Here is what is going on in my world...
What I am thinking about...
Preschool for Grace
Meal Planning
Daily schedules
What I am working on...
Concerts, shows, benefits and more
Earning free money on shopkick
Couponing
What is distracting me...
"Miss Invisible" by someone...I should probalby look that up
Gray's Anatomy
White Collar (next week)
What I'm loving...
My husband's wisdom
My girlies learning so much
Figuring out what Abi is 'saying'
What melts my heart...
Sister love
Jesus Loves Me sung to Grandparents
Grace telling me Jesus is in her heart
What I'm trying to figure out...
My kid's sleep issues
Some long term goals
How awkward it'd be to send out my Christmas cards now
Hope you all are doing well and learning and working and loving!
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Five Minute Friday: Cherished
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| Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking |
Five Minute Friday: Cherished
Go.
i feel like lately i have been thinking in Bible verses. it is amazing the things that come to mind when i need them the most. it is also amazing the lies that truth can replace when i do not allow it a foothold in my life.
i think that to me cherished is a word we use with memories, family and loved ones. but really what sticks out to me is kids. my kids. me in relation to the Father. kids who are alone and need to feel loved and cherished.
i am so thankful that my Father in heaven loves me enough to whisper in my ear when i need His truth to replace whatever I am facing each day. i am so thankful that He has given me wisdom to whisper truth into my girls' ears when they need truth to replace lies each day. i love getting to work with teens and being able to cherish them and give them truth in their days as well.
i am a Princess. i am a daughter of The King.
Stop.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Thankful Thursdays Top Ten #86
It has been a crazy week and frankly as I sit here and try to come up with 10 things to put on my list they either sound silly (like today I am very thankful for toothpaste, wonderful invention) or they are too hard to explain.
Right now I am thankful for peace. Not because I have all the answers or because I know how life is going to go. But peace because I know WHOSE I am and I know how it turns out. Getting there may be a battle, but I know what the end looks like. There is something amazingly reassuring in that. I am thankful that my husband knows how to speak wisdom and peace to me like no one I've ever met. I'm thankful that I am recognizing some things in myself that I may not like, but I never knew they were there before. I can't fix them until I know they are there. I am thankful for truth, and life, and knowing that I always have a source and a guidebook. I am not in this alone and I have a blueprint for life. So thankful that I am not making it up as I go.
I am thankful that God is the same today as He was in the days of Abraham and He will be when I stand before Him one day.
I am thankful that He is the breathe of life and by Him all things are held together.
I am thankful that He promises that when we seek Him we will find Him when we seek Him with all our hearts.
I am thankful that He is THE way, THE truth and THE life - not one of many options.
I am thankful that I can hear Him speak - and that He is so willing to pursue my heart and get my attention.
I am thankful.
Right now I am thankful for peace. Not because I have all the answers or because I know how life is going to go. But peace because I know WHOSE I am and I know how it turns out. Getting there may be a battle, but I know what the end looks like. There is something amazingly reassuring in that. I am thankful that my husband knows how to speak wisdom and peace to me like no one I've ever met. I'm thankful that I am recognizing some things in myself that I may not like, but I never knew they were there before. I can't fix them until I know they are there. I am thankful for truth, and life, and knowing that I always have a source and a guidebook. I am not in this alone and I have a blueprint for life. So thankful that I am not making it up as I go.
I am thankful that God is the same today as He was in the days of Abraham and He will be when I stand before Him one day.
I am thankful that He is the breathe of life and by Him all things are held together.
I am thankful that He promises that when we seek Him we will find Him when we seek Him with all our hearts.
I am thankful that He is THE way, THE truth and THE life - not one of many options.
I am thankful that I can hear Him speak - and that He is so willing to pursue my heart and get my attention.
I am thankful.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
What $55 CAN Buy
I recently had a friend come over to "learn my couponing ways". I wasn't really sure what to tell her other than pay attention, check out totallytarget.com, meijermadness.com and moneysavingmom.com. Outside of that it is just doing the work. But, because it's fun, here was my shopping list from last week.
TOTAL SPENT: 54.66
TOTAL SAVED: 119.28
So without sales/coupons/etc: 173.94 (total of 68.5% savings)
TARGET
Barilla Pasta x 10 (reg 12.90) = 6.90
Sleep Shirt (reg 17.99) = 1.79
Dunkin Donuts Coffee x 3 (reg 21.60) = 1.37
Eye Drops (reg .97) = .22
Total Spent: 10.28
Total Saved: 46.19 (approx 82%)
Meijer
Carmex Lip Balm x2 (reg 2.08) = Free
Tooth Brush (reg 1.88) = Free
Tooth Paste (reg 1.88) = Free
Hair Color x3 (reg 27.30) = 10.30
Protein Bar x2 (reg 3.04) = 1.00
Onions 1.74
Peas (reg 2.19) = 1.99
Swanson Broth x2 (reg 4.76) = 3.18
Gel Pacs Dish Soap (reg 3.99) = .54
Carrots (reg 2.50) = 1.50
Potatoes (reg 2.50) = 1.50
Creamer x2 (reg 3.94) = .67
Tax = 1.72
Total Spent: 23.94
Total Saved: 35.77 (approx 60%)
Kroger
Always Pads (reg 8.59) = 4.99
Secret Outlast Deodorant x2 (reg 8.74) = 1.98
Crest Toothpaste* (reg 3.77) = .99
Good and Healthy Bar (reg 1.29) = Free
Panteen Shampoo** x4 (reg 9.56) = 3.56
Herbel Essence Mousse x2 (reg 7.38) = 2.58
Old Spice Deodorant x4 (reg 11.16) = 3.16
Reach Flosser (reg 3.09) = Free
Bakery Bread (reg 1.99) = 1.00
Tax = 2.19
Total Spent 20.44
Total Saved 37.32 (approx 67%)
*As a general rule I do not buy toothpaste, but I needed one more item to get the $5 off 5 and it was the least expensive option and worth it to get the savings.
