November 12, 2009

Walgreens Deals…

For my local friends that are wondering about the deals this week, I’m skipping Rite Aid and going to Walgreens!Non-local readers can benefit from this too, my friends here are starting to coupon and I thought I’d help them out!

 

Here’s my plan:

4 Huggies Jumbo packs 8.99

1 Bayer Meter 14.99

2 Jello Packets 1.29

2 Clearasil products B1G1 $4.79

1 Walgreens Coloring activity book .99

Coupons I’ll use:

4 $2 Huggies printable coupons (These are available at coupons.com. You will need to access 2 computers to print 4.)

1 $30/1 Bayer Meter coupon (They will adjust this down.)

1 2/$1 Walgreens in ad Jello coupon

1.50/2 Jello printable coupon (See HERE)

2 Clearasil printable coupons (See HERE)

1 Walgreens $5/25 purchase coupon (in ad or at Walgreens.com)

Estimated before coupon total: $59.31 + tax

Estimated after coupon total: $25.24 + tax (Cheaper than the diapers alone!)

PLUS! I will get $5 in Register Rewards back from the Bayer Meter, have the opportunity to apply for a full rebate for the Bayer Meter- the rebate is on the box, and the coloring booklet is full of coupons!

 

So I have the potential to get $19.99 back after RR and rebates and will also have more coupons!

November 12, 2009

Becoming Proverbs 31 Part I…

I am so excited to start this new series! Before we dive into this awesome piece of scripture, I want to share with you my story and love affair with Proverbs 31.

Rachel’s Proverbs 31 Story…

I read a Proverb almost every day through out the high school days. I had read Proverbs 31 many times! It didn’t truly become meaningful to me until I had gone away to college. I had just come out of a bad relationship I should have never had in the first place; I knew I wanted my next relationship to be a God honoring and glorifying relationship. I stole borrowed a book on Proverbs 31 from my mom by Elizabeth George and thus became enamored with this piece of scripture as a young woman who desperately wanted to become a Woman of God.

I studied that scripture more than I studied anything else that first year of college and eventually ended up leading a small group through Campus Crusade For Christ on Proverbs 31. I just loved it. I was amazed by all the things God showed me each time I dove into those 21 verses.

When I got married  before my senior year in college, I sort of fell out of love with my beloved Proverbs 31. I was a wife now and in my ignorance, didn’t think I “needed” any continued study on this passage to be a Proverbs 31 wife. What had I been doing the past three years anyway?

Well, I was wrong. I desperately need God’s word and encouragement in my journey as a wife and now as a new mom, and especially, oh so especially, in my relationship with Jesus.

So, all that to say, I am deeply passionate about this piece of scripture. God changed me and challenged me as a single college student, grew me as a new wife,  is now encouraging me as a mother, and matured me as a Woman of God through Proverbs 31. Join me as I share some of my learning and joy for this passage verse by verse!

(FYI: I am using the ESV Bible for my scripture quotes.)

An Introducti0n to Proverbs 31:

Did you know that Proverbs 31:10-31 is an acrostic poem? Each piece of this passage begins with a letter from the Hebrew alphabet. You will see at the beginning of Proverbs 31 “The Words of King Lemuel.” Some believe that King Lemuel was taught this poem by his mother as a way of learning about the ideal wife– as were many other young Hebrew boys. The alphabetic approach most likely made it easier to memorize.

Its important to keep in mind that women of that day were expected to be married. Does that mean you have to be married to gain from the wisdom in this passage? No way!! There is SO much to take away from this at any point in your life.

I love the fact that Proverbs 31 was taught to young men. (by the way, when I say Proverbs 31, I’m referring to verses 10-31.)  It was important to families in that time to teach men about the importance of finding a woman of character; a woman who would be a blessing to him. So before we even get into the scripture, we know that we as women are so important to these mothers as potential blessings to their sons! So much so that they work to teach them a poem about what we potentially could be! That anticipation of a wonderful wife is already building in those young men at a very early age.. what a blessing!

As a single woman, I remember desiring to prepare myself for my future husband. But there is so much more than that to this scripture. We as Christians are the Bride of Christ. Marriage on earth is a reflection of the unity we have with Christ.

Ephesians 5:23 says, “For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.” Christ is to the church– us– what a husband is to his wife.

When you put this into Proverbs 31 perspective, Christ’s anticipation of us as His bride is growing in Him just as the anticipation of a wonderful wife would be building in the young men who learned this poem and so looked forward to that future with her! Christ is looking forward to the future  time with us when we will be united with Him eternally in heaven! How stinkin’ exciting is that!

In the commentary of the ESV Study Bible, we learn that the acrostic poem begins and ends with talking about the woman’s excellence. “The probable intention of putting this together with the acrostic pattern is to show that this woman’s character runs the whole range of excellence.” Wow. The whole range of excellence? I have so much to learn!

