March 10th Rite-Aid Shopping Trip

First, I need to give a special thanks to "Mama T", "Papa C", and "Aunt Abbe" for taking care of my precious brood while I ventured out to save money.  I made three stops in one trip- Rite-Aid, Walgreen's, and Publix.  There's no way the kids would have lasted that long (not to mention picking up Jackson from school) so in other words, you made this possible.  Many thanks!

My first stop, Rite-Aid.  They had a couple freebies, a money-maker, and I had over $35 in +UP rewards to spend.  So, here's what I bought (prices shown are retail):

This Made Me Chuckle

I was planning to go to the grocery store yesterday (and the day before that, really) but I've just lost motivation lately (partially due to Publix's new coupon policy and their lack of store coupons for the previous 3 trips I've made) so when my folks invited me and the kids to go to Chick-fil-A with them for lunch, it was a good enough excuse to procrastinate again.  We had a great time, too.  Well worth the sacrifice, in my opinion. ;)

When my loving husband asked about my grocery run later that evening, I had to explain that I didn't go and why.  He looked a little disappointed because he was looking forward to having "special" creamer again and "quick-fix" lunches to take to work.  But if you know my husband, you know that he's a stickler for pinching pennies (and that we're really pinching them now in anticipation of our Disney trip) so I tried to smooth things over by saying, "Look at it this way.  At least I didn't spend any money today."  He just gave me a puzzled look and replied, "Well, maybe we should just stop eating altogether.  I'll bet we'll save ALOT of money then."

I'm still laughing!  I love my husband's sense of humor.  What a card!

Oh, I Just Can't Wait to Be in Disney!

Jackson is so excited about going to Disney World that I think he might explode.  I guess I really should have waited to tell him about our trip.  But maybe this will teach him patience.  He keeps talking about the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom.  He wants to see Mickey Mouse, Nemo, and the Lion King.  Oh!  And he's mentioned Buzz Lightyear a couple of times.  Sadie and Josiah are excited about the trip too but it's not something they constantly talk about like it is with Jackson.  It makes me wonder if he's like this at school all day too.  If he is, I feel sorry for his teachers. :)

Anyway, his enthusiasm for Disney mimics the enthusiasm of a certain lovable Disney character who can't wait to be King.  Remember him?  I picture Jackson singing a variation of this song with the chorus, "Oh, I just can't wait to be in Disney!"  Eighty-five more days.  Lord, help us. :)

Bullies, beware!

We had an incident happen Thursday afternoon that I want to share with you.  I really wasn't sure how to react.  You'll understand once you hear the story:

Jackson (our sweet, 5 year old Aspie) and his 4 year old brother, Josiah, were playing in the front yard when I noticed through the kitchen window another boy chasing after Jackson with what looked like a toy version (I hope) of a policeman's nightstick.  I couldn't tell whether Jackson was laughing or crying as the 8 or 9 year old boy chased him but nonetheless, my "Mommy Radar" went off!  Especially when I saw the boy swinging that stick around nearly hitting Jackson's head!

Want to Save Money on Gasoline?

Some of you may have run across the "Tips on pumping gas" email that's been circling the internet.  After doing a little research, I found this article on urbanlegends.com's website.  As you can see, while there is a little validity to the argument, savings are negligible and probably not worth the effort.

But this got me to thinking, "What can I do that will actually result in keeping my gasoline consumption at a minimum?"  Well, of course, the obvious answer is to limit your driving...but let's be realistic.  It is near impossible NOT to drive in our culture.  For most of us, our jobs are further than a bike ride away and very few of us live on self-sufficient farms that don't require a trip for groceries now and then.  After all, we have to eat, right?  Not to mention that the majority of us would rather not be hermits.  Nonetheless, most of us CAN cut back on the amount of time we spend behind the wheel.  Simple things like running all your errands during the same trip to town can save you not just pennies, but dollars!  Of course, having kids in tow makes this more difficult and your sanity might be worth spending a couple dollars more in gasoline by splitting them up.

