Crazy couponing

     So I wrote about the crazy couponing people here.  I might be becoming one of them.  Seriously, how can you not try to save money?  I don't have a picture to post but just spent $47 at Safeway and saved $55.  Yes, $55.  Some was just regular club card savings, some coupons, some ecoupons which I am really enjoying b/c you seemingly can combine them with manufacturers coupons, and some internet coupons I printed oh and a $10/$50 coupon.  Really, that is the only way I would shop at Safeway regularly, otherwise it is way more expensive than Winco. (Here's hoping Winco will start taking internet printables soon, that would really make my day!)
     My best buy.  5 boxes of wheat thins for free.  Yep. Free.  If you bought 5 they were only $1 a piece, plus by becoming a fan of wheat things on facebook here you can print off $1/1 box.  I hit my back button, printed 2 at home and at work printed 2 more.  Plus I had the same coupon from the sunday paper that I had cut out.  That makes 5 $1 off coupons bringing the cost to FREE!  Okay, so not only that, but there is a rebate form if you buy 10 Nabisco products, you get $10 rebate check.  So, not only were 5 of the boxes free, I get money back on them.  I bought 3 boxes at Winco for $1.66 each and have 2 more boxes to buy for the rebate.  There were other good deals as well but won't go into them.  But I will say a big chunk of the $47 was $11 for a bag of cat food.  When I think about the milk, yogurt, bread, meat, produce, crackers, cereal, chips, pudding that I got for really $36 it makes me happy.  Okay, I said I wasn't going to go into it. 
     I know, I said I didn't have the pantry space.  Well, I created a small amount in the garage when I stocked up on hubby's favorite cereal a couple of months ago.  Here is what I won't do though.  I don't plan on going through the line for multiple transactions (at this point anyway), I don't plan on buying things I don't need just to give them away (Like get a glucose meter for free).  I don't have the energy or time for stuff like that. 
     I will say this stresses me out just a little.  Like I was worried I hadn't spent enough at Safeway as I thought you had to use the $10 off coupon after all other coupons but the cashier did it second.  And it took me longer to shop b/c I wanted to find all the right deals and make sure my coupons were for the right stuff. 
I think I need a better way to organize my coupons for when I am shopping, but will work on that.
Here is the best part of this:  there are lots of blogs out there with women who have more time than I do to find all the great deals and write about them.  Not only do they write about them but put the links up for all the printable coupons and rebates.  It makes it almost easy which is why I am doing this. Seriously, I have three children and work part time.  I don't have a lot of extra time for stuff like this.
I didn't really save any on my grocery budget this month because of Christmas, but am looking forward to saving some next month.  Will keep you posted.

Dec. 24th

"Silent night, holy night All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born
Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth "

Dec. 22nd

Wow, three days until Christmas.  I am feeling pretty relaxed right now.  Had an awesome day hanging out with a great friend and even though I look around my house at the absolute mess, I just don't care.  That's a good thing.  What will get done will get done and whatever doesn't get done, it's okay.
But today I am thinking about 3 days.  Remember when you were 9 months pregnant (I am assuming most people reading this are moms)?  Remember that feeling?  You just wanted that baby out.  You are ready to meet him/her, hold them in your arms and be able to put shoes on in a dignified manner.  But it was also stressful in a way, wondering when you were going to go into labor.  How it would all pan out. Would you make it to the hospital?  Would it be fast or slow?  Was your water going to break while in the grocery store and go everywhere?  Stuff like that.
Now imagine, you are Mary.   She was young.  Her and Joseph had to travel many miles to get to Bethlehem for the census.  She rode a donkey and was very pregnant.  They had no place to stay, no doctor, no bed.  Can you imagine?  This child was created by God.  Do you think she wondered if her child would be normal?  Healthy?  I imagine I would be full of a million questions.  Yet all she could do was wait.  Wait for Jesus to come.  Do you think she knew?  Do you think she realized what His coming would mean? 
I imagine she didn't know fully the significance of this birth.  Yet, it didn't really matter did it?  To her, she was bearing her son.  She could feel him move in her.  Anticipated his birth.  Hoped everything would turn out okay.  Loved him fiercely as any mother loves her child.  As we love our children.  I don't really think I give Mary enough credit.  She has been over idealized.  But I think I neglect her a little too much.  She must have been an amazing woman for God to have chosen her for this task.  Knowing the heartache she would go through eventually.  He entrusted His son to her.  I can't wait to meet her in heaven.

