It's All Good, It's All God

Struggling

2011-09-01T16:10:00.003-05:00

It's funny how parenting is such an emotional roller coaster. Why is it that I see my kids better than others see them? I know my children's faults and strengths, yet everyone else seems to only see the faults. Then the faults are belittled. Instead of simply correcting and focusing on the strengths, we have to belittle them. Just confused as a parent; how do you deal with what others think? How do you teach your kids that they are not a smartallic, know it all, bully? Smart, yes. Tend to be right, yes. A rough boy, yes. It's all about the motive. The approach of my child is wrong, the motive is not. He's not trying to be a disrespectful, know it all punk. He's just an almost 7 year old kid, who has not completely learned how to speak and behave. I agree he's approach is wrong, but to belittle and label him that just seems wrong to me. So how do I teach through this process?

Life...the Craziness of it...

2011-08-09T11:47:00.003-05:00

Let's see, where to begin...

Oh, I know...two weeks ago today, I ran away from life. I loaded up the van with luggage and kids. I dropped the kids with my parents, then went to a cabin in the woods, by myself. I love the hubby dearly, but two weeks ago it was about me. Not about taking care of the kids or the hubby. It was all about taking care of myself and my relationship with God.

It's funny how God had to have me run away to be able to tell me that all the studying of His word and praying to Him, was only 2/3 of the equation. I was missing the "Be Still..." Odd since that is the verse I have in VERY large print on my dining room wall. See, I was doing the things I knew I needed to do, but yet I was still feeling empty, even though I knew God was there. Well, I was empty, because I was not being still. You all know how it is as a wife and mother. You take care of everyone else first, then if there is time, you take care of yourself. God wants us to "Be still". We just have to be obedient and do it. Even if it is only for a few minutes each day, we have to get away from life and "Be still" in God, just listen to what He is saying to us. It's amazing what you will hear when you listen.

Also, God new I needed to refresh for days, before returning to the next part of my journey. You ask...What's next? Well, the hubby is still leading music at another church. God answered four specific prayers in a very specific way through a man in a restaurant, whom I had never met and probably never will again. One pray was...Father, please show me a burning bush. I got a burning bush.

The second part of what's next...Kid-O has been passing out. We've had an EKG which came back normal. We had the EEG yesterday. Don't know the results yet. And now we are on our way back to our favorite place, UAB to a pediatric endocrinologist. What's that you ask...metabolism in a nut shell. Looks like Kid-O is having blood sugar issues. Extremely lows and extreme highs. Indicates hypoglycemic/pre-diabetes.

It's funny how God using my children to keep me focused on Him. I have no problem placing them in His hands, and asking for His leading, but I have to choose to "Be still" and listen to what He wants me to do next. Which doctor does He want me to take her too. How far do I push until someone answers the question..."Why did my daughter start passing out, all of a sudden, at the age of 10?"

Little Man is about to be 7 and already has a powerful testimony about and for God. Maybe/Prayerfully God is building Kid-O's testimony to be just as powerful.

Curious...

2011-07-24T15:23:00.003-05:00

So the Spirit of God is one of the three, from my understanding equal to God because He is God. Would that be an incorrect statement?

In the early church (new testament times) the Spirit of God would be present and the people would pray and worship until the Spirit was finished. They didn't stop. There was no time limit on preaching, teaching, praying, worshipping, etc. So my question: Why do we as Christians rush the Spirit? Why when He is moving do we decide we need to do something else?

Are we as a church afraid of the Spirit of God? Can fear be a bad thing? I think a healthy fear of God is a good thing. Proverbs states, "Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom." When Moses approached Mt.Sinai to receive the ten commandments from God, God tells Moses to consecrate the people for two days and prepared them for God's appearance on the third day so they could hear God. Then God speaks through the thick cloud to Moses and the Israelites. The Israelites are scared so, they tell Moses they don't want to hear God, they want to hear Moses. Did that fear not instill in them the essence and power of the one and only Holy God? I would think that it would. Don't know I wasn't there, but it seems logical to me. Seems like the Spirit of God moving would be a powerful and awe inspiring thing.

I guess I "feel" like the church is missing something today, the moving of the Spirit, but I don't understand why? Or maybe He is not missing in all situations, but He is being asked to leave because we need to move on the the next point of worship. I know there is no good answer to my question. It's just a question.

Where is the power of God? An author in a book I am currently reading states, what if you were stranded in the desert and all you had was the Bible and you had never attended a church. You read that Bible, loved that Bible, then were saved and wanted to go to church, would your expectations be different than what you currently see, hear and feel?

Points I am currently pondering/praying about...

Been a while...

2011-07-21T16:07:00.005-05:00

Obviously, it has been quite awhile since I have posted anything on my blog. Busy, busy, busy...

During the spring, we were busy with spring soccer for Little Man and preparations for the Science Olympiad for Kid-O, school, Emmaus walks, Chrysalis flights, VBS and vacation, as well as church activities. Speaking of church activities, the hubby has been the Minister of Music at a church about fifteen minutes from here since the second week of January. He is still the interim there. We believe this is where God would have us serve; however, we are still waiting on God's perfect timing.

Life has been interesting to say the least. God has been teaching me lots about myself and my need for Him, my dependence on Him. It's funny how you think you can do things by yourself, to only have God knock you back several steps and say, "No, you can't".

See a few years back, after many hurts within the church body, I put myself inside of a box. A beautifully wrapped box. God has allowed me to keep my box while He was healing the wounds; however, I knew that God was going to make that box (my security blank, as some might say) go away. I have fought thinking, I like my box, I need my box, my box is good for me, it keeps me from getting hurt. But see here's the thing, that box does not allow me to be as effective of a Christian as God has called me to be. Because inside that box, all my fears co-existed with me.

In saying that, I can say many wounds have healed in the pasted 2 1/2 years, there was still some left; however, the box must be opened and I must move out of that box for God to continue to heal the remaining wounds, so I can be effective for Him.

By grace I am saved, through love I am being healed.

Check up...

2011-01-19T16:07:00.002-06:00

Little Man had his cardiology check up today. Drum roll please...Everything looks good. There is no progession of the stenosis this year from last year. So no better, but no worse. So that is a good thing. We just keep doing his yearly check ups for now.

Snow Days

2011-01-18T16:51:00.000-06:00

We have had a very unusual winter for Alabama, but needless to say we have enjoyed it. First, it started with snow on Christmas day. You can't beat that. Then we got another 7 inches or so last Monday. The kids ended up being out of school for the entire week. So I thought you all might like some pictures of us having some fun on the white stuff.

We decided the best way to sled was to use the boggy board, which worked very well. Especially by day two, when our sled path had turned to a slick of ice.

Little man figured out that if we ran and jumped onto the boggy board on our knees that we would get the most speed. Oh what fun it is to...

Here's the hubby having fun too. I'm in the picture at the bottom. By the end of the two days of playing in the snow and shoveling snow so the hubby could go back to work, we were very sore. We decided this was the first time that we officially felt our age. Oh, it's all down hill from here, but man was if worth all the pain. The picture of Mini-Me didn't upload. I'll upload one of him later.

Family Picture 2010

2011-01-13T14:38:00.000-06:00

Here is our most recent attempt at a family picture. So why is it so difficult to get children to smile, normal for a picture. You should see some of the pictures. Little Man looks down right scared in several of them. There a good laugh. So here are the ones that I thought were the best of the bunch.

Of course you go, the hubby, myself, Kid-O in the glasses, Little Man the blonde, and then Mini-Me the spitting imagine of his daddy.

Here was a cute picture of the three kids together. Kid-O is turning into a beautiful little girl. Hoping for awkward teenage years. Not ugly, just awkward.

Here's the hubby and I, still very happy after 10 1/2 years of marriage, 15 years together. Actually, probably happier, praise God.

Bean bags

2011-01-13T14:31:00.000-06:00

Thought this was a good picture of the bean bags.

Bean bags

2011-01-13T14:27:00.000-06:00

Here is a picture of Papaw and Mini-Me sitting in the fluffy brown beans bags that Mamaw and Papaw got for each of the kids for Christmas.

We got rid of the couches, mainly because they were old, so they were replaced with bean bags. We love them.

Christmas Morning

2011-01-13T14:25:00.000-06:00

As you can tell, yet again I am way behind the times. It seems like I can't get a leg up right now. I have even stopped doing some of the things I used to do to try to keep up with the things that have to be done. Anyway, that being said, I would really like to get back to blogging. It is relaxing for me, therapeutic I might say.

Here are a few pictures from Christmas morning. Kid-O got the purple pillow pet, that fluffy white pillow and the electrical circuit set. She is a little geek like her daddy. Although, I must say I am proud of my little geek. How many kids would ask Santa for that gift.

Mini-Me didn't ask for drums, but apparently daddy was really bad, or that's what he keeps saying anyway, because Mini-me got the drums. He also got the Sam's tube of cheeseballs from Santa, which is what he actually asked for. The hubby and I had a hard time not laughing when he asked for them.

Little man asked for a pogo stick, a webkinz, and a red robe. The kids seemed to have a great Christmas. I know they got tons of stuff, by the time you factor in Santa, mommy and daddy, mamaw and papaw, auntie, then grandma and grandpa.

Busy still...

2010-10-20T19:38:00.003-05:00

In the previous post, I talked about the busyness of life and all Little Man's health issues since the Staph infection. Well, it strikes again. After the last ear infection and Strep throat at the same time, it looks like we will be back at the doctor tomorrow. Fatigued and running a fever of 101. It's been two months since that Staph infection and we have yet to have Little Man healthy for more than about a week and a half at a time. Fun, fun. Mini-Me is sick too.

I really would like to runaway for just a few days and sleep. Do absolutely nothing but sleep. Is that possible?

I doubt it, but man is that a lovely thought.

Busy, busy, busy...

2010-10-19T09:03:00.003-05:00

Okay, so I am just showing that my last post on August 18th was true. We have been so busy there just does not seem to be time in the day to breathe. I so desire my slow, boring life back. My mom keeps telling me that is not going to happen until my kids leave home. Is she right? I sure hope not.

This is how our weeks have looked for several months now. And this is just the regularly scheduled stuff, not even the extra stuff that gets thrown in there every week.

Sunday: church, nap, church
Monday: Errands
Tuesday: Bible study in Gurley, start cleaning house, soccer practice, dinner
Wednesday: Library duty, still working on house, laundry, church
Thursday: Library duty, still working on house, laundry, Science Club
Friday: More house work, more laundry, Soccer game
Saturday: Prepare our lesson for our Sunday school class, Work on projects around the house Back to Sunday

This does not include all the doctors appointments, volunteering at the school, couponing classes I teach, Indian Princess stuff, remodeling a bathroom, building a patio, etc. It's a good thing we only allow our kids to participate in one activity outside of church and school. It truly is a blessing that God changed my Spirit a few years back. I used to not be able to go to bed with a dish in the sink or a dirty bathroom. Praise God, He changed that. Because there is usually at least a bowl in the sink, and now the bathrooms only get cleaned once a week.

So tell me, will life slow down or should I just get used to it? I want to know what I'm in for.

On a different note, my Meniere's is now under control due to extremely low sodium diet and a diuretic. I've lost 15 pounds too.

Little Man is doing better from the Staph infection in his elbow. It has been rough for a while. Becuase Staph is so difficult and taxing on the immune system, right after we got him over that he got another viral infection that caused fever for 7 days. About a week after that he got a head cold and upper respiratory cold that lasted for about 2 weeks. He has now been healthy again, this time for about two weeks. So we are praying that his immune system is finally getting ahead of all the germs.

Busy...

2010-08-18T13:11:00.004-05:00

Life has been extremely busy these last few days and doesn't show signs of being less busy for a few more days.

Monday...Well, Monday's are Monday's. Then add an ECoG test on top of that. I have been diagnosed with Meniere's Disease. So much fun for me. I knew I was dizzy, nauseas, echoing in my ears for a long time, just didn't realize they were all related. So now I am on a low, and I mean LOW sodium diet. And I return to the doctor on Friday to review results and get more medication to take. Little Man comes home from school with a red, swollen, sore elbow.

Tuesday...Took Little Man to the doctor, because I knew his elbow was infected. Can't take a chance with infections due to his heart condition. So we spent on hour at the doctors office yesterday morning to discover he has a Staph infection. First, squeezing the infection out of the elbow. Can you say, OUCH? Blood was drawn from one arm for CBC and sedimentation rate. Doctor called Little Man's cardiologist. After that call, more blood had to be drawn from the other arm for a blood culture, to see it the infection had gone septic. Left knowing we might have to go on IV antibiotics, an appointment for tomorrow, and horse pill antibiotics to take 3 times a day. Then Little Man could not go back to school, due to having to monitor his behavior. In the midst of the doctor's office visit, my Meniere's decided to make a visit. Dizzy, nausea, had to lay down. Why in the middle of Little Man's appointment. Squeezed more infection out last night. Can you say, GROSS?

Wednesday...Back to the doctor's office at 8:30 this morning. Infection was not found in the blood. So that is a good thing. Still able to squeeze infection out of the elbow. The elbow is still red, but not blood red like yesterday. Swollen, but not as bad. And still tender. Meniere's set in again, UGH. Left doctor's office this morning with another appointment for tomorrow morning. IV antibiotics is still a potential. Will lance the elbow and clean out as much of the infection as possible tomorrow. Trying to give the antibiotic a fighting chance of catching up to the infection.

Tomorrow...We'll see at the pediatric office.

Friday...Back to the ENT for Meniere's.

Doctors are great, but sometimes, do you ever feel like you are just seeing them WAY to much.

Funny...

2010-08-16T08:18:00.003-05:00

I walk pass Mini-Me's bedroom. He is under his sheets with his head covered. I walk down stairs. I see the bar chair fallen on to the aquarium. I pick it up, and go back upstairs to Mini-Me's room.

