Give-A-Way!!!

My sweet friend and super talented blogger, April, is having a give-a-way on Cup of Delight! Stop by and check out her blog to enter in the Give-A-Way for "Do It Yourself" Magazine. Oooh I hope I win!

The Birds of the Air ~ Living Debt Free

I've never felt like I was amazing at managing my money. Back in high school I began to worry about money and how college would be paid for. I applied for every scholarship I could find and prayed constantly that God would provide the finances for me to go to college. He used Matthew 6 to show me that I needn't worry about His provision.

Matthew 6:25-27, 33...
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. [or about college ~ how you will pay for it!] Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

[I inserted my own worry above]

The chapter goes on to say..."But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

I knew at the time I needed to find provision for college to be paid for. I chose to go to a state school with low tuition. And I was blessed on the day of graduation to walk away from college with my diploma and no debt! God had provided scholarships, help from my parents, and a part-time job to cover all the expenses. That was such a gift that God gave me and my parents to be able to walk away from school without debt.

Although I have managed to stay out of debt for the most part since college I realize I could be doing such a better job of saving and preparing for the future. Some resources that have been helpful and challenging to me lately are:

- a Board Game called CashFlow. We played this at a conference I had for work. They spent an afternoon helping to develop the staff holistically including educating us on finances. The game helps you learn about getting out of the "Rat Race" of living pay check to pay check.

- DaveRamsey.com ; I've been listening to Dave Ramsey's radio program and I also am using the envelope budget system. This is a way of budgeting where you carry cash with you and only make purchases with cash.

My most recent financial goals are to pay for everything I purchase with cash. This includes saving up and paying for a car with cash. No, it won't be a new car, but I really want to see if I can do it. I'll keep you updated!

Reaching out to Friends with Children!

Yay! I'm so excited about this post! My friends, Susan and Keri, shared some great advice. This is sooo helpful! Feel free to add your own in the comments section...

• I love it when friends include my kids in the conversation. Surely, the whole conversation doesn't have to be about them, but it's nice when they notice, acknowledge, ask questions, etc. It makes my kids happier to be around the grown-ups, AND my kids always remember those particular people. They have an incredible capacity to notice and listen--so they remember the people who take an interest.

• Please, EAT WITH US. When we go to big dinners out for people's birthdays, etc, we are always stuck at a table by ourselves. Usually, we are attending for social purposes (esp. the big-group-birthday scenario)--in that case, it has taken an extreme amount of effort just to arrive and be a part of the celebration, then to sit off by ourselves makes me think, "why did we go to all this effort? "
  

• Loving on my kids

• Trying to find ways for "girls' nights" to be when my kids can be with my husband or allowing me to be the hostess for events after my kids go to sleep so I can stay home and have "girl time"

Thanks for the great advice! This is so helpful! Check out my post on reaching out to single friends!

Have you ever see anything so beautiful?

A glorious view from La Selva Beach, California where I spent a week this summer. It is difficult for me to look at this picture and not believe that there is some kind of glorious creator behind it.

"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."
~ Romans 1:20, New Testament

Happy Birthday to Me!

It's not my birthday yet. My birthday is in November and I've already celebrated the 30 milestone. But if I could go back and pick my 30th birthday cake. I would choose this...

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Gayle's Bakery

Near Santa Cruz, California I discovered a sweet town called Capitola. I also found this sweet Bakery called Gayle's. I had the most wonderful meal there for lunch and also enjoyed a fruit tart the other evening that a friend brought back from Gayle's.

My sweet friend Sharon introduced me to Gayle's Bakery

Look at those delectable desserts!

I love how they decorated with vintage table cloths and china

What a great idea for a table!

A delicious brunch! Fresh fruit, pasta, and a cheese twist!