Dec. 21st

Holiday.  I really hate that word. I refuse to tell people "happy holidays".  I refuse to buy cards that say "have a good holiday" or "hope your holiday is merry".  I feel very strongly about this.  And I get it.  I honestly get that there are people who don't believe in Jesus, who don't celebrate His birth, who celebrate Hannukah (am not sure how to spell that) or santa or whatever else there is this month.  But to me, this holiday is a celebration of Christ's birth.  His birth.  That is why Christmas is here.  That is my belief and I feel I have the right to tell people "Merry Christmas".
So Merry Christmas to all of you!

Dec. 20th

I was sitting at church today which just so happens to meet in a school cafeteria and I noticed some pictures on the wall that kids had colored in.  They were pictures of santa, christmas trees with presents underneath, and teddy bears.  For some reason it really struck me how empty it all was.  Christmas without Christ.  What is the point?  Presents? pine trees to cut down and put in your house and decorate? It is all meaningless if you take Jesus out of the picture.  So empty and sad.  I can't even imagine.  That was how I celebrated Christmas the first 8 years of my life.  I do remember it and yet still can't imagine it.  I also remember the let down, you know after all the presents are unwrapped and you look around and there is nothing else.  That's it.  Because you have built up this great santa giving, present getting purpose and once it is over, it's over.  All the excitement is gone, all the build up.  Okay you get my point.
But now, now I have Jesus.  His birth, His life, His death even and most importantly, His resurrection.  I get that hope.  The hope that comes with Christmas.  The hope for something more than this life.  There is something more than this life.  This life that can be so hard and full of so many disappointments, this is not all there is.  And I am so glad for that hope.  That hope I can pass to my children.
So this week, with all the hustle and bustle of trying to get everything perfect, every present wrapped, every goody baked, every dustbunny dusted...I am not.  I am not going to let it get to me.  I am going to keep my focus on what brought us to this "holiday".  The birth of my Saviour.  Because, when He was born, everything changed.  My life changed because of His birthday.  My Christmas changed once I learned the truth.  And I am so thankful for that truth!

Dec. 20th

5 days until Christmas.  It's so hard to believe how quickly this month goes by.  Before we know it, it will be over.  The tree will be taken down, decorations put away, treats eaten, presents opened.
But the true reason for Christmas is eternal, never ending.  Jesus coming as a precious baby, our Savior is an amazing gift.  Something to remember and be thankful for every day of our lives.

Dec. 17th

Today was not a good keeping in the spirit of the season kind of day.  So am going to look at the brief bright sides in my day:
having impromptu "coffee" with a friend whom I haven't seen in awhile
wrapping presents (I do really love giving gifts)
watching Elf - for the first time.  Am not sure it will become a classic for me but pretty funny
hearing son sing songs about Jesus-this one is the best
having my kids actually play together without fighting-granted they played loudly which I really wasn't up for  
    but at least they were getting along
That's it.  All I got for today.
Maybe tomorrow will be brighter:-)

Dec. 16th

You know one of the things I love most about working?  Especially on wednesdays when my husband is home with the kids?  Is coming in the door and having all the kids so excited to see me and hug me and tell me about their days.  That is something that is usually reserved for husbands.  Let me tell you, it feels great.
I know this is another post sort of about work, but once again it is late and I am tired.  I am also grateful at this moment for my bed and the fact that I don't have to work tomorrow.  So maybe I will get to sleep in a little.

