Home and Family

Consider these statistics. U.S. fire departments respond to a call every 19 seconds. Fires double their size every 79 seconds. Some 3900 people die in fires every year, and 82% of those deaths occur in homes. One home burglary is underway very 15 seconds in the U.S., and each one costs the homeowner an average of $1700. The statistics make the picture clear: home security alarm systems and services are an important way to protect your life and home.
The home security industry is booming business, but two providers stand out: ADT and Brinks.
ADT Security Services
In business for over 130 years, ADT is the largest home security monitoring service in the United States. Initially a telegraph service, American District Telegraph (ADT) was established in 1874. By the 1890s, the company was in the business of providing advanced call boxes and electric protection systems. In 1981, ADT introduced its Safewatch residential security system, going wireless in the early 1990s.
Trusted by the federal government, ADT holds the contract to protect U.S. federal courthouses. It supports over 6 million business and residential customers, including many of the country’s busiest airports. In 2004, ADT responded to more than 50,000 in-progress crimes.
ADT’s standard home security alarm systems include the basics common to other security service providers. System components include the control center, a keypad for entering commands, an interior alarm, a standard transformer and back-up for power losses, window decals and warning signs, and hard-wired sensors for windows, doors, and motion detection.
More advanced add-ons and wireless systems are available for added cost.
ADT rewards customer loyalty by offering customers of two or more years a premium mover package that provides a free system in new homes and discounts toward service upgrades when the customer moves.
ADT lives up to its number one rank and provide reliable home security monitoring services at a reasonable cost. You can’t go wrong when you choose them to help protect your home and family.
Brinks Home Security
In business since 1859, Brinks has a long-established reputation for protecting people’s property. Originally a delivery service, Brinks established a worldwide reputation for its armored transport services, and it’s transported some of the most valuable items in the world (for example, the U.S. Declaration of Independence).
Brinks is the only national full-service security provider to hold Installation Quality Certification awarded by the National Burglary and Fire Alarm Association. It’s also been recognized by A.J. Powers for delivering “An Outstanding Customer Service Experience.”
Rapid Response is not only the company’s motto, it’s their goal. Brinks offers well-trained certified staff who monitor home security systems and assure prompt notification to police and emergency service. Like ADT, they both install and monitor home security systems.
They offer the same standard home security system as ADT, with comparable features and prices. Brinks take pride, however, it its user-friendly keypad and website. They recognize that they’ll lose customers if either are difficult to use or confusing.
Their standard system includes the standard control panel, a one-touch keypad, two window or door sensors, a motion detector, an interior siren, and window decals and yard signs to let burglars know you’re protected by Brinks. Optional add-ons are available for additional cost, including features like outdoor sirens, strobe lights, and sensors for heat, moisture, glassbreak, and temperature.
Homeowners shopping for a home security alarm system and monitoring service will do well to talk to the professional staff at ADT or Brinks. They’ll know they’re dealing with long-established reputable firms who work hard to maintain the good reputations they’ve built over the last 100 years. Both companies aren’t located in all major cities, but both are expanding.
ADT and Brinks both demonstrate qualities consumers of home security systems should demand: well-trained customer-oriented staff, reliable quality products, and competitive prices. Selecting between ADT and Brinks guarantees the homeowner dependable service, responsive support, and a business relationship that will endure for many years to come.

