Helpful Savings Blog Links

This week, I made the above purchase in two transactions at CVS and paid just under $5 total out of pocket for the lot. For those of you who regularly do far better than that, this post isn't for you. And it's not to brag about how well I did. Rather it is to motivate and help those of you who are new to saving money at CVS.

If you want to learn more about how to make CVS work for you or even just want to make sure you're not missing anything, visit one or all of the following CVS Primers. They each explain it slightly differently, and maybe one or another will make more sense to you.

Then be sure to pick up a copy or two of the Sunday paper and save the coupons!

Abundant Frugal Life
Couponing 101
I Heart CVS
Deal Seeking Mom provides information on how to save at CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid.


These sites offer deal senarios, as well (you can surf their sites further), but I chose these particular links because of the help they give to beginners.

A Frugal Living Blog List that covers a wider variety of savings opportunities is next on my list to provide for you. I know that many of you already have a list which you check daily, but some of you don't, and have been asking where to look.

My list could go on and on forever, but somehow I need to narrow it down. I already have a bunch of favorites I'm sorting through. But if you write a savings blog or have a favorite you think should be included, you may email me, or leave the blog title in a comment.

In this economy, it is a wonderful thing to help families save money!

SnickerdoodlesOtherwise Known As Sugar Cookies

If you are on a diet, click away . Do NOT scroll down. I don't want to be responsible for pushing any of my friends down the slippery slope...unless it's on a sled, of course! Anyone want to come over and forge their way down our ravine???

Mmmmmmmmm.

Last night, after our delicious but smelly Salmon dinner, I decided that I needed to make some cookies. Both because I had a hankering for something sweet, and because the house smelled like a New England dockside (our windows are taped shut...remember?).

The boys have two favorites. Since we made Chocolate Chip Cookies last time, this time we made Snickerdoodles. I say "we" loosely.

I made the cookies, my youngest snuck clumps of dough, and my middle one was told he couldn't have any til he was done his homework.

Now you know my third reason. PURELY motivational...because I'm that kind of mom.

My mom made this recipe since forever ago when I was little and my favorite part was rolling the balls in the Cinnamon and sugar. An embarrassingly small percentage of the dough made it on to the cookie sheet, so nothing has changed in the process. I'm sure everyone (accept blogger spellcheck) has heard of these before, because it's a common recipe. But just in case...

Snickerdoodles

1 Cup soft shortening (I use a Crisco generic)
1 and 1/2 C Sugar
2 eggs
2 and 2/3 C Flour
2 teaspoons Cream of Tartar
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

Dough will be slightly crumbly. Form lightly into golf ball size balls, and roll in Cinnamon and sugar mixture (3 T sugar to 1 t Cinnamon).

Space about 2 inches a part and bake in 375 oven until balls flatten somewhat and cracks form on the top. I should give you a time, I know, but I usually just keep an eye on them while I roll the next tray of balls.

My Tip: Do not over bake! I get them out before they start to brown at all. Even the bottoms should still be light in color or else your cookies will get crunchy, and crunchy is burnt according to my boys. Just so you know.

Enjoy! These go great with a mug of hot chocolate, which is on the menu for tonight after we come in from seeing who can make their snow fort the biggest and best, ever.

I plan to get out there with the little guy this morning to get a head start on our fort. That's fair because he's four, and I'm old. Just so you know.

Over A FootSometimes Pictures Say More Than Words

A path here,

A path there,

Forts and Tunnels everywhere.

A Soggy Snowy Aftermath



Snow Day At Raise Them Up
Lots of shoveling,
Friendly neighbors,
Lots of shoveling,
A little bit of fun,
Lots of shoveling,
Legos migrating from the playroom,
A movie,
Bananas with peanut butter and sprinkles,
A Frosty 12 degrees,
A toasty fire in the stove,
Five tired sleepyheads,
Two-hour delay Announcement,
A wintry night,
And
Pleasant Dreams...
Oops,
And a Bottle of Advil!

A Little Service Here??

Boys and Birds woke up famished today. Now that they are taken care of, I'm tossing up a few pictures and heading out to find my shovel.

This storm brought the most snow we've had since our move to Indiana. On top of the five inches we shoveled yesterday, a hefty load fell overnight. We haven't ventured out far enough to take an accurate measurement yet, but I'll let you know.

It will be the first big snow my four-year-old has had the chance to play in. I'll post some pictures later.

It's looking deep.