Its easy to get overwhelmed when reading Proverbs 31. You may find yourself feeling discouraged. “I can’t do all that… I can barely get in a shower and get dinner on the table, let alone run a business and make my family’s clothing!” Don’t worry. I used to get caught up in that too. Proverbs 31 is not a to-do list! Say this with me now “I will not beat myself up for not being/doing all this stuff!”

Its not about what you do that makes you a Proverbs 31 woman, its about the heart that is behind it. This is key when studying this passage– and it took me a LONG time to figure that out! So please, put away the to-do list, let’s take off our Martha hats, and just sit at the feet of Jesus. Remember what he said to Martha as she fretted about things getting done? “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42

I love that, the portion she chose– to sit at Jesus’ feet– will not be taken from her. Our to-do lists can always be taken away from us with the busyness of the day! We’ve all had days where we can’t get anything done! But sitting at the feet of Jesus cannot and will not be taken away from us!

The actions and things we find listed in Proverbs 31 are not the answer of what “to do” in order to be a Woman of God. They are the fruit of a heart fully devoted to Christ! An outward showing of an inward growing!

Lord, please teach us how to be more like you as Women of God. No matter where we are in life, teach us and grow us in you. May our lives be filled to overflowing with the fruit from our love for You and Your Word. Use this scripture and this study we are doing to build us up as women and prevent the enemy from making this out to be a burden of a to-do list. Teach us the value we have in you Father as daughters of the King. Thy will be done,

In your name Jesus,

Amen

November 11, 2009

Happy Veteran’s Day!!

Thank you so very much to all those who have served or are serving our country! I appreciate you so much and thank you for your sacrifices!

I especially want to thank my friends Aaron and Khursten for serving and sacrificing, my friends Nate and Tami for all they give, and my friend Melissa who’s husband is serving in Iraq right now. You all are amazing!!

November 11, 2009

Works For Me Wednesday… sharing the money savin’ love!

I love my friends. I really do.

 

 

Lately we’ve been doing something that truly works for me– we’ve been using facebook to alert one another to good deals in our area. Its awesome because we are helping each other and supporting one another in our efforts to live on less.

 

I love it and it only takes me two minutes to pass on info about a great coupon or a great money saving blog post I found.

 

You cannot be an island as a frugal person– it takes support from others to truly make it as a coupon clipper/budget cutter/thrifting queen/cook-from-scratch extraordinaire!

 

I used to be shy and kinda embarrassed about my efforts to save money. Now that I share that with others, it is so much more fun and even easier!

 

Got friends? Share the money savin’ love with them! It works for me!

 

Check out We Are THAT Family for more awesome tips!

November 11, 2009

Tightwad Tuesday… Please Don’t Rush Things!

Please don’t rush things! You’ll end up spending more money, wasting time, and feeling like poo-poo. Can I tell you all very honestly that that was me today?

 

I wanted so badly to finish painting little Molly’s room so we could create a peaceful place for her. Everything at the house is in upheaval and we come back to my parent’s house with a frazzled and upset baby. I wanted SOO badly to create a place for her to rest that I tried to rush getting things done and ended up with nothing done, and a baby screaming her little guts out– for a long time! I felt terrible that I had stressed her out so much just because Mommy wanted to get something done!!

 

In my anxiousness, I headed off to Home Depot to get the paint we needed– we had ran out and needed more to finish her room. Its about a 20 minute drive. I realized that I forgot the paint can lid to have them make me a new one. We had picked the color at Lowes, but liked the Home Depot brand better… SO I realized this, went over to Lowes, grabbed the color I picked, and went to Home Depot. They made the paint, and as we were coming back, Mollly started screaming. It didn’t really stop for over an hour.

 

We got to the house and low and behold– I got the wrong color! I wasted time, money, gas, and exhausted my poor little one so much so that she wouldn’t even eat! She just screamed until she passed out!

 

I realized something, its not worth it to rush things. Its better to wait. Its cheaper to wait. And its better for my family to have less stress in their lives. Its better for me too. :)

Click HERE for more Tightwad Tuesday ideas and tips.

November 9, 2009

I Can Make That Party!

Today I am re-posting on of my favorite craft projects for you all! I am linking up to the I Can Make That Party at Chris’s fabulous blog! There are tons of great gift ideas, so go check it out HERE!

 

I love the “word art” that is so popular right now. One of my favorite craft stores, Craft Warehouse, sells these plaques that say encouraging words or sayings. I LOVE them, but for $25+ … not so much.

When I redecorated my parent’s spare room, (see the whole post here,) I used artwork that my mom had in storage to fill in the walls. I couldn’t find anything that looked right over the bed. I thought about how amazing some “word art” would look there. I went to Wal-Mart on a shopping trip and came across some wooden letters in the craft section for just $2 a piece!