Dec. 15th

I can hardly believe it is the middle of December already. 
So yesterday I sort of went off on a tangent.  I started talking about being thankful for my job and then got a little defensive.  I am working on that. 
I am going to go back to the subject of my job though because I didn't really get to the point I was trying to make yesterday.  That happens when I am tired.  So here goes try number 2.
I am grateful for a career that God has blessed me with that I enjoy.  I have seen lots of people go to work every day not liking what they do.  For whatever reason they got into the job they have, whether it was for the money, or lack of education or lack of other job availability.  When I was in high school thinking about what I wanted to do with my life, I knew I had to pick a job that I would like.  My dad is an architect.  He became an architect b/c it was a smarter decision money-wise than being an art teacher.  But it wasn't a wiser decision than being happy.  I knew I would never pick a job just for the money.  Because if you are going to spend thousands of hours of your life doing something you should enjoy doing it. 
I am grateful that I got to this place.  It was hard getting to be a physical therapist.  It is hard right now trying to get an extra certification.  But God helped me and is helping me all the way.  Someday, maybe I will even own a clinic.  I don't know what path He has for me.  But I know to trust Him with it.  And I am truly grateful that He put something on my heart to do that I enjoy.

Dec. 14th

Being a working mom has its advantages and disadvantages.  There is a big movement for women to stay home.  I get that.  I do think it is important for kids to be raised by their parents and not in daycare all the time.  But I also know that God gives us a calling.  Some women are born to be stay at home moms.  It comes naturally.  They love volunteering at their kids' school or home schooling, doing craft projects, taking them places, all that stuff that goes along being with your kids 24/7.  Then there are women, like me.  I do feel like I was born to be a mom.  But I also feel I was born to be a physical therapist.  I often get a look from Christians when they find out I work.  Like they feel sorry for me b/c we can't make ends meet and I have to work.  But that is not necessarily the case.  God put that calling on my heart in high school and it stuck with me through thick and thin.  It took 2 years for me to get into graduate school.  The second time I applied, I only got on a waiting list and I was literally like 124 on that list.  Pretty dismal odds.  I told my husband that I was giving up on school and we were going to have kids.  That was it.  I was done.  Then I got a call.  From the school, saying I was accepted and did I want to join their class of 2002?  It was truly a miracle for me.  Truly God's will.  Especially b/c it meant moving across the country to a place that was scary (Philly) and without knowing a soul. 
But I digress.  My point is, while I love being a mom.  I love being a PT.  It comes naturally to me most of the time.  When someone walks in my office, in pain, barely walking and I can provide immediate relief of their symptoms.  That is a good day.  A day I know what I am doing is right.  Yes, I am torn.  It is hard not being there for my kids every day.  But I know I am a better mom b/c of my job.  It might sound selfish and writing it/thinking it sometimes sounds selfish.  Yet, I know what it took for me to get to the place where I am.  It took God.  It took His gift.  It took His plan.  His courage.   I am pretty sure I never would have made it to this place alone.

Dec. 13th

Today, being Sunday, I am grateful for my church.  My husband and I searched for many years for a church that fit us.  We found a through the Bible church that we learned a lot from, but it was big.  2000 people big.  You could go to the same service every sunday for years (as we did) and see different people every sunday.  Plus it was a 30 minute drive which made it hard to get involved.  I know that sounds like an excuse but with 3 young kids, it was impossible for us to really connect.  So when we heard that a pastor of a church we went to long ago was back in the area to start a church we were so excited.  Husband went to the first service by himself.  It was at 5 pm on a sunday and kids under 5 were to stay in the service with the adults.  Kind of intimidating when you have three kids 4 and under.  I mean seriously, could we control our children through an evening service every Sunday and get something out of it. 
Now, almost 2 years later.  I can count on my hands the number of times we have missed church.  That has not been the same in our previous 12 years of marriage.  We used to miss all the time.  But now I feel accountable.  I have people ask me if we were okay when we missed.  We have a church body who cares about us.  A pastor who is apparently oblivious to noisy children (my daughter once screamed as I was carrying her out of the service "I don't want a spanking").  The service is now at 10 am and our 6 year old goes to sunday school (and in 6 months or so our daughter will as well) and we love it.  I feel it as changed me, finding my place in a church.  It has made me yearn to seek God more, to be more Christlike, to help my children grow in the knowledge of Him.
It is still a struggle to go to church sometimes.  I mean, satan really doesn't want us to go.  My husband and I fight more on sundays before church than probably any other time of the week.  But we get there, and I feel peace.  And I know that we beat satan that day.  He tried to keep us from learning and we beat him.  And we will again next week.  And our children are learning and loving God and I pray that never ends.

