Think on These Things

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What can you do with $7.41?

For all my friends and family who haven't yet been convinced that they should be shopping at Walgreens and CVS, here's your proof!

This is what I bought today for $7.41 out-of-pocket. 

Also, I'll be getting a rebate next month of $13.94 for several of these items!  Thanks goes to Money Saving Mom (see link in sidebar) for teaching me how to get the most of out of couponing.



I actually stopped in at Walmart, too, because I had two $2.00 coupons for Kashi cereal, and it costs $2/box for some varieties there.  All of these places are within 3 miles of my house, so gas expense wasn't an issue.

Here's how it broke down:

Walmart:
2 boxes Kashi Heart to Heart cereal
1 canister grits (because Aldi doesn't have them!)

Total before coupons: $5.22
Minus coupons: -$4.00
Total spent: $1.22

CVS:
Edy's Slow Churned Cookies and Cream (1.5 qt)
Ground Ginger
12 pk CVS bath tissue
Neosporin ointment
Ice Breakers Candy
1 roll American Greetings gift wrap (30 sq. ft)
1 travel first aid kit
Total before coupons: $18.64
Minus coupons and ECB's: -$18.36
Total spent: $.28

Walgreens:
Walgreens paper plates (92 ct.)
Walgreens lightbulbs (4 pk)
Walgreens feminine pads (24 pk)
Hyponex Potting Soil (8 lbs)
store brand cheddar cheese (8 oz)
store brand cheese slices (16 pieces)
2 pkgs. string cheese (12 sticks, total)
2 pkgs. Bob Evans sausage patties (16 patties)
Nexcare Cold Sore ointment

Total before coupons: $24.94
Minus coupons and gift card rebates from last month: -$19.03
Total spent: $5.29

God's Provisions

Sonific Player Gone

Life Through the Eyes of a Child

I just love the age my son is right now.  He will turn 5 this week, and he's so much fun!  He's very expressive, both verbally and facially, so we get a first-hand look at what it's like to be little.  And it brings back our own memories of childhood.

As I posted recently, he has started to read.  The other day, we passed a well-known gas station chain (think: green/yellow/white flower), and he exuberantly announced with great satisfaction, "Hey, I can read that sign!  I know what that place is!  "Bip!"

Last Saturday, we had a surprise birthday party for him since our schedule happens to be packed this week.  We had a normal dinner at the grandparents' house, but when it was time for dessert, we told him to close his eyes.  We quickly put out his Spiderman cake, balloons, and a birthday sign and then told him to open his eyes.

His first reaction was confusion..."But, it's not my birthday, yet. ? "  As we explained that this was a surprise party, his whole entire face just lit up, and he joyfully questioned, "I'm FIVE now???!"

He happily ate his chocolate cake and ice cream, enjoying the moment fully.  After he finished, I posed the question, "Hmmm, I wonder what people usually do at a birthday party, after cake and ice cream?"  He thought for a minute and replied, "Well, play games and open presents, but of course, there are no presents." 

"Are you sure?"

His face lit up again.  "There's presents, too???!"  We told him to run into the living room, and he was so excited, he did a happy dance.  I guess he'd thought the presents had to wait till the real birthday!

His grandparents gave him something he'd been asking for a lot lately...a Rock'em Sock'em robot game.  (He remembered playing it at a friend's house TWO years ago.) He just couldn't get over his excitement..."I've been wanting this!  Wow!  I love this game!"  He's played with it every day since--several times.

Our children often do without things they want, because we just don't have the money.   I don't say this to complain. It's a fact of life.  And, as a dear friend pointed out recently, it's a blessing.  God knows what is best.  Perhaps they'd be drawn farther away from Him if they had more.  They have enough, and more than enough, actually, as I'm always trying to clean stuff out of the house! 

But, while I'm glad that they don't get everything they think they want, I'm also delighted when they do get something they've really wanted.  Because that's how God is with us.  Often, His answer to our requests is "No."  And we humbly bow in submission to His will, even when we don't understand.  Even when it seemed we were asking for a very real need to be met.

But, sometimes...Oh, sometimes... He answers "Yes" in such a surprising, unbelievable way, and when we least expect it.  He opens the floodgates of heaven and pours out His blessings upon us.  And we revel like a little child. 

When God answers specific prayers in amazingly specific ways, that's a blessing.  And if need brings us to that point of relying on God and not ourselves to provide, that need is a blessing!  Now, if only I can start to revel in the "No's" as well.  Because they truly are as great a blessing as His "Yes's."

One last story of my little boy, and then I'll stop rambling.  Last week, we all went to Borders bookstore.  As I took him to the children's section, he stopped and looked, and with big eyes and a look of disbelief quickly followed by joy, announced, "Then, this place isn't a DREAM!  It's REAL!  I thought I had just dreamed it!"  He took off, soaking in everything, enjoying the moment to it's fullest, and I had to smile.  His comment reminded me that one day, by God's grace, I'm going to set foot in a place that I've dreamed of.  But it's not just a dream.  It's real.  And, it will be far better than a children's bookstore.  I can hardly wait!