Couponing again

Well folks, I took a couponing break for a few months. It wasn't "working" well. Translation: I wasn't doing a great job at keeping up with it. I was paying for a site that was more confusing than helpful. I was buying lots of things we didn't need and my husband wasn't excited about that. But "I was getting them really cheap." Great. So what? I wasn't able to use it the way it is supposed to be used. So then I went back to cutting out only the coupons that I knew I was going to be using that week for the things we were actually going to be using that week. Well then I cringe when I use them, because I know I can be doing better, saving more, spending less, stocking up... Well today (actually starting yesterday) I dove back into the couponing world. Thanks to a friend (LOVE YOU, L), I've rejoined the savers community. She spends little to nothing at the store, leaves with a truck load and sometimes they pay her. So. I'm going to glean from her what I can, and share with you what I glean...

1. if you live in the South, GO to this website. It's called Southern Savers. OMG. It is FULL. For example, if you watned to see what the sales and deals were at Publix, you can click on the Publix drop down button, click on weekly ads, then when that pops up, click on the current week and it SHOWS YOU what is on sale, what are the BOGO deals, where to find the coupons to help you purchase these, which items you can get for free with coupons and so on. WOW!

2. START buying two double papers every week. L says this is most important. Set aside 5 bucks each week to accomplish this. Stuff the coupon inserts in folders and date the folders, stick the folders in a tub (my feet are currently on my tub) and keep them. You never know when a coupon is going to be good for what's on sale. And Southern Savers will tell you.

So, after following steps one and two this week...
I went to Publix tonight and saved nearly 20 bucks with my coupons and BOGO deals. I was pretty excited and L says it really wasn't a great deal week. So I can't wait to see how it works out down the road.

Right now I'm working on my Kroger list. They show you what is on the 10 for 10 Mega sale list and if there are coupons for them and where to find those coupons. AMAZING. Right now I'm looking at getting mustard for 19 cents, rotel for free, Raisin Bran for free, franks hot sauce for 19 cents, rice cakes for free and tortillas as my big item at 49 cents. WHAT?!?!?! Serious! I can't wait to go to Kroger tomorrow!

wanted for hugs

Hey world, I don't have anything great to blog about yet today, just wanted to share one of my most favorite Matthew pictures. It's from this summer. Isn't that hugable?

What's up.

I feel like I've been letting down my blog world lately, sorry folks.
I have been go go go over here.

I've been 100% back in the saddle weight watchers wise since Monday the 4th. Only to have lost a whopping .2 so far. Nice huh?

Jamie and I have been digging deeper into our church this month, some big things are coming, I just know God is moving.

We've allllll been sick. The puking variety. Lovely huh?

Matthew is going back to school, not just two days a week now but three. He's so smart and loving school. I have joined the world of carpooling and love it.

Mark is a walking machine and he's getting faster each day. He's got some fun words now too. We learned "DUCK!" today at the park. I love watching him learn.

I love watching both my little men learning. They grow so fast. If you have babies, treasure them. You can't get tomorrow back. I sat on the bathroom floor tonight, watching my little ones in the tub and just looking at their nakey bottoms (shhh, I wont go to jail for saying that right?) and just thought how cute they were. And how some day soon Matthew wont need help in the bath anymore and I wont be wanting to look at Mark's nakey bottom. I'll have big boys who have facial hair and don't need me anymore. ... Until then though... :)

My sister is engaged, have I mentioned that on here yet?? And I'm neck deep in shower planning! And I love it!

I've got both feet in my Moms Club business, as the secretary. I can't believe my year long commitment is half over, as we started our year in June. So... that's a lot huh?

I can't believe the month is nearing a close, it feels like it was just NYE, but alas the clock keeps turning if we want it to or not. If we're ready for tomorrow or not.

I've been reading a lot in Ephesians lately. Last year a friend and I started to do an Ephesians study but got derailed... I find myself reading this one passage over and over and over... it's about love and patience...(something every mother needs to have help and find a balance with, huh?) Ephesians 4:2. What translation are you reading right now? Here's several so you can see how powerful this verse is.

² with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, (NKJV)

²with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, (NASB)

² Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. (NLT)

²with all humility and gentleness, with patience,bearing with one another in love, (ESV)

^1-3In light of all this, here's what I want you to do. While I'm locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don't want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don't want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences. (the Message)

Chrsitmas/New Year recap

I know it's a little overdue, but enjoy the picture collage from Christmas and New Years.
Here are some favorites.

Making cookies Christmas Eve

Reading the Christmas Story, Christmas Morning

Out on the town in Charleston, SC to see the lights!

Happy New Years to all and to all a good night

I'm sitting here in the midst of another beautiful moment. Jamie's reading books to Matthew, Mark is in Grandma's lap and they are looking at the balls and bells on the tree. Papa is watching football and I'm just enjoying the sounds of my children and being with family. We're with Jamie's family this time. What a wonderful holiday season we've had. This past two weeks we've spent a lot of time with a lot of family. It's been so nice. I need to update a bunch of pictures but right now I'm not at home, not on my computer. ... so I'll do that next week.

