Tuesday, April 23, 2013

If You don't have anything nice to say...Pray!!

Seems like the older I get the more sensitive I am and I get my feelings hurt so easy. In the past few weeks I have allowed others to "hurt" my feelings--professionally and personally. I do not like confrontation, so I tend to vent, to the less than a handful of people I trust to keep my venting to themselves, and move on. But there are days where I just want to scream and give someone a piece of my mind. I am reminded of that old saying "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all". So I am learning to say as little as possible to those that hurt me, I pray to let the hurt go and then try move on. But I am human, and it is hard to forgive and forget. So I will continue to try and focus on what I am thankful for. I will not allow these sad, lonely, angry people to take away my peace, happiness and joy that I have in my life. I know I have hurt others feelings, never intentionally, because that's not who I am. I am sorry for those that I have hurt in the past. I try daily to bring joy and happiness to all those I come in contact with. I do not throw people under a bus ( I prefer to drive and take you along), and I can keep secrets. So I ask or prayer as I too pray to forgive those that are angry and hurt those around them.



" Then Peter came up to Him and said, Lord, how many times may my brother sin against me and I forgive him and let it go? [As many as] up to seven times? Jesus answered him, I tell you, not up to seven times, but seventy times seven! "~Matthew 18: 21-22

So I will forgive, I will continue to love my enemy and I will continue to give thanks to my God for loving me and my imperfections.


Sunday, April 14, 2013

Sisyphean-The impossible task

While listening to the sermon today the minister referenced a Greek king that had been punished to an eternity of pushing a boulder up a hill and as he would near the top the boulder would roll back to the ground where he would have to start all over again.  Homer describes him as thus:

And I saw Sisyphus at his endless task raising his prodigious stone with both his hands. With hands and feet he tried to roll it up to the top of the hill, but always, just before he could roll it over on to the other side, its weight would be too much for him, and the pitiless stone would come thundering down again on to the plain


This got me thinking about life and all the difficult times that it seemed like all I was doing was rolling a boulder up a hill to just have it roll back down.  This boulder, my relationships, my friendships, my faith, my addictions, my insecurity, my infertility, my absent father, death, life, and everything in-between.  For too many years I felt like Sisyphus and that I was trying to do the impossible task.  Fighting the impossible battles--depression, anxiety, death.  This boulder had consumed my life and had robbed me from my happiness that God had laid out for me. 

Then one day I quit.  I quit pushing the boulder. I started praying and listening and I realized that with God, I did not need to push anything up a hill.  Psalm 18:2 says “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”  God was my rock, my salvation, the answer to uphill climb. 

When I turn my worries and my struggles over to God, I become strong.  I know that through him all things are possible and with faith I can move the mountain, the impossible task becomes possible.  Mathew 17:20 He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."  So if you’re struggling, if you feel like your pushing a boulder up a mountain just to have it fall back down again, Stop pushing, start praying and have faith. Nothing is impossible with Christ. I know this because he says it!! 

Mathew 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Birthday Bounty!!

As you should know by now, I am all about bargains and love them when they are free. A great time to get some free loot is during your birthday. This week I started celebrating my 42nd birthday (which is actually next week, but it's never to early to start celebrating). I have been taking advantage of free things that local vendors give you during your birth month. I have listed below a few things that you can get as well as the links to their pages. There are many more out their and if you know of one, please feel free to share with us all. I hope you sign up for your freebies and happy birthday from me!!


Movie Tavern: free popcorn for signing up and if you go to one movie in a year they send you a ticket during your birth month for a free movie ticket. We used this Tuesday and saw GI Joe.
http://movietavern.us5.listmanage.com/subscribeu=4426e04ed04f4c8e3dba9c840&id=fcc87ac748

B.D. Mongolian Grill: Free dinner or lunch. Right now kids eat free on Tuesdays and for $2 on Wednesdays. http://www.gomongo.com/club-mongo/


Frisch's: Free hot fudge cake. Dine in only but no purchase required. http://www.frischs.com/

My favorite!! Starbucks: a free drink of your choice during your birthday. You have to create n account and register a gift card. I use my card on my smartphone--I can pull up my balance, load money and pay with my phone. I love technology!!! https://www.starbucks.com/account/create/register?src=home


Here are a few more for your birthday enjoyment.....remember, it's a great idea to create a separate email address for the freebies. :-)


Restaurants

Applebee’s: Sign up for Applebee’s news for information on special events and new menu items, and receive a free dessert on your birthday.

