a yummy freebie while supplies last!

Hello, Friends!

As much as I'd like to do a heartfelt post this morning, I just don't have the time. I DO however want to let you in on something I just found out about. If you click smuckers.com/promotions, you'll have the chance to submit a time-saving idea and get a coupon for FREE uncrustables. When the page opens click on "see details". HURRY, it's only open to the first 20,000 entries!

zach found a treasure today..

Hello, Friends!

This will be a quick post because I'm afraid I'd be an emotional mess if I try to put too much into this one. Zach was playing on one of Brent's old laptops and found some video footage of Brent that I don't remember seeing before.

It's a TRUE blessing to find these little "footprints" that Brent left behind, but OH SO HARD on the heart! (I just LOVE to hear Brent's voice.. I LOVE the country twang that they all have.. precious, PRECIOUS memories!)

I'll end by saying that I'm SO VERY THANKFUL that Brent KNEW our LORD and that we KNOW he's in Heaven waiting for us! What a TRUE JOY it is to have the BLESSED HOPE of an ETERNITY with our JESUS!

how to save BIG with coupons..

Hello, Friends!

Okay, so as I mentioned yesterday I will be sharing some money-saving tips I've gleaned from a couple of friends (and of course my sister-in-law who is also my friend).

See, I've not been the most frugal of all folks - in fact, I've hardly been frugal at all. Now, I'll be the FIRST to "google" for coupons when I'm shopping online. It's really just too easy to not do it, but when it came to clipping coupons.. well, I had a BAJILLION excuses NOT to. (Mostly just carelessness)

The Bible has PLENTY to say about making wise decisions and managing what God has given us. As I thought about what it means to be a helpmeet to my husband and the decisions I make daily, a couple of verses came to mind...


Proverbs 31:17-18

17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.

18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.



Obviously I have NOT been the most helpful helpmmet, but "PRAISE THE LORD, I SAW THE LIGHT"~ (Sorry, I just remembered watching David Crowder sing this on YouTube) Check it out if you've got a second...

Okay, so I'll stop with the rambling and move on to what I've learned...


First, I got started by checking a few sites online. My FAVORITE is The Grocery Game. Yes, there is a small fee, but it is BY FAR the EASIEST to use and will pay for itself the FIRST time you shop! (It's the easiest to use for me anyway) Oh, and did I mention there is a FREE trial membership to The Grocery Game? You can watch this quick video that will give you an idea how this program works....








I did find another site that helps you plan your shopping list the way the other does, but it just doesn't seem to be as easy to understand and takes a little longer to map out. (A plus for this one is that it's FREE!) It's couponmom.com I ABSOLUTELY LOVE this site too because from there you can print FREE coupons!! (These aren't the little .25 ones that you get in the newspapers - though I DO clip those too.. MANY of the ones on this site are $1.00 or more!)

So whether you decide to go with The Grocery Game or Coupon Mom, the idea is the same. Your goal will be to use your coupons buying ONLY the items that are on sale. Under the FAQ'S on the The Grocery Game they tell you that they know when items are at their lowest price and that's when they recommend you buy them. (Thus NEVER paying full price for anything)

Since I've started shopping this way, I've knocked a HUGE HOLE in the amount I'd normally spend. For instance, tonight I stopped in Kroger and spent 29.00, but I SAVED $25! Granted, grocery stores are usually much higher than shopping somewhere like Walmart, but the idea is that you ONLY buy the "loss leaders". (Those are the items that the stores cut WAY DOWN just to get you in the store.. THOSE are the items we use our coupons for to get MAXIMUM savings!!)

It's really fun to shop this way because you'll get items that you might not normally splurge on. For instance, this week I got an AirWick Automatic Spray Kit similar to this one...
for only .99 and it lists in Kroger for about $13! (Or about $10 at Walmart) It was on my "Terri's List" for the week and I was just beside myself when I got it for UNDER $1! (I know, I'm WAAAYYY TOO EASILY amused)



Another cool thing about couponing??? If you have a Kroger Card (you get those in the store by filling out a quick little questionnaire) you can load coupons on it BEFORE you ever leave home. However, what REALLY gets me about this is that it will take the coupon that you've loaded on your card AND a paper coupon on the SAME item! (However, the coupons on the card WON'T double.. but I'm pretty sure the paper ones DO up to .55 and then you STILL get the coupon you loaded from home!) You can do this by going to shortcuts.com and registering your shopping card. Then you pick out the coupons you want and it automatically loads them! Oh, I keep talking about Kroger.. they are one of the major chains in my area.. shortcuts.com works with SEVERAL DIFFERENT stores. You can find a list of their partner stores HERE.