Beautiful.

But Very, Very, Deep.

Works For Me Wednesday:Jigsaw Puzzles for Valentines

Jigsaw Puzzles are a great way to weather the winter months, and it's definitely wintry here. I did this puzzle a few years before I got married and found this neat looking frame at a yard sale. I love the look it gives the puzzle.

Below, is a not so great photo of a Norman Rockwell puzzle I did for the boys' room. My Dad made the simple pine frame which goes well with their pine loft beds.

Don't you love Norman Rockwell pictures? On our honeymoon, we visited the Norman Rockwell Museum and I absolutely loved it! But I'm getting away from the topic.

Each winter, we usually set up a table and have an ongoing puzzle. The kids and I work on it as time allows. You know, a piece here, and a piece there. Sometimes we even get it completed before spring! lol!

Bits and Pieces is a great source. They have all kinds of puzzles, in all shapes and sizes. If you are a puzzle person, or know someone who is, this is a great site!

I've had some shipped to the grandmoms in our lives for Christmas and Birthdays. But they would make great Valentines Gifts, too, to help while away the rest of the winter!

A puzzle in process, along with a cup of cocoa and a fire in the wood stove, help make the snowflakes falling out there a little more fun for we adults. Just a little more, mind you.

Check out the rest of Works For Me Wednesday over at Rocks In My Dryer! Thanks, Shannon, for hosting such a great source of ideas!

My Achy Breaky Back

When we moved to Indiana five years ago, a friend told us that it might snow enough to track a cat three times during any given winter. No big deal.

We've found that to be mainly true. But today was a little bit more.

With a healthy five inches on the ground, I brought my able-bodied boys out to shovel the driveway with me. Indoors, they had exhibited boundless energy, so this was just the thing we all needed.

It's amazing how they could shovel for all of 7 minutes and feel absolutely exhausted. Who can blame them? After all, look at the absolutely massive piles of snow they moved. Heh-hem. Unfortunately, my boys were too young to remember "real snows" back in the Northeast.

So I felt the need to pull out a few "When I was your age..." stories. Combine the stories with the fact that I was a girl and had shoveled more snow in just one typical storm than they have in their whole lives, and well, it put a refreshing look of respect on the faces of my workforce.

I should have taken a picture, I know.

But wow! Do I feel old tonight! My aching back is complaining louder than my boys were this afternoon.

For the first time I can remember, my boys are actually hoping we don't get the additional 5-7 inches they are calling for overnight--even if it means having school tomorrow! (Me too!)

Yet, it is pretty. Now that my husband is home safely from work, I can look out and enjoy it. It helps a lot that he said he would work on our loader. (Yesss!) You see, our usual snow removal workhorse is having some mechanical issues.

So, we'll see what tomorrow brings...

Right now it is just sleeting, my boys are finishing up baths, and I'm thinking about tossing in a movie.

And The Winner Is.......

I just know you were all sitting on the edge of your seats waiting for this moment, so let's get to it.

Although this wasn't really a contest, and I don't have any prizes, Holly nailed it spot on and she has my absolute and total respect. For she was able to guess it without the benefit of being able to tilt the container and see it in all its total grossness. You go, girl!

It looks like that slime stuff that used to come in a little 'garbage can' back in the 70s/80s. Tell your boys they aren't the only Wii-less ones.

It wasn't until my son got home and immediately dumped it out on the counter that its nature became apparent. The story behind it is actually pretty nifty. Leave it to his (young) male teacher to come up with its complete awesomeness and appeal for boys.

Here's the story. Mr. X, (not his real name, but still really cool, like his idea) gave this slimy bucket of bug to all the kids who qualified for the BUG Club. Bug, as in, Bringing Up Grades Club. My son brought up his reading grade from a B to an A. Now, how cool is that?

Sadly, since Friday, the slime is no more.

Well, it still is, but it just isn't as fun any more.

Predictably, when a bucket of slime gets tucked in a pocket and forgotten about, it tends to coat the inside of the pocket in which it was left . . . Gross!

I guess that's why we moms and female teachers tend to avoid the most totally awesome and grossest rewards. LOL! But it was sure a cool thing while it lasted.

I wonder what will happen to it in the wash...

Oh, and thanks for your moral support on our Wii-less state. I now know of two other families in this vast universe that are suffering from the same bordering-on-child-abuse-Wii-less state. :)

O.K., Any Guesses As To What THIS Is??

