What Does Success Mean to You? #Lent2022

 

I highly recommend the book "Maid" by Stephanie Land and the Netflix show that goes along with it.

I've only seen the first episode of the show, which prompted me to grab the book first, and they are pretty different, as is normal with books/movies.

Here's one line from the book that stood out, referring to her clients with huge homes for just two occupants, wasted food, expensive furniture that rarely gets used, and "Prescription pills littered the bathroom countertops and the medicine cabinets of most of the houses I cleaned... Maybe the stress of keeping up a two-story house, a bad marriage, and maintaining the illusion of grandeur overwhelmed their systems in similar ways to how poverty did mine."

This got me thinking.

As I drove the kids to a homeschool dance last night, I saw a couple of gorgeous, new, large homes on 143rd Street between Kenneth and Mission Roads. They were lit so perfectly with small spotlights, and one even had a bridge that you had to drive over to get to the home. I used to covet homes like that when I was younger; now I just think of how much time or money it would take to keep it clean and maintained.

When I'm working to make money *for* my family, it usually entails taking time *from* them, often for things we don't necessarily need. Last night I was grateful that I was able to drop some kids at the dance while others were content at home with other friends, a movie, books, homework. I was able to sit at McDonald's and work, which was good for my brain and for our family finances.

So many people think that being successful means having a cool car, a large home, nice clothes, a job with clout (doctor, lawyer, best-selling author, engineer, CEO), among other things. What does success mean to you? Having the car, clothes, home, job, as well as all the books, all the art, the biggest television, the newest furniture, fancy foods and drinks, and more?

This Lent, I'm really trying to inspect what success means to me and how I treat money, time, people. For me, Lent then should continue in that we take with us the lessons we learned each year on our Lenten journey. You, of course, don't have to be religious to do this :-)

I think it's important to read books like Maid and Nickel and Dimed (I'd love your suggestions as well!) to think about people and situations outside of ourselves, to be more compassionate, and to be more grateful for what we have.

Faith, Family, Finances

*Conversely, where do you think the "bad marriage" concept comes from? From one or both working so much that they are too tired for or don't have time for any meaningful connection? From having their priorities possibly out of whack? Instant gratification extending into unrealistic expectations from their partner?

Components of a Historically Accurate Reenactment

Image by David Mark from Pixabay 

 It can be difficult to learn about history in a stuffy classroom while reading from a boring textbook. Historical reenactments are a fun way to engage with history that provide opportunities to interact in a hands-on way. Reenactments don't have to be completely accurate, but certain aspects can help to set the mood for your event. There are a few things that you may want to keep in mind as you plan your reenactment.

Costumes

Apparel is perhaps one of the most important parts of a historical reenactment. They can help your actors jump into character and visually see certain aspects of a story (telling apart cowboys from native Americans by their western costumes Fort Worth TX). A costume made with fabric that is accurate to the time period can help add to the accuracy as well. This allows your actors to quite literally step into the shoes of the people they are representing. 

Top Ways To Make Your Backyard Safe for Kids

 If you're lucky enough to own a home with a backyard, then you've got the ultimate play area for kids. Yards are a perfect spot for swimming, games and the place where the best memories are made. To keep your backyard full of fun, here are some of the best ways to keep it safe for kids.

Remove Stumps and Debris

Kids love running in the grass, so you want your backyard to be level and free of hazards. Check the entire yard and remove branches, rocks, thorns, poisonous plants and old stumps. Stump removal Orlando FL grinds stumps away and fills the hole with soil, making your yard safe and attractive. 

Alternatives to Traditional Public School

 Traditional public education is not the only option for children. A parent may decide that the local public school is a poor choice because it has a bad reputation or doesn't offer a curriculum that emphasizes STEM or science, technology, engineering and math. It also may not provide the arts parents want for their children. 

No matter the reason, parents don't have to send their kids to public schools if they don't want to. Here are some great alternatives parents can consider.

To DIY or Not To DIY With Home Improvements

 Responsible home ownership means staying on top of the maintenance and repairs. A house that’s well taken care of maintains its value. The right improvements help to make your property more valuable in the long run. Ideally, you want to make upgrades that are worth as much or more than the money you put into them. One way to save money is by doing as much as you can yourself, but here are some things to consider. 

Going Simple

Some improvements you can easily do yourself, especially if you’ve got the time and energy. Let’s suppose your kitchen needs an update. This might be accomplished by painting your cabinetry and switching out your hardware. Those are just two examples of upgrades that can be accomplished over a weekend as long as you’re able to put in the sweat. Simple updates like this are easier and cheaper to do than trying to replace cabinetry on your own.