excuses, excuses

So I have excuses for my lack of posting, promise.  But for now...one of my bloggy friends, Leigh Anne from Simply Swarbrick gave me the "I Love This Blog Award" Blog Award...so sweet! And since I've been a slacker on posting, I thought this would be a perfect way to reconnect with you gals.  (And let me send out a from-the-bottom-of-my-heart "thank you" and "I'm sorry" to you other amazing gals that have passed on awards lately.  I love y'alls blogs and so appreciate your reading support as well!)

I'm sharing seven things about myself...and then passing it on to seven of you sweet readers!

One--I have so neglected myself lately.  I'm talking in order to make myself feel pampered again I need a mani, pedi, and a haircut.  Hopefully I'll get on those, if not before, during my Spring Break.  I hate when I let myself go.

Two--I have the most patient, kind-hearted hubby.  Yep, really, I do. :)

Three--I loathe keeping secrets.  I'm awful at it.  Horrible...and it really is dreadful for me.

Four--I am a total believer in going above and beyond to treat others kindly.  No matter how mad they make you or how rude they are to you, I believe God blesses us for loving on our neighbors and treating them like friends when they treat us more like enemies.  I thank my mom for always reminding me growing up that "everyone has sacred worth".

Five--I drive to work in silence every morning during my 25 minute commute.  It's my one time of the day where I truly feel at peace to just sit and talk with and listen to God.  Without all the business that my day includes.  He has shared some precious reminders and promises with me then...and it's a time I treasure with my whole heart.

Six--Speaking of driving...I'm a deer slayer.  (My family often refers to me as this.)  Not in a hunting with a gun kinda way...but with my car.  A couple weeks ago, I hit my fourth deer since starting to drive at 16.  They seek me out.  No kidding.  My uncle is an avid hunter and I told him that he just needs to take me with him...because they sense me and they come running! (And don't get me started on the fact that I hit this stupid thing with the same car we're trying to sell.  Lovely.  Thankfully it was only body damage and we're picking it up from the shop today.)

Seven--Everytime my kiddos earn a celebration in our class (they spell out the word "celebration" as a class one letter at a time as they do positive things), I secretly pray and hope they choose pajama day off the list of celebration ideas they created at the beginning of the year.   I mean come on...who doesn't want to wear their pajamas all day? Um, apparently too-cool-for-school 4th graders...they would rather go for "crazy hair day" or extra recess.  (And I would maybe never tweak the voting if it was close to get a pajama day celebration.) Boo. ;)

Passing this on to...

Amanda @ the shepard life
Jessie @ Graciejess
Crystal @ Endless Vine
Ashleigh @ Ashleigh's Blog
Nicole @ Living.Learning.Loving
Vanessa @ My Crazy Blessed Life
Mrs. Raymond @ Ramblings of Mrs. Raymond


Happy weekend!! Enjoy every minute.

memory verse

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The thought of Spring coming and this being my birthday month has gotten me so excited! I feel like I've gotten a zap of energy with those random tastes of warm weather we get here and there.  With that being said, I'm not very energetic right now when it comes to posting.  I'm so out of words right now to blog about.  I'm sure my writing energy will come back soon.  Be patient with me. :)  I wanted to share our memory verse for the week in hopes that it gives you a burst of faith energy.

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful."

Hebrews 10:23

May you find hope in His love and promises.

How Much Can I Save in a Year? Feb. Update!

February Savings 

$68.08

2011 Total Savings

$180.62 

Best of Savings

{Free Items this month using coupons}

-Dove Deoderant $2

-Starkist Tuna Salad Pouch $1

-Honest Tea $1

-Yoplait Yogurt $0.50

-2 Free Gillette Body Wash $2.50 each

-2 packs Mentos Gum $1 each

-2 Colgate Toothpaste $0.98 each

A Little Savings Tidbit

Our overall savings due to coupons are down a bit, but there is a reason for it.  We have recently transitioned into being a one-income family.  This is just a decision to help us save more and plan for the future a bit.  Because of this, our overall spending is down, which of course means we are saving...and saving considerably...just not as much by using coupons.  We have cut our grocery budget and eating out budget down by $10 for both.  This means we're saving $20 a week...or $80 a month overall.

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One huge factor in this has been meal planning using e-mealz. I mentioned this briefly in another post, but wanted to go more in detail now that we have lived it for several weeks and can testify that it works and has been a huge blessing to us.  The idea behind it is that you pay a small fee (it ends up being $1.25 per week) and a meal plan is created for you by the lovely people of e-mealz.  This menu and shopping list is available for you each week to print off.  The great thing is that you choose the plan you want based on your family's needs.  Most meal plans, if you choose a store-specific one, is matched up with the week's sales at that store.  For example, we have chosen the Wal-Mart plan for two people.  The week's groceries average out to about $35 a week for all the ingredients you need.  The recipes are simple and, even better, your meal planning is completed for you.