My boys were here for all of 57 seconds after school today before hustling back out the door to a friend's house to play Wii. Because we, of course, are still Wii-less--the only Wii-less family in the whole universe--according to the boys. Oops! Sorry, I'm getting distracted by the distressing and depressing injustices we press onto our children.

Back to the matter at hand. During that 57 seconds they were here, 2 cups, a multitude of crumbs, and THIS appeared on my kitchen counter.

I'd just love to hear what y'all think THIS is. Don't be bashful, now.

I'd kind of like to know, myself.

I'll tell you who comes the closest on Sunday.

Frost, Frost, Go Away!

The past few weeks have brought us exceptionally cold weather. Don't you feel cold just looking at my big blue words? Fortunately, my boys worked hard over the summer to build up our supply of wood, and our wood stove does a wonderful job of keeping most of the house warm.

But our Pella casement windows do their evil best to let in the winter. I think the color red is needed here to emphasize that the windows are from hell. I thought Pella windows were supposed to be good. The ones in this house have serious issues.

It's not just one or two windows. It's all of them. They all open just fine. But few of them close without someone going outside and pushing on the window. Then, even with the extra help, (and noteworthy cooperation of my boys) few of the windows close tightly.

The large sun room on the back of our house is the worst. We use it as the playroom for the boys, but keep the door to the room closed. Otherwise, our wood stove can't keep up with the cold air flow.

I've been reluctant to caulk the windows shut, like my husband would like to do, because caulking them seems so permanent. After all, there is a day (or two) between the hot summer and frigid winter where it is actually nice to open the windows. It has nothing to do (of course) with my frequent need to air out smoke while I'm cooking.

But, anyway. . . one morning, when I went into the sun room to put something away, I saw that almost every window was frosted completely over --so you couldn't even see out! I took a picture of this one because you could at least see through a little and tell it was a window I was photographing.

I guess with the last few weeks giving us the coldest spell I've ever felt, it was to be expected. But it pushed me into action.

I gathered my tape and scissors and went to work. I taped both the inside, and the outside, of each window, determined to stop the gush of air. I know packaging tape isn't meant for such extremes, but I was a mom on a mission.

I will tell you, though, that I used Frost King tape last year and it didn't last. It cracked and flaked, and what remained glued to the frame was a sticky nightmare to remove. A NIGHTMARE, I tell you!!!

If anyone out there knows of a better way to deal with our huge windows from hell until we can afford to replace them, (there are SIX 4'x5' windows) I'd appreciate your suggestions!

Anyway, the result?

For now, we have been able to leave the sun room door (to the rest of the house) open during the daytime without freezing our batooshes off. That's a good thing for two reasons.

First, my boys can now keep their toys in the play room AND play indoors without donning their snow pants.

And second, I can now sit at my computer next to the sun room without my teeth chattering and my hands glued to a cup of coffee.

Happy sigh.

More Than Wimpy Christians?

It's bitter cold today. Looking at my header picture of my youngest (three days old) gives me the shivers. But it was August, then, in the upper 80's, and the sun felt marvelous.



I thought about changing the picture out several times, but each time couldn't do it. It is one of my favorites and reminds me of how each of my three boys was given to me. . . a precious little newborn, needy, adorable, and full of potential.



This little baby is now a precocious four-year-old and the things that come out of his mouth can make even a doctor blush. I'll have to tell you about a few of them, sometime. But the point is, we all need reminders that these kids are gifts. That God gave them to us for a reason, and they have a purpose in His plan.



Some days we need LOTS of reminders--that they are gifts-- lol!



I think pictures of our children as newborns also make us see how quickly they change. Already, my oldest is nearly eyeball to eyeball with me and doubting my intelligence. Some days, I don't blame him.



The changes in them happen so rapidly that we often don't realize it until we come across pictures like this. Then our whole world stops. We sit. We stare. We catch a faint whiff of baby. . .and we smile.



Sigh.



Then a crash in the next room snaps us back to reality.



As much as I hate to think about it, I need to remember that time does pass quickly.



Some days, I think I would like to keep them tucked safely under my wing forever. (And, in the interest in transparency, some days I would like to pluck each of their smart aleck feathers.) But keeping them protected and sheltered forever just isn't possible. Nor is it what God intended when he gave them to us.



Heidi, of Moms Ministry and More, started me thinking seriously along this line. She started me thinking about what I'm doing with my children now, and how I'm preparing (or not preparing) them to go out into the world. A world where there are real spiritual battles raging. Her thoughts are profound and challenging and left me feeling convicted of being a Wimpy Christian.



