This was the funniest activity I have ever done at the junior high. Genius Golfer had some fun too. In fact, he was getting into it before the day was over.
We worked the "Car Insurance" table. Just slightly more interesting/exciting than the "Utilities" table. But pretty funny for us!
Prior to coming to the gym, the kids had filled out their career aptitude tests and base on that and their GPA they were assigned an occupation and then randomly, they received a personal scenario. This would include info on whether or not they had a spouse or children. It gave some background as to what their spouse did that may or may not add to their monthly income. It also indicated what kind of education they (and their potential spouse) had already. This scenario had them step into a 30 year old's situation.
The kids came into the gym with their booklet and a checkbook. They were required to stop at each booth or table and get it in initialed by one of the adults there. Anywhere they stopped and bought something they wrote a check then we did the math in their check register in their booklet. That way they could always see their balance. For some, this was a rude awakening.
The kids had jobs that ranged from artist, professional athlete, animal trainer, or fashion designer to neurosurgeon, orthopedic surgeon, pediatrician, lawyer, or veterinarian. The lowest incomes to the highest incomes--an many in between.
The kids had several choices at the "Transportation" booth. There were about 4 bars in three different age ranges, with the corresponding prices. They also had a "Bus Pass" option there. We saw several kids who would come to us for insurance after "buying" the most expensive and blinged out car/truck only to see them 20 minutes later when they had to sell their sweet ride to buy their family food and got a bus pass instead.
The best part of our booth was the required spinner. They told us which car they bought and then they had to spin to see if they had "no tickets" or if they had "2 tickets" and that would almost triple their insurance. The older, more sensible cars had lower insurance and the newer, faster cars had higher insurance rates. It was great! My favorite was the cool studly kid who would spin right after his slightly less cool and less studly friend got "no tickets" only to land on "2 tickets" himself with his tricked out ride and his insurance is almost as much as his housing expenditure! I loved those ones.
It was a really fun day. I'll let you know what The Girl's results were tomorrow. She is a bright kid, but we need to encourage her to aspired to a better career, or she'll be living in or basement forever! But that is a story for tomorrow. Stay tuned...same bat channel...slightly earlier bat time.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Friday, November 14, 2008
Where Do I Cash My Reality Check?
Genius Golfer is getting dragged into my world of volunteering at school today. It is our Junior High's Reality Town event today and we are going as part of about 60 parents volunteering to give these eighth graders a little Reality Check.
This is a program that gives the kids a taste of the adult world and also helps to emphasize the important of education and good career choices.
Based on the kids' GPA and career aptitude test, they are assigned a job and an appropriate salary. That means, a C+ student is not going to be making the big bucks as a doctor, for example. Then, like the game of LIFE, they are randomly assigned a spouse, or not, and child or children or not and they have to be for the dependents they are given.
Then the fun begins. The parent volunteers are in the gym, sitting in "booths" with names like "Car Insurance", "Health Care", "Housing", or "Entertainment". The kids have their pay stub, and a check register, and they have to make choices for their "family" on what they need and what they can afford. If they make poor decisions, then they have to go to the "Financial counseling" booth and there be told they need another job to pay for what they have purchased and can't afford. Ideas of what childcare and groceries can cost to a grown up will snap some of these kids into reality, with any luck.
It is unfortunate that American Society at large doesn't get a day, or even a week to visit Reality Town. But maybe, this eighth grade event will prepare future society to avoid the trouble we are seeing now.
I'll let you know how this goes down today. I am anxious to see how The Girl does. Poor thing, she has been told for ever that she has to work hard and do well in school and save her money and not spend what you don't have....
Today is the testing day to see if she understood our lessons. Check, please!
This is a program that gives the kids a taste of the adult world and also helps to emphasize the important of education and good career choices.
Based on the kids' GPA and career aptitude test, they are assigned a job and an appropriate salary. That means, a C+ student is not going to be making the big bucks as a doctor, for example. Then, like the game of LIFE, they are randomly assigned a spouse, or not, and child or children or not and they have to be for the dependents they are given.
Then the fun begins. The parent volunteers are in the gym, sitting in "booths" with names like "Car Insurance", "Health Care", "Housing", or "Entertainment". The kids have their pay stub, and a check register, and they have to make choices for their "family" on what they need and what they can afford. If they make poor decisions, then they have to go to the "Financial counseling" booth and there be told they need another job to pay for what they have purchased and can't afford. Ideas of what childcare and groceries can cost to a grown up will snap some of these kids into reality, with any luck.