I took them home, set them up on a tarp and grabbed a can of flat black spray paint. Flat black was what we had, though any would do. Here’s a spray paint tip, elevate your pieces that you spray paint on scraps of wood to keep drips from causing problems. Also, spray with the wind. :-)

I sprayed three coats to make sure I had full coverage and let them dry over night.

Here is the end result:

Looks great above the bed and cost me just $10! If you were to do this project, you would need the spray paint as well which might add a couple more dollars to the total.

 

Happy Christmas gift making!!

November 7, 2009

Announcement!!

I love Proverbs 31 and am excited to start a weekly series on this awesome piece of scripture! I am planning on posting every Thursday a small devotional for you all! There is so much to be learned about being a woman of God, loving your family, managing your home, finances, even crafting and attire!

 

Proverbs 31 has opened my eyes and heart so much and I’m pumped to share the blessing with you lovely readers! Come back Thursday!

November 7, 2009

Super Savings Saturday… cheap diapers!

My hubbie was on a trip to Spokane, so I asked him to hit up the diaper sale at Target for me!

Jumbos were on sale for $8.99

I used the $1.50 Target coupon from the home mailer (given to me by my sweet Mother-in-law)

I also used two $3/1 Huggies coupons from the free samples I received in the mail.

Total: 11.43 including tax (That’s about 0.13/diaper!)

Total saved in sales and coupons: $9.00!

Not too shabby!

November 7, 2009

The Faithfulness of God…

Can I just tell you all how faithful God has been to us?

We lost a job, had an emergency c-section, moved into my parent’s basement, moved earlier than planned due to an extreme heat wave that was dehydrating me and the baby, lost our first USDA loan attempt at buying after waiting two months, had a VERY fussy baby, battled breastfeeding trials, and through it all, God was with us, helping us, blessing us, growing us, and I can’t give Him the glory enough for what He brought us through.

 

Chrysanthemum

 

My husband now has his dream job of working for our church. We are surrounded by wonderful friends and family who love us, help us, encourage us, and take care of us. Our baby is much more manageable now, we were approved for an FHA loan quite quickly, I am able to breastfeed about 3 times a day, I’m all healed up from the c-section, and… we are homeowners!

 

He provided us with a great house for a great price at a time we never expected to be home owners. Now as we work to fix up the place, we are seeing His faithfulness all the more and it is astounding. Waiting on Him and His timing has been very trying at times. Living in a basement for over three months was not part of my plan for sure! (Especially when your mom runs a music studio upstairs; bless her heart for her patience with some of her less *naturally gifted* students! I struggle with it!) I’ll tell you, there were times when I just sat down and cried because I never thought I’d ever get out of the basement with my screaming colicky baby and my post-partum blues!

 

Now, I cannot tell you how blown away we are at His goodness to us!

 

*Our friends and family have helped us immensely with our remodel– especially my dad

*My parents have housed us free of charge which allowed us to pay off a small student loan and put a down payment on our home

*Our original loan attempt was denied, but the one we obtained was $2,000 less than the first!

*We inherited a deep freeze, washer and dryer, canning stove, vacuum system, all the garden tools we could ever want, cleaning supplies, and a great clothes line from the previous owner!

*One of our sweet relatives just sent us an amazing gift card for way more than we ever imagined to use at Home Depot! We may be able to remodel our bathroom with that money! Yippee!

*My parents handed down a great light fixture for our kitchen they couldn’t use… we needed it!

*We are able to use a carpet cleaner and paint sprayer free of charge!

*We found some great gallons of paint in the basement– some of which have not been opened!

 

All in all, I cannot believe this as I write this. We faced times of doubt where we really struggled to trust God with our futures. We had to work at it, really work at it and encourage each other daily. We are truly blessed.

 

I know there are many people out there right now who are struggling with their circumstances. My encouragement to you is that God is so faithful. He will not let His children fall.

 

 

“O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel. Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad; you restored your inheritance as it languished; your flock found a dwelling in it, in your goodness, O God, you provide for the needy.”

Ps. 68:7-10

November 4, 2009

Works For Me Wednesday…

Spread the word among your family and friends that you use coupons! It works for me!

 

My family and friends have been amazing! I have been spreading the word about the fact that I love coupons, and the coupons have just been pouring in! Friends have passed on great coupons for diapers and formula, which I very much appreciate. And just today, my mom passed on a $5/25 coupon for Safeway! She doesn’t like keeping track of coupons, she knows I’ll use them, so she passes them on to me!! Thank you!!

 

Try it, there are millions of dollars in coupons a year that go to waste. Why not save that money if you could?

 

Go HERE for more WFMW tips and ideas! ( There are great tips this week! :)