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A New National Holiday

December 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

It seems that more and more people are taking time off from work during the holidays.  I’m not just talking about leaving work on December 23rd a few hours early and then staying home on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  I’m talking about leaving work early on December 23rd and not returning until January 2nd.

The streets are more crowded with traffic, the sidewalks are filled with couples and families walking and exercising.   Now I am fully aware that the schools have let out so more kids are home from college, but this is different.  Yes sir, there are definitely more people at home this week than any other time of the year.

I think this is outstanding.  Spending extra time with relatives and friends is a great thing.  If the last week of the year is causing a movement back toward family values, then lets do something to make this an annual event.  I would be the first to sign a petition that says the last week of the year is now a national holiday.  Think of it…we could be a part of a grassroots movement that starts the first national holiday that lasts a whole week.  Heck, we leave our Christmas lights up for that week.  Why not make it a holiday?  All those in favor say, “Aye”.  

 

Filed Under: Humor Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Pumpkin Pie

November 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Photo by Aaron Woehler

After church last night my wife and I decided to get a bite to eat at a restaurant that is famous for their freshly baked pies.  When we arrived at the door, the first thing to greet us was the perfect picture of a pumpkin pie with steam wafting out of the pie crust crevasses beckoning us to enjoy this slice of heaven. What is it about pumpkin pie that just screams out, “The holidays are here”!  Now that scream can be a jubilant, “I’m glad the holidays are here” scream or it can be the sound of disdain which indicates, “I am so-not looking forward to the holidays”. 

I realize there can be a myriad of issues that could cause the holidays to be a time of sorrow and/or grief.  But allow me to offer this, if the holidays have you down because it means you have to spend money, I understand, I used to be that way as well.  I did not like being that way because it took the true joy out of Thanksgiving and Christmas.  So I decided to do something about it.  I decided to develop a budget.  Twice a month for eleven months I put away money into a savings account for one reason…spend the money on others during the holidays.  By doing this I accomplished three things:

  1. Because I am putting a little away each month it does not seem to hurt my tight-wad style of money management.
  2. By the 11th month, I have plenty of money to spend on others and it does not effect my day to day family operations.
  3. It brought back the joy of the holidays because I am no longer worried what the credit card bill is going to look like come January.

Now for those of you who are thinking, “Cool, Rick Mayhew is giving away money over the holidays.”  Wrong.  I don’t have that kind of money, that’s why we are on a budget.  However, I would like to offer this bit of financial advice.  Set aside enough money to enjoy a piece of pumpkin pie…like it or not…the holidays are here and pumpkin pie is great comfort food :)

Filed Under: Biblical Principles Tagged With: , , , , , , ,