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09-06-2019, 06:59 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Pageland
Posts: 247
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What are you thankful for today?
One of the most popular posts in a other forum I frequent, which also happens to be one that is sort of a "team building" kind of thing, is about what has made your day today.
I don't THINK I see anything like that here. If so...OOPS!
Anyway I'll go.
The last 2 years for me have been pretty rough. I bought a house at 19 years old as a fixer upper, then proceeded to never do any fix upping. Lol. A few years ago I met my wife we got married and had a child, and it became time to kick into high gear fixing this house up and getting out of there.
It was a nice private place in the boonies, but it was much too far for us to commute and take our daughter to school. We both work in the same town that is 30 miles from our old home.
We aren't exactly made of money, so I set out doing most of the repairs and upgrades myself. I spent all weekend every weekend, nights after work, etc trying to knock out projects on the house. I always felt like I was never making progress. My daughter would say "Daddy please stay in and play with me." I was turning down invites to all sorts of family functions because I needed progress to be happening. When you work 5.5 or 6 days a week, and you miss one weekend, that turns into quite the delay. Just a miserable time. But, for once, I had motivation to keep at it. It was wearing on my wife badly too, but she wanted us out. She didn't really like being in a home my ex wife and I picked out in years past.
I spent so much time on the crawl space it was ridiculous. My crawl was very low, in places I had to dig it out so I could squeeze between the joists. Rafter/floor joist repairs, vapor barrier, insulation, the typical paint and whatnot on the interior, refinishing hardwood floors, landscaping, interior doors, re roofing, all sorts of stuff, but we finally got it done.
It all paid off, though. When I finally got it finished, it went up on the market, we had 14 showings in the first day, and went under contract in just oVer 24 hours with multiple offers all over asking price. We settled at 10k over asking. Inspection went well, and in 6 weeks it was a done deal. We profited quite a bit, and we're able to pay off a lot of debt from bad decisions in the past on both our parts.
That was about 6 months ago, and we've been living with my dad since. We are grateful, but oh boy that has had its own set of challenges that have been trying.
Well, yesterday I signed the documents, and we're under contract on a very nice modular home! It's a lot model on a discontinued floor plan, and we swiped it at a steep discount. It's 1450 square feet downstairs, and a 650 square foot unfinished upstairs. I can't wait to give my daughter her own space again. All of the sacrifices have finally become worth it. We were actually close to deciding to live in our camper for now.
We have a nice piece of land we own free and clear in the town we work in. Literally across the street from the school my wife teaches at, and not 2 miles from my workplace.
The last photo is not ours, but the same model (with the upgraded atone facade). I haven't been able to get a good photo from the front yet, I'd get run over in the road. Lol
Also, since it's a lot model, it will be less than 4 weeks after underwriting is done before we're in.
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09-06-2019, 07:09 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Pageland
Posts: 247
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09-06-2019, 08:34 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Solomons
Posts: 3,874
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Grateful for my wife and all my family members. Grateful the Lord saw fit to give me another day on this earth.
__________________
Tom
2019 Alpine 3651RL
2016 F350 CC DRW
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09-06-2019, 09:08 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Vacaville
Posts: 306
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Good for you and glad to see it paid off!
I've been doing the same thing for years and realizing how much life you miss when you're always working. We have saved a ton of money though by doing most everything ourselves, allowing us to afford fun stuff like a nice camper and dirt bikes. Trying to simplify now and enjoy life an family a bit more.
My wife made a Thankful Jar. A big mason jar with a sewn slot cover and pockets for strips of paper and pens. We try to pause once in a while and write down the little things that we are thankful for. The plan is to open it up on Thanksgiving and read them all.
I have a great job, and the growing family are all healthy.
Have a great day all!
__________________
2013 Premier 22RBPR
2022 GMC 2500HD 4x4 Gasser
2019 Beta 500 RR-s (Pasta Rocket!)
2015 Honda CRF250L (Wifes)
Camping, home brewing, and dirt bikes!
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09-06-2019, 09:21 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Pageland
Posts: 247
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Oh we definitely saved a ton of money by doing a lot ourselves. I'm fortunate to have a great father who has a lot of experience with carpentry, framing, and grading work, who has a tractor and a healthy skid steer that have come in very handy.
