The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140 for a middle income family. Talk about sticker shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition.

But $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into:

* $8,896.66 a year,

* $741.38 a month, or
* $171.08 a week.
* That's a mere $24.24 a day!
* Just over a dollar an hour.

Still, you might think the best financial advice is don't have children if you want to be "rich." Actually, it is just the opposite. What do you get for your $160,140?
* Naming rights. First, middle, and last!

* Glimpses of God every day.
* Giggles under the covers every night.
* More love than your heart can hold.
* Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.
* Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.
* A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate.
* A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites
* Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.

For $160,140, you never have to grow up. You get to:

* finger-paint,
* carve pumpkins,
* play hide-and-seek,
* catch lightning bugs, and
* never stop believing in Santa Claus.

You have an excuse to:
* keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh,
* watching Saturday morning cartoons,
* going to Disney movies, and
* wishing on stars.
* You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator mag nets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay or Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day.

For $160,140, there is no greater bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just for:
* retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,
* taking the training wheels off a bike,
* removing a splinter,
* filling a wading pool,
* coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.

You get a front row seat to history to witness the:
* first step,
* first word,
* first bra,
* first date, and
* first time behind the wheel.

You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren and great grandchildren. You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match.

In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits, So . one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost. That is quite a deal for the price!!!!!!!

Love & enjoy your children & grandchildren!!!!!!!
Tears anyone? Little happy knowing tears!!

Usually I don't get too worked up over the news locally or otherwise...heck I usually don't pay attention at all.
But in the last week here locally we have had several hold ups one even at the local hospital. And a local lumber yard was burnt to the ground ... arson. The newspaper yesterday said that they think it was to cover up a robbery. Geesh take what you need burn the rest.
What bugs me the most is that whoever is doing this stuff is still out there and the police have no leads.
There was also a sniper shooting this weekend. He hit vehicles just about 20 min. South of here killing one person and injuring another. Then traveled 2 hours North East to shoot up a semi trailor and a parked car. Thank God noone was hurt there. He was shooting from over passes on the interstate...why??? What is the point of random violence? I so don't get it. I would even get it more if it were a case of road rage or something. This guy apparently turned himself in today...he is 17!!!!!! 17 years old and shooting up the world!! I was like I cannot believe it. There were several calls reporting that there were going to be more shootings and then this kid just turns himself in!!! He traveled fast too!! He was from up North. What he was doing down this way I have no idea. I guess more will be revealed but it seriously makes ya wonder!!
Oh and yesterday as I was reading the paper to find out about what was up with the Sniper shootings....I read an article that said they put Sudam on a feeding tube!!!!! I was like you have got to be kidding me. He was on a hunger strike and making himself sick!! So let him kill himself then. Further on in the article it says that they want him to be healthy so he can attend his trial and they want to hang him at the conclusion of the trial!!!!!!! So lets spend tax $$ we could use elsewhere on getting him better and keep spending tax $$ on the trial so we can spend more tax$$ to have him hanged!!!!! Nice plan!!!! Lets just set fire to the national treasury because we are getting robbed!!!! I suppose someone thinks there is a method to the maddness but I don't know what it is!!!! Some one is gonna kill this man eventually so why not let him kill himself!!! Anyways that is my ranting for the day!! Now I remember why I don't read the paper or listen to the news!!!! Hope everything is peaceful in your neck of the woods!!!
Much love, Kwick

OK so I have a dream like many of us! I want to write a book. I am currently working on something that I think would be worthy of print and might actually be longer than a term paper. I always thought I would like to have a book of my poems published but I am not sure I can share all of them with the world. Anyway I know that there are many streamers who have copyrights and have been published. I have entered those contests in the past and actually been recognized with tons of letters if only I would pay this small fee or that But I was never sure it wasn't totally a scam! So how do I go about first getting a copyright to use for my writing and then finding a way to publish it that doesn't put us in the poor house or have me signing away all rights to my creation. I just need to know where and how to get started if there is a place as simple as all that. Anyone have some direction for this dreamer floating in the stream??
Much love! Kwick

Sifting through the pieces
This one is yours and this is mine
Strong shoulders
This is too heavy
Anger and pain
Show up unexpected
Silent screams
Fell on careless ears
Insanity is contagious
Passed from one generation to the next
This piece didn't fit
Strained the border created
Weakness was my fairytale
One that you created
Lies were told to hide the shame
Mask worn hid inner beauty
Clueless of its existance
Empty places in thie puzzle
Cluttered with lifeless memories
Backbone bent until it snapped
Left over pieces don't belong to me
One by one
Sifting through the pieces

Kwick

Today is daddy's birthday! Of course my mom says he will never be old because he will always be younger than her! I say he will never be old because it just isn't in him!! Strenght diplomacy and loyalty that is my daddy!! And oh so much unconditional love!! Thank God he was blessed with that! Cause I am sure I try his patience at times!! Today we celebrate you Daddy!! I love you!! (next year we break out the over the hill decorations)

Hope you have an awesome day daddy!! Kwick