Coupon Love

Free Arby's Roast Burger expires 3/9/09, but you can print as many as you'd like! Kevin and I ate this for dinner last night and they are good!

BOGO at TGI Fridays expires 3/1/09 so go have a date this weekend! You can print as many as you'd like!

3 boxes of coffee for $3 @ Gevalia, including a free travel mug & free shipping! This is great...I just ordered my Breakfast Blend, Hazelnut & Vanilla Nut!

I'm having fun with this. I will keep posting...

Enjoy!

Good Morning Lord

I wouldn’t call myself a “morning person.” However, I am very pleasant most mornings and love the idea of a fresh start to a new day. It doesn’t matter what kind of day I had the previous day; what kind of attitudes we had with each other; what kind of mood E was in or how much trouble she managed to get into. The morning is new…

Most mornings, my husband is already gone to work when I wake up – or he wakes me up when he leaves. But, when I wake up, I can’t wait to call him and say our “Good mornings!” If I don’t call him quickly, he’s calling me to ask why I’ve not called him and to say he loves me.

I love the pitter-patter of E’s little feet running across our floors to find me when she gets out of bed each day. She is anxious for that greeting, as am I! We squeeze and hug and kiss and ask each other (yes, she asks me too), “Did you sleep good last night?”

After our greetings, we start our day, our morning routine.

I usually have my prayer time in the shower or while I dry my hair. So, one day last week, I was just having a hard time with waking up and just couldn’t put forth the energy to pray or sing or anything. I just wanted to “slide by” and…I could always “make up for it later” right?

I did just that. I got focused on getting ready and rushing out the door and before I knew it, I was hours into my day and had not given even a brief couple of minutes with the Lord a second thought.

Suddenly, the thought popped into my head... I began to imagine how horrible it would be if – just humor me here – I woke up one morning, Kevin was gone to work. I walk into the den to find E sitting on the couch or watching t.v. and I get in the shower, finish getting ready, drink my coffee, fix E her breakfast, get her dressed and ready for school. We then leave for school, drive all the way, I drop her off with a smile only, she walks into her class - away from me – and begins her day. I go about my routine never making a phone call to a soul and my phone never ringing.

--- Keep in mind, none of us have spoken a word to each other at this point. ---

It’s 12:30 and I pick E up from school, get home to fix lunch, then she lays down for a nap and awakens to play in her room for a bit. I knock on her door and motion to a snack that I’ve prepared for her in the kitchen and then I begin to make preparations for dinner or whatever plans we have that evening.

At some point, Kevin comes in from work…I may greet him at the front door with a hug and kiss, but still never speaking. Our evening progresses and before we know it, the day has passed and we’ll be heading to bed soon.

As E crawls in her bed, she says, “Hey Mommy! How are you? Thank you for everything today. I love you and goodnight!” She falls asleep, too tired to talk anymore.

Kevin usually goes to bed before I do because I am a night-owl. So soon, he tells me “Goodnight” …maybe even “Thanks for dinner (hours after-the-fact). It was great!” and he’s snoring in a matter of minutes.

Do you have chills? I do just typing this!

I have never had a day like this nor do I plan to. If I did, I think I’d lose my mind! If this scenario proved to be true though, I would have spent the entire day awaiting conversation or acknowledgment from the loves of my life! They, in turn, would have been longing for the same.

Isn’t that how we are with God?

I’m guilty. We wake up too tired, or rushed and put our time with Him on hold or on the back burner. Before we know it, our day is through. We realize we never even “greeted” Him, to say the least, so we squeeze in an “itty bitty” prayer before drifting off to sleep. “Hey Lord! Thanks for this day and your blessings! Goodnight!” We are too tired and are beginning to dose off during just those short few words.

…When He’s been waiting…A-L-L day…for the loves of His life to talk to Him or acknowledge Him.

But, His beloved (us) were just too busy.

...for the "idiot" in all of us!

Great title for a post huh?

I am NOT truly calling you an idiot...or myself for that matter ~ I don't think I've done anything (yet) today to merit that name! :)

Fun recipe I thought I'd share with you. This was one of my granddaddy's recipes and it is SO good - you will love it!

Warning: I never said it was a healthy recipe, but it is good for you...your taste buds, that is!

IDIOT PIE

2 pie crusts
1 8 0z. package cream cheese
1 box confectioners sugar
1 med. container Cool Whip
1 can blueberry pie filling

Mix the cream cheese, sugar and Cool Whip together with a mixer and pour into pie crusts. Top with the pie filling and refrigerate for a couple of hours or overnight until set.

* This makes 2 pies so you can cut the recipe in half if you'd like. Also, cut yourself a smaller piece than you think you want because it is pretty rich!

Oh but SO good...you'd be an IDIOT not to try it...(no offense) :)

Enjoy!