It is unfortunate that American Society at large doesn't get a day, or even a week to visit Reality Town. But maybe, this eighth grade event will prepare future society to avoid the trouble we are seeing now.
I'll let you know how this goes down today. I am anxious to see how The Girl does. Poor thing, she has been told for ever that she has to work hard and do well in school and save her money and not spend what you don't have....
Today is the testing day to see if she understood our lessons. Check, please!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
I Hate When THAT Happens...
Uhmmmm. So, this morning I was writing my little blog post and I looked at the calendar and counted the number of weeks until Thanksgiving. I must have math issues today.
Darling Friend Sherry, kindly and gently, reminded me that Thanksgiving was, in fact only TWO WEEKS away, not three. Thus my posting title should have read "T Minus 2 Weeks".
I hate when THAT happens. Yeah, and thanks, Sherry! DOH!!
Darling Friend Sherry, kindly and gently, reminded me that Thanksgiving was, in fact only TWO WEEKS away, not three. Thus my posting title should have read "T Minus 2 Weeks".
I hate when THAT happens. Yeah, and thanks, Sherry! DOH!!
T Minus 3 Weeks....
We are on a countdown to Thanksgiving, my friends. We are three weeks to launch as of today. In light of that, I would like to share a little cartoon in relations to Thanksgiving Day for the next few Thursdays with you.
Yep, this is one theory for why I am assigned the cranberry relish at the Family Get-Togethers.
Have a great Thursday...it's the gateway to the weekend!
Yep, this is one theory for why I am assigned the cranberry relish at the Family Get-Togethers.
Have a great Thursday...it's the gateway to the weekend!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
You Say "Potato"...
Yesterday I hosted the judging of our elementary school's PTA Reflection's contest at my house. I am the chairman this year and getting the entries judged it part of my gig.
We had 128 items entered by 110 kids. There are eight possible categories: visual art, 3D art, literature, photography, film/video, musical composition, choreography/dance, and theater. We got no entries in music or theater this year, and only one in dance. The theme the kids were to illustrate was "WOW!". That narrows it down, now, doesn't it?
I am always surprised by how different that theme (or any we have ever used) is interpreted by the kids. In some cases, I can see the guidance that mom or dad provided and the work shows it. But there are others that are truly the kids' work, the kids' thought behind it, and the kids' interpretation. I love those entries.
I got to attend last night's Young Women in Excellence last night too. I had kind of the same feelings there, except there, I wasn't forced to have them judged!
The YW in the ward displayed or performed some of the things they had learned or achieved this year. There are so many options and varieties for the girls to do and try. It was fun to see Little Neighbor with her drum set play "Yellow Submarine" just after Northern Friend played "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" on her violin. It was as fun evening, all around.
It reminds me of President Uchtdorf's comments at the general Relief Society meeting in September. He told women of the church, "You may think that you don't have talents, but that is a false assumption, for we all have talents and gifts, every one of us. The bounds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before---colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter."
Thank goodness we are allowed our unique abilities and all are acceptable. Now if we could just feel the same about some other issues as well then we might all be able to get along in this world.
We had 128 items entered by 110 kids. There are eight possible categories: visual art, 3D art, literature, photography, film/video, musical composition, choreography/dance, and theater. We got no entries in music or theater this year, and only one in dance. The theme the kids were to illustrate was "WOW!". That narrows it down, now, doesn't it?
I am always surprised by how different that theme (or any we have ever used) is interpreted by the kids. In some cases, I can see the guidance that mom or dad provided and the work shows it. But there are others that are truly the kids' work, the kids' thought behind it, and the kids' interpretation. I love those entries.
I got to attend last night's Young Women in Excellence last night too. I had kind of the same feelings there, except there, I wasn't forced to have them judged!
The YW in the ward displayed or performed some of the things they had learned or achieved this year. There are so many options and varieties for the girls to do and try. It was fun to see Little Neighbor with her drum set play "Yellow Submarine" just after Northern Friend played "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" on her violin. It was as fun evening, all around.
It reminds me of President Uchtdorf's comments at the general Relief Society meeting in September. He told women of the church, "You may think that you don't have talents, but that is a false assumption, for we all have talents and gifts, every one of us. The bounds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before---colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter."
Thank goodness we are allowed our unique abilities and all are acceptable. Now if we could just feel the same about some other issues as well then we might all be able to get along in this world.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
TAG-TASTIC!
