Feeling Frazzled but Joyfilled

Tonight I am so frazzled. So many things going on in my heart and mind. I have several prayer concerns that are really weighing on my heart tonight. So many who are hurting from illness or life changes going on. I am trying not to let the stress overwhelm me.

I am also trying to finish some year end projects at work but all I have to do is think about the fact I will be off for two weeks beginning Friday at 5 p.m.!!! WOOO HOO!!! I am really looking forward to the time off! Hubby and me are getting our kids all geared up to purge and organize to get ready for a kickin' 2009!!!

I am currently finishing up a cute little project for my daugher's friends Christmas gifts...it needs to be done by Friday morning. I am finishing up a darling scrapbook for one of my son's special friends...it needs to be finished by Wednesday morning. I have been getting last minute items bought and in the midst of all of this I have made it to Walgreens and CVS plus we went to Aldi's last night!

I will write more about this later in the week but tonight I bought a sack full of things I needed for the projects I am working on plus some stocking stuffers and paid just .44 cents out of pocket at CVS! Yes siree I paid only FORTY FOUR CENTS for over 50.00 worth of things I needed!!!!! Thanks very much CVS!

I also have been loving the sales at Hobby Lobby lately. I don't see how they will have much of an after Christmas sale because the shelves are clearing out with all their 50% off sales on Christmas currently.

I will post pictures of the cute things I am doing but right now I am headed off to get some much needed time with my sweet teenagers before I head to bed.

Frugal Fridays 11-14-08

While the economy has not really affected our family personally yet, we are trying to tighten up the reins so to speak to ride this out for however long it may last. Thankfully we have no debt other than our home. However, with one in college, three in high school that has its own challenges.

There are just some things that you can't cut out as a parent. For instance the cost to attend football and basketball games when your child is playing. Each week there was a jr. varsity and varsity football games. That means for our family to attend the entrance fees 20.00 for the jr. varsity and about the same amount for the varsity games. That is around 40.00 a week to watch your child play their sport! This can really add up when there is around nine weeks of football and now they are in the playoffs!

We have been trying to limit the meals out and all the running around. In my mind, I am still trying to act like gas is almost 4.00 a gallon instead of the 1.81 I saw today.

I have been taking my lunch to work and eating there instead of driving the mile or so home to eat. I started this when the gas prices skyrocketed and while some days it is really hard to stay at work all that time I know there are people that commute in and they do not have the luxury of going home for lunch. I have tried to stay out of the shops around campus and have spent my time working on my coupons during the lunch hour.

We have also not turned on our heat yet. We need to probably this coming week but for now we have just added another blanket on the beds. We have not used the air conditioner either since September. Our home has not been hot so that has not been a problem. Our bill this month showed a significant savings.

The next thing we are considering getting rid of is our cable...or at least go back to basic cable. This is something I am still toying with right now.

I have stepped up my coupon usage and get quite excited about the savings we have been experiencing. My college age son has jumped on the coupon bandwagon and for that I am grateful. I guess that proves the more is caught than taught theory.

Here are a few more things we are doing to conserve and sock money away:
We are not buying magazines anymore. We read them at the library or enjoy sitting at Barnes and Noble.

I check out taylortownpreview.com each week to see which coupons will be in the local paper so I know how many papers to buy. Just two weeks ago I knew we needed to buy at least five papers because inside there were two coupons worth 1.50 each off our favorite soy milk. Those coupons paid for the papers and besides there were numerous other coupons we use each week.

We are vigilant about turning off our lights and making sure the kids unplug their phone chargers and the like. I did not realize how much electricity they truly pull when left plugged into the socket.

After Christmas we are implementing a no spend month (or two) with some set boundaries in order to sock away more cash.

I am working on my black friday plan to finish up Christmas and buy any gifts that are needed in the first six months of next year. You can check out all the Black Friday ads at Gotta Deal look for the Black Friday button.

We are setting aside money to use for the after Christmas sales to replenish our gift closet. If we need to replace Christmas lights or decorations I never do it before Christmas. I plan for the next year and buy them afterwards.

For more frugal ideas check out Frugal Fridays at Biblical Womanhood.

I am SO ready for this to be over!