Finally Home

I just heard this song for the first time in the middle of cleaning. I had to stop what I was doing and share this simple, but sweet song. Man! ... Mercy Me has a special gift with their songs of making your soul cry out, "Even so Lord, Come Quickly!" I can't wait to be home. Enjoy!

Calendar of Deals

I received a little card in the mail with a magazine last year and while picking up around the house last week, I ran across it in one of our 775 junk drawers!!!

Calendar of Deals ~ What's on Sale When

JANUARY:
Bedding
Cookware
Toys
Treadmills (no brainer)

FEBRUARY:
Furniture
Small consumer electronics
Houses & Condos
Humidifiers

MARCH:
Winter Coats
Humidifiers
TV's
Winter Sports gear

APRIL:
Digital cameras
Spring clothing (really?)

MAY:
Athletic clothes and shoes
Cordless phones
Small consumer electronics

JUNE:
Summer sports gear
Swimwear
Furniture
Small consumer electronics

JULY:
Computers
Furniture
Outdoor furniture
Swimwear

AUGUST:
Air conditioners
Camping equipment
Lawn mowers
Dehumidifiers (ha ha)

SEPTEMBER:
Bikes
Gas grills
Shrubs, trees, perennials
Small consumer electronics

OCTOBER:
Digital cameras
Gas grills
Bikes
Winter coats

NOVEMBER:
Autos (new)
Toys
Gas grills
Bikes

DECEMBER:
Toys
TV's
Autos (New)
Computers

So, need a small consumer electronic? I think you're pretty safe all year 'round if you want a deal!

Maybe some of these will be helpful to you...

It's February, so if you're looking for a house, you better get out there! You've got 13 days left!

Week of Firsts

So this has been a great week for us! It's been busy, but Spring is in the air (for now) and we are loving this beautiful GA weather!! At the moment, the skies are as blue as can be, there is a cool breeze blowing. I can hear the sound of people moving around and working outside - finding an excuse, like me, to get out if only for a few minutes. Something about days like this just call and beckon you to come out and bask in the beauty of God's gorgeous creations!

We have had some firsts this week and it's been neat. E brought home her very first progress report on Tuesday, which was WONDERFUL, by the way. The reports from her teacher have been so positive and outstanding and I can't wait to reward her for this. Her choice for her reward is Chuck E. Cheese, of course! We're going to make a big deal of this!

The small things that we will be working to teach her or for her to improve upon are manipulating zippers, buttons and snaps a bit better. I've spoiled her in that area because as you mommies know, it's just easier to do it myself!

So, today, she had her first school Valentines party and exchanged her little valentines with her school mates. It's so sweet. This is what I walked into the party and saw:

Chocolate face... This is the only time she even touched the cheese sandwich in hand. Like any smart person would do, she chose the chocolate cupcake over that.

Do they not look like they are teenagers... the way he is posing? This is one of her best buddies that goes to school and church with her. He is Mr. Personality and adorable!

Look at this face!!


I love this! She doesn't like to post for pictures much, but when you have her get in a picture with another child, she loves it!

My little school girl.

After coming home with all of her Valentines goodies, we dug straight in for the sugar! Another first? She enjoyed her very first Fun Dip. I should have gotten a picture. I had to teach her how to do it and she was in sugar heaven. I think she got almost every grain of Fun Dip powder that she could, although about a tablespoon of it ended up on the floor.

I also signed her up for K-4 this week. It's unreal how fast this first year of pre-school is flying by. I hope this isn't a sign of how quickly we will arrive at elementary, junior high and high school. Oh.My.Word!

Happy Thursday before Valentines!

Menu Plan Monday...on Tuesday

So I meant to post this yesterday, but you know how that goes.

Here is our menu for the week:

Monday:
Hamburger Stroganoff

Tuesday:
Lemon Broccoli Chicken
Parmesan Baked Zucchini Crisps
Caesar Salad

Wednesday:
$5 dinner at church
OR
Meatloaf (these things are good!)

Thursday:
Hamburgers
Collard Greens with Cornbread

Friday:
??? Maybe dinner out ???

Need some menu planning ideas? Visit here for loads of great recipe ideas!

I don't get too excited over cooking usually. I love to bake! But, something about putting a hot meal on the table for my family - my husband - after he has worked so hard for us all day... Well, to say the least, it feels very rewarding.

Here's to dinner tonight!

And the winner is...

The winner of my bloggy giveaway is Amanda Sue..."unforgettable dreamer" and I am so excited for her! She has chosen the red/pink clip barrettes and will also be getting a surprise set in the mail for visiting my Emmarella's site.

Thank you to all who entered and I hope that you visited the Bloggy Carnival last week and entered in other giveaways too! Did you win anything?

Be looking for the next Bloggy Giveaway Carnival...another one will be coming up before you know it!