A second mortgage can also be referred to as a home equity loan. It is in essence a secured loan that is second, or subordinate, to the first mortgage against the property. The key issue for anyone getting this type of loan is the amount of equity they have in their home. This will ultimately determine the amount of money that can be secured for the home owners use.Equity is the amount of money that is paid down on the home, or it can be the value of the home minus any loans owed on the home. The main reason for taking out a second mortgage is to take equity from your home and turn it into cash in pocket. What this means is that if you have enough equity in your home you can borrow money using your home as collateral. There are three basic types of loans to choose from: the traditional second mortgage, a home equity loan, or a home equity line of credit.A second mortgage should not be confused with a mortgage refinance or re-mortgage. When you refinance your first mortgage you are replacing your old loan with a new loan, usually at a better interest rate. A second mortgage, or home equity loan, is another loan in addition to the primary loan, which will result in two monthly payments. It is important to distinguish the two to make sure that two payments will not seriously affect your monthly budget.The interest paid on a second mortgage, up to the first $100,000 borrowed, is tax deductible provided that the loan is on your primary residence. It should be noted that interest rates on home equity loans are generally higher than a first mortgage, usually in the 2-4% higher range. But the interest rate on a this type of secured loan will be lower then on an unsecured loan, such as a car loan, and much, much lower then you will find on a credit card.The common reasons to get a home equity loan are to pay off high interest credit cards or other higher interest rate debts, refurbishing the home, urgent family matters such as education, medical, etc. This is called debt consolidation and refinancing and is a good way to tap the asset value of your home to meet your investment and budget needs, and helps you avoid incurring high interest unsecured debt like credit cards. If you have extensive credit card debt, and are not making progress in paying it off on a monthly schedule, a second mortgage may be a good move.There are a couple of things that anyone getting a home equity second mortgage should be aware of. A second mortgage puts a second charge on your home, meaning that the second mortgage provider can take a share of any proceeds if your home has to be sold.  What is worse, if you pay the first mortgage but fail to pay the second, that mortgage provider can seize your home, even if the sum involved is relatively small.Getting a second mortgage home equity loan can be a good way to use the equity in your home to do any number of things. Like all financial decisions using a second home loan should be carefully considered in all aspects. If it makes sense and fits within the monthly budget then it is something to be strongly considered.

Having a home security alarm system installed is a great step to take to help improve the security for your home and family. There are lots of choices to be made when selecting a security alarm system itself, but after selecting the appropriate alarm for your home, it’s a good idea to consider whether you want to have an outside service monitor your home alarm as well.

Oftentimes, security alarm companies offer this option along with the alarm system that they install, but if you decide to install the alarm yourself or have it installed by a local contractor, you will need to decide on taking this extra step and which company you would like to choose for a monitoring service.

The good news is that most monitoring services are very reasonable and affordable. In fact, you can get a monthly subscription to many monitoring services for $10 or even less per month. A lot of homeowners conclude that this is money well spent for the extra peace of mind that it affords.

So how does a monitoring service work?

Well, usually the alarm system is set up so that if the alarm is triggered, a phone call is made to the monitoring service automatically, where the personnel on duty call your home first and try to determine if a false alarm has sounded or if a real break-in has happened. This can save you money in case of an accidental triggering of the alarm.

If a break-in is in progress they then call the local law enforcement who can then get to your house quickly and investigate the matter. This kind of home protection is especially valuable when you are away from home as that is when most burglaries take place.

So which monitoring service should you choose? There is a wide variety of these services available and not all are as vigilant as you would like them to be. Our suggestion is to poll your neighbors, family, friends, and perhaps your real estate agent to see what recommendations they have for a reliable service that they know of. Quite often, you will begin to hear the same names come up in conversation, and that is the short list of companoies that you should investigate regarding the features they offer that you feel will be of most benefit to you.

It is not necessary to have an alarm monitoring service, but it is cheap insurance that does you one extra layer of protection in your home security plan.

A Home School can conform to any life style, from Back to Basics Homestead to Urban/Suburban upscale Neighborhood.

Regardless of your perception of the public school systems, Home Schooling your own and other children may be an
appealing option for you and your neighbors and friends. Other options may include Private Education if this in the
budget plan.

There are many different curricula and teaching philosophies to consider, almost to the point of analysis paralysis.

Begin by asking yourself why you want to consider home schooling.

*Will they get a better Education?
Qualifications of main instructors. It’s not enough to disagree with the public curriculum.
There are regulations governing home schooling.

*Will they learn social values not presented in your public schools?
Put the values of concern on paper and weigh them against the lack of or
conflicting values taught in public school.

*Will you be able to spend more time with your children?
As an educator and parent, how much time will you actually spend with the
students compared with how much time you wish to spend?
Be honest here. You may think you would like the kids around all the time,
but have you tried it for extended periods before making this commitment?

*Will this protect your students from a local drug and/or violence issue?
Is it protection from the real world, or preparation for the real world that you desire?
This will need to be evaluated on a local level.

*Is there a religious reason?
There are many interpretations of the responsibilities of Parents as regards
education, both religious and secular.

*Are there other Homeschoolers in your area?
It’s great to have a mutual support system with other home school families.
This should only matter once your family has decide the best course.
‘Others are doing it’, is never a good reason for any endeavor.

*Are you an extreme distance from a public school?

