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So, recent events have me asking how much life insurance do I need, and other questions I haven’t wanted to consider.
I had originally planned to write this post about being protective of my children and husband, in the same way many parents are protective, but tonight I am at a different place than I was when I originally drafted this post. Tonight, I find myself in a situation that I could have never imagined being in, at least not for a very long time.
Initially this post was going to be all about protecting my family and children by making sure our doors are locked at night, and watching my girls like a hawk when we are out in public, and always being aware of my surroundings. Instead I am going to share what I have learned over the past four days.
LIFE CAN BE FULL OF UNEXPECTED CIRCUMSTANCES.
Four days ago, I was talking on the phone with my mother-in-law Beverly. I was giving her orders to go to the doctor or else. We were joking and having a good conversation, and now she can’t even speak to me. I am heart broken and I am pretty sure I may be in a state of shock that gives way briefly for moments of despair, anger, sadness, and a thousand other emotions that I’m struggling to understand.
I wish I would have thought to have the same talk with her that I have had with my own parents. The talk that isn’t easy to think about, but makes times like this a little easier to plan out. I wish I would have asked her what color dress she wanted to wear, what type of flowers she would want, what songs she wanted played. I wish I could have helped carry out these final plans knowing that her service would be exactly the way she would want it to be. Instead I’m left second guessing everything, and hoping that someone else knows the answers. In the end, I suppose the service is more for us than for her, but still I wish I knew exactly what she would want.
Protecting My Family:
Now, I’m asking myself these same questions. How much life insurance do I need? What do I want to be buried in? Where do I want to be buried? What songs do I want played at my funeral? Why haven’t I already written a will?
I still want to protect my family from all of the typical “mom fears”, but now I also want to protect them from having to make decisions they may not want to make. I want them to know that I do not want to be put on life support. I want them to know that I do not want to be buried with anything that they may want to keep for themselves (like wedding rings), and I want them to know just how much they mean to me. So I am going to be proactive. I am going to write a will, I am going to make sure that I use my life quote to make informed choices. I am going to do everything I can to protect them from the harsh realities of life. If there is a way to plan out having someone else take care of everything, I will do that. I just want my family to worry about each other. I want them to spend the time after my passing comforting each other and taking care of themselves.
This part sucks. The part where you have to face the fact that this life isn’t eternal. I believe in Heaven, so I know that the other side of this life is amazing, and I can’t wait to get there. I rejoice because I know that Beverly is going home. A home without worry, without tears, without pain, and without CANCER! Oh, and can I just say that I HATE cancer. I do, I hate it. It is horrible, and it doesn’t discriminate, and it hurts everyone it touches. I hate it, hate it, hate it. Sorry, I just had to get that out.
I love you Beverly. You were the best mother-in-law a girl could ask for. You were one of my best and closest friends. I told you everything, and you never judged me. You gave everything you had to us. You sacrificed everything to provide for your boys, and you are the reason I have this beautiful family. You gave me a gift that I could never repay you for. I love you so so much, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You were a “mama” to everyone, and you will be missed more than you could have ever imagined.
It’s Your Turn:
Will you join me in protecting the one’s you love? It’s important that you start TODAY. I can’t stress that enough because tomorrow or next week may not be soon enough. I’m not trying to scare you, but I know first hand how quickly everything can change. So please don’t wait to plan.
If you need a place to start check out the Protective Learning Center. They offer lots of helpful information on financial wedding planning, retirement and variable annuity, and yes most important to me… life insurance.