Family, it's about time

The Family, it’s about time serious of old Mormon tv ads is so prevalent even in today’s world. I really think it would be wise to rerun those ads. This is something our family has struggled with for the last two years. My husband was on a project in San Diego for 18 months and was gone Monday-Friday every week, except for two weeks when my father passed away. My husband constantly felt guilty for missing all of the activities going on. He says as much as he likes his job he hates that it takes him away from his family so much. I am very grateful to have a husband that realizes and wants to be there for his family, it’s not something I had growing up.

I think it is imperative that we remember why we are working so hard in the first place. For most people I think it comes down to supporting their current or future families. Once we realize that it should make those tough decisions easier, even though they’re not always no brainers when you’re in the moment. I feel like if I lost sight of why I was doing something I would also lose my excitement of doing it in the first place.

• What is your attitude toward money? My attitude on money is that it is a necessary evil that I must earn in order to support my family while on this earth.
• How can your view of money affect the way you live? If I were to view money as my end all then I would covet it and pour my everything into getting it. However, if I look at it as a way to support my family, then I will see it as something I must obtain for a reason, but it wouldn’t be my soul driver.
• What rules are recommended for prospering?
• Rule 1. Seek the Lord and have hope in him
• Rule 2. Keep the commandments, that includes the temporal ones, tithing and fast offerings.
• Rule 3. Think about money and plan how you can become self-reliant.
• Rule 4. Take advantage of chances for learning so you will not be ignorant of these matters. Education, as President Hinckley has taught us, is the Key to Opportunity.
• Rule 5. Learn the laws upon which the blessings of wealth are predicated.
• Rule 6. Do not send away the naked, the hungry, the thirsty or the sick or those who are held captive.

Woah, dream big!

One of my favorite movie lines is “Woah, dream big!” by Ellen Page in Juno. Okay, so she said it sarcastically, but it is a great line. I am all for dreaming big and going after that dream. My big dream if life is to be a criminal profiler for the FBI specializing in serial killers. Crazy, I know, but it is what truly fascinates me. But here is my big reality check. I am a mother of three daughters 12 and under, I’m 32 and just now half way through school because of said kids, and my husband is gone 90% of the time for work. Is this dream every going to happen? Chances are not.

However, I do know something else that I am good at. Numbers. They make sense to me. So, my dream changes a little. My husband loves to cook and wants to open a catering business when he retires from his life in the technology world. My dream is now to help support his dream. Insert a business degree and future accounting degree from Northwestern University or U of Chicago and boom, we’re in business. I dream of having those diplomas on my wall. Am I in a rush to use them? No. But they sure will look pretty up there on the wall. Oh, and I plan on graduating with Summa Cum Laude, after an annoying A- in a class, I really wanted Magna Cum Laude, but things change.

You Can't Lead by Following

You can’t lead by following is something that I have always tried to live by. People always try to use the excuse that everyone else is doing it, or not doing it, and me doing it differently it’s really going to matter. Well, to me it does. Nothing will ever change if someone doesn’t make the first move. By me not shopping or working on Sunday isn’t going to change the world. However, I will have the peace of knowing I am doing what is right and maybe others will slowly follow my lead.

One thing that I heard this week really stood out to me. It said something to the effect of being a leader is taking others to higher ground. While we shouldn’t do things just for the reward in and of itself. Isn’t the notion of helping bring others to somewhere better awesome? Getting somewhere only to realize you’ve arrived but you’re alone is kind of a bummer. How great would it be to get someone and turn around and find out everyone that you have met along the way or that means something to you is right there behind you.

My final thought is how great it is to see others follow your example and then add to it to continue to make the world a better place. You never know who you are going to inspire, so you should always make sure you are acting in a way that is deemed productive and moving forward.

A dollar earned is far better than a dollar received.

You have two items in front of you. The first is a very expensive watch that you received as a gift from your boss. The second is a $45 watch that was the first thing you bought for yourself after saving up your hard earned dollars. Which is more valuable to you? In my opinion it is the latter. While the expensive watch was nice, and I wouldn’t mind having it, the second watch has my sweat equity in it and I worked hard for it. Unless there is a huge sentimental reason behind the watch, ie a present from a deceased relative, I would hope that I would always remember the struggle to get the second watch.

I think understanding the value of a hard earned dollar is crucial and must be taught from a young age. In our family we have chosen to follow Heavenly Father’s model when our kids ask for something large, and sometime small. We tell them to figure out how much it will cost and that if they work hard and save up their money that we will pay for half of the item.  We have found that they take much better care of the item if they truly had to work hard to get it.