Dear Friends have been playing a lot of TAG lately. I had several in wait to catch up on this week. So here goes—all at once, that makes it is TAG-TASTIC!
Micheale set me up with this one first:
What were you doing 10 years ago?
1. Had year old boy and three year old girl
2. Finding a “Shi Shi Puu Puu” holiday dress for our first Noni party. (!)
3. Doing my turn in neighborhood Home preschool with The Girl
4. Teaching RS or just called as YW president—can’t remember exactly
5. Taking lots of photos of the kids
What 5 things are on your "To DO" list today?
1. Help at Tammy's with rest of laundry I didn’t finish Monday
2. Dusting & vacuuming
3. Get Reflections entries judged today and winners figured out
4. Type up Reflections winners’ names for trophies
5. Young Women in Excellence tonight
5 snacks that I enjoy
1. Peanut M&M's
2. Diet Coke
3. Wintergreen Lifesavers
4. Cinnamon rolls
5. More Diet Coke
5 things I'll do when I become a multi-millionaire
1. Relax...
2. Travel
3. Serve a mission
4. Buy real estate as an investment
5. Surprise people with gifts
5 places I have lived
1. Right here in Pleasant Grove
2. Springville
3. Provo
4. Gilroy, CA
5. Sunnyvale, CA
5 jobs I have had
1. Life guard at a seed company’s summertime day care
2. Fabric Store clerk
3. Marriage clerk at BYU Alumni house
4. Shipping Specialist for a Dental Research Lab (AKA: Hell)
5. Substitute Teacher
Then there is this Christmas Themed one (Thanks, Sherry…just can't let me get Thanksgiving done with first, huh?):
1. Wrapping Paper or Gift Bags? Wrapping
2. Real Tree or Artificial? Prefer real, but let’s face it—artificial tree bought after the holiday is always going to be cheaper.
3. When Do You Put Up The Tree? As late as I can hold off everyone
4. When Do You Take The Tree Down? As soon as possible after Christmas, like the next day.
5. Do You Like Egg Nog? Uh, no. It is like liquid mayonnaise
6. Favorite Gift Received As A Child? A shopping trip with my dad for school clothes.
7. Do You Have A Nativity Scene? Yes, several.
8. Hardest Person to Buy For? Mothers in law.
9. Easiest Person to Buy For? Genius Golfer
10. Mail Or Email Christmas Cards? Mail, every year with a letter and photo
11. Worst Christmas Gift You Ever Received? There was this yarn dog from an auntie once….
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? A Christmas Story, you know the one…with Ralphie and the Red Ryder BB Gun. You’ll shoot your eye out…
13. Have You Ever Recycled A Christmas Present? Uh, yes, but never YOURS
14. Favorite Thing to Eat At Christmas? Homemade treats from friends and neighbors
15. Clear Lights or Colored on the Tree? Any I do not have to put on myself.
16. Favorite Christmas Song? I like the one Celine Dion sings that was written by the guy from Twisted Sister, can't recall the title at the moment.
17. Travel at Christmas or Stay Home? Stay home…as long as possible...then to Grandmama's.
18. Can You Name All Of Santa's Reindeer? You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid, Donner and Blitzen.... but do you recallllllll...the most famous reindeer of all.....(da dum dum dum) RUDOLPH!!
19. Open The Presents Christmas Eve Or Morning? Morning
20. Most Annoying Thing about This Time of Year? The constant commercials telling us to buy this (Fill in the blank) for anyone you might have missed on your list. If you missed them, they really weren’t on the list, now were they?!
21. Favorite Ornament Theme or Color? No theme, just ornaments that mean something to us.
22. Favorite Food for Christmas Dinner? Steak with baked potato and Shrimp cocktail and Martinelli’s
And Peggy had this one:
8 TV shows I like to watch: Dancing with the Stars, Masterpiece Classic, The Big Bang Theory, Ace of Cakes, Arthur (on PBS), Food Network Challenge, Treasures of the Trust, and Everybody Loves Raymond
8 Things that happened yesterday: At Tammy's place I got her dishes unloaded and reloaded, the wood floors swept, the family picked up, garbages taken out, girls' bathroom cleaned, laundry started, beds made, and microwave cleaned.
8 of my favorite places to eat: The Barn, Olive Garden, PF Chang's, Mi Ranchito, Purple Turtle, Erik's Deli (in Gilroy), Phil's Fish place in Moss Landing, CA. Honorable Mention: Ruby's Diner in San Diego--but I've only been there once.
