New Year Resolutions: Back It Up!! Check It Out!

Last time I told you about our home invasion the week before Christmas. Two of the biggest things we learned:

1) Don't just keep saying that you need to back up the pictures and important documents on your computer. DO IT!! This week! We lost over 2000 pictures on the computer that was stolen. I knew better. It was always my intention to buy an external hard drive and get the pictures off both of our computers. Even now - I have bought the external hard drive - but it still sets empty. Once again, I am putting off backing up more pictures and documents on our old desktop. When will I ever learn??

2) Familiarize yourself with your home insurance policy. Do you have enough coverage to replace everything in your home - or are you just trying to get by as cheaply as possible? We have what Allstate calls the DELUXE policy, which sounds really comprehensive to me, but don't let that fool you. Our comprehensive policy DOES NOT cover the personal property of any who is not under our immediate and legal care - no matter the age. Patrick, the young man staying with us during our home invasion also had his laptop stolen, but is not covered because, even though he is under 21, we are not his legal guardians.

In fairness to Allstate, this is an overall corporate policy for most insurance companies. Everyone is responsible/expected to have home owners insurance that would cover his personal property no matter where it is - especially college students - they are covered even while away at school. Hopefully, Patrick's mother's insurance is going to cover his laptop loss. You might want to know what your policy covers so that you can inform anyone that is going to be staying with you for any length of time (or even one night) if they have personal property of substantial worth.

So, our claim of a stolen laptop and an iPod probably seems petty (especially to the insurance company) - and considering how our insurance is going up slightly for the next 3 years because of it - it may not have been worth filing. However, when Jeff tried to fix our sliding glass door and could not, we had to add another element to the claim. Because of having to replace that door, it seems that our claim has gained a little more merit and may pay off in the long run. However, filing claims is just one of those things you have to decide whether it is worth the risk or premiums being increased!

So, after saying all that, I do wish you a Blessed and Happy 2008 - no matter what may happen. I have found in my life of almost a half of a century that God is in control even when we're not - and even when it seems that no one is. He is and always will be.

I hope I remember that as we now wait to hear whether Lauren's car will be totaled and, if so, how much we will be given for it. Then what? How will we replace that car? God is in control........I bend my knee - and ear - to my Heavenly Father!