Family Time.

It’s so important. So last week, Emma and I took some time away with our kids to really just relax, enjoy summer time, and connect with those kiddos.

I know, I know – some of you may have wondered where these amazing insights were last week – well, they were on vacation too!

Sometimes we overlook doing those family things like that as we’re busy, we’ve got other commitments, or we may just feel like we see our family all the time as it is!

But getting away, and having time together in a place other than home is good for everyone. Whether that’s time on the water, tubing down a river, or sitting around the campfire – there’s something about being away from home that really helps us all connect.

Summer is short. It flies by.

I encourage you to take some family time. A day at the beach. A weekend camping. A road trip to somewhere new.

It will do a world of good for everyone.

And coming home after being away… it always feels that much sweeter.

Enjoy!

Costco.

I found myself there yesterday, needing some essentials, of course. But you know how that goes - all of a sudden your cart has a bunch of things you didn't need and certainly didn't expect to buy, and, boom, that bill is inching up towards 500 bucks! Dang!

Budget blown.

Most of us go to Costco with a list - written down or in our heads. But as much as we try to stick to it, the allure of the displays, the idea of a great deal, the thrill of a new gadget can get to us.

Slap it on the Mastercard, and we'll deal with it later!

Now, when it comes to house shopping, the budget piece becomes incredibly more important. Knowing what your price point is, having that pre-approval in place, is very helpful in narrowing down our shopping list of needs/wants.

The tricky part in this (and most things in life), is sticking to that budget.

It's very easy to look at all the listings or go to open houses and see all the fancy stuff that we'd love to have. The reality for most of us is that the cost of the list of wants, usually exceeds that darn budget.

Maybe you need some help figuring that all out?

If you're looking for someone to review your house shopping list, and find a home that checks off the boxes, but still fits into the budget (even with some wants thrown in there!), I'd love to be that guy for you.

Heck, while we're at it, I might even throw in a few free food samples!

Juggling.

To be clear, I have never been able to actually juggle anything physically. I’ve tried. I’ve failed. I used to help my cousin with magic shows way back when, but I guess we never made it to that part of the training.

Now, doing mental juggling, deadline juggling, schedule juggling – I have my fair share of experience in that domain. Over the summer, there seems to be an endless amount of activities happening, requests from the kids to go places, and fitting in that other stuff… like, you know, work.

Juggle, juggle.

Ground control for all of these “things” is, of course, your home. It’s where we wake up, where we dream and plan, and where we hope is the central hub of all the stuff life throws at us.

At times, we realize that life has shifted and we’re spending more time in a different community or a new neighbourhood where more of our life happens. That central hub may feel a bit disoriented and inefficient.

A few years ago, I found myself in that place, when I made the decision to move five minutes down the road to a different town simply so my kids would have their circle of friends & their activities closer to them. And me. Smart move, papa.

How’s your juggling act going?

Is it like a Vegas performer who moves with grace and awe? Or is more like you’re on a unicycle, and trying to keep 15 balls in the air with only one arm? If it’s more like the last one, call me, maybe considering a different location for that central hub will make the circus just that much easier for all of you.

After all, a day without juggling is like…um…just kidding – I have no idea.