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09-10-2019, 08:26 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,085
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tbos
Grateful for my wife and all my family members. Grateful the Lord saw fit to give me another day on this earth.
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This!
Every day looking at the tops of the flowers is better than looking at the bottoms.
As a high-school dropout I am grateful to live in a country I immigrated to as a child where ANYTHING is possible and to be able to share my blessings with friends and family.
Hard work pays off, don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
On the eve of 9/11, I am especially grateful for our military and first responders.
-Brian
__________________
2014 Bullet Premier 22RBPR - let the camping commence!
2013 F150 Platinum - 5.0 - 3.55 ELD + towing package
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09-11-2019, 03:33 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Markham, Ontario
Posts: 1,942
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It's difficult to make sacrifices for the bigger picture. I entered into a line of work that was not conducive to my personality. The money is ok, the work is guaranteed, the vacation and benefits are great. I did it for my family, I have 4 kids who are all grown and doing well. I spent a ton of time with them, coached them all in soccer, they felt safe and loved and had the childhood I wanted. I included them in all aspects of house repair and seasonal cleaning and maintenance. They helped me build patios, install an in-ground sprinkler system, and sod a new back yard. I fixed a house I knew I was leaving. It was painful, but it's behind me.
I am thankful for the way my kids have grown up and how they have turned out.
I am thankful for being able to live on one of the most peaceful and beautiful continents on the planet.
__________________
Dan & Serena
2019 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD SLE
2015 Cougar X-Lite 29 RET
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09-11-2019, 05:34 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: South Jordan, Utah
Posts: 2,221
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Thankful for the good luck and Grace of God that has allowed my wife and I to enjoy the life we have together. For each and every day that we can live in freedom and not worry about feeding ourselves or escaping from situations so horrible we have to leave our homes and families to survive. I give thanks for the Grace that provides us with all that we have and especially for the companionship we can share in such troubled times.
__________________
2017 Cougar 279RKSWE
2007.5 Dodge Ram 2500 6.7 Cummins
Retirement Training Completed
I think the little voices in my head have started a chat group.
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09-11-2019, 06:06 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Germantown, TN
Posts: 6,306
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For members like B-O-B who can come up with another line for me to use down the road (and put a smile on my face): "Every day looking at the tops of the flowers is better than looking at the bottoms."
__________________
Jim in Memphis, Wife of 51 years is Brenda
2019 F450 6.7 Powerstroke
2018 Mobile Suites 40RSSA
2021 40' Jayco Eagle
2001 Road king w/matching Harley sidecar
2021 Yamaha X2 Wolverine 1000
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09-11-2019, 11:36 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,085
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Quote:
Originally Posted by notanlines
For members like B-O-B who can come up with another line for me to use down the road (and put a smile on my face): "Every day looking at the tops of the flowers is better than looking at the bottoms."
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Haha, feel free to use it any time .
As a naturalized Texan, I have a bunch of them.
-Brian
__________________
2014 Bullet Premier 22RBPR - let the camping commence!
2013 F150 Platinum - 5.0 - 3.55 ELD + towing package
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09-11-2019, 12:37 PM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Shelby Township
Posts: 74
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Thankful for my family - even though by children do not live by us any longer I know that I raised good men. They are good to their significant others and work hard for a living. I am thankful for the life I live with my husband. We are able to do the things we like to do and enjoy each other's company. He is my best friend.
__________________
Pam & DH Chris and Molly the Dog
(formerly luvspalmtress on the forum)
2015 Ram
2013 Laredo 29RKS
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09-11-2019, 02:09 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 187
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I'm thankful for the chance to camp near Loon Lake (6,400 ft elevation) just south of Lake Tahoe last weekend with my wonderful wife in a kozy Keystone trailer pulled by a fine F-250 with two kayaks in the bed. About two weeks ago a ringing began in my right ear along with slight pressure and I was afraid the trip would have to be cancelled once we began climbing into the hills. Luckily the altitude didn't cause inner ear issues and the ringing/pressure went away as mysteriously as it appeared two days after we returned to near sea level. Everything went flawlessly with the trailer, truck, kayaks and weather plus we snagged an awesome campsite surrounded by pine trees and ferns. A fun bonus was the trio of mountain/river otters playing and eating in a nearby small lake where we paddled around. Those 3-day getaways are rare as we're still about 18 months away from retirement so I'm truly thankful for that time.
