This will not be a regular edition on this blog, but I did want to share that I was trying out couponing.  I've always been of the mindset that coupons wouldn't make that big of a difference if I stuck to store brands and shopped sales.  And with some items, that rule continues to apply to me.

However, after two successful shopping trips, I'm now convinced on the positive impact couponing can have on your grocery/household item budget.  I've hit Walgreens and Kroger twice with tremendous savings.  First trip: I spent an average of 60% on items I normally buy.  Second trip: I spent an average of 40-50% on items I normally buy. (That means, I'm going to buy milk whether it's on sale or not, but I'm not going to buy certain things like specific yogurt brands unless it's cheaper than the store brand.)  I can't remember totals from the first week.

From the second week:

Before coupons at Walgreens I spent $89, after coupons I spent $46 out of pocket and received $27 in register rewards.  So $19 on $89, and I could have kicked myself because I completely forgot about a $5 off coupon I had.  (Remember, this is only my second shopping trip, so I'm training my thought process.)  So I spent an average of 21% of the total cost, and if I'd have remembered the coupon, it would have been closer to 15%.

At Kroger, after sales but before coupons, I spent $125, after coupons I spent $83.  So that's an average of 66% of the total cost.  Remember, these items are things we normally use and normally eat.  I don't want to start seeing good deals and purchasing items that we don't normally eat or use.  For us, it's not savings if I wouldn't normally buy it. 

This week's trip has us stocked on soap, toothpaste, body wash (which I only got because it was cheaper than bar soap with sales and coupons), and hair care items for at least four months.  We're stocked on toilet paper and razors for at least 6 weeks.  For the next two weeks, all we'll need by way of groceries is milk.  So basically, over the last three weeks, my grocery/household items budget has gotten to $110/ two weeks for a family of six.  This total includes diapers and four to five gallons of milk.  Not bad for us.

After seeing such positive results, I'm convinced that your grocery budget can definitely be slashed with the use of coupons.  It's funny to me because I've always thought that it wasn't worth the time involved.

I know this isn't the best picture ever, but I need to upload some new ones I've taken.  And I haven't gotten around to it, yet.  Please bear with me to my family and friends who come here to see pictures.

These verses have been extra special to me over the last few years.  Time and time again, I have gone to this passage for guidance, comfort, and encouragement.  And I hope they touch your heart this morning.

Ethan flying his kite when he got tired of fishing

Philippians 4:4-13

"[4]Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
[5] Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
[6] Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
[7] And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
[8] Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
[9] Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
[10] But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
[11] Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
[12] I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
[13] I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

Have a beautiful day!

My mom gave me this CD for my birthday.  I honestly cried when I heard it for the first time.   I hope you moms have a wonderful week!  "You're changing the world!"  Thank you, Mom!

"One Heartbeat at a Time"  Steven Curtis Chapman (for his wife)

Proverbs 31:31  " Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates."

Photo found here.

Isaiah 43:2 "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee."

I posted a video of our December Singing on my video blog here.

Photo at: Southern Maryland Online

"Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.
For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee."

Psalm 33:18-22

I read this on Heart to Heart with Diane, and I hope that I can heed the words of this wise "been there and done that" mommy because she's not only, been there and done that...she's still doing it!  Oh how I want to enjoy this little bit of time they're here in this home with me!  My new motto: RELAX and ENJOY these children!!  I seem to have a terrible inability to sit still at home because there is always something that needs to be done.  It takes a lot to get me to cool it for very long.  I'm gonna try though!

If I had my child to raise all over again,
I’d finger-paint more and point the finger less
I’d do less correcting and more connecting.
I’d take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.
I would care to know less and know to care more.
I’d take more hikes and fly more kites.
I’d stop playing serious, and seriously play.
I’d run through more fields and gaze at more stars.
I’d do more hugging and less tugging.
I would be firm less often, and affirm much more.
I’d build self esteem first, and the house later.
I’d teach less about the love of power,
And more about the power of love.
—Diane Loomans (Full Steam Ahead)

(Jenn- We found Joe's hat yesterday!)

"Please don't eat the butter!"

It's definitely Monday around here!  Have a great day!

Honestly, I feel sort of guilty.  I wasn't in a very "Thanksgiving-ish" mood last night.  I was trying to get everything ready to head off for Thanksgiving...my favorite holiday!  I fell into bed with only one suitcase packed and clothes that still needed to be ironed.  There were still dishes in the sink and laundry that needed to be done so I could pack it up.

However, "joy cometh in the morning."  What was I thinking?  There's so much to be thankful for, and all those things are going to come together.  It's not like we've never gone out of town before... I'm so thankful, this morning, to allow my heart to slow down and think about God's special blessings in our lives.

The past year has flown by, and I'm so thankful we're all able to enjoy another Thanksgiving together.  The Lord has richly blessed us this day and every day. 