Conversation goes like this (with Mini-Me still under the sheets):

Mommy: What are you doing?
Mini-Me: Hiding.
Mommy: Why are you hiding?
Mini-Me: Because I want too.
Mommy: Why do you want to hid?
Mini-Me: So daddy can't find me.
Mommy: Why don't you want daddy to find you?
Mini-Me: I don't want him to spank my hinny.
Mommy: Why would daddy spank your hinny?
Mini-Me: Becuase the chair fell.
Mommy: Oh, okay (trying not to laugh)

Little did he know, his cuteness kept him out of trouble, becuase he dented the aqaurium stand pretty bad and dented the bar chair as well. Apparently, he was sitting under the chair which we tell him not to do a lot. I guess we don't know what we are talking about.

Couponing 101...Part 11...RiteAid

2010-08-13T08:44:00.001-05:00

Okay, so I shopped at RiteAid this week. It is pretty easy and words very similarly to the CVS Extra Care Buck program. In a previous post, I already posted the coupon policy, so don't forget to read that since I won't post that again in this one.

So here's how I did it this week.

Transaction 1
M&M's 2/$4.00 get $1.00 +up
Buy 3 bags of M&M's
Use Buy 1 Get 1 MC
Use $1.00 off pretzel M&M's
OOP = $3.00
+Up = $1.00

Transaction 2
Granier Shampoo and Conditioner 2/$6.00 get $2.00 +Up
Buy 2 bottles
Use 2 $1.00 MC
Use $1.00 +Up
OOP = $3.00
+Up = $2.00

So, three bags of M&M's and shampoo and conditioner for $6.00 OOP and $2.00+Up rewards in my pocket.

So far the only real difference I see between the CVS program and the RiteAid program is the rain check procedure. With CVS you can get a rain check for the sale price with the ECB attached. So if the item would be $4.00 with $3.00 ECB, when the item is back in stock you would go in, get the item and they would print your ECB. However, with the RiteAid rain check procedure, if the same item is $4.00 with $3.00 +Up rewards and you have to get a rain check it will be written for $1.00. Rite Aid is unable to print the +Up rewards out after the sale, so they will right the rain check for the sale amount minus the +Up reward amount.

Couponing 101...Part 10...Staplels

2010-08-06T09:21:00.003-05:00

Staples is a wonderful store. I don't just go in there to buy because I need something, they are generally more expensive. However, that being said I get lots for stuff for very little to free in Staples by using the two different programs they have available to use. Their two programs are their "Easy Rebates" and "Staples Rewards". I will explain both of these separately.

First as for coupons, Staples accepts them. They will take MC and SC coupons. I have never tried a CC, but I also have not asked. That is always something that you can ask. They will tell you and not even get mad about it.

Secondly, if you don't have one of their store cards you have to have one to participate in their programs. It is another free card like Kroger, CVS, and RiteAid.

Now, the "Easy Rebates" (ER) is a program where you go into the store and purchase the items you want and will use that have the ER attached to them. You will pay for them out of pocket or with "Staples Rewards". After you have made your purchase, you will log in to the Staples Easy Rebate website, which is on your receipt. Set up an account so you only have to login every time after the first time and not re-enter your address, etc. Follow the instructions on the website to enter the numbers off of your receipt. The instructions are very easy to follow and very helpful. After you have enter the information, it will come up with how much money you will get back. And with the rebates, it is money. Staples will send you a check in the mail in about 4 to 6 weeks that you can take to the bank and cash. I put the money back into my grocery budget because that's where it came from the begin with. My mom saves hers as her fun money. Do what works for you.

Examples from next weeks Staples Ad for Easy Rebates:

1- Staples Multipurpose copy paper is on sale for $4.99, you will get $3.99 in rebate money back. There is a limit of 2. So you would buy 2 for $9.98 and then get $7.98 back in rebate money in the mail.
2 - Scotch Tape dispenser is on sale for $3.00. You will get $3.00 in rebate money.
3 - Post note 1 1/2" x 2" 12 pack is on sale for $5.29. You will get $5.29 back in rebate money.

So if you bought all these items at one time and submitted you rebate at one time you would spend $18.27 plus tax out of pocket, but in a few weeks you will get a check back from Staples for $16.27. Therefore, all you have paid is $2.00 for your paper and sales tax. And if you do it Sunday, no sales tax due to sales tax holiday.

Now on to the "Staples Rewards" program. This program is money back to use in Staples only. They send out the rewards once a quarter, so they build up. You don't have to do anything to get these, like the rebates were you have to submit them. I have been know to get $80.00 in rewards back to spend on ink or whatever else I need. You will know what has rewards attached to it from the sale paper as will. I'll go over next weeks in just a minute. One thing to remember with Staples is they will give you $2.00 per ink cartridge up to 10 per month back in Staples Rewards and 10% back on ink. They are also known to run specials on ink and cartridges sometimes. When they do this you will get 20% in ink rewards and $4.00 on each cartridge when purchased and return in the same transaction. This is how I manage to get a lot of rewards, because I save my cartridges and take them in when they run this special. I get a box of ink and turn in all my cartridges and get $4.00 per cartridge up to 10 and 20% on my ink purchase.

That's two ways for earn rewards, then the other is through purchases that are in the sale paper. So for next week they have a PNY 2g flash drive with rewards attached to it. So you would buy one flash drive for $9.99 and get $8.99 back in Staples rewards to use in the store. Now remember your rewards are sent out once a quarter, so you will have to wait a little while, unless it happens to be near the end of the quarter. But it's worth the wait to know you get your money back to spend in the store. So that is how I get most of my ink. When my rewards come in, I buy more ink and return cartridges and earn more rewards with my rewards. Therefore I am spending very little out of pocket for ink and paper, and other miscellaneous office supplies for around the house.

Coupoining 101...Part 9...RiteAid

2010-08-06T09:11:00.003-05:00

Here is the coupon policy for RiteAid. I will try to go in to RiteAid next week and sign up for the card and try purchasing a couple of their +Up products and see how their systems works. After I have done that I will post on how it works. Give me a week or so though.

Manufacturer Coupons
•Manufacturer coupons are found in newspapers, magazines and even affixed to products. The UPC on these coupons begins with a “5.”
Rite Aid Manufacturer Coupons
• Rite Aid Manufacturer coupons generally appear in our weekly circular, on our website and are sent to customers via e-mail. These coupons are labeled “manufacturer coupon” and have a UPC that begins with “49.”
Rite Aid Valuable Coupons
• Rite Aid coupons are labeled “variable coupon” and have a UPC that begins with “48.”
Internet/Print at Home coupons
• Rite Aid will accept Internet/print at home coupons up to the equivalent value of $5.00 off.
• A Rite Aid coupon (with the Rite Aid logo) is NOT considered an Internet coupon (even if printed off the Internet) and is therefore not subject to the $5.00 maximum.
+UP Reward Coupons
• +UP Reward coupons are special coupons earned by a customer in a prior purchase that can be used for any nonprescription purchase with a small number of exclusions that are listed on the +UP coupon. Multiple +UP coupons can be used (subject to the printed exclusions) up to the amount of purchase before sales tax.
Buy One, Get One Free
• We accept two coupons for the purchase of two items that are on Buy One, Get One Free Promotion.
• We accept a Buy One, Get One Free Coupon with an item that is in our flyer as Buy One, Get One Free, meaning both items are free. The cash register will compute any sales tax due, which varies by state law.
Total Purchase Coupons
• Rite Aid may feature total purchase coupons which discount the total purchase amount based upon meeting specific requirements. For example, $5 off a $25 purchase price threshold coupon.
• These coupons are accepted under the following conditions:
o The coupon is valid and in date; only one total purchase coupon
per transaction.
o Total purchase equals or exceeds $25 before tax (before any
coupons are applied).
o Coupons for individual items can also be used including another
“48″ coupon that is tied to an item in the transaction.
o Provided the total of items purchased is equal to or greater than
the purchase requirement, other coupons can be used in
conjunction with the total purchase coupon.

ACCEPTANCE GUIDELINES:
General Guidelines:
• Coupons must be valid and in date; Coupons cannot be exchanged for cash.
• Register will validate coupon through scanning or keyed entry of the coupon UPC number.
• In the event that any item’s selling price is less than the value of the coupon, Rite Aid will accept the coupon in exchange for the selling price of the item. Coupon redemption can never exceed the selling price of an item and no cash back is allowed.
• When making a return for a product that had a coupon attached, Rite Aid cannot refund cash for the value of the coupon and cannot return the coupon that was used.
• Rite Aid reserves the right to not accept any coupon where the validity or the coupon cannot be established.
Multiple Coupons
• More than one coupon can be used on the purchase of a single item under the following conditions:
• All coupons match the item being purchased.
• The total of the coupons is equal to or less than the selling price of the item before sales tax.
• No more than one “48″ Rite Aid valuable coupon, one “49″ Rir,eAid Manufacturer coupon, and one “5″manufacturer coupon can be used on a single item.
• Rite Aid may accept multiple identical coupons for multiple qualifying items as long as there is sufficient stock to satisfy other customers within the store manager’s sole discretion.

First Painting Attempt

2010-07-10T21:30:00.000-05:00

So last night I got to enjoy my first painting class. There was just small group of us, but we had a good time. I really liked the way my painting turned out. The hubby said, "You painted that?" when I walked in. I was proud to say, "Yes." I did point out that the teacher did my "pits" as we were calling them last night and the shadowing behind the left side/right shoulder.

So what do you all think? I believe I will hang this one up in the house.

So much, but so little...

2010-07-02T15:13:00.004-05:00

It's funny how you have so much to say, but so little time to say it.

So much to say, but so little can be said.

Why do people delete you as a friend on facebook?

When you think you are supposed to talk to someone, but you know it will be difficult what do you do?

When talking about your own life, testimony, is there a line that crosses into gossip because it involves others?

Why can you be so loved, but yet feel so alone?

How do you get out of your introverted box after being hurt?

Is caution good or is it just fear?

So much to think, so little answers.

Couponing 101... Part 8... Making it work

2010-05-16T07:00:00.001-05:00

Just some tips:
1) Get organized and stay that way. Find the system that works for you. I use the basket/box system. Some people use binders. Some use accordion folders. It depends on what works for you. If it doesn't work for you, you will not do it. For me, I find that the basket the easiest because I can categorize and find my coupons quickly. You can tell from the picture some of the categories I use. Set yours with the categories you use.

2) Spend as much or as little time as you want couponing. The more time the more savings. With that said, I am a stay at home mom, so I have more time where as my sister works. So she cuts her coupons, and shops at Wal-Mart and does the CVS game. She IS saving. Is she saving as much? NO. Does it work for her? YES. Is she still doing it? YES, because that what works for her and her time. If you don't have time to check the blogs everyday, don't. If you want to check one everyday because that's what you have time for, then I recommend Mrs. Buys More and Mr. Saves a Lot. On the right hand side of her blog, she has a list of all the new printables, by name and value. You can look there and print what you want and probably get most of the best coupons out there.

3) If you don't have budget, make one. I have a budget of $270.00 per two weeks. Set what your budget is and do not go over it.

4) This is probably the second most beneficial tip besides getting organized and staying that way. Use CASH. Stop swiping that debit card. My budget was $300.00 per two weeks. I shopped at Wal-mart and Sam's because they were the cheapest places and I swiped my debit card. When I started couponing, I took stock of how much I was actually spending. (I knew I was going over my budget, but I did not know by how much.) Well, I was actually spending around $550.00 per two weeks. OUCH!!! So I decided to start using cash and cash only. If you don't have it to spend, you won't. You'll stop buying things you don't need. You begin to ask, do we need this, or do we want this? Yes, there is a big difference.

5) Turn it into a game and have fun.

Couponing 101...Part 7...Walgreens

2010-05-15T08:00:00.004-05:00

Walgreens is not my favorite store; however, I can occasionally get some great deals there.

Here are the facts about Walgreens:
1) They will stack a SC with a MC.
2) They will NOT accept two coupons if you are only buying one item excluding statement number one. I'll explain this more in a minute.
3) Their Register Rewards (RR) expire quickly (two weeks tops), where as ECBs usually expire in one month.
4) Use your RR, then MC, then SC.
5) You can't use a RR from one item, to buy that same item and get another RR (unlike the ECB program).
6) Very store dependent as to whether they are nice or not.

Walgreens has what they call their Register Rewards program (no card required). However, it does not work the same or as well as the CVS program. So look back at statement number 2 "They will NOT accept two coupons if you are only buying one item excluding statement number one." So for example, say they have Pantene on sale for $3.50 per bottle and you have a $1 MC and a $2 RR from last week, you can not use both even though the total of coupons is less than the total purchase amount. Therefore, you would have to have a filler item. There are usually some candys for very little that you can fill in with; however, I try not to do this much because then you are not saving as much. This is where a $2/2 MC comes in handy, because you buy two and then you can use your MC and your RR. However, here is where Walgreens is stinky too. You have to remember statement number 4, use your RR first then your MC because the computer won't accept the RR after the MC, but it will if you do the MC then the RR. Crazy, I know.

For the sake of trying to make this as easy to understand as possible, I am going to just walk you through my transactions this week. Walgreens is difficult, but worth it, if you can figure it out.

Transaction 1: EOS shave cream for $2.99 earn $2.99 RR
Buy 1 EOS at $2.99
Buy 1 Snickers at $.89
Use $3 RR from last week
OOP = $.88 pre-tax
Earned $3 RR

Transaction 2: Schick Hydro Razor at $7.99 earn $5 RR
Buy 1 Schick Razor at $7.99
Buy 1 Snickers at $.89
Use $3 RR from previous transaction
Use $5 MC from paper
OOP = $.88 pre-tax
Earned $5 RR

Transaction 3: Pepsi 12 packs 4/$12 earn $3 RR
Buy 4 12 packs
Use $5 RR from previous transaction
OOP = $7.00 pre-tax
Earned $3 RR

Did I need more shave cream? NO. Did we need another razor? NO. We have given lots of those away. We wanted the soda. So in order to save the most money, it was better to do all three transactions then to just go in and buy the sodas with my $3 RR from last week. If I had done just one transaction I would have paid $9.00 pre-tax for my sodas and earned $3 RR. But, by doing the three transactions I got donation items (shave cream and razor), two snickers bars, and then my 4 12 packs for $8.76 pre-tax and still earned my final $3 RR. So I spent less money out of pocket, and I have more stuff to give away.

