Last night my wife were watching “The Biggest Loser” on NBC.  At one point, the participants took a challenge, where each team was pitted against each other to carry a large amount of weighted buckets up an incline and dump them in a hole at the top.  Eventually, one team emerged the winner, but the other contestants kept hauling their buckets, determined to complete the challenge, winner or not.  In fact, everyone than banded together to help the person in last place complete the challenge as well.  It struck me as a great example of how we’re not called to be number one or get first place in life: we’re called by God to push forward in the race, and to encourage each other along the way.

Posted: September 30th, 2009 under Show Notes.
Comments: none

This weekend my wife is getting together with some of her friends to put together “freezer meals”.  Basically, they plan on assembling, cooking, and freezing a large number of meals for later.  This is cool for two reasons.  First, it means we have meals on hand that are easy for even me to make at home.  Second, since our family is doing it with other families, we can all save money by purchasing supplies in bulk, which is really cool.

Do you have anything you’re doing for this fall, maybe even with other families, to save money?

Posted: September 30th, 2009 under Life at the Lansers', Saving Money, Show Notes.
Comments: none

Here’s something on your car you probably never thought would be recalled: the floor mats.  Toyota is recalling some floor mats from many of their 2007 and 2008 Camry’s as well as some Lexus automobiles.  The reason is that some of the floor mats could come loose from what holds them in place, sliding forward and pushing on the accelerator. If you have those mats, make sure they are secured.  If they can’t be, you may want to remove them.  Toyota says they’ll contact you next month and start replacing the mats free of charge in November.

Posted: September 30th, 2009 under Recalls, Show Notes.
Comments: none

Tonight is the night of reckoning at our house.  After Bekah goes to bed, Amy and I will wrestle our money to the ground.  I don’t know if you’ve ever been at a point where you decided that you’re just tired of going with the flow and that it’s time to take control, but that’s where we’re at.  The real problem is, that’s the easy part.  It’s easy to say you’ll take control, but it’s more difficult to not only start the process, but maintain the self-control to keep going.  I can tell you there’s one thing I know: if I don’t bring God into my desires to take control of our finances, I’m going to be right back to frustrated again in a month or so.

Posted: September 29th, 2009 under Life at the Lansers', Show Notes.
Comments: none

Johnson & Johnson™ has issued a recall on a variety of Infant and Children’s liquid Tylenol products.  Apparently, there is a risk of bacterial contamination in many of them.  The bacteria was discovered in product that was unused, but the company wants to play it safe.

All the affected bottles have been pulled from shelves by stores, but some you’ve purchased previously (manufactured between April and June) could be affected.  To find out if you are, you’ll need to locate the lot number on the bottom of the product’s box and on the sticker that surrounds the product’s bottle.  Then check that number against the list posted here at Tylenol’s website.

Posted: September 25th, 2009 under Health News, Recalls, Show Notes.
Comments: none