An Enriching Weekend Getaway for Married Couples September 29, 2011
Posted by jimintriglia in Marriage, Personal Interest, Relationships.add a comment
Several weeks ago, Bear and I invited you and your spouse to consider participating in a marriage enriching Weekend to Remember event presented by FamilyLife. How time flies– as the Weekend to Remember Event at the Denver Marriott South in Lone Tree kicks off next Friday evening, October 7th.
In a minute, we will tell you how you may be able to earn a free registration ($159 savings) for next weeks event at the Denver Marriott South.
Well over 100 couples have registered thus far for next weeks’ event at the Denver Marriott South. Surprised? You shouldn’t be. Happily married couples know that maintaining and growing a loving married relationship with your spouse requires weekend getaways where the only focus in on your relationship with your spouse.
Not a month goes by where Bear and I do not get a call or a visit from a friend, family member or co-worker, who is experiencing significant problems with their marriage. Unfortunately, many of these relationships have suffered from years of neglect. Many husbands and wives do not realize they even have serious problems with their marriage relationship, until their spouse mentions the “D” word.
One of my co-workers likened FamilyLife’s Weekend to Remember event to a “tune-up” for one’s marriage. A good analogy. We learn as teenagers that we must maintain our cars– check the oil, radiator fluid, tire pressure, etc. We must also bring our cars into the shop annually for a safety check and “tune-up” of the engine and all associated systems.
If we neglect to maintain our cars– don’t check and skip annual tune-ups, one day, usually at the worst possible time, our vehicle breaks down, leaving us stranded alongside the road. The cost to repair our broken-down vehicle, assuming the damage caused by our neglect is repairable, is many times more than if we just took the time to maintain our vehicle in the first place.
Marriage relationships are much the same, though many of us never learned the basics of maintaining our love relationship with our spouse. So how do you check how your marriage relationship with your spouse is doing? What are the signs that your relationship is in serious trouble? What techniques and tools can you use to address and resolve issues and disagreements that erode the loving relationship that you share with your spouse?
The answers to these and other questions will be revealed at the upcoming Weekend to Remember event at the Lone Tree Denver Marriott South hotel next weekend. If your relationship is on the rocks, then your first priority should be to get you and your spouse registered to attend this event. If it’s been awhile since you’ve shared some intimate time with your better half, why not “tune-up” your loving relationship with your spouse, and join us for next week’s event?
Save 50% off the regular registration price by registering for next week’s Weekend to Remember event at our group web page:
http://www.familylife.com/groups/ourweekendtoremember
Please feel free to call us at home (303) 838-2649 if your would like to talk with us about the upcoming event and how it can significantly improve your marriage and relationship with your spouse.
So, how can you earn a free registration for the event? FamilyLife needs a volunteer to help setup for the event a 9am Friday, and another volunteer to help with registration at 3pm. If you’re interested, reply to this email ASAP, as once volunteers are found, registration will cost $159 per couple.
Hoping to see you and yours at next week’s event!
How to Find an Extra $100/Month or More in the Family Budget August 7, 2011
Posted by jimintriglia in Personal Finance.add a comment
The Shrinking Dollar
Irrespective of how Uncle Sam chooses to calculate the rate of inflation, most people know that their dollars are buying less these days, and that the cost of groceries and gasoline are further stretching the family budget.
So, what’s a family CFO to do? If your goal is to cut spending significantly while impacting your family’s lifestyle as little as possible, have a look at the premiums you are presently paying for auto, home, life and liability insurance.
I did a review of the marketplace several weeks ago, when my current life insurer decided to renew my term life insurance rates at double the annual premium. As there was no basis for the increase, other than the company could charge whatever they feel like, I decided to shop for a new insurance company, rather than blithely accept a doubling of my premium for the next ten years. The result: with the help of my local life insurance agent, I was able to acquire a better life insurance policy than I had, at about the same cost as I paid ten years ago.
So, how’s that possible? There’s been quite a bit of competition in the marketplace over the last several years. Companies have grown leaner, especially with all of the layoffs that have taken place in the last decade. Automation has reduced operational and management costs; work that has been traditionally done here in the U.S.A. has been off-shored to countries, where the same work can be done for a lot less money. As a result, insurance companies have grown more competitive price-wise, and also continue to reap profits from people (like me) that continue to pay premiums that reflect the cost of doing business a decade ago.
