Duh!

I forgot two very awesome things that have happened recently.
Number two (I'll count down this time): Ryan and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary on Easter Sunday. We went out to the movies, went to Dairy Queen, and then walked around Lake Ella. We haven't been out on a date since before Buddy Boy was born. We usually wait until the kids fall asleep at night and then we'll watch a movie or listen to a sermon or do something. It's great, but actually being OUT of the house together was wonderful!!

Number one, in early March we went on a field trip to the Jacksonville Zoo. It was so much fun! The kids loved being able to see the animals - espcially the "I-no" as Buddy calls the rhino. Doodle is old enough now she could read the signs that told about the animals, so she had a great time running ahead of us and telling us all about the animals we were seeing. It was a cool day, but thankfully almost all of the animals were out and about, so we could see them doing more than just laying around. I was going to post some pictures here, but only have them on Shutterfly right now.. I'll see about putting some up from the home computer later on.

A lot has happened in the last two and a half weeks.
Ryan chipped his tooth while biting on a pen cap (he does that sometimes). Little Man broke and badly cut his toe while cleaning up his plate from dinner on the same night as Doodle's first softball game. Lulu and Doodle have been sick with hay fever. Doodle Bug ended up getting a very bad ear infection and had to get some strong antibiotics. Work has been very busy. Closing in on the end of the fiscal year, seeing what money we might have leftover (if any) and trying to budget for an even tighter year next fiscal year. Been busy!

I fell into the routine the week before last of sleeping through my alarm (or turning it off actually) and waking up with the kids. Problem with that is, when I wake up before the kiddos is when I have my Bible time. I get to read and soak up all the goodness He has for me. I tried bringing my Bible to work with me and reading during lunch breaks, but wouldn't you know, I'd be too busy for a lunch break or something else would pop up... Last week I was better, I made an effort to get it read. This week I've gotten up every morning (although this morning was very hard for some reason). My days go SO much better when I take the time to start the day out right. I have energy to get everything accomplished, I have guidance of what to do at certain times, I have more patience for my lovely children, I have time for my husband. Amazing! I'm trying to keep Ssatan from having a foot hold. Pray for me on this.

On a different note, I'm attempting to finish my AA degree by the summer time. I only have five classes left, but between working full-time and having a family to care for I can only get in one class a semester and I only go two semesters a year (I need a break sometimes). I've really enjoyed the break, but now I need to push through and get it finished. I looked up some Bachelor's degrees at our local university and would love to go into Business Management somehow, but I don't have the required classes for the program. So I may just go back to what everything teacher I've ever had has always told me.. Get a degree in English. I LOVE reading and writing - am having a joy teaching Doodle Bug (who's gotten very good). So maybe that's what I'll do.. who knows. I'm trying to see where He's directing me, I just need to pay attention to what He's saying!

Hope and pray whomever reads this is doing well.

'Tis the season for sneezin'

Softball is well underway and Doodle has her first game tomorrow night - I can't wait! She really hasn't played much since the season ended last May up until practice began at the beginning of this month, so she's quite rusty, but improving.
She has some great coaches, I think there are two official coaches then about three other dads that hang around to help with the kids. It's different than T-Ball last year, some for the better some not.. but they're also 'more grown up' now - they don't need snacks every game/practice or their names on their shirts even if I think it's cute :)

The kids and I have been reading through their children's Bible in the morning time and they've learned the first five books of the NT and are learning the first five of the OT. We have a CD by "The Bible Song Band" that lists the 66 books of the Bible, so I've been using that to teach them the books, it's great!

School break is over now and the kids are learning all about toys this week. Toys?! I thought this was school? Well it is, they're learning about the history behind their favorite toys like Barbie, GI Joe, Lego, etc. Learning about how they're made, how they've changed over the years and about what toys were popular 60 years ago and what's popular now. Can't wait to hear about it when I get home! Ryan's been having a blast getting it all prepared for them. All I have to say is I'm SO glad we have YouTube, the internet, and a computer at home. It enriches their learning so much.

I'm finishing up a study on Esther by Lenya Heitzig and Penny Peirce Rose. It's excellent! This is a book I've studied many times before, but the insight and self exmaination they show in their study is wonderful. I'm also reading through "Living by the Book" by Howard Hendricks and it's pretty great. Gives you quick and easy ways to study through the Bible. Some of my favorite tactics include reading the same book or chapter for five days - you always get something different out of the chapter, disect the text - look for prepositions, joining words, etc because they've been put there for a reason, and listen to the Word in audio format. Great stuff.

Spring is here and it's beautiful in deed, but as Doodle said "'Tis the season for sneezin'" In fact Lulu is at home sick today, not sure if it's 'hay fever' or a cold, but she feels rotten. Hopefully she'll feel better soon so she won't miss out on Doodle's games this week or the Spring parade this weekend.

I want to end on this verse, it was in my Esther study last week and just really spoke to me. It says it's good to receive wealth and health from the Lord, sure. But it's an actual GIFT to find joy in your work and to accept what He has graciously given to you in life. "And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God." Ecclesiastes 5:19 (NLT)

Thankful

Last week my husband, out of the blue, took all four kids and went to Walmart and Publix- while I was at work, an amazing feat. He called me while they were there and asked what I needed "Um, lots of things, why?" I said. "Because we're here, getting all of our groceries," he replied. "OH! Did you take my list and coupons?" I asked. "No, I didn't know where it was." "Oh ok, just get whatever we normally get then." I said, trying not to be frustrated. I had about $8 worth of coupons for things at Walmart and Publix and a very detailed list of what was needed. But I decided that whatever he got would be great. It's not like it's his first time shopping for the family. He's had to do it plenty of times when I've been sick or after I've had one of the babies, so he had a general idea of what we get each week. Did he get everything on the list? No, but he did get a lot of things we needed. Did he use coupons? No, but they don't expire until Thursday--maybe I can make a trip to the store to pick up those items - if not, it's not going to break our bank.