Last year I spent a long post reflecting on the past months of travel and events. I will tell you that I'll spare us all that month by month break downthis year. Let's see if I can do this in a shorter way... I was blessed last year on Dec 23rd with my second son, so I can tell you that the first several months of 2009 were HARD and LONG and sleep-deprived. But of course worth it all the same. In March I was able to surprise my best friend for her birthday, that was definately a highlight of the year. Another highlight for our family was in August spending a week in CO with our family, my parents, my sister and her boyfriend and his family. It was a very neat joint vacation. The end of the year has been my favorite so far. I've been surounded with family and yesterday my sister and her boyfriend got engaged. It's so exciting to see them start to plan their lives together for the long haul. They have some obstacles facing them to start off but I knwo that they can do it. I am so happy for them both! My sister has worked so hard and so long and she deserves to be loved and cherrished and I know that this man will do just that.

In addition to my reflections post last year... I mad ea big long todo about my goals for the year to come. I will not be doing that again this year. I can tell you some thoughts, but not specific goals. 1. Lose weight. Period. Last year I put a number on it and didn't make that number. Not bad, I'm not far from it, but still no dice. There were a lot of other weight related goals last year but they weren't reached, and this year I'm not interested in setting myself up for failure. I need to lose the rest of this weight. That's all there is to it.

2. I need to be more in the Word. Daily. No excuses. No but no if no after no whenever I can maybe put the baby... no... I need to be in the Word daily. I read what I wrote last year about me talking to my earthly husband and telling him that I love him daily, but neglecting my Heavenly Father and my Heavenly Husband. Why????!? Am I really too busy to love Jesus every day? To show Jesus my love by honoring Him and reading His word?? The answer better be no.

That's all.

Good night everyone. Merry New Year.

Perfection

As I looked around the living room this evening, I was touched... blessed. There was a moment when my heart just soared, I was on cloud nine. I was smiling ear to ear and it wasn't because of the beautiful music coming from the tv. It was because my family. Most everyone that I hold dear to my heart was in the same room, with the same purpose. My oldest son sat in his daddy's lap, my youngest in mine, a dog between us, my parents on the couch across from us, my sister in a big comfy chair, her boyfriend at her feet, another dog next to him, ....Christmas carols being sung by a choir... it was perfection. I felt my heart just beat faster thinking about it again. It was just beautiful. I watched my son watch my uncle's chorus sing these beautiful songs and my heart just was so happy. As they sang songs he is getting familiar with, it was just beautiful--- I wish I could come up with another word, but it was just simply beautiful to watch him know the songs that tell the story of Christ's birth. He knows that tomorrow is Jesus' birthday and we give gifts to celebrate that God gave us a gift. He gave us Jesus. There is nothing more touching than that child-like-faith.

For more information on the amazing choir we watched tonight, click here to learn about the Ambassadors of Harmony located out of St. Louis, MO. I love them. They are amazing.

My baby is one.

Happy Birthday Mark Edward!!!
It's hard to believe it's been a year already.
Look wear we came from in just a fast flying year.

We weren't sure we were going to all come home together for a moment of our hospital stay. I am so blessed. I am so grateful that God made you healthy and let you come home with us. It has been such a joy watching you grow from baby to a big boy.

Look at this big one-year old! Happy Birthday angel boy.

You started walking yesterday. Walked before your birthday. How about that?!

Snowman cake

The dreaming stages for Mark's birthday cake. Theme of party: snowman. Cake desires: A huge snowman cake! I really wanted to make a great cake for his party. I really wanted it to turn out...

And I was SO pleased with how it did! Isn't he cute?!

Mark of course got his own "smash-it" cake!

Not too sure at first, but eventually dove in...

And I do mean, dove in.

Jesus Jesus Precious Jesus

There is nothing sweeter than my 3 year old son singing words of Praise! This afternoon he was singing without prompting "Jesus Jesus Precious Jesus Oh I trust Him Jesus Jesus Precious Jesus" We listen to a CD with this song on it often in the car... here are all the words, in case you aren't familiar with it or if you'd just like to read the words again. Do you trust in Jesus? Can you sing to Him, "Jesus Jesus Precious Jesus, oh for Grace to trust you more!"? How God works in my son to tug at my heartstrings... I'm always amazed.

'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus

Text: Louisa M. R. Stead, c. 1850-1917
Music: William J. Kirkpatrick, 1838-1921

1. 'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
and to take him at his word;
just to rest upon his promise,
and to know, "Thus saith the Lord."

Refrain:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him!
How I've proved him o'er and o'er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust him more!

2. O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
just to trust his cleansing blood;
and in simple faith to plunge me
neath the healing, cleansing flood!

(Refrain)

3. Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
just from sin and self to cease;
just from Jesus simply taking
life and rest, and joy and peace.
(Refrain)

4. I'm so glad I learned to trust thee,
precious Jesus, Savior, friend;
and I know that thou art with me,
wilt be with me to the end.

(Refrain)

Nothing Compares

This weekend our church put on our annual Christmas Concert. This year we did a marvelous Travis Cottrell book, King of Glory King of Love. Go here to check out more of his website.

The point of this blog post though is to take just a moment and share with you something from my heart. I know there are those reading that I've never met. You don't know me from Adam... here's a window into my life. Click on this video and watch our Choir sing this song called Nothing Compares. I have a solo part way into the song. I'd love to share that with you. I'd love share with you this song.... there's a line that says "I could count all the ways that my heart has been blessed, but nothing compares, to this."

Do you have that joy? I do hope so. May God bless you.

Enjoy this song.

... and ignore the larger than life shepherd standing next to me. To my right on the stage was manger scene. hehe!