Savings this Week!

If you know me personally , you know that I like to score great deals. My goal is to always spend less than I save…in just about all areas. I also want to get things we will use. Just because something is on sale does not mean it is a good deal. I generally shop at Publix because I really think that I get the most for my money there. This week was no exception. I am so excited to link to Fiddledeedeemom and her Super Savers post for a couple reasons. The first is because I get the chance to look at how other people save money (and hopefully learn some new tricks!). The other reason is because she finds the MOST awesome deals and can match them with coupons. I am able to save some great money when I read her posts!

Here is my trip from this morning:

I purchased the following:

2 – Publix Gallon Milk
1 – Conecuh County Sausage
2 – packs Perdue Chicken
2 – Motts Tots Apple Juice
2 – Mentos Gum
4 – Honey Bunches of Oats w/ Pecans
2 – Juicy Juice
1 – Publix Paper Towels (today’s penny item)
2 – Back to Nature Cinnamon Sticks
1 – Back to Nature Peanut Butter Cookies
2 – Back to Nature Mint Cream Cookies
1 – Lipton Pyramid Tea Bags
4 – Boxes (4 sticks each) Can’t Believe it’s Not Butter Sticks
2 – Cheeze It Whole Grain Boxes
2 – Reusable Bags (free with cereal purchases)
2 – Reese Puff Cereal
2 – Cookie Crisp Cereal
1 – Rice Krispies Cereal
4 – 20oz. bottles of Sobe Life Water

BEST DEALS:
Rice Krispies were free thanks to a coupon!
The Can’t Believe it’s Not Butter were $0.15 each after the BOGO sale and the $1 coupons that were in a dispenser near the butter!
Back to Nature Items: $0.44 each after BOBO and coupons!

Total Spent: $40.59 plus taxes

Total Saved: $80.75!!!

What about you?

I have a few vices in my life right now. Currently my Top 5 are as follows:

Chocolate Covered Almonds

The Entire Twilight Series

Listening to all types of music, new and old

So happy this is back on the air!!!

Top Chef Masters rocked! Can’t wait to see this season in Vegas!

What about you? What are your vices?

Planes, DR and a life change

July 24, 1999

I boarded a plane in Nashville. I was bound for Santo Domingo with a layover in Miami. I would be joined by over 100 people as i arrived in the Dominican Republic for a nine day mission trip. I was aware of the stories of how trips like this were life changing. I had been given the chance to serve both domestically as well as in Mexico at this point. I always came home with new perspective and my heart a little heavier for the people I left.

As I boarded my plane in Miami I was feeling a little anxious. I am not too peaceful when it comes to take off and landing of a big metal thing in the air.

I found my seat and sat down. I was in a window seat.There in the aisle seat sat a guy. I knew by his t-shirt we would be serving together in DR. We talked and it seemed that the conversation was easy to maintain. After arriving in the Dominican I found his face again. It seemed we were running in the same circle of friends. His smile was a welcome addition to my day filled with new faces, unknowns, sweat and tears.

And his smile is still a welcome addition to my day!

We recently celebrated our ‘10 year anniversary of the day we met’. As one person said, most people don’t remember the exact day they met….but we do. And I treasure it.

Here is how he surprised me to celebrate the night! With a Note in Facebook!

My wife might’ve beat me to FB to announce the anniversary of our meeting 10 years ago today, but I had her fooled when I left the house this morning. Until she finds herself reading this, she’ll think I forgot. Well, it was July 24th 1999. I had flown from Nashville to Miami headed toward the Dominican Republic for 9 days of diggin’ holes, bending rebar, and a number of other things associated with building a hospital and repairing a playground. In Miami, I boarded AA flight 1187 seat 22b (aisle seat), Jennifer had seat 22a (window seat). She was stuck with me. We spent the next 9 days serving together. 3 months later we were engaged. A year after that we were married. The rest is blessed history.

So, no I didn’t forget. In fact I hope she reads this soon cuz she’s got to get things ready for the sitter so we can go out and celebrate tonight. I’m guessing when she reads this she is either amazed or stressed, or amazingly stressed.

Happy 10 yrs ago I met you today Shuga!
Thanks be to God.

I agree, thanks be to God. He brought into my life the most thoughtful man who is a perfect balance for me.  Life seems so much more full since I met you.

When I met Heath I never thought that I would really be ‘worth’ loving. I felt so damaged and easily disposed. He change that for me. He allowed me to be valuable and gave me confidence in myself. I am such a different person since he came into my life.

10 years later, still celebrating each other!

Clinging to Hope

A friend of ours lost their dad yesterday.

A few weeks ago, the man was diagnosed with lung cancer…that had spread. The doctors gave him 3 weeks to live. He didn’t make it that long

I was shocked when I heard the news Monday morning that he had passed. It seemed so sudden.

Having walked through cancer with my mom, my heart felt a little extra heavy as I sorted through the emotion that flooded my mind.

I can still remember sitting in this little room with my dad and the doctor. I can remember hearing the doctor say the words ‘it does not look good’. It was the second surgery within a few weeks and the cancer was not changing. The doctor said many more sentences but I could not even begin to tell you one word he said after that. It wasn’t until the end of the conversation that I began to listen again. He said something that has stuck with me for years now.

He said ‘but we do have Hope.

I knew in that instant that he was not talking about medicines or doctors or facilities. He was talking about Christ.

And that in that moment, I had to choose. Hope or despair. It sure sounds simple right now but in that moment it felt like a war raging in my heart as I grappled with the idea of turning to a God that had allowed us to sit in this room or wallow in pity and anger at the same God who brought us here.

What I did not realize was that I was making a choice that would create a moment that would define me. A moment that would turn my world upside down and bring me not just to my knees but on my face before a God that held me through my questions. And fears. And anger. And hurt. And love. And peace.

And He holds me still. He holds me when those emotions rush back in my mind and heart and tears fill my eyes.

I had months to prepare. I prepared for the joys and heartaches. I walked the corridors of hospitals with uncertantiy of the future. I held the phone and shed so many tears with my family and friends as we simply hung to Hope together. I prepared for what life would look like and took advantage of my mom’s good days. And then slowly, her good days last longer. She was able to be home more than at the hospital. Somehow, after several months of living in the unknown, what seemed impossible came to be reality. And she is still here today.

However, had the day come where I had to say good bye to her, I am sure that I would still be clinging to Hope. Because hope is not really an emotion. It is a choice.

And even know, I cling to Hope. I am not sure that is always at the forefront of my mind anymore but I do know that I feel it is ingrained in my DNA to cling to Him. I don’t know how else to really function.

And it is that Hope that makes me know that whatever the future, I have a God that embraces me.

Finding my way back

May 5, 2009.

It was the last time I blogged.

It seems like years ago.

And I have no idea where to begin!

I am not even sure if people are still wanting to read

So much has happened in the last few months.

I have learned some lessons, both easily and some that involved tears.

Most of all, I feel that I am entering a new season of life. Some chapters are ending. I am learning be content with that. New stories are being written and I am enjoying the way the words and actions are coming together.

Count me back…still not sure how I will articulate all that is happening but I know that I am ready to share!

See you tomrorow!