Adios Piggy Bank......

Having been parents now for 4 years, Greg and I have had many conversations regarding the values we want to teach our children.  One of the top 5 values on our list is Money.  We decided we need to be extremely intentional in teaching our kids how to positively handle money.  We thought if we ingrain positive money management at a very early age, when they are grown, they will instinctively have the habit.  In doing so, I decided a piggy bank wasn't enough to teach Skylar and Luke money management.  We need to take it a step further and teach them the proper order and percentages of money. 

We said goodbye to the piggy bank and came up with SHARE. SAVE. SPEND.  And so we have began the 18 year process of brainwashing our children to 1) first share our money 2) always save our money 3) spend a small portion of our money {a small portion, that is of course until they have bills, mortgages, children, cars, etc.  ughhhh...}  :)

 

Love to all,

Netti T

Skylar and I gathered items around the house to create our new money system.  Ball jars, twine, vintage tablecloth, craft paper, and butterflies........

In Bloom....

"And then the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was greater than the risk it took to bloom."

I read this quote on a card the other day and it so resonated with me and the place I am in my life.   I feel as if I am right in the middle of the process of "blooming." {blooming as a wife, a mother, in my career path, and most importantly, as a child of God.} I am on a journey of discovering and slowly becoming {good things take time, right.} the person I believe I was created to be.  Along my journey I experience the usual ups and downs.  Some days I believe I can achieve anything I set my mind to.  And other days  I feel as if I am a caterpillar who is convinced it will never muster the strength to become the beautiful butterfly it was meant to be. 

Last week I had what you could call, "a light bulb moment."  I was running on the treadmill at the gym, and suddenly discovered inspiration all around me! Below me was a grey haired granny working with a trainer for the first time, {you go girl! you can do it!} In front of me was a television screen with Obama handing out awards to our brave soldiers for their victory last Sunday.  All around me were posters, each with an inspirational quote like "Change your life" or "Eye of the Tiger."  Inside of me was the sound of my mothers voice gently saying "Netti, you can.  You just need to change your recording." My mother spent years trying to teach me to have positive self talk.  Finally at age 30, I think I heard her for the first time.

Tears dripped down my face, {at least the people around me didn't know I was an emotional mess.  They just thought I was sweaty from kicking a@# in my workout.} At that moment I felt in my heart what I had only heard with my ears for so long. And in doing so, I discovered a new personal truth. 

I do not need to change what I am doing.  I need to change how I am thinking.  

I so often set a goal, start strong, and then slowly my negative self talk gets the best of me until I believe I am incapable.  This will be no longer! I am going to push out thoughts of negativity towards self. I will claim and hold tight to what I feel are God's promises for my life. Perserverence, Endurance, Focus.........

Take what seems to be a small insignificant orchid branch {photo above}.  Below are demonstrations of the  orchid branch "in bloom."

{I took these photos for a project I did at Gardenology.}

Love to all,

Netti T

A beautiful table setting......

In a mug as a hostess gift.....

Charming gift wrap.....

Accent a candle.....

Make a potted arrangement.....

Bedside gift to welcome a house guest.....