Christmas 09: Give Like No One Else

Dave Ramsey is hosting a giveaway, each day, until Christmas. Today's giveaway is $1,000 cash, to either start your own emergency fund, or to bless someone else with, if they have not started an emergency fund. Dave Ramsey is such an inspiration to me, and I am thankful that he is encouraging others to be wise in saving, and to bless others, in return.
If you are looking for a great gift for Christmas, Dave is selling all of his cds, dvds, books, and even children's materials for only $10 each. Give the gift of financial freedom to your loved ones, this year!

Here are some pearls of wisdom from Dave Ramsey:

“Financial peace isn't the acquisition of stuff. It's learning to live on less than you make, so you can give money back and have money to invest. You can't win until you do this.”

“I'm not against people having new cars. I'm against them having you. We spend a tremendous amount impressing somebody at the stoplight who we'll never meet. It makes you broke and keeps you broke."

"If broke people are making fun of your financial plan, you’re on track."
— Dave Ramsey, Radio Show, 2007-06-08

"Winning at money is 80 percent behavior and 20 percent head knowledge. Most of us know what to do, but we just don’t do it."

"The average millionaire drives a three year old car and clips coupons."

Last Day to Get Free Christmas Cards!

Today is the last day to purchase your 50 free (just pay shipping) Christmas cards. I ordered some, last Sunday evening, and received them on Wednesday. Visit Crystal's website for all of the details. Blessings!

One of Our Favorite Learning Tools

We have been enjoying using Wikki Stix in our homeschooling adventures. Wikki Stix are pieces of yarn, which have been dipped in wax, creating a bendable manipulative. These can be used for many subjects including: the alphabet, numbers, science, etc..
Wikki Stix comes in handy when we are learning the Greek alphabet. My son made the first four Greek letters, in the above picture.
Even my 2 year old has a blast with these. She is playing with the number 4 that I made her.
The Wikki Stix company was so kind to send me a set of three sample packs to try out with my children. I definitely am looking forward to getting more!

For more ideas on how to keep your preschoolers productive, please read here.

November Book Reviews

Treasured Knowing God By the Things He Keeps
Treasured is an insightful look at the treasures of God's heart, which are traced throughout the Scriptures. At first sight, many things in God's treasury may seem non-descript and humble. Leigh McLeroy clearly shows the inherent value of each precious treasure. Using Bible passages and powerful practical life-applications, Leigh weaves the beautiful story of many of God's treasures, from a simple scarlet cord (Rahab) , to a fresh olive sprig (Hope Aboard Noah's Ark), to a fig leaf (man's imperfect covering vs. God's perfect covering) Each chapter contains a fresh look at Bible accounts, which we may have grown too accustomed to. I found it delightful to read a chapter, daily, during my devotional time. Each chapter was so inspiring, but one of my favorites was the section about the fig leaf. So often, in our shame over our sinfulness, our natural inclination is to cover our own sinfulness, as quickly as possible. Likewise, our first parents, Adam and Eve, hastily grabbed a fig leaf to cover their shame and sorrow. But, much to their dismay, the fig leaf was insufficient. After being questioned by God, Adam and Eve eventually confessed their sin to the Lord. Subsequently, God killed animals to clothe Adam and Eve with the skins. This was a foretaste of the sacrifice on Calvary, of the Perfect Lamb of God. Leigh McLeroy also guides readers to think of the personal treasures in their lives, which tell of their relationship with the Lord. Treasured is a wonderful devotional, which will lead you to reflect on what is most dear to the Lord.


God Gave Us Love
I could not wait to read, God Gave Us Love, to my little ones. My high expectations about this book were not in vain; this book gives a realistic picture of true love, to little ones. Little Cub spends the day with Grandpa, discussing what love is. Grandpa shares that even the otters, and Little Cub's younger siblings, are worthy of love, even when it is difficult. Grandpa shares that it is because God loves us, we need to show others His Love. It seems that many children and unfortunately, some adults, have never learned that one is required to love, even when it is challenging. This book is a terrific tool for teaching young children that love is a decision, not a mere emotion.
God Gave Us Christmas
Santa can be a controversial topic in many households. While God Gave Us Christmas does not deny the existence of Santa Claus, it certainly encourages children to focus on Jesus, the real reason for Christmas. In this precious tale, Mama Cub shows her Little Cub how God manifests Himself in His Creation. This story culminates when Little Cub realizes that the greatest treasure isn't presents, but rather, Jesus. God Gave Us Christmas is a gentle resource to teach preschoolers about the greatest gift that God gave to man.

