Hello!
This is Laura, previously of Keeping it Frugal in TX. For whatever reason, I can't seem to login to my other blog.
I looked at the last entry and was shocked to see it was from 2023!
Lots of changes since then.
Work - I've now been at my current employer for a little over six years. About four years in my current position. I absolutely love my job and the people I work with. (We help seniors to stay in their homes as long as possible. My job is making sure we're following state and federal regulations as well as a lot of administrative/data stuff. )
I just turned 50 years old a few weeks ago! It feels kind of bizarre. The one thing I really looked forward to- was getting my shingles shot!! Which I did!
DH is 59 now, and is looking forward to August when we've agreed he can retire. He still works as a delivery driver. He loves going on road trips to pick up speakers and other electronics- some that he resells right away, and others that he's keeping as stock for when he's retired. He's mostly gotten rid of his fish - only two 40? gallon tanks left. Plus his turtle.
We are down to two cats - Pepe (12) and Kari (14). Kari has been fighting kidney disease for the last year or so.
I've gotten much more involved at church. I'm the head money counter, on the costume committee, on the finance committee, and the secretary/treasurer for our community service ministry.
My brother has had TWO children! My first niece was born July, 2023, and my second niece was born November, 2025 They are seriously precious! I've been spoiling them rotten- from afar unfortunately. I haven't been able to talk him into moving out of CA yet.
Mom, who had been in an ALF with declining mobility and dementia, continued to get worse. In August 2024 I moved her here to NE after she developed bedsores which the ALF staff were not able to handle. Unfortunately, she had already declined so much that the staff at the nursing home weren't able to do anything to reverse it. She passed in November, 2024.
I dealt with her probate most of 2025. It was finalized in August. I was SO glad to be finished with it!
In 2026 I have three, possibly four trips planned. First will be to CA end of February to see my nieces! Then in April DH and I will be celebrating our tenth anniversary! (Possibly go to Branson. )Then in July I will be doing a bucket list item- going to Chintoteague Island in Virginia for the pony running! Lastly, we possibly might do another CA trip around Christmas.
January 1st, 2026 at 02:06 am 1767233208
I'm sorry you lost your mother and I'm glad you are done with her probate. I can't believe you are coming up on your 10-year anniversary!
Best wishes for the new year and hope to see you around here again sometimes!
January 1st, 2026 at 02:50 am 1767235835
January 1st, 2026 at 01:02 pm 1767272552
It is good to see a post from you!! Yes lots of things been going on with you .... the ups and downs of life ... thank you for coming and sharing!
January 1st, 2026 at 05:52 pm 1767289968
January 1st, 2026 at 07:55 pm 1767297341
So many good things in your life--that's awesome about your job and church involvement. I lost my mom in Dec. 2022 and one of my cats just last month (he was about 13) after a year of giving him palliative care for cancer, so I feel you on both of those and am really sorry for your loss and your sick kitty.
The trips sound so fun--good luck planning and enjoying them!
January 2nd, 2026 at 04:15 pm 1767370545
Congratulations on your 2 little nieces! Have a wonderful and prosperous New Year.
January 2nd, 2026 at 07:49 pm 1767383366
Congrats on turning 50! No I really mean that, in the sense that I myself turned 50 not too long ago, and so far, I think it’s going to be my best decade yet. My younger years has been more about struggling, whereas now, I’m more able to focus on just living. So, I am hoping you will find it the same somehow.
I’m sorry to hear about your mom though.
January 3rd, 2026 at 09:56 pm 1767477363
January 4th, 2026 at 08:53 pm 1767560007
January 5th, 2026 at 12:42 am 1767573773
Congrats on the two nieces! & it's nice to see you back around here.😁
January 7th, 2026 at 05:14 am 1767762890
January 9th, 2026 at 05:56 am 1767938207
(Your reflections also reminded me of this idea of adapting systems to real life: https://agilestyling.com
)
January 9th, 2026 at 06:24 am 1767939898
January 9th, 2026 at 08:15 am 1767946556