2010 Summer Post

Wow how the time has flown. Its been a very different summer than any other…

Economy has kicked our butt… Donato was laid off in December and after many applications and follow ups… still unemployed.
Benefits to this is that he is home with the kids.
Learning to live within our means, another benefit, and definitely a life lesson for the kids.
I am the first to admit that the kids really do have more than they need, and live their lives needing nothing, and working on chores to earn money for all their WANTS.
Well… with this change in income, we really had to sit down with them and explain living within our means, and learning to make choices.
Typically we have a couple short weekend vacation and one longer vacations per summer… this year we were able to just take one vacation weekend, and we were fortunate enough to stay at a friends vacation home, saving us some money, and helping with the lesson.

We had a truly spectacular time, and a few pictures to prove it (see below). Also below the pictures, are some quotes Ive been trying to live by in these challenging times… hope you enjoy

This digital slideshow personalized with Smilebox

Broke Is not Broken
Being broke is not the same as being broken, losing money is not the same as being lost, and finding your balance is not something you can do on a balance sheet.

Having Less Doesn’t Mean You Are Less
Don’t confuse having less with being less, having more with being more, or what you have with who you are.

Savor Life and Slow Down
When you’re in a hurry, go slowly. The faster you go in life the sooner it is a blur.

Courage Is not Absence of Fear
Put your faith, and not your fears, in charge. Courage isn’t the absence of fears but how you wrestle with them.

Embrace the Future
If you’re busy hugging the past, you can’t embrace the future. Don’t let the past kidnap your future.

Change Is the Only Constant
This too shall pass. Change is the only constant. In order to take a breath, you must release your breath.

Make a Difference
Do what you can, but never forget that letting go is very different from giving up. Of all the things you can make in life, remember you make all the difference in your life.

Embrace Happiness
Tough times don’t require you to be tough on yourself. Find the courage to embrace happiness.

You Are Great
Things don’t have to be good for you to be great.

Until next post… happy summer!