Bob Evans: The birthday club for kids offers a free kid’s meal. You also can sign up for BEmail, which offers deals. I just received a buy-one-get-one-free breakfast coupon.

Buffalo Wild Wings: Sign up for email updates and other news items, and receive a free piece of chocolate cake on your birthday.

Burger King: Sign up your child with Club BK to receive a free kid’s meal on his or her birthday.

Captain D’s: The kid’s birthday club offers a free birthday kid’s meal. Sign up for the D’s Club and receive free desserts for a month.

Carino’s Italian: The E-Club offers specials, promotions and news via email.

Carrabba’s: Join its Amici Club and receive offers for complimentary menu items, invitations to special events and much more.

Chili’s: Join Chili’s Email Club and receive offers a few times a month plus a free order of skillet queso and chips for signing up.

Ryan’s: Join the eCLUB and get a buy-one-get-one-free coupon for a buffet meal, and receive a coupon on your birthday.

Denny’s: Its rewards program offers a free Grand Slam breakfast on your birthday.

Firehouse Subs: Bring in a valid ID on your birthday for a free medium sub.

IHOP: Join Pancake Revolution and receive offers including a free meal when you sign up, on your birthday and on the first anniversary of the day you joined.

Treats

Baskin-Robbins: Join the birthday club and receive an email coupon five days before your birthday for a free ice cream.

Cold Stone Creamery: Join the birthday club and get a buy-one-get-one-free coupon for an ice cream creation on your birthday.

Culver’s: Join the eClub and receive coupons and a special offer on your birthday.

Dairy Queen: Join the Blizzard Fan Club and get a Blizzard treat coupon.

Dunkin’ Donuts: Perks Rewards offers a free medium beverage for signing up and a free medium beverage on your birthday.

Great American Cookies: Get a birthday surprise when you join CookiE-mail.

For the kids

The Children’s Place: The birthday club offers a coupon on your birthday and on your child’s birthday.

Chuck E. Cheese’s: Sign up for coupons, free tokens for your kid’s birthday and other rewards.

Others

Aveda: The birthday program offers a free gift worth as much as $24 on your birthday.

CVS: Register your ExtraCare card online and receive Extra Bucks via email on your birthday.







Monday, April 8, 2013

Stop, pray and listen

When I want something, I want it now.  I don't want to wait 1 day, 1 month, 1 year.  I want what I want now!!  Well, as we all know, that's not how life works.  If you want something, you have to be patient.  I remember my drama teacher in middle school, Ms. Foley, she use to always say, Patience is not one of my virtues.  At 13, I had no idea what she meant.  It was just a saying that old people said.  Now I am that "old" person and am learning that patience is a virtue, one that I am still learning to have.  I have learned that sometimes you have to learn to live without it before you can learn to be thankful once you have have it.  You may have to put some blood, sweat and tears into it before you can say its complete.  You may never get what you want, but that may be because it was not what God felt you needed.  I learned patience when I wanted a child.  I knew from a small age that all I ever wanted, and was going to be, was a mom.  This is where I learned my virtue of patience.  I had to wait.  Not because I wanted to, but because that is what God had planned for me.  Jeremiah 29:11  "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  It wasn't until I wanted that child more than anything that these words meant so much to me.  Our son came to us in Gods time, just as everything will if we just allow him to give it to us.  I never Quit giving up on my dream of being a mom, I just finally stopped, prayed and waited for God to answer.  He answers our prayers all the time, just as he had been answering mine, I was just to loud/busy with my life to listen to what he had to say. 