Dec. 12th

Yes, I know I skipped a day but what can you do.  Fridays are a very busy day for me.
So on to saturday.
Today I am putting up Christmas decorations and listening to Christmas music.  I love all the stuff that goes with Christmas.  I know not all of it comes from Christian traditions but I still love it.  It makes me think of family and my grandma.  My grandma loved Christmas.  She decorated like crazy, made homemade candy, put together the most amazing Christmas dinner.  Not to mention getting up before anyone else Christmas morning (which was hard with my brother and I anxiously waiting for presents) to make homemade cinnamon rolls.  Seriously.  She did not make them ahead of time.  She got up and made them fresh Christmas morning.  Every year.  I don't even know what time she got up.  Homemade bread takes time to raise.  They were always perfect.  The smells in her house were awesome.  She loved her family.  She took care of and spoiled us.
I wish I had taken the time to learn more from her when I had the chance.
Family, is one of the best things about Christmas!

Dec. 10th

     I know that God shapes my life daily when I let Him.  But there are specific things in my life, where I see His hand very clearly.  One of those things is my husband. 
     I fell in love with him the first time I saw him.  He was literally one of the first boys I met at George Fox.  I think it was his eyes that caught me.  However, he just didn't feel the same way.  And as an 18 year old that was so tragic.  But I got over it and we became friends of sorts.  My sophomore year, I was sort of discouraged about men.  It is hard when you are shy and you see friends who have boyfriends and want so badly for someone to love you.  But when you are still broken, and I was broken by my father, that is not a good time to have a boyfriend.  One day I was in my room and it was pouring and I was lonely and sad.  Then a beautiful rainbow showed up right outside my window.  And I felt God's presence in such a strong way.  I saw this picture of His hands, in one was me.  He was carrying me, molding me, healing me.  In the other was this unknown boy.  Whom He was also shaping and molding, guiding him toward manhood.  And I knew. That was the man I was going to marry. That God was in control.  I wrote down my list.  My list of qualities I wanted in a man.  I literally had no picture of this guy in my head.  I didn't see faces of boys I knew at school.  All I saw was a shadow, in God's hand.
     My senior year, this boy I had been so in love with my freshman year came back in the picture through a mutual friend.  He had just broken up with his girlfriend and started hanging out with my group of friends again.  I was so grateful to be over him and to appreciate him as a friend.  That is how I truly felt when he started hanging out with us.  And that enabled me to be myself.  A group of us went to the beach one weekend and stayed at Twin Rocks.  He and I stayed up all night talking.  It was amazing really.  I have no idea what we talked about.  And it wasn't flirting or anything like that.  It was just 2 friends talking.  When we actually started dating about a month later.  I knew.  I knew he was the one that God held in his hands.  I had found the notecard a few months earlier trying to make it fit to this other guy I was interested in, but it hadn't been quite right.  But for this man, everything fit.  There wasn't one thing on that notecard that wasn't a part of who my husband was.  He was that man.  And I am so lucky...no blessed to have him.  He is an amazing husband and somtimes I take him for granted and forget to appreciate all that he does.  But I love him with all my heart.
     If we had started dating our freshman year, it would have been so different.  We both had things to do before we could be together.  I am so glad I have a God whom I can trust, who knows our futures, knows our needs, wants what is best for us.  But also a God who brings comfort and assurance.  What an amazing gift that is in this world that can be so difficult at times.

