Well my kids made it back in town last night from FL. It was amazing to me how relaxed I felt all weekend-I did not really do all that much that was different or interesting. Watched a movie, read and mowed the grass.

Everyone is getting back into the groove a bit. Each time they are with their dad I have to allow space for them all to get back to reality. On the dockett today is grocery shopping. I let everything dwindle down while they were gone. So it is back to re-stocking. I have to hit Walgreens as they have some great deals and with my coupons....even better deals.

Yesterday I did mow. Of course I did it at lunchtime when it was still nice and hot outside. I only mowed areas that were long. Since we have had little rain...some areas look the same and others do not....so I just did the aras that needed the grass mowed. All my neighbors run the sprinklers non stop it seems, I am just too thrifty.....I like rain. If I do water I am particular as to where I run the water.

Summer vacation is fading-the thought of school makes me get stressed. I am not sure why? Part of it is knowing I am sending back to school my son who is going to be a HS senior. I am so emotional! It is like sending him to kindergarten all over again...I have those same feelings. My oldest daughter starts High School and my little one is now in school, full time as a first grader! My middle daughter will be in 5th grade having the same teacher my two others had....I am not worried about her at all. I guess all the changes never stop....nothing stays the same. That is good but yet I like things to not change. Going thru a divorce it was so MANY CHANGES that I did not want but I HAD to deal with......life at times can seem very much not in my control. I have found that with money and finances...some things I can not change or control....but some things I CAN control and must be responsible for.

When I read about widows who have about nothing saved or older retirees who are broke....I worry for THEM! Or my dear friend the hoarder...banking on SS to live on for her golden years....I get so sad. What financial magazine is she reading? I am sure some of these people took care of their children and used it to run their households and sent kids to colleges---or like my ex MIL, planned accordingly for her mentally handicapped daugher's future.....but some were very irresponsible. Some were in Las Vegas or buying the grankids too much junk or buying the latest and the greatest or getting stuck in a RV or time share rip off. When I hear about a newly retired couple having $25,000 saved up in the bank....I can only wonder and scratch my head a bit. When I see young families buying huge houses with 4 1/2 bathrooms and brand new everything....and driving not two cars but three....because well we need a SUV and a cute two seater fun car (yes I DO know someone like that) I get kinda sad for them. How much new furniture, in ground pools, patio furniture, DVD's can one own. We have choices in many areas of our lives. Change can be embraced or frowned on and cursed. We can save now or pay for it later with loads of interest. Choices and change go hand in hand. We always must have our eyes looking to the future....be it children growing up and going to school or our day to day purchases and savings.....we have to look down the road a bit and see that the journey is part of life and how we handle that journey is just as important as walking on it.