There’s so much talk about holiday spending this year. Is it up? Is it down? Are the stores surviving? Is the tree filled to the brim with presents?
We talked on Choose NOW Radio this past week about how to organize the holiday and be better prepared for spending and the week before about how to save money on gifts. It seems that many people are desperately looking for savings and special ways to make this year look and feel like Christmases past.
It’s important to think about those things, definitely, as long as the focus stays where it should, of course. But, strictly talking about gifting budgets and Christmas lists, how are you faring this year? Are you seeing an effect from the down economy? We’d love to know!
Please answer the poll below and then scroll down to the comments to share your thoughts.
***Photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net, by Daniel St. Pierre
The poll was just for fun, but I am curious…could you imagine being a parent of an Olympian? I probably have my eye on the parents more than I do the athlete. The sacrifices they made to allow (or force? *wink*) their child to pursue a dream. The fear they must feel in those few minutes when everything is on the line. The pride that swells when it’s over, no matter the outcome.
I can only imagine.
Then again…
I feel pretty much like I’m raising six olympians. Every picture they draw, new sport they try, instrument they play, paper they write…in my eyes they’re all gold-medal worthy. Six champions right here under my roof, and I’m guessing you feel the same way about your own miracles.
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Please take the following poll about your experience with alcohol. Feel free to leave a comment if you’d like to share more than your answer to the poll.
The polls and quizzes on this site use Flash and will not work on mobile devices that do not accept the Flash player. We are sorry for the inconvenience and invite you to participate in these polls by accessing your eBook via a computer.
I know the look all too well. She looks like a deer caught in the headlights, like someone just told her her dog died, like she forgot to study for a major exam, like the floor dropped right out from under.
That’s the look on my daughter’s face when I tell her she needs to turn her phone off for the rest of the day. It’s the look of a texting addict.
Take the following interactive quiz to see if you’re a texting addict. The number of “correct” answers you receive indicates the level of your addiction. (Note: this quiz if for fun and information purposes only. No legal or medical personnel were consulted in the creation of this quiz and no claims are being made of its accuracy.)
So, how’d you do? Are you a texting addict? Does that concern you at all? Here’s
what the experts say:
Studies show the average teenager texts about 3,000 times a month. Eighty percent of teens and pre-teens own a cell phone. And the rate of texting has skyrocketed 600 percent in the last three years. Some admit they feel addicted to texting.
“If someone responds right away, you’re like, ‘Yah, they responded,’” said Sarah Matzkin, a texting teen. “But if someone responds like two to three hours later you’re like, ‘What’s going on?’”
Doctors say texting and the instant gratification of getting a text back floods the brain’s pleasure center with the mood-enchancing brain chemical dopamine.
“Neuro-imaging studies have shown that those kids who are texting have that area of the brain light up the same as an addict using heroin,” said brain specialist Dr. Michael Seyffert.
Might be something to think about. What if you chose to turn your phone off for an hour a day so you could think, be alone, pray, studying your Bible–something of benefit to you internally. What if you did that by choice, without Mom or Dad forcing you? I believe that if you chose to put a restriction like that upon yourself, it would mean far more to your personal growth than if your parents had to enforce it. But, speaking as a Mom, I sure am willing to make it happen in my home. How about you?
The polls and quizzes on this site use Flash and will not work on mobile devices that do not accept the Flash player. We are sorry for the inconvenience and invite you to participate in these polls by accessing your eBook via a computer.
Often, teens (and even adults) are so eager for relationship, they overlook destructive or inappropriate behavior from the people they call their friends. Take this quiz to find out if you can appreciate the qualities in a true friend.
The polls and quizzes on this site use Flash and will not work on mobile devices that do not accept the Flash player. We are sorry for the inconvenience and invite you to participate in these polls by accessing your eBook via a computer.