Dec. 9th

Okay so this is kind of hard.  Blogging every day.  Especially in the month of December when life is crazy and I am too exhausted at night to even think of anything interesting to say.
But, today I am grateful for...the comforts of home.  It is really cold outside.  Okay maybe not Michigan or Kansas cold but cold for us western Oregonians.  It is a dry cold which helps but still, cold.  But coming home, in my nice warm car to my Christmas lights shining on my warm and cozy house.  There are so many people out there who can't say that.  Who either can't afford to heat their house or don't have a house to heat, people living in their cars, on the street.  This year, it is just really hitting me how lucky I am.  Sure I wouldn't mind a bigger house, a family room, a bathtub I can actually get all of my body under the water with, a kitchen with plenty of cupboard and counter space.  But that would just be all icing.  My cake, my foundation is pretty darn good.  It's home and I am truly blessed.

Dec. 8th

Today we got our Christmas tree.  I love everything about having a Christmas tree: the lights, the ornaments, the smell (okay maybe not the needles all over the place).  I know that it is not really a Christ centered thing.  People from our church set up a big manger scene instead.  Which I am sure is beautiful and meaningful and I might want to start that tradition some day.  But I am not quite ready to give up the tree for the manger scene.  Writing that out makes me think I might have my priorities in the wrong place.  And yet I still love our tree.  Because how ever the tradition of the Christmas tree started, it means Christmas and family and love to me.  And I guess that is good enough for now.
Someday, maybe we will have both.

Dec. 7th

     I love it when God reaffirms something He has put on my heart.  Often, I get these nudgings from Him to do something and for some reason sometimes it is really hard to obey.  Whether it is calling someone, sending a card, donating money...whatever it might be, some of my insecurities or worldly doubts come in to play.  When I do obey, I always feel blessed.  So why is it so hard?  I just don't know. 
     What isn't hard though is when God not only puts it on my heart but on my husbands' as well.  Then I know I had better do it.  And often, when it is something bigger that really affects us both, I will pray that He will have the same desire as mine.  This happened recently.  God put something on my heart and I felt excited to do it when the idea first hit and then I started second guessing whether I really should, if I had the time or the energy, all those excuses we make for ourselves when trying to justify not obeying God.  But then He put it on my husbands heart as well and I knew I couldn't ignore it.
     Through all this, when people ask "how can we be sure that God is real?"  I know from my interactions with Him daily, that He is real, powerful, loving, on our side, protecting us.  And it gives me hope.  Hope despite the difficulties of the world.  Hope for our future in heaven.  I look forward to that day for sure!
(if this post seems a little unorganized, I am tired and have a cranky kid screaming at me so I apologize.)
  

Dec. 5th and 6th

Okay, this weekend, I dropped the ball a little.  But I do have a good excuse.  I was in class most of the weekend and then recuperating what little I had left with my kiddos.
I think last night as I was driving home, utterly exhausted, I just felt grateful to God that He knows our needs.  Some needs we know and some we don't.  Last night for me, it was sleep.  And I got it.  The best night's sleep I had had in a week.  Granted, it was a little less than 7 hours but that was enough somehow for me to feel refreshed. 
Now I am hoping for that same kind of thing tonight.

Dec. 4th

It's late.  I am tired.  I almost forgot about this.  And that is exactly why I am doing this.
Tonight, I feel hopeful.  Even feeling tired, overwhelmed, stressed, I know I have rest and peace in Jesus my Savior.  What an empty life it would be without Him.

Dec. 3rd

Seriously, I am having a week.  A week where I forget what time my son gets out of school.  A week where I almost put a post on my wrong blog.  One that would not go over well with some people who read that blog.  Why this blog is more private.  Anyway, I figured out finally that I posted on the wrong blog, deleted it and now get to type it all over.  Fun times.  And it's only Day 3 (Jesus is the reason, Jesus is the reason...I have to keep saying that to myself)
Here we go:
God's love.  I think people just really don't understand it.  I am not saying I fully understand it myself but it saddens me to think of so many people in our world who live without knowing God loves them.  Today I read a discussion page (on Amazon of all places) where someone brought up the topic "why do Christians pray for Obama to die?" I actually know people who feel that way.  By that, I mean I know strong Christians who feel that way.  Really?? How can someone profess God's love on one hand and pray for the death of another human being on the other? I don't get it. It is easy to try to justify it, I mean there are people like Hitler, Sadam Hussein, Mussolini who were truly horrible people (among many others in history) who brought death and destruction to their countries.  If were under any of them, I might pray for their death.  But I honestly find it hard to believe that Obama is in those categories. But that doesn't really matter does it?  It doesn't matter that they are the most horrible peron on earth or just someone who is misguided.  The truth of the matter is God loves us.  Period.  We are all sinners.  Every...single....one....of....us.  And I truly believe that killing a person is the same as a lie in God's book.  Not in a human book.  Someone who murders should go to prison, someone who lies should not necessarily.  But God loves us all.  Equally.  He loved us enough to send His son as a baby to die for us.  He knew.  He knew His son would eventually be tortured and put to a horrible death.  And He did it anyway.  I don't think that I, as a mother, could do the same.  Could have a baby knowing something like that.  But He did it.  For you.  For me.  For Hitler even.  He did it.
God's love.  Amazing.