Fast forward to this past weekend. I completed a detailed analysis of my current automobile insurance policy, including an apples-to-apples price comparison of same-in-class competitors. The result: My new insurance company, State Farm, saved me over $70 per month ($840/year) on a new auto insurance policy. My new policy has better coverage than that of my old policy, with a better customer complaint index, a strong presence in my hometown (for personalized service), and a better balance sheet, reducing the chance of the company going belly-up.
So, if you need some extra cash each month to deal with the rising cost of living, review your current insurance policies and providers. Don’t be surprised if you can save a hundred dollars or so each month, simply by updating your coverage or even changing to a competitor.
If you’d like a copy of the spreadsheet that I created to perform my apples-to-apples comparative analysis of auto insurance policy features/benefits, send me an email at JimIntriglia@me.com.
Ford Fusion Hybrid: A Strong Contender Among Full Hybrids July 14, 2011
Posted by jimintriglia in Alternative Energy Technologies, Hybrid Gas/Electric Vehicles.add a comment
After experiencing one too many trips to the dealerships with my Ford Bronco II many years ago, I decided I would never again buy a Ford. That was a very long time ago, and things do change, so I decided to test-drive a Ford Fusion Hybrid in my quest to replace my old dinosaur-burner with a vehicle that will enable me to transition away from the coming $5/gallon gas price at the pump.
I’m glad I reconsidered and stopped by the Phil Long Ford dealership in Lakewood, Colorado. Ed, a gracious and easy-going sales representative, answered all of my questions about the Fusion Hybrid and Ford’s contribution to Hybrid technology. When I first saw the vehicle on the lot, I was impressed by it’s sporty look. In the eye appeal category, this vehicle would certainly give Toyota’s Camry Hybrid a run for it’s money.
After taking the Fusion Hybrid for a 30 minute test drive around the city and on the highway, I knew I was driving a serious contender. The Fusion Hybrid actually felt like I was driving a regular gas-powered car. The transition between the electric drive and gas engine drive was seamless. The dash display actually looked like what you would expect for a vehicle engineered in the 21st century. The design of the dashboard was well thought out. The vehicle actually shifted to electric powered when I expected it to, like when I had a charged battery and was cruising down a hill. (Other hybrid vehicles I’ve driven over the years, including Toyota’s Prius, seemed to rely too much on the gas engine, even when the dash displayed showed a charged battery and cruising conditions).
All-in-all, I was pleasantly surprised by the Ford Fusion Hybrid. Good to see that good old American engineering is back in the automotive industry.
Winnicent’s Dream of Becoming a Physician: Just Add a Sponsor July 1, 2011
Posted by jimintriglia in Community Service, Harambee Kenya, Personal Interest, Volunteer Opportunities.2 comments
Winnicent
I received an early birthday present the other day, when I learned that a friend had decided to provide a full academic scholarship for Issac Oloch, an aspiring journalist and student of the St. Antony school, located in Siaya district, Kenya.
Issac Hears of His Sponsorship
As you can imagine, Issac was both surprised and happy when he learned that his new sponsor, Peggy, cared enough about him to invest in his life and his dream.
While this was terrific news, we have more children, like Winnecent Auma, who are anxiously waiting for generous sponsors that are willing to reach out and help break the lock that poverty has on their lives.
I am appealing to you today to join me and other Harambee Kenya Children’s Education Sponsors, in our quest to free children from a life of poverty, through our student academic sponsorship program. More on that later… let’s first talk about the effects of poverty on developing children, and what can be done to help free kids from living a life in poverty.
You’ve likely seen images of children living in poverty, engaged in the daily struggle for food, water and shelter, barely making it through the course of a day.
These children have been born into a life of extreme hardship, through no fault of their own. Many suffer from malnutrition and disease. Some are forced into hard child labor, that often makes their plight even worse.
If you had an opportunity to personally make a significant difference in the life of one of these children, would you take action? Would you like to experience firsthand how your actions can change the course of a child’s life, toward freeing them from a life of poverty?
Education is one of the key areas that can free children from suffering a life of poverty. Through the Harambee Kenya initiative, children in the Uluthe-Mungao sub-location in Western Kenya, have a new school and library facility. The teachers educating the children at St. Antony Mixed Secondary School are providing students with life options through education.