Then, he did two loads of laundry. Washed, dried, folded, and (here's the shocker) put up. He also had dinner ready for me when I got home. Did aliens invade and take over his body you ask? No, he's just an amazing man and I'm one lucky lady. :)

Yesterday he washed our windows, window sills, and the walls next to the windows (some had gotten moldy--but I haven't been able to get to due to regular chores). He is just awesome!!

He says he's been lazy for way too long and wants to ease my burden by helping out. He's done this a few times before, but it only lasts 2-4 weeks. I'm hoping he's able to continue this one for a little bit, it is wonderful.

The kids are on their two week break right now and start back to school next week. I told him that he won't be able to do as much with them in school, to which he replied "I know, but I can at least do one or two things." This is just fantastic!

The Lord is really working in his life and it's so beautiful to see.

We've been together for 10 years this week and to see how he's changed over those 10 years is awesome. He went from talking the talk to actually walking it. He has such a heart for the Lord and it encourages me. Don't get me wrong, he's not the only one who's changed - I have too. And it's wonderful to be changing, learning, and growing together. What an amazing journey God has for us.

10 years

A few weeks ago, my husband reminded me of a very important anniversary, the day I finally came to Christ. It was February 14th, 2000 and I was driving home from somewhere (can't remember where--probably my best friend at the time - Kelli - or Kelleigh as she liked to spell it). After denouncing Christianity and God about 7 or 8 months previously and living life how I wanted it, I realized how empty and unsatisfying it was. I didn't find the freedom I thought I would. Being able to do what I wanted to do, when I wanted to do it. So naive. God, in His amazing providence, put people in my life - Christians in my life - to draw me back to Him. After speaking with them about their beliefs and their book, I realized I had it SOO wrong. I spent about a month studying - just to make sure it was all legit - and was amazed at what I saw. Before now, reading the Bible was boring and blasse, now things were leaping off the pages at me. It actually made sense!!



So on that drive home, on the day our country celebrates love, I found out what true Love is.

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not
love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing . And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails . "1 Corinthians 13:1-8

May you all come to know true Love.

Confessions of a Couponaholic

I've been cutting (and using) coupons a lot more recently in an effort to save more money for our move in the next few months and this could get addicting! I would always look for sales for things we buy, but wouldn't use a whole lot of coupons. Well, after talking to an amazingly organized and resourceful friend, I have reorganized my shopping strategy. Clipping coupons for items that I know will go on BOGO soon at Publix, going to brand name websites to search for coupons there, and scouring my parent's Sunday paper for additional coupons (we don't buy the paper, thankfully they do). Sometimes my efforts only unearth one or two coupons, sometimes I find 25 coupons that don't expire for another month. I'm having a lot of fun with this!

My most favorite find this weekend was at Kohl's. We have a lot of little kitchen and household items that we need, so we've made a list, allotted some money to use each month, and are searching for sales. Kohl's had their entire section of kitchenware on sale this weekend. I had $10 Kohl's cash from a previous purchase (Pyrex kitchenware that was 60% off with coupons, sales, and mail-in-rebates), and received another $5 in e-mail. I was able to get a very nice bamboo wooden spoon and a very sturdy (and very cool looking) measuring cup set for FREE!! I actually still have $1.98, but it expires today and I don't forsee using it. My adrenaline is pumping.

I'm trying to instill in the girls the importance of finding the best deal (but not spending hours upon hours of looking). Right now they're learning about comparing "price per ounce" on grocery items and comparing prices for namebrand and generic items (we buy about 90% generic items at our house - the 10% namebrand are either onsale or I had coupons for). It's made a little adventure when we head down certain aisles like the cereal aisle. They have a game where they find the cheapest price per ounce cereal. Sometimes they are surprised at which ones are cheapeast!

If anyone has any coupon clipping ideas they'd like to share, feel free to do so - I could use any and all suggestions!

The Budding Writer

As Doodle as progressed into writing more "stories", her writing style is beaming with 7-year-oldness and it's just awesome! Last week she and Lulu spent an entire week learning about Coral Reefs. So this week I let them make up their very own coral reef animals and they did a pretty good job. Lulu created an eel that curls up like a snail, and it's name is Eelya. :) Doodle created a fish called a Nailfish. Turns out, its predator is the Scalloped Hammerhead Shark. The shark tries to hammer the nead into the Woodfish (it's true, she even called Uncle Bobby to tell him all about it). What imagination!! She had to write a story about her fish last night, as if she herself were the creature. She surpassed my expectations. Aside from forgetting to capitalize I a few times and mispelling some words, her story is fabulous! Can't wait to have her write more.

To accompany her story, both girls got to make awesome stained-glass art of their animals. We took black construction paper, drew on their animals and habitats with a pencil, then went over the pencil with glue. We let the glue set over night then brought out Doodle's oil pastels (only, I can't call them "Oil Pastels" because Lulu says that word "pastel" sounds weird... so we can only call them oils..). The girls colored around their lined creations and added some extra dazzle to their pictures (Doodle said that the Nailfish lays 500 eggs at one time, similar to the Clownfish who lays 400 at a time.. so she decided to draw about 100 beautifully colorful fish below her nailfish). They turned out great! I'll have to take some pictures and upload them on here for you to see.

We talked a little bit about how much fun it was to create your own animal, what it looks like, where it lives, what it eats, etc. And we came to the conclusion that God must've had an awesome time creating all of His creation - hopping toads, flying birds, fish the size of an airplane. The Bible tells us that He frequently looked at His creation and said "It is good."