Alphabet Stamping

Did you know that you can use these:

 

and this:

 

...to do this?

 

Honestly, why didn't I think of that before?

 

The letter O is his favorite, apparently.

30-Second Book Review: Smart Couples Finish Rich

Isaac and I had only been married for a few months when I realized that I knew nothing about money. Nothing. I was twenty-one years old and financially clueless. Since I hate to feel clueless about anything, and because I had more time on my hands than Isaac did (at the time, I was working part-time; he was going to school and working, both full-time), I took it upon myself to learn as much as I could about money.

I was a little overwhelmed. It's been four years since then, and I've read a lot of books and articles--a lot of different people's ideas about what I should do with my money. Over time, I could see that some people's advice was based on solid principles, and other people's advice was...not.

Out of all that reading, I've come across plenty of good stuff. And out of the good stuff, there are three books that I recommend for absolutely everyone: The Millionaire Next Door, The Total Money Makeover, and Smart Couples/Smart Women Finish Rich.

I read Smart Women Finish Rich when I was just starting out; I finished Smart Couples Finish Rich a few days ago. The two are basically the same, so if you've read one, don't feel like you have to read the other. The Finish Rich books outline nine steps that anyone can take to improve their financial situation. You don't have to be wealthy already to take their advice, and I like that. Our family can't do all nine steps right now--we're not ready for that yet--but we can take a couple of steps that apply to our situation now. And then, once we've got those things covered, we can go back and work on a few more.

So if you feel like maybe you could benefit from learning a little more about money, pick this one up. Do as much or as little of it as you can. It might just make a difference to you and your family.

Mowing the Patio

Little Boy has a bubble mower that Isaac's parents gave him last spring. He loves it.

Unfortunately, we never remember to put bubbles in it. But Little Boy doesn't mind. He loves mowing the lawn with his bubble-less mower.

Wait...actually, he loves mowing the patio with his bubble-less mower. (Or, as he says, mowing the squares.)


Here he comes...


...and there he goes! I think the mower is easier to push on the patio than in the grass. And the plastic wheels make a cool sound on the concrete.

I know, his enthusiasm for mowing won't last forever. I'm going to save these pictures to show him when he's a teenager--as a reminder that he used to love mowing.

Storms

image source "We can't predict all the struggles and storms in life, not even the ones just around the next corner, but as persons of faith and hope, we know beyond the shadow of any doubt that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true and the best is yet to come." --L. Tom Perry

Storybook Quote of the Day

Isaac [reading a story to Little Boy]: "A hot cloud came out of Carl's--"
Andrea: "Isaac! Read it the way it's supposed to be!"

Personal Revelation

Art by James Seward

"We can do the work of the Lord in His way when we seek, receive, and act on personal revelation. Without personal revelation, we cannot succeed. If we heed personal revelation, we cannot fail." 

-Julie B. Beck

Little Boy Quote of the Day

Andrea: "Hey, baby man." 
Little Boy: "Hey, mommy man."