As you can tell, I don't hesitate to pick something up if it is going to save me money in the long run even if we are not going to use it because it is something that can be given away. To some that might seem wrong, and if it is to you, don't do it. However, to me it is not, because I know those items will be given to people that need them and we do not throw them away.

Couponing 101... Part 6...CVS

2010-05-14T08:00:00.010-05:00

I am going to start with CVS. I will try to make this as easy to understand as possible; however, if you have questions don't hesitate to leave a comment. I will try to answer it if I can. I have posted three pictures with this post because I wanted you all to be able to see the stuff I get from CVS and Walgreens. Now most of this stuff has come from CVS; however, a bit has come from Walgreens. As you can tell, there is about 30 toothbrushes, 5 razors, several boxes of blades in this picture alone. The second picture shows the hubby's 15 sticks of deodorant, numerous bottles of lotion, medicine, there is 12 boxes of tampons (you can't see them all), and behind those are about 36 boxes of Irish Spring soap and lots of leave-in conditioner for my thick hair. The third picture is not the most up to date picture, I have added more this week. Anyway, there are 21 sets of shampoo and conditioner, 21 bottles of body wash for me, 12 for the hubby, I think, 8 cans shaving cream for me and 8 for the hubby I think and of course the hand soap. There is more under this cabinet, but that is the bulk of it.

Now I show you all this to then tell you that all this stuff, over time, I have maybe spent $75 out of pocket. The body wash alone at $5 a bottle (most are Nivea) with 21 bottles would be $105. So yet again, couponing is worth it.
CVS is probably my second favorite place to shop after Publix. Why? Because they are nice and I can get tons of FREE to almost free stuff. So on to the details. First and foremost, if you don't have a CVS Extra care card, get one. It is free and will save you tons. You can't do what I am going to explain without it. At the end of this post, I will give you this weeks CVS run that I did so hopefully it will all make more sense.
With CVS the Extra care card is used to get extra care bucks (ECB). So if the ad says that Crest Pro-Health toothpaste is on sale for $3.50 with $3.50 ECB that means it will be FREE and there is always a limit per household (2 in this example). Check it because sometime you can get several of the same thing. ECBs can be rolled from one transaction to the next. So you buy the Crest toothpaste, using your coupon ($.75 MC in this example). Pay out of pocket the difference, which is $2.75 plus tax. Then when the transaction is complete the computer will print your $3.50 ECB. Then you can take that $3.50 ECB and buy another tube of toothpaste, paying the $3.50 with your $3.50 ECB. Therefore that tube is completely FREE, and you get another $3.50 ECB printed to use on your next transaction.

So here is what I did this week. I had a total of 5 transaction. By the way, your CVS will love you more if you have multiple transaction and someone comes up in line behind you, finish the current transaction, step out of the way, let that person check out then proceed on. Show Christian love, don't be rude and make the next person wait through all of your transactions.

Transaction 1: Right Guard Total Defense 5 at $2.49 with $2 ECB (limit of 2)
Buy 2 at $2.49 = $4.98
Use $3/2 MC
Use $1 ECB from last week
OOP = $.98 pre-tax
Earned $4.00 ECB

Transaction 2: U Kotex Tampons at $4.99 with $4.99 ECB (limit of 1)
Buy 1 at $4.99
Buy 2 Trident gum for $.99 (as filler)
Use $1 MC for Kotex
Use $1 SC for Kotex from the CVS.com coupon site
Use $.50/2 for Trident
Use $4.00 ECB from previous transaction
OOP = $.47 pre-tax
Earned $4.99 ECB

Transaction 3: Pantene shampoo and conditioner 2/$6.97 with $3 ECB (limit of 1)
Buy 1 shampoo
Buy 1 conditioner
Buy 1 Trident gum for $.99 (as filler)
Use $2/2 MC for Pantene
Use $.50 for Trident
Use $4.99 ECM from previous transaction
OOP = $.47 pre-tax
Earned $3.00 ECB

Transaction 4: Crest Pro-Health toothpaste at $3.50 with $3.50 ECB (limit of 2)
Buy 1 at $3.50
Buy 1 Trident at $.99
Use $.75 MC for Crest
Use $.50 for Trident
Use $3.00 ECB from previous transaction
OOP = $.74 pre-tax
Earned $3.50 ECB

Transaction 5: Crest Pro-Health toothpaste at $3.50 with $3.50 ECB (limit of 2)
Buy 1 at $3.50
Use $3.50 ECB from previous transaction
OOP = $.00 pre-tax
Earned $3.50 ECB

So now I have $3.50 ECB to start next weeks transaction with. As you can tell, I got 2 stick of deodorant (not the husband's brand, but makes great donation items), Kotex tampons, Pantene shampoo and conditioner, 2 tubes Crest toothpaste, and 3 packages of Trident gum for $2.66 pre-tax and I still have $3.50 ECB left to start next week.

I pretty much only buy things at CVS that have ECB attached to them because that is how you save the most money; however, there are times that I use my ECBs to buy something that does not have ECB attached. I try not to do that often though.

I do all my math before I leave the house that way I know what I want and in what order I am going to buy them in.

If CVS is out of something that you wanted that has ECBs attached, get a raincheck. They will put the ECBs on it and you can get the ECBs with the rain check when the item comes in stock. And as you can tell from my first transaction, CVS will stack a MC with a SC for the same item and use your ECBs no matter how many items you have. This is one BIG difference between CVS and Walgreens.

I think I am going to save Walgreens for tomorrow. This is a lot of information again.

Couponing 101... Part 5... Kroger and Target

2010-05-13T08:00:00.002-05:00

So today's stores are Kroger and hopefully Target, if I make it that far. I think I will since Kroger is not a complex as Publix, plus you now know the basics of MC, SC, CC, B1G1, OOP (out of pocket), and stacking.
First and foremost with Kroger, if you don't have a Kroger plus card, get one. They are free and that is the only way you get the advertised savings. Also, register your plus card on the Kroger website and they will send you coupons in the mail, which usually includes a couple of coupons for FREE items. Some of the coupons will be MC and some will be SC.

So Kroger accepts Manufacturer coupons (MC), store coupons (SC) and competitor coupons (CC). The difference between Kroger and Publix on the CC is that Kroger will only accept grocery store coupons. So where Publix will accept any store coupon, Kroger will only accept the SC for local grocery stores that are considered a competitor. So, I can shop at Kroger and use my Publix coupons.

Kroger also doubles my coupons up to $1.00 everyday of the week, as Publix does. So any coupon $.50 or less is doubled, over $.50 is face value.

Kroger also allows the stacking of coupons for one item as long as one of the coupons is not for the item to be FREE. So as I said, Kroger is pretty simple, but their sales are not as great as Publix. However, when they run the buy 8 of certain items, you get $4 off your purchase. This is a great deal because you can still use your coupons on these deals. They run many variations of this deal. Just watch the ad. Most of the deals I find at Kroger are on meat.

I have found that I purchase most of my meat from Kroger. They tend of have the best sales on meat and they have the manager's special. Which is meat that is a couple of days from the sell by date that has been significantly reduced. I don't hesitate to buy this meat. I have never had a problem with it. I purchase it. Bring it home. Place it in freezer bags, and put it in the freezer. Example, a few months ago, I happened to run across a family pack of pork chops originally $15+ and I got it for $5.00. I got five meals out of that package of meat.

Yes, we eat meat at most meals. I would guess we eat meat 14 out of every 15 meals. And since I started couponing, we eat better meat than we have ever eaten before. We get to eat shrimp, pork tenderloin, pork chops, steak, beef roast, etc. that I never bought before. We eat the standard ground beef and chicken because that is what fit into the budget. Example, because of couponing and my stock pile, I was able to take $100.00 of my budget a couple of weeks ago and purchase ribeye steak that was on sale at Kroger for $4.99 per pound. I had and used coupons on that purchase as well. I had a $5 off $45 SC, $6 off of $60 SC, and $5 off $30 CC. So I ended up getting 25 pounds of ribeye for $3.99 per pound. I never bought ribeye before couponing. We could not have afforded it.

Here was this weeks Kroger run. A prime example of the "buy so many of these products get this much off." This week Kroger is running "buy 4 P&G products get $4 off your purchase." So yesterday I went and got the following stuff.
Three bottles of Tide (regular price $7.99), two bottles Tide Stain release (regularly $7.49), Shave cream ($2.29), Oral B toothbrush ($3.29), batteries ($2.89), Irish Spring ($4.37), and the eggs were $1.88 per 18 ($2.64). Well all the items purchased, excluding the eggs, were part of the buy 4 get $4 and I had coupons for each of them. So I got a total of $8.00 off the top because I did the deal twice. So before the sales and my coupons my total was $ 59.17. After the discounted price ($12.00), the P&G sale ($8.00), and my coupons ($14.75) I paid $24.42 out of pocket.

So as I said, Kroger is pretty easy especially if you understand Publix.

So on to Target. First off, there is a website (Totally Target) that is very helpful as to the running and weekly deals at Target. This is always a great resource to use. Secondly, Target does not necessarily have the best deals in town, but what they have going for them is they have their own store coupons (which I gave you that site in a previous post). So you can stack a MC with a Target SC; therefore making for some really great prices on your household type products. Just remember Target does not double your coupons, so make sure that you are spending less at Target than you would with Publix or Kroger doubling your coupon. Plus with Target watch the sale paper, because they run deals where if you buy so many of an item you get a $5 gift card. You can use your coupons on these deals, so I normally do multiple transactions so I can use my gift card from my first purchase on my second purchase. Third and finally with Target, make sure you bring your recyclable grocery bags with you to shop. Target will give you $.05 per bag you use. Not a great savings or anything, but every penny is a savings.

Not that you can tell from the second picture, but there is 35 boxes of the kid Johnson and Johnson buddies soap. These are priced $.97 at Target. I had $1.00 off any (watch the wording on the coupons, many say any, not just what the picture is of) Johnson baby product. So for each box of soap I bought, I made $.03. I love this soap and my kids love it too. No washcloth required, because there is one attached.

Couponing 101... Part 4... Publix, Kroger and Target

2010-05-12T08:00:00.003-05:00

So here comes the real details into couponing 101. It is learning each of the stores policies. So, I am going to give you a crash course in the different stores that I use. By the way, I no longer shop at Wal-Mart. I can get just about everything we need from these stores as well as CVS and Walgreens.

I go to Wal-Mart for socks and kids underwear, that kind of thing, but that is about all. I learned almost immediately that it was not cheaper for me to shop at Wal-Mart and Sam's if I was shopping the advertised sales. Plus, even if an item is cheaper at Wal-Mart by say $.50, if I have a coupon for that item for $.50 at groceries stores my coupon will be doubled; therefore, costing the same price at either location. However, many times the Wal-Mart price is the same as the sales because they price match; therefore, you are better off at a store that will double your coupon. Wal-Mart does not double.

So, now that I am off my Wal-Mart soap box, I'll start with Publix. I love Publix because they do the buy one get one (B1G1) items. This significantly reduces the price of the things we use and need. They will except manufacturer coupons (MC), store coupons (SC), and competitor coupons (CC). Plus they double all MC up to $1.00. So if you have a $.35 coupon, you get $.70. If you have a $.50 coupon, they double it to $1.00. You're getting the idea. You can not stack MC together except in one circumstance. If the coupon (peelies) is attached to the item and you have another MC. Leave the peelie on the item, but tell the cashier it is there. You can then use your MC in hand and the peelie for the same item.

Then Publix has Publix coupons (SC). You can find these in their sale paper and also in the booklets when you walk in the doors at Publix. I bet most of you never realized there is a flyer rack when you walk in the doors at Publix. Pick those up, cut the coupons and use them. Here is the great thing, Publix will use a MC and a SC for the exact same item. For example, not that long ago Publix ran the Suave shampoo and conditioner for $1.00 a piece. Not a great price, since at Wal-Mart it is $.97, I think. This goes back to not being brand loyal also. Suave is not my favorite, but you know what, it cleans my hair just fine. Anyway, I had a $2.00 MC off of three ($2/3) and in one of their flyers they had a $1.00 off of two ($1/2). So guess what, I got three bottles of Suave for $0.00 because they will stack a MC and a SC.

It gets better though. Publix goes even one step further for their customers. Competitor coupons... This is another stores coupon that Publix will except, a Target coupon, Wal-greens, CVS, Kroger. The only requirement is that it has to be a local competitor coupon. So for me, I can't use a Food Lion coupon at my Publix. So here is the real kicker, (I'm telling you I LOVE Publix) they will stack a MC, SC, and a CC for the same item. Therefore, sometimes making a particular item a money maker. There has been occasions where I have picked up an item we will not use because it is going to make me money toward my total bill. These are some of the items that I donate.

One example, Kroger will send me coupons in the mail. Sometimes for $6.00 off of a total purchase of $60.00. Make sure that is your first coupon and you get $6.00 right off the top. Publix will also send me the $3 of $30 coupons too. You can use all of these in one transaction because they are different coupons.

Here is an example from this weeks Publix ad. Oscar Meyer shaved lunch meat is on sale for 2/$6. I have 2 $2.00 off MC, and 2 $1.00 off SC. I will stack my MC and SC and get two packages of Oscar Meyer lunch meat for FREE. Pop-tarts are B1G1, which makes them $.97 per box. I have a $1.25/3 MC. So I will get 3 boxes of Pop-tarts for $1.66 or $.55 per box.

I thought I could get all three stores into one post, but I think this is enough information for one day. I'll continue Part 4 tomorrow. I pray you all are understanding and going to put these ideas to good use.

God can and is glorified through couponing. 1) People ask how I'm doing it. 2) It gives me a witnessing opportunity about the goodness of God, because I know how He has changed us and our thoughts about money. 3) We are able to donate so much food. There have been several occassions where we have given away several hundred dollars worth of food, this includes meat. I don't tell you this to make me sound good. I tell you so you can see you can do this and that God will use it for His glory. Imagine the people God could help through you.

Couponing 101...Part 3

2010-05-11T08:15:00.003-05:00

Where do all the coupons come from?

Answer: The short answer is the Sunday paper, coupons.com, redplum.com, Target.com and smartsource.com. On these site you can usually print 2 coupons per computer. So the more computers the more coupons. We have 3 computers in our house, so it there is a great coupon out I print it 6 times. However, I DON'T print each coupon 6 times. Only the ones I know I will use before they expire. Otherwise, you are wasting ink and paper; therefore, not saving as much.

