3 Steps to Debt Free Living

How are you doing in the finance department of your life?  I give myself an F.  There's one good thing about an F – You can only go up.  It doesn't matter how you got there.  It doesn't matter how old you are.  It doesn't matter if you're six feet under.  If you're serious about improving your personal finances, I'm sharing my game plan with you.  It's three steps to debt free living.  Commit yourself and you can achieve financial independence.  Here goes:

1. Decide.  This is the most important step.  It's impossible to get out of debt unless you decide you're sick and tired of living beyond your means.  You must say to yourself, I'm done living on credit cards.  I'm done with auto loans.  I want a better life.  I want to live debt free.  This is my decision and I'm sticking to it no matter how painful the withdrawals may be.
2. Dictate.  Write it down.  You can't beat the debt monster unless you know how big he is and how long it will take to snuff him out.  How tall is your debt monster?  How much does he weigh?  This means writing down every debt you have and adding it up so you can order a casket big enough to bury your debt demon and make sure he doesn't come back from the dead.  I have a calendar on my bedroom wall that lists the size of my debts.  Every month I take another body part away from my monster and put it in the casket.  Funeral arrangements are set for July 1.  This wouldn't happen without a written plan.
3. Do.  Follow the plan.  Don't cheat.  Take it one day at a time.  Surround yourself with like-minded people who are committed to debt free living. 

If you would like to read my dear John letter to my credit card company, click here.  The letter is featured on my get out of debt blog created for people who are serious about achieving financial independence.  Have a great day.

Why Road Trips Bring Families Together

Our family road trip is over.  We logged over 2,200 miles during our nine state adventure.  I never once heard, "are we they yet?"  We laughed together and shared memories from past vacations while visiting new places.  It was a great opportunity for our family to become closer.

I believe something special happens when families go on road trips.  There aren't any outside distractions that get in the way and the close proximity allows for more intimate conversations.  I feel like I know my adult children much better.  I know what their hopes and dreams are.  If you're looking for a way to bring your family together, try a road trip.  It may be a life-changing experience.  Have a great day.

Have you found your joy today?

Joy is a decision.  It's a choice, not a destination.  I know I'm guilty of deferring my joy in the pursuit of things in the past but I changed course.  No more delays.  No more gambling on outcomes.  Win or lose, I'm staying in the arena and I'm making sure joy never leaves my corner.  If you're reading this, please know you're one of the people in my life I value greatly.  The smile on my face represents the joy I'm feeling inside.  My backpack is filled with so many happy memories and I plan to carry it with me on all my travels.  Thank you for your encouragement and for adding to the joy in my life.  Have a great day.

God's Love Language

When God speaks, he sometimes uses pictures rather than nouns and verbs.  This double rainbow was my first heavenly road sign on our nine state adventure last week.  We pulled over to snap a couple of pictures and returned to our rental vehicle to follow the rainbow.  The right end was perched on top of a church.  I thought, is this some kind of prelude to God's plans for us?  The rainbow vaporized a few moments later.  Dark clouds in my rear view mirror reminded me of previous storms I weathered in earlier chapters of my life and I hoped we could outrun them.

I'm still learning God's love language.  He is the master of the universe and I'm his student.  There are no words to describe God's ways or his love for us.  Rain on your wedding day doesn't mean God is mad at you but rainbows in the sky are helpful reminders God is with us in all the storms.  Have a great day.

How I Kept My Blogging Commitment During My Family Vacation

I'm sharing my secret for blogging during vacation time.  I committed time to write all my stories in advance before I departed for our family vacation last week.  Blogger allows writers to schedule their posts ahead of time.  These stories appear every morning at 8:08 AM, Pacific Time, rain or shine.  I don't have to worry about being in two places at once.  It works.  Consistency builds readership.  I'm at a critical time right now with my latest project benefiting sick kids at the local hospital.  Caveman Miracle Network launches on Friday, May 1, and runs through May 31.  I want to keep the momentum going with my daily posts.

If you're interested in helping out, please visit my writer's blog, Caveman Reflections Cyber-bistro, for details.  Have a great day.

Caveman Miracle Network Launches Next Friday, May 1

Our family is on a road trip home today.  We're enjoying quality time with all three of our adult children.  It's hard to believe our youngest is about to head overseas for three years in the Army.  He'll be stationed in Germany.  Our oldest son was recently accepted to mentor high school kids in Brazil this summer.  He can't wait.  Our daughter also inherited the travel gene but chooses to stay close to home for now.  People ask, "what do you do when you have an empty nest?"  I write and my wife reads.  She's in the middle of my first novel and seems to like it so far.  She hasn't made it to the scary part yet.  And that's how I feel about the Caveman Miracle Network, scheduled for launch next Friday on May 1.  It's scary.  What's even more frightening for me is not launching.  Here are some of my excuses for skipping out:

• I'm super busy.  My deadline for my next book is now seventy days away and I have a long way to go to get it done.
• I don't have big bucks.  
• My friends are busy.  I was fortunate to find a graphic artist to design my front cover.  Most people I ask are struggling to keep up with their workload.
• I don't like asking for help.

My excuses carry little weight when I measure them against the benefits of launching.  Miracles don't happen all by themselves.  They need believers.  They need legs.  And arms.  They need helping hands.  Miracles need one dreamer to say, "I'm in."  They need someone who will step into the arena and leave their excuses behind.  I'm in.  I'm launching.  And I'm asking you for help.  I know you're busy.  Here's what you can do that will only take a minute of your time and will benefit sick kids:

Share a link to this story on your FaceBook page.  Anyone who orders "The Caveman in the Mirror" during the month of May will be helping a local kid out in the Children's Miracle Network.  The Kindle edition is free on kindleunlimited and Amazon will pay royalties for the free versions.  Thanks for helping the kids out.  I'll see you on May 1.  Have a great day.

Graduation Day at Ft. Benning

It's official.  Our youngest son is graduating from boot camp today.  We are gathered together to witness his big moment.  He will be headed to Germany soon after a short leave to be with friends and family.  Please keep him and all who serve in your prayers.  Shane told me how much letters from home and from friends meant to him during his training.  If you would like to write Shane in Germany, please email me and I will send you his address.   Have a great day.  Thanks for your prayers.