8 things I am looking forward to: Having Thanksgiving amid Christmas music on the radio already and the Christmas light extravaganza in my yard (and family room currently), finishing the Reflections contest awards night, getting through all the Young Women in Excellence night I get to go to in the next two weeks, summer, swim team next year, The Boy's ordination in the spring, being done with Boy Scouts (I know, it will take a lot longer), and Did I say SUMMER?
8 things on my wish list: One of those CD cases that holds like 200 CDs in a binder (to store photography discs), iTunes gift card, cash is always good, new shoes, book shelves built in with a long ago promised entertainment center in the family room, a finished backyard--finally, and a family vacation.
In nearly all of these fun lists you are supposed to tag more people to continue the lists forward. I think with three at once, I had better not make too many enemies by tagging any of you, but should you feel the need, feel free. I still like to see what everyone would put in theirs. Choose your favorite list and fill in your own answers. My turn as "It" is done.
Micheale set me up with this one first:
What were you doing 10 years ago?
1. Had year old boy and three year old girl
2. Finding a “Shi Shi Puu Puu” holiday dress for our first Noni party. (!)
3. Doing my turn in neighborhood Home preschool with The Girl
4. Teaching RS or just called as YW president—can’t remember exactly
5. Taking lots of photos of the kids
What 5 things are on your "To DO" list today?
1. Help at Tammy's with rest of laundry I didn’t finish Monday
2. Dusting & vacuuming
3. Get Reflections entries judged today and winners figured out
4. Type up Reflections winners’ names for trophies
5. Young Women in Excellence tonight
5 snacks that I enjoy
1. Peanut M&M's
2. Diet Coke
3. Wintergreen Lifesavers
4. Cinnamon rolls
5. More Diet Coke
5 things I'll do when I become a multi-millionaire
1. Relax...
2. Travel
3. Serve a mission
4. Buy real estate as an investment
5. Surprise people with gifts
5 places I have lived
1. Right here in Pleasant Grove
2. Springville
3. Provo
4. Gilroy, CA
5. Sunnyvale, CA
5 jobs I have had
1. Life guard at a seed company’s summertime day care
2. Fabric Store clerk
3. Marriage clerk at BYU Alumni house
4. Shipping Specialist for a Dental Research Lab (AKA: Hell)
5. Substitute Teacher
Then there is this Christmas Themed one (Thanks, Sherry…just can't let me get Thanksgiving done with first, huh?):
1. Wrapping Paper or Gift Bags? Wrapping
2. Real Tree or Artificial? Prefer real, but let’s face it—artificial tree bought after the holiday is always going to be cheaper.
3. When Do You Put Up The Tree? As late as I can hold off everyone
4. When Do You Take The Tree Down? As soon as possible after Christmas, like the next day.
5. Do You Like Egg Nog? Uh, no. It is like liquid mayonnaise
6. Favorite Gift Received As A Child? A shopping trip with my dad for school clothes.
7. Do You Have A Nativity Scene? Yes, several.
8. Hardest Person to Buy For? Mothers in law.
9. Easiest Person to Buy For? Genius Golfer
10. Mail Or Email Christmas Cards? Mail, every year with a letter and photo
11. Worst Christmas Gift You Ever Received? There was this yarn dog from an auntie once….
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? A Christmas Story, you know the one…with Ralphie and the Red Ryder BB Gun. You’ll shoot your eye out…
13. Have You Ever Recycled A Christmas Present? Uh, yes, but never YOURS
14. Favorite Thing to Eat At Christmas? Homemade treats from friends and neighbors
15. Clear Lights or Colored on the Tree? Any I do not have to put on myself.
16. Favorite Christmas Song? I like the one Celine Dion sings that was written by the guy from Twisted Sister, can't recall the title at the moment.
17. Travel at Christmas or Stay Home? Stay home…as long as possible...then to Grandmama's.
18. Can You Name All Of Santa's Reindeer? You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid, Donner and Blitzen.... but do you recallllllll...the most famous reindeer of all.....(da dum dum dum) RUDOLPH!!
19. Open The Presents Christmas Eve Or Morning? Morning
20. Most Annoying Thing about This Time of Year? The constant commercials telling us to buy this (Fill in the blank) for anyone you might have missed on your list. If you missed them, they really weren’t on the list, now were they?!