This morning I got up eager to go and vote but first I was checking out my reader for what blogs had been updated over night and low and behold one of my favorite bloggers, GiBee at Kisses of Sunshine, put into words all that I have been feeling these past few days. You can read her post here.

Please go vote! Regardless of who wins I take great comfort in knowing that no matter how many debates there were, SNL portrayals, or reports of wrong doings....my God is STILL in control and He will put into office or allow who takes office for a purpose and to fulfill His will for this country. It may not be easy or who we desire but He still reigns whether Washington or the rest of this country believes it or not!

Dolllar Wise and the Dallas Morning News

There is a great series that started today in the Dallas Morning News.

Even though I live in Oklahoma I read the Dallas Morning News each morning online. Lots of great information and they seem to break news quicker on national things than our local newspaper the Oklahoman. Matter of fact, many times they have the national headlines before MSN or CNN even has them online.

It is no secret if you read this blog that we are followers of Christ and Dave Ramsey. As he so often says, "It is God and Grandma's way of thinking when it comes to money." Who do you look to for inspiration in these tough economic times?

Taking a short break!

I am taking a short break even though most of the summer I have been 'breaking'. However, school starts on Wednesday and the university where I work begins on Monday. Lots of things going on this weekend and much to get accomplished. I expect to be back on a regular posting schedule once the first week of school is over.

Meanwhile here are a few blogs that I read each and everyday:

Homeschooling and Frugal by my dear friend Lisa

Christi's 2 Cents

Cindy Beall

Way More 4 Less

A Year of Crockpotting

Little Bits of Life

Raising Five

These are just a few of my 150+ blogs that I have in my Google Reader.
Until next week!

Super Saving Saturday 8-2-08

Wow! Today has been an awesome day! We are having a tax free weekend in Oklahoma. It would have been great if school supplies were included, but I guess we can't have everything. At Dillards all the items already on sale from 50% up to 75% off you can get another 30% off of that! Today we found some great bargains for back to school.

My hubby and I first started the day off at TJMaxx. We found a backpack (for a student we are helping at church). We also found football gloves for one of our boys that at Academy would have cost 50.00---we would not have purchased them at that price anywhere but today we found them for 19.99-Underarmour linemen gloves...the cheap ones at Academy last year cost us 19.99 and they tore up before the season was over. This brand is the best and now we don't have to worry about his hands getting torn up by cleats. We also found underarmour shirts for the boys to wear under their football uniform for 5.00, four dresses for our daughter, four pairs of shorts for the boys (each pair was ten bucks), my favorite perfume, and a jacket for me. There was a lot of stuff and we both thought it would be around 200.00 but was well underneath that total and we only had to pay 2.89 in tax!!! The only things taxed were the perfume and the gloves.

On to Dillards...we found shirts for the boys, my husband, and several (8 pieces) work items for me. I found a darling 3/4 length jacket marked down to 22.00 and I got another 30% off of that price! The jacket was originally over 100.00!! WOO HOO! My husband found an Austin Reed shirt that was originally 95.00 marked down to 17.47. We think it was a mistake because the other shirts just like were 37.47. Needless to say it rang up 10.47! We love Austin Reed shirts because of their quality. We were thrilled with the purchase! We found two collard polo shirts for our sons first day back to school. They were originally over 60.00 but we paid just 10.68 for the shirts!

All in all today was very productive and something that we only do twice a year....at the end of winter and again summer. It pays to watch the sales and hit the large chains when they are trying to rid the store of last seasons clothing. It really pays off for a large family.

Five years ago they had a huge sale at Dillards. Everything was marked incredibly low...I mean Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren shirts for under ten bucks. We loaded up on things for each of the kids and shirts for my husband. In the end the total value for all the items that we purchased was over 3200.00 but the kicker was we did not pay but 250.00 for these items. 200.00 that clothed our entire family of six for more than one year. The shirts my husband bought still look brand new and the boys still wear some of the Polo shirts we purchased.

I still prefer great consignment and thrift stores but when I can find first quality, never worn merchandise at an incredible savings I am all for it. Today was awesome and my husband and I are worn out. For more Super Savings check out Money Saving Mom.

