We all know that saying, “You’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Well, I take it one step further when I tell my kids: “If four of your friends are millionaires, guess who the fifth one is likely to be? Choose your friends wisely.”
This isn’t just about wealth—it’s about surrounding yourself with compounders. These are the rare, incredible people who invest in their knowledge, health, wealth, and relationships over decades. They don’t just live life; they build it, brick by brick, with intention and focus. And if you’re lucky enough to have a few of these people in your circle, hold on tight—because they’ll change your life.

What Makes a Compounder So Special?

1. They’re Committed to Growth.
   Compounders are always learning. Whether it’s reading, asking better questions, or seeking out new challenges, they have a relentless drive to improve. Conversations with them aren’t small talk; they’re big ideas and meaningful insights.
2. They Level You Up.
   Let’s face it: compounders are inspiring. When you see them crushing their goals, it’s hard not to want to step up your game. They set a high bar, and you can’t help but rise to meet it.
3. They’re Playing the Long Game.
   These aren’t the friends who chase the next shiny thing or quick win. They’re in it for the marathon, not the sprint. Their success builds slowly but surely, and they remind you that the best things in life take time.
4. They’re Masters of Balance.
   Compounders aren’t just about work or money. They’re also deeply invested in relationships, health, and personal growth. They show you what it looks like to live a life that’s truly full and rewarding.

Why Your Inner Circle MattersI always tell my kids to think about their five closest friends. Those are the people who influence your habits, your mindset, and even your future. If your circle is full of compounders, you’ll naturally pick up their habits—like setting goals, sticking to routines, and thinking long-term. On the flip side, if your circle is dragging you down? Well, you already know how that story ends.

How to Spot a Compounder

• They’re curious. Always learning, always asking better questions.
• They’re consistent. Showing up for their goals every single day.
• They’re generous. Sharing their knowledge, cheering you on, and rooting for your success.
• They’re forward-thinking. Making choices today that will pay off decades from now.

Tips for Building a Circle of Compounders

1. Be One Yourself.
   To attract compounders, you need to be one. Focus on your own growth, invest in your future, and make it clear that you’re serious about leveling up.
2. Seek Out High-Quality Conversations.
   Compounders love talking about ideas, not just people or events. Find those conversations, and bring something valuable to the table.
3. Get Comfortable with Challenges.
   Compounders will push you out of your comfort zone. Lean into it—that’s where the magic happens.
4. Don’t Be Afraid to Let Go.
   If certain friendships are holding you back, it’s okay to move on. You can still love those people while making room for others who inspire you to grow.

​A Note to My Kids (and Maybe Yours)You don’t have to be perfect, and neither do your friends. But the people you choose to spend your time with will shape your life in ways you can’t imagine. Surround yourself with friends who make you think bigger, dream bigger, and do bigger.
And remember, compounders are rare. But when you find one? They’re worth their weight in gold—or, better yet, compounding interest. 😉
So, choose wisely. Build that circle. And when you’re the fifth millionaire, I’ll be here saying, “I told you so!”
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#ChooseWisely #CompoundYourLife #LevelUp

​We’ve all been there. You text your kid something encouraging like, “You’re amazing!” and in return, you get… crickets. Or maybe just a thumbs up emoji if you’re lucky. But here’s the thing—whether they respond or not, your words matter. Especially when it comes to affirmations.

Let’s be real—teenagers are walking tornadoes of emotions, and young adults are out there trying to figure out how to adult without setting off the smoke alarm every time they make dinner. They’re dealing with grades, friendships, social media pressures, and more.

And here’s where you come in, superhero parent! Sending affirmations is like sneaking little confidence snacks into their day. It’s a small, low-effort (but high-impact) way to remind them, "Hey, you're actually pretty awesome, and you’ve got this!"
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Sure, they might not admit it, but deep down, these affirmations plant little seeds of positivity that they carry with them. Plus, they’re quick to send—so if you’re busy trying to juggle your own day (and maybe your sanity), this is one of those easy parenting wins.

