It's That Time - Tax Preparation

The individual tax code for 2010 has been finalized and full processing begins February 14th. (Please note that they can change their minds at any time.) You should have received all of your tax documents by now. Take a moment (maybe an hour or two) to gather all of your tax items together and verify that you do have everything that you need. Contact the appropriate company for any missing documents - be sure and check online first.

A couple of things to be mindful of if you are preparing your own return.

• Personal exemptions are no longer limited based on income.
• Itemized deductions are no longer limited based on income.
• Sales tax is still allowed on Schedule A for Texas residents.
• Real estate taxes can no longer be claimed on Schedule L. They must be claimed on Schedule A as part of Itemized Deductions. This is only advantageous if your Itemized Deduction is greater than your Standard Deduction.
• Full unemployment benefits are taxable. There is no $2400 exclusion for 2010.

If you are planning on having your return prepared, be sure that you find a reputable preparer. Don't be afraid to ask them about their education and experience. You want someone with an accounting degree at the very least. Preferably a CPA or a reputable preparer with several years experience.

Happy filing!

Homemade from the Heart

I confess that I love Christmas. I love celebrating the birthday of our Saviour! I love the contagious feeling of generosity and kindness! I love finding just the right gift!

Just the right gift doesn't always come from the store. I might get a small wish list from my Mom, but rarely from my Dad. I've learned they appreciate the homemade or personalized gifts more than any other. Anything centered around the grandkids is always good. I even get so much joy from making these special gifts. Just thinking about the reactions makes me smile over and over again.

So....I've decided 2011 should be a year of homemade gifts. Not just Christmas either. I'm even making appointments with myself so that I set aside time to make those gifts I've previously thought of, but not made. Anything homemade lets the person know that you are thinking specifically of them. There are additional bonuses as well - you know that there will not be duplicates; it is budget friendly; and you get to explore your creativity.

I don't want to reveal too much so that my friends and family guess what they are getting. I can tell you some of the gifts of years past.

• Small scrapbooks of the years events - great gift for grandparents
• Calendars made with family snapshots
• Family Tree Ornaments - bought solid colored ornaments and hand-painted the names of our family from both sets of my grandparents down to the youngest in the family.
• Bird seed wreaths
• Dinners
• Activity coupons

Want to make the gift making more fun? Include your girlfriends! Have a girls' day or weekend and share crafting supplies. Need additional ideas? Stay tuned. More posts to come....maybe even with pictures!

Lightening the Load

I'm constantly updating my To Do List. It starts each evening with a list of things that I need to get done (or try to get done) during the following day. Out of my mind, down on paper...no endless loop stealing sleep.

Laundry stays on this list even with our small household. I have often asked myself how we manage to dirty so many clothes so quickly. I found my answer this past weekend.

I ask that my son sort his laundry, but then I take over. I wash, dry, fold, and place them in his room to put away. I hang up his clothes too. No more!

I found out that my son finds it easier to dump those clean clothes that he doesn't want to put away back in the hamper. Here I am trying to simplify and find a little more time for fun and it is being sabotaged. Time for a life lesson. Now, he must sort his clothes then fold and put away the clean clothes. Future infractions will result in additional penalties....he'll learn to wash his own clothes.

I enjoy taking care of my family, but I also know that children must learn to do things for themselves. Laundry is easy to teach and learn. I placed an instruction sheet for basic items by the washing machine and started with towels. Towels are the perfect starting point because they cannot be ruined. So they might get bleached, but they will still handle the job of drying. Okay, you might want to put a few guest towels out of sight just in case. Just think how much simpler life would be with some help with the laundry!

Power-less Reminder

Two-thirds of this wonderful country is blanketed by a serious winter storm. We are no exception. I cannot remember ever experiencing this kind of cold! It has gotten me to thinking.

Most people, especially in urban areas, don't think about being without electricity much. It is usually taken for granted that the light will come on when we flip the switch. It did this morning....for about 10 minutes then darkness. (I do mean darkness as it was about 5am.) It made me grateful.