21. Favorite Ornament Theme or Color? No theme, just ornaments that mean something to us.
22. Favorite Food for Christmas Dinner? Steak with baked potato and Shrimp cocktail and Martinelli’s
And Peggy had this one:
8 TV shows I like to watch: Dancing with the Stars, Masterpiece Classic, The Big Bang Theory, Ace of Cakes, Arthur (on PBS), Food Network Challenge, Treasures of the Trust, and Everybody Loves Raymond
8 Things that happened yesterday: At Tammy's place I got her dishes unloaded and reloaded, the wood floors swept, the family picked up, garbages taken out, girls' bathroom cleaned, laundry started, beds made, and microwave cleaned.
8 of my favorite places to eat: The Barn, Olive Garden, PF Chang's, Mi Ranchito, Purple Turtle, Erik's Deli (in Gilroy), Phil's Fish place in Moss Landing, CA. Honorable Mention: Ruby's Diner in San Diego--but I've only been there once.
8 things I am looking forward to: Having Thanksgiving amid Christmas music on the radio already and the Christmas light extravaganza in my yard (and family room currently), finishing the Reflections contest awards night, getting through all the Young Women in Excellence night I get to go to in the next two weeks, summer, swim team next year, The Boy's ordination in the spring, being done with Boy Scouts (I know, it will take a lot longer), and Did I say SUMMER?
8 things on my wish list: One of those CD cases that holds like 200 CDs in a binder (to store photography discs), iTunes gift card, cash is always good, new shoes, book shelves built in with a long ago promised entertainment center in the family room, a finished backyard--finally, and a family vacation.
In nearly all of these fun lists you are supposed to tag more people to continue the lists forward. I think with three at once, I had better not make too many enemies by tagging any of you, but should you feel the need, feel free. I still like to see what everyone would put in theirs. Choose your favorite list and fill in your own answers. My turn as "It" is done.
Monday, November 10, 2008
How Much is Too Much?
Can you feel it in the air yet? Retailers are beginning to shove Christmas down our throats. They will want us to buy more, spend more, want more. It is getting ridiculous.
This year, in particular, Genius Golfer and I have talked about wanting to calm our Christmas down and not be so involved with the getting and focus more on the giving--not that we will be spending a lot, mind you, but to readjust our focus this year as a family.
The excess that seems to come with this time of year is a symptom of some gaping hole our society is trying to fill. The thinking "If you buy this for that person on your list, they will know you love them more than you can tell them" is completely bogus.
I really can't stand the commercials on the Disney or Nickelodeon channels either. The spots can nearly hypnotize a child into thinking that they MUST have whatever they are trying to hawk at them. Then the child (or grown up watching his preferred channel where the same thing happens to adults) begins to believe that they are only worthwhile if they have this stuff.
Enough, already! Moderation must step up and we must find some balance. Actually, this is true with other excesses too.
This weekend, for example, The Girl's computer usage has crossed the line into excess. She has a new Facebook page and is spending far too much time on it. GG and I have talked about how to police her on it, and how to limit her time, and what in the world she is doing on it anyway. She is a clever girl, but the idea that she could go across the street and CHAT with the same neighbor kid in person, rather than online, is unbelievable to her. That is the kind of trouble I see brewing here.
GG watched a movie with The Girl and her friend on Friday night, and about every 20 minutes she would dart over to the computer where there was some chat going on with her friends (whom we do know, but, still...) at the same time as the movie. It was annoying GG. Her friend didn't need to do that. I thought it was rude, and pathetic. Things need to change.
So, we begin the week with a dilemma. How much is too much?! I suppose we each have our pet excesses that we choose not to corral. But as a parent, we have to moderate ourselves and our kids so we can all be a little more balanced. Wish me luck. Like Dr. Dobson's book says, "Parenting Isn't For Cowards". And neither is Christmas shopping.
This year, in particular, Genius Golfer and I have talked about wanting to calm our Christmas down and not be so involved with the getting and focus more on the giving--not that we will be spending a lot, mind you, but to readjust our focus this year as a family.
The excess that seems to come with this time of year is a symptom of some gaping hole our society is trying to fill. The thinking "If you buy this for that person on your list, they will know you love them more than you can tell them" is completely bogus.
I really can't stand the commercials on the Disney or Nickelodeon channels either. The spots can nearly hypnotize a child into thinking that they MUST have whatever they are trying to hawk at them. Then the child (or grown up watching his preferred channel where the same thing happens to adults) begins to believe that they are only worthwhile if they have this stuff.