I'm so thankful that our Grace is healthy and here to celebrate today with us today.  Last year, she was on the way, and I'm so thankful she's doing so well (pretty sure she's gained some weight, too!).  I think it's very easy to take good health for granted!  I'm thankful that Hannah is okay after her fall.  The Lord protected her from what could have been an even more terrible accident.  I'm thankful that Ethan and Daniel are doing well.  I'm thankful that I'm able to be here with them every day despite some of the long days we have!  I wouldn't trade this short time I have to be with them for anything!

I'm thankful for my dear husband and how patient he is with my OCD tendencies!  I'm thankful for how hard-working he is and for his job during this time of economic uncertainty.  (And as we leave to enjoy Thanksgiving, I'm thankful for the condition of the gas prices!)

I'm thankful for our church and for family and for friends!  You've all been wonderful to us, and I don't know how we would have made it this year without you!

As I took a stroll outside and witnessed the wind in the trees blowing leaves in circles through the air,  I enjoyed sipping my hot cup of coffee and pondering the  wonder of God in it.  It's an illustration used time and time again, and yet, it never gets old.  The evidence.  We don't see the wind, but we see the evidence that it's there.  And we see that in life every day.  The evidence of the Lord working in our lives!  I pray that He will be with you and your family as you celebrate the Lord's blessings in your life.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I wanted to slip onto the ol' blog and post a some new favorite blogs.

Money Saving Mom is such a great site!  The author is a young lady with two children and a third on the way.  She's my "hero" when it comes to money saving...a true inspiration!

Warm Pie, Happy Home is another favorite.  Her blog certainly sparks my creativity, and I just love her attitude about everything!  Another true inspiration!

Hope you all have a great Election Day! 

Just a couple of shots of my kitchen helpin' chikadees!  We baked Snickerdoodles today!

I sure wish I had the ability to get to sleep like this.  "Oh- I think I'm sleepy.  I guess I'll just lay down and go to sleep.  Who needs a bed?"  To be 15m old!  She's never done this before either, so I'm not holding my breath at her new little trend.  Seeing her sleep like that makes me wonder if I'll ever sleep again!  I used to the one who could (and did!) sleep through a hail storm.  Deron actually brought a hail stone in our home to show me just how big they had gotten during a storm one time!  Did I remember the enormous chunk of ice?  NO!  

I'm at that point in pregnancy when you'd much rather hold your sweet little one in your arms rather than in your belly.  But then again, I want the little miss to be ready, and she will be!  She'll get here when she's good and ready, I'm sure! :-)  Last night, our homeschool group blessed our family with a little baby shower tea party!  I don't think I've ever gotten so many gifts "for mommy" before!  I guess that's what having your fourth baby is like!  You have all you need, so the ladies pamper you with wonderful smelling lotions, body washes, even a relaxing CD!  Talk about excited!  I feel spoiled rotten! :-)  We also received plenty of size 3 diapers, but everyone was scared that everyone else would buy the 1s and 2s!  We had such a lovely time, and I'm so thankful for those sweet and kind ladies!  They've been such an encouragement!

My mom sent this to me in an email, and I thought it was hysterical!   I'd hate to see the descriptions for the 4th child! :-)  Thought I'd share...

If you notice the Game on my side bar, I hope you'll pop in and enter a guess!  I'll be sending out a little prize for the winner after the big day arrives!

Some hints to help you along:

1.  We already know that she's a girl.

2.  All of my children have been similar in size weighing 8 lbs 3 oz, 7 lbs 14 oz, and 7 lbs 14 oz-again!  And their lengths have all been between 20 and 22 inches.

3. None of them have shown real signs of coming too early.  Ethan- induced 1 day late, Daniel- induced 5 days early, and Hannah- spontaneous labor 2 days early.

Have fun!

A very sweet and encouraging friend of mine...wonderful wife and mommy to five little ones...sent me this joke!  I was laughing hysterically, and I have no doubt you will as well!  Enjoy!

One day my mother was out and my dad was in charge of me and my brother who is four years older than I am. I was maybe 1 and a half years old and had just recovered from an accident in which my arm had been broken among other injuries. 

Someone had given me a little 'tea set' as a get-well gift and it was one of my favorite toys.

Daddy was in the living room engrossed in the evening news and my brother was playing nearby in the living room when I brought Daddy a little cup of 'tea', which was just water. After several cups of tea and lots of praise for such yummy tea, my Mom came home.

My Dad made her wait in the living room to watch me bring him a cup of tea, because it was 'just the cutest
thing!'

My Mom waited, and sure enough, here I come down the hall with a cup of tea for Daddy and she watches him drink it up, then says, 'Did it ever occur to you that the only place that baby can reach to get water is the toilet?'

Have a wonderful day!