Big Changes!

So, it should come as no surprise that we are making some big changes around here. We have committed to start living like we believe in the power of Christ, and we're going to start acting on some of our dreams that always seemed far off. I still have no idea as to the answer of *some* of the things that have been causing doubt and fear to hang over my head, BUT I can live like I believe it, and trust that God will direct my path! So the most obvious thing is this blog is changing. For the immediate time being, it will stay here at blogger, but we have changed the address. It shouldn't affect those who already subscribe, but if you are typing in the link, you'll need the new address (which by now you know).  We've also changed the look, and we'll continue to do this for a little while, so bear with us! We're learning! We've created some pages at the top, to make it easier to find the posts that are related to those topics. Those are the things I blog about most. I have several different things I blog about, and I don't see that changing any time soon. But we are going to be changing this to gear it more toward our family is doing, and encouraging others.

For the knuckleheads like me...

This post is for the knuckleheads like me that have a hard time applying what we should have learned so many other times to whatever situation in front of you TODAY. Ok so This post is for me, not just those like me....

I'm not going to act like I am some kind of Bible scholar. I don't live a perfect life (though by now if you read the blog, I would think that'd be clear). I don't have all of theology understood. I make mistakes, I don't study God's word as often as I should, and am no where close to the 'perfect Christian wife/mother/daughter/friend/etc' If you think I am, I'm sorry we aren't better friends. Shoot me an email and we can talk about how God has used my many failures for His glory, because it still amazes me. This post is not going to sugar coat my life by any means.

It's that time of year again...

One of my favorite times of the year. Yehp. You guessed it. School shopping!!! I have to admit I LOVE shopping for school stuff. Yes, part of this stems from being a homeschool mom. I love the planning of the things we will do for the new year. I love researching and picking out curriculum. I love coming up with related art projects, and buying art stuff.

But I also love school supplies. Call me weird, but it just makes me happy. I love the smell of brand new Crayola Crayons. I love looking at the brand new paper, markers, and ink pens all neatly stacked ready for the new school year. I have always been this way too, even as a kid. My favorite part of summer was getting to go to Walmart and pick out all the school supplies we'd have to use for the upcoming year.

What I don't love, is paying a fortune for them! As a singe income, homeschool family, not only do I not bring a paycheck to the table, but my "job"  "costs" us money too!  Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of ways to homeschool on a shoestring budget, but sometimes with school supplies, you get what you pay for.

For example, we've found that it's actually better to budget now and  spend a little more on things like Crayola Crayons and Ticonderoga pencils. See, you may be able to save a few pennies now, but in the long run when they break much more easily or don't last and you find yourself buying several more boxes throughout the year, what have you really saved. Then again some things, like cap erasers, are cheap no matter what brand you buy, so for those I look for doorbusters. What I mean is stores like Walgreens, Walmart, and the office supply stores often have a few featured items for mere pennies, to get you in the door. They plan on luring you with 25 cent rulers, thinking you'll spend a ton on everything else. But that's where being a thrifty mama comes in handy. Just like with couponing, you only buy the things that are a good price. Feel no shame about leaving with the minimum purchase (or max allowed items) if it is in your budget's best interest! I can't make promises that I'll keep this up, It took me about 2 1/2 hours to go through all the ads and do this, but I figure at least this week, I can pass the info along to all you other thrifty mamas!

I know everyone is looking for different things so I tried to organize them by General Art Supplies, Writing Utensils, Paper/Notebooks, and a miscellaneous section. There are some other deals that are only available at one particular store, or didn't seem to fit anywhere else; those will be at the very end.  If I am able to keep this up next week, I will try to stick with this same set up.  The deals with *asterisks* to the left of the item are what I think to be a good price this week. This is based on a few things, including if it is a "doorbuster" item, if it is on a rare brand to be sale, the amount the item is discounted, etc.  The good deals have one *, the better deals have two ** and the very best deals have the word STOCK UP!!! next to them. I hope this helps you to locate the items you need. Keep in mind that we have several more weeks of Back to School sales, so unless you need it right now, you may want to hold out for the sales of the coming weeks.