**These were actually on closeout, usually they are more expensive to start with.
TOTAL SPENT: 54.66
TOTAL SAVED: 119.28
So without sales/coupons/etc: 173.94 (total of 68.5% savings)
TARGET
Barilla Pasta x 10 (reg 12.90) = 6.90
Sleep Shirt (reg 17.99) = 1.79
Dunkin Donuts Coffee x 3 (reg 21.60) = 1.37
Eye Drops (reg .97) = .22
Total Spent: 10.28
Total Saved: 46.19 (approx 82%)
Meijer
Carmex Lip Balm x2 (reg 2.08) = Free
Tooth Brush (reg 1.88) = Free
Tooth Paste (reg 1.88) = Free
Hair Color x3 (reg 27.30) = 10.30
Protein Bar x2 (reg 3.04) = 1.00
Onions 1.74
Peas (reg 2.19) = 1.99
Swanson Broth x2 (reg 4.76) = 3.18
Gel Pacs Dish Soap (reg 3.99) = .54
Carrots (reg 2.50) = 1.50
Potatoes (reg 2.50) = 1.50
Creamer x2 (reg 3.94) = .67
Tax = 1.72
Total Spent: 23.94
Total Saved: 35.77 (approx 60%)
Kroger
Always Pads (reg 8.59) = 4.99
Secret Outlast Deodorant x2 (reg 8.74) = 1.98
Crest Toothpaste* (reg 3.77) = .99
Good and Healthy Bar (reg 1.29) = Free
Panteen Shampoo** x4 (reg 9.56) = 3.56
Herbel Essence Mousse x2 (reg 7.38) = 2.58
Old Spice Deodorant x4 (reg 11.16) = 3.16
Reach Flosser (reg 3.09) = Free
Bakery Bread (reg 1.99) = 1.00
Tax = 2.19
Total Spent 20.44
Total Saved 37.32 (approx 67%)
*As a general rule I do not buy toothpaste, but I needed one more item to get the $5 off 5 and it was the least expensive option and worth it to get the savings.
**These were actually on closeout, usually they are more expensive to start with.
The Daily Grind
I think the most important and defining part of my day comes when I take a minute and acknowledge who I am in Christ. Anything before this in my day I am doing in my own power and for my own purposes. Anything after this in my day is redeemable.
Psalm 51:10-12 (NLT)10 Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a loyal spirit within me.
11 Do not banish me from your presence,
and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.
Renew a loyal spirit within me.
11 Do not banish me from your presence,
and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and make me willing to obey you.
and make me willing to obey you.
The song version of this verse has been rolling through my head all morning. I find that when I am tired and melancholy it is because my heart has grown weary of my first Love. Restoration and renewal are such beautiful words to a weary heart.
Today, let us praise Him with shouts of laughter that we might would be a light to those around us.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Thankful Thursdays Top Ten #85
If I had it all together I'd be putting lots of pictures in this post but I decided bedtime was 11pm and want to get this out today soooo, pictures to follow :)
Thankfuls for this week...
1. A "I've got a secret" call from one of my friends :) I heart babies. (And actually her opening line was "I beat you" as if it is a competition! :)
2. A beautiful video of the Attic and our team and kids that makes me cry EVERYTIME I watch it. Once I figure out how to link I will.
3. Admitting to a friend that I do a lot of negative self-talking and sharing our struggles to get stronger!
4. Seeing a great change in our house due to the "do it now" mentality...not perfect, but definitely improved!
5. Getting to love on people. I still feel like it is very out of the box for me sometimes, but it is cool.
6. The lawsuit again The Attic being dropped! (This is a fairly long story but a girl was injured and it was because of insurance companies that it happened - God is good, all the time)
7. Watching people surround my family in prayer and support when we announced we had scheduled a closing date for the Attic. Still waiting to see what God has planned but I feel peaceful in the process.
8. 47 days until I get to see my best friend (ok well she is back in the country in 47 days...I should get to see her shortly after)
9. The crazy expression on people's faces when I talk about my kids and then have to explain that in addition to my two little kids I have 10-15 "big" kids that I consider family as well. :)
10. A return to some amount of normal after the holidays and sickness.
Thankfuls for this week...
1. A "I've got a secret" call from one of my friends :) I heart babies. (And actually her opening line was "I beat you" as if it is a competition! :)
2. A beautiful video of the Attic and our team and kids that makes me cry EVERYTIME I watch it. Once I figure out how to link I will.
3. Admitting to a friend that I do a lot of negative self-talking and sharing our struggles to get stronger!
4. Seeing a great change in our house due to the "do it now" mentality...not perfect, but definitely improved!
5. Getting to love on people. I still feel like it is very out of the box for me sometimes, but it is cool.
6. The lawsuit again The Attic being dropped! (This is a fairly long story but a girl was injured and it was because of insurance companies that it happened - God is good, all the time)
7. Watching people surround my family in prayer and support when we announced we had scheduled a closing date for the Attic. Still waiting to see what God has planned but I feel peaceful in the process.
8. 47 days until I get to see my best friend (ok well she is back in the country in 47 days...I should get to see her shortly after)
9. The crazy expression on people's faces when I talk about my kids and then have to explain that in addition to my two little kids I have 10-15 "big" kids that I consider family as well. :)
10. A return to some amount of normal after the holidays and sickness.
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