Money doesn't grow on trees.

About 4 years ago, my family and I decided to completely change our finances.  My second child, Ida was going to be born and I was also quitting my job.  This was a huge step for me, for all of us.  It meant completely changing our spending habits.  Going from a two income family, to one was going to be a big adjustment.  In the past, we really never had to worry about money.  We always had the finances to do most of what we wanted and never really gave spending much thought.  We have never been extravagant people, but we definitely wasted money.

We didn't want to end up going in to debt and certainly didn't want to make our shortage of funds hard on the family.  We knew that the way we spent money in the past wasn't going to work with our new lifestyle.  It's amazing how much money we found out that we didn't even need by downsizing and focusing on priorities.

We made the choice to use a cash envelope system when I stopped working.  This means that the money we spent on things that weren't automatic bills were taken out as cash and put in to separate envelopes each month.  By automatic bills I mean our house payment, electricity, internet and insurance.  Other than that, all expenditures were taken out as cash and put into their designated envelopes.  I have had several people tell me that this is the "Dave Ramsey" way of doing things.  I have never seen what he does, I just know that this is the way we do it.  The theory behind our envelopes is that there is money there when it is needed and if the amount is exceeded, too bad.  If there is money left over, great.  You save it and it builds up for those unexpected expenditures. 

So, what do we have envelopes for?  Well, I will tell you.  First, let me say that this is what works for us, based on what we spend money on.  It will be different for each family.  The amount you put in each envelope per month will also vary dramatically.  Our envelopes consist of the following:

1. entertainment
2. clothing
3. automobile
4. gas
5. gifts
6. animal
7. household
8. hygiene
9. Dustin personal
10. Katie personal

This system has worked out well for us.  It's not perfect and we mess it up sometimes by going over budget on occasion for those unexpected things.  You can't have an envelope for EVERYTHING.  This system keeps us true to our budget and if there is some left over, it's great, if not, we know we can get by.  It's really stress free once you get used to it.  It took me a good 4 months before I could actually stick to it and get used to carrying the cash with me instead of putting everything onto a debit card.  It's a discipline that has to be learned, but once learned it's incredibly satisfying and rewarding.  We can all do so much more with less.   If you haven't already, give it a try, I dare ya.  After all, money doesn't grow on trees.

Smoking is good for you.

Hard to believe right?  Well, it happened.  And it's happening now. 

Here are two more classics.

 

Smoking was portrayed a little differently back then.  Perhaps the manufacturers knew that smoking was harmful to one's health back then, maybe they didn't.  Maybe we didn't know that smoking was bad for us until later on when we were required to put warning labels on them, change advertising and add A LOT of taxes.  I really don't know.

My point here is that just because a Doctor, an advertisement or "experts" says it's okay doesn't mean that it is.  Take these pictures as examples.

Ever seen this logo on your toothpaste tube?  You will find it on Colgate tubes, since they are one of MANY toothpaste brands that have the official seal of "ADA acceptance".  What does that mean?  Well, who can tell you better than the American Dental Association(ADA) themselves.  This was taken from their website, which explains what the seal above means:

"Over 300 oral health products, including toothpastes, dental floss, toothbrushes, mouth rinses, denture adherents and chewing gum carry the ADA Seal of Acceptance, universally recognized by consumers as a symbol of safety and effectiveness."

Well, I mean....I could see why dentists would say Colgate and other common brands are "safe and effective".  Wait, except for one little problem I just thought of...they are loaded with dangerous toxins and chemicals such as sodium fluoride, triclosan, FD&C Blue Dye #1 and 2, sodium lauryl sulfate, and hydrated silica. All of these common ingredients have been found to be harmful to humans.  Not just kinda harmful, this is some bad stuff.  Look it up, see for yourselves.

How about this?

Immunizations.  When you take your child in to their first appointment the Doctor tells you when your child needs to be immunized, but never asks if you want them.  It's not even proposed as a question, it's just what we do here in America.  Why aren't questions being asked?  If you are one of the few that actually does question it, you know that typically you are not greeted with enthusiasm from the Doctor.  These vaccines are recommended by the Doctor, but many contain extremely harmful ingredients.  It's something to take a closer look at in order to make an educated decision for your child and yourselves.

The point that I am trying to make here is that smoking IS bad.  We all know that now, but back then there were tons of people who smoked because they believed the ads and the Doctors that were telling them that smoking was okay and they really had nothing to worry about.  Ironically, the original Marlboro man died of emphysema. 

