More Dave

http://www.daveramsey.com/specials/giving-challenge-winner/name/pass-it-on-project/

The Real Reason to Get Out of Debt

I get emails from Dave Ramsey every week and the email this week was too good not to share and so appropriate for the season.

Are You Giving Your Money Away?
Find out the real reason to get out of debt and invest. The Tip
Building wealth isn't about watching your bank account grow, it's about using your wealth to bless others.

Month after month, we send you tips and encouragement to keep you committed to your investing goals. We've explained why you shouldn't invest in single stocks or bonds, and we've talked about how to plan for your child's college expenses and how to make the most of your money once you retire.

But those things, as important as they are, are not the reason you get out of debt, save money, and invest for the future. And you certainly don't build wealth just to see your bank accounts grow.

Invest In True Happiness
Building wealth is all about giving! And while Americans are number-one in the world for charitable giving, statistics show that the more money someone makes, the less they give as a percentage of their income. In fact, people who earn less than $20,000 a year are twice as charitable as those who earn $100,000 a year.

Oddly enough, those higher income earners said they didn't give more because they couldn't afford it. Those folks have fallen for the false idea that in order to have money, they have to hold on to it with a clenched fist, and they're missing out on the blessings that generosity can bring to their lives.

You probably know from your own experience how it feels to meet a need in someone's life, either with your time, your possessions or your money. We are happiest and most fulfilled when we're serving and giving. We're designed that way.

Because Dave's money principles are biblically based, he has always recommended tithing—regularly giving to your church—as the first step to giving. Once giving becomes a habit, you'll see that it makes you less selfish. You'll look for more opportunities to give as you have more money to give.

And, while there is no guarantee that you'll have more money just because you give money away, you will end up with more—sometimes in your pocket and sometimes in your heart. But there will always be more when you handle money God's way!

Here in the Christmas season, there are opportunities to give at every turn. If you haven't experienced the Financial Peace that comes from giving, give it a try this season. Leave $100 for your server one evening, or find five single moms and give them each $500. Take an even bigger leap and give someone $10,000 to go back to school or fulfill their dream of adopting a child. You'll see what a difference it makes in the way you view money.

Ketchup

I am a bit behind on the blogging. I don't have a reason, just being lazy. So, this will be my "ketchup" post about whatever I can remember since last time. This came in the mail for Bones yesterday.


Why Bones needs a coupon for tampons I am not quite sure, but it was very nice of Playtex to think of him for their "special savings only a woman would want".

We planted a tree in our backyard. (We mostly meaning Bones, I just like to take credit for being there. Aidan did help with the digging.) We are not sure if it is already dying or just turning brown for the winter. But it did look nice for a little while.


Aidan has become very interested in hats and continues to love shoes. He will try on any pair he can find. I went to the shoe store with him and he was in heaven. He tried on more shoes than I did.


Molly still loves to sit in her chair and look out the window. Yes, her leg is resting comfortably on the armrest, where else would she put it?


And, the most exciting news, we found out we will be having another baby in May! Our due date is May 22, the day after our anniversary, so we are only a couple of months along.

Ears

Aidan had to get tubes in his ears because he has been getting a ridiculous number of ear infections. Hopefully the tubes will reduce the number of infections and relieve some of Aidan's pain. It was a very short surgery and everything went very well.

Getting ready for surgery (the baby hospital clothes are adorable! But really, babies can pull off just about any look...)

Aidan's angry face when he figured out he was going with the doctor and we were going to the waiting room without him

After surgery when the babies wake up they give them liquid right away since they have to fast before the procedure. The nurse thought Aidan was much younger than he is and gave him a bottle. He was already angry waking up from the anesthesia and he could not figure out what this bottle was supposed to be for. They gave him a sippy cup and then he drank tons of juice but he liked holding onto this strange sippy cup and chewing on the top, even if it was no good for drinking.

Vacation

We got to go to San Diego a few weeks ago with my parents and Bryce for vacation and it was fantastic! We were able to pick up some discount Mexican marijuana

watch a skateboarding bull dog

go to the beach

go to a baseball game

enjoy the view

chase the birds

and try to escape the Mormon Battalion

After all that, it was nice to relax
(reclining on the brick fireplace...totally comfy, right?)

check the cupboards for anything fun

take the long drive home

draw with our chalk

and drive our brand-new car!

My little miracle...

So, a couple of months ago Aidan got water all over my cell phone and it stopped working. Shocking, I know! I have been using my old cell phone in the meantime because I am too cheap to buy a new one, even though the battery in my old one dies quickly because it is well-used and it does not have speaker phone which I like to use a lot for work (also the camera is not very good and the screen is so small, I don't know how I can survive!). My "watered" cell phone had become a toy for Aidan after it's demise. He pulled it out of his toy closet the other day and I thought I would give it another try. Success! It is working again!