The long answer is many, many places. I get lots of coupons from facebook, of all places. Many companies will post coupons that you can print if you will "like" them. That way they get free advertising on your facebook account.

One of my other favorite places to get coupons is from The Coupon Clippers. I only use this site when there is a coupon that I want to buy lots of to stock up on particular items. Now with this site you have to pay for the coupons you order. Which I don't have a problem with. Remember the example of the 15 sticks of deodorant from yesterdays post. Well, I order some of those coupons from this site. I paid .12 cents per coupon for $2.00 off. I'll eat the .12 cent loss, because I'm still saving $1.88 per stick. The lower the value of the coupon the less it cost. The only caught with this site is you have to order a certain dollar amount. I'm wanting to say it's like $4.00 worth of coupons. It's not much though. I know my last order was $4.41 for about $50.00 in coupons before doubling. Example, I bought 6, .35 cent PAM coupons for .08 cents a piece. Publix doubled my coupon to .70 so I saved .62 cents per can. Put that with their B1G1 a few weeks ago, I got 6 cans of PAM for $.80 a can. You have to weigh out the savings versus cost to determine if it's worth it. One a the several advantages to this site is that you can pick what coupon you want and how many of them you want.

Other resources I use of personal blogs/websites. Some of the several I look at daily are Money Saving Mom, Fistful of Coupons, Mrs. Buys More and Mr. Saves a Lot, and Stretching a Buck, just to name a few. If you check these out, they link you to others. So you just have to find the few you want to check daily. These ladies link you to coupons, coupons on facebook and great deal at other stores. These ladies have done all the leg work for you. Utilize them, that's why they do it. They link you to some amazing coupons, freebies and samples. You get coupons with the samples as well.

Side note: Set up a couponing email account. Once you start seriously couponing, you will get an amazing amount of spam, so you will want a separate account to use for all the registrations for the free stuff.

Question: How much time does this take?

Answer: About thirty minutes per day.

I know this seems like a lot of time per day, but I am finding it worth the time and effort. Of course, you don't have to check these blogs everyday; however, you will likely miss great coupons if you don't. My mom and I work together. If one of us runs along a get coupon we call the other to tell them to go get it.

I keep a spreadsheet that shows all my savings. So far for this year here are my totals:

Shelf Cost: $5245.71
Coupons Used: $1472.32
Discounts: $1696.87
Rebates: $50.93
Savings: $3220.12
My Price: $2077.08
Savings Rate: 61.39%

This doesn't include the last two weeks. I have not entered my receipts yet. When you look at my total savings of $3220.12, out of pocket (OOP) of $2077.08 for a family of 5. This is an average of $520.0o for groceries and all household supplies per month. This is how you know that couponing is well worth the time.

Couponing 101...Part 2

2010-05-10T08:06:00.000-05:00

Stocking piling...What? Why?

Stocking piling is where I have found to save the most money. I am rarely in need of anything from the store other than the normal eggs, milk, and bread. One of the hardest things for me to wrap my brain around when I started this was buying something I did not currently need, but would use. If you look at the pictures you will see like 8 jars of spaghetti sauce, which I use when making lasagna, or stuff shell. Do I currently need that many, NO. Will they go bad before I use them, NO. Will it go on sale again before I run out, MAYBE, but it might not.

When building your stock pile, make sure it is something you will use. That it has a long expiration date, and that you get it a bottom dollar. The example of the spaghetti sauce: well on average I spent 60 cents per jar.

See, by stock piling I am buying what I will use at the lowest price I can get it for when it is on sale and I have coupons. I will only buy something for my stock without a coupon if I need it. Example, we opened our last bottle of ketchup. Publix ran it buy one get one. I didn't have a coupon, but I knew we would run out before it went on sale again, so I bought it.

Don't be brand picky. I buy all brands of anything at least once. There is one brand of laundry soap and garbage bags I won't buy again. But because we have been willing to try anything, we have found somethings that we really like.

Now that I've said, "Don't be brand picky." I am going to contradict that statement. There are a LIMITED number of items that we are brand picky on. The hubby will only use one kind of deodorant. We tried others, but he feels only one particular brand works for him. I will not compromise that. I will only buy one brand of kitchen garbage bags. For us, they work the best. I will not compromise that. Or the example of ketchup, there is only one brand we like, so that's all I will buy. Those are the only three things we are brand specific too. If you have items like that, buy them. However, try to buy on sale and with coupons. If it is on sale, buy as many of them as you have coupons for. Example: the hubby's deodorant went on sale about a month ago. First time in about a year. I had enough coupons to buy fifteen sticks. Does he need 15 now, NO. Will it go bad, NO. Will he use it up before another sale, POSSIBLY. It hasn't been on sale in almost a year. I bought fifteen sticks for about $7 dollars. Something that would normally cost $3.24 per stick. I'll discuss numerous coupons in another post.

So, I hope you are getting the idea that stock piling is a necessary step for maximizing your total savings. So here comes the next question:

Where is all this food and household stuff going?

Answer: Anywhere it will fit.
Well, I have a good bit of cabinet space that I did not have in the old house, there is a cabinet above the stairs going down to the scrapbook room, there is a cabinet in the laundry room full of laundry soap (20+ bottles), a shelf in the scrapbook room with condiments, a book shelf under the stairs with staples and an upright deep freezer in the laundry room, a refrigerator in the kitchen and a refrigerator in the garage, as well as a cabinet in the kids bathroom and our bathroom and a large shelf in the garage for the paper towels, napkins and cat litter. Everything stays just about full. The hubby is looking to close in the area under the stairs in the scrapbook room for me to make into a pantry.

I will post more pictures of my current stock pile as I continue on with this little series for those of you that have been asking. I do hope you find this helpful.

Couponing 101...Part 1

2010-05-07T08:00:00.008-05:00

Question: How am I doing it? (saving that is)

Answer: Well, it is a combination of advertised specials, coupons, and stock piling.

So here are a few examples, using some of my actual saving. The Nabisco wheat thins and Triscuts are normally $2.75 per box. At Publix last week, they were on sale buy 1 get 1 (b1g1); which made them $1.38 and $1.37 per box. A great price so buy two, whether you currently need two or not, just check the expiration dates to get a long one. Well, to top that off, by couponing, I also had 2 $1.00 off coupons for a box of wheat thins and a box of Triscuts. So, at the end I paid $.38 and $.37 per box of crackers a total savings of $2.37 per box or $4.74 for both.

Example number 2: Orville Redenbacher popcorn is normally $4.89 per box. Last week at Publix, they were b1g1; which reduced them to $2.45 and $2.44 per box. Yet again this is a great price, so buy 2, not 1, it won't go bad before you eat it, but most likely will not go back on sale before you want more. Then by couponing, I had a $.50 coupon for the regular size bags and a $.50 coupon for the mini bags (great for kids). But it gets better than $1.95 and $1.94 per box, because Publix, as well as Kroger, double coupon all the time up to $.50. So, the end result was I paid $1.45 and $1.44 per box of popcorn that would normally cost $4.89 per box a savings of $3.44 per box or a total of $6.88.

Example number 3: Clorox 2 ultra 2x stain fighter and color protector is normally $6.19 per bottle. Publix had it on sale for $3.99 per bottle. A great price, but it gets better, because I had a two $1.50 coupons per bottle. So of course I picked up two bottles. Do I currently need 2, NO, will it go bad, NO, should I buy two, YES. So, I paid $2.49 per bottle for a product that would normally be $6.19 a total savings of $3.70 per bottle.

I think you are probably getting the idea as to how this works using the sale papers and coupons. A plus, I am now buying things I would never have bought before, because I can get them cheaper than the store brand now.

The next topic will be the stocking piling advantage, Part 2.

Spina Bifidia Occulta

2010-05-05T09:37:00.004-05:00

So, I would assume most people remember Little Man's journey through diagnosis, treatment, and recovery of his tethered spinal cord. Well, at the time I knew it was related to spina bifidia, but I didn't know how. And of course, if you don't ask, doctors don't tell you a whole lot.

Well, a couple of weeks ago, God introduced me to a complete stranger whose daughter has spina bifidia as well. Sophie has the lipo form of spina bifidia. They, like us, did not know until they started seeing signs that something was just not right with their daughter. Sophie's form of SB is more severe than Little Man's, but still not the worst form. The form of spina bifidia most people think of is the most severe, which is the one where you see the hole in the back. Where as Little Man has the least severe (Spina Bifidia Occulta) of all the forms, Praise God. Anyway, as we talked about the tethered spinal cord and the releasing surgery and all that kind of stuff. She asked who our neurosurgeon was and all those related questions. I also told her that I was confused because they released us, but yet there is the possibility that the cord could re-tether, especially during periods of rapid growth.

So she proceeded to give me information on a SB clinic at UAB where the spina bifidia kids go and they see all their doctors in one day. So I am contacting them to find out what we need to do to get Little Man into that clinic. The main advantage to being in the system is that they see him yearly, so if we ever see signs/symptoms of re-tethering he already has a group of doctors. We don't have to go back through everything we went through previously. So we'll see...

Interesting facts about spina bifidia:
1) It is hereditary. I was told don't worry about it, your other children are fine. So when Little Man gets married and he and his wife are considering children she will need to take additional folic acid supplements months before conceiving. SB occurs within the first 28 days of in utero development.
2) It is more prevalent in people of Irish, Whales, etc decent. We are. The geneticists don't understand the correlation yet, but they know there is on.
3) 87% of all spina bifidia patients have blue eyes. Little Man has blue eyes. Yet again, the geneticists don't know the correlation, but there is one some how. That doesn't mean if you have blue eyes you have SB, it means that 87% of SB positive people have blue eyes. Just want to clarify.

Ice Cream Roll

2010-05-04T10:54:00.004-05:00

4 eggs, separated
3/4 cup sugar, divided
1/2 cup cake flour
1/3 cup baking cocoa
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup strawberry or raspberry jam (I use 1 cup homemade)
2 cups vanilla ice cream, softened
Confectioners' sugar
Hot fudge topping (I use whatever homemade recipe I have on hand at the moment)
Fresh Strawberries

In a mixing bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add 1/4 cup sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. In another mixing bowl, beat egg yolks and remaining sugar until thick and lemon-colored, about 5 minutes. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt; add to yolk mixture and mix well. Fold in egg white mixture.

Line a greased 15 x 10 x 1 inch baking pan with waxed paper (I use foil); grease the paper (I use cooking spray). Spread batter evenly in pan. bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched. Cool for 5 minutes. Invert cake onto a kitchen towel dusted with confectioners' sugar. Gently peel off paper. Roll up cake in towel jelly-roll style. Starting with the short side. cool on a wire rack.

Unroll cake; spread jam to within 1/2 inch of the edge. Top with ice cream. Roll up without towel/ Place seam side down on a platter. Place seam side down on a platter. cover and freeze for at least 4hours before slicing. May be frozen for up to 1 months. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar; serve with hot fudge topping and strawberries (or whatever fresh fruit you like).

Life

2010-05-03T08:51:00.003-05:00

So at some point life stepped in and I haven't seemed to have time for anything that I (my personal side) needs and wants to do like blogging, scrapbooking, and many days my daily study time with God's word. I get down easily and many times it is difficult to get back up.

When the hubby and I decided to move a year ago, I didn't realize it would effect my life the way it has. We knew we would be leaving the church that was our home for many reasons (not just moving), but I guess I didn't think of the ramifications of that. You do realize who your friends are and aren't when you leave a church home. We have found a new church home, and we like it. We are starting to get involved in the ministries God would have us to do. Example, the hubby is back to playing music every Sunday with special music whenever the minister asks. We will be leading a couples Sunday school class starting in June. And we will be marriage mentors for couple struggling with things we have or are currently going through. But the walls of protection are already up.

Reading "not so ordinary's" blog post, I realize have many walls I have put up to protect myself from being hurt so deeply again. We have a close connection with our new music minister and his wife because they were so deeply hurt by their previous church. They have been at Farley for nearly six years and they still only have one close set of friends, because the walls are up. But almost instantly, we have a connection because of the walls and the experiences that God allowed each of us to go through.

So as God slowly breaks that wall down, I am thankful for the few friends I still have. They are a treasure to me. I say all this because that is what's on my mind. We are challenging each other to get back to blogging, so here are my thoughts for today.

2010-04-02T08:33:00.002-05:00

Outside my window... Sunny, and cool right now (a.m.)

I am thinking ... The mud pit in my front yard I am getting ready to work on.

I am thankful for... My hubby.

I am wearing... P.J.'s

I am remembering... Christ

I am going... to get to work on that mud pit.

I am reading... The Bible, and Cast of Characters.

From the learning rooms ... Huh?

I am hoping... Move lots of dirt.

On my mind ... That mud pit.

Noticing that... Everything is budding outside.

Pondering these words... "Father, why have you forsaken me?"

From the kitchen... Don't know yet.

Around the house... More vinyl scripture is ready to go up in the freshly painted dining room.

One of my favorite things… 70 degree weather, with a northern breeze.

From my photo memories ... Don't have time to upload right now, got to get to that mud pit before it is 90 degree.

Pitiful Cat...

2010-03-30T13:43:00.000-05:00

This cat acts more like a person than a cat, which most of the time is great. However, every now and then it gets a little bit irritating.

He is getting snipped today. I am sure he is having so much fun.

Circus fun...

2010-03-30T13:40:00.000-05:00

Here is a picture of Mini-Me and myself. Little Man is to my right then Little Women's brother and Little Woman, the Kid-O. We all had a lot of fun at the circus this year.

This was Mini-Me's first trip to the circus. I think we just might go back one more time before the kids are officially too old for it. However, the hubby and I enjoy it was much if not more than the kids do.

I think I'm getting older...

2010-03-29T08:18:00.000-05:00

So back in Janaury Kid-O turned 9, ouch. It's hard to believe that she is nine and in the 3rd grade.

