Yesterday my mom called as I was busy creating in the kitchen.  Actually, I was racing to finish fixing chicken and dumplings, our favorite salad, and cowboy cookies before my hungry husband and teenagers arrived home.

I love it when mom calls, but only half listened as I chopped, sifted, and stirred.  

Thank goodness I kept her on the phone!  

In just a couple of minutes she inspired me with the thought that today, February 29th, is a very unique and special “gift of time” day, and it can be used to create something lasting and wonderful.  

This “extra day” only comes once every four years.  I’m going to try to accomplish something significant or begin something of lasting value.  Want to join me?


The Gift of Time 

Imagine there is a bank which credits your account each morning with $86,400. It carries over no balance from day to day, allows you to keep no cash balance, and every evening cancels whatever part of the amount you had failed to use during the day. 

What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course! Well, everyone has such a bank. Its name is TIME. Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose. 

It carries over no balance.
It allows no overdraft.
Each day it opens a new account for you.
Each night it burns the remains of the day.
If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours. 

There is no going back. There is no drawing against the "tomorrow". You must live in the present on today's deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness and success! 

The clock is running. Make the most of today. 

To realize the value of ONE YEAR, ask a student who has failed a grade. 

To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby. 

To realize the value of ONE WEEK, ask an editor of a weekly newspaper. 

To realize the value of ONE DAY, ask a daily wage laborer who has kids to feed. 

To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet. 

To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who has missed the train.

To realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask a person who has avoided an accident. 

To realize the value of ONE MILLISECOND, ask the person who has won a silver medal in the Olympics. 

Treasure every moment that you have! And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to have your time . . . 

And remember time waits for no one . . . 

Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow a mystery.
Today is a gift.
That's why it's called the present!

As you read and watch the national news, do you ever feel so totally frustrated you could shout, or cry?

Do you ever wonder why our elected leaders aren't speaking up?  

Why don't they do something to stop America's transformation to tyranny?  

It seems like anything they could say would be better than nothing.  Well, almost anything.

Today I watched a totally frustrated congressman speak out.  I don't blame him.  He must have been totally fed up with the way Washington works. I'm grateful he cares about the Constitution and he cares about the people he serves.  

Maybe he thought this was the only way to get people talking.  It's hard to say.  I just wish he would have prepared himself to speak in a more rational, persuasive way.

More and more families live beyond their means.  Many parents neglect to teach their children principles of financial prosperity.  

This lack of financial literacy is reflected in our elected leaders who recklessly borrow from China and have created a national debt that is 101% of our Gross Domestic Product.

An important part of preparing the patriots and leaders of the future is to help them become self sufficient, even prosperous.  Fewer people will vote for government controls and handouts when they are financially prepared to support themselves.

In his article, The Art of Raising a Money Superstar, Dave Ramsey suggests that we as parents need to embrace the process of educating our children about money.  

Important attitudes, skills and habits can take years to establish, but the rewards are worth it.    According to Ramsey, our child can become a "responsible adult, who knows how to manage his money, how to live on what he makes, isn't afraid to work, and has a generous spirit."

Read More:  The Art of Raising a Money Superstar  

 

Shenandoah

Oh Shenandoah, I love your daughter
Away, you rolling river
Oh Shenandoah, I love your daughter
Away, I'm bound to go
'cross the wide Missouri.

Oh, Shenandoah, I long to hear you
Away, you rolling river
Oh Shenandoah, I long to hear you.
Away, I'm bound to go
'Cross the wide Missouri.

Oh, Shenandoah, I long to see you
Away, you rolling river
Oh, Shenandoah, I long to see you
 Away, I'm bound to go
'Cross the wide Missouri.

"Senator Jeff Sessions, ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee has pointed out that our per capita government debt is already larger than Greece's.  

"Per person, our government owes over $49,000 compared to $38,937 per Greek citizen.  

"Our debt has just reached 101% of our Gross Domestic Product.  Our creditors see this and have quietly slowed down or stopped their lending to us.  As a result, the Federal Reserve has been outright monetizing debt as a way to patch things together and keep the economy on life support a little longer."  

Read More:  Economy Squeezed as Debt Accelerates

Never in the history of the world has there been a greater need for Patriotic Moms to believe in their ability to speak up and make a difference.  

You will be needed! 

When it's your turn, will you be ready?  

Do you know how to prepare?

It won't be easy, but it is simple.  

In less than 8 minutes, Bay Buchanan explains how.

1  Choose an issue you believe in.

2  Speak up.

3  Develop expertise.  Learn more about what you stand for.

4  Build confidence with practice. 

5. Persuade passionately. 

Believe in your ability to make a difference!

All of us face challenges in life.  Stephanie Nielson and her husband Christian know how hard that can be.  On August 16, 2008, a horrific plane crash abruptly transformed their lives forever.

In spite of excellent medical care and frequent surgeries, pain has been their constant companion.  But in an interview with Glenn Beck, Stephanie spoke of the accident as a blessing in their lives.  Even if she could, she would not go back to her old life now. 

How can people survive, and even thrive, when faced with indescribable hardship?  Watch as Stephanie and Christian share their secret.  This show has specific, helpful suggestions for anyone who is struggling with trials...

The internet has been called “the greatest surveillance tool ever devised.”  But many people don’t realize how invasive modern technology has become.  

Internet services are not free.  We trade our data to get the services.  

Are you concerned about the increasing invasion of your privacy? 

"When you get down to it, all Liberal criticism of Conservatives comes down to 'YOU SUCK!' 

"And they're right!  Here's why..."

Governor Walker was on Fox Business today.  His reforms are working in Wisconsin, much to the chagrin of big labor union bosses.  Governor Walker's moderate reforms threaten union control and so unions are working to recall Governor Walker.  Their recall election will cost voters $9 million.  

Sure hope voters realize the powerful benefits of Governor Walker's reasonable reforms.  

This is an important conversation to follow because labor unions are seeking excessive money and power in many states across the country and expect tax payers to pick up the bill.