When I learned to stop and listen, I learned that anything is possible through Christ.  Philippians 4:13 tells us "I can do all this through him who gives me strength".  He will give you strength to get through anything that you are struggling with. I struggled with addiction to cigarettes for over 20 years.  I wanted to quit, I tried everything, but nothing ever worked.  One day, as I was driving to work, I got quiet.  I talked to God and I ask him to take this urge away because I wanted needed  to be here for my son, that I had waited so long for.  He answered, I listened.  I have never had the urge to smoke since that day.  I still get emotional when I think about it. He is so powerful!!  

I am now continue to struggle with being over weight.  I have been over weight since I was 18 years old.  I get depressed when I don't have the energy or the stamina to keep up with this adorable 3 year old.  The person I feel that I am on the inside is not the person that is displayed to the world on the outside.  It is depressing.  It is a struggle every day.  I have tried to exercise--I quit.  I have tried to diet--I quit.  I have had weight loss surgery--it didn't work.  I know the common factor to this failure is me and my approach.  So this time I am changing.  I am going to pray every day--all day, that God give me the strength to make smarter choices with my food and my exercise.  I am going to listen to him and I know that this time I will succeed.  With God, all things are possible.  I will never quit!! 

So if your struggling and you just want to quit--DONT!!  Dont every give up.  Stop, pray and listen. 

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Like to read??

I love magazines and what I love even more is FREE magazines. Join this survey site today and you can start earning free magazines. I just filled out a survey that took 5 minutes and earned a free year of Shape magazine. It will ask about your work--make it up a little. Haha. We have received Southern Living, Esquire, Cigar Aficionado and so many others over the years...all for free. Click on the link below and start getting your magazines today!!

I do recommend using a separate email address for things like this. It will help eliminate all the junk in our daily email.

Here is the link, hope you get a magazine you like!! https://rewardsurvey.com/



Friday, April 5, 2013

Free chips at Kroger today

I ran by Kroger today to get my free samples of potato chips that they are passing out from 4pm-8pm today!! I pass a Kroger on my way home so it's not out of my way and I needed a couple things anyway. So, I was pleasantly surprised that they were giving away 3 flavors of their new Private Selection potato chips. There is a Sea Salt & Vinegar kettle chip, a Sea Salt rice and bean chip ( I think will be my favorite) and a sweet cinnamon sugar pita chip. Did you get yours today? Which one was your favorite?

Free fun for the kids!!

As many of you know we are very fortunate to be able to let Quinn stay home with his daddy during the week and then with me on the weekends.  Not only does this give us valuable time with him but it does allow us to save on daycare expenses.  However, with no daycare, or School as we like to refer to it, there is limited interaction with other kids and fun activities to keep him busy.  We are always looking for something fun to do, as a family, that does not cost a fortune.  Well, here is a great program that is going on all summer.  There is not a participating bowling alley yet in Lexington (I did recommend them) but Nicholasville is not that far away for us and we can always stop in and visit family while we are there.  Sign up today and maybe we can take our kids together!!

 https://www.kidsbowlfree.com/center.php?alley_id=5880  Be sure to add my email address so they will know who referred you.  tammyhalcomb415@yahoo.com

When registering there will be an option to add a family pass as well, but you can just click on the ‘No Thanks’ link to skip that.  Family passes are optional, not required. ;)

Why Dogs live less than humans...a 6 year olds perspecitve

I saw this today and wanted to share.  I think I need to take a few lessons from our beloved 4 legged friends.  I definately need to learn to live more simply and enjoy every minute of every day.



Baby and Charlie.  We miss them!!
 
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog’s owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn’t do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker ‘s family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker’s transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker’s Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.
Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ”I know why.”

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I’d never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live.

He said,”People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life — like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?” The Six-year-old continued,

”Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.”

