Snow Globe

With 15” of snow on the ground, one would think more snow coming down would be less than a welcome sight. But waking up this morning, I couldn’t help but be amazed at the beauty outside my window. The snow was falling so softly, so gently. It would take a great team of editors to add this type of snow to a movie scene. From inside my warm home, it’s as if the entire outdoor world has been transformed into a giant snow globe.

It would be easy to resent this addition to the pile up. It is covering the sidewalk and driveway we spent so many backbreaking hours shoveling clean. It is probably part of why we’re on our fourth confining snow day in a row. It could possibly delay my father’s greatly anticipated visit to us this weekend.

But it is a welcome sight. Stunningly peaceful. A beautiful, breathtaking sight.

Entrepreneur

All right, let me start by stating the facts:

1. I HATE video games and what they do to the people who play them too much.
2. We are trying hard to teach our children about money management (alla Dave Ramsey).

We’ve had a plethora of snow (15”) these past two days. Unfortunately for my children, it is loose, fluffy snow. Pretty to look at, easy to shovel, but horrible for snowballs, snowmen, and snow forts. What’s a kid to do with three snow days and over a foot of useless snow?

(Tangent): “Zeke” has been learning the Dave Ramsey plan for earning, saving, giving, and spending money. For part of this plan, if you haven’t seen it (and if you haven’t I urge you to look into it!*), he’s made a savings goal. My son’s goal? A Nintendo Wii. I only agreed to this goal because the thing costs nearly $250 and I thought it would take forever for him to earn enough money at $4.00 a week in commissions (Dave Ramsey’s term for allowance). In fact, it was such a lofty goal, we agreed to only make him save $150 and we’d pay the rest.

Now back to the snow. Zeke wanted so badly to be out in the snow, but was running out of space to make snow angels, so he started helping me shovel the driveway. And to my surprise, he was pretty good at it – not that normal type of kid “help” which you’d actually be better off without. So, it was suggested (What was I thinking?) that he offer to shovel a neighbor’s driveway and possibly make a few bucks.

Two days and three driveways later, he’s earned $70! Talk about your entrepreneurial spirit! I guess I’d better get used to the idea of another video game system entering my home.

But what a great life lesson!
· It took interpersonal skills: advertising, price negotiations, evaluations.
· He had to pay his employees: “Half Pint” got a dollar for each driveway she “helped” with (Dad worked for free – he wants the Wii just as badly as Zeke).
· He learned that a job well-done gets noticed; neighbors who said they’d pay $10 paid $25 when they saw the quality of his work.
· And it was tough work – he wanted to quit several times, but pushed through, never quit!

So, the lesson for me? The next time a kid comes to my door offering labor for pay, I’ll take him/her up on it! I’ll be helping them meet a goal (And a goal is good, even if it’s a video game, right? Yes, I’ll keep telling myself that is true.) and I’ll be teaching them lessons they’ll keep with them into the job force.

* The blogger is not a paid advertiser for this product nor does she receive any benefits from mentioning the name of this product.

Where is Mama?

Just last week my husband signed me up for this, thinking it was just a little thing. "It's just FaceBook and a Blog. It'll just be for fun. No big deal!"

Ha! Simply learning how to navigate these two new-to-me entities has proven to take up much more time than I'd planned. Plus there's the set-up! My FaceBook page is still pictureless - just a ghostly silhouette. Last night I had a little spare time and thought I'd finally upload a picture of myself, thinking that, too, was no big deal.

The problem? After going through four years worth of of digital photos, I'm only in six of them, and only two of them solos! (None of which are pics I'd like to display on this or any website.) I take so many pictures in order to aid my children's memories. But what visual memories have they of me? I'm not there. That is a big deal.

Granted, I know exactly why. I hide from the camera. My camera, my favorite possession. I love taking pictures, pretending to be a photographer. But point said camera back at me and I duck, run, stick out my tongue ... anything to make the picture unworthy of developing.

I guess I have a dilemma. My FaceBook page needs a picture of me for my "wall" (That is what it's called, right?) and my kids need pictures of their Mama. So, bad hair day ... bring it on! Fat and bloated day ... who cares! Point that camera at me ... no big deal!

(This is all talk, you know. BUT, if you're gonna walk the walk...)

Welcome to JabberWorthy

This is horrible. I've been following a blog by one of my friends from college. She's so good at it! You know the type ~ always pulling something profound or inspiring from everyday schedules.

So my husband jumps in and says "Why don't YOU have a blog?"

"Because I don't have anything to say, that's why."

"Well, then here is the perfect place not to say it," he replies.

And there you go. I have a blog. Now what do I say? Probably just a lot of jabbering...