Chris Locurto | Mile Marker

On April 23^rd Dave Ramsey was here in Austin presenting an Entreleadership 1-day event. You could call Paul and I a little bit of Dave groupies. We had the awesome blessing of attending Entreleadership master class in Orlando in 2011. Bunny and Bear attended with us in the absence of the kids.

We made the list of Entreleaders

Can’t leave without seeing the castle!

Cars

Bunny and Bear Ice Cream

Rapunzel! Let down you hair!

Final Dinner in May 2011

The love of Stitch when we got back home

These last two were from Epcot’s American Pavilion where we had our final dinner. We received IPODS!!!! We also got the super long, whole story of Dave’s success and failure. Followed by his message of hope and in the words of Winston Churchill “Never ever quit”!

Later that year we were able to run a half marathon with his team in San Antonio in 2012. I have enjoyed learning from Dave’s Team and learning about his principles.

Packet Pick up

Lexi meeting Dave for the first time.

Before the Marathon Snuggles

Entreleaders Running the Half Marathon in San Antonio

Such a Fun Team!

Two of Dave’s VPs Debby and Chris Locurto- Chris is now set out on his own.

Finished! Metal to Prove It!

She loves the metals!

Sweet Reward

I used this class to bring business leaders from our community as well as some of my business associates.

Back to the conference for the afternoon the major topic of training was in regard to personality testing and how personalities work together in the work force. Dave recommends the DISC method of determining how people relate to each other. I find it interesting every time I learn about personalities. I wish I could remember to try to determine what every person is when I am interacting with them.

The 4 are as follows

OR THIS WAY

D- Lion (Choleric/Dominance) 10%

Strengths– Visionary, practical, productive, strong-willed, independent, decisive, leader

Weaknesses– Cold, domineering, unemotional self-sufficient, unforgiving, sarcastic, cruel

I-Otter (Sanguine/Influence)

Strengths– Outgoing, responsive, warm, friendly, talkative, enthusiastic, compassionate

Weaknesses– Undisciplined, unproductive, exaggerates, egocentric, unstable

S- Golden Retriever (Phlegmatic/Steadiness) 40%

Strengths– Calm, easy-going, dependable, quiet, objective, diplomatic, humorous

Weaknesses– Selfish, stingy, procrastinator, unmotivated, indecisive, fearful, worrier

C- Beaver (Melancholy/Compliance)

Strengths– Analytical, self-disciplined, industrious, organized, aesthetic, sacrificing

Weaknesses– Moody, self-centered, touchy, negative, unsociable, critical, revengeful

There is a test just like the one about that is specifically for children. I believe that I am going to go get it and make sure I know what Lexi and Luke are. Paul and I are pretty clear.

So can you guess what personality I have?

How could understanding your children’s personalities help you to love them well, understand them and relate to them better. This can be used in so many ways other than just in the work place. I need to use it more in the office too!

My great reminder for the day.

SDG

Run On!

So, I had a conversation with my brother in law last night about how much was appropriate to share on Facebook. We all have seen the posts. Some drone on and on with information that is not all that interesting and well, really not exactly appropriate to be shared on Facebook.Children’s toileting habits come to mind. I am guilty as charged- I over share from time to time. I recently have made a concerted effort to not share more than what is appropriate. That said, this boundary is different for every person. There are a couple of “selfish reasons” to choose embryo adoption so, at the risk of “over sharing” I would like to put one of them in today’s post.

The Financials

My brother also said this weekend “How much does that cost?” Leave it to my brother to get that out there. I didn’t mind. Finances are a big deal in our family. All of my immediate family members have homes that are paid for and no debt. We don’t do debt; we have a low tolerance for risks when it comes to investments- we don’t do single stock trading or oil futures. Paul and I do Dave Ramsey, we live on cash- one day I will write a ranting blog all about personal finance- it is a topic that I am highly energized by and passionate about. Suffice it so say for this conversation I will stick to the financial implications of Embryo adoption.

Embryo adoption is the cheapest adoption out there (that I have found). I know that foster to adopt can be less expensive but compared to overseas adoption as well as private adoption embryo adoption is hands down less expensive. I think everyone wants to ask this question but is afraid to because they don’t want to seem nosy- nose away! Here is the breakdown (now, this is only from our particular agency):

Fixed Costs for Snowflakes Embryo Adoption Program

The Snowflakes Embryo Adoption program is an ALL INCLUSIVE service. The items listed below are NOT SEPARATE, but all are included in the Snowflakes program fee. Your entire embryo adoption, including home study and medical expenses should cost between $10,000 – $15,000. The price range is based on our understanding of other agency program fees, home study fees and frozen embryo transfer fees.

Program Management & $3,500.00
Current and Future Client Communications and Records Storage:

Legal Contract Development and Coordination: $2,500.00

Fertility Clinic Coordination & $1,000.00
Embryo Shipping:

Food and Drug Administration Compliance and Donor Testing: $1,000.00

Total Snowflakes Program Fee: $8,000.00

These are sourced from the following website link

http://www.nightlight.org/snowflake-embryo-adoption/

Additional Fees are incurred for the following reasons:

Homestudy- for us performed by a local agency Child Placement Center about $2000.

Here is the link to Child Placement Center (I am super excited in future posts to talk more about this agency- they come into play soon!).

http://childplacementcenter.org/

Fertility Doctor Fees- These range based on where you are a patient and on your particular situation. Your insurance may cover some fertility needs. You may be able to have some procedures covered by insurance as well. For example my HSG (hystosalpingogram) was covered by my insurance as well. Once I am pregnant I also will then be covered by insurance.

Medications- This is one that I was not expecting! Hello, who knew Crinone Gel would be so expensive? (about $750)

All that said, this is actually one of the more affordable adoptions out there.

Who knew?

I have been away from blogging for a couple of days to fully enjoy the family this Easter. We have a family tradition of getting together with my Dad’s side of the family at Easter time instead of Christmas time because things get so busy. We used to do Christmas at Easter but we have dropped Christmas gift exchange entirely and now we just do Easter and hang out at my Aunt’s amazing backyard! Here are a few select pictures of the fun.

My doll baby!

Grandma’s Goslings

Sweet Lukie

Grandma’s Cake

Who might this be???? Stay Tuned—–I can hardly wait to tell his story!

My Nephew- sweet boy!

All my parent’s Grand kids! I just like how Luke and Joshua are looking at each other!

Angelic Noelle my niece

These three are going to be trouble waiting to happen!

Blurry of Dad and I while Luke was taking pictures!

As I sat in Easter morning service (how I love Easter) tears were in my eyes (I hid them of course). There is just something about singing about the joy of our Savior. It was also a time to think about the coming year. Will we have our own Snowflake this time next year?

Whatever the answer we will rejoice!

Have a great week!

Run Hard!