Again, the idea is to buy things that are at their "rock bottom" price. (Avoiding other things unless necessary) Last week Kroger had a 10 for $10 sale. I had coupons on at least two of the items so I paid only .50 per item instead of $1. (I can't remember for the life of me what those items were.. LOL) Kroger doesn't even require you to actually BUY all 10 of the 10 items.. ANY item that's listed within that sale will be $1 each. I REALLY LOVE to find the "buy one get one" sales! With these you can use TWO coupons (one on each item) bringing your total even LOWER!!


Okay, I think I've rambled enough for one day. If I think of any other major secrets that I've learned I'll share them in my next post. I wish you all HAPPY shopping!

Wait! Before I sign off I wanted to "link" you to my friend Molly. She's one of the friends I've been gleaning from. She also has a post here on how to save BIG at CVS! I think Molly actually explained this MUCH MORE CLEARLY than I just did.


I hope you all have a WONDERFUL weekend! If you're new to this too, don't forget to get your Sunday paper! The larger ones usually have a LOT of coupons in them. (Another heads-up.. the paper on September 27 is supposed to have over $90 in P&G coupons!) Go HERE to sign up for a sample and some GREAT manufacturers coupons!

Wow, I CANNOT believe it's been so long since I've posted here! I have so much to share with you but really have NO IDEA where to begin. I suppose I can start by saying that I've MISSED all of you (my bloggy buddies)! Oh, I'll also go ahead and tell you that I plan to do two posts this morning. I'd promised some friends that I'd give the details on a new hobby I've started, but I don't want to mix that in with all the "blah, blah, blah, blah-blah" that I'll be doing.

(Still fumbling to find a starting place.. heehee)

Let's see, summer came and went.. we had a pretty nice garden until the CROWS found it. HA! (They even ate my tomatoes while they were STILL GREEN!) I decided I'd just give up on the yummy red fruit and focus on my bell peppers, cucumbers, and green beans. Guess what?? Our baby cows found a nice ditch under the fence that they could fit through and they ended up finding my green beans! (Seriously, I'm thinking the garden was NOT supposed to happen this year.. HA!) I won't complain, we DID get several pints of bell pepper and green beans in the freezer and were pretty much sick of the cucumbers before they ever went bad, so all was not lost.

As for more personal details - We really enjoyed our free time and just being together. The boys did what boys do - they STAYED dirty! LOL (Of course that means that I also conquered mountains and mountains of laundry, but don't feel too sorry for me, I make them help a LOT!)

HMMMM... right in the middle of my typing up this post this morning the hubby got up and started getting ready to get out for the day. (Little things like THIS are what keep me from posting.. HA! That's NOT a complaint, there is NOTHING I'd rather do than take care of my family.. I'm just sayin'.. that's all)

So NOW it's mid-afternoon instead of morning.. I'll TRY to pick up and keep going..

Okay, this will likely be THE MOST scatterbrained post I've done yet, but I'm DETERMINED to get SOMETHING up TODAY! Oh, speaking of.. the "two" that I mentioned earlier are not going to happen. I'll post tomorrow with the deets on my hobby. (Just a hint.. it's COUPONING! I've TOTALLY FLIPPED OUT over this new way to shop!)

Before I go, I want to let you in on something I found out this morning. The lady that did my blog makeover is having a giveaway for her birthday. (It's TODAY) She'll be giving away a bloggy makeover for some BLESSED person that enters TODAY! Hop on over and wish her a happy birthday if you'd like and be sure to get YOUR name in the hat! (Click the link just above or the graphic below)

I'll HOPEFULLY check back first thing in the morning! (Oh, and THANKS SOOOOO MUCH for the sweet nudges to get back out here and start blogging again - YOU are some of my very BESTEST friends, and I ♥ YOU VERY MUCH)

a COOL "freebie" and a video

I still find myself having a hard time finding things to write about. I'll have these random posting ideas, but not sure if there's enough to be said so it feels like my wheels are spinning and yet I'm going nowhere. LOL..

With that said, I'll keep it "light" today by sharing something neat I found on a friend's blog, and then a video that I "borrowed" from my friend Lisa.

So the freebie is this: Brent Riggs over at ...where laughter lives: The Riggs Family Blog, has created a "linky" system that's FREE for the public to use. There is a more well known one, but I hear it's not completely reliable. Anyway, Brent has been using this on the family blog for months and he says it works beautifully.

Now, on to the video...

This is the description of the video on facebook, "Taking their inspiration the Afro-American church music, the Heritage Mass Choir presents original Korean Gospel music". I've heard Kirk Franklin sing this song, and found it listed as "My Desire".

The video is AWESOME! (I'll post the lyrics just below)

My desire to please you, to be more and more like you Jesus. Each and everyday,
I lift my hands and say , I want to be more like you. (Repeat)
I give you my life, take me in your arms and hold me Jesus. I give you my
heart,I know that you can mend these broken pieces.
I'm totally, I'm totally, Totally committed to you.

