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CAROLFAITHWALKR's Recent Blog Entries
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Friday, May 11, 2012
Most of us who come to Dave Ramsey on our journey to financial freedom and leaving a legacy, did not start out frugal. If we knew how to budget and save and stay out of debt, HELLO, we wouldn't have needed Dave then, would we?
There's no shame in that. There's no shame in remembering where you came from. People all around us, are desperate for the knowledge we have gained from Dave of how to achieve financial freedom - if they haven't given up hope altogether, that is. So YOU can help others with your battlescars and testimony. Pay it forward; we have Dave's blessing and encouragement to do so, and since it's all scripture-based, most importantly we have the Lord's. Join an FPU class or facilitate one. Bless others with the gift you have, the gift of Dave's teaching. The journey to financial freedom is a tough one; but well worth the climb.
Dave teaches about two personalities; 'Savers' and 'Spenders', and that God usually pairs them up in a marriage just to keep things interesting and because He has a sense of humor (read: fireworks; balance; opposites attract).
Even 'Savers', may have WANTED to do things like be a better home economist, or WANTED to learn to make bread, but didn't grow up with those skills at home.
If you did, what a blessing; but I know I didn't, and alot of us (I would even say, most of us), didn't. And since I'm single, the burden of the balancing act and economist living is 100% mine.
Luckily for us, we're adults now and can make our own future and learn the frugal skills we need to learn, in order to "Never Pay Retail" again. Luckily for us, we're adults now who have access to the internet, and you can learn anything from the internet.
Here's a blog from a person who actually knows what she is talking about when it comes to baking your own bread, and because she is also a very good teacher it was a pleasure to read this very good, comprehensive, educational blog that answers most questions and overcomes most objections. Also gives you some very good "insider" tips. Kind of a 1-stop-shopping place for Bread 101. Also I know the Artisan method of which she speaks (see embedded links in article), is tried and true; you do not need to have any special skills or talent, nor a mixer nor a breadmaker; and the dough conveniently stays in the fridge, ready when you are for baking.
Also notice Jessica is a Dave Ramsey Fan . . . when you click on the link, note the tag line in the header of her blog, "act your wage".
Bake Your Own Bread to Save Money
goodcheapeats.com/2012/05/bake-your-
own-bread-to-save-money/
And with all the crap they put in store bought bread, you KNOW this is also good for your SparkJourney, as well. YOU control the quality and type of grain and flour and other ingredients.
Personally, I'm convinced organic grains do not cause all the problems most people are currently experiencing who are on the "get rid of grains" latest fad-wagon. If moderation and homemade bread with good ingredients are applied, I believe few would have problems with bread. As for me, I have already decided I will definitely order bulk organic grains through Azure Standard food coop once I get a job, and will be the regional volunteer drop coordinator if there's not one locally.
Azure Standard 101: How Does It Work And Is It For Me?
heavenlyhomemakers.com/azure-standar
d-how-does-it-work
Azure Standard Website:
www.azurestandard.com/
Eatwild is all about finding grass-fed food resources; for omnivores it's a nice complement to Azure Standard.
Eatwild's Directory of U.S., Canadian and International Farms & Ranches
www.eatwild.com/products/index.html#
states
I'm grateful to SparkPeople for finding all these resources; as soon as I have a job I'll know exactly what my next steps are, and will have a plan.
Meanwhile, I can at least learn to make my own bread and practice that with the flour I already have! It will still be 10X healthier . . . and more frugal . . . than store bought bread.
Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University (FPU):
www.daveramsey.com/fpu/home/ictid/cl
asspage/
Saturday, May 05, 2012
Pressed for Time? 'Frugal Time Savers'
Battling a too-busy schedule? Use the frugal time savers in this week's newsletter to simplify your day.
specials.about.com/service/newslette
rs/frugalliving/1335931200.htm
Saturday May 5
This blog topic, "Frugal Time Savers", is ironically appropriate to me right now, as I simply can NOT believe I missed National Day of Prayer this year.
It's okay for heathens to be oblivious / blow it off; it's NOT okay for me. I am astonished & appalled at myself. Especially as badly as America needs revival.
Believers, not heathens, are called to prayer for the nation.
"If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray, and search for Me, and seek My face, and turn from and do penance for their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal the land and restore their country." -- 2Chron 7:14
Yes, I DO pray more than one time a year. THAT. IS. NOT. THE. POINT.
So I was appalled to hear on KLOVE today a comment in passing about Natl Day of Prayer that was last Thursday. It's always the first Thursday in May, every year. It came and went as if it doesn't exist.
I am working 15 - 20 hours a week (& a whopping 23 hours next week - woo hoo) for minimum wage at a sandwich shop, which shall remain nameless. I started mid April and am doing it as unto the Lord. I feel like it was a test to see if when I go back to work at my future career job, which is typically 50-70 hours a week exempt for 50-65K, will I keep my eyes on Jesus? I feel like this piddly-pay, short-hours job was a test, which I failed miserably; I royally flunked this test. Totally blew off Natl Day of Prayer. I need to IMMEDIATELY take up weekly planning in my Franklin Covey Planner, incorporating annual and spiritual and physical goals into my Planner; and use FlyLady's daily routine system to make sure they get carried out.