Dec. 2nd

This was a busy day for me and I almost forgot to post.  Honestly, if I can't even do 2 days in a row then I am in trouble:-)
I was going to write about my kids (again) but something happened today so will write about the other thing later.  It wasn't anything big, it wasn't even something I officially prayed for.  But it happened.  Like it happens a lot, the small, quiet things.  God took care of me.  So simple really.  But He does it a lot and I think I don't give Him the credit as much as I should. 
I am taking a year long class to get Certified in Manual Therapy which probably doesn't mean much to you but it is a big deal for me.  It is one weekend a month for 10 months.  Yes, 10 months.  One entire weekend.  8-5 on saturday and 8-3 on sunday.  Okay, so no big deal right?  Except that I work, have three kids and along with that comes an abundance of jobs.  One weekend a month is a big chunk of my precious time.  But God opened the door for me to take this class and I know He wants me there.  Did I mention I have to study?  Yes, study because we have quizzes.  So that big chunk of time the class takes is added on to by the studying.  Which I don't really have the energy for and don't make a priority (until the big test in April). 
    I know you are wondering my point here.  I am really tired, sorry.  My point is that on my 10 hour work day, I was scheduled for 12 patients.  How many actually showed?  5.  Times that by approximately 45 minutes and you get less than 4 hours.  What did that leave?  About 5 hours of studying time (I took a break for lunch and a trip to the store).  5 hours of unexpected, have nothing better to do, getting paid for...study time.  What a gift!  God is so good!

Dec 1st

Last night as I went to tuck my beautiful children in for the night, I had an urge to just sit and watch them sleep and then I had an urge to pray over them.  What a gift.  Prayer.  It has not always been my focus and often it has become my last resort.  When I am weary, brokenhearted, despairing - that is when I have found myself crying out to God.  Fortunately more recently it has come to my mind before I get to that point.  It didn't come easy at first, to pray more often, to pray proactively and sometimes, I feel I am just saying the same things over and over.  But with help from a terrific prayer partner and God's leading, I have been praying more and more.  How amazing is it, that our God listens to our prayers, that He answers them, that He never tires of listening to us.  How amazing that He sent His son to be our intercessor!  As I prayed over my children, I was reminded that He loves my them even more than I do and how blessed I am that He watches over them without ceasing.  Surely I can at least attempt the same with talking to my Lord.
"Therefore, let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" Hebrews 4:16

Blog challenge to myself

Over the past month there have been lots of blogs out there celebrating daily what they are thankful for.  I thought I should do something like that but it was already the middle of November and Thanksgiving was coming fast and I realized that it would be more beneficial to me, to try daily blogging in December.  I love Christmas.  It has always been my favorite holiday.  But it is so easy to get caught up in the worldly aspect of Christmas.  Especially because I love to give gifts (I even enjoy receiving them a little:-), send Christmas cards and I love to bake and before I know it, I am stressed out about giving the right gifts, baking enough of something and getting things in the mail...sigh, I hate going to the post office.   And I start losing what Christmas is all about.  So, here is my challenge for the month of December: my daily blog will be something to help me stay focused on Christ.
     I am good at starting up on these challenges I give myself and then not following through so I am hopeful I can do it this time.  We will see.