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This post is a bit different than the last I wrote along the topic of finances. The last post took on a very positive note b/c we had/have a lot of potential to get ahead, but I still come to the haulting realization that we are as much at the mercy of circumstance as the next person. Of course, I know that God's plan (of good, not of a literal story written in stone) triumphs above all circumstance... which leaves me wondering, "What's next?" .......
We're on the road to remortgaging (already... I know) and tomorow is likely the day for our home appraisal. I'm so nervous! If we get the value we're hoping for, we move our mortgage to BMO, take a $4600 penalty and a new rate somewhere between 3.5% and 3.9%. If not, we stay with BNS, take our current mortgage rate of 5.359% and blend it to a slightly less 5.013% (or something like that). Either way, our payments drop significantly b/c we will be getting rid of our truck loan and line of credit (still from house-building expenses!!) and that will be a huge answer to prayer! The only sucky thing about either option is that we'll be locked into either of these new-ish mortgages for the next 5 years to come (same as our current mortgage but technically will be one year longer now that it's beginning all over again) and I don't know how long we'll be in Canal Flats. Apparently you can move your mortgage over to a new residence (but not a lot) w/o taking a penalty, providing you stay with the same bank and transfer it to the new res. within 5-10 days (or something like that)... but I kinda imagined we'd build again. We already have a "next time we build" list growing in our heads and I was kinda looking forward to it!
Well, we have been praying quite a bit recently that God would lessen our cost of living and increase our income. The last two months were difficult in that Kevin missed quite a bit of work, mostly due to 3 doctor apointments and coming home a couple hours early for many days b/c of his Celiac's (total lack of energy) but also b/c we took a few days away to spend with our families in April; also, I didn't have much work babysitting during that time (a strange and frusterating coincidence). I'm tired of not being able to take a few days off to see family (nevermind visiting friends we haven't seen in years!) and wondering if our mastercard has enough space to support us when one of us gets sick and misses a week of work. I'd like to know that we'll be able to save up for the one week we're taking off in September to go to my brothers wedding and make it into a sort-of-vacation, but that is based on what happens between now and then.
I'm greatful for the opportunity we've had to get ahead in the investment of our home, but the cost which has come with that has been overwhelming at times... especially when wages are so low in comparison. I know we're not the only ones struggling in this area. The cost of living has multiplied by 10 in the past 20 years, whereas the minimum wage has only doubled. If you want to get ahead you are literally risking it all, yet if you don't take those risks there seems a slim chance of going anywhere at all. And to clarify, I'll say that my quality of life is not based on my current finances at the time... infact, building a home has taught me that God IS taking care of us right now, that I have nothing to fear and that I DO have joy amidst my circumstances b/c really, the truth DOES set you free!
I'm frusterated by the fact that no matter how hard we work, or how much faith we have, our lives have not gotten any easier in the past 6 years of being married. It's been hard keeping our bank account above zero no matter what the circumstances (owning or renting, nice truck or crapy truck) and I feel a bit cheated by the fact that even the people who are willing to work hard for a living can struggle their whole lives just to stay "ontop" of zero.
On the flip side, I could hop on a flight to the Guatemala City dump right now and be put to shame by how much I have. But I'm not there. I'm here. So what's next?
I guess it's unknown. All I can do is look up... and around.
I thank you Lord for all you have provided, and all you will provide:)
I remain thankful for the food in my belly and the clean water readily available in any of my four taps (six, if you include the faucets outside which water our lawn).
Thank you for the beautiful warm weather we have here - and that our wind does not compare to a that of a tornado (though Kevin might argue that one)!
Thank you for our health, though it takes new turns you guide us through!
Thank you for my beautiful children and loving husband - possibly even my mangey mutt who digs up the trees in our backyard!
Thank you for our wonderful home and all the memories we've built in it so far.
Thank you for quiet nap times:)
For friends.
Thank you for good books and a cup of coffee.
Thank you for the luxury of clean air.
For a vehicle which works!
And for patience... which I'll forever be developing.
Canal Flats is actually the starting point of something pretty cool:)
Natural underground springs (top tip of the winding stream in the photo above) fill the Columbia Lake just North of the town, which in turn create the Columbia River. The river runs North for over 186 miles (300 km) before winding West and then South for more than 250 miles (400 km), to USA border. For almost half its length in Canada it widens (after feeding the Revelstoke damn) to form the Upper and Lower Arrow Lakes. It flows right through Washington into its mouth at Astoria, Oregon!
Above, the stream of fresh springwater flows into the Columbia Lake.
On it goes... from Canal Flats, all the way to its home in the Pacific Ocean, on the coast of Oregon :)
