Chistmas + Money = ???

I may only be 26 years old but I have definitely experienced the stress of Christmas. In fact, I would say that anyone older then the age of 17 has experienced the worry, stress, heartache, strain, and all around hassle that comes along with the Christmas season. The hassle of getting presents, the time it takes to get those presents, the disappearing of the money required, and the complete feeling of disarray can take its toll on anyone.

This year is particularly hard for me. This is the first year I have had a wife to join in on my Christmas celebration. This comes with mixed emotions of extreme joy and unprecedented stress. I have never had to look out for someone else during the hassle of Christmas, and I have never had so many bills to bay either. How is someone suppose to not only pay their bills that they scrimp to pay every month, but also find a way to get the money to buy presents and pay for a plane ticket to go see the ones they love so dear? It is amazing to me that the time of year that should be the most joyous and wonderful is the most stressful and worrisome.

Honestly, there is very little that we can do to stop this trend of hardships around Christmas time. But that is not to say we can not do something to help those around us.

Yesterday, I got a text from a good friend that I have not talked to in several months. As soon as I saw who it was from it brought a smile to my face. I was eager to talk to her and find out what has been going on in her life, but most of all I was delighted that she thought of me and sent me a text merely saying Hi.

Isn't that the spirit of Christmas? Isn't that what we should be doing to spread the love of our Savior? How hard is it to pick up your phone and push a few keys? It only takes that one small act to brighten someones day. Just say Hey. Tell them you miss them. You may not get to actually see them for Christmas, but the very fact that you are thinking about them will let them know that someone out there cares for them. That maybe the love of the Lord can spread through the hassle and chaos of the Holiday season. Don't let the hardships of this time stop you from reaching out. You really will have NO idea of the impact you may have.

Appreciate the Time You Have

It is around 5 am and I lie in bed sleeping peacefully. I am awakened by an alarm my wife set so she could help a friend out and take her to the airport. She turns over, kisses me and tells me she loves me, then gets out of bed and is on her way. I turn over and shield myself from the cold with the covers and quickly fall back asleep.

When I awake the second time I am delighted to find my lovely wife kissing me once again. She quickly snuggles into bed and we hold to each other as the cold enters the blanket barrier I had made. As I close my eyes and genuinely tell my lady I love her, I realize how lucky I am. It dons on me that the vast majority of marriages (or perhaps even relationships) are not genuinely happy to see and hold their spouse.

What happened to our society? Why are people so determined to get what they "want" and sacrifice the very things that are important to them? With just the simplest jester of a kiss and embrace I am reminded of the simple beauty of my life. I am reminded of the true joy that comes from love and family. Why would someone throw that away just because they don't want to give up some attribute of themselves? Have we really forgotten that a relationship is work? That BOTH parties must bend?

 Just a few days ago I got a message on Facebook from an friend that was just telling me how she was happy that "My dreams came true." I really thought about it at that point... Had they?

Was this really the life I have always wanted? I looked back and remembered how I felt that morning laying in bed with my wife. A smile adorned my face and I realized yes, it was. It is not ANYTHING like I imaged, but it is the life I have always wanted. And my dreams really have come true.

Shouldn't we all feel that way about our lives? And if you don't.... Why don't you? It's your choice. Be happy with the choices you've made.

Computer Clean up...over $200!?!?

So, I just started a new job at an awesome company as a Computer Technician. I am actually the guy that you go to at various computer stores to fix your computer from viruses and such. This is nothing new to me since I have been working on computers since middle school, so fixing issues (even complex issues) are not a big deal to me. However, because I have always fixed my own computer problems and changed anything out that I needed to I have never had to pay someone else to do it. So imagine my surprise when I over hear our sales guys sell our package for over $100 bucks! THEN imagine my surprise even further when I find out that we are actually the cheapest in the business!!

Did you know that if your computer is on the fritz places like Best Buy and such is on average $150 just to LOOK at your computer?!?! Then is could be an easy $50-$400 to fix it after that?! That's crazy! All of a sudden I realize why there is money in the IT business... Because people will pay that!! I guess I shouldn't complain sense that is what I am getting into. lol

When I found all this out I actually remembered an incident I had forgot. My computer hod some major issues at one point and I just wanted to reformat the entire computer. This was on a version of Windows that did not have the format option installed on the computer so you had to have a CD, however, I had lost mine. I decided to check around to see if some computer place would install it for me for cheap. when i found a place that would do it they told me it would be $125! Just fort a reformat! I don't know if you know how little you have to do for that, but it is as simple as booting up your computer with the disk inside and following the prompts! I thought they were just a rip off, but apparently this is the normal price range.

Like I said before, I shouldn't really complain since I am the guy that will be getting paid that in the future. I guess I am just a little dumbfounded.

Can we truly be content?

Can we truly be content? Do we want to be? What really is being content? Well, first of all, what I mean by content is happy staying where you are. The dictionary.com defines being content as "satisfied with what one is or has; not wanting more or anything else." To the hopeful reader this may sound appealing, what is right for them, or maybe even what they have been trying for. However, is this really what you want?

By definition, if you are content, then you are not looking to digress or fall in anyway, but also you are not looking to grow either. If you are content where you are in life, in your job, in your schooling, or almost anything in life, then you will stay exactly where you are for the rest of your life. I dare any of you to talk to your grandparents and ask if they wished things had stayed EXACTLY the way they were when they were your age. The answer would almost certainly be no. If it had they would not have experienced all the great things they had. Perhaps they would not have had your parents, or got a curtain job that helped them support their family.

Now, there is a point to make here that is very important. I am in NO WAY saying this is a reason to look down on, or degrade yourself in anyway! If you look in the mirror and think how disgusting, pathetic, and ugly you are then you are not helping anybody. Especially not yourself. So you may ask, "Well, why would I change myself if I were satisfied?" Because the goal here and in life in general is NOT to be satisfied or content, but to grow; to constantly try to be better. And while you are getting better you should be happy with where and who you are.

Do you think he would have made it where he is today if Bill Gates had been content with his first million dollars? I have no doubt that, at one point,getting a million dollars was one of his goals. If he would have just given up there and said, "Well, I did it. I'm good." he would NOT be where he is today, one of the richest people on this planet. 


If money is not what motivates you, take into consideration Gandhi, or Mother Teressa. Do you think they were the type of people that did one good thing a day then called it quits? Do you think that after one inspirational trip they just kicked there feet back and said, "Man, glad that's over. I should be good for a while."?


I really hope no one misinterprets this post as a way of telling themselves they are not good enough. Because the simple fact is you ARE good enough, but why stop there? Now, I am no picture perfect example of this, but I think what is important is that we understand this concept and at least try to achieve it.