Helpful Websites Posts

Unless you have been hiding under a rock for the last 6 months to a year you know the real estate market in our country is doing very badly.  Too many people bought houses they couldn’t afford which in turn flooded the market with foreclosures.  So many houses on the market have caused the value of houses to decrease dramatically too. There is however one positive result that has occurred, current interest rates are low. This is great for people who are buying for the first time and who are planning to keep the home for an extended period of time and great for people who are able to refinance their mortgages.  If you are considering buying a home or re-financing check out this new website, todaysmortgagesrefinanced.com, for current information about mortgages.

Divorce seems to be a common practice these days and chances are, you know at least one person who has gone through a divorce. Divorce is not limited to one culture, country, or race. Christian religions, who have long believed marriage to be sacred and a bond not to be taken lightly, are seeing an increase in divorces among their sects. Is it because today men/women are no longer expected to stay in abusive relationships because they are married?  Or is the reason the “taboo” that used to be associated with divorce is dwindling as more and more divorces occur? I believe many people today go into a marriage knowing that if it doesn’t work out they can always get a divorce. The attitude used to be that once the decision is made it is final.

 In most cases the decision to get divorced is a difficult one. I know several Christians who have been through a divorce and one of the main problems they have after the divorce is the judgment place upon them by other Christians. Remember, it is not for us to judge. We should love and support one another.

 I found a website, christiancanvass.com, which briefly discusses divorce among Christians as well as other issues plaguing Christians today. It is fairly new so there is not a lot there yet but check back often to find articles related to divorce, premarital sex, cremation, and basic Christian beliefs.

Christmas is just around the corner so you better start making your shopping list now. If you have a video gamer on your list, you can never go wrong by giving a video game as a gift. I found a website, igogaming.com, that writes general information about popular video games for different game systems. The Nintendo Wii system is very popular these days and there is a new game out for the Wii called Super Smash Bros. Brawl. This is an action packed game that will unite players around the world as they battle each other. You can read up about it here and determine if this game would be a great gift this year for someone on your list.

I know what you are thinking, it’s still November, why are you talking about Christmas lights. Well, I'm talking about Christmas lights because most people put up their holiday lights the day after Thanksgiving and if you have your lights all boxed up I suggest getting them out now and making sure they all work. Untangle those wires and check every bulb. Should you come across any shorted lines, missing bulbs, broken bulbs, or just want more lights (I personally think you can never have too many) then save some gas and do your shopping at The Christmas Light Source. I recently got some of the multi colored ice cube shaped LED Christmas lights for my son’s room. I got tired of the white plug in night light and wanted something a little more fun. The great things about these lights are:

• They don't get hot to the touch like the incandescent ones so I don't have to worry about my children burning their little fingers.
• They are also energy efficient so if I forget to unplug them (which happens often) they don't use up a ton of energy.
• I also love how they have a hard plastic covering that won't shatter when, not if, they get stepped on.

Now, what do you do with your broken and old Christmas lights? You recycle them of course and The Christmas Light Source can help you do this. Recycling through the Christmas Light Source doesn't only help out the environment; it helps put books in the hands of children in need and saves you 10% on your next purchase. You can read about their Christmas light recycling program here.

When my husband’s Grandmother was in a car accident several years ago it left her unable to drive herself anymore. Because of this she was isolated from the world. She was no longer able to come and go as she pleased and she had to rely on others to take her places or run her errands.  The loss of a spouse can lead to isolation as well. Isolation for seniors can be debilitating. So, what can you do if you are an isolated senior citizen or if you have a loved one who is isolated? iGoHealthyseniors is a website created specifically for senior citizens. Here you can find some ideas to overcome isolation as well as information for living a happy and healthy life as a senior.  I’m happy to report that over the last year my husband’s Grandmother moved into a group home for retired seniors. Here she enjoys socializing with new friends and she doesn’t dwell on the things she can no longer do.