Employment} Past, Present, Future<i>I must admit this post turned out different than I originally intended. I also, started writing this in August, but it really couldn't have been finished until now anyway. </i><i>I needed the reminder at the end to trust God. </i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDqywUA8HRgEU0yYykAXiLzi9GUwLZs_jSR9pv6L5Anzi_bPKjxF1GkeunGrJEgfILxkakcyH1zdYi8rKZtWhRJfrHozjfT44TCXsjZDfPNlFKHD1bIlVu3kly21RU5dq2M_2H6BBZbLA/s1600/Sweet+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDqywUA8HRgEU0yYykAXiLzi9GUwLZs_jSR9pv6L5Anzi_bPKjxF1GkeunGrJEgfILxkakcyH1zdYi8rKZtWhRJfrHozjfT44TCXsjZDfPNlFKHD1bIlVu3kly21RU5dq2M_2H6BBZbLA/s1600/Sweet+16.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span>s of this summer I will have been in the adult workforce for 16 years. A year and a half ago I passed up the longest-I've-been-at-the-same-employer, milestone. It's hard for me to believe that I've been doing the same job for 6 1/2 years.<br />
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With that in mind, here's a look at my job history since I graduated college in 1998:<br />
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<ul>
<li><b>3 </b>years as the middle school secretary for 550 kids - living on <a href="https://www.hbcguam.net/">Guam</a>, right after college</li>
<li><b>1 </b>year floating between an <a href="http://www.fami.com/">insurance</a> company in Kansas and temp work in Minneapolis</li>
<li><b>5 </b>years at <a href="http://www.mbu.edu/">MBU</a> (formerly MBBC) and <a href="http://upperkrustpieshop.com/">Upper Krust</a> (the Pie Shop) with random odd-jobs thrown in now and then</li>
<li><b>7 </b>years (June 2014) as a <a href="http://www.ehow.com/list_7627803_responsibilities-client-service-associate.html">client service associate</a> at theJob <span style="font-size: x-small;">(As previously stated, I try to keep the name of my current place of employment and co-workers's names off the blog.)</span></li>
</ul>
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This past August I was told of a potential change from my current position, but we first had to hire someone to replace me. Initially we thought it would be easy because they offered the job to someone who applied for another position but the person turned it down. It actually took two months to find the new hire, and then we waiting another three months for them to actually start working. Her first day was January 2nd.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg47JQexXNJpP_BKXFG794lYpzXirk2H4Q7q0-SSIYltRc64TZq80dohkD__bcO8KfvDsO5eri9n5RUrozmvHjyuiwyFrKU8T8MHNOHZVqkm-J0BmMu6c0aDm-ORkGbt4OUgvvNH7lmNtc/s1600/Approved-Stamp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg47JQexXNJpP_BKXFG794lYpzXirk2H4Q7q0-SSIYltRc64TZq80dohkD__bcO8KfvDsO5eri9n5RUrozmvHjyuiwyFrKU8T8MHNOHZVqkm-J0BmMu6c0aDm-ORkGbt4OUgvvNH7lmNtc/s1600/Approved-Stamp.jpg" height="144" width="200" /></a>My new position was supposed to be mostly projects and the like, but over the past five months (or maybe from the beginning??!), my boss got a great idea for me to become an <a href="http://www.investopedia.com/exam-guide/series-26/supervisory-systems/supervisory-procedures.asp">OSJ</a>, a designated supervisor for all things <a href="http://finra.complinet.com/en/display/display.html?rbid=2403&element_id=3717&print=1">compliance</a>. He told me of his great idea during my annual review in December, which was about two weeks before the new person started.<br />
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Basically an OSJ is the person who approves the securities business that our firm processes. Maybe it doesn't sound so complicated to you, but I will have to take several tests and go through hours of studying. At one point I will be sent off to a class to help me prepare for one of the big tests.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgknXeuuAbTMvFBRFN6QrrEHjZ__X5xEcoRZobYjnx69SsRtfwcbGUAL1R_Scde7tB6vgVkUh-iH_YiQQTIEUyKHnCLbTLlf-DWA5Z013rjFkTJghGeahuMkZP7YsYZZurryT06MO-uae4/s1600/ktf+news.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgknXeuuAbTMvFBRFN6QrrEHjZ__X5xEcoRZobYjnx69SsRtfwcbGUAL1R_Scde7tB6vgVkUh-iH_YiQQTIEUyKHnCLbTLlf-DWA5Z013rjFkTJghGeahuMkZP7YsYZZurryT06MO-uae4/s1600/ktf+news.jpg" height="168" width="200" /></a>None of my new job responsibilities are to begin until the new girl is well on her way to being trained. The training will take <strike>a couple, a few,</strike> several months. The timeline is a little unclear at this time, but the sooner I get her trained, the sooner I get to start studying. THEN, the sooner I pass all the tests, the sooner I get a raise.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">How 'bout that?! A raise! So that's exciting, eh?!</span><br />
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My boss is proposing for this to all be in place by July. I have my doubts, but he is a very optimistic person and I'm more of a pragmatist (defined as a practical person).<br />
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(Random Fact: the new girl's name is my name just spelled with Cs and no K.)<br />
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So there you have it: my new job is just around the bend and will probably be happening about the time I'm 16 years into the workforce. Looking back at how far I've come I think this is a pretty good place to be. Could I- would I- should I have done things differently to get where I am? Maybe. But for me, I'm trusting that God had me in the various jobs and places to use me for His purpose.<br />
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I'm definitely challenged as I look at my present situation (training the new girl) and my near future transition (studying, testing, learning), and I need to trust God to bring me through these challenges and to bring honor to Himself.<br />
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beKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01668373232454676900noreply@blogger.com0