These books were provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

The Beauty of Tending to One's Home

"Occasionally, we women grow weary of this life in the shadow of the tent. We say, To what end is the sewing, the sweeping, the cooking, the calling, the spending of all of this small change? We long for the wider sphere, for life in the open, for the breaking of the fetters which after all are to most of us blessed and dear, and of divine appointment. The mood is an unworthy one, for the service of the home, though on the surface it seem obscure, is really as compared with any other just as that of the priests in the outer court compared with the High Priest's function when he entered the Holy of Holies. In this world of wars and commotions, the one Holy of Holies where God is pleased to abide is the home, and there may be His shrine and His altar, as nowhere else."
-From In My Father's House: A Vision for Daughters

Painting by Helen Mary Elizabeth Allingham.

Black Friday Ads

For all of you brave ladies, out there, you can peruse several store's Black Friday ads here. As for me, I don't think I am going to "rough it" this year. I am hoping to snag some great deals online. If you know of great online deals, I would love to hear about them! Blessings!

Making the Most of a Pay Raise

According to financial gurus such as Dave Ramsey, you truly have to "live like no one else" in order to one day, "live like no one else". So what do most people do when they get a pay raise? They adjust their standard of living, almost immediately. I recall listening to Dave Ramsey's show, where he mentioned someone who was used to living off of $40,000 a year, who got a new job making $100,000 a year. This person immediately raised his standard of living and was spending every penny he earned, each month. Imagine how incredible it would be if that person had continued living off of the $40,000, and invested the other $60,000 each year! While most people won't have the opportunity to obtain a pay raise of $60,000, there is a lot of practical application for a more modest raise. Say, for example, that your husband is getting a pay raise of $5,000 a year. One could easily spend that much money on extra groceries, new gadgets, daily trips to coffee shops, and the deluxe cable package, every month. But rather than frivolously spending this money, wouldn't it be amazing to live like you never saw a penny of that raise? Divide the $5,000 (or however much the raise is) by 12 months, and put that money in a savings account or money market, each month. If you survived alright, monetarily, before the raise, you will do just fine in stashing that money away, and you won't miss it. In fact, you will be so thankful that you had the wisdom to save that money. Say you owe $50,000 on your mortgage. Just by stashing away that money, you could pay it off in 10 years, painlessly. (Imagine how you could save and invest, with a pay raise or a new job that generated an extra $10,000 or $20,000 a year!)

Here are a few ways to make such saving possible:

1. Spend and save intentionally- Have a plan and a goal. Discuss your plans with your spouse. Make a list of financial goals/achievements you aspire to. Do you want to pay off your house, take a dream vacation, or build a new house? Figure out how long it would take you to achieve that goal and make it happen.

2.Make your goal tangible- Most people are very visually oriented. Never before, in history, has it been so easy to buy whatever you want, whenever you want it. (Even if you don't have the money!) In this age of instant gratification, it can be challenging to cling to your long-term financial goals. In order to curb this tendency, make your long-term financial goal tangible. If your goal is to save up enough to build a house, find a blueprint of a house plan and print it out. Put it in a plastic sheet cover and put it somewhere where you can see it frequently. Make this goal as real to you as possible. The more you do this, the more likely you will be to keep your goal.

I would love to hear your creative ideas for making the most of a pay raise! Blessings!

$10 off the movie, UP!

If you are interested in purchasing the movie, UP!, you can save $10, through tomorrow, by printing out this coupon. Hurry, it expires tomorrow. You should be able to print 2 coupons, per computer. This would be a terrific Christmas gift for a special little one in your life.

Sewing Class

I have a love/hate relationship with my sewing machine. (mainly the latter) I try not to pull it out when I am pregnant, as I don't feel like I can handle any extra frustrations, at that time. So, my normal pattern is to take my sewing machine out, try a simple feat, the bobbin gets messed up, and I put the machine away for another four months. I had taken a sewing class at the local community college when I was expecting my firstborn, but the class was overflowing with about 30 students. Only a few students were helped, per class, which was very frustrating. A young lady from my church, Caroline, hosted a sewing camp this past week. I was able to attend the Thursday night session, and I learned so much in that 3 hour session. (I learned so much more in one evening, than I had learned in my previous course.) Caroline kept the class size to six students, so she was able to help whenever anyone had a question. I managed to make a purse for my sweet Lily, during class. When Caroline mentioned that we were going to be making pleats, I think my heart stopped for a minute, but it actually was easier than I expected. Thanks to Caroline, I don't think I will be leaving my sewing machine idle, any longer.