Back to School Frenzy

I have been on a break of sorts from blogging. Granted it is not a self-imposed break but one that has happened just the same. Having three teenagers in the home can take a toll on ones computer time. I have decided that I will try to hammer out a few posts until school starts on August 20th and then get back into my regular routine.

Today our fifteen and a half year old son got his permit! WOO HOO! Sitting at the DMV for two and a half hours was not so much fun in this searing heat we are having in Oklahoma. Seeing his smiling face after he passed with flying colors....PRICELESS! He drove me home and I must say that once you are on that third driver...it does get a little easier....I mean relaxing somewhat in the passengers seat. He is a good driver and now I need stronger knee pads....boy the praying is going to be stepped up a notch!

I wrote at the top "Back to School Frenzy" and that is what I mean. It is crazy that I have not bought my school supplies yet! However, I have a hefty supply closet that is filled from the last few years of bounty. I mean there are only so many index cards and reams of paper one can store! We are having a tax free weekend here in Oklahoma this weekend. I am headed out tomorrow along with everyone else to see what I can find.

I am sure that I will be back with a Super Savings Saturday post tomorrow. Until then, have a blessed and simple weekend!

WFMW 6-4-08

Today over at Rocks in My Dryer, the topic is “Mom, I’m bored!” What do you do when your children announce they are bored?

For my family, I have always had to work so I have not been able to be home the entire summer. I always made sure there were plenty of activities and down-times as well. Now that they are teenagers I seem to hear I am bored more frequently on the weekends when their friends may be on vacation or they have lost rights to the television.

On the times that I was off work and if the boredom blues hit the kids these are a few standbys that always worked:

Creating something with the craft items I have on hand. Many times we have made Christmas ornaments in July or jewelry. Working on scrapbooks is another great pastime!

SWIMMING….WATER FIGHTS…..WATER BALLOON FIGHTS….WATER FUN!!! You can never fail with water fun….get some great sunscreen and have a blast!

Check out the library for activities for youth in the summer…these are always free and very educational.

We have had a movie fest before….watch every Mary Kate and Ashley movie or Star Wars…pop some popcorn throw some pillows on the floor and have a fun time watching movies together as a family.

In my experience when kids are bored they are really saying they want YOU and to spend time with YOU. That however is my own experience. Very rarely have I heard those words from my four children.

These are a few things that work for me! For more Works for Me Wednesday posts head over to Rocks in My Dryer.

What a week!

I had every intention to sit down and write a post last Saturday but the weeks festivities got in the way. As much as I love blogging, I love my family way more! :)

We arrived home late last Friday night from New Mexico. My husband and I attended the Christian Law Enforcement Summit at Glorieta, New Mexico. It was beautiful and a great time of refreshment. Nothing like sitting around the fire at night with a bunch of law enforcement types to put your life in perspective. When you pass a patrol car or see an officer please remember them in prayer. There are jobs are so filled with stress and they see the horrible side of life every single day.

A few things for you to think about:
The life expectancy of a law enforcement officer is 57 years.
The life expectancy of a criminal is 64 years.

The average divorce rate in America is 50%.
The average divorce rate among law enforcement is nearly 77%

A police officer is more apt to die by his own hand than take the life of another. The suicide rate for law enforcement is one of the highest in the world.

I could go on and on. I met some of the MOST awesome Godly men and women who put their lives on the line each and every day. It was incredible to see two marriages healed while we were there as well. If you want to read an awesome testimony on how these conference help police officers read here.

I digress....once we got home we stayed up until nearly 2 a.m. talking with two of our teenagers. The very next morning we only had three teenagers in the house because our oldest turned 20!! We celebrated into the evening and got ready to celebrate our daughters birthday the very next day!

It was awesome to attend church together on a Sunday. My husband works the day shift all weekend. He was still off and it was a wonderful day until our daughter got sick. Her birthday celebrating came to an abrupt halt after church when we discovered she was running a temp and felt horrible. She went to the doctor on Monday and was diagnosed with strep.

The week was very busy getting back into a routine. I dealt with my own illness as well this week and had not felt like writing at all.

Today the men of the house are at a men's retreat with our church. They will be home later this evening. They camped out last night at the retreat and are having a blast. Tonight we will celebrate my husband's birthday! April is a huge month in our family!