Okay, time to nerd out for a sec. When you give your kid a positive affirmation, their brain’s reward system lights up like a Christmas tree. It’s called the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (I know, fancy, right?), and it’s the part that says, “Hey, maybe I can do this after all!”
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By consistently hearing or reading these affirmations, your teen starts to actually believe them. Yep, even if they eye-roll in the moment, their brain is still absorbing all that positivity. Over time, this rewiring helps them build confidence, reduce anxiety, and feel more motivated—whether they’re crushing exams, dealing with drama, or just surviving the day.

​Here’s the real genius part: sending affirmations gives you a way to stay connected with your kid without being the “nagging parent.” You’re showing up in their life in a positive, subtle way, reminding them that you’re in their corner—without asking too many questions about their homework or social life (because, yeah, that’s a no-go).
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Plus, sending a little text with an affirmation and a quick note of encouragement is like leaving a Post-It on the fridge—but modern. It’s non-intrusive, quick, and—let’s be honest—it’ll probably make their day, even if they don’t tell you. And hey, you’re scoring some major parent points just by caring enough to send it.

We all know that teens and young adults are good at hiding how they’re feeling, but here’s what we do know: they crave support, positivity, and belief in their potential, even if they don’t ask for it. Sending weekly affirmations is like giving them a little pep talk, reminding them they’re capable, resilient, and not doing this whole life thing alone.

So whether they send you a “K, thx” or (fingers crossed) an actual response, keep those affirmations coming. You’re helping shape their mindset, boost their confidence, and build a stronger connection—even if they won’t admit it until, you know, maybe in 10 years at Thanksgiving.
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You’ve got this, superhero parent. And so does your kid.

Alright, parents, here’s the deal: sending these affirmations to your kids is super easy, and we’ve made it foolproof and FREE (because we know you’ve got enough on your plate). All you’ve gotta do is:

1. Download the overview with all the affirmations and encouragements for the year.
2. Then, grab the 52 ready-to-go images we made on Canva—they’re designed to be text-perfect and look amazing on your kid’s phone screen.

​You’ll have a whole year’s worth of affirmations to send right from your phone with just a few taps. No design skills required, we promise! Just hit download, and you’re ready to spread the love, encouragement, and occasional eye-roll from your teen.

​When our Elf on the Shelf went to "help another family," once our kids got older, I was relieved. It was a lot of work. It was also a lot of fun. Some of our kids have graduated and moved, some are still in high school. These days I'm acutely aware of the time I have left with them in my house. I want to pack memories and lessons and time together in - just as much as possible. Therefore, I'm resurrecting the tradition with a twist - a little help from Buddy.


I'm being intentional and adding some fun to the stressful and very busy days leading up to and including Christmas Break. I'm going to try to do something with at least one of the kids each day to celebrate them - and the season.

This pack includes

• Sample Schedule
• Lessons from the Elf Reminder Cards
• Elf Hats
• Spreading Christmas Cheer
• Pin the Face on the Elf
• It's Santa! I know him. Gratitude Cards
• Scavenger Hunt
• Elf Trivia
• Snowflake Card
• The Elf Code
• Random Acts of Kindness (Bonus Free Ideas)
• Buddy's NYC Adventure
• Elf Spotify Playlist

December 1st is National Christma Light Day!
Let's Celebrate!

Every year we load up, crank up the Christmas music and ohh and ahh together over all the fabulous Christmas light displays in our area. Every one in a while, we take it up a notch. It always brings a smile when we give out our ​Christmas Light Awards.

We liketo look at the lights so much that we even went to The Lights in Arlington, Texas this year. It's a drive through light display - and it was amazing!

It’s one of our favorite Christmas family traditions we enjoy each year.  One year we even gave it a Polar Express theme! We make an evening of it by making popcorn and hot chocolate, piling in the car in our jammies (just the kids when they were little) and our blankets, and getting the playlist ready.

​To ramp up our yearly Christmas light family night (and help the kids pay a little more attention) I came up with a way to celebrate the hard work neighbors put into their homes for the holidays. It  added in an extra element of excitement for the kids too.

​To be recognized and awarded for all their efforts to bring holiday cheer to the town, I created some certificates to hand out during our drive looking at Christmas lights. These certificates each have a theme.