Earning Money As a Keeper at Home

Over the past several years, God has impressed my heart with Titus 2:4-5:

"That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed."
My conviction is that I ought to remain within the realm of home, if I desire to supplement our family income. Thankfully, there are a plethora of ways to earn money at home, especially with the help of the internet.

The following are a few ways that I have earned some money from home:

1. E- book writer- I wrote an e-book called Super Saving Strategies. Lulu will host your e-book for free, but takes a small fee for each book sold. The terrific thing about writing e-books is that there is no up-front cost for you. The only commodity that you give is your time. You do not have to be a professional to write an e-book. Think of a topic of something that interests you, or that you are passionate about, and start out with a small book on the subject. Perhaps you can show others how to do something, such as how to knit a scarf (in words and pictures) or how to decorate wedding cakes.

2. Affiliate Programs- Being an affiliate is an easy way to make money through your blog. I am an affiliate with Vision Forum, Nurtured Family, and The Old Schoolhouse. If someone purchases a product from a company that you are an affiliate with, you get a percentage of the sale. (Generally anywhere from 5%-8%).

3. Wedding Planner/ Consultant- I am an organizing aficionado. When it came time for the Christmas gift exchange with my husband's family, I was the nerd person who was making a spreadsheet of gift suggestions for everyone. So when my sister-in-law announced her engagement, I promptly whipped up a tabbed binder for her, with organizational sheets. She asked me to be her wedding consultant and very generously gives me some money, each month as I help her and her fiancee to sift through wedding planning details. (I would have gladly done it for free.)

4.Consignment Sales- This year was the first time that I participated in consignment sales. Consignment sales are a terrific way to earn money on extra stuff that you just don't need, and to get your children what they do need.

5. Surveys- A survey company contacted me this year, to record my household's radio listening habits for a week. It took about a total of 20 minutes to fill everything out, and I made a little over $30 for that. So far, that has been the most lucrative survey that I have done, but I do try to do other surveys, such as Surveyspot.

6. Yard Sales- Yard Saling in my neighborhood isn't very effective, but I did make a little money. We had a huge community yard sale, but we still didn't attract too much of a crowd, since we are out in the country, a bit. I really feel like location is so critical for successful yard sales.

Things I am interested in Pursuing from Home in the Future:

1. Teaching Childbirth classes- Birthing is my passion and I would love to encourage other women as they prepare to birth.

2. Selling baked goods to coffee shops/businesses.

3. Writing articles for select publications and/or websites.

4. Finding great deals at yard sales and Craigslist, to sell at Consignment sales.

5. Becoming a Notary Public- By taking a simple class at my local community college (for two evenings), I could become a certified notary public. (It does require one to pass a state test.) Once certified, I could place a sign up in my front yard, and if anyone needed anything notarized, they could just drop in. I had something notarized, yesterday, and it cost $5 for 2 minutes of the lady's time. It would be terrific to make money here and there, just for witnessing someone signing a document.

6. Medical Transcription-When I was expecting my firstborn, I took a few classes at the local community college to become a Medical Transcriptionist, in case we needed the extra income. Being a mother of three (soon to be four) little ones, I don't think I have the 2-3 hours a day, at this time, to devote to medical transcription. Perhaps, further down the road, it might not be a bad prospect for me. There are quite a few companies that allow you to do this job completely from home, while earning a nice income. (One lady I knew, was a transcriptionist for 2-3 hours a day, and earned $40,000 a year. She would transcribe while her granddaughter took her afternoon nap.)

Earning money from home can be challenging, at times, but can be successfully done, when you combine your passion with creativity. Find a niche and fill it!

I would love to hear some ways that you have found, to make money at home. Many blessings!

Grandbaby Duggar

I was thrilled when I heard, a couple of weeks ago, that Grandbaby Duggar arrived. We don't have cable, so I was so excited to see this video of their homebirth. It is so nice to see homebirth to be portrayed in a positive light, in this video! Many blessings!