by Richele McFarlin

Who would have thought the mundane task of grocery shopping could serve to provide insight into God’s Word? I know that was the last thing I expected to bring home from the grocery store. Well, that and the kitchen cleanser on the market that promises to make my life easier. It started out like any normal day but soon turned into an education in parenting. The Lord taught me from the moment I said, “Where are your shoes?”

I finished my grocery list and grabbed my coupons. I called out, “Get your shoes we are leaving in a few minutes.” I beam with parental pride as two of my three kids appear with shoes on their feet. My moment is dashed when my son tells me that he cannot find his shoes. I was short tempered due to the culmination of moments of this kind. I responded in a harsh tone which sent my son off crying to find his missing shoes. A few minutes later I find his shoes by the back door. He puts his shoes on and we are finally ready to leave.

We headed toward the door when I realized I did not have my keys. I look in my purse and they are not there. Frustrated, I realized that no one could scold me for such irresponsibility. I am quite certain my son would have loved to have his shot. I find my keys in my coat and we are ready to go.
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Teaching people to work and live simply is a goal in our company and what I try to apply in my own life. But what does it mean?

The American Heritage dictionary defines the word simply as “clear, absolute, altogether and frank”. But it also is defined as “not wise and foolish”. The last definition is what most people think of when they hear “simply”. We think that means we will become a simpleton - a person without judgment or intelligence.

I have to disagree. Humans have developed the tendency to over-complicate their processes and procedures. Sometimes we over-complicate because we don’t know there is something better out there. We move along in our work and life doing things the “same old way” without assessing if they can be done more easily. Easier does not mean less effective; it’s exactly the opposite. It means doing something for the right reason. Sometimes that means not doing something at all or accepting an alternative approach. This will be especially hard for some “Type A” people who have a perfectionism streak. Trust me, I speak from experience.

I define “simply” as an end state. It is a state of being that you reach. When I hear the word “simple”, it is usually followed by a sigh of peace. “Simply” is relaxed, with minimal stress, where things just flow and everything is easier. You get there by minimizing complexity, by reducing the obligations in your life, getting your finances under control and by eliminating the clutter around you. This only happens when you make decisions and choose to let go.
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Just when things couldn’t possibly get worse, they do. Just when we set our expectations in life, the unexpected happens. Whether storms in life come out of nowhere, or we saw them coming all along, we struggle to hold on to our faith. When we have no strength to carry on, when disappointment and discouragement take hold of us, we find that our only way through it all depends upon our faith. We find our faith being tested as we endure suffering that may be physical, mental, social, financial, or all of them combined.

“If we cannot believe God when circumstances seem to be against us, we do not believe Him at all.” –Charles H. Spurgeon

So what are we to do when our faith is tested? Will your faith pass the test? The testing of your faith is an opportunity, not an obstacle. God’s purpose for allowing the trials in your life is to strengthen you, not destroy you. He has promised that His plans for you are for good; He has promised to complete the work He has begun in you; He has promised to never leave you nor forsake you; He has promised to be a ready help in times of trouble….believe what He has promised, God is not a liar.
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Read any headlines lately? Seen the newest Halloween masks in the stores? Walk down the street alone in the dark? Yikes. It’s scary out there.

We live in a world that is frightening. War, greed, violence, selfishness, shortages…there seems to be plenty of that in this world.

What or who makes you feel safe?

Women’s libbers, sorry to burst your I-can-do-it-by-myself bubble, but my husband is my protector. I like it when my man opens my door for me. I like it when, as we walk, he gently places a protective hand at the small of my back to guide me around an obstacle in my path. I like it when, as we walk along a street, he walks closest to the traffic, providing me a barrier from possible danger and pot hole splashes.
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by Cheryl Moeller

Writer’s write! Don’t just talk about writing, actually write.

To complete an article or assignment you need to write, write, write. God gives the heart and vision for the story. It takes talents and gifts, but it also takes discipline. You write one word at a time just like you play the piano one note at a time. You can do it, if you put your mind to it and overlook other distractions.

Practical Ideas to Motivate the next Pulitzer Prize Winner:

1. Treat writing as importantly as you do reading. For my children, I gave them a new spiral notebook and a cool pen, both in their favorite color. I act as though their notebook and their writing are very special and important.

2. Give your children big challenges in the writing area, perhaps you are asking too little of your child.
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Let’s not confuse daycare requirements and day care regulations. One is the building block upon which the other is built. Day care regulations are in place in order to ensure that minimum standards of care are adhered to. Thereafter you are required to ensure they are applied in a relevant fashion within your day care.

Day care regulations are a given – they are the law, they are practical, they are common sense and they ensure the health, safety and well-being of the children in your care. What you do to build upon these ordinances marks you out as an exceptional, above average facility. You are required to go so much further than that which is writ…. and if you haven’t realized that yourself then you are in the wrong business.

When running a day care adding your personal touch and attention is as important as the serious, bottom line aspect of the business. While you must always keep the practical, bottom line, business aspect in mind you must also be aware of the small additions and tweaks that can make your daycare that bit better and more personable than the others.
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by Fiona Lohrenz

A well thought out daycare curriculum is essential when structuring after school activities for children of all age ranges. It is impossible to ignore the growing popularity of these after school programs which
cater for more than 10 million kids in the US and receive millions in funding. The safety of children whilst parents are at work is a given but the importance of educating and developing new skills shouldn’t be overlooked.

The most important factor in the success of any program is the relationship between the children participating in the program and the adult members who work with these children. Often, children may
confide in an adult member who is not a teacher. This kind of emotional interaction is a must when children are struggling to make sense of the whirlpool of emotions that assail them.
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So many people panic about daycare menus, what they should and shouldn’t do, what needs to be included to cover the requirements of the dreaded food pyramid and generally get themselves in an awful tizzy about something that simply requires a little common sense. When cooking for a day care you need to ensure you are providing nutritious meals, that the food preparation process is hygienic and that the meals you are providing are easily prepared in bulk.
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by Nancy Twigg

Benjamin Franklin had very definite opinions about debt, one of my favorites being, “Better to go to bed supperless, than wake up in debt.” What a stark contrast to the attitude many have toward debt today. Instead of something to be avoided, we have embraced credit as a friend—an easy way to bypass shortages of funds. If debt was once such a disgrace, why do we now see debt as a strange sort of blessing rather than a curse?

Part of the problem is our cultural mind-set that debt is normal. It’s as if you are somehow abnormal if you choose to avoid it. We face a fierce pressure to live as “everyone else” does—even if that means spending beyond our incomes. We want the same standard of living as our parents and grandparents, without all the hard work and saving they did to get where they are.
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by Cassandra Woods

The job market is quite competitive these days. There’s a large pool of potential employees, including new college graduates, displaced workers, and those who are simply seeking a better opportunity.

While salary and location may be two of the top reasons people accept jobs, another major reason is fringe benefits.

Many companies offer a benefits package to their employees. The package may include vacation and sick leave, tuition reimbursement, or a 401 K plan. Due to the high cost of medical treatment, an inadequate health insurance offer could be a deal-breaker for a prospective employee.
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