In the meantime, here are a couple of sites you can visit. Fighting Foreclosure is looking for honest ways to earn another $900 a month to avoid having the home foreclosed. Her latest post, Book Selling Online,looks to do just that. She is a single-mom and I give her Kudos for not just walking away. She is trying to do the right thing. Take a visit and see if you can offer some suggestions.

Another Blog can be found at Clever Dude. He started in 2006 and likes to share personal finance information based on the lessons he is learning from the misktakes he made. His latest post is a book review, A Million Bucks by 30.?

Neither of these blogs contacted me. I found them during my searches around the web. I hope you enjoy them.

cd :O)

Regardless of your circles, you probably heard that Steven Curtis Chapman and his family suffered a devestating loss yesterday.  Their five-year old daughter, Maria Sue, was hit in the driveway by one of their other teenage children driving home.  The teenager didn’t see her.  I know the Christian community (of which I belong) is reaching out to them with prayers and looking to help anyway they can. 

Although, receiving prayers from all over the world I’m sure helps bring comfort this is probably a case where they really don’t want the attention.  However, that really isn’t the point of my post.

Tragedies like this happen everyday.  Families experience loss everyday.  Since I do have a large family, it just struck a chord.  I have a daughter that is the same age as Maria Sue was.  We don’t expect things like this to happen to us.  Nobody is immune from loss or tragedy.  No matter how many records you’ve sold, miles you’ve walked, or days you’ve taught.  No matter how many people know your name, how many hearts you’ve fixed, how many teeth you’ve repaired, or how many sermons you’ve preached.  No matter how many posts you’ve made, how many bad guys you’ve caught, how many wars you’ve fought, or how many fires you’ve put out.  Your next day is not promised.  Those around you are not promised another day with you.

Take time today to make sure those you love, know it.  Take time today to heal broken relationships.  Take time today to make sure things are in order.  Give your wife, your children, your friends, your boss, your pastor, your paperboy, whoever an extra hug today.

Finally, I have certain beliefs that allow me to not fear such tragedies.  I know there is a God who is bigger than I am, and He is in control.  However, I’m not going to beat you over the head with those beliefs.  Sometimes, though, it takes a tragedy to ask the right questions and to seek the right answers.  I’ll leave you a link if you want to explore more.  On Tuesday, Lord willing, its back to business.

www.purposedriven.com/salvation

cd :O)

The Fed is poised to lower rates again, next week.  Most believe they will cut 50 Basis Points, but I’ve heard the big 75 being thrown around.  The economy may be in worse shape than stastics are telling.  The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) uses magic fairy dust to help with their reports on added or subtracted jobs.  One aspect they use as an outdated birth/death adjustment.  This added 134,000 jobs last month.  If it weren’t for that adjustment, the job market would have shown a -200,000 jobs instead of the -63,000.  Do you get the feeling we are being fleeced?  I do, but what can we do?!?

And now for my rants.  I received some emails asking for information on banks that accept immigrants that may or may not be documented.  I don’t have a problem with documented and legal immigrants.  After all, that is what our country was built on.  I have a problem with illegal immigrants who think we owe them welfare, healthcare, education, etc.  And I realize it is easy for me to say since I was born here.  But my great, great, great grand-parents were not.  They came to this country to be Americans.  They learned the language, our laws, our ways.  They taught their children to honor this great country.  If that is what people coming here are endeavoring to do, I say come on in.  If not, I say keep them out.  Here are some words from the past:

In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or orgin.  But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American and nothing but an American…There can be no divided allegience here.  Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all.  We have room for but one flag, the American flag…We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language…and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people. — Theodore Roosevelt, 1907

The Dash

cd :O)

She wasn’t a big dog in size, but in heart.  She was a cross between a Bassett Hound and a Lab.  She looked like a Lab with no legs or a giant Daschund.

She was courageous, strong, and devoted.  Three qualities that one must have to be a big dog in my book.  She never complained, whimpered, or whined.  She always had a gentle touch with kittens and puppies, yet was strong and firm when necessary.

She accepted every child we had, every kitten or cat we rescued, and every other dog that we brought into the family.  She provided comfort through trials, companionship when we were lonely, and stood watch over us at night.

Christy, you were the best dog on Earth and now Heaven delights in your company.  Until we meet again, we’ll keep looking up…

Your memory lives on through our courage, strength, and devotion. 

Blood of Heroes 

You Are a Yellow Crayon

Your world is colored with happy, warm, fun colors.   You have a thoughtful and wise way about you. Some people might even consider you a genius. Charming and eloquent, you are able to get people to do things your way. While you seem spontaneous and free wheeling, you are calculating to the extreme. Your color wheel opposite is purple. You both are charismatic leaders, but purple people act like you have no depth.

I was hoping for Orange as that is my favorite color

Freedom is over head missiles, a battle group at sea
For the price of Freedom has never been free
It’s Marines and Soldiers hunkered in a fox hole
A nation banned together in a common goal

Freedom is living and working side by side
To dare to hope and opportunities tried
People coming to the aid of a stranger
Putting their own lives in the path of danger

Freedom is apple pie and the girl next door
A small town with a mom and pop store
It’s baseball, reunions, it’s the forth of July
A lump in our throats as the flag passes by

Freedom is the compassion that we have for our own
Standing shoulder to shoulder when disaster hits home
Our symbol the Eagle, so let Freedom soar
It’s principles and standards, Americans died for

~Barbara Cox~