St. Antony
Developing and maintaining the St. Antony school and library, and staffing it with qualified teachers, requires payment of tuition and school fees by parents of children.
Sadly, many children’s parents or guardians do not have the means to enable their children to attend school. Without a
Library at St. Antony
good education, children will never escape a life of poverty that they struggle with each an every day. Their hopes, dreams and ambitions will fade over time, as they lose hope and accept the message of poverty: that they are basically worthless, destined to live a life struggling daily to acquire food, shelter and clothing.
You can make a significant difference in the life of a child that is fast losing hope. Your action today can literally change the life of a child, by giving them hope by enabling them access to a good education at the St. Antony school.
Becoming a student academic sponsor does not take very much time or money. The rewards you will receive in turn from sponsoring your child will far outweigh anything you might imagine!
So, what’s involved in sponsoring a student? Financial support is an important part of enabling a child with a good education. For the cost of a daily cup of coffee at your local coffee shop, you can sponsor the cost of an entire year’s tuition and school supplies for your sponsored child.
Imagine the joy your sponsored child will feel, when they learn that someone cared enough about them, to provide them with a gift of education.
Developing a relationship with your sponsored child, through the exchange of letters with them, is also an important part of child sponsorship. Children who struggle with poverty often feel that nobody cares about them– that they are worthless. Letters written to your sponsored child show them that they have value, that someone cares about their well-being.
You can join us in the fight agains poverty by sponsoring a needy child’s education today. Harambee Kenya of Colorado is a U.S.-based non-profit organization that provides academic sponsorship opportunities for children of the Uluthe-Mungao sub-location.
Your donation of:
$20 – Will provide pencils, notebooks and reading books for your sponsored child, for a year.
$50 – Will provide a year of Primary School tuition for your sponsored child.
$57 – Will provide lunch for the school year for your sponsored child.
$150 – Will provide a Full Year Academic Scholarship for your sponsored child.
Your gift of a Full Year Academic Scholarship covers the cost of your sponsored child’s school tuition and fees, and provide access to the new library facility. Additionally, if your child needs medical attention, they can obtain free medical care through the Uluthe-Mungao medical clinic and dispensary.
Winnicent
Winnicent Auma Otiemo very much needs an Academic Sponsor to help her realize her goals, ambitions and dreams. Winnicent dreams of being a doctor and surgeon, so she can help the affected people in her community.
Seventeen year-old Winnicent was born on April 4, 1994, to her parents, Lucas and Patricia. Her parents are both alive; her father is mentally handicapped due to injuries sustained from an assault. Her mother works hard as a peasant farmer, supporting Winnicent and her five other siblings.
Winnicent volunteers helping the aged and needy in her community, by fetching firewood, water and cleaning. She also helps in the planting of vegetable gardens and maintains the school’s tree nursery with her classmates.
By sponsoring Winnicent, you are greatly increasing her chances of achieving her dream to be a physician. Without your sponsorship, Winnicent will likely have little chance of escaping the hardships of poverty and helping a child in the future live a better life than she has experienced.
To sponsor Winnicent, simply click on the “Sponsor this Child” button or complete Winnicent’s Sponsor form and return to me via email or fax (contact me for the fax number).
I hope you will join me and other Harambee Kenya sponsors in making a difference in the lives of poverty-stricken children, by sponsoring Winnicent today.
The Importance of Letter-Writing to a Sponsored Child June 18, 2011
Posted by jimintriglia in Community Service, Compassion, Personal Interest.10 comments
As a child sponsor and advocate for children living in poverty, I invest a significant amount of time each week speaking with prospective child sponsors about the benefits of child sponsorship. While most people easily grasp how important their financial contribution will be toward freeing a child from a life of poverty, many discount the importance of the letter-writing aspect of child sponsorship.
When I became a Compassion Sponsor, I was fortunate to be introduced to the writings and wisdom of Michelle, an experienced child sponsor and advocate for children living in poverty. One of Michelle’s first articles that I read discussed the importance of letter-writing to a sponsored child. This one article provided a good foundation for me to begin my first letter-writing for my first sponsored child Sabadhi, who lives in East India.
Is letter writing really an important part of sponsoring a child? Absolutely. Let’s explore a few of the many benefits of the letter-writing aspect of child sponsorship.