Repeat chorus
I give you my life , take me in your arms and hold me Jesus. I give you my
heart , I know that you can mend these broken pieces.
I give you my life,
My heart,
My soul,
Take control.

I love you 4x the whole choir
Sopranos (4x I love you)
Altos (4x I love you)
I love you 4x the whole choir
I'm totally (5x)
One more time I'm totally , Totally committed to you


Kirk Franklin My Desire lyrics




Alrighty, my friends, I think I'll go now. Whoops.. I almost forgot to tell you THANKS for the Father's Day wishes for Link. I read him each one (from my cell).. he's not a man of many words, but he DID smile.. ☺ I know he REALLY APPRECIATED it! Again, THANK YOU! ☺

Happy Father's Day

Hello, Friends!

I know it's been FOREEEEVVVEEERRR since I've last posted. I'm just FULL of excuses as usual.. LOL! The best one I can offer is that it seems the more behind I become, the less likely I am to want to tackle what I have to do. (Well, that applies in most cases...hehe)

ANYWAY.. I thought today was as good as any to come back to blogland. I mean, a day that's set aside to honor our own dads, the father of our children, and most importantly, our HEAVENLY FATHER.

So, with that said, I just want to say "Happy Father's Day" to Link, my Daddy, Link's Daddy and to all the other Dads out there. (As if any of the men listed are actually READING my blog.. ha!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Now, I'm going to go help the boys find stuff to make Link's card. After we lost Brent we've discovered how TREASURED ANYTHING that their little hands make, becomes to us.

I hope you all have a GREAT day celebrating the Dads in your lives - whether they be with us here on earth, or celebrating their new lives with the GREATEST Father of all time.. Our LORD, our GOD, our Heavenly Father!

I LOVE You all,

are women born this way?

Now, I hope this won't offend anyone. I personally thought it was HILARIOUS! (My hubby used to tell me that I talked so much during the day that my lips should SMOKE when I went to bed at night)

I can STILL hold my own.. HA!!!

Anyway, this video was emailed to me by a friend and it gave me a good laugh. It's titled "Are women born this way?" and then just below the video it says, "Apparently so".

I hope you enjoy it too.

are you ready???

Hello, Friends!

A sweet friend of mine sent me this video and of course I immediately wanted to share it with you. I had seen part of the video at a different time, but never like this. It's definitely something to make one think. ☺

Oh, before I leave, there is something VERY DISTURBING going on in California right now. If you've not already heard, I invite you to read about it in the post below. THANKS! ☺

Have a BLESSED weekend!
Love,

This is SCARY!! Seriously.

Hello, Friends..

It's been a while since I've done a "real" post here as I tend to take the easy way out and post videos/email when I'm short on time. Well, tonight I'm sharing an email that came from a VERY RELIABLE SOURCE. (It's NOT a forward) If you want to read the article for yourself online click HERE.

To say that I was BLOWN AWAY by this story is an understatement. Whether one claims to be a person of faith, or none at all, we should still have the right to meet with anyone we choose in our own homes as long as what we're doing isn't illegal. (The family that's being persecuted is CLEARLY being attacked because they are Christians)


I could go on all day about this, but instead I'm going to share the email and invite you to sign a petition at the end. Here goes...


"A San Diego pastor and his wife have been told they cannot have a Bible study in their home. The couple says they were interrogated by a San Diego County official, then threatened with ever increasing fines if they refuse to stop the Bible study. (See news article here)

According to the couple's attorney, they were questioned about the Bible study. "'Do you have a regular meeting in your home?" The pastor's wife replied, "Yes." "Do you say 'amen'?" the official asked. "Yes," she replied. "Do you pray?" Again she said, "Yes." "Do you say 'praise the Lord'?" Another "Yes." The official told the pastor and his wife they were in violation of county rules.

The Bible study usually has an average of about 15 people.

A few days later they got a written warning that listed the home Bible study an "unlawful use of land." They were notified to "stop religious assembly or apply for a major use permit," which could cost them thousands of dollars.

Could a small poetry club meet regularly in a home? Apparently, yes. What about a Cub Scout meeting? Evidently, yes. What if they meet regularly to watch Monday Night Football? Obviously, yes."



Click HERE to sign the petition supporting the couple's right to hold the small Bible study in their home. The petition will go to the San Diego Board of Supervisors.


(Email sent by afr.net and they did request it be passed along to everyone in our address book)





Seriously. They whole issue here is Christianity. It's obvious with questions like.....


"Do you say 'amen'?"

"Do you pray?"

"Do you say 'praise the Lord'?"





Please feel free to copy this and forward it to your friends... and/or post it to your blogs/sites.


Thanks for your time..
Love,

Happy Memorial Day