Thanks for this - I could really use it. Could I have some friends, too, please? I'm jmgconner there, too. Thanks!

Oooh, thank you! Your dress is adorable! My little girl is growing out of these, but I may have to try it anyway! I made similar dresses for my DD from a shirt using this tutorial. http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=170402.0

I admit, I haven't looked at our 401k mutual fund statements since this all started happening. :) Little tangent: Kai is FOUR?!!! I remember you posting when he was born. Happy Birthday!

I agree, no reason to panic. We're in for the long haul and hoping to buy more with the money we do have in there. It's just fascinating to me to watch it all.

I figured someone bumped this up because of what it's doing right now. It's possible it'll close under 8000 today.

Oooh, I hate those types of situations. I never know what to do, and I hate it when they don't bother listening to me in the first place. ETA: My story was rude to the person I was telling it about. I've deleted my story.

Not much change here, and if anything, it's an easier year. Last year we had almost nothing to spend. We had just found Dave Ramsey, was paying cash for Christmas for the first time ever, and it was TIGHT! This year, we did something radical. We saved for Christmas all year long. :lol: Our budget is over 3x what is was last year. However, we don't plan on spending all that money, either. We will probably go over last year's budget, because DH and I are going to buy a joint gift for one another. Last year, we didn't exchange. The big gift for my DD will be a bookcase I'm turning into a dollhouse (thanks Mom to Aly for the idea). The little one will still be under a year, so he'll get a fabric beach ball I made and diapers. We're still not sure what to get DS#2. DS#1 will be the difficult one - everything he wants is big $ - iPod, video games, etc. For extended family, I'm making a birdhouse, quilt, table runners - oh, and cookies. I make lots and lots of cookies at Christmas time.

:grouphug: I'll keep you in my prayers, and pray that God will soften your DH's heart to listen to Him.

This is a *marriage* issue, not a money issue. Your DH is not loving you as Christ loves the church. It happens from time to time - we're all imperfect. Approach him and tell him that very thing - it might get his ears listening to you. Tell him that you feel disrespected because he won't take the time to even look at the work you've done, let alone plan TOGETHER for the future. Tell him that you want to work together on your dreams. If you've done all of this, you need to find a MARRIAGE counselor, not a financial counselor.

I'm unable to breastfeed. Does that mean mine booKs are lactic flops... LOL!!!!! :lol:

Kelli, I sent you a PM.

I want an authentic cuckoo clock from the Black Forest. That'd be first on my list.

I don't think anyone on this thread has said to jump over the youth pastor and go straight to the senior pastor. I agree with everyone who said that the senior pastor needs to be let in on the situation. It could be as simple as saying to the senior pastor that you are pursuing the situation with the youth pastor and you simply want him to be aware of it. Of course, I'm approaching this from my own experiences and background. Our church has a youth leader, but he's not a minister in the same way that our senior pastor is ordained, recognized by the church, etc. Also, I do not believe that OP is "firing off an email". She came here to get wording help. She wants to address the situation but do so in a calm, compassionate manner. :iagree:

This recipe has been a hit for us. We did make a few changes - we halved the water and changed the cinnamon from 2 teaspoons to 2 tablespoons. I just freeze the pie filling. Now I can make apple pies, apple crisps, individual apple tarts, or apple enchiladas.