I am not trying to insinuate that all Doctors are evil, because they are not.  There are a lot of good Doctors out there that truly care about their patients.  However, there are many times throughout our history that we have blindly accepted products and treatments that we later find out are extremely harmful and a HUGE mistake.  This is where YOU fit in.  Do not blindly accept medication or listen to an advertisement on TV and take it as truth.  Seek out the information yourselves from many different sources in order to make an EDUCATED decision for you and your family.  Your health is not the Doctor's responsibility.  In many cases they are doing the best they can with the training they have received and the tools and mandates they have been given.  You must take your health into your own hands and become your health's best advocate.

GET INFORMED!!!

Are we there yet?

       

I don't know if anyone has heard about the new Documentary that came out, narrated by Tom Hanks, called The Road We've Travelled.  This Documentary is an inside look at the Presidency of Obama.  I know that I have more than likely lost a lot of your attention already, but I have to try. 

Watch the 17 minute Documentary HERE:  The Road We've Traveled

Just want to point out one thing that you may not have thought of that was recently brought to my attention.  Back in 1942 a book was written by Stuart Chase called The Road We Are Traveling.


Here is a description of the book I found on the web. 

"Description:

In 1942, Stuart Chase, in his book "The Road We Are Traveling" spelled out the system of planning the Fabians had in mind.


1. Strong, centralized government.

2. Powerful Executive at the expense of Congress and the Judicial.

3. Government controlled banking, credit and securities exchange.

4. Government control over employment.

5. Unemployment insurance, old age pensions.

6. Universal medical care, food and housing programs.

7. Access to unlimited government borrowing.

8. A government managed monetary system.

9. Government control over all foreign trade.

10. Government control over natural energy sources, transportation and agricultural production.

11. Government regulation of labor.

12. Youth camps devoted to health discipline, community service and ideological teaching consistent with those of the authorities.

13. Heavy progressive taxation and hidden taxes on nations wealth.


The Fabian Socialist Revolution began in earnest in 1933 with the imposition of the Welfare State and has been steadily progressing since."

See any similarities to our current state of affairs here in America?  Interesting how the name of the book is The Road We Are Traveling and the name of the Documentary is The Road We've Travelled.  I'm gonna go out on a limb, along with the person who informed me of this little tidbit of information.  Do you think that this Documentary might be a stab in the back to those who don't see the significance between this book and the Documentary and that it is a *wink to those who do know?  Wake up America, before it's too late.  What kind of America do you want to live in?  One where we answer to Government or where the Government answers to us?

Whatever, I'm sure it's a coincidence...*wink.

"Mommy, are we gonna stay here forever?"



Ida has been asking me the same question for the past week, "Mommy, are we gonna stay here forever?".  She was asking this in reference to our home.  At first I told her that I thought we would, but we never really know what might happen.  She just kept asking.  So, I finally asked her "Ida, do you want to stay here forever?".  She said yes.   

Today is Ida's birthday and she turned 4.  As I was tucking her in to bed, Ida told me that she was 3.  When I told her she wasn't 3 anymore she got upset with me and insisted that after her birthday was over she would be 3 again.  Then came the pouty lip and the fighting back of tears.  I asked Ida, "do you want to be 3 still?" and she sadly said "yes".  I told her that we all grow up and she was too, to which she responded "I don't want to grow up".  Ah, heartbreaking.  I didn't tell her this, but inside I was saying "I don't want you to grow up either".

The deep thoughts of my 3, now 4 year old parallel my life in so many ways.  There are so many times that I wish we could just stay in the same place forever.  When things are going well we don't want it to change, we can't imagine it any other way and we want assurance that it's all going to STAY.  This can mean family, friends, possessions or anything else we hold dear.  One thing is certain, it can all go just as easily as it came and there is no one that can give us assurance that it won't.  There are times that I don't want to grow up either.  Sometimes aging can be a scary thing whether it be facing our own mortality, gray hairs or wrinkles!  Sometimes I don't want to be mature and make adult decisions.  Oh, to be a kid again!

God tells us that there are no guarantees in this world, only His promises to us.  In John 16:33 we are told  “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”   We will most definitely have troubles in this world.  Relationships will change, possibly suffer.  Possessions and security may come and go.  Health once taken for granted may fail.  In Proverbs 3:5-6 we are told to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your path straight."  So when I don't feel like making adult decisions, I can just ask Him.  I have the assurance that He will guide my path.