Sound, well thought out reasons will help to reinforce your commitment when the inevitable
‘Why are we doing this?’ questions come up.
Pose the questions to all involved, especially the students.
© 2006 C. R. Ellsworth

Before choosing between home schooling and public schooling for your child, you need to be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of both. Being well informed is very essential in making the correct choice.
Advantages of Public Schools
The main advantage of public schools is the constant social interaction that the child is exposed to. This develops and immeasurably improves his social skills. You can involve the child in social activities, while home schooling as well. However, none of this may provide all the different levels of interaction that a traditional school provides. Being part of the same group for several years and interacting with teachers, staff, seniors and peers, prepares the child for life in the adult world. Home schooling deprives the child of close interpersonal relationship with peers and possibly, lifelong friendships.
Sending the child to a traditional school also gives you more time for other things, like your career and household chores. Home schooling can be very time consuming, since the parents have to be with the child through the lessons, not to mention correcting the worksheets and designing activities and audiovisual aids. The expenditure incurred can pose a problem. Although home schooling is generally less expensive in terms of tuition fees, the time you require to spend with the child generally implies your staying at home. In families that need a double income to run smoothly or in event of a divorce marriage break-up etc, this might become a problem. Having to decide which parent sacrifices their career can also lead to mental and emotional stresses at home that are not good for the child.
Homeschooling Advantages
The main advantage of home based schooling flexibility. Learning periods can be adjusted to your schedule and lessons can be created to better suit your child’s aptitude and learning style. Homeschooling s a dynamic process and allows changes to be made to the curriculum. This makes it easier for the child to learn at his/her own pace. The learning activities can be structured more practically. Being an unstructured program, it allows parents to develop lessons that are fun, increasing the childs eagerness to learn.
Homeschooling is also less expensive and public schools and especially private schools can be very costly. The money saved, can be used for social activities and field trips for the child to help develop their social skills. Socialization problems can be avoided by extending the program and allowing the child adequate interaction with other kids. A good idea is regular trips to a public park, or enrollment in a sports league.
Many parents in the US feel that public schools are inadequate and do not challenge the children enough. Their standards of education are also in question. In fact, there are many examples of kids having gone all the way through high school, and actually graduated, without even being able to read properly. Schools are increasingly seen as unsafe with kids bringing in guns and knives. There is also a raging debate over the gangs and the drug issues in most schools. In addition, the size of the classrooms has increased to the point of being impossible. No student can hope for any personal attention in such a large set-up. And finally, many faith-based families are being upset by sex education, handing out of condoms and abortions without parental notification in the public school system.

To deliver the best possible protection for your home and family, it is vitally important to have advanced home security system monitoring. A security system without monitoring is like an automobile without gasoline. In the same way, if your security system is not properly monitored, then there is no way for emergency personnel to be notified to respond when there is an intrusion, fire or other threat to your home and family.
Due to the unique protection afforded by a monitored alarm system, it is not surprising that FBI statistics reveal that a home without a monitored security system is 3 times more likely to be burglarized, and that the average loss for a residential burglary is $1607. A business without a monitored security system is 4.5 times more likely to be burglarized.
When the security system is tripped the main control panel will notify the alarm monitoring company that a breach has occurred. The information received is then interpreted by the monitoring professionals who promptly notify the appropriate authorities.
When your security system depends upon traditional telephone lines, your system is only as good as your telephone lines. If your telephone lines go down, your security system is worthless. Telephone lines can go down for a variety of reasons including but certainly not limited to having the phone cables cut by an intruder.
To enable your alarm system to work independently of your telephone lines, a cellular backup for your alarm system is indispensable. If the landlines are cut for any reason, your security system will still transmit an alarm to the appropriate authorities. Cellular backup transmits on a secure wireless phone network, which is completely separate and distinct from your traditional telephone lines. With the benefits of cellular backup, you will have a reliable system immune from the obstacles presented by systems dependent upon traditional telephone lines.
A wireless home security is superior to a wired version because: no unsightly wires draped throughout your home; the system can be installed quickly; the system components can be reconfigured easily without re-wiring, and most importantly the security system can’t be compromised by cut wires. It’s important that your security system have the ability to be armed and disarmed from anywhere, conveniently over the phone.
When reviewing security monitoring companies make sure the company is Underwriters Laboratories (U.L.) listed. They should also meet the National Fire Protection Association standards.
In summary, your home security system is only truly effective when connected to a 24/7 monitoring center. A wireless system is easier to configure and update and make sure the company’s monitoring center is U.L. listed.

