Questions & Answers

I love you Robert! (thought I would start the letter off on a really good note) Back to the Bishop's questions we go: 11. How should the couple pay for bills? I think it is a good idea to make this part of our Sunday meetings. When I went home I got to sit in on a family council. They each had a turn to discuss upcoming bills that needed to be paid. This way everyone could tell dad what was due and realize where all the money was going. They could see that there was a lot being spent. Also, Dad wouldn't be hit with any suprises during the week. I remember a FHE we had once. I told you of it before, but I think it was in one of the letters that had gotten lost to you. Mom and Dad gave us Monopoly money in the amount that Dad earns each month. Then we had to take turns paying the bills that mom and dad would have to pay (they made up a list prior and I wonder if they exaggerated a bit). Anyway, all of the monopoly money was gone before all of the bills were taken care of. Ever since I have wondered how they make ends meet and I don't pester them for money. I think they included ALL the bills. Such as insurance that only had to be paid every six months and fire insurance, etc. This way it turned out to be a very busy month when in reality the big bills were spread out over the year. This was a long time ago, but it was definately effective. 12. Has he ever lived alone/independant? I hope you won't sleep alone much after March. I have never lived alone either and I prefer it that way. Even if I had a single room, I would always be out talking with someone. Katrina has left to Iowa and will be gone until checkout. I will be alone, but I will probably be with Julia a lot. If Julia comes back tonight, we will be watching movies (in her room) and talking, probably while she continues to teach me to crochet. (Crocheting is actually a lot of fun. I didn't think it would be, but am enjoying it.) I have lived kind of independantly. I haven't been independant as long as you have though (I would have been 11 when I moved out). I left gradually. I moved in with my Grandparents my Senior year in High School. At that time I was pretty much independant. The only thing I depended upon people for was transportation (the red car wasn't mine yet). I hated relying on them for that. I walked places whenever I could (such as school and to friends homes). I didn't need to go very many places that were far away, but when I did want to go somewhere, I didn't want to bother them with it. I guess in some ways I do have an independant heart (I don't even like to accept a ride), but I find that I depend and rely on you for so much. I think this will be good. You don't push me away like I am a nuisance, and this will probably keep me dependant on you, it has so far. There is also the fact that I learn so much from you and no matter how much we talk there is always so much more I have to learn. If I haven't expressed myself quite right, bring it up Sunday and we will discuss it over the phone. I can never express exactly how I feel in writing. If there was a way to do it in numbers, I would. I am so much more talented when it comes to numbers than words. 13. What is "rich", "just-getting-by?" I don't like to "just-get-by" either. It stresses me out to much. I don't like guessing where our next meal is coming from. I have been doing this the past year. Right now I am really stressing because I didn't get a July paycheck and I am scrimping until I can get my August paycheck (5 days to go). In September I will only get a paycheck for the 12 days I will work in August and the paycheck I get in October will be for the 5 days I work in September. Just thinking about THAT makes me uneasy. It also makes me uneasy to think about the bills I will have to pay. I might have to pay my tuition if my grant doesn't come in time. I will have housing due September 15th and when I move in in Sept/Oct, I will want to buy groceries so I can eat. STRESS!!! That brings up a point I wanted to discuss with you. I will have a cooking apartment. You might not want to put that much on your card if you decide you wouldn't mind eating with me a few times a week. You don't have to buy meal plans anymore so you can choose how much you want to put on. 16. How much money does he like to keep in his pockets? I, like you, like to have about $20 dollars in my wallet (I can't keep it in my pocket, it burns a whole there and my wallet is always with me anyway). I usually put about $20 dollars in and use it for the week. Many times I don't even spend it (since living at Weber I have become really frugal) but it is nice to be there if I am hungry and want to buy a hamburger on my way to work. When things are tight (like they are now) I hold off on buying A LOT! I don't even like to go grocery shopping, but I will get the essentials when I don't have anything left I can make in the pantry. It is also good that I have enough clothes so I don't have to do my laundry for 3 or 3 1/2 weeks. This way the loads are full and I am not wasting any room where I can be washing clothes. It used to be good because I would just make a trip down to my grandparents to visit every three weeks, but my car hasn't been working for a long time. 17. Does he like to buy lunch or take lunch? Would you take lunch more if I made it for you? Just curious. Eating out is usually more expensive. I do understand why you would buy when it is a social lunch though. I want to go shopping with you a few times so I can learn what types of food you like. I have been shopping with you when it is a few things. I usually make a big shopping trip once every six weeks. I go every two weeks after that for bread and milk, those don't last six weeks. Would you be willing to go with me once or twice in the fall? My big trips are usually around $100, my mini trips areabout $20 every two weeks. That averages out to be about $26.67. I usuallyhave people eat with me a lot too . It is so much more fun to share. (Hopefully you will be the one sharing with me in the fall, I like yourcompany). You and I could probably eat $35 worth a week after we get married. This isn't including eating out and so you would have to adjust it. I am not used to having a lot of money and so I don't eat out too often, the most I have ever done so is with you. I have also learned to become a frugal shopper because of this. I LOVE YOU TOO!!! I do want to get my Master's eventually and there usually are time limits on them. However, I don't think we should plan on my starting my Master's until we are well settled. I think that there are plenty of priorities that come before this. I do want to pay our home off. I think if we do this, than there won't be as much of a need for me to get a Master's. The Master's is only to earn more money. If it is possible for me to go while we still have small children I want to work it out for me to go when they don't have to be stuck in a day care or a nursery. Granted the children have fun, but I want one of us to spend time with them when they are home. I could always wait for them to all be in school. My mom is continuing with her schooling and Felicia just entered kindergarten last year. When my mother started school she also had me to watch the younger girls. However, this began to stress my life. I wasn't ready to be a full fledged mommy yet and my mother knew this. We only have 32 weeks from tomorrow and we will be kneeling across from each other in a very special place. I am so excited. I almost don't want to wait, but I know that we can do it. We can stay in Los Alamos as long as we need to. However, as long as you can find better work I think you should go for it. Although, I don't think I need to tell you this. I am sure we will do fine in providing for our family. I think it would be great if you got the modem. I know that it will make you happy. Spend something on yourself. I doubt that I will ever use it much (except for me to check my email, you'll be with me though). If it is profitable for your job with Mary, than it sounds like a good investment. Besides, Mary's pay should pay it off. I love you very much and I can't wait to be with you again. We will see each other soon. I just got new email from you. I don't know if I am going to read it. I probably will. You will know when I do, you will get a response. I am looking forward to talking to you Sunday and thank you for calling today. By the way, the message said to remind you to call me Friday while I am at work. Oops! Guess I was a little late in reading it. I love you and hope to hear from you soon. Yours forever, Wanda PS just had to tell you "I LOVE YOU" one more time I love you.