I'm not real sure where the time has gone. When she was an infant we were ready for that phase to be over because she was so miserable for the first year of life. (Colic for six months, then on to teething.) But I have to say, Kid-O is a pain in the rear, but she is a sweet kid. As disobedient as she is at home, she is obedient at school. As disrespectful as she is at home, she is the model student for respect at school. Praise God. She knows how to behave and does, just not when we're around.

Friday night we had a party to go to for Mr. Don. He turned 75 Friday. Anyway, before we leave the house she is outside picking all my flowers off my plants and putting them in a flower pot. As I am calling her in, she comes carrying this flower pot into the house. I told her she had to leave it outside. She proceeds to tell me she made it for Mr. Don. So of course, what are you going to do, let her biring that flower pot in the house, with all my flowers into the van to take to this man. It didn't register that those flowers were going to die with no root. Mr. Don, by the way, LOVED his flowers. He said that was the best birthday gift he got.

This reminds me of the time that I thought my neighbors needed a Christmas tree. They were an elderly couple that I visited everyday from the time I was five, until I left home for college. Anyway, they didn't put up a Christmas time, so I decided they needed one. I asked my mom if I could cut a tree down for them. She said yes I could cut one of her trees except for this one particular tree. Well, that one particular tree was the best looking tree, so I cut the top right off of that cedar tree. It sure made a beautiful Christmas tree. I don't believe I got in to trouble over cutting that tree, because my heart was in the right spot. Years later (25 or so), you can look at that grown cedar tree and tell that the top is missing, it's flat on top. That misshapened tree reminds me that we don't always make the right decisions, but God still allows us to grow into beautiful people with a few flat spots.

On a side note, my freshman year of college I ran across a beautiful metal Christmas tree that you just hang ornaments on that could set on top of the television. I bought that tree, gave it to Mrs. Barnett, and she put it up every year until she died. I was able to get that tree back when Floyd past away last year. I got the amazing pleasure of putting that tree up in my house this past Christmas with the ornaments I gave her.

February Totals

2010-02-24T08:47:00.000-06:00

So I am finding that trying to reduce my budget by the goal I wanted, to be a difficult challenge for many reasons. First and for most, we eat meat. Secondly, I give a lot of food away. Easily $300.00 to $400.00 worth (before saving) per month. So by giving that much away, I have to replenish to continue to give away. Thirdly, when my kids want a particular healthy food (i.e. Babel cheese, fruit, etc.) I will buy it whether I have a coupon, sale or not. I do stock up when it is on sale; however, many times that kind of stuff just does not go on sale.

So for the month of Febraury I increased my budget back up to $275.00 per pay period $135ish per week. I am still going to try to reduce my budget as the months progress, just not guite so suddenly. A drop by $100.00 for two weeks is a big jump. And as I stated when I start this crazy adventure to reduce my budget, I would not hesitate to increase it back up if we were not eating the food we enjoy eating.

So here are my totals of February.

Shelf Cost $1,366.67
Coupons Savings $383.40
Discount Savings $454.71
Rebates $17.98
Total Saved $856.09
Total Spent $528.56
Percentage Saved 61.32%
Amount under budget ($550.00) $21.44

So not terrible. I am going to stick with the $275.00 per pay period (two weeks) for the month of March and see how that goes first. If I continue to be under budget, then I will try reducing just a touch more. That is slow I guess you could say.

2010-02-22T09:03:00.000-06:00

As you can tell, Little Man and his Little Woman are still hanging out together. I took this picutre the last time we were in Tennessee. Little Woman came back to the house with us after church to pay with Little Man.

Just for kicks, can you tell that Little Woman is taller than Little Man. And probably always will be. Her parents are much taller than the Hubby and I.

More pictures to come. Little Woman's parents brought her to our house so that the two of them could go to the circus together. I have some great date (HAHA) pictures.

Saving update...

2010-02-22T08:39:00.003-06:00

Sorry it's been a while since my last post. Time really gets away from me now days. So here is the updated savings for the month of January. As you may remember I am trying to reduce my budget from $300 every two weeks to $200. However, for the total month, I had a total of $500, due to weeks and what not. For the month of January here are my totals.

Shelf Cost $1,187.91
Coupon Savings $314.80
Discounts $372.34
Rebates $14.98
Total Saved $702.12
Total Spent $501.33
Percentage Saved 57.84%
Amount over budget $(1.33)

The challenge of reducing my budget my $100.00 per pay period or $50.00 per week is a bite difficult. For the month of February, I believe I budgeted $275.00 per pay period or $135ish per week.

I will post February's total in a day or two.

Trouble is my middle name...

2010-01-28T21:37:00.000-06:00

So today, Mini-Me thought it would be fun to dump all this toys out all over his floor. I kept telling him all day to get the toys picked up. But everytime I went by his room, this was the picture I saw.

I told him he didn't want to wait until Daddy got home. Well, he waited. So of course he got into even more trouble for not listening to Mommy all day, then he would have for just dumping the toys out.

Kroger Run...

2010-01-28T21:32:00.000-06:00

Here is the picture of this weeks Kroger run. I spent $48.95, saved $76.91. So my total before coupons and sales would have been $125.86.

As you can see, there is 10 Easy Macs, 2 boxes snack packs, 2 boxes granola bars, 3 gallons milk, 3 boxes tissues, bread, 4 package cheese, dish tabs, Edy's, 2 cream cheese, 8 cans tomatoes, honey mustard, regualr mustard, 4 cans rotel, 2 bottles wing sauce, 3 bottles Sobe, 2 18 ct eggs, 2 package sausage, nut clusters, 2 red peppers, green pepper, 2 bananas, and 2 bags chex mix.

Publix Run...

2010-01-28T21:26:00.000-06:00

So here is this weeks Publix run. I spent $44.59 and saved $75.14. So the total before sales and coupons would have been $116.38.

I bought 5 cans cat food, a cake mix, napkins, 3 boxes Quaker Oats, 4 4pk Mandarin oranges, 2 boxes Ritz, 2 boxes of Froot Loops, 4 boxes of Texas Toast, 2 bottle Soft Scrub, 4 bottles syrup, Blue bell, 3 lunchables, pepperoni, creamer, 8 cans tomatoes, sour cream, ranch mix, Stacy chips, and cake icing.

To Those of Us Born 1930 - 1979

2010-01-28T09:28:00.003-06:00

I got this through an email today. I thought it was good. I remember doing many of these things too. Especially the mud pies. I don't know if the quote is truly by Jay Leno, but whoever wrote it, I agree.

No matter what our kids and the new generation think about us,
WE ARE AWESOME !!!! OUR LIFE IS LIVING PROOF !!!!
To Those of Us Born 1930 - 1979

TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED THE 1930's, 40's, 50's,60's and 70's!!

First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank w hile they were pregnant. They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can and didn't get tested for diabetes.

Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered
with bright colored lead-base paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, locks on doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had baseball caps not helmets on our heads..

As infants & children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, no booster seats, no seat belts, no air bags, bald tires and sometimes no brakes.

Riding in the back of a pick- up truck on a warm day was always a special treat.

We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle.

We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and no one actually died from this.

We ate cupcakes made with Lard, white bread, real butter and bacon. We drank FLAV-OR- AID made with real white sugar. And, we weren't overweight. WHY? Because we were always outside playing....that's why!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.. No one was able to reach us all day. And, we were OKAY.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride them down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem

We did not have Play stations, Nintendo' s and X-boxes. There were no video games, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound or CD's, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet and no chat rooms.

WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.

We would get spankings with wooden spoons, switches, ping pong paddles, or just a bare hand and no one would call child services to report abuse.

We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.

We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them.

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!

These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever. The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas. What can kids today do besides push buttons. We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all..

If YOU are one of them, CONGRATULATIONS!

You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good (?).

Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it ?

The quote of the month is by Jay Leno:

'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of H1N1 flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?'

Cardiology Check-up

2010-01-22T11:54:00.000-06:00

Wednesday was Little Man's yearly check up with the cardiology for his Sub-aortic stenosis. As the doctor said would happen last year, the stenosis is progressing long. The blood flow through his heart is a little more hindered this year than last, but still not bad. The main concern to watch for is leakage in the heart chambers. Which there is none of to date. So, the stenosis is still mild but progressing, and there is not leakage. So what does all this mean:

No heart surgery this year, and he is cleared to play soccer. Praise God. However, Little Man will have to have heart surgery to remove the second valve, but not this year. The cardiologist wants to wait until either the stenosis requires surgery or if the heart valve starts leaking. He does not want to do the surgery too soon, due to in some cases, not all, the second valve that Little Man has grows back after the surgery, requiring surgery again. Therefore, he likes to wait, because you don't know who will have the piece grow back. Sounds good to me and the hubby. So that is the update on Little Man.

Old Navy Savings...

2010-01-20T07:12:00.001-06:00

Saturday I posted our Saturday savings at Old Navy. I did not tell you what we paid for all of those clothes. I just told you how much they were before sales and coupons. You can scroll down and look at the pictures if you want to see. Anyway, the total before savings was $225.00 before sales tax. After sales and coupon saving I paid (hold on to you underwear) only $43.00 with sales tax.

So have I mentioned I love couponing.

Update...

2010-01-19T07:00:00.001-06:00

Well, I've started pretty well for the year with the reduced grocery/household budget. As most of you know, I am trying to reduce my budget from $300.00 every two weeks to $200.00 every two weeks. As I previously posted, I am trying; however, if we are not eating the way we like to eat I will not hesitate to increase back up. So here is the first two week total for the year.

My Totals:
Shelf Cost $520.01
Coupons $163.48
Discounts $155.04
Rebates $14.98
Savings $333.50
Out of Pocket $202.05
Percentage saved 61.25%

Not too bad if I might say so myself. Sorry, no pictures this time. I will try to remember to take some this week of my spending.

Mini-Me being silly

2010-01-18T07:04:00.000-06:00

The hubby installed a cat door in one of the doors in the house. The door going down to the scrapbook and laundry room area. The litter box is located down there and we were leaving the door cracked. However, that is not the best idea with the heating and cooling system.
So we decided the cat door was the best idea. Anyway, Mini-Me saw me taking pictures and thought he should be in them. So here you go, the clown of the family.

Super Saturday Savings

2010-01-16T16:37:00.002-06:00

So today, the hubby, myself and the boys went to Old Navy to see what we could get. Well, here's what we walked out with.

The Hubby got these three items: a brown jacket, a T-shirt, and the orange fleece pull over. The total for this three was approximately $65.00
For myself I got these three items: a gray hoodie jacket, a black thermal shirt, and a blue pull over hoodie totally approximately $70.00.
Kid-O got this five items: Sweet t-shirt, Music makes me happy, Minny shirt, Love t-shirt, and the booby cover. Her total was approximately $55.00.
Little Man got these three items: two long sleeve pull overs and a pair of boxers. His total was approximately $35.00.

Mini-Me didn't get lucky. They had nothing in his size.

So today's total before sales and coupons was $225.00. Now here's the fun part. Guess how much you think I paid for all these clothes. I will post in a couple of days the total of all these clothes.

Just having fun....

2010-01-08T14:29:00.000-06:00

Just Cool

2010-01-08T14:13:00.000-06:00

All ice.

I always love the nativity scene.

Me... Proof I do belong to this family

2010-01-08T14:12:00.000-06:00

So the hubby got a couple of pictures of me at that ice sculptures. We are trying to do better at taking pictures of me, and us together. There are very few pictures of me with or without the kids. Although, I do prefer being behind the camera.

Ice Sculptures

2010-01-08T14:09:00.000-06:00

We went back to the ice sculptures this year at the Gas Light Theatre in Nashville. It is quite expensive ($24 for adults, $19 for kids), but well worth the money and the trip. The kids love to slide down the ice slide. It does look fun. I don't get too slide, I take pictures.

Coupon Update...

2010-01-06T16:04:00.003-06:00

Well the year finished out great. Still staying in my budget every two weeks. So for this year, I am going to really challenge myself. I have decided to reduce my grocery budget from the current $300.00 every two weeks, to $200.00 every two weeks. I have been staying my by budget by around $100.oo per two weeks, give or take a little bit. We'll see how it goes. If it is too much work or we are not eating the way we like to eat, then I will increase it back up to maybe $250.00. I hoping that I can do it for $200.00. That extra every month to save would be nice. I will update as I can.

This week, I got spent a total of $103.00 which included, but not limited to 2 reams of copy paper, pens, 3 boxes of electrosal tabs, chicken, steak, pork loin, 4 gallons milk, 5 boxes au gratin potatoes, 3 6 packs yogurt, and lots of food and snack food to list a few. I forgot to take pictures. So I don't have any to show. I will try to remember to do that next week.

Remind me to update if it's been a while. Accountability will help the reduced budget work.

Gaint Stuffed Tiger

2010-01-05T12:02:00.000-06:00

Kid-O, still trying to figure out if Santa is real or not, asked Santa for a LARGE stuffed tiger. To Santa's disbelief, she was finally able to find one at a price she was willing to pay, after one month of searching and who knows how many stores.

Santa Hat

2010-01-05T12:00:00.000-06:00

Mini-Me sporting the UT Santa Hat. Mini-Me asked for a firetruck, ladder, and Santa Claus hat. Santa came through again this year.

Santa Claus Came to Town

2010-01-05T11:58:00.000-06:00

Self explanatory. Little Man got what he asked for. A yo-yo, red Cars cup, a little stuffed puppy, and a stuffed cat.

2010-01-05T11:56:00.000-06:00

Look what the hubby got off my phone for me. Example: one of those times you wish you had a good purse camera. Still a picture full of amazing memories. This was at the Shoney's in Fayetteville, at about oh, 11:00 pm. Tiff, Missinator, Jacob and Nic were with us also. Fun, fun memories.

2010-01-05T11:54:00.000-06:00

Playing with the new toy for Christmas. I wanted a small camera for my purse, for those times I don't have my Nikon with me. SLR, does not equal purse size. Anyway, the parents got me this great little (and I mean little) Nikon S570. It even does video. Wow, cool. Perfect purse size for those times you just really wish you had your camera.

Kid-O's Vision

2009-12-07T21:00:00.000-06:00

Kid-O thought that the area under the TV needed to be a fireplace. So she proceed to make one of construction paper, with logs and flames. Then the stockings had to be hung. After that, she looked and decided that there was a need for a Christmas tree to finish out her vision. So, Saturday evening we ventured to Wally World to purchase her a 4 foot tree. Her and the brothers decorated it. Now she believes the vision is complete. What do you think?