__________________
Number 4: 2013 Hideout 19FLBWE
Number 3: 1994 Skyline Nomad 1661
Number 2: 1971 Santa Fe
Number 1: 1967 Shasta Airflyte
2015 F-250 Lariat 6.2L CC 4x4 3.73
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09-11-2019, 02:16 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 187
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I'm also thankful for my daughter who, with her husband, just purchased a second home on lake-front property as a getaway retreat from her high pressure job. She told me all those years I took her camping as a young-un cause her to immediately decompress and relax when she's among pine trees near water, so they are thrilled to have this opportunity. What a testament to the positive aspects of family camping!
__________________
Number 4: 2013 Hideout 19FLBWE
Number 3: 1994 Skyline Nomad 1661
Number 2: 1971 Santa Fe
Number 1: 1967 Shasta Airflyte
2015 F-250 Lariat 6.2L CC 4x4 3.73
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09-11-2019, 03:06 PM
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#14
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Wake Forest
Posts: 81
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I'm thankful for today.
__________________
TV -2015 Ram 3500 megacab dually.
RV - 2019 5th wheel toy hauler Carbon 357
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09-12-2019, 02:17 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Richmond
Posts: 625
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Grateful and thankful to the Lord for so many things... for my wife's breast cancer being gone, for my children and grandchildren, my job and for being healthy enough to enjoy so many great things in life...
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09-20-2019, 11:39 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Northville, NY
Posts: 374
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Max,
Your tale sounds very familiar to me. DW and I bought a fixer upper shortly after our marriage and spent the next 20 years doing a complete makeover. It was waterfront and we got it dirt cheap because it was so needy. Raised three kids there and the building project took much longer as the wife stayed home to raise them which made the budget so much tighter. But that was definitely worth it. I worked a lot of overtime to buy material for the project though that double edged sword took time away from working on the house. We still made time to take the kids boating, fishing and of course camping in our little pop up that we pulled behind the family wagon.
In the end we turned that 15k investment into 215 and used that to build our retirement home now that the kids where gone. We've also upgraded from the pop up to a fiver. 2 of the 3 kids moved out of state which gives us an excuse the use the FW to go and visit them and the grandkids.
Looking back now I am first of all grateful having been born in a place that allowed my family and I to prosper and be free. I am grateful for a wonderful wife and best friend of 48 years and three beautiful children and their spouses and our grandchildren. I am thankful we all are enjoying good health. But most of all I am thankful for a wonderful loving God that made this all happen.
Other than a few minor details I wouldn't change a thing.
Life is Good,
Contentment is a wonderful thing.
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09-20-2019, 11:01 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WA
Posts: 384
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tbos
Grateful for my wife and all my family members. Grateful the Lord saw fit to give me another day on this earth.
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AMEN! Without a doubt.
__________________
2018 Dodge Ram 3500 6.7L Diesel Cummins Turbo
2019 Jayco Eagle 321RSTS 5th Wheel
Retired Army MSG
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10-17-2019, 05:44 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Pageland
Posts: 247
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We've been able to break some ground. My dad and I are going to do the footings, and he's going to be able to do the crane work also. My daughter will be able to get in the crane with him for a minute and she LOVES power equipment. I hope that's going to be a fine lasting memory for her. All in all this will save us roughly $5000 off the quoted price with the housing company contracting that work out.
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11-28-2019, 03:07 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Pageland
Posts: 247
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We're not in by any means, but the house was set yesterday!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
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11-28-2019, 03:34 PM
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#20
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,598
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It's looking good Mitchell and thanks for that update - it looks very nice! It won't be long, but man the interior work goes slow. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours and let us know when you get to move in!
__________________
Danny and Susan, wife of 56 years
2019 Ram 3500 Laramie CC SWB SB 6.4 4x4 4.10
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
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