Yea!! Merv and I formally finished FPU (Financial Peace University) last night!! This is one of the most useful classes we have ever taken - teaching us financial peace and strategies. Some of them (the frugality chapter, especially!) we have always done, but many things were extremely helpful, and info we hadn't particularly sought out or known. We highly recommend it. While the book may be helpful, doing the classes gets it into your head better. The videos were energetic and fun, not boring at all. Everyone should be required to take this at college!!! Wish we would have known this at that age.
Okay, there is my commercial.

The Shirk house is reserved for 3oth - 2nd, so you can come and go a little easier. That doesn't mean you need to be there the whole time, of course. We will make New Years Eve our Christmas. If any of your siblings want to come during that time, Emily, we will find something else for our family as far as lodging.

Love you all. I am so grateful for all our children. That includes the Chosen Ones. :) Proud of you all. Can't brag enough.
Mom