A book that I recommend to truly anyone, and especially members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is the book entitled “The Infinite Atonement,” By Tad R. Callister.
This book about the atonement was truly a blessing for me to read for so many reasons.
Overall, this book helped me understand how the atonement of Jesus Christ works and how the atonement impacts our lives every single day.
The author, Tad R. Callister, has such a vast religious knowledge and he writes in detail so beautifully on every aspect of the atonement.
The Infinite Atonement helps us understand why and how we must forgive others, as well as forgive ourselves.
The Infinite Atonement helped me to view the atonement of Jesus Christ at a different level.
This is a book that I feel like I personally could read every year and learn something new and inspiring from the book every single time.
If you haven’t yet read this book, I highly recommend you pick up a copy of “The Infinite Atonement.”
How fun are these glow in the dark easter eggs? Kids will enjoy charging these eggs in the light for a few minutes, and then watch them glow in the dark
And at the price of only $7.50, you’ll love this Easter gift!
These scented pencils are the perfect gift for kids of all ages.
Kids will enjoy that these pencils are pre-sharpened, and their scents last for up to two years!
This set of pencils comes in a variety of scents: Bubble Gum, Blue Slushie, Pineapple Swirl, Strawberry Cheesecake, Jelly Donut, Jolly Watermelon, Rainbow Sherbet, Orange Soda, Black Cherry, and Chocolate Milkshake
The pencils come in a 10-pack, with the price of only $14.99
For everyone in those years of motherhood where all the children are cute and young, adorable but very dependent … today was a day!
Fatigue settles in and I had high hopes of taking a nap while my two little ones napped hoping my older son would play with some toys or draw a picture…. something, anything.
Just as I was getting my son situated to not need me for a bit… my baby woke up, her nap was over and now my chance to rest was gone.
This is not the first time this has happened so I’ve told myself to never get my “heart -set” on taking a nap… and yet it’s hard to keep going when energy levels are low.
But we do keep going because we are moms and we know that’s what our family needs us to do right?
Baby girl with her fancy sunglasses
Well we had some errands to run and I promised the kids a vanilla ice cream come from McDonalds after errands.
Baby girl who is 16 months had her first ice cream cone and she was messier than ever but loved it so much!
I took baby girl out of the car seat and sat down by her, eye level, to clean her face.
I meant to say “give mommy a lick,” because the ice cream looked tasty and it was dripping everywhere… but instead I said “give mommy kiss.”
Well that little cutie puckered up her ice cream face and went in for the biggest kiss and love.
And then when I asked for another kiss she walked away and was too busy.
It literally melted my heart because the kiss came unexpectedly and so quick, but it was so genuine and sweet.
That little kiss from baby girl reminded me that these little ones may be precious to us, but we are so precious to them.
My 2 sweet girls
Our kids love us and show us small acts of endearment throughout the day, if we can just focus on seeing the love.
That little surprise kiss today was the best “pick me up,” and I forgot about how tired I had felt.
When my oldest climbs in for cuddles … my heart melts
I’ve heard it said a million times, but right when we think we as parents are teaching our kids all the important things in life… it’s truly the children that have been teaching us all along.
Hence, I wanted to share my top 4 favorite instagram accounts on budgeting/saving money!
If you have any other budgeting instagram accounts that you love, please share!
Enjoy saving money today, I know you can do it!
Top 4 Favorite Budgeting Instagram Accounts:
@jordanpage and her company is @funcheaporfree -Jordan Page has been incredibly success with budgeting and frugal living and she has constant resources and insight that can help anyone save money and budget!
@thebudgetmom– Kumiko Love is a money expert and if you are a mom you can relate to her and her lifestyle. She can guide you on the path of being smart with your money!
@daveramsey– If you don’t follow Dave Ramsey on instagram, you should! He is the MASTER of how to save and build money, I highly recommend following him for budgeting tips and tricks.
@the.budget.blonde-I love all the graphics that this budgeting instagrammed provides! Her posts can get someone to think for a minute about needs versus wants. I appreciate her insight on saving money and I believe you will too!