Print out the certificates and date and sign them. You can put your family’s last name or the person who gives the award can sign their name.
​Some years we took turns giving the awards and personally signed the certificate. This year I'm printing a set for every single one of us! 
An additional fun twist to these awards is you can knock on the receivers door and give it to them personally or you can be sneaky and tape it to there door. One year we gave the gand prize winner a pie from United!
Either way it’s super fun to give these awards to the best lit homes in your town.

• The Minimalist – Simple and clean light display
• The White Lights – Most beautiful white lights display
• The Inflatables – Most inflatables per square foot
• The Reason for the Season – Best Nativity display
• The Griswold – Sparing no expense of Christmas spirit!
• The Disco Fever – Best projection lights and/or music
• Blank – make-up your own award to give!

THE MINIMALIST
This home will have a simple and clean light display. They will have the windows and home trimmed and lights carefully placed. Or possibly they may only have one tree decorated or one window decorated.

THE WHITE LIGHTS HOUSE
This home will be decorated will all white lights! No multi colors to be found on this house.

THE INFLATABLES HOUSE
Every inch of this homes front yard is filled with inflatable decorations. Maybe they even skipped putting up Christmas lights at all. 

THE REASON FOR THE SEASON
A nativity scene will be the focus of this person’s yard. Possibly a wooden stable with lifelike figures or a beautifully lit manger scene. 

THE GRISWOLD HOUSE
Lights covered every inch of this persons home and yard. The roof, the grass and the trees are all lit with lights!

THE DISCO FEVER HOUSE
Projection lights or lights timed with music would fit this award perfectly.

BLANK
Create your own award for a home. This one is just for you and your family.

When you go back to each home try to get a picture of the house and have someone hold the certificate up in the picture. This will be a fun memory to look back at and as the years go by you can compare the award winners!

You can give a little gift with the award like a candy cane, chocolate bar or Christmas ornament. Or just give the award itself. 

We can't wait to hear how your Christmas Light Tour goes this year.

Size: 8 1/2 x 11
Total Pages:22 
Print: in Color, one-sided

Guide Book includes:

• A planning calendar
• ideas page
• A Welcome Letter
• Elf Protection Sign
• Scavenger Hunt for indoors or outside
• Elf Jokes
• Secret Code Game
• Coloring pages
• Christmas Light Hunt
• Would You Rather Game
• Mini Signs for your Elf
• Cut out Photo frame
• Foldable Treat Box
• Service Ideas
• Donation Box Letter
• Letter to Santa Paper
• The Foor is on Fire Game Sign
• Mini-Elf hats 
• Goodbye Letter

​A message on Yahoo! personals (an ancient dating site that ceased to exist in 2010) turned into a chat, followed by a dare to call. Even though my heart was racing, I called. The call didn't go through. My heart sank. In prehistoric days, you had to disconnet from the internet inorder to recieve the call. That call lasted for hours and was followed by a face-to-face meeting the next day. 

I was in graduate school. When I explained the situation and why I would be missing class to the  70 something year old professor, I told him that I has to go see if this guy was for real. He said "Go with God, girl." So I did.

Teaching at schools in opposite directions, we kind of met in the middle. Alan's Galley in Lamesa, Texas. We talked for a few more hours, but we both had to get home. He drove the morning school bus route and I had an hour commute to my school each morning. On my way home I called my friend and told her I thought I was in trouble, confessing that he might be "the one".

​We met just before Spring Break in March and were engaged the day after school was out, June 1st.

I had already made plans to live in the dorms on campus at Texas Tech and work for Upward Bound. We spend lots of time in the lobby that summer and met a new recruit on Bobby Knights basketball team. This 6'10" guy was sort of like a puppy for us. We enjoyed "taking care of him" together, watching him play ball, and learning so much about each other in the process.

He even survived a Chisum Family Renuion that summer, bunking with my grandfather.

Planning the wedding was easy, according to Billy. I had a notebook. I really did. I went to Bible College and I went to LOTS of weddings, so I started making notes. He says that when we popped the question, I wrote his name on the line next to Groom: _______ and slammed the book closed.