Another thing to consider is the distance to your favorite grocery store and the number of trips you typically make in a month.  This suggestion is directed particularly to us "couponers".  I've been guilty of making special trips (out of the way) to pick up one or two things for "free" but if I factored in my gas mileage, did I really save anything?  Answer: sometimes, yes...sometimes, no.  Anyway, my point is that with gas prices continually going up, we would do well to keep this in mind.  Ask yourself, "How much do I need to buy?  How far out of the way is the store from where I am or where I'm going?  Are there other errands I need to make while out that are in the same area?"  Along this same vein, I heard (and I don't remember where) that you can also save fuel by planning your trip in a clock-wise direction, limiting your number of left-hand turns.  Apparently, the theory is that right-hand turns are faster and cut down your idle time.  Food for thought, right? :)

Not satisfied with my money-saving tips?  Neither am I.  These are more scientifically proven.  My favorite is "Stop driving like a maniac." LOL  Got any tips of your own?  Please share.  Drive safely, everyone! :)

Better Than a Hallelujah

Life is such a mixed bag. Ecclesiastes 3:1-7 is just as true today as it was when it was written.

"For everything there is a season,

a time for every activity under heaven.

A time to be born and a time to die.

A time to plant and a time to harvest.

A time to kill and a time to heal.

A time to tear down and a time to build up.

A time to cry and a time to laugh.

A time to grieve and a time to dance.

A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.

A time to embrace and a time to turn away.

A time to search and a time to quit searching.

A time to keep and a time to throw away.

A time to tear and a time to mend.

A time to be quiet and a time to speak.

A time to love and a time to hate.

A time for war and a time for peace."

Two things struck me today about this passage:

1. These times come at different times for different people simultaneously. For instance, while someone may be celebrating the birth of a child today, someone else may be mourning the death of one. And...
2. Some of these different times can also come for the same people simultaneously. Using the previous example, while mourning the loss of a child, one can also celebrate the fact that they were born in the first place, for the time afforded with them on this earth.

I had a lot more I wanted to say about this but my brain is moving faster than I can type and going in all kinds of different directions just based on these two striking thoughts...and it's getting too deep for even me. :) So, just think about this for now; if we can feel this way, while taking into account that 1) we are made in His image and 2) He's not limited by time (In fact, He's not limited at all.), how does God feel? Maybe I'll delve deeper later.

I want to leave you with this last "benediction", if you will. I think it sheds a little light on the irony/complexity of what I'm trying to convey, but my primary goal in sharing this song is to uplift those who are suffering. He is with you...an ever present help in times of trouble and sorrow. He cries with you, yet rejoices when you turn to Him, trusting Him with your grief.

Thoughts from Preschoolers

It's been a few days since my last post (and things are still so busy around here) but I did want to take a moment to share a morsel or two for your amusement. Our kids never cease to amaze us with some of the things they'll say. Here are just a couple recent things I remember...

Jackson (5 years old): "We live in Lake Park, GA."

Josiah (4 years old): "No. We live in Earth."

On a separate occasion:

Josiah: "We live in Earth."

Sadie (nearly 3): "No! We live in space!" (She was fairly adamant about that one.)

Josiah: "Daddy, I am 4 years old."

Daddy: "Yes, you are. How old do you think I am?"

Josiah: "Five."

Me after kids ate nearly all my Yoplait Delights: "Why do you kids keep eating all my food?"

Sadie: "Because we want to share with you."

Sadie: "Mommy, is it Christmas times?"

Josiah: "No, Sadie. It's Valentimes."

While Jackson and Daddy were outside gardening, they ran across some HUGE grubworms:

Jackson: "Ew! That scares me." "No, Daddy! Don't touch it! We don't eat them those things!"

I really need to be better about writing down the things they say. It's surprising how quickly we forget. Many times I can remember laughing so hard, but can't remember what it was they actually said. So, this is me trying to be better.

Hopefully, if you're forgetful like me and take life too seriously sometimes, this will bring a smile to your face. God gives us glimpses of heaven every day. He is in our daily mundane routine...if only we open our eyes to see Him. Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of children. They are not the "church of the future" but an integral part of the "church of the present" (And what a gift they are!). Thank you for reminding us of that. Help us remember it always and treat them as the precious "present" that You've so graciously given us. Amen.

Open your eyes today. Look for a child. Let them teach you. They are God's treasure trove masquerading in dirty little bodies with disheveled hair. So, dig in! There's wealth all around you just waiting to be claimed. All you have to do is get your hands dirty.