Also, this does not include ANY coupons.  I may try to add those in later, but for right now, the main ones I know of are Target printable coupons and Cartwheel (seems like I saw $1.50 off up and up school supplies on Target's website), and Rite Aid Video Values by Adperk. There are several school supply ads to watch and save even more money. I just watched pretty much all of them this morning while I was going through the ads. It doesn't take that long. I am looking at the sheet now, and I see $1 off any ink joy, $1 off pilot, $1/2 post it, $1 off 5 star 3 or 5 subject notebooks. Specifically that last one, those are 25% at Rite Aid already, so if you need that Brand, I would print it and check on the price when you get there!

Something else to note, Office Depot and Office Max are essentially one store now. This has been in the works for a while now, but I don't know the details. All I know is, whereas last year we were able to get the doorbusters from EACH store because they had separate ads, this year there's one combined ad.

One more thing. As of right now, I don't get any kind of kickback from doing this blog. I don't get paid to do any of this, so if I make a mistake, sorry! I'm just a mom on a mission to save, in an effort to be a good steward of what fGod has given our family. Couponing and deal shopping for the things my family needs is part of the job I do as a mom, and I put this list up simply in hopes that the time it saves you will bless your family too.

7/13 school supply prices

To God be the Glory

"There's honor in that. God gets glory from that."

That's what I told a friend this week at our weekly Bible study, speaking of motherhood. She spoke of how she'd wanted to get a medical degree and go overseas and help kids in Africa. But due to her lack of ability in Chemistry, it was clear that God had not called her that direction. Instead, she finds herself now expecting a baby girl in about 4 months. It's the same situation I found myself in 9 years ago. Motherhood. It is a calling many of us find ourselves thrown into before we have any idea what we are doing. In fact, 9 years later I still don't feel like I have this "Mom thing" figured out. My house stays a mess. Lived in, my mom-in-law calls it. My kids yell, and sometimes I am too quick to anger and I yell back. But I'm trying. I'm trying to do what God has called me to. Even though I fail frequently, I'll never give up. I'll keep trying and struggling to live in a way that honors God. Because to know Him, and to make Him known is the whole point of living our time out on earth. I'll never begin to understand why He thought me worthy of mothering these three children. These 3 "little sinners" as my friend Amy calls them (with utmost love!). Last month she spoke on motherhood being our ministry. That was such a profound thought that had never occurred to me, in all my 9 years of being a wife and mother. That is my calling, and whether I chose it or God chose it, it's where I am. But if I do my best to honor God in how I parent my children, whether I screw up here and there is kinda irrelevant. I think He knows we're human, and we're incapable of perfection, just like the kids. I think for me, sometimes it's hard not to sit back and take stock, looking at all the areas where things are flawed and feel like you are not even making a difference.

I spoke the other day about the extraordinary amount of messes my youngest makes. My middle child is extremely sensitive and takes everything to heart. My oldest, 8 year old drama queen is an expert at making mountains of molehills. She constantly forgets what I've told her a million times, and then feels awful about it. She loses her temper constantly over stupid things. Well, she comes by the last one honestly.


But I have the fantastic responsibility of molding these children before the world gets a hold of them.  It's one of those tasks that I get lost in, and most days when I'm in the thick of it, it does feel mundane. But I'm being reminded there is glory (for God ) in that. Certainly not glory for me. But we should not be glory seeking. Our goal, our main goal should be to live and love in a way that brings God honor and glory. Motherhood does that. It's one of those behind the scenes jobs that never gets recognized most of the time. All the things that get done through the day, most never even get seen by anyone else. When I'm sweeping the floor or washing what feels like the hundredth dish, the kids don't see that. But God sees it. I'm learning to praise God  with a sincere heart even when the task is the most monotonous or stressful. Because God sees it. And because for the big picture, the kids see it. They might not know or understand everything mom does, but they see my attitude. I am trying to find that balance of praising God even when I feel unappreciated (by the kids) because that they do see. Hopefully when my kids are grown, they will have a strong and grounded relationship with Christ in their own lives. I pray that they will have rich, strong marriages and godly parenting strategies. Not because I was a great mother, but because somehow, despite myself, God shined through me.