What about that aging thing?  Should I be concerned about my mortality?  John 14:2-4..."In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."  I don't need to be concerned with death.  And those gray hair and wrinkles...1 Samuel 16-17 "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."  Phew!

Revelation 21:4 reminds me that the things of this world, mortality and trials will only last for a short while..."He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

Next time Ida asks me about forever or tells me she isn't sure about growing up...I know what I'm going to say.

Oh, and Ida...you'll always be my baby.

I'm MAD that...

I'm mad that... I can't go to the grocery store and just shop.  I have to check the labels for poisons and genetic modification.  That healthy food is harder to find and more expensive.

I'm mad that...my kids were both vaccinated and that I was given absolutely no choice in the matter because I was uneducated about it.

I'm mad that...my son was given bottle after bottle of non-organic milk from the store and I had no idea I was doing anything detrimental to him.  That organic milk costs $6 a gallon.  That finding raw milk is made to be difficult and we are told it's "risky". 

I'm mad that... for the first 3 years of my son's life I gave him fluoride from a dropper that the Doctor prescribed me.  I was unknowingly poisoning his brain every day for 3 years.

I'm mad that...McDonald's exists.  That the food they serve is filled with toxins, they know it and don't care.  That my kids have to be the deprived ones because they don't get to eat Happy Meals. 

I'm mad that...I currently have fillings in my teeth that contain mercury which is poisoning me as I type.

I'm mad that...for most of my life I used daily beauty and cleaning products that were toxic to me.

I'm mad that...people all around me are getting cancer at unprecedented rates and are not being fully educated on the options of the treatment of cancer.  I am also mad that many of the people could have avoided cancer had they had more knowledge about the toxins we are introduced to on a daily basis.  That I may get cancer from choices I made because I didn't know any better.

I'm mad that diabetes and obesity are on the rise because of our crappy food.

I'm mad that...the FDA, the Government and Monsanto are allowing our food and health to suffer in order to make money and keep the status quo.

I'm mad that...no one told me about all of this because they have been lied to themselves and that the people who do know are wrongfully discredited and made out to be a bunch of loonies.

I'm mad that...I have to explain all of this to my kids.  Yet, thankful that I can.

I can be mad.  God tells me there is nothing wrong with that.

 "Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger," Ephesians 4:26

But, I must deal with my anger and not allow it to give the devil a foothold.  If I allow my anger at the world's current health and food problems to fester, I will be consumed with hate and bitterness.  It won't do me any good.  Even Jesus himself got angry.

"And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at htheir hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” iHe stretched it out, and his hand was restored." Mark 3:5

  13 tThe Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus uwent up to Jerusalem. 14 vIn the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make wmy Father’s house a house of trade.”  John 2:13-16

It's clear that there is a time and place for righteous anger.  My anger typically isn't righteous, but I'm workin' on it.  I hope that all of you can find something to be mad about in order to use your passion to make changes in your life and be an example to others.  In so many ways we are being lied to.  Create your own path, do the research and let's start changing this.

The wonders of spirulina. Yes, I said spirulina.

Spirulina is definitely in my top 5 as far as "supplements" are concerned.  I wanted to share with you the wonders of spirulina in hopes that I get you hooked too.  If you haven't heard of spirulina before, it is defined as this:

"1.  nutritionally valuable microorganisms: cyanobacteria valued as a rich source of protein, containing vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants. Spirulina are grown in tanks and harvested to be made into nutritional supplements. Genus Spirulina."

Pretty much spirulina is an algae that is really good for you.  Here are just some of the nutritional benefits of spirulina:

 

 

It contains on average 60% protein.  It is a complete protein containing all of the essential amino acids.  It has 3 times the protein of beef.

 

It has THE highest amount of beta carotene's of any other food source, which are known to enhance antioxidant protection and fight against cancer.  Beta carotene is also good for healthy eyes and vision.  Spirulina has 10 times more beta carotene than carrots, which have long been known as a rich source of beta carotene's.

 

 

Spirulina is rich in iron, magnesium and many other trace minerals.

Spirulina is the highest source of B-12, essential for healthy nerves and tissue, especially for vegetarians.

 

It stimulates the growth of the healthy bacteria in your gut, which helps with elimination and digestion.  I just said elimination...:)

 

Enhances the absorption of the vitamins and minerals from the others foods we consume throughout the day.

 

Reduces LDL, the bad cholesterol.

It has 26 times the calcium of milk.