Since I had the groom locked down, we needed a date. Wanting a few extra days for our honeymoon, we planned our wedding just before Thanksgiving Break. The pastors son was on the Texas Tech football team, so we planned it around that too (They won that day - Guns Up!). I has just planned a high school prom so I went with the same colors - black and silver. Why not. The lady who owned the prom location was married to a man who owned a place that would host a perfect reception for folks who just got married in a barn!

The reception was amazing. I didn't stop smiling. We were surrounded by our friends and family, dancing and laughing. I wanted to remember every second.

When I was pregnant with Clayton I read a book that encourage parents to allow others to give their kids nicknames. They said more names, more love. Those nicknames represented connections and relationships that will enhance your child's life experiences. 

Friends, coaches, and others have given Clay some names - Mr. Chisum, C-note, Clay Dogg, and others...

When others show favor to your kids, it gets your attention. It makes you proud.

Clay got his first graduation gift. It was from neighbors we had not even sent an announcement to. They just loved my kid.

I appreciated that so much. I was overwhelmed. It hit me big.

Our first and last band concert for #4. We heard the same beginning band songs we've heard for a few years with other kids in band. We laughed and reminisced about concerts in years past and enjoyed the last one with the last one.

Weathermen talked about the possibility of severe weather all day long. There was a tense feeling in the air, but nothing happened all day. We finished up the concert for 6th grade, cleared out of the auditorium to make room for the 7th grade parents, and went home to cook dinner. Then the sirens started blaring.
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We went to the cellar and waited. It didn't take long until we were in the clear, but the images from the storm were unbelievable. 

These days it's a given that at some point our children will have a cell phone. Just like the gift of a bicycle, there are some basic rules and responsibilities of cell phone.

When our oldest child recieved his first cell phone, which he was probably too young to have, we looked in quite a few places (There is a great list here) to creating a cell phone contract to teach him about the responsibilities that come with having a cell phone, as well as the consequences for not seeing those responsibilities through. We went through the contract, asked and answered questions, and have since edited and revised the original contract based on usage and trends.


Cell Phone: Tween Responsibilities

• I will not send threatening or mean texts to others

• I will not text or place phone calls after 9 p.m.

• I will keep my phone charged at all times

• I will not bring my cell phone to the family dinner table

• I will not go over our plan's monthly minutes, text message, or data limits. If I do, I understand that I may be responsible for paying any additional charges or that I may lose my cell phone privileges
• I understand that I am responsible for knowing where my phone is, and for keeping it in good condition
• I understand that my cell phone may be taken away if I talk back to my parents, I fail to do my chores, or I fail to keep my grades up
• I will obey rules of etiquette regarding cell phones in public places. I will make sure my phone is turned off when I am in church, in restaurants, or quiet settings
• I will obey any rules my school has regarding cell phones, such as turning them off during class, or keeping them on vibrate while riding the school bus
• I promise I will alert my parents when I receive suspicious or alarming phone calls or text messages from people I don't know
• I will also alert my parents if I am being harassed by someone via my cell phone
• I will not use my cell phone to bully another
• I will send no more than _____ texts per day via text, messenger, etc.
• I understand that having a cell phone can be helpful in an emergency, but I know that I must still practice good judgment and make good choices that will keep me out of trouble or out of danger
• I will not send embarrassing photos of my family or friends to others. In addition, I will not use my phone's camera to take embarrassing photos of others
• I understand that having a cell phone is a privilege, and that if I fail to adhere to this contract, my cell phone privilege may be revoked
• If needed, I may help pay for the cost of the phone and/or for excess charges that I incur without permission from my parents

Cell Phone Contract: Parent Responsibilities

• I understand that I will make myself available to answer any questions about owning a cell phone and using it responsibly
• I will support my child when he or she alerts me to an alarming message or text message that he or she has received
• I will alert my child if our cell phone plan changes and impacts the plan's minutes
• I will give my child _______ warning(s) before I take his or her cell phone away
• Signed ______________________________ (Child)
  Signed ______________________________ (Parents)
  Date ______________________________