Should Christians teach their kids about Santa Clause? That seems to be the question that many home school parents are asking themselves. There is a distinct danger that Christian kids will focus not on the birth of our Savior but on the materialism that so often permeates the Christmas season, unfortunately linked to the character of Santa Clause. Before we make this decision, we should first take a look at the history of Jack Frost, Saint Nick, Father Christmas, and Kris Kringle. Where did the big guy come from? Home schoolers (especially Christian home schoolers) should keep the following in mind when teaching their children about the meaning of Christmas. Letâ??s unearth the origins of Santa Clause together.

Older home schoolers will most likely recognize that Santa Clause is rooted in the character of Saint Nicholas. Saint Nick was actually a Christian Turkish bishop famous throughout his country for giving gifts to the poor. Spreading generosity across the land, Saint Nick even provided dowries for three indigent women, allowing them to achieve a proper marriage. Saving these poor girls from hopeless lives of prostitution, the legend of Saint Nicholas gradually spread across generations.

A popular Dutch folk tale developed about Saint Nicholas, here called Sinterklaas. Over time, this character spread throughout the world, to a variety of disparate cultures. Each countryâ??s take on Sinterklaas was a little different. In places such as Iraq and Chile, Vader Kersfees and Viejo Pascuero respectively serve as Santa Clause figures. Most countries have their own personalized version of Sinterkaas.

For instance, Russian children celebrate the life of Ded Moroz, also known as â??Father Frost.â? Ded Morozâ??s long white beard and red fur garb most closely informed the modern American â??Santa Clause.â? The name Santa Clause is the result of a mispronunciation of the word â??Sinterklaasâ? among Dutch-American settlers.

Our perception of Santa Clause has been informed not so much by folk tale or tradition as by advertisement. Shockingly, early Coca-Cola advertisements did a lot to popularize the idea of Santa Clause being a chubby, jolly fellow in red and white fur. Legend has it that Coca-colaâ??s advertising department was looking for a way to promote their hottest beverage during the frosty winter months. Because most people werenâ??t looking for a cold drink during Christmas, they looked to illustrator Haddon Sundblom to develop a character that could inextricably link Coca-cola to Christmas. Drawing from elements in the Christian roots of Saint Nicholas and existing pop culture imagery, Sundblom created the most recognizable Santa figure yet. This perception still holds today.

Although Santa has a clear Christian pedigree, todayâ??s media has done much to secularize the image in order to sell products. In turn, many Christian families and Christian churches have opted to forgo teaching their children about Santa Clause, fearing that it takes the focus off of Christ. Christian Home school families have a decision to make regarding teaching their home schoolers the legend of Saint Nicholas this Christmas. Itâ??s important to remember that informing our home schoolers about the original character of Saint Nicholas will teach them about generosity, not greediness. Donâ??t let modern pop culture pervert what is a beneficial lesson for the home schooler. In actuality, Santa is synonymous with Christmas giving, not receiving.

You can stay at home with your children while still advancing in your career. So how do you make it work? Here are seven tips.
1. Control your environment.
A clearly designated office will help you stay on task. And an organized workspace will help minimize distractions and make the most of the limited time you have available.
2. Break work into manageable chunks.
Most WAHMs rely on their “to do” lists. When my three children are awake, I strive to give them my full attention, though I always have such a list on the table. The list just seems to grow all day and when naptime (or bedtime) rolls around, I am focused and ready to tackle the tasks at hand.
3. Make the most of quiet time.
When are you most productive? It may be possible for you to get work done during the day (while your children are napping or at school), but, chances are, the best opportunities for productivity will occur when your children are down for the night. My workday, for example, typically begins at 4 a.m. That way, I can spend uninterrupted, quality time with my kids during the day and remain relatively rested.
4. Remember your priorities.
If you find yourself consistently ignoring your children, they are better off in the care of someone who is less distracted.
5. Get help when you need it.
Lesley Spencer is the founder and director of Home Based Working Moms. “I think it is important to understand it is very difficult to be a successful mom and worker at the same time,” Spencer says. “If you are working, your children are going to need your attention. Of course, you can get by with short amounts of work or phone calls but repeated attempts to work while your children are with you is not fair to them or you,” she says. “I feel it is best to work while your children are asleep or at school. If you are working more than about 10 hours a week, you probably need outside help to give your children the attention they need. Consider part time preschools, Mothers Day Out programs, neighborhood babysitters, family or friends or a babysitting coop to help with your child care needs.”
6. Take time off. When your office is always open (and it is right down the hall), it can be difficult to stop yourself from sneaking in just one more task. Establish office hours for yourself, and try to avoid allowing those hours to expand. It helps me to turn off my computer after a certain time each day.
7. Reflect often on the many ways your children are benefiting from your work at home situation. When I start to feel overwhelmed all the unfinished tasks in both my home and my home office, I think about how I am demonstrating to my children that there are, in fact, ways to balance home and family. The path may be difficult at times, but it is certainly worth the effort. And I hope this is a lesson that they will teach to their own children.