If you are a Christian, and have children, or grandchildren, or you work with children, this post will challenge you, and make you think. In a good way, I believe.



Go. Go read Wimpy Christians. Let Heidi know what you think of her words. Then join me in praying that God gives us the courage and faithfulness to be more than Wimpy Christians--and be the parents God wants us to be.



Thanks, Heidi!

Works For Me Wednesday:Uses for Coffee Filters

I've been told that you can get 1000 of them at your local Dollar Tree for next to nothing!

1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave.
Coffee filters make excellent covers.
2. Clean windows and mirrors. Coffee filters are lint-free so they'll leave windows sparkling.
3. Protect China. Separate your good dishes by putting a coffee filter between each dish.
4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.
5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.
6. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.
7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.
8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.
9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.
10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.
11. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.
12. Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters.
13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc on them, Soaks out all the grease.

14. Keep in the bathroom. They make great "razor nick fixers."

I can't take credit for these great ideas. That goes to my dear friend Cheri, who passed them my way. I'm not sure where she got them. She probably thought them up all by herself. She's clever like that! (I wish I had thought of them, though!)

You can find more great tips at Rocks in My Dryer 's Works For Me Wednesday.

A Powerful Video

This is one of the most powerful testimonies I have ever heard. My boys and I watched it this afternoon, and I have to tell you, this man, Nick Vujicic, is being used by God in a big and powerful way. I watched the expressions of my boys grow somber and thoughtful as they listened to Nick speak. And when it was finished, my oldest smiled and said simply, "Wow."

I don't post links to many videos, but this one is one to save and share with your kids.

Thank you Lord for the reminder, that you are sovereign, that you have a purpose for our lives, and that you love us beyond measure. Thank you for being willing to change our hearts instead of our circumstances. Thank you for using us in spite of our weaknesses and inabilities. Thank you for caring enough to give us your spirit.

I needed this today. Thanks Gerri, for sending me the link.

"God does not seek our capabilities to serve Him. . .

He seeks our AVAILABILITY. "

. . . "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit," says the Lord Almighty.

Zechariah 4:6

Irresistible Corn Flake Gooey Globs

There may be a real name for these. But I don't seem to have that on the smoogy scrap of paper on which I scribbled the directions. It might have been (might, mind you) that I was too busy feeding my face to remember to ask for more than the directions at the time. If you know the real name, or want to make them and suggest your own name, feel free. I'd love to hear what you would call them.

Just know that you will not be able to eat just one. And if you made the noble vow to drop a few pounds this year, click away now, before the temptation ruins your resolve. I do not want to be responsible for your fall.

This is only for those of you who are either:

A. Naturally skinny and don't have to worry about dieting, or...

B. Strong-willed enough to make them for the kids and totally abstain from eating half the batch yourself.

If you are in either of these categories, (sigh) you are sooo much ahead of the game that the rest of us might as well just quit and make a double batch.

So, here goes...

Directions:

1. In a medium sauce pan, bring 1 cup of sugar, and one cup Karo to a rolling boil. Remove from heat, add 1 Cup Peanut butter and mix well till dissolved.

2. In a buttered bowl, put 6 Cups of Cornflakes and pour the sticky stuff over. Mix till coated with a buttered spoon and then drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper. Let them cool.

3. Try to eat just one.

These, by the way do not require the use of an oven, which is why I thought of them in my oven-less state.

An Open Letter to the Surviving Appliances in My House

This is a letter from the very depths of my heart to the things I rely on most in this world.

Please, hold on! Fight to live!

There seems to be a nasty appliance bug going around that has taken a dear toll on my mechanical friends.

It started about 6 weeks ago when my vacuum lost its very last wheel, and cracked right across its housing. That day, I cried as I duck-taped the crack and glued three funky slider tabs to its belly. Alas, its days are numbered.

Little did I know, though, it was just the beginning of an epidemic.

Four weeks and three days ago, my washer choked on a load of laundry just as we were preparing for a trip east. It required 3 new parts and the competent doctoring of my husband to coax it in to agitating and spinning again. It is still not fully recovered, but my clothes are coming out a little less wet, and a little more clean (I hope!). It too, has a poor prognosis.

A week and a half ago, my server decided to pitch a fit. Doctors aren't sure what's ailing it yet.