Prayerfully the next week I will get back to all my usual posts. I know that I found some great jewels at a garage sale last weekend! I can't wait to share pictures with you!

Have a blessed weekend!

Back Home from New Mexico

We just got home from a wonderful week in New Mexico at the Christian Law Enforcement Summit. I am very tired and will finally be updating my blog tomorrow. The conference was fantastic and I never checked my email once all week nor watched any television. It was a wonderful respite.
More later!
Blessings,
Vickie

The Sick House

I am going to attempt to type a quick entry and then head off to watch American Idol. Our 19 year old came home sick last Friday with this wicked stomach virus going around town. On Sunday morning I came down with it and am STILL sick! Two more of our children became ill on Sunday night. My dear, precious, sweet husband took over all the household duties and caring for everyone that was ill plus he had to do all the grocery shopping. I could have not made it without his help. Two days breezed by and I really did not even know what was going on. Hopefully we are all on the mend and the other two will not get sick. I hope to post a Works for Me Wednesday tomorrow.

I am so glad the Church is not a building but its People

Today around 4 p.m. a dear friend called and told me that she had sad news. Our former church buildings were on fire. Our church built a new complex around three years ago. We sold the church and grounds to another local church in our city, New Covenant Methodist Church. The portion that is burning was the original building that my parents first visited when I was around 4 years of age. They joined this church, Henderson Hills Baptist Church, when I was six years old.

It is so sad to see it burning and the many memories going up in flames. The fun in the fellowship hall, the baptism area where my siblings and I were baptized, the Sunday School rooms that we grew our faith in and the hallways that we ran down during youth lock ins in the 70s. It is all going up in flames as I type this post. My heart is sad but it is only temporary. The Church is not in a building but in the hearts of His people. I am so thankful for that but tonight I am also a little sad. My parents were a young married couple with two small children when they joined this church in the mid sixties.

So many memories were flooding my heart and mind as I watched the news coverage. I ache for the youth at New Covenant who just completed a huge refurbishing of the youth area in the church. My heart hurts for the Chinese church that meets there each week in the old sanctuary.

Right now it is raging again and I pray it does not take the old sanctuary with the lime green shag carpet! It was quite popular in 1974! I was a freshman in high school the day they dedicated the building. My grandmother's funeral was held there and our weddings too. Many, many memories that I will cling to in my heart. Spiritual markers that molded and developed my character and faith. Those things will not pass away. For that I am eternally grateful.

Please pray for our sweet friends at New Covenant. I saw some of the youth girls on television and my heart just broke seeing their sadness. Thankfully no one has been injured. In the days ahead they will need our prayers and support.

Big Weekend

This weekend is huge for the youth of our church, which my three youngest children are a part of the group. Our church has always had a 'Disciple Now' weekend where the youth are put up in church members homes and spend the weekend in worship experiences, small group Bible study, and of course fun times getting to know one another. A few years ago this grew into a much larger event called "Big Weekend". Several churches from the area now particpate in this awesome event. Tonight my teens found out where they will be staying and with whom. Friday evening it all starts!

They anticipate between 700-1000 students at the events. Charlie Hall is leading the music again this year. His drummer, Dustin, grew up in our church. It is so cool to see him a grown young man living out his dream in a Christian band. Travis Crim is speaking. My teenagers have been ready for Big Weekend since it ended last year!

If the Lord so leads you, please pray that this weekend the lost will find Him and the hurting will find peace and comfort in Christ. Pray protection over the sponsors, youth, speakers, and musicians. This is an awesome opportunity for kids to really go deep and live out their faith.

Enjoying the Journey

You know that feeling you have your children are young and you long for that next stage so you can 'know' what it feels like to have a baby that can sit up, or a toddler that can walk, or they are out of diapers...that sort of longing for the next step in life?

I think that is a common thing for Mom's to always think of the next stage. I remember when my oldest graduated from high school in 2006, I was ready for the next stage but yet a little nervous about the future. I also think back to when he got his driver's license...that was huge and very scary. The critical thing is I survived and the Lord graciously brought me through these trials.