 

Contains chlorophyll, which has NUMEROUS health benefits, just one of which is the growth and repair of tissues.

 

I could seriously go on and on, so I will just stop there.  Look in to spirulina yourself and you will be amazed at the health benefits.  There are so many supplements out there that sometimes it's easy to get overwhelmed.  After a lot of searching, I found spirulina to have the most bang for the buck.  Every 10 grams of spirulina can supply up to 70% of the minimum daily requirements for iron, and about three to four times of the minimum daily requirements for vitamins A (in the form of beta carotene), B complex, D,and K. By itself, it does not contain vitamin C, but it helps maintain it's potency.  There are a lot of green super foods talked about out there and this one is my favorite.

You will find spirulina at any health food store.  It's available in capsules or in a powder form that you can mix with a little water.  I bought the powder and just mix it with a little water and pound it.  It doesn't taste bad to me.  Kinda has a sweet, grassy taste.   Go and get yourself some.

Stuff

Okay, so I have been doing a major overhaul at my house lately.  I have been going through every room in the house and getting rid of "stuff".  I'm not really sure what brought this on, but I do know that I had this overwhelming feeling that I was in a little too much bondage to this "stuff".  I started in my bedroom.  I literally downsized my clothes in half.  Now, for those of you who know me well, you would know that I am not exactly a fashionista, but I had waaaay too many clothes.  I had two huge stacks of t-shirts and was wondering to myself how in the world that happened.  What I ended up with was very little and it felt sooo good!!

I did the same thing in the other rooms of the house, just getting rid of the things that are no longer used or needed.  I was shocked by what I found.  I gave some away to friends and made way too many trips to Goodwill.  I still feel like I could have gotten rid of a lot more, but I figure that is enough for now.  When I was all done I felt amazing.  I couldn't believe how good it felt to get all of that "stuff" out of my life.  Why in the world was I keeping all of it?

Well, I have an idea.  Stuff makes us feel good.  Stuff makes us feel like we have things just like the next American.  Maybe your stuff determines your status.  Or maybe it gives you a high when you purchase it.  Maybe you think it's going to make your kids, your husband or yourself more happy and fulfilled.  Maybe you feel like you deserve it.  Perhaps you can relate to one of those.  We are all at different places in our lives.  Some of you may have gotten rid of your "stuff" already.  Some of you may be so consumed with your "stuff" that it's turned into a full blown addiction and lifestyle.  Wherever you are, I ask you to consider something.  What are you accomplishing by having excess "stuff"?  And, why do you have such a hard time letting it go?

Yes, I understand that we all need things to survive like food, clothing and shelter.  Most of us need a car to get ourselves around.  I get that.  I also don't see anything wrong with enjoying extras if you have the income to do so.  However, there is a fine line here that can be crossed very easy.  This is when I have to do a heart check to find out why I am making the purchases and if I am purchasing too much.  How many pairs of shoes do you really need?  Do you really need the newest cell phone?  Do you really NEED a bigger house or do you really just want more room to store your stuff?  I also try to balance out my excess stuff with giving.  Have I given enough to those that are without?  If I haven't then I certainly can't justify frivolous expenditures.  It's really a balance for me.  I want to do right with my money, because it's His money first.  There are so many people around all of us who don't have much, who could really use those 15 extra pairs of shoes or your extra waffle iron.  It's so easy to get caught in the trap of greediness and hoarding your "stuff".  Been there, done that, probably will again tomorrow!  It's a constant struggle, well for me anyways.  You won't get away with out a couple verses that compliment this subject quite nicely :).

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."  1 John 3:17-18

"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." 1 Timothy 6:10

"Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7

All that stuff I took to Goodwill. It can all come back just as easily as it went. Just because I took a bunch of stuff to Goodwill and realized how great it made me feel doesn't mean that I am humble the next day. It's something that one must continually work on. I know for me, it's all about being thankful. Realizing that not having the cutest and most in fashion clothes or the coolest car isn't going to make me less of a person because the only one that should matter to me is God. God tells us "The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:17. Many times we are looking to the wrong "things".


Whenever I find myself with less I am more thankful for what I have.  I know that for myself, when I have too much I get overwhelmed by it and am unappreciative.  There are so many worthy recipients of your giving just waiting for that special someone to help them out.  Give it up!  Heck, give up all of it!  Well, at least spare yourself a change of clothes, public nudity will get you into some trouble.  As for me, I'm still working on it.