Then, a week ago, my dryer started out the day with a fever. Now, whenever I use it, if fills the house with a faint whiff of burnt wires (that can't be good!). It's still plodding along, drying in double time...but it requires my constant vigilance. (Yes, I do have a fire extinguisher handy, and no, I do not leave it alone.) I'm hoping my appliance doctor can take it apart soon before the nasty illness kills it for good.

Then, just yesterday, with a house full of kids waiting for the gourmet (right) frozen pizzas I was about to cook, I found my oven dead in the kitchen. And I didn't even know it was sick!

It's not funny.

So, to the few of you, my dear mechanical friends, who are still plugging away, please FIGHT this thing! Take care of yourselves! And, take your vitamins or whatever it is you need to do to stay healthy! But don't die on me now.

I'm in the throws of a house in disarray with a dwindling army. I need you, and I can't bare to lose even one more of you!



And to my bloggy friends, will the rest of you please pray for the health of my appliance friends? Seriously? I wake up each morning wondering if today will be the day I lose another.

If I had better perspective, I might approach this with thanksgiving and thank the Lord for a glimpse of how women of old kept house--instead of whining. That would be mature, and noble (sigh).

But I'm not there, yet. For now, I need to go check on my smelly dryer, drag my seriously sad cleaner around, and think of something to cook that doesn't require an oven.

Code For Additional 50% Off of Old Navy Clearance

Old Navy.com has some great clearance buys right now in all departments. What makes them even sweeter is that the code EXTRA50 will get you an additional 50% off! Hurry to get the sizes you want!

There is a flat shipping fee of $7.00.

24 Issues of Parents Free!

You can go here to sign up for 24 free issues of Parents, a leading magazine devoted to serving people who work with, or are raising children.

Thank you, Money Saving Mom, for this heads up. Read about more of her tips and deals by clicking on her button on my sidebar.

Club Penguin...The Totally Cool Place to Hang Out

Disney's Club Penguin is arguably the most fun your kids (ages 4-99) can have on the net. It is THE number one reason my boys pester me TO DEATH about using my computer.

For those few (according to my boys) people who don't already have penguins dressed up and waddling around, I'll do my best to explain what it is. As always, first hand information trumps my reviews, so you might want to just head on over and scope it out for yourself. You can go to the Parent's Guide to Club Penguin and read all about it.

According to my 11 year old, Club Penguin is a totally awesome site on which all his friends hang out. Even his teacher has created a penguin--but won't tell his students which one, of course. LOL!

Club Penguin is a snowy world where you can wander around, play games, and interact with your friends--all in the form of a little penguin you design and name.

As the site itself explains, "Players create a penguin, then waddle around the island of Club Penguin, engaging in a variety of fun and imaginative activities. Players can chat, send greeting cards, use emotes (emotion icons) or choose from a set of pre-defined actions such as waving or dancing. Users can also play games to earn virtual coins which can be used to buy clothing and accessories or furniture for their igloo. New content, such as games and theme parties, is added every week."

The security is great, and no real names or personal information are permitted. The two chat modes you may choose from, Ultimate Safe and Standard Safe, are well designed, easy to use, and constantly filtered. I am extremely protective of my children's use of the Internet, and this site is one I really applaud.

It's fun, it encourages reading and interacting, and is an incredible motivator to complete that chore list in record time.

Even my four-year-old loves to waddle around and play the games...with his mother penguin, of course.

Club Penguin is free, although a few features require a membership. But there are tons of things to do without it.

By opening a parent account, you can set times for your child to play between, or even limit the total time your child can play each day.

Our family now has four penguins on the island. Yes, even I try to find time to waddle through a few games on occasion. You should hear my kids hoot at my lack of sledding skills!

Although we play and interact with each other when all the computers are working (heh-hem, that's another story), the boys also like to interact with friends from school who they have added to their "Buddy" list. How cool is that? They are hoping to interact soon with friends from other states once those friends make penguins.

Bottom line? This site gets high marks from me. You probably should check it out. There are tons of things to be wary of online where our kids are concerned, but Club Penguin is a keeper. As always, discuss Internet safety issues with your kids and monitor young children while they play. But go have some cold snowy fun! Speaking of cold, it got down to ten below here last night. Brrr!


Anyway, let me know what you think of Club Penguin!

Free Krispy Kreme Doughnut on Inauguration Day

If you have a Krispy Kreme store near you, you might want to head over on Inauguration Day. They are offering one free doughnut of choice per customer to celebrate this historic day!