Divinity's End

I have placed an order for a copy of Bryce's newest book, Divinity's End, and it should be arriving very soon. I did the proof-reading for this book and while there is perhaps less violence than the previous book, it is no less exciting :) It is an interesting take on the end of the world woven into the story of a very powerful family. If anyone would like to order a print copy or purchase the eBook, visit http://stores.lulu.com/brycecampbellsbooks.

Pictures

We took Aidan to get 18 month pictures the other day. Aidan didn't really cooperate, he tried to ignore the photographer and wouldn't smile for the first bit. Then he discovered a motorcycle they had in the studio. He enjoyed sitting on it and throwing a soccer ball off of it. I didn't really like the motorcycle in the pictures, but they were the only ones where he was smiling. I think maybe we will have to try again later...

I had to put in one of the tongue pictures, it's just not an Aidan smile without a little tongue!

Officer Aidan

I see a law enforcement career in this boy's future...

Mullet-ectomy

Aidan's sweet baby hair has been growing! Sadly, it has been growing only in one area...right in the back, giving him a sweet, white-trash baby mullet. Combing it close to his head could no longer hide the nastiness.


We made the difficult decision to have an emergency mullet-ectomy this weekend as I could no longer bear the sight of it. His hair situation is now much improved.

Summer

These are my favorite flowers in our yard....


I was afraid they might not bloom this year because they got some pretty rough treatment during the blustery storms of May and June. They may be tipping a bit to the side, but they survived.

And the daisies are looking tall and happy as ever....

And who doesn't love to sit on the doorstep eating peas while enjoying the view?

Hard Days

Our friend passed away yesterday unexpectedly. He had a very generous and happy heart. He helped us out many times over the years and we loved spending time with him and his family. I did not know him as many years as Bones, but I loved him and appreciated his friendship. Bones and his friends are more like family. They are a package deal and I couldn't be more grateful for all of them. It is a very close bond they share and he will be missed greatly.

This made me stop and think yesterday. Maybe Aidan "watered" my cell phone on accident, but really, that doesn't matter. Maybe some days I have to do things I would rather not, but that's okay. I am just so grateful to have Bones and Aidan and the rest of our family and friends in my life to make those other things unimportant.

Awesome Aidan

Thank you, Erin, for ending my strike! You are the reason I am posting again :) You and your delicious cake....

Aidan had an appointment with the doctor a couple of weeks ago to check his progress with the helmet and the doctor said he is all done! His head is not perfectly round yet, but it is much improved and the doctor said now that his head is growing correctly it will continue to round out as he gets older. It has been nice to not worry about the helmet (especially with warmer weather here!) The only time I miss it is when Aidan falls or hits his head...

Also, our special thanks to Zoie for allowing Aidan to play with her Cozy Coupe, he loved it!


Aidan's newest skill that he loves to show off is drinking from water bottles. He has always loved water bottles but he has finally figured out how to drink from them without soaking himself and everyone/everything around him (most of the time)

Performing this feat outside makes it all the more impressive, doesn't it? We spend most of our time outside now that the weather is nice; Aidan won't allow us to waste it inside.

Updates

We were lucky enough to visit Jenn and Eric in New York a couple of weeks ago. We also got to meet Fenway for the first time, who is adorable! It was great to see all of them. They were wonderful hosts and were kind enough to drive and/or walk us around to see some sites while we were there. We also got to visit with Eric's parents and Brad, Dianna, Heleyna and Braden while we were there. It was a fabulous trip!


Aidan had a good Easter, he was pretty excited the first time he accidentally opened an egg and discovered there was candy inside. By the end of his candy hunt he was covered in candy drool and we had to clean him up and change his shirt, but he had a great time.

Aidan's New "Hat"

It's official, we have a "helmet baby"! Maybe it's just because I think Aidan is adorable no matter what, but I really don't think the helmet looks that bad. He will have to wear it 3-4 months (probably more like 4) to round out the flat spot on the back of his head. Just wait, soon all the fashionable Hollywood babies will be sporting helmets after they see this....

Our Newest Book

My brother Bryce recently published a book through Lulu. We have ordered our copy and are waiting anxiously for it to arrive! I read the rough draft already and it is pretty exciting. There is no certainly no shortage of violence :) Hopefully the author will agree to sign our copy once we receive it. If anyone is interested, the link to download an electronic copy or order a print copy is http://stores.lulu.com/brycecampbellsbooks.

Aidan's Birthday Pictures

We took Aidan to get pictures for his birthday and they are adorable as always!

Happy Birthday to Aidan!

Today is Aidan's first birthday! He had a pirate party on Saturday to celebrate and it was lots of fun! He got visits from lots of family and VIPs, as well as quite a bit of booty!

Blowing out the candle on his amazing treasure chest birthday cake

Enjoying his delicious cake

Busting into his gifts

Admiring all his booty