The weekly planning (for meals, and for life) mentioned in the article, I know for sure DOES work for me. Just have to, HELLO!, DO it.
So that's my Life Goals for this coming week.
(1) Immediately pick up Franklin Covey Weekly Planning (includes spiritual goals and devotions, annual goals, weekly meal planning, FlyLady's weekly home blessing planning and Zone cleaning, and workout/physical activity or exercise planning).
(2) And immediately pick up FlyLady's three daily routines to implement daily execution:
.....(a) Morning Routine,
.....(b) After Routine (after work, after noon, or after school)
.....(c) and Before Bed (or After Dinner) Routine.
What is frustrating is the Déjà Vu. I. HAVE. BEEN. HERE. BEFORE. Exactly here. At exactly this point in my life, of telling myself the very next thing I need to do is resume using the Planner and resume using FlyLady routines. I am so disappointed in myself. I am 49; when will I act like an adult and stop being flakey? And make real progress instead of stop going in circles?
Additionally, I told myself the above early in the week this week, it being May 1st and all; but I didn't do it, and am now personally appalled I missed Natl Day of Prayer. So it will have taken this week of SAYING I'm starting this week, to actually GET started and do the planning for NEXT week.
Do you know what this reminds me of? This is exactly the Lifestyle Change process. Others may fall off of the food & exercise wagon; I have fallen off time mgmt / get your life together / act like an adult, wagon. Spiritual things are the most important. PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST; live value-driven goals, not letting the every day urgencies of life drive you. Time is like money; a budget is you telling your money where to go, instead of wondering where it went.
And this is only a PART TIME JOB???? What happens when I get a real (career) job?
Absolutely no excuses; I have to get it into high, I said HIGH, gear. I have to learn to execute well, because I'm certainly not doing it now.
This is me, kicking myself in the butt . . .
No, I'm not being negative. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND TELL YOURSELF THE TRUTH.
This is my Mea Culpa; "turn from and do penance for my wicked ways."
You who have mothers, don't blow off Mother's Day is next Sunday - act now. I had a strained relationship with mine; now that her mind is gone, I wish I had been more faithful when I could have been - regardless of our relationship. 60 years ago today, my parents were married.
And happy Cinco de Mayo today.
Wednesday, May 02, 2012
Human Genes Engineered into Experimental GMO Rice Being Grown in Kansas
by Ethan A. Huff, staff writer
www.naturalnews.com/z035745_GMO_rice
_human_genes_Kansas.html
(NaturalNews) Unless the rice you buy is certified organic, or comes specifically from a farm that tests its rice crops for genetically modified (GM) traits, you could be eating rice tainted with actual human genes. The only known GMO with inbred human traits in cultivation today, a GM rice product made by biotechnology company Ventria Bioscience is currently being grown on 3,200 acres in Junction City, Kansas -- and possibly elsewhere -- and most people have no idea about it.
Since about 2006, Ventria has been quietly cultivating rice that has been genetically modified (GM) with genes from the human liver for the purpose of taking the artificial proteins produced by this "Frankenrice" and using them in pharmaceuticals. With approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Ventria has taken one of the most widely cultivated grain crops in the world today, and essentially turned it into a catalyst for producing new drugs.
Originally, the cultivation of this GM rice, which comes in three approved varieties (http://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/biotech_ea_
permits.html), was limited to the laboratory setting. But in 2007, Ventria decided to bring the rice outdoors. The company initially tried to plant the crops in Missouri, but met resistance from Anheuser-Busch and others, which threatened to boycott all rice from the state in the event that Ventria began planting its rice within state borders (http://todayyesterdayandtomorrow.wordpres
s.com).
So Ventria's GM rice eventually ended up in Kansas, where it is presumably still being grown for the purpose of manufacturing drugs on 3,200 acres in Junction City. And while this GM rice with added human traits has never been approved for human consumption, it is now being cultivated in open fields where the potential for unrestrained contamination and spread of its unwanted, dangerous GM traits is virtually a given.
"This is not a product that everyone would want to consume," said Jane Rissler from the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) to the Washington Post back in 2007. "It is unwise to produce drugs in plants outdoors."
Though receiving tens of thousands of public comments of opposition, many rightly concerned about the spread of GM traits, the USDA approved open cultivation of Ventria's GM rice anyway. This, of course, occurred after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had refused approval for Ventria's GM rice back in 2003 (http://www.kansasruralcenter.org/publicat
ions/PharmaRice.pdf).
GM 'pharmaceutical' rice could cause more disease, suggests report
Besides the threat of contamination and wild spread, Ventria's GM rice, which is purportedly being grown to help third-world children overcome chronic diarrhea, may conversely cause other chronic diseases.
"These genetically engineered drugs could exacerbate certain infections, or cause dangerous allergic or immune system reactions," said Bill Freese, Science Policy Analyst at the Center for Food Safety (CFS), who published a report back in 2007 about the dangers of Ventria's GM rice.
You can view that report here:
http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org
Sources for this article include:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/ge/human
gene042505.cfm
http://www.washingtonpost.com
http://www.worldwatch.org/node/4956
http://todayyesterdayandtomorrow.wordpre
ss.com
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