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you’re not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

Author : Unknown

Thursday, April 4, 2013

A piece of toast

Funny how something as simple as a piece of toast can bring back memories that are 20-30 years old. Tonight I made toast out of slices of white bread and stick butter. While I was making it I caught myself thinking back to the many mornings I spent with with Granny and Papaw and the many pieces of toast she had made over the years. I can see her now, in her housecoat that went to her knees, eggs frying in an electric skillet, gravy thickening up in a pan on the stove and the smell of that toast, on an old metal sheet pan, getting perfectly brown around the edges while the butter bubbled and soaked into the bread in the 4 corners where the pats of butter had been placed. It was the best toast. No electric toaster can make toast the way Granny did. Then I picture my Papaw, in a pair of khaki pants with some sort of stain on them and a white t-shirt sitting at the head of the table, covering his food in pepper and dipping that toast in white milk. I loved my mornings with them. I loved my afternoons with them. I loved every moment I got to spend with them. I miss my Papaw more than words can say and I don't get to see my Granny as often as I would like, but oh how I have the best memories of my childhood with them.
As I served James his dinner tonight, he looked at that toast and immediately said "that's how mom used to make toast, it's the best". I smiled.
My four little pieces of toast had made us remember those we loved and had lost to soon. It made us remember their faces, their smiles, the happy times we had with them. A little piece of toast brought the ones we loved back to us, if just for a moment, and we remembered and smiled.

“I don't drink coffee I take tea my dear
I like my toast done on one side ..."― Sting


Chocolate for breakfast? Why not!!

What better way to start my first blog than writing about a great weekend with family and friends.  Easter has always been and I pray will always be a great tradition in our family. From buying a new outfit, to dying eggs to hearing an amazing cantata at Bethel to eating with family, tradition runs deep and I love every crazy inspiring loving moment of it!

Easter weekend started out with Quinn and I heading out Saturday morning to meet a friend and her son for a couple egg hunts. The first was at Centenary Church.  It was very well organized and Quinn really enjoyed himself. They had covered their 2 playgrounds with plastic eggs and bags of animal crackers. It was difficult to get Quinn to "hunt" the eggs when there was a slide and a swing that he had to play on. We managed to get a few things but he had more fun playing. After the hunt we headed to Jacobson Park for the 50,000 egg hunt. We had some extra time so we let the kids play at the playground before we headed over to the hill where the hunt was.  Again, the kids had a blast and Quinn managed to get a few more eggs.

Saturday evening was quite fun for Quinn and I as we colored Easter eggs.  He really enjoyed all the colors and of course--making a huge mess.  Sunday morning we got up and went downstairs to see what the Easter Bunny had brought.  He is at such cute age that he is getting excited about these things.  So we hurried downstairs to find that he had some puzzles, bubbles and chocolate.  Now, here is where a lesson is learned.  Ever heard that old saying it’s like taking candy from a baby?  Well, how do you tell a 3 year old that he cannot blow bubbles and eat a chocolate bunny when it's right there in front of him?  I tried, it didn’t work, I'm weak.  So, I said why not and we had some chocolate for breakfast.  You only live once!!

Easter day was filled with food, music and visiting with family.  We ended the day with a few bubble blowing, chocolate eating fun and then headed to bed.  I love Easter.  I love the reason for the day, that God died for our sins and rose on that 3rd day so that we would believe in him.  I love the tradition, being with my family and church and I love the new memories that we are making with our son.  And if he wants chocolate for breakfast on Easter morning, I will always say, why not!! 












I LOVE Couponing!!!