I am now getting ready to have a second teenager driving in the house with one more following January 2009 and the final driver in the household in 2010. The years are flying by and I feel like I have no idea where they have gone?

Today, I was thinking about how much they have all grown and that it is entirely possible that in the next decade I may become a grandmother! What?! Oh my goodness!

Tonight, as we were having dinner, I was listening to our fifteen year old relive his basketball game tonight. He is our very animated child. He had to get up from the table to add actions to his words. It was hysterical! We were all laughing and at that moment I realized how blessed I have been to have these four incredible children in my life. One to whom I gave birth and three I was blessed with seven years ago when the Lord brought me my incredible husband.

It seems I have arrived at that stage that we all think about when we have young children and dream about when we have precocious pre-teens...that time is upon me and I realized tonight that I have really enjoyed the journey. Has it all been a piece of cake...nada...but I would not trade a minute of it!

So in about a year or so we are going to be the house on the block that has more cars than anyone else and our insurance bill will probably be able to feed a family of four each month easy, but I wouldn't trade it for anything, well except maybe free car insurance! :)

WFMW - 1-23-08

Raising teenagers takes lots of time, energy, and investigative work. Many parents think that once their children reach being teenagers they can slack off a bit. Our middle school principle tells sixth grade parents each year at orientation,"Parents, this is not the time to slack off in being a parent. You need to be more attuned and watchful at this age...guiding them to make wise choices."

One area that I see many slacking off in is the area of going to the movies and what they allow their teenagers to see. The movie ratings really mean nothing to us. We have our own ratings system. We check everything out. Just because we have a nearly 14 year old daughter and two boys ages 15 and 16, they do not automatically get to attend any PG13 movie they so desire. We have raised my nearly 20 year old the same way and for the most part I believe he has made wise choices.

We have been shocked through the years by Christian parents that we know that allow their children to see any PG13 or 'R' rated movies. When our younger sons were around nine and ten years of age the movie the Matrix was very popular. They had friends from church that owned the movie. They were over at this friends house and when he pulled the movie out they told him that they were not allowed to see that type of movie. We have taught our children to blame it on us when it is appropriate..."No, my parents won't let me", or "No man, my parents would freak if I saw that...did that....etc.,"

What we are teaching our children is not about censorship but teaching them what to look for in entertainment and how to protect their minds and hearts. We do not want them to fill their mind with lustful things, foul language, s*xual situations, for the sake of entertainment. Garbage in equals garbage out.

There are two great resources that we utilize. One is free and the other has a yearly subscription that is worth it. We love James Dobson's Plugged In Online. It is free. It is a great resource for movies - current or video; music, print, or television. With our older boys we have gotten to a point where we will print the review off and ask them if this is the sort of thing they want to fill their mind with. Too be honest, anymore we let them make the decision, especially as they mature, but for the most part we tell them why we feel it would not be a good choice for them to see XYZ Movie. More often than not they change their mind and see something that they know would be more well-suited. Children want boundaries and just because they are now teenagers does not mean that they do not still want some sort of boundaries in life.

The other choice that used to be free but now goes by subscription rates is Screenit.com. This service tells you EVERY word that is said, every scene that is inappropriate and why it is inappropriate, the morality of the movie, whether there is drinking that is glorified, or situations that even as an adult I do not want to see in a movie.

We have also been known to go see the movie before allowing our children to view it but that was when they were much younger. Try to find like-minded friends that feel the same way you do about what movies to see or not see. I have learned the hard way that sometimes your closest friends or even family can steer you wrong. You have to know that you are like-minded on what you feel is inappropriate so that you are not surprised. Including your teenagers in the process helps teach them how to handle this type of temptation when they are older. It works for us!

For more Works for Me Wednesday see Rocks in My Dryer.

A Time to Refresh

We just returned home from a whirlwind 24 hours. My sweet husband told me on Wednesday to not have plans for Friday night. I love a man with a plan so I was excited. I am also the worlds worst at being surprised. I always want to know and have a sharp, investigative nature so I immediately had all kinds of thoughts going through my head. Having been married to me now almost seven years he knows this trait very well. Before I could open my mouth he told me to not ask, not speculate, and to just sit back and wait for instruction. I asked what I was to wear and he told me, "I will let you know when you need to know". Phooey...I was not going to get anywhere.