Red Rooster

2009-11-09T09:09:00.002-06:00

Red Rooster week is here and so much to do. Get my stuff together, print photos, buy supplies. Lots and lots to do, but I can't wait. I think I will have to not transcribe any after tomorrow.

Update of the fast...

Well, we are doing better kind of sort of, but we still don't like it. We know God is in control and He will continue to carry us through, even though it has gotten more difficult with each passing day, but I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me and the Hubby.

So I've already called AT&T, Nintendo, and Knology this morning. Now off to transcribe two files and then clean house. Wooh, I'm already tired.

Results

2009-11-05T07:12:00.000-06:00

The Boobs are just fine.

How do you like that for a whole post?

Mmmmm...

2009-11-04T07:12:00.000-06:00

Headed for a Diagnostic Mammogram this morning. Sure that will be lots and lots of fun to have my boobs flatten in to pancakes for how ever long it takes. Can't wait. I'll let you all know how it comes out.

Silly Quiz...

2009-11-03T12:59:00.001-06:00

Take the Quiz here!

Coupon Saving Update...

2009-11-02T07:04:00.001-06:00

So I did not get around to posting my couponing update last month, up I have managed to get October's up plus my overall total since I started couponing back in April. Remember my budget is $300.00 per two weeks. So since April the amount I am allowed to spend is $4500.00.

So here are the totals:
Monthly Totals (October 09)
Total before savings $812.01
Coupon total $188.23
Advertised savings $225.42
Total out of pocket $398.36
Spent of total 49.10%

Totals (Since April)
Total before savings $7,245.90
Coupon total $1,753.13
Advertised savings $1,372.38
Total out of pocket $3,807.07
Spent of total 52.40%

So as you can tell I am inside my allowed budget by $692.93. So your next question, what have we done with that money. Well, we do what we want with it. Eat out, save it, buy Christmas gifts, pay for Red Rooster, etc. Just whatever we feel like doing with the money. As I said in another post, I am inside my budget which is fabulous, but the greatest part of us is that I used to actually spend the total before savings. We are even eating even better than we were. I love to try new recipes which usually requires none staples, therefore, increasing your cost. Well, before couponing we would eat two maybe three new meals in a two week period. This two weeks, twelve meals.

Pork chop with apples
Beef and sausage stew
Chicken and red bean tostadas
Slow cooker Ratatouille
Beef Fajita stir-fry
Chicken marsala
Shrimp scampi
Oven fried chili chicken
Mini penne zucchini and sausage pasta
Gaucho Chimichurri steak
Tenderloin with black bean salsa
Shrimp Po-boys

Yes, you see steak, shrimp, pork tenderloin (center cut), and pork chops, not just the standard ground beef and chicken. Couponing is so worth all the work and effort. By the way, I have 24 bottles of laundry soap, lots of toilet paper, more shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, tampons,and shaving cream to last a year along with 20 + boxes of cereal. And I have given lots of stuff away.

My children love this couponing thing too, becuase they get more of the snacks that they love. Kid-O is even beginning to figure out you can get things for free. I gave her my coupon for a free bath and body item no purchase required. Couponing is trickling over into everything else. Example, I went to Children's Place, bought two pairs of blue jean (2/$28) and a bath robe for Kid-O for Christmas ($24.50). I used my 20% coupon on the total, then gave the cashier my $20 off $40 purchase and got all three items for $23.00. Can you say fabulous?

A little getaway...

2009-10-30T07:12:00.000-05:00

During fall break, the hubby and I left the kids with grandma and grandpa for about three day. It was really great to get away, even if it was for all a couple of days. We were able to get a little bit of Christmas shopping done, as well as have a great time together. One day before a little bit of shopping we went this place call Alligator Alley. It was fun and interesting.

By the way, I don't want this guys job. Although, it looked like he was enjoying the gators.

He is the hubby holding a little gator. We only took this picture for the kids, then we forgot to show it too them, so I guess you guys get to see it. It was wonderful spending alone time with the hubby. Eating what we wanted, when we wanted, and not having to stop to go potty every hour. It was fabulous. On night you even order Chinese take out to the hotel room. It just doesn't get much better than that.

I'm 3

2009-10-29T07:00:00.000-05:00

Mini-Me turned 3 badck on October 5th. I'm a bit behind it you haven't noticed. Anyway, I thought I would just upload a few pictures from his birthday. It fell during fall break, so we were in Mississippi for his birthday this year.
Mini-me got Mack and Chick Hick's semi trucks for his birthday. He loves things that he can stick other things in side of. So of course you have to have Lightening McQueen and Chick Hick to put in the semis.
Ice cream cake... Well, there's really nothing else to be said about that.

Homemade pizza. It's a toss up between the homemade ice cream cake and homemade pizza. Mini-Me seemed to enjoy both.

Fast...

2009-10-28T07:04:00.001-05:00

Update: Day 12 or 40
Scripture is how it is going...

1 Corinthians 10:12-13
"So if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall? No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a wya out so that you an stand up under it."

Build-A-Bear

2009-10-27T15:20:00.004-05:00

So for each of the grandchildren's third birthday, Mamaw takes them to Build a Bear. Mini-Me picked the monkey, which is fitting being that Mini-Me is a bit of a Monkey himself. Anyway, he had alot of fun building his monkey, especially the bathing part. He was a bit bothered by the fact that the fake hair drier did not work.
He was a lot of fun to take. Kid-O, crying and whine the whole time. It was too loud according to her. Little Man, well he's a down to business kind of kid. Task, check mark, done. Mini-Me took his time in each spot doing everything they told him to do and having lots of fun with it.
By the way, he doesn't like stickers on his clothes, they go on your belly.

Trouble

2009-10-22T07:12:00.000-05:00

So Mini-Me got into trouble a couple of weeks ago. I can't remember what he did, but anyway, I sent him to his room. So he got up on his bed and fell asleep. I though he had covered himself up with all the books before he went to sleep. But the truth came out later. His sister decided he needed to be covered up with all the alphabet books. We knew he likes to read, but this beat all.

I'm 5

2009-10-22T07:00:00.000-05:00

So Little Man turned 5 on September 28th. I just posted the pictures of his favorite gifts. First off, he loved his new shoes. Which by the way, he asked for. I thought that a little odd, but hey, he is my kid.
Another one of his favorite gifts was his five dollar bill from his Uncle Scott. He says he is going to buy a red cup, but he hasn't yet.
Then his Mamaw got him Mario Party for his DS. I have to say, Mario Party is a pretty fun game. Little Man and I play it a lot.
Then of course the cake. Which the ice cream store messed up, so Mamaw and I did a little re-decorating of the cake. Little Man like it much better when we were done with it.

First Day of Preschool

2009-10-21T07:04:00.001-05:00

Okay, so this post is almost two months behind the first day of preschool, but I still wanted to post it.

This was Little Man's first day. Which by the way, he loves preschool. The first week, he was upset because there was no school on Saturday. I'm sure that won't be the case next week when we hit Kindergarten, but I can always hope.

All Aboard

2009-10-20T07:12:00.000-05:00

So over a year ago, my dad, Papaw gave Little Man his old Lionel Train that he got when he was about five or six. This train is about 58 years old. Anyway, the hubby and I were going to get it up in the old house, but then we decided to sell, so that never happened. As finally, the hubby has been able to find time to get the train up. I think if could about a month of working along for a couple of hours several times a week.

Anyway, this is the finish project. It looks great and the picture just does not do it justice at all because you can't see the whole room. But anyway, the train track goes all the way around Little Man's room which the bridge going across the door way at an angle. Hanging the bridge was the most difficult part, because we wanted it to look nice, but be structural sound, since the train is so old. Also figuring out how to put a fence around the train that looks nice, but yet again was functional was difficult. We needed the fence because there is no way to regulate the speed of the train, so we were concerned about derailments with a five year old, seven feet off the floor with a 58 plus year old train. Imagine that.
Anyway, here is a picture of Little Man and the hubby playing. I think they are both quite happy.

So much to post...

2009-10-19T07:00:00.000-05:00

Just some pictures of the kids. They are growing up quick.

Here's Mini-me and Little Man. Mini-me turned 3 October 5th, Little Man turned 5 September 28th. I've got birthday pictures to post, if I make it that far.

Mini-Me, knowing he is cute.

Little Man hamming it up for the camera. He has now entered that phase of goofy smiles. Hope it doesn't last long.

Kid-O and Little Man being silly.

Kid-O, beautiful. We're hoping for awkward, not embarassing teenage years, then into a beautiful women inside and out.

Day 2

2009-10-18T15:32:00.002-05:00

So day 2 of the 40 day fast has begun, what had God shown me already?

Let me start with, we are not fasting food; however, many are on this journey. For the hubby and I, we both truly believe that God was telling us to fast something else, other than food. Something for us that would be a great sacrifice for us. Which by the way, we are only on day two and God is carrying us. Fasting is to give up what is a sacrifice for you. For some it is food, for some spending, for some watching TV, it depends on the person or people. Fast what God leads, then you know you are in His will.

First, He will carry me and the hubby through.

Secondly, we are reading one chapter a day starting with Jonah to the end of the Old Testament. There are exactly 40 chapters. Last night reading the first chapter of Jonah, which I have read several times, God gave me something different. It's found in Jonah Chapter 1 verses 5, 6. It reads:

"Then the sailors became afraid and every man cried to his god, and they threw the cargo which was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone below into the hold of the ship, lain down and fallen sound asleep.

So the captain approached him and said, "How is it that you are sleeping? Get up,call on your god Perhaps your god will be concerned about us so that we will not perish."

So where do we see such a response in the New Testament? Can anyone guess? You got it Matthew Chapter 8: 24,25 along with the other gospels as well.

"Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"

Anyway, nothing profound, just found it interesting that Jonah obviously trusted and had faith, otherwise he would not have been asleep as Christ did.

??? Balance ???

2009-10-15T13:29:00.004-05:00

I completely agree with Going Goofy. It is difficult to find a balance between work, home, children, etc. Most of you know I started transcribing for an insurance company several months ago, to make saving for that family ski vacation that the Hubby would like to that a reality. As you can tell, no post in one month, finding a balance is nearly impossible.

If I work around the house getting things done, I'm not transcribing and falling behind. If I am transcribing, I'm not getting things done around the house. I have tried to cut back to three hours per day, but it still seems impossible to get it all done. Along with taking kids to school and preschool, doctors appointments, picking kids up, grocery shopping. Or I get done all the things I need to get done, but not the things I want to get done. Example: blogging, scrapbooking, painting, etc.

So, It is very difficult to find that balance. You don't want to let anyone down, so you try to do it all. Needless to say, I have seriously cut back on the amount of transcribing I am doing. From about 150 to 200 pages per two weeks to around 100 pages per two weeks. Which is still a lot of listening to people and typing what they say. Like you know like what I mean like. HAHA.

I have so much I want to post with no time to do it. I guess I am going to have to take another day and just marathon post as many post as I can.

Amazing Hubby

2009-09-16T07:04:00.000-05:00

For those of you who are married, do you ever really stop and think about what God has blessed you with in your husband.

This is what God gave me... A man of strong convictions... A best friend... A man who cares for me and about me... Loves me as Christ loves me... He is my daily picture of God... If you were to ask me when I was the closest to God this week, most of the time the answer would be when the hubby did this... He praises God... He talks to God... He talks about God with me... He sees me as a gift from God... He tells me I am perfect and means it... His pleasure comes from my pleasure... A great dad... Patient... Head of household, I don't have to be... A picture of Christ to our children... Soft spoken, unless it is the time to not be... Focused... Thoughtful... Loving... Tender heart... God loves me though him daily...

I could go on all day. I just felt the need to tell others just how wonderful he is, and how God blesses me daily through him.

The Face of God...

2009-09-15T13:12:00.003-05:00

Have you ever seen the face of God?

I have several times. This time was different though. Let me give you the background information leading up to this face of God.

So as many of you know, the Hubby and I work the Walks to Emmaus. We love serving God in such as a way. Well, when saying yes to serving on these walks, you know that Satan hates them and will attack the team. Well, I have not been the recipient of attacks until this walk coming up this weekend, other team members have been. The hubby was serving on the conference room team for the men's walk this past weekend while Satan was attacking me.

So anyway, Saturday returning home from my final team meeting, I was traveling down Research park at 60 to 65 miles per hour. Anyway, someone came passed me on my left, then obviously realized they were about to miss their exit to head west. So this individual comes to a dead stop, and I mean dead stop in the right hand lane trying to get into the exit lane. I had to slam on my brakes to keep from hitting this individual. Anyway, I didn't think much about it, other than they just weren't paying attention to what they were doing.

Then not ten to fifteen minutes later, I was traveling on a five lane road, two east, two west, one turn lane. Anyway, I was traveling east and to the north there was a road coming out up ahead. I see an individual on a bicycle coming up on that road. I see him slow down, so I assume he is stopping and not coming out into the road. Well, I assumed wrong. He proceeded to come on out crossing the westbound lanes of traffic, through the turn lane and about to come out in front of me, as I am traveling 40 to 45 miles per hour. I managed to miss hitting this guy by a matter of three feet or so. Not much.

At that point, I begin to pray, asking God, "What is going on? Why all the craziness today?" Then proceeded on to my final destination. Well, later that same night (Saturday) coming home from a Emmaus worship service with a van full, literally. I was traveling on the highway where the speed limit is 65, and I was traveling around 72, 73. Anyway, we get off the main highway to cut through to get back to my house. I was listening to one young person talking, and driving, and I guess just not paying attention or something. I have no clue what I was thinking. Anyway, not but a mile or so after getting off the main road, I got pulled over by a police officer. He came up to the van, and asked why I was traveling 68 in a 45. I apologized like you would not believe. I really didn't know what else to say. I don't travel that fast with all my kids in the van.

