“Do you guys have life insurance?” she asked . . .
{Now – before you stop reading due to potential boredom . . . please read on and I’ll reward you with a video of me hurling through the air towards the ground! Woo-hoo! Don’t worry . . . I obviously didn’t die!}
I’m going to admit something to you that I’m ashamed of.
(I’m also going to tell you – “Do as I say – not as I do.” :))
Yes . . . this is one of those talks . . . you know the kind that make you feel like you are being forced to eat your vegetables “because they are good for you and will keep you healthy!” {But I’ll make it fun . . . you know . . . like hiding the broccoli under a big slab of cheese, or turning your veges into a diorama scene from Star Wars.}
I admit it . . .
I love being prepared, and I love taking care of my family . . . but I have to admit . . .
For years we did not have any life insurance! {gasp! There I said it!} Nope – this frugalista did not even have cheap life insurance!
When you are in your 20’s – you are invincible . . . the future (and eventual death) are a loooong way off {right?}. Even though I had kids in my 20’s – and I knew (in my head) that I should have life insurance . . . but it just wasn’t a priority on my list at the time as I struggled to just get through the day full of dirty diapers, nursing babies, whining and crying, lots of messes and one tired mama!
I went Skydiving without . . .
At the end of those years of invincibility, I decided to do something crazy and daring and surprised my husband for his 30th birthday (in 2001) . . . by taking him skydiving!
Yes – you read that right . . . skydiving! We both were going to tandem jump (not together (duh!)) with highly trained instructors. I had a strong-but-silent Navy Seal attached to my back, and my hubby had a fantastically fun guy as his partner. I was so excited (and quite calm) – but I think my hubby had more than a few butterflies roaming around inside! (He did great though – and loved it!)
My parents agreed to watch our 3 kids for the day . . . but I know my mom was wondering “Are they going to come back? Will I be stuck raising 3 more kids?” 🙂 She did jokingly (though, probably with a hint of sincerity) ask as we were leaving – “Do you guys have life insurance?” 🙂
{oops!}
I was ashamed to say “no”. (Of course – I doubt it would cover us throwing ourselves out of a plane at 11,000-14,000 and hurling our bodies to the earth at 115-120 miles per hour).
“How about a Will . . . You have one of those . . . right?” she queried.
{oops . . . again.}
Note to self : When we land safely back on the ground . . . make a will and get life insurance!
I do have to say . . . I THOROUGHLY enjoyed skydiving! Afterward I was ready to sign up for classes to learn to jump by myself. But, I guess my mom was thankful I didn’t have the money to do that. 🙂
It was not as scary as I thought it would be. There was no big rush or jump in my stomach (like you get going up and down on a roller-coaster), and in fact – it was so peaceful falling through the air that (ashamedly I’ll admit) I thought “Now I see why some people decide to jump off a building to commit suicide. It’s really peaceful!”
{Ok – bad thought!} Let’s change it to . . . “Ahh . . . so this is what it’s like to be a bird!”
(Well . . . maybe a bird falling to the ground.)
Anyways . . . I digress . . .
So . . . here’s the video I promised you. (And just to clarify . . . my tandem partner told me to keep my legs up when we landed until he said to put them down . . . but then he never said to put them down! No wonder all the suits had lovely grass and dirt stains on the butt! :))
Oh – and I just HAD to post this as well. I’m glad my jump didn’t go like this lady! Oh my! I’m glad I didn’t see this before ever jumping! She is one brave chica to be jumping at 80 years old! And she is blessed to be alive to tell about it!
Life Insurance and a Will – Do you have it?
How prepared are you – to make sure your little ones (and/or spouse) are taken care of in case the unthinkable happens? (Yes – even if you never skydive!) I know it’s not something we want to think about, and we put it off as long as we would put off a colonoscopy or mammogram . . . but in thinking about being prepared and taking care of my kids I always think about this scripture:
Proverbs 13:22 A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.
This isn’t just taking care of our kids – but planning for and leaving an inheritance for our grandkids as well.
Are you thinking about future generations and your descendants in your actions and plans today?
We did finally get around to preparing a little better (years later!) . . . and I’m sure we still do not have the amount that is “recommended” for our large family of 7.
However, we do have something better . . . the BEST “life” insurance around though! It never expires . . . and it didn’t cost me anything! 🙂
Would you ever go skydiving? Have you?
I’d LOVE to go skydiving again one day (insurance or not)! How about you?
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