Father's Day, My Sister In Town, & My 7 Year Wreck Anniversary

My sister, who lives in Chicago, came into town for Father's Day this year and she stayed for 6 days. When discussing how to celebrate our Dads (my Dad and my boyfriend Billy's Dad), we decided to have a giant fish fry at our house since both our freezer and Billy's Dad's freezer had bags of fish stored in them. I was told that there were many types of fish caught - catfish, bass, crappie... but I just called them Yum, Yum, and Yum! I've included a picture of some keepers. On the Saturday before Father's Day, my sister, Dad, and boyfriend went fishing one more time while my Mom and I went to the YMCA because I had a speaking engagement there.

We started the big day off with an amazing church service at The Covenant Church in McKinney. I feel the Holy Spirit ACTIVE in that place! The music and sermon were wonderful. Our Pastor began his sermon by prooving the power and significance of a father in a child's life and included upsetting statistics. A father-less child's wellness and success is at an alarming disadvantage. He went further to include examples of children that beat the statistics and encouraged us all to beat the statistics! What I loved most was how our Pastor commended fathers that are FATHERS and have active roles in the lives of their children as well as mothers who unfortunately must play the role of both parents. He ended with charging fathers to be the men that God created them to be - fathers, husbands, sons, employees, neghbors, friends - with integrity and love. Amen!

Later that day, we had Billy's Dad and siblings over as well as the Leachs, our neighbors who just moved, and began the fish frying adventure. We had Louisiana style fish, grilled and fried squash, almond broccili cole slaw, big lima beans, Mom's potato salad, fruit salad, watermelon, and cookies!! Everything tasted ah-mazing! It was a nice and needed time with friends and family! We also went to the movies and watched The Avengers!

The remainder of my sister's visit was great. We also had a burger cookout with the DeWets, other neighbor friends and ate way too much AGAIN! Now, all I have to do is devise a plan to bring my sister home! Any suggestions are welcome!

I would like to end by thanking and commending all of the fathers as well as mothers who truly are that - fathers and mothers. It is a big responsibility but it is a great treasure as well. A special thank you to my parents. June 16, 2012 was the 7th anniversary of my car wreck and all that comes to mind is your love, mercy, grace, patience, support, and devotion. You are what comes to mind. You both are truly amazing and one of a kind. The two revelations received from my wreck that I treasure most are realizing how much God and you love me. I love you both and am so grateful to have such ALL-STAR parents.

What the Bible Can Teach You About Investing Today

Ron Blue has an investment philosophy you don't hear very often these days. Specifically, the Founder and Managing Director of Kingdom Advisors says the old proverbs found in the Bible hold the keys to today's investment success.

Blue began reading and studying the bible only after becoming well-versed in the tenets of financial reporting as a Certified Public Accountant. What surprised him was the degree to which doing either effectively came down to the same basic rules. Blue recently came on Breakout to share some of these proverbs and how their meanings apply to investors of any faith.

1) Establish Written Financial Goals

"The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty." -Proverbs 21:5

Write down your end target then determine your steps towards getting there. A little bit at a time, all of the time, is a wiser plan than taken frantic all-or-nothing shots.

2) Save and Invest Before You Spend

"Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house." -Proverbs 24:27

As Blue puts it, "don't spend in the short-term because you won't have it in the long-term."

3) Keep a Long Term Perspective

"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won't you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?" -Luke 14:28

In other words, know what you need to set aside to reach your savings goals. Your time frame is going to vary depending what your personal goals. Saving for college may be a 15-year strategy while retirement planning could involve more than 40 years. The runs are different depending on the size of your intended tower.

4) Diversify Your Portfolio

"Divide your portion to seven, or even eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth." -Ecclesiastes 11:2

Even when Ecclesiastes was written 2,500 years ago people needed to have diversification. Blue suggests not just a range of stocks but assets: some venture capital, stocks, bonds and real estate for example, though readers needs may vary. The goal isn't eliminating failures but anticipating them by having an assortment of investments.

5) Do Not Take on More Risk Than You Can Afford

"I have seen a grievous evil under the sun; wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners." -Ecclesiastes 5:13

If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Nobody knows where the stock market is going to go, says Blue. There is no free lunch. As Blue puts it, "You can't be guaranteed of returns, and if you're trying to get that you're probably taking more risk than you should."

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Macke, Jeff. "What the Bible Can Teach You About Investing Today." Yahoo! Finance. 7 June 2012. Web. 7 June 2012. http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/breakout/bible-teach-investing-today-132404878.html.

Speeches

June Speeches:

June 5, 2012 - MADD's Allen Teen Victim Impact Panel located at the Allen Municipal Court (301 Century Parkway, Allen, TX 75013) at 7:00 pm.

June 16, 2012 - I am teaming up with Teen Court and speaking at the McKinney YMCA to teenagers located at 300 Ridge Road, McKinney, TX 75070 at 12:00 pm.

May Speeches:

May 8, 2012 - McKinney High School Seniors/Student Council & 5th grade Pen-pals located at 1400 Wilson Creek Parkway, McKinney, TX at 12:00-2:00 pm

May 16, 2012 - MADD's McKinney Adult Victim Impact Panel located at 1800 N Graves St, McKinney 75069 at 6:00 pm.