How is it where you live?
It hasn't rained in Phoenix for almost 5 months. This weekend, we had one day of winter, and it was awesome.
Seeking guidance
What do you set the heat to at night? During the day? Thank you.
Popular posts from this blog
Another taboo topic: money
I don't have a lot of real visible or artistic talents, but one talent that has served me well is an ability to manage and organize money well. A few of my sisters-in-law have asked me how I do the family budget, so this is a straight up accounting of how I do the accounting. When we get a paycheck: 10% tithing right off the top Then, with the remainder (net minus tithing), I divy it up into percentages and put money into different "funds" -- that I keep track of in the back of my paycheck because I'm old school like that. Mortgage: I figure out the percentage it will take to cover my mortgage. Usually 29-30%. I think this percentage needs to stay under 35% of take-home after tithing. Baby steps: 20% goes to meeting financial goals a la Dave Ramsey's baby steps. This means that you focus on one thing at a time, leaving the rest so that your money is not so thinly spread and you can make visible progress. This presupposes that one has abandoned using credit, and i...
Two things
First and foremost, happy birthday to my wonderful mom! I honestly don't know anyone more generous, giving or good with people. I like to think of myself as being generous, giving and good with people, but I've got nothing on her . She schools me, bigtime. Some of the unique things that make my mom my mom: She loves my children absolutely, which is a joy and a comfort to me. When she is around, they prefer her to me. She would rather be with her grandchildren than out with the adults, but does not relax when they are around. It's constant counting heads, making snowcones, taking off too-warm clothing, changing diapers, getting drinks. It's exhausting, and she's good at it. And she loves it. (I'm pretty sure.) She hates flying, but flies all over the place, because travel and culture and enriching experiences and seeing family trump her fears every time. She also hates bridges. And swimming. And confrontation. And cooking. And bad grammar. And dopey people. And a...
Comments
I made Steve plan out a Saturday and put it on the calendar during which we will do nothing for anybody else, only for ourselves. Selfish desire of my heart, it is. And it feels good. And that Saturday is, drum roll...... this weekend! Hooray. Help move yet another family into our ward? Sorry. Family commitment. Go to yet another bridal shower? Can't make it. I have a previous commitment. Ward temple night? Um, maybe, we'll see, but if we do, it will be for us and not for anyone else. I tell you, it has been a long time since we've had a no-commitment Saturday. I'm already planning ahead for the next one.