One of the most basic human needs is to be loved. When a child receives a personal letter in the mail from their Sponsor, they feel loved. This feeling of love grows with each letter that arrives in the mail for them. This feeling of love and caring is amplified with each letter they receive, as their friends and family are drawn to the fact that the child obviously has somebody in their life who cares deeply about them and their well-being.
You probably recall reading about studies where abandoned newborn infants cared for in well-equipped and staffed hospitals were failing to thrive. What was missing was the caring, loving and nurturing touch and embrace of their mothers. When hospital staff began taking time to actually hold infants and talk to them, an amazing thing happened– the infants began to thrive and develop, both physically and emotionally. Letters to a sponsored child can serve as a virtual embrace for a child, helping a child to grow emotionally as well as develop good communication skills. Nothing can replace the caring and love expressed to a child through a personal relationship with that child.
Letters to a sponsored child can be a great source of encouragement. I recall recently reading a story about Esther, a sponsored child, who became pregnant. Children that find themselves in this position can often make poor decisions that worsen their plight. In Esther’s case. she shared her situation with her sponsor, who chose the right words to support her in making good decisions for herself and her unborn child.
Miss Lilian Awino
In the past year, I’ve watched one of my teenage sponsored children, Lilian, flourish in school and in her community. I’ve made it a point to write her a letter of encouragement each month. These letters, combined with the efforts of her teachers and others in her community who support her, have contributed to enabling her to realize that she is important in this world. Even more exciting is that she now truly believes that can achieve her dream to become a journalist.
Through letters to Lilian, I have discussed the power of the written word. In sharing the impact of some of my own writings with her, she had the opportunity to see that there is truly power-in-the-pen; that this is not just another tired cliche. My writings encouraged Lilian to take her own pen in hand, and begin to write about things in her community that needed to be addressed. It’s been a wonderful blessing to watch this child transform herself into a young adult, taking action to improve herself and the conditions for those in her community.
Money alone cannot buy a personal caring and loving relationship. Financially supporting a sponsored child is an important part of freeing a child from poverty. Money, however, cannot buy the personal relationship that develops between a sponsor and their sponsored child.
People that know me see the relationship that has developed between me and my sponsored children. They see the bond that has formed when they read some of the letters from my sponsored kiddos that I have posted on my wall at work. When they drop by the house for a visit on a Sunday afternoon, and find me cutting-out paper toys to send to my younger sponsored children, they see the love and caring that I has grown through exchanging letters with my sponsored children. Indeed, money cannot buy the love and caring given as a gift to a sponsored child, through letters sent to them through the mail.
Letters and small gifts are treasured by sponsored children. This is one of the facts that prospective sponsors have a little 
trouble believing. Letters from sponsors are treasured by children. Remember that children in poverty all too often hear the words “You are not important. You don’t matter.” I’ve seen pictures of sponsored children who have wallpapered their rooms with letters and pictures sent to them by their sponsor. These letters help the child communicate to all that enter their room: “I do matter; I am important; and I am loved!”.
I often ask people, when they were a child, if they had a pen pal or favorite aunt that used to write to them often. How did receiving a letter in the mail make them feel? Did they keep the letter and even hang letters received on a wall in their room?
Another childhood memory that is often forgotten, are the hours of time spent as a child playing 
with simple paper toys. Do you remember playing with paper airplanes in school? How about those hand-made paper “fortune tellers” that were all the rage among middle-schoolers? How often as a child, did you pick a breakfast cereal based on the prize in the cereal box, or the cut-out cardboard toy that was printed on the back of the box?
If you sponsor a child, or have a child in your life, please take time from your busy life to send an expression of love and caring to that child in the form of a letter. Do not be surprised if you find that this activity changes your life; it certainly will have a significant impact in the life of the child that you are writing.
If you have a story of how writing to a child has made a difference in their life, or your own life, I’d love to hear about it. What are some of the other benefits of writing to sponsored children that you have experienced?
(All photos courtesy of Compassion International and Compassion Bloggers.)
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Speaking of writing to children and sending them simple, cool gifts through the mail, Jill of Compassion Family will soon announce the winner of a cool collection of writing paper, stickers and some other goodies. Maybe she will have another drawing sometime soon that you can participate in?
