Christmas Card Contest

Ezekiel, Cenneidigh and JT entered the Christmas card contest at Hormel and they did a great job. Today in the mail was a big box with thank you gifts for each of them. What a nice surprise, we did not expect anything for entering. The kids were very excited about all the fun items in the box for them.

Good deal I found. Think Christmas!

To get the most out of the Oprah free Snapfish photobook deal ($29 value), here's how to do it.
1) If you are new to Snapfish, FIRST register through this link Snapfish so you get your 50 free prints.
2) After you create your account and the 50 free prints are credited to it, then go to this link: http://www.snapfish.com/info18
3) Click "Get Started". That will put the free photo book in your account. You must create and order the book by Nov 16. The book is worth $29.95, but is free for the next few days. You'll have to pay $5.99 shipping.
4) You should now have an account with 50 free prints and the photobook credited to it, even though you haven't ordered anything yet.
5) Upload all the pictures you want to use for the photobook and your 50 free prints today and tomorrow, then create and order your book by the 16th.. Wait until Nov 18th to order your 50 free prints because on the 18th, shipping will be free on all orders.
6) The 18th would be the time to order holiday cards (15% off with code CARD15OFF), personalized calendars or mugs, stationery, flip books, prints, or more photobooks, since shipping on all will be free.

I love snapfish and the flip books are cute and really inexpensive. Great site. They will have free shipping on the 18th for any other items you want to buy besides the free book. The photo book would make a great Christmas gift and shipping for me was 7.99. I was already a customer, but I still got the free book deal.

Sub Teaching, first time in GYM class.

I was called to teach gym class at one of the elementary schools. It was really fun. I had two forth grade, two fifth grade, two second grade and two third grade classes. We played Pinball, Dr. Dodge ball, Fishes and Whales and Clean Your Yard. Lots of running around and bumping into people. Lots of head shots and lots of kids holding their heads. By the sixth class the gym was starting to smell pretty ripe. Most kids were tired by the end of the class and some were in the nurses office. Many head bumps and falls but I asked the classes at the end, when they were complaining about their bruises and bumps, if they wanted me to write a note to the teacher to tell him that the class never wanted to play those games again because they were to rough. All the classes screamed a big, "NO". I think it was a good day.

A Good Quote from my email today.

A quote from Hyrum Smiths. He said the following:

“You are to vote for good men, and if you do not do this, it is a sin. Choose the good and refuse the evil. Men of false principles preyed upon us like wolves upon helpless lambs. Let every man use his liberties according to the Constitution. Don’t fear man or devil electioneer with all people, male and female and exhort them to do the thing that is right.

We want a President of the U.S. not a party President, but a President of the whole people; for a party President disfranchises the opposing party. Have a President who will maintain every man in his rights. I wish all of you to do all the good you can. We will try to convert the nations into one solid union. I despise the principle that divides the nation into parties and factions. I want it to grow up like a green bay tree, straight and tall. Damn the system of splitting up the nation into opposite belligerent parties…….There is power and influence enough among us to vote in a good President."

I would have to agree. I do fear that a two party system will destroy are freedom to vote for who we feel will do the best job,

Post on Heathers post

I read Heathers post on getting out of debt and staying that way and I had to post my opinion. I listen to an hour podcast of Dave Ramsey everyday and I am always inspired by the words of those struggling and fighting to pay their bills and get out of debt. It is amazing to hear the lengthen some people will go to get out of debt, Extra jobs, no vacations, beans and rice, rice and beans, no new items, no new clothes and a very small Christmas. We were very blessed to be given this book to read from my in-laws. I read it and then every other book Dave Ramsey had written. I decided this was the plan for us and then David read the books. Dave Ramsey and his program has been a blessing in our lives and we are on baby step 5 and I think we will be stuck in this step for awhile. Paying for college is going to be tough, but not having student loans will be worth the cost. Keep up the good work Heather and I cannot wait to see Dave Live in Kansas City in May(if my car will make it that far).

Now its your turn! Use the Baby Steps to get your finances in order and on track. Then pass them on to someone you know and help change their life!

1.$1,000 to start an Emergency Fund

2. Pay off all debt using the Debt Snowball

3. 3 to 6 months of expenses in savings

4. Invest 15% of household income into Roth IRAs and pre-tax retirement

5. College funding for children

6. Pay off home early

7. Build wealth and give! Invest in mutual funds and real estate

Another book I love is by Peter Walsh, Its All Too Much. It is a book about clutter and how

clutter robs us of our life energy and our ability to live in the present. I just cleaned out Cenneidigh's room and we have a new rule, anything new in means something old has to go. I have at least 10 grocery bags full of things she does not use or need any more and she still has plenty in her room. Clutter just seems to build in the corner without notice until you cannot walk in the room any more. I have a genetic problem with clutter, all of my relatives have this issue, we keep everything. Not anymore I am turning over a new leaf. Clutter be gone. The garbage can is full and it does not get picked up until Thursday. OH well it is a learning experience. The back of the van is also full of items to go to the Salvation Army.

Read Dave Ramsey's Total Money Make Over and Peter Walsh's Its All Too Much. Life changing books.

Primary Program

The Primary Program was today and they did a great job on the program. The kids sung their songs, said their parts and talks. Everyone looked good and sounded great. I sat behind a few kids to help out were needed and looked at the song book while I helped sing the songs with the kids.

I do not know all the words and neither did a few kids. JT sung loud for everyone to hear and on one song he said, "No, not the second verse", as they were starting the second verse of the song. He had the first verse and chorus down and was the loudest child in the group. And to my surprise JT and Cenneidigh both choose to memorize their parts and they did pretty well with them. The kids did a great program and I am very proud of all the them.

Halloween Clearance

Target had the rest of the Halloween items at 90% off this morning. I picked up many items for next year. I only got a few costumes. Most costumes were in sizes under 8. I was able to get a lot of t-shirts for the kids and socks. The kids love to open all the Halloween totes in October and see all the items I bought at 90% off the year before. I just put it out in the Halloween totes in the garage and every year enough goes out for good that I am just replacing items used during the season. Halloween favors, candy buckets, table runners, swords, hats, toys, no candy, and many fun little trinkets for Boo bags next year. I love 90% off, it is lots of stuff with a very small bill, where everywhere else it is a very small amout of items with a huge bill.