But I think the decision and calling to be not only a stay at home mom while my kids are little, but also a homeschool mom is sometimes a belittled one. My husband gets it. We have chosen to take charge of our children's education and spiritual guidance, because we only have them for so long. We want them to learn to be a light to others. That means that I get to be the one who helps them discover new things for the first time, all the while playing a huge part in their spiritual guidance. Who am I that God would choose me for this? I'm a broken, messed up person. But He did. He choose me. He chose me to mother them. 24/7. That's humbling to me. He obviously sees something in me I could never see. But that makes me want to honor Him and please Him that much more.

Beauty in the Everyday

I have said it before, and I'll say it again now: I don't remotely have this whole "Christ-follower" thing figured out. Not even close. If you think I do, then we must get to be better friends! If you do know me, you will know how hard-headed I am. This past year has been a time of being hit over the head with the same lessons over and over, much like the disciples, because I was too immature to figure it out the first time.

I am a work in progress. Hopefully, God is always changing me, always chipping away at the parts He doesn't like. Sometimes it hurts. Actually, most of the time it hurts. Much of the time I eager to be changed until God starts to chip off pieces of my self I am rather fond of, or am resistant to let go of-like my possessions, my security in worldly things, my temper, my lack of patience. All of this is good that God knows to remove it, even when I don't see it myself.

Right now, the lesson God seems to be hammering into me is this: There is beauty in the day to day stuff.

Life lessons on prayer

Okay so I just want to share something. I've said this before and I'll say it again now. Prayer works. God can definitely handle the biggest things-nothing is TOO big for God. He already knows what you are going through, what weight you are carrying, what seems impossible to you is no surprise to God. He made you, of course, so naturally He knows your innermost struggles and desires. He knows your deepest, darkest secrets and loves you more than you could ever comprehend. I am feeling overwhelmed by His presence and goodness this morning.

If you are a Christ follower, this is something you've experienced. The true feeling of being overwhelmed by His attributes-His Grace (giving you something good you didn't earn), Mercy (sparing you from punishment what you earned), Love, comfort, peace of knowing even when things seem insurmountable that He's got this! If not, I get that you don't get it. The Bible says the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing-and that is what will happen. It's hard to wrap your brain around, but it is one of those things that you just don't get till you get it. LIGHT BULB!!

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!!!

So we are, believe it or not, wrapping up the end of our FOURTH year homeschooling. Seems like just yesterday we were dipping our toes in the shallow end of the homeschool waters, trying to figure out if we could do this or not. I won't say it has always been super fun and super easy--if you know me, you know we have good days and bad days, just like any parent. All I know is as we reflect on this official school year ending, I am nothing if not grateful for the opportunity. Some days are perfectly routine; everything goes as planned and "normal" for us.  Other days are what I call "fly by the seat of my pants days". Some weeks we get everything planned accomplished with recess time to spare. Most days though, we have to go with the flow. Someone (or everyone) gets sick. Our spur of the moment plans take precedence sometimes. Sometimes it's our extra-curriculars, or errand running that cause us to mix it up and shuffle things around. Sometimes I even had to extend our school year dates or move planned breaks around because I didn't want the kids having makeup work from days (or a week) of sickness ON top of school work. Yes, that's a real life skill that needs to be learned. But while they are very young, I understand that there's only so much work they can actually complete in one day, and if they are doing school work from 6 am until 7pm which few breaks, they have no time to be just kids. On the other hand, if they choose to waste their time or not to focus on the task at hand, they end up eliminating free play time.