Summer vacation for many families is almost over. In just a few short weeks, school will be back in session for another year.

Did your family go on a memorable destination vacation, such as a cruise, overseas, or to a theme park; or did you stay close to home and take day and weekend trips to our wonderful beaches and parks? We are fortunate to live in such a beautiful area where we can drive short distances to terrific places of interest.

How much reading did you and your family accomplish? Did you finally read that special book you've been wanting to read? We are so fortunate that we have such a well-stocked library in Crestview with such a helpful staff. They are always a pleasure to be around.

Was there a list of partially finished projects you wanted to tackle this summer? Like me, did you try and catch up on your hobbies, finish up some sewing projects or scrapbooking? Many of you spend hours in your yards and gardens — did you accomplish what you set out to do? 

While I love plants in my garden, I seem to do better with potted plants on my porch. I have some beautiful hibiscus plants that are happily blooming, even in this heat. My begonias are still in bloom, although I need to transplant them to a larger pot and the petunias haven't done well with all the rain we have had. I think I need to buy some new ones and put them on the porch where they won't get so much rain. 

What are you proud of that you completed this summer? Perhaps it is a room that you redecorated, painted or rearranged. Perhaps you got a closet or cupboard cleared out and organized.

There are always many tasks on my to-do list. While I didn't finish everything, there were a few items I checked off the list. I read the book of Romans in the Bible in anticipation of my fall bible study. I rehearsed music that I will be singing for church, and picked out some new pieces to learn. 

I also began two new books on the history of our country and hope to finish them soon. I have closets that need to be cleaned out and organized. I hope I can finish them before September.

Another summer goal area residents may have is purchasing items for the upcoming school year. The back-to-school sales tax holiday is the weekend of Aug. 4-6.

Clothing and shoes that are less than $100 each will be sales tax free, as well as school supplies that are less than $15 each and computers that are less than $750. If you need to invest in a new computer, this would be the weekend to purchase. Start making your lists now, so that you can take advantage of the savings.

Make the most of these final days before school is back in session and your schedule gets crowded.

Janice Lynn Crose, a former accountant, lives in Crestview with her husband, Jim; her two rescue collies, Shane and Jasmine; and two cats, Kathryn and Prince Valiant.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Make the most of your summer vacation

As a representative of Okaloosa Saves and the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, I was delighted to present a check for $1,000 from America Saves to local resident Diana Mongeau, of Niceville.

Diana entered the national #imsavingfor contest at the Okaloosa Saves Eco-Nomic Living Expo held at the Santa Rosa Mall in February. She made a short video at the mall, with her granddaughter Jazzy, explaining her savings tips.

The same day the check was presented Diana explained that she was heading out to deposit the check in a new savings account for her granddaughter and entering the Teach A Child To Save contest in hopes that Jazzy would be a $50 winner.

The 2017 Teach A Child To Save campaign runs from April 24 to July 31. Any youth (17 years and younger) who sets a savings goal is eligible to win $50.

Enter the drawing by making a deposit into your account and registering as an Okaloosa Saver (one entry per day allowed).

Six children's names will be randomly drawn from all entries, and each will win a $50 cash award to add to their savings accounts. David Money of First Bank provided funds for the prizes.

The 2017 participating banks and credit unions are:

•Bancorp South, Miramar Beach

•Beach Community Bank

•Eglin Federal Credit Union

•First City Bank

Since Okaloosa Saves introduced Teach a Child to Save in 2004, a total of 2,969 children has saved over $300,000.

If you would like to start saving, take a small step and pledge to save at Okaloosasaves.org.

To view Diana’s winning video visit the Okaloosa Saves Facebook page.

Contact me at jbreslawski@ufl.edu if you have questions or want more information.

Jill Breslawski is an agent at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa 'Teach Children to Save' contest promotes financial responsibility

All investments carry risk. But, as an investor, one of the biggest risks you face is that of not achieving your long-term goals, such as enjoying a comfortable retirement and remaining financially independent throughout your life. 