Enough, already! Moderation must step up and we must find some balance. Actually, this is true with other excesses too.
This weekend, for example, The Girl's computer usage has crossed the line into excess. She has a new Facebook page and is spending far too much time on it. GG and I have talked about how to police her on it, and how to limit her time, and what in the world she is doing on it anyway. She is a clever girl, but the idea that she could go across the street and CHAT with the same neighbor kid in person, rather than online, is unbelievable to her. That is the kind of trouble I see brewing here.
GG watched a movie with The Girl and her friend on Friday night, and about every 20 minutes she would dart over to the computer where there was some chat going on with her friends (whom we do know, but, still...) at the same time as the movie. It was annoying GG. Her friend didn't need to do that. I thought it was rude, and pathetic. Things need to change.
So, we begin the week with a dilemma. How much is too much?! I suppose we each have our pet excesses that we choose not to corral. But as a parent, we have to moderate ourselves and our kids so we can all be a little more balanced. Wish me luck. Like Dr. Dobson's book says, "Parenting Isn't For Cowards". And neither is Christmas shopping.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Amen, to that!
Our message presented in Sacrament Meeting today was that of Financial Self-Reliance. It is a principle that I have become more and more grateful for and can see the wisdom in even more clearly.
This isn't an old fashioned, out of date or past it's prime way of thinking. It is as modern and current as the latest reports from Wall Street.
The lovely young couple who spoke, presented well thought out and well researched messages from apostles and prophets through the history of the Church. It didn't matter that some of the quotations they used were from 1930 leaders. The message is still true and possibly more important now.
In the last month and 8 days, I have been increasingly grateful that Genius Golfer and I have been on the same page regarding spending and saving; that we have been partners in creating a financially self-reliant home. The persistence in that over the years is paying off in a happy, safe, comfortable living now.
Our kids have seen first hand that when we saved to pay off our home a few years ago and consequently went without a few things, we are reaping the rewards of having what we need and also having a chance for Dad to find the kind of job he wants to do now without a lot of pressure to do it quickly. I hope they are paying attention. In all the essentials, the kids haven't really been deprived. We are living about like we did with a job, but with more "Daddy Time" than ever before. The kids have especially loved that.
When they were small and told me they wanted things, I would simply reply "It's good to want things." I know it frustrated them then, but I meant it. If they wanted it bad enough, they would have to work and save and really think hard about spending THEIR money on it. Mom was not just going to get it for them because they said they wanted it. I saw too many times when I did get them something--like for a birthday or Christmas--they didn't take care of it or appreciate it like I would have liked. It wasn't something they had learned the value of yet if it just given to them.
It is nice to hear this message today as a testimony to a way of life we subscribed to a long time ago and have now lived with long enough to see the real pay off of being debt free and with enough saved to not be obliged to do anything without thought and time on our side. Amen, I say to that message. Amen, indeed.
This isn't an old fashioned, out of date or past it's prime way of thinking. It is as modern and current as the latest reports from Wall Street.
The lovely young couple who spoke, presented well thought out and well researched messages from apostles and prophets through the history of the Church. It didn't matter that some of the quotations they used were from 1930 leaders. The message is still true and possibly more important now.
In the last month and 8 days, I have been increasingly grateful that Genius Golfer and I have been on the same page regarding spending and saving; that we have been partners in creating a financially self-reliant home. The persistence in that over the years is paying off in a happy, safe, comfortable living now.
Our kids have seen first hand that when we saved to pay off our home a few years ago and consequently went without a few things, we are reaping the rewards of having what we need and also having a chance for Dad to find the kind of job he wants to do now without a lot of pressure to do it quickly. I hope they are paying attention. In all the essentials, the kids haven't really been deprived. We are living about like we did with a job, but with more "Daddy Time" than ever before. The kids have especially loved that.
When they were small and told me they wanted things, I would simply reply "It's good to want things." I know it frustrated them then, but I meant it. If they wanted it bad enough, they would have to work and save and really think hard about spending THEIR money on it. Mom was not just going to get it for them because they said they wanted it. I saw too many times when I did get them something--like for a birthday or Christmas--they didn't take care of it or appreciate it like I would have liked. It wasn't something they had learned the value of yet if it just given to them.
It is nice to hear this message today as a testimony to a way of life we subscribed to a long time ago and have now lived with long enough to see the real pay off of being debt free and with enough saved to not be obliged to do anything without thought and time on our side. Amen, I say to that message. Amen, indeed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