Anyway, he goes back to his car, comes back a few minutes later and says, "I'm going to let you off with a warning this time." In shock, and still apologizing because I deserved the ticket, I signed the warning ticket. As he was handing the warning to me, I looked up at him and knew I was looking at the face of God. I touched his hand and said, "thank you, thank you" All the while looking at his face knowing I was looking at one of the many faces of God and he had just saved us from something horrible. I don't know how to explain it, I just know. I don't know what God saved us from, and I will probably never know. I just know that God saved our lives that night. Whether I was traveling too fast or whether there was danger up ahead. Nobody knows other than God what he saved us from, I just know that God saved us that night. I so wish there was words to explain how you know it is God, but there are none. You just know, in the pit of your Spirit, you just know. You just know that God has spoken to you.

My God is so much bigger than Satan. Needless to say, I was a wreck, because I knew. I never know how to explain, other than I just knew that was God telling me to turn around an go back to the main highway. See, when that cop said, you've got to turn here then there and so on, it dawned on me about the detour. Remember, I said we were heading the back way home. Well, I forgot that you had to detour around, to literally in the middle of no where. No lights, no main roads, no towns, no nothing, just roads in not great parts of the county.

I knew to most this is just all coincidences, but it is not. And if you don't think it's a conincidence then you might not understand. That's okay too. But my quess is, if you are a child of God, you have similar experiences were you have seen God protecting, loving, caring, etc. for you. See Satan does not want me on this upcoming walk, but God does. Satan hates these walks, becuase God uses them to change peoples lives. God is bigger.

God is allowing me to be tested. I just have to stay focused on God and that he is bigger than the one that causes the trouble. Satan can only touch me if God allows him too. Praise God that I am His. That he is a Father that protects, provides, loves, but yet disciplines when we need it.

God is Amazing!!!!

Broken...Part 3

2009-08-25T07:12:00.001-05:00

Okay, so back to my brokenness. I was no longer confused about what God did, or why for that matter. But I was confused about why I told anyone, I'm not now, because I see now how God used it to grow me more into the image of Christ. Example: Did I handle the situation (trials and tribulations) the way I should have, NO. I failed God horribly, but the good news is, He knew I would, He has forgiven me, and has grown me. You ask, where/how did you fail God? Well, God showed me that I did not love those throwing stones the way I am called to love them. God showed me that I was sitting in the judgement seat, Ouch, not looking forward to being judged by God, but I will be. These are the areas where God showed me I failed. God lead me to send a letter of apology and explanations of where I failed.

So you ask, why are you so broken, if you not longer doubt, are confused, and understand why you went through it. Well, James 3:6 says, "The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell." Verse 8-10, "...It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be." I urge you to read all of James chapter 3, but my understanding is that words destroy. Here I believe it is talking about the church body, but I believe it to be just as relevant to individuals in situations that God allows. That is where my brokenness is at. I was called a "liar, gossip, and prideful." It is very difficult to get those words out of your mind. I have to think on what is true, noble, praiseworth, etc (Philippians 4). Words destroy. God is rebuilding my heart slowly, one piece at a time, showing me my failures. At this very moment, I can think of one thing I said, that probably caused some destruction as well. I have had to ask God for forgiveness of that as well. There may be more as well, I don't know. I don't claim to know, and I sure don't claim to know where God has shown others where they failed. I have had to ask for lots of forgiveness, for mistakes I made.

The Hubby and I, with God's direction of course, has lead us to a new church where the Spirit is alive and very active. We praise God for that, but it is hard. We were so comfortable with our church family, which was our family since we are transplants and have no local family. The hubby told me Sunday, as we were discussing my brokenness and my healing and the difficulty in entering a new church that I should be praising God that I am even still going to church. The hubby said, many people that go through issues within the church many times, just leave the church altogether never to return. He is right.

So I prayed that I would come out unscathed. I didn't, but I know I am stronger for it all. I ask that you all pray for me and my brokeness. That God continue to grow me past it. Showing me my failures and where I was in His image.

Broken...Part 2

2009-08-24T07:00:00.002-05:00

So back to my brokenness. Being confused after God laying me on that church floor, I prayed much and often for God to show me, to speak to me, to give me scripture. For everything to be from Him and only Him. I wanted to understand. Through some scripture, from the Book of Acts and Pentecost, I began to understand that it was God that laid a hand on me that night. I fought God tooth and nail on everything in my life.

Example: I thought I was saved at a young age. I could not tell you my age, I just remember walking the isle, answering "I Do" to a few questions and that was it. No praye, no repentance, no nothing. So for all those years, Satan had me where he wanted me, God didn't, but I thought He did. So as God would gently nudge me, I would think that Satan was trying to make me doubt, but I was really fighting God. Finally, it got to the point that I could not drop it, so as I was going to bed one night, two years ago, I prayed "Okay, God if I am not yours, wake me in the middle of the night." Well, along rolls 2 something in the morning, if I remember correctly, and Kid-O, the child that sleeps like the dead, literally, comes into our room, to my side of the bed, and wakes me saying, (I will never forget these words)"Mommy, this light came on and I can't turn it off." Well, that light, was a blinking Magnetix light, the kind you have to twist to turn on and off. How did it get turned on in the middle of the night, and then wake the one child that never wakes. I immediately got on my knees, after a potty break, and began to repent. I saw ALL my sins on that cross. My SINS put Christ there. My SINS speared Him in the side. At that point, I prayed, I repented, and I believed. It took God about 18 years to get me to stop fighting Him.

So that night, on the church floor, God was telling me, you will not fight me any more. So, I don't fight God much any more. Example: God told me to lay hands on a young women who had been unable to get pregnant for about two years, I think. Anyway, I fought God. I will not do this, you can't ask me to do this. I even talk to my pastor about it. After about two weeks, of God talking to me, telling me you will do this, I finally called this young women, that I had only met about two months prior to this, and told her what I believed God was telling me to do. She accepted what I was telling her and I immediately went to her house. I laid hands on her and prayed for her womb to be opened. After that, there was a peace in me. Four months later, she and her husband came over to tell us they were having a baby. They had just found out. So needless to say, I don't fight God as much as I used too. I am not perfect by any means, so please don't think that is what I am saying. I am just learning to listen and obey.

In the midst of all of this, that same dear, sweet wonderful friend, knowing my confusing, urged me to talk to someone about what had happened to me. So I did. Which is one of the best decisions I have ever made, even though it ultimately led to my brokenness, ill-spoken words on my part as well as others, and us leaving the church that God drew us to six and an half years ago, I am a stronger Christian for it. I finally got up the nerve to speak to my minister. I could tell when I spoke to him that he doubted what I was saying. Which is fine, we are all entitled to our beliefs. Anyway, through that doubt, my confusion came back. Which yet again, God used. I prayed more, and more, about it, asking God for some scripture to support what He had done in my life. And God being God, Faithful, He gave me Daniel Chapter 10. Daniel Chapter 10 (I'd link you but that was before I started blogging) was exactly what I needed at the time. I no longer doubted what God did, nor will I ever. I had never read the Book of Daniel, so to read chapter 10 was my answer from God. The hubby and I still don't truly understand what the real problem was or is, we just know if was a problem.

I am going to stop now and try to finish this in one more post. We'll see.

So Broken...

2009-08-21T07:12:00.001-05:00

So this past weekend was a wonderful one. The hubby and I started our meetings for the upcoming fall Walks to Emmaus. At these meetings, you find yourself examining yourself. You can't serve others if you are not in the right spot with God. Anyway, Saturday sitting in the meeting, God was speaking to me, so clearly about how broken I am. I didn't not realize how broken until Saturday and then again on Sunday when the pastor preached on Dave and Nathan.

So here is part of my testimony taken straight from my journal, written 9-29-07, the middle of the night. I will not explain everything in this one post. It would be too long; however, I will explain and write all of it, to completely explain why I am so broken.

Sometime in the middle of the night, 9-29-07:

"Wow, what a night. First I knew about candlelight, but I did not know what would happen or what to expect. I knew Mom and dad would be here. I had no clue that Chris would come. I know I hoped he would but I did not expect it because of the kids.When I saw him that was a blessing. I began to cry as if I had not seen him in weeks. Just making eye contact with him and taking that rose from him was more than I could handle or imagine. It was almost like I was seeing him differently and he was seeing me differently. Then just knowing all those people came just for us to know they were praying for us. Wow! what an amazing experience. Then after everyone left we had our time of release again if we wanted too. Well last night I thought I laid it all down but I did not. This morning when we went back in for communion, they asked us to place a piece of bread in the basket as we lay the things down that we don't want to carry anymore. I felt led to place a piece in for each burden I was carrying and wanted to let go of. I did and my load was so much lighter. So tonight I had nothing else to lay down, but I was still crying uncontrollably. Pastor Phil asked why? I told him I was tired of being that verse in II Timothy where you are always studying but never coming to the truth of the knowledge. He asked if I had ever asked God to give me the full power of the Holy Spirit. I said, "no". I don't know what that means or what to think of that either. He placed his hands on me and began to pray over me. Me head began to feel light, my arms were beginning to go limp. I was aware of everything because I was trying to keep control I wanted to make sure they weren't doing anything to me. He wasn't other than praying over me. As all went limp, I just laid back on the floor, still aware of what was going on telling myself this was not real, but I did not do anything, they did nothing to me. I can not explain it. It is scary and surreal. I am scared to tell Chris. What if that was the one thing he did not agree with. What if he thinks Iam stupid and lost my mind. I still don't know what to think about that experience. I know in my heart if it was a true God give experience that He well grow it. If it was not from my Father I ask that you remove I from me. I only want to be honorable to you, no one else, and no one thing. Whether what I experienced tonight was real or not I know that I have freedom from the craziness that was in my mind before laying all that crap out on the cross. I am changed for the better. I just pray Father that I don't leave with more questions than I came with. I am trusting you to remove from me the verse in II timothy. I am trusting you to give me that teachable heart, the one that desires to know you, see you, talk to you , and hear you."

9-30-07 (morning)
"I am scared Father,I don't understand what happened and why. I know I am scared and I need and want to talk to my husband, to get his idea. I am afraid he will find the experience quite crazy and think I'm weird. I don't even come close to understanding so how do I explain it to anyone else."

9-30-07 (later that morning)
"Father, I think you for sending me to the chapel during breakfast this morning. I knew I needed some answers. I thank you for putting Randy where I could see him. Someone my father trusts. I talked to him and told him what happened and how I felt. He helped to explain, but left to get Donald. Pastor Donald gave me some scripture to back up what had happened because I don't want to do anything to displease you. Then you sent Cathy in. She told me how after you had filled here with the Spirit the Word just came alive. Well that is what I was asking for. I believe that your Words will jump off the page and become alive to me."

So these are words from my journal. Here is the filler information. The night that I hit the floor. I was at the alter, fighting God. I was telling Him, he was not going to make me hit the floor. I was not going to fall. Needless to say, God won, I lost. He laid me on that floor. My dear wonderful friend came over to me and asked me if was okay. I said yes. I wanted to get up, but I couldn't. All I could do was roll my head one way or the other, and tell my friend I was okay. I was laying there, still fighting God, telling him I was going to get up and He was telling me no. Holding me there until I had given up all fight that I had in me. Later that evening when I went to the restroom, I looked in mirror and I glowing, or so pale that I was glowing. I knew I was looking at myself, but there was no definition to my face. That Randy that I saw the next morning, that I knew I could trust because my dad knew him and had worked with him for many years. Well, it was the wrong Randy, God knew I needed someone, so He lined everything up for me to be able to talk to some one, some one I knew I could trust. My father thank Randy for talking to me later that week at a meeting. That's how we figured out it was not the same Randy. Then the hubby, believed every word and understood every word I was telling him. God had spoken to him, but he was not able to tell me until I came home from my walk. So He experienced the power and realness of God as well, just in a different way.

Okay. I think that is enough for now. I could type forever, but I know you all have more important things to do than read this. I will finish in one or two more posts. (This post will explain many posts from a year ago or so.)

Update...

2009-08-20T07:04:00.000-05:00

Rock Guys' insurance company is paying to fix my van, and providing us with a rental. They said they may not be insuring this guy much longer. Too much of a liablity.

Thought you might like to know how that turned out.

Coupon Saving

2009-08-19T07:04:00.000-05:00

Yes, I am still couponing and saving lots at the grocery store. Today, I got around to doing my totals for July and then my four month total. So here are the results.

July 2009
Total Before Savings $970.84
Total Coupons $233.29
Total Advertised Savings $246.06
Total out of pocket $548.56
Inside my budget by $51.44. Plus some of that money (about $50) was spent on Christmas gifts.

Four Month Total
Total Before Savings $4158.26
Total Coupons $990.82
Total Advertised Savings $1007.96
Total out of pocket $2216.55
Inside four month budget by $483.45 which is a huge accomplishment being that I was actually spendig the amount before savings which is $1458.26 over budget. Wow. So for me, I really have saved $1458.26.

The Final Vacation Post

2009-08-18T07:04:00.001-05:00

One of the days that we spent with our college friends, we took the kids to a play water park and play ground. They had a ball there, and it was a hot one, so it was really nice to for them to play in the water.

I thought these pictures were pretty self explanatory. What do you think?

Columbia Zoo

2009-08-17T07:12:00.000-05:00

We went to Columbia the day before Skippy's appointment to visit the college, so that we could take all the kids to the zoo. I have to say the Columbia zoo is very nice. Here are a few of the pictures.

Skippy and Mini-Me on the Carousel.

Kid-O feeding the birds. By the way, I am scared to death of birds. I have this irrational fear they are going to pluck my eyes out. I know silly, but go figure, me silly.

The sleeping Grizzly.

The kids rugrats. If they look wet, it's because they are. We got rained on at the zoo. We were very wet by the end of the day. That is the great thing about the zoo though, if it rains, they are still open and the animals are still there.

The pretty elephant. Look at those ears.

Most Exciting Part of Vacation...

2009-08-14T07:04:00.001-05:00

Okay, so traveling down I-85 heading home on the Sunday after a week of vacationing,
the most exciting part of the trip occurred. Imagine this...