If you are seeking out the best new places to live in Texas, then the world-renowned Houston is the city to start with.
They say everything is big in Texas, and this city certainly lives up to that legend by being the largest city in the state of Texas, the fourth largest in the US, and claiming a population of 5.5 million.
Searching out new homes should be a veritable breeze, in Houston. New Homes here boasts a ton of current real estate developments, but some historic neighborhoods, that marry the new with the old.
Residing in this city are some of the top subdivisions. In Texas, the city of Houston offers amazing amenities, acreage, and modern features that give you big city living mixed with western appeal.
For luxury living, River Oaks offers the best of the best in Houston. New homes here are definitely one of the top subdivisions. In Texas, River Oaks has approximately 1,400 properties and is on the more affluent end of neighborhoods in the city of Houston, with homes ranging from $1- $20 million. Close to every major thoroughfare, the community has enviable amenities, like a country club that operates its own private security force.
Tuscan Lakes is a subdivision that has a slew of homes in Houston. New homes are located right off of League City Parkway, the master planned neighborhood features approximately 1,800 single family homes, multi-family residences, commercial and retail sites.
Residents also lay claim to easy access to I-45 and nearby medical centers, police and fire protection. Another of the top subdivisions, Tuscan Lakes is near excellent school districts, and convenient shopping, restaurants and entertainment. Most homes are affordable, starting in the 150’s. Therefore, they are among some of the best new places to live.
In Texas, last but not the least of the top subdivisions is Kingwood. A 14,000-acre master-planned community, located in northeast. Known as the “Livable Forest,” it is the largest master-planned community in Harris County, the second largest within Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown area. Kingwood is divided into 28 neighborhoods, called “villages.” Most villages have a neighborhood pool providing free access for village residents, and various village-specific services.
Continuing to grow will be the list of the best new places to live. In Texas, this list will continue to grow as its thriving real estate climate continues to flourish, especially in Houston. New homes here are well sought after and in high demand, a fact that has many in real estate sporting a Texas sized grin!

There is a saying that people can never have a lot of protection. But this doesn’t seem to be proved right in today’s context. Americans previously thought that the need for business or home security was meant only for the rich and not for other people. But now they also realize that it is not only the rich that need protection but also everyone else.
It is quite sad that the middle class people have been targeted and it is those people who have been having harm to their property or any possessions. For families that are of the middle income types they are ways to help them secure their home. Small companies will be able to absorb the expenses of the security personnel but in some cases it may not be cost effective.
A monitored security service in your home or even for your business is preferred as it offers more security than the average household. On the whole some amount of security is better than no security at all. A security system without monitoring is pretty bad and needs to be taken care of.
A monitoring network is something that is needed. This service charge is one of the setbacks when it comes to having a secure home or in securing your business. But still this service is that which helps the business and home owners. You can also check to see if you get a reduction on your fee with your home or business insurance. Some of the insurance companies do not charge you at all when you take more safety measures than you really need to.
There are also advantages with this security. You constantly have someone to assist you when you are in need constantly even twenty four hours a day and also all the seven days of the week. You house is guarded at all times including Sundays and holidays. They work day and night to guard your house from any kind of invasion. Any kind of break ins will be quite bad for your business. It is therefore better for you to protect it before you get into any mess.
Those people who want to know about a distinctive advantage, here it is. The costs that are got by monitoring these services are much lesser than what will be required to hire security personnel to secure your business or home for a whole day of twenty four hours and also a whole week which consists of seven days. You also have to keep in mind the over pay that you need to give on holidays and on weekends. You will need to pay for overtime also. Altogether when you total it up you will find that you will be putting in a great deal of money, much more than what you will be investing to get one of these monitored home security services. Check by yourself the budget and then decide on what you can afford to do to keep your home, business, family members and employees safe.