No show, a big bill for completion, keeping short accounts

Although I waited all morning, the paving company did not show up. Mama called me about 11:30 (she was in Decatur with Aubrey) to tell me that she had been contacted and was told that they were being held up by a machinery issue. It was much later that she texted the company and was told – very apologetically – that they would try to make it to our house sometime today. We will see if that happens. On the off chance that they do make it to the farm today, I went to town last night to download some files that will allow me to stay home today and still get ready for the three classes I have to teach next week. Actually, I will be teaching two and auditing one, but I will be in class Tuesday through Thursday.

Via email, I got the invoice I expect every month from Glenn for the work done to our houses the previous month. The invoice for last month as he finished the house to make it available for rent this month was about $7,500. Ouch! And Praise the Lord! I was not expecting that large an expense, but it is not totally unexpected. Mama and I are financially able to pay that invoice (I will do so today) but it puts into question whether or not we should spend the $3000 from the same account to seal the driveway. Because the sealing of the drive is not a critical task, we need to explore whether or not we should do it right now.

Since we will now have renters in the house, I contacted an insurance agent recommended by Glenn. We have to apply for insurance in the state where the dwelling is located. That estimate came back at about $2,600 for the year for both houses. Ouch again! Mama and I have the money available to make that happen, but it will leave the business account in Lawton low enough that we may have to scramble to keep up with the invoices going forward with the final remodel requirements for the second property we own there. The bright side of all the expenses related to the rental properties is that they are all deductible. As I am reading, or listening to, Robert Kiyosaki’s Unfair Advantage, I see the financial wisdom in having these properties. Even if they are just now providing a little bit of cash flow, they are providing significant tax breaks for me and Mama. The cash flow will come soon. With a renter in the one property, we will net about $100 per month. Not a great gain, but it is a net positive. The tax advantages have already provided us a net positive. Hopefully, the large expenses for remodeling are coming to an end and we can watch the account grow from the rent money deposited to it each month.

The gentleman from our church that had been put on a ventilator passed away yesterday afternoon. He is home now. It is a sad loss for our church and his family. I have always maintained that for a believer, death in this life is the ultimate healing. We lose our earthly contacts, but we gain a new body, a new home, and a new life. No more sickness. No more pain. No more death. A perfect body. A perfect mind. A perfect home. That is the ultimate recovery from any sickness and death in this world. Nevertheless, it is a loss to those of us who remain in this world and we will grieve accordingly. Please pray for the family who will be grieving this loss that their pain will abate quickly, and they will see the blessing of knowing that we will not be separated forever.

This sudden loss needs to serve as a reminder to us that we are not guaranteed tomorrow. We need to keep our accounts short in this live. Take the extra time to call someone and tell them they are important to you. Hug your spouse and your children and tell them you love them. Jerry and Barbara did not get the chance to say any final goodbyes before he drew his last breath. Nor did Jerry get to say goodbye to his children or grandchildren. Do not let those things go unsaid to those you love. Keep short accounts.

It makes me think of Chase and Makaila who have not even taken a quick moment to reply to Mama’ s phone calls or texts. If something were to happen to me or Mama, those moments of potential contact would be lost. Maybe our passing would be a relief to them, we do not know. They have not taken the time to tell us. It bothers Mama especially that we are not a part of our grandchildren’s lives in any way as far as Chase and Makaila are concerned. It is sad to think of the moments Jerry’s family lost in this sudden illness and death. I had hoped to avoid such isolation from our children’s lives, but I have no control over it. So, Mama and will stay as involved as we are allowed in the loves of the children who are willing to include us. We will happily be Grammy and Papi to their children. Or Papo in the case of Joshua’s children. But one day soon we will be gone, and those opportunities missed will never be recovered. Take and extra moment today to make sure those you love are reassured of that love. It may be the last opportunity you have to do so.

Only God knows.