Adorable Children's Books - for *Free! And Another Random, Unrelated Thought or Two...

If you would like to print out some books that you (or your parents!) may have read as a child but haven't been around for your own kids, here is your chance!


This link will take you to a site where you can choose from about 2 dozen really cute books that you can print out yourself on your printer.

So if you are as economically challenged as the rest of us, just print these off for your kiddos.  Even though nothing in life is ever really free (see* below) these books certainly retail for significantly more. 
http://www.childrensbooksforever.com/index.html


*well, printer ink is not free, but just dimes per page....

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Have you seen on the news where some states are not going to send out income tax refunds right away, and in some cases, for several months?  If you want to find out more information about it,  go here: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Tax/states-hold-tax-refunds-months/story?id=10083227
North Carolina, Hawaii and Alabama are already doing it and others, such as New York and Kansas, might have to as well.
This might just cause more than a few people to have fewer taxes withheld from their checks instead of having the Govt. tax program act as an alternate savings account. . . .   ya think?

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Here is a topic that I have never commented on before:

Do you watch or have you heard of the show "19 Kids and Counting!"?

I watch the show pretty regularly, and I am always impressed by their faith, and their devotion to each other.  Yes, the older kids do each have a younger sibling that they are responsible for when they get ready to go places and are out on trips and during activities. If you ask me, it's a pretty ingenious idea for a family that size.  I have heard people be critical of that system, even saying that the mom doesn't do anything at all but take care of the newest baby.  But please, they home-school!  I know what that's like.  And just keeping things organized and moving is a full-time job.  Pretty sure here that mom Michelle has not a moment to spare while nursing the newest child.    Can you imagine the chaos that would ensure if they did it any other way?  I wish I had thought of it for my own kids, and I "only" have seven.  (But now that my youngest is 6 1/2, and my 3 oldest are grown, that ship has kinda sailed.).   

I also admire that those children are being taught how to be responsible for themselves and others.  And isn't that one of the most important things there is?  For a child to grow into a responsible, caring, loving adult and eventually have kids of their own that they can raise to be loving, caring adults, is a blessing.

Now, I know that the Duggar's are quite the oddball family.  And I don't advocate having that many kids.  But this family possesses a set of qualities that make it possible for  them to be successful.   I believe they do a better job at raising that  many kids than a lot of families with far fewer children do.  If you only have one or two kids, is it anybody else's biz why your family is so small . . ?   (I know that she does a better job of it than I!) And what if Michelle has babies clear up until menopause?  It's not something that I would have chosen to do for sure (well, not quite - I had my last at 39) but who are we to say she and her husband can't do it, in spite of the challenges that the family is facing raising a severely premature baby?   I realize I am probably in the minority for admiring the Duggars, I do.  I don't know why I decided to share my point of view here.  But it's been on my mind.

It's been a trial for them, but I know I learn the most when I am challenged the most . . .