Yes, I said grateful. Grateful that I've experienced many an hour without electricity (almost every big storm when you live in the country). I knew where my flashlight was, was easily able to light my gas fireplace, had candles handy and even an "antique" phone that simply plugs into the phone jack - no power needed. These items along with a gas stove mean you can stay reasonably warm and even have a meal. Unfortunately, this does not protect those pipes to the second-story bathroom that run up our outside NW wall. The hot water is now non-existent to our faucets in one bath, but the shower is good. (I've left the hot water faucets open so there is someplace for the water to go when it thaws and offered up a prayer.)

Facing this same situation? Maybe suffering from the rolling blackouts? Set the heater a little warmer (not too much), open cabinet doors to expose plumbing, drip your faucets, locate flashlights/candles/etc, get out the extra blankets, keep the blinds closed, avoid opening outside doors too often, and make sure you have an old phone or fully charged cellphone.

What a Groundhog Day!

One Simple Act

So the helping hand idea is a daily thought and act to practice. I found a new book that wonderfully speaks of generosity - "One Simple Act - Discovering the Power of Generosity" by Debbie Macomber.

Yes, Macomber is a fiction writer great at drawing you into her characters. She brilliantly uses her talents in this non-fiction work that reveals all of the gifts of generosity. I was hooked on the first chapter.

Part of me wants to rush right through it and part of me wants to slow down and enjoy (this is a later post) the message. So what to do? Read straight through it of course! Okay, back to the slowing down - I'm going to read it again immediately afterwards to savor each morsel.

One quote immediately jumped out at me. I will leave you with these wise words from "One Simple Act".

"Practicing an attitude of gratitude spills over to acts of generosity."

Helping Hand

As a parent, I want my children to understand the importance of compassion and empathy. I want them to understand that helping others is a great gift and that giving of ourselves is just as important as sharing our financial blessings.

I will always remember the first time I saw this in action with my son (then 8). I had just picked him up from school and was headed home. He noticed an elderly man raking his yard and said, "Stop Mom! Can I help that man pickup his yard?" I was so proud of him! We did stop and he finished raking, picking up and bagging the leaves. He even refused to take any money when it was offered. We visited our new friend several times over the next few years which brought smiles to all. What a gift!

I still talk about how important it is to do for others and more importantly, seek to be an example. This year, we are really focusing on the gift of giving and I challenge all of us to look for some way to help others each and every day. Again, the focus is not on giving monetarily, but giving of oneself. We can all make a difference for someone each day. Maybe it is a smile, picking up something that was dropped, holding a door open, say thank you to the person bagging the groceries, or offering to carry in groceries. For me, it is sometimes calling on patience when I'm being thoroughly tested.

Take a moment today (and everyday) to find a way to give of yourself. Encourage your family to do the same. Not only does it make someone else's day a bit brighter, you feel better too!

Gratitude Abounds

As is common, I sometimes (okay, frequently) find myself complaining about my woes. Why is it easier to complain than be grateful? I've asked myself that a lot the past few months. It has definitely been put into perspective.

A very dear friend is watching her 3 year old, baby girl fight cancer thus fighting for her life. There have been scares and so much pain for such a little one. However, my friend has not stopped giving thanks and glorifying our Awesome God. What a testament she is! That daily praising and thanksgiving for each miracle she gives to Him.

I now catch myself starting to get upset and remind myself how very blessed I am. I pray diligently for my friend, her little one and family while giving thanks for His endless bounty and blessings. Don't get me wrong, I still fall as I am but a mortal. I still complain and have to catch myself. But, I also take a more moments to enjoy the vast beauty around me; to hug my child a little more often and for longer moments. What a wonderful life we are given...what a gift to know that He will always carry us in our time of need!

I hope that you will take a moment to offer up a prayer of thanksgiving and remember each of the blessings He has given you. For the Praise and the Glory are His, now and forever!