Something changed however after a day or so. I began to get very excited about being surprised. I mean, this was a big deal for me. Believe me, I have never liked surprises. I am MORE surprised when I know. I think it means I have a fear of the unknown but we are not trying to pychoanalyze the situation right now. When I was thirteen I even gave away the surprise of everyone's Christmas presents to my three siblings. I had found the presents and asked if they wanted to see them! I showed them the presents. My parents that year were furious. Of course my younger sisters tattled on me, as they should have, and at first no presents were under the tree. I learned my lesson about that but my husband has still had a hard time trying to surprise me.

Yesterday arrived and he was off work and had lots going on. He was not reachable most of the day by phone. It just so happened that I had a hair appointment with my dear friend yesterday. I told her that something was up and all I knew was we had reservations at seven o'clock. She gave me the works with my hair and sent me on my way.

I arrived home and did not notice anything that would give me clues at all. Our daughter was geting ready to leave for a weekend mission trip so we were getting her ready and taking her to our church by six that evening. She had picked out what I was to wear. As I went into our room I noticed that it looked a little different. That is when I noticed the suitcase on the bed and turned and saw the enormous smile on my husbands face! He had planned an overnight get away for us! He had gotten our sons taken care of with food and fun for the night. They are more than capable of staying by themselves. He told me to go get ready.

I must tell you that I was so happy. What I have not told you is that last weekend while my husband was busy at work I had a melt down. I mean a big, bad meltdown. I have not cried like that in I don't know how long. It was not really over any one thing. I had to deal with the usual teenage angst issues but I was overwhelmed with all I needed to accomplish and was having a pretty big pitty party to boot! I felt everything pressing in on me and realized that I missed my husband so much! We always try to have a date night but we are both so tired and there is always a teen calling to ask a question, or tell us something 'important'. We never really get uninterrupted time to hold hands, talk, and just sit quietly with one another.

I did not voice this to anyone but my Lord. I prayed so hard last week. I desired to have time with my husband without our children around and no commitments. After my crying jag he realized he was going to be off for nine days. He got the ball rolling. He wanted us to go to Tulsa but then remembered our middle son turns 15 tomorrow. He then decided that we would stay at a new hotel in Oklahoma City...a few miles from our home but still...alone....away....quiet....peace.

My husband is also a very good listener and has remembered things that I have told him, sometimes all the way back to when we were dating. I mentioned one of my favorite places to eat in Edmond but it had gone out of business in town a long time ago. I knew there was one still in OKC but it was never something we thought about on date night. He got us reservations there for seven last night. MMMM it was so good. The jazz was great! We loved it! We then moved on to Barnes and Noble, which is my favorite thing to do so we could hold hands, read, and more importantly talk, oh yea and drink Starbucks. We were able to sleep in today and have spent the entire day together. It did not matter that we did not go to another town outside the boundaries of our own. It was a time to reconnect and remember how the Lord brought us together and just enjoy each others company.

I highly recommend it! I feel recharged and refreshed. Ready to meet the challenges of the coming week. It was just what I needed to refocus on this wonderful gift the Lord gave me. It also made me realize that I can't let myself get so stressed. While I have wonderful children that are awesome....they are all trying to find their place in this world and where they fit. They also have those teenage hormones racing through their bodies and at times they may not make sense may get a little testy, or they may have their own emotional upheavals but we are a family...that Christ put together. We fit perfectly together like a hand in a glove. It is the most amazing thing that I have ever experienced in my life. I needed only 24 hours away to relax and realize yet again who is in control and relinquish that tight grip I seem to have at times when I want to be in charge. That is where I always fail and get myself in a bind....I just have to keep my focus on Christ and continually let Him mold me into the wife and mom that He desires for me to be and not some preconceived idea that I have in my head.

So I missed being around today. I did not get my Super Savings Saturday post done but tomorrow is a new day. I think I have had my batteries recharged and I am ready to rumble!

How would you respond?

Please visit my blog friend, Cindy Beall, and read this sobering story.

It pierced my heart and really made me examine how I would have handled the same situation. I am reading it to my teenagers in the morning at breakfast.

Praising Him in ALL things,

Vickie