Slowly but surely I am getting back into my coupons. Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE couponing, but it takes time and I have been a little busy lately. (School, moving, new job). However, things have slowed down and I am back in full force.
I clipped coupons all weekend and worked on my binder. Yes, I am that women that has one of those binders!! The key to couponing is organization (which is not my forte), but if your going to coupon you must know what you have in order to know what to buy.  I will share a few of my favorite coupon sites at the end of the blog but first let me tell you about my latest adventure and my simple process. 
I get the upcoming Kroger ad on Saturdays (I think most people do, its in some junk mail that comes every week).  So I start with all the products on sale and I search for online coupons.  Luckily, others have built coupon databases that allows you to search on their page buy brand name and then go the specific site and print the coupon.  I always print 2, which is normally the max per computer.  After checking all the products that are on sale, I then check for specific things I know I want to buy.  If there are no coupons listed in the database, I always Google to make sure there is nothing out there. 
After getting my coupons printed, cut and in the binder, I then check the Kroger site for additional coupons and put those on my card.  If your new at couponing, always know your stores coupon policy.Kroger Policy  It is available on most of the stores websites.  For Kroger, its important to know a couple things. 
  1. They only double up to .50 cents, but they double every day
  2. They will not allow you to stack coupons, so you cannot use a digital coupon that is loaded to your card and a paper coupon.
  3. If you have 2 coupons for the same product, 1 paper and one digital, Kroger will use the digital.  So, if your digital is less of a savings than your paper, you miss out on that savings.  Again, its important to know what you have so check your binder and print out a list of your digital.
So, After checking my coupons and making my list, I head out. One thing I love about Kroger is that if they advertise something 10/$10, you get the product for $1, regardless if you buy 1 or 15.  So, if you have a coupon for something that is .50 and it is on the 10/$10 list, you get it FREE, which by the way is my favorite!!  I get lots of coupons in the mail from Kroger and my most recent ones were a total of $9 if you spent $50 in groceries, frozen and natural foods.  I was very proud of myself this trip.  I saved a total of 55%, which was a total of $63.26.  I was able to buy almost 2 weeks worth of groceries for our family for right at $50.  That's $25 a week for a family of 3 to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. 
All This for $50
Now, this is where I talk about smart and not extreme.  I did not go crazy at the store.  i did not buy things that I did not need or would not buy.  I bought milk, juice, meat, t-paper, etc.  It was a smart trip.  But don't get me wrong, I have been a little "extreme" and will continue if its a great deal.  For instance, I have not paid for toothpaste in over 2 years, I have a stock pile of shampoo, hand soap, pasta and cereal that I have paid less than .50 a piece or, like the pasta, was paid to buy.  (I got $.05/box on the pasta back).  Note: you can freeze lots of items.  I once had about 20 boxes of cereal in my deepfreeze.  I just laid the boxes in there and pulled them out as needed.  Now, I am not picky on my brands, so if its free, I am using it!! 

Look for clearance items.  This pizza was marked down and had a peelie on it for a free Coke product.  Great savings!!

If your interested in starting or have some hints on saving, please feel free to share below. 

My small savings allows me and my family to play a little more and worry a little less.

Here are a few sites you can visit to get started:



My Binder.


Savings for todays shopping trip

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Hush Little Baby...

The other night James and I both laid down with Quinn (in his bed) to try and get him to sleep. Quinn and I started our nightly ritual of prayers and songs and somewhere in the middle of my Lullaby song, James burst out laughing. Of course we all start laughing because its funny when people laugh and your not sure why--but then I realized he was laughing at ME and the song I was singing. He said I was not singing it right--I ask you to be the judge

Hush little baby don't say a word, Mommas gonna buy you a mocking bird
If that mocking bird don't sing, mommas gonna buy you a diamond ring
If that diamond ring don't shine, mommas gonna buy you a bottle of wine (Quinn always interrupts here and tells me he doesn't want a bottle of wine- I tell him not to worry, momma will drink it). Continue singing...
If that bottle of wine don't drink mommas gonna buy you a kitchen sink. ( interrupts Quinn in his cute little Quinn voice- A kitchen sink?? Yes, now stop interrupting me sweetie)
If that kitten sink don't work, mommas gonna buy you a pick-up truck
If that pick-up truck don't drive ( interrupts Quinn- why doesn't it drive momma? Because I can't afford the gas Quinn). Continue singing...
Mommas gonna buy you a little bee hive ( interrupts Quinn-- A Beehive??!!??). End of song.

I have sang this song for 3 years- Quinn knows it word for word--I'm not changing now. Haha.

What are your favorite nursery rhymes? I might need a new one soon.