Traveling I-85 at 78 miles per hour in the right hand lane coming up on an eighteen wheeler. So the hubby moves over to the left lane to pass this truck. While passing this truck, a vehicle comes flying up behind us. The hubby taps the brakes to say, "Hey, I'm here don't hit me." Finishes passing the truck and immediately moves over to the right lane. The individual in the vehicle behind us, comes us to the side of our van and proceeds to throw rocks at us. He speeds up to 85 or better, I call 911 while the hubby speeds up so we can get the information off of the car, make, model, tag, color, etc. We go back to the location and file a police report. Now dealing with other driver's insurance to get my van fixed.

Yes, this is a real story, not made up and no joke. No, the damage is not bad, just several nicks out of the paint. Praise God no windows were broken. We had all our kids with us and one of our big kids. What type of person drives around with rocks in their cars to throw at people?

Okay, maybe not the most exciting, but definitely the most CRAZY...

Myrtle Beach...

2009-08-13T07:04:00.000-05:00

We decided since we were in North and South Carolina and only a couple hours from the beach it was silly not to go. I am not much of a beach person, a few hours and I'm good. Skippy last visit to the beach was about five years ago she thought. Kid-O went back in June with Mamaw and Papaw, and Little Man's last trip was at the age of 20 months.

Here are a few pictures from our morning at Myrtle Beach. This picture is of Mini-Me. This was his first trip to the beach. Well, let me rephrase that. His first trip to the beach was three years ago, when his gestational age was about 5 to 6 months. He had fun, but did not like the taste of the water. Imagine that.

Uhh, Little Man playing in the sand and shells. Little Man has quite a fear of water, so he did not go in unless daddy or Skippy had him.

Mini-Me loves water, so he went out as far as daddy would take him. Of course, this Mommy was scared to death, but that's okay, Mini-Me loved it.

Kid-O loves the water and the beach. I think she would live there if we would let her.

Skippy and Little Man having fun in the water.

The Third reason for our Road Trip

2009-08-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

Well, we decided if we were going to travel all he way to South Carolina for Mark and Skippy, we should just go on up to North Carolina and visit some old college friends. So that we did. We have seen Tim and Darcy, maybe three or four times since we left Mississippi 6 and 1/2 years ago. Tim's family live in this state, so they will swing by when the come visit family. So that was the third and final reason for the road trip. We spent a lot of time on the road, but we loved all of it but the last day. You will have to come back tomorrow for that story.

Second Reason for our Road Trip

2009-08-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

Here is reason number two. No, not Little Man, but Skippy. Remember our grown up kids, this is one of them. Anyway, Skippy will be a senior this year and wants to go to college, Christian colleges (YEAH). Anyway, the boys and I took her to a couple back in June. There was one left that she wanted to look at, Columbia International, in Columbia South Carolina. So we figured since we were making the trip anyway, if she wanted to go she could go with us on our journey. (A whole week with Mr. C, and the three kids.) She's a brave soul.

Anyway, she loved the college. I liked it a lot, and it looks like we are going back in December for scholarship weekend. Skippy was a trooper on the road all week with our crazy family, spending two days with my newly released from prison cousin, and some friends from college. I have to say though. It was great fun having her along for the ride. She even talked the Hubby into the alphabet game. I don't think I have ever even been able to do that. You know, he's an engineer, their pretty serious people.

YEAH

2009-08-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

YEAH, the FIRST day back at SCHOOL for Kid-O. Third grade her she comes.

Karios on the Inside

2009-08-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

One of the several reasons we were on a week long trip around North and South Carolina was for my cousin Mark. I have not seen my cousin in 7 years. Mark is 2 years younger than me, I believe and has daughter two weeks younger than Kid-O.

Anyway, seven years ago, he made a horrible mistake. He helped a guy rob someone, put them in the car and relocated him to another location (ie. kidnapping). Of course this is the very short version of the story.

Within the first year in Kershaw, maxi mun level prison in South Carolina. My cousin was blessed with the opportunity to go through Kairos on the Inside, which is the Walk to Emmaus for prisoners. What a blessing that was in his life. I pray that God using his testimony over, and over again. Anyway, during that time in prison, he says, "God has really blessed me. Not a hair on my head was ever hurt. I was shown favor by the guards and prisoners alike." He has stayed in God's word for all these years, daily. I pray that God leads him to continue down that path and that God's keeps temptation from him. Mark told me, "I can only do this with God's strength." Praise God that he knows that now. I just ask that you all pray for him. This is going to be a difficult time in his life. Right now he is on 90 house arrest. He can not step out of the door of the house.

May God bless Tim and his wife, who have listen to God's call on their lives. Tim was Mark's table leader 6 years ago on Kairos and his wife worked the kitchen. Thank you and all glory be to God. Tim has continued to stay in touch with Mark over the years. The hubby and I believed as Christians we are to support those who need the support, whether they are family or not. I asked for extra special prayers for my cousin.

Emmaus Update...

2009-08-06T07:00:00.000-05:00

Back in March, I believe, I believed God was telling me it was time for a dear friend to go on her Walk to Emmaus. I called her, talked to her about it, asked he to pray and see what God's leading for her was.

A few days later, I received her application in the mail. So the weekend of July 16 through July 19, she was on her walk. It is all her experience to tell, but I know the blessing from the hubby and I's end were amazing. God gets all the praise and glory for what He did in her life. What he taught her, showed her about herself, and the moving of the Holy Spirit.

It was an amazing weekend for her, the hubby and myself. I want to thank everyone that prayed for her over those three days.

Update...

2009-08-05T14:22:00.002-05:00

So, it has been a shocking 20 days since my last post. Hard to believe. I used to have so much time on my hands I did not know what to do with myself. But now I am perfectly busy. I like it to a degree and to a degree I don't.

First off, I started transcribing for an insurance company, oh about five or six weeks ago. I enjoy listening to the audio files and typing them. I get to work on my schedule, basically when I want. They require 12 hours per week, but I think I am actually working about 20 hours per week. I don't know for sure, because they pay by the page.

Secondly, No, I don't need the job. The hubby and I are doing great. God always provides everything we need. However, the hubby mentioned that he wants to take the kids on a ski trip, hopefully the winter of 2010-2011. Well, I figure that will be about a $4000 trip and we like to pay cash, so we thought this would be an excellent way to save the money, without dipping into everything else.

Thirdly, we were on a week long adventure around North Carolina and South Carolina all last week, so I was not around.

All that being said, should explain the lack of time, but enjoying the lack of time. No complaints from me. I find that now instead of wasting 3 or 4 hours a day online, I spend that same amount of time, making money for a great family vacation. So I am going to dedicate the remainder of the day, before the hubby gets home, to speed blogging and posting as many post as I can.

I love you guys, and thanks for checking in on me. I really appreciate it.

Walk to Emmaus

2009-07-16T07:12:00.000-05:00

The hubby and I have a pilgrim on the Walk to Emmaus that starts tonight. I ask that you pray for us as we travel this weekend and for her especialy, as God reveals Himself to her in a mighty way, and all those involved with this walk that they be humble servants of God. I will be back in a few days. Thank you for praying for her.

July's Bonus Buy

2009-07-15T17:40:00.002-05:00

There is still time to get the Horizong of Hope baskets or the medium bin basket. Go to myShop and check out these baskets and products.

July 4th, 2009

2009-07-14T07:04:00.000-05:00

As most of you know, July 4th is our big family thing. It is great time to see the whole family, eat lots of great food, and just have a good time. So here are a bunch of pictures from the day. I am so what of the family photographer, so I took a lot of pictures, 268 to be exact. However, I am not going to show you that many, but here is quite a few. Fireworks, yeap, this is our show brought to you by cousin Jon.

Tywee and sparklers.
So, one in the knee brace would be my sister the athlete. She was had ACL reconstructive surgery twice, once on each knee. Two evenings, I think, before the 4th, back on the ball field, she tore the first repaired ACL again. Surgery is schedule for the 21st, with the use of a cadaver ACL because she has nothing left to reconstruct.

The mom-in-law. They came up from Mississippi this year. I talked my father-in-law into slow cooking the ribs for us. Yummy, about 7 - 8 hours on the grill.
Cousin Jon and the Hubby. This is the truck of fireworks, between $600 and $700. The family pulls all their money together that we would normally spend individually and end up with a show better than you could get at a city display. Cousin Jon tried to miss one year, we booed the whole show and called him and told him he was never allowed to miss again. He just knows what to buy.

The 23 great grandkids, but I guess technically they are just grandkids now days.
There's the gang. We are missing a few do to feedings, milk runs, and other toddler issues.
There's the crippled one not able to enjoy the woffle ball game.
Cousin Jon's wife and newest addition to this growing family.
Ash and dad.
Kid-O
Grandpa, father-in-law, Mini-Me, and the father of Little Man's woman.
Aunt Jerry, my grandmother's sister.
Mini-Me loves soda.

The girls. I get a picture similar to this every year. It will be neat to look at this pictures years down the road.

Butter Bean

2009-07-13T07:00:00.001-05:00

I got the great privilege of taking the pictures of Butter Bean the day his was born. When these pictures were taking, he was only abut four hours old. Of course, Mom and Dad have not even had a chance to see the pictures yet. If I remember correctly Butter Bean weighed in a 7 lbs, 7 oz, and 19 inches long. So here is a few of my favorites, after a quick look through the pictures. I hope you all enjoy them.

Proud Dad

A beautiful young family. Granboy, had already gone home for the evening.

Granny's finger.

July 8th, Online Exclusive

2009-07-08T10:58:00.001-05:00

Great for hot or cold drinks. I have the pink hope travel mug from last year and love it. If you would like to order go to myShop. Don't forget the medium bin sort and store basket is only $42 this month instead of $62.

Young Love

2009-07-07T07:04:00.000-05:00

So, I promised the greatest love story ever. Well, here it is. This first picture is CutiePie. A beautiful little four year old daughter of some friends of the family.

This is, of course, Little Man.

The friend's family joined our family again this year for the July 4th celebration. Little Man, and CutiePie knowing each other began to play together. They were almost inseparable and played the day away. After the fireworks, it was time to part ways for the evening. When we got back to the house, and were bathing the boys. I asked Little Man, "Do you like CutiePie?". His response, "As much as my best friend Jonathan." Well, those of you who know Little Man and Jonathan, you know that Little Man really misses his best friend. All the while, the father of CutiePie was saying good night to CutiePie and CutiePie asked, "Daddy, do we have J____'s phone number?"
Then Sunday morning comes, and Little Man comes looking for daddy to see if he has already put on his cologne. Daddy said, yes, but Little Man asked for some anyway, so daddy gave him a little cologne. Then on the way out the door, Little Man was putting on his red flip flops because they matched his clothes. Then he stopped midway through, and said, "CutiePie has already seen those, I will wear these instead." Which was his orange and black flip flops. All the while at the friend's house CutiePie was getting all dolled up for church. Including, lip gloss and body mist. The funny part is she raised her arms, and said, "Mom, do the pits too."

At the church, Little Man and CutiePie sat beside each other to eat their breakfast and then lined up to go upstairs for music time. Well, a girl was in line behind CutiePie and had her hands on CutiePie's shoulders, and Little Man happened to turn around and noticed, and he proceeded to push the girls hands off CutiePie and put his arm around her waist, as if to say she is mine. Then we all went out for lunch and of course they had to sit beside each other. Little Man ate cottage cheese because CutiePie was eating cottage cheese. It was quite humorous to watch these two four year olds. We decided that we just needed to go ahead an arrange the marriage now, since we know they each come from "good stock" and the dowry would be a Bible.

When we left Little Man last night, he was on his way back to church to see CutiePie. We understand from Mamaw that Little Man got CutiePie's number. Okay, so maybe it is not the greatest love story ever written, but you have to admit it is quite funny. We laughed ourselves to tears. I hope you enjoy this story as much as we did.

Yeah, finally, lots to post...

2009-07-06T08:45:00.002-05:00

I am downstairs right now, getting ready to post, about a great love story, a new baby, and fabulous family fun, but I won't because I don't want to load my pictures on to this computer. So you will have to come back later today or tomorrow to read the greatest love story of two four years olds. It will make you cry.

One of July's Specials

2009-07-02T07:12:00.001-05:00

If you order one of the Horizon of Hope baskets, between July 1 and July 17th, at myShop you will receive the Horizon of Hope tote for free.

Reason to Host a Party

2009-07-01T07:00:00.001-05:00

Here is one excellent reason to host a Longaberger show. Another reason, is of course, it is just fun.

So, here is what Going Goofy got from the party she hosted. The large boardwalk basket (value $136), the medium market basket (value $79), the small cake basket with riser (value $76), and the business card basket (value $30). So that is a total of $321. However, Going Goofy got all this for $110.77, with no shipping because her show qualified for free shipping as well. So, if in doubt or thinking about it, take the jump, it is worth it.

June Savings and 3 month total

2009-06-30T09:13:00.007-05:00

So, I thought since I as putting my totals on for the month of June and my three month total, I decided to take pictures of most of the food and stuff in my house, so that when I say we have a lot of stuff in the house you will know I am telling the truth.

Here is one picture of the downstairs refrigerator/freezer. There is more in this freezer, I just took a picture of the door.

This is the door of the upright deep freezer.

The body of the upright freezer.

I took the laundry detergent out of the cabinet, so you could see it better.

This is a shelf in the downstairs room.

Pretty self explanatory.

One side of under my bathroom sink. In the front is 5 toothbrushes, I believe, and one of 7 razors I have bought. Giving many of those away.

Under my bathroom sink. The shampoo and conditioner is on the left, then body wash, toothpaste, shaving cream, deodorant, and tampons. We have given some of this stuff away, so it is not in the pictures.

Twelve boxes of the kids soap.

Sugar, Ziplocs, pasta, easy mac, etc.

This is one cabinet in the kitchen.

The snack cabinet.

And finally, the cereal cabinet.

June Totals
Before Savings 1023.05
Coupons 301.90
Advertised savings 219.97
Out of Pocket 501.18

Three Month Total
Before Savings 3187.42
Coupons 757.53
Advertised Savings 761.90
Out of Pocket 1667.99
A total percentage savings of 52.32%

We now have so much food and personal hygiene products in our house, we are giving them away. We have also decided not to change our grocery budget. We thought the left over would be an excellent addition to my Longaberger commission that will be used for vacation. So that is the incentive to keep the groceries low, but yet still eat what we want (ie. lots of ice cream).