I am so blessed

[Lindsey]

I know that most of my posts lately here haven't been so happy, and I've been feeling down on myself, but when I REALLY think about it, I am really blessed.

I have my Layla alive and with me every day. She might not be walking but she's the same dog she's always been. A couple of coworkers were talking to me about her this morning, and one asked if I still need to express her and I said yes. She said "Oh that's got to be quite the burden" and the other guy chimed in and said "Well, you know, they don't ask for much." How true. For the 4 years of happiness and joy and unconditional love I've gotten from Layla, the LEAST I can do is spend an extra hour or so a day doing her exercises and expressing her bladder to keep her comfortable and healthy. I don't want to think of her as a burden, she's a companion, and we will never give up on each other. I will be happy and love her if she doesn't improve another day. She's still perfect to me!

I have my family who I love so much still in my life. I know a lot of people who don't, and I know I am lucky to have that. I see my friends bickering pointlessly with their parents and I know I am lucky to be past that. After feeling like I was going to lose my mom to a stroke a year ago, I am trying to cherish every moment I have with both of my parents. I used to go weeks without talking to them, and now I call them every night. My brother won't talk to my mom anymore because of his girlfriend, and I feel bad for my parents about that. It just makes me want to be there for them more.

Scott is a great guy and I'm lucky to have him in my life. We have our issues and we have our fights but we always get over it and we love each other so much.

There's really not a point to this thread except that I feel I need to put this out in the open somewhere so that I don't forget it on days when I'm feeling down.

[judy]

What a wonderful post Linds! It is so important to be grateful, and I think it was such a good idea that you wrote it down, like you said, for days when you are down.

You do have a wonderful man, your family sounds amazing, and it is good to hear you talk about Layla in such a positive way. She is such a sweet, loving blessing. Who knows why we are given these hard things to deal with, but it looks like you have gotten through the hard part. Now, whatever the end result, you will deal with it just fine.

You are a remarkable young woman, and I am so glad to know you!

[Blueyes]

"When upon lifes billows you are tempest tossed...when you are discouraged thinking all is lost..count your many blessings, name them one by one...and it will surprise you what the Lord has done"

That's just one verse to a song that I was reminded of by your post! Just keep counting your blessings Lindsey, and be sure to thank the right ONE for them Love you kiddo!!

[Lindsey]

Thanks Judy and Betsi. I love that verse! I'm going to write it down and keep it in the house.

This is really crazy, but I have always felt that someday I was going to end up with a child who is disabled in some way. That's kind of a weird premonition to have, I know, and it's even more crazy that it ended up happening, except the "child" is my dog.

[JJJ]

Just think of it as a journey through life to becoming a stronger person. You are blessed

[DianaB]

Life is so much better when we think about our blessings instead of our problems!!! You have a good life and so much to be thankful for!! And....you have Scott by your side!!! You are a very blessed woman, Lindsey!!

[paula1961]

I love your post Lynsey! It made me think about the many blessings in my own life. So thank you Lynsey for writing that.
You are a wonderful person! I am happy to be able to call you my friend.

[Lindsey]

Thank you all so much

[Lindsey]

I think someone up there is really looking out for us. We got a call from our banker last week and she mentioned something about getting back money that I had to pay to my lawyer for the mortgage and I really didn't understand what she was saying, but she just needed me to sign papers. Scott and I couldn't get our schedules to work with hers, so we took our lunch breaks today to sign the papers she had left at the front of the bank for us. When we looked at them... WOW! Here's what happened...

When I bought my condo, I didn't have money saved for a down payment. So, the bank raised my interest level a little and agreed to lend me the 5% down payment. So when we sold the condo, our mortgage was "ported" which means that we didn't pay back the bank (plus penalties for selling before the mortgage term was up). Instead, they simply moved that mortgage to our new property, and added the extra amount we needed to it.

So, when it came to paying closing costs, we ended up having this big chunk of money taken out of our condo profit, to pay the bank back for the down payment I was lent. It wasn't a huge deal since we still got profit, but it was a little disappointing that it almost cut our profit in half Especially when I had totally forgotten about owing that money back!

But NOW, since we ported the mortgage and are still dealing with the same bank, our banker has found a way to get us that money back! I guess they are making enough off our interest (since it is still the higher rate from the original mortgage) that we can get that original "loan" back in our pockets, and we don't have to pay it back again at all, unless we sell the house before the mortgage is up. And we don't plan on leaving our house ever This is a pretty big chunk of money, and I can use it to pay my parents back what I owe them, plus pay off my motorcycle (which was the plan before Layla's surgery), or pay off a chunk of my school loan, or just put it in an account as the wedding/honeymoon fund Scott and I have been intending to start

[Lindsey]

Our world was completely crushed a couple of months ago, and now things are going so well for us. I can't help feeling that it's almost like compensation for all the hard things we've been through.

[judy]

That is wonderful Linds! (I got confused halfway through, but I do understand that you are getting money back!!!)

[DianaB]

Wow!!! Any time you get unexpected money back that's great news!!! It's another blessing to add to your list!!!

[Lindsey]

Originally Posted by judy

That is wonderful Linds! (I got confused halfway through, but I do understand that you are getting money back!!!)

Lol Judy, I read it over and it is confusing. Basically I borrowed money for a down payment. I sold my condo and paid the bank back the borrowed money. Now the bank is giving us the money back, to keep, as long as we don't sell our house before we finish paying off the mortgage If we sell our house in the next few years, we'll have to pay this back, but we don't plan on leaving, so the money should be ours for good!

I know money isn't everything, but with all the other stuff we've been worried about, it's just making things go a little more smoothly now. One less worry!

Now I won't feel so guilty spending my birthday money on myself. I haven't bought a thing for myself in such a long time... I've been on a tight budget since I bought the condo almost a year ago. Oh, and that $44 sports bra doesn't count! I haven't even worn it yet! Lol

[judy]

Where are the pix of that bra?

[DianaB]

Good question, Judy!!! We all want to see!!! You don't have to model it though!!!