We have found this to even help us save money by often using the plan to shop at Kroger (they don't offer a Kroger meal plan).  I often stack coupons with the items that are on the shopping list and save even more money.  There is also much room for tailoring the menu based on your health-conscious needs and your family's tastes.  (E-mealz didn't ask me to give them a shout out and they aren't compensating me for this post, but I just wanted to pass on our own happiness with this program in hopes it can help at least one other family out there.)


Now it's your turn! Link up below with a deals post of your own.  Whether its an update on your savings so far this year or just a great trip you had with great savings! Anything goes! Also, make sure to go check out Thankfully Thrifty to see how new mom, Ashleigh's, savings are going so far this year!

wait.

 I just love when I sit down in my seat at church and I hear a message that feels as though God wrote it JUST for me.  JUST for that moment.  JUST at the time I needed to hear it.

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The message this Sunday was on waiting.  Waiting on the Lord.  It's something I'm not good at.  I have a few things going against me on this one:  I'm a self-proclaimed Type A, inattentive, busy-body, planner-to-a-tee, say-yes-to-everything, be-everything-to-everyone, impatient girl.

And today, God shared a message with me.  It's as if He dropped a little love note right out of the sky.  It came through our guest pastor at church and it came through this scripture: 

Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, 'My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is  disregarded by my God'? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the  Creator of the ends of the earth.  He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.  He gives power to the faint, and  strengthens the powerless.  Even youths will faint and  be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.  

Isaiah 40:27-31

What has gripped at my hear the most, is that He doesn't leave me alone when He says wait.  It doesn't mean He's not working.  It doesn't mean He's not answering prayers.  In the middle of waiting (on what seems like so many things and answers right now), He is working fiercely on my heart.  It's not easy.  And to be honest, it's not the way I want it.  But it's what's best.  It's not all about me.  And whether I like it or not, God knows just what He's doing when He calls me to wait on Him.  He knows it's not in my nature.  He knows He has to hold tight to me.  And He knows He's not finished with me.  So now, I wait.  And oddly enough....I'm full of joy doing it.

How do you practice patience? What is God teaching you about waiting on Him?

what I'm loving.

I'm linking up with Jamie today!


I'm loving...the gorgeous flowers my hubby had sent to my classroom on Valentine's Day! When my kiddos asked who my "secret admirer" was, I was happy to exclaim that it was Mr. G.  The response got a sweet "awwwww" out of some of my girls.

I'm loving...that hubby and I had a fun date last night.  We went to The Cheesecake Factory.  I had their "Garlic Noodles" dish for the first time.  Probably the best pasta I've ever had.  No joke! And let's not get started on the Chocolate Tuxedo Cheesecake we shared...yum!

I'm loving...that 70 degrees is in our forecast.  Spring means summer is next.  I love warm weather and sunshine! Goodness, even the 50s are feeling like a heatwave around here!

I'm loving...what God is doing in my heart.  He always teaches me just what I need to learn.  His faithfulness and attention to every little detail in my life always amazes me.

I'm loving...our new tradition of memorizing a bible verse as a couple each week.  What a fun way to dive into scripture together! Each week, I write the verse for the week on our refrigerator whiteboard.  Last week was Matthew 16:24--And then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone should come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me."  This week's is Jeremiah 29:11.

I'm loving...that I'm finally caught up on laundry! Whew!

I'm loving...that I have come to grips with the fact that the weeks until Spring Break are going to be a little stressful.  A tad overwhelming. But the best part is that God has reminded me to just take it one day at a time and one stressful event at a time.  He only promises us today...and for today, I am grateful!

I'm loving...that warmer weather means more walks with this cuteness (although he maybe would rather sleep).

Happy Wednesday, folks! What are you lovin'?

Guest Post lovin'

Hey sweet readers! 

Head on over to new momma, Ashleigh's, blog Thankfully Thrifty for a guest post by yours truly.  While she's on maternity leave from her blog, she's featuring guest posts by many.

Enjoy and Happy Tuesday!

that b word

It's probably no coincidence or accident that my last post and this post are about the same thing...that b word. 

I'll blame the following...

+

(You do the math.)

This little cutie didn't help anything! :) 

Congrats to our good friends, Kevin and Kendra on their precious blessing, Jacey Grace born Friday night.  We met her last night and she's a doll!

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11