To help reach your objectives, you need to own a variety of investment vehicles — and each carries its own type of risk.

If you spread your investment dollars among vehicles that carry different types of risk, you may increase your chances of owning some investments that do well, even if, at the same time, you own others that don't. As a result, you may be able to reduce the overall level of volatility in your portfolio. (Keep in mind, though, that diversification can't guarantee a profit or protect against all losses.)

To diversify your risk factors, you first need to recognize them. Here are some of the most common types of investment risk:

Market risk — This is the type of risk that everyone thinks about — the risk that you could lose principal if the value of your investment drops and does not recover before you sell it. All investments are subject to market risk. You can help lessen this risk by owning a wide variety of investments from different industries and even different countries.

Inflation (purchasing power) risk — If you own a fixed-rate investment, such as a Certificate of Deposit (CD), that pays an interest rate below the current rate of inflation, you are incurring purchasing power risk. Fixed-income investments can help provide reliable income streams, but you also need to consider investments with growth potential to help work toward your long-term goals.

Interest-rate risk — Bonds and other fixed-income investments are subject to interest rate risk. If you own a bond that pays 4 percent interest, and newly issued bonds pay 5 percent, it would be difficult to sell your bond for full price. So if you wanted to sell it prior to maturity, you might have to offer it at a discount to the original price. However, if you hold your bonds to maturity, you can expect to receive return of your principal provided the bond does not default.

Default risk — Bonds, along with some more complex investments, such as options, are subject to default risk. If a company issues a bond that you've bought and that company runs into severe financial difficulties, or even goes bankrupt, it may default on its bonds, leaving you holding the bag. You can help protect against this risk by sticking with "investment-grade" bonds — those that receive high ratings from independent rating agencies such as Standard & Poor's or Moody's.

Liquidity risk — Some investments, like real estate, are harder to sell than others. Thus, real estate is considered more "illiquid" than many common investments.

Make sure you understand what type of risk is associated with every investment you own. And try to avoid "overloading" your portfolio with too many investments with the same type of risks. Doing so will not result in a totally smooth journey through the investment world — but it may help eliminate some of the "bumps" along the way.

This article was written by Edward Jones on behalf of your Edward Jones financial adviser.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Diversify your investment risk

A train was filled with tired people. Most of them had spent the day traveling through the hot, dusty plains. At last, evening had come and they all tried to settle down to a sound sleep.

However, at one end of the car a man was holding a tiny baby, and as night came on the baby became restless and cried more and more. Unable to take it any longer, a big brawny man spoke for the rest of the group. "Why don't you take that baby to its mother?"

There was a moment's pause and then came the reply. "I'm sorry. I'm doin' my best. The baby's mother is in her casket in the baggage car ahead."

Again there was an awful silence for a moment. Then the big man who asked the cruel question was out of his seat and moved toward the man with the motherless child. He apologized for his impatience and unkind remark.

He took the tiny baby in his own arms and told the tired father to get some sleep. Then in loving patience he cared for the little child all through the night.

How often do you stop to think about what another person is going through when you become agitated? Think about the driver of a vehicle who is speeding and weaving in and out of traffic. Instead of cursing such a person, do you ever offer a prayer? Perhaps there is a medical emergency, or a friend or loved one who needs serious help.

So many people's reactions today show a lack of patience or an attempt to understand, including the immediate reaction that takes another's actions like they were an intentional personal affront. So, retaliation or harsh words are engaged.

Do you have what it takes to give someone the benefit of the doubt when something unpleasant happens? Do you have what it takes to realize that not everything that happens to you was done intentionally? Do you have what it takes to offer a prayer instead of a curse?

Disciples of Jesus Christ should take Paul's admonition seriously: "And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, patient, correcting opponents with gentleness." (2 Timothy 2:24)

It's not always easy to do, but with time and a great deal of practice, kindness and patience will become a way of life. Harsh and rash assumptions will disappear. And relationships will grow.

The Rev. Mark Broadhead is pastor at Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Make kindness, patience a way of life