Being a better steward!!

I know this may be a crazy post to some but can I just tell you how much I love couponing (is that really a word) and saving money? It is true. A few friends of mine have totally encouraged me in this and it is wonderful to be able to save our family money. I believe this will help us a ton when we go to Gospel for Asia and will have to be on a much stricter budget. I also believe God wants us to be better stewards of our money (1 Corinthians 4:2 - Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy). After all it is God's money to begin with :).
A few of the ways I save is by going to CVS, shopping sales, and using lots (and I mean lots) of coupons!! I love CVS - I don't think I have paid more than maybe a couple dollars at CVS in months with their extra care bucks. To pay full-price for toothpaste to me is unheard of :)! I also use coupons and watch for items on sale - do you know there are times that stores will actually pay you back money for buying an item? For example, let's say that toothpaste is on sale at CVS for $3.79 with getting $3.79 in extra care bucks back plus you can use a manufacturer coupon (which I had for $1.00 off) so in essence I just got paid $1.00 for buying toothpaste :)
Also, this week Harris Teeter had super doubles which means they doubled all coupons with a face value of $1.98 or less -- ummm, WooHoo!! Here is a pic of my deals - cereal for $0.25 - yes, you read that right a quarter!! All of this that is in the picture I got for $42 - and that included 3lbs of sausage as well as some fresh kale!!
So yes, I am loving this and am so grateful to be a good steward as God has called us all to be!!

The Other Side of Me

If they were to write about
The story of my life
They would have to mention you
With every page they'd write
There's another side to every story told
If I were the ocean
You would be the shore
And one without the other one
Would be needing something more
We are the shadow and the light

Chorus:
Always love me
(and) never leave me now
(and) now you are the other side of me
Always love me
(and) never leave me now
(and) now you are the other side of me

I have known the emptiness
Of feeling out of touch
And living life without you here
Would be living half as much
Cause I've a need that only you can fill

If love was mathematical
You'd understand the sum
To the heart's equation
Where one and one makes one
And lonely equals me minus you

Words and music by Michael W. Smith and Wayne Kirkpatrick

Dave is my partner, my best friend, and my love but he is truly so much more than that. As God puts it so awesomely in His amazing word - we are one flesh! He really is the other side of me!! Occasionally Dave will surprise me and sing this song and it truly melts my heart!! I thank God for this man constantly!!

10 years have flown by...

Andrew turned 10 on February 4th and to be honest, it truly made me a little emotional. I have been thinking about him growing up a lot lately as things start to change on and in him. To me, he is my first baby, the one I prayed for and the one that I was in awe with those first few hours, amazed at God's creation of him. To think of him as a young man is really quite surreal and yet, that is what happens - we get older. It's hard to imagine him being a teenager or in high school, and then on to college or where ever else God may lead him and don't even get me started on girls and marriage - uggghhh :P. I guess it's true, he will always be my little boy no matter how old he gets. It is my prayer for this amazing little boy of mine as he grows older that he would hold tight to the faith and values that we have instilled in him and to love God with all his heart, soul, and mind and keep Him first in his life. Until then, I will enjoy more precious moments as I get to hold on to him for at least a few more years. Enjoy some moments of the last 10 years with Andrew!!

Hives, Hives, and More Hives...

Poor Andrew!! He came in from playing outside on Sunday and told me he had a few bumps on his side. I looked at it and sure enough they were hives. It was warm out so I asked him if he had been on the grass at all - he said yes and I just assumed it was a result of that. Everything was fine but Monday night he said, "Mom, those hives are back". Sure enough it was true. I had given him some Benadryl and sent him to bed. After about 30 minutes, I told Dave "oh my goodness, maybe Andrew is allergic to the Tamiflu." He woke up Tuesday morning and didn't say anything was bothering him and went to school. After school, he came in and said "Mom, the hives are back and they are really big." I looked at him and about had a heart-attack. He had the largest hives/welts all over his back, his arms, some on his belly, and a couple on his face. I asked him if he was breathing ok and he said he was. I immediately called the pediatrician and took him right in. I kept asking him if he had eaten anything different at school. He kept saying "no". The pediatrician looked at him, asked if we had done or eaten anything different and I told him he was started on Tamiflu on Friday when his sister tested positive for the flu. Sure enough he said that Andrew was allergic to the Tamiflu and told us to never have him take it again. Ummm, duh - sorry, a little sarcasm :P
Anyway, we came home and started Andrew on a Benadryl and Allegra course and by the next morning they were gone. Unfortunately the doctor did tell us they could come and go for up to 6 weeks and sure enough they were back last night - not as bad, but they were back. I am so glad God protected him and it was not more serious affecting his breathing or anything like that.
Here are some crazy pictures of my poor boy and his hives.

My special necklace

Here are the pics of the necklace I got for my birthday - it just came in the mail yesterday and I am so excited!! I love it!!

40 years!!!!

Happy 40th Birthday Dave!! I am truly the one with the wish that came true!!

Yes, Dave turned 40 on Sunday! Unfortunately with Kira having the flu, some of our plans got altered but we were still able to celebrate as a family and truly celebrate the best husband and daddy we know!! The only thing Dave wanted for his birthday was a new thin-line ESV Bible so that is exactly what he got :). We are so blessed that God chose this man as the head of our family and we just love him so much, can ya tell???? :)