In November of 2018, I lost one of my dear friends.
I had been friends with my friend, I will call him, Roy, since the 8th grade.
There was never a romantic relationship, Roy was just always there for me in so many ways.
Roy knew me so well. He knew if I was happy or if he needed to cheer me up, and he always did!
Roy was such a loyal friend. Roy had his own challenges that he talked with me about, and that he was constantly working on. I appreciated that he trusted me as a friend to listen to him and to be there for him as much as I could.
When I got married and had my first two children, he was my biggest cheerleader, always telling me how “proud,” he was of me.
I looked forward to our monthly chats and loved that we could always “pick up where we left off.”
And then,
I got a phone call.
I’ll never forget, I was at a Christmas craft fair, (which Christmas was Roy’s favorite holiday by the way),
And my other friend called to tell me, that Roy had died from some health issues.
The health issues came quite unexpectedly, I knew Roy had health issues but in no way thought it would take his life.
My heart sunk.
I had two little kids at this craft fair with me and I remember looking around the room feeling like the world was spinning.
I got my kids and I to the car, and drove home, in tears and in shock and so confused.
Is anyone prepared for death of a loved one?
Never.
And this news was quite unbearable for me.
Naturally, I went through all the stages of the grieving process: shock, denial, anger, bargaining, and acceptance.
When I was in the “anger” stage I remember being so mad at myself for not calling him one more time. I wanted just one more conversation with him and that was it.
Well- we all have something we turn to when it comes to grieving, mine has always been writing.
So I wrote this poem one night when I couldn’t sleep, when I was still so sad and upset about the loss of my dear friend Roy.
Perhaps it will bring you peace in your grieving struggles.
I will add, just last night while listening to a song, I randomly burst into tears because it reminded me of my sweet friend Roy.
Grieving never quite stops with our loved ones.
I am grateful to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, it has helped me find peace with knowing I will see my dear friend again one day.
I hope all that struggle with grief will find peace. Even more, I hope you find something that can help you through your grieving. Perhaps it’s writing, or running, or organizing, the list goes on but I hope you can find that something that can help you to work through the emotional pain of grief.
And with that, I will leave you with this poem:
When the light Came
When the light came, I was not scared
When the light came, I moved forward.
I saw the beauty, peace, and happiness that
awaited me there, and when the light came I went.
When the light came, I knew my time was finished here on this earth.
My past family and loved ones surrounded me, and joy encompassed my soul.
When the light came I knew that I would now be the guardian angel.
To protect my loved ones and family, and to be with them in their hearts.
When the light came I was fulfilled and I knew my life was complete.
For now, you see, the light set me free, and I know that is what was meant for me.
So do not mourn or feel heartache and sorrow, for my spirit lives on and on.
My light will now shine for you, and one day too, the light will set you free,
There are many great budget apps available, but the one that we have found has worked best for our family is from Dave Ramsey called “Everydollar.”
So what is the goal this month?
To keep a budget for at least 20 days. Use whatever budget app you’d like, just make sure to budget!
Besides tracking the budget, I have provided a FREE printable of financial goals to help save money for the month.
One of the BIG focuses with this budget challenge, is thinking about the small things that tend to add up!
This quote:
Doesn’t this quote speak volumes! It’s not always that we are spending money on a HUGE shopping spree to the mall, perhaps it’s those weekly Amazon boxes that come.
Or maybe it’s going out to eat more than once a week?
Bottom line, this challenge for 20 days can be a great “eye-opening” experience for all of us.
Will you join me?!
I provide the free printable at the bottom of this post. I just wanted to address something called shelf-cooking. Shelf cooking is something I learned from Fun Cheap or Free. Shelf cooking is where you look in your pantry or refridgerator shelves, and cook up something with ingredients you already have. Shelf cooking costs ZERO money and takes care of the excuse of going to a restaurant or picking up fast food for dinner.
So click here for the FREE PRINTABLE and lets SAVE some money this month!