The Battle for the Computer Rages On...

Around here, we have, hmmm, let me count them: One, two, three, four computers with Internet access, and one computer from the dark ages which the kids use for games. You would THINK that we wouldn't still be fighting over this laptop on my desk. But we are.

My husband often works from home. He has his own desk (set up with THREE big monitors), along with his work laptop--which I didn't include in my count. It is his personal workspace, characterized by stacks and piles of strategically placed he knows exactly where it is software and documents. M-hm.

Naturally, he likes to sit here, at the lap top on my desk.

Then there is my personal computer. It is housed in a beautiful cabinet opposite my desk and connected to a server (the third computer) which, at present, is refusing to play nicely. It ate all my pictures, favorites, documents and addresses and refuses to spit them out. It effectively knocks out two more computers, which I don't want to talk about. Yet, I still have highly important things to do, like this blog.

So I need to sit here, at the laptop on my desk.

The computer in the play room has no connection to the server (not that the server wants to play nicely, anyway) or the all important Internet. And we all know that 11, 9, and 4 year-olds have to have access to the Internet.

So the boys all want to sit here.

THEREFORE, if I do not get the bulk of my work done before the mob descends, I find myself entrenched in battle over the keyboard.

Heaven forbid I should still be working at four o'clock. Not even an after school snack can buy me peace.

My boys can't work together to save their life, but they execute a flawless tag-team effort to wear me down and make me give up my place. "Are you almost done? WHEN are you going to be done? Hey, I get it first guys! Noooo, you had it forEVer yesterday! How much more do you have to do? Can I have it at four-thirty? O.K., how about at five? What are you typing? Come ON, Mom, you had it all day!"

Hrumph. Yeah, right, in between all the things they think little fairy's must come in and do all day.

Leave for even just a minute to make a potty stop, and someone else plants their butt in my chair. MY chair, at MY neatly organized desk! In spite of the two bottles of nail-polish that clearly mark it as "female" space.

It is an ugly war, and most certainly not befitting to a civilized Christian family. But I, of course, am going to handle this maturely and use my computer time wisely.

How, you ask?

I'm typing up a new and longer chore chart, and printing it out with all sorts of pretty colors--since after all, I have the computer all day.

While I'm at it, I think I'll type up a really pretty "Honey-Do" list.

The Capture Monster

Do your kids have the habit of leaving their things all over the house, or is it just mine? Well, this morning, while I was reading a bit of Works for Me Wednesday, I came across this post by It Feels Like Chaos about the Capture Monster. It is the best idea I have seen in FOREVER! You really NEED to go read about how it works--if you haven't yet. You won't regret it. Honest.

Fruity Family

Last night, my middle son and I spent nearly an hour and a half struggling through a Social Studies assignment.

For this boy, my little athletic ball of fire, Social Studies is what takes the pizazz out of his school day. It's what makes "the glaze" coat his otherwise bright eyes, and its the book that weighs his backpack down with "unbearable" weight.

There is a test tomorrow and I'm not sure who is dreading tonight more...him, or me. Every fact is a fuzzy puzzle piece whose framework evaporates as fast as it is constructed.

In short, Social Studies never fails to ruin an otherwise happy day, for the both of us.

Imagine, then, my amusement when my oldest had this to say at breakfast this morning.

"Hey Mom! Guess what! They might be getting new Social Studies books next year--which means we might be able to KEEP our books! Isn't that COOL?!

Yes, my boys couldn't have more opposite interests. That makes a referee hat a staple of my wardrobe.

I often wonder what it would be like to have boys with more similar interests. Would they get along wonderfully and get their kicks out of reading a text book for the heck of it? Would they play soccer or basketball together like an all-star team?

But then there wouldn't be these moments that make me giggle inside at their uniqueness.

Although I'm glad God made each boy unique, I'm forever disappointed that he didn't send more clear directions for raising them.

For I am a peach, raising an apple. . . and an orange. . . and some other yet unknown piece of fruit. God has a sense of humor, doesn't he?

A Present

Today's Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah is worth sharing. I hope you find it as inspiring as I did this morning.

***

Why are Isaac Newton's three Laws of Motion (inertia, resultant force, reciprocal action) and his Law of Universal Gravitation (Law of Gravity) called laws? Why is Michael Faraday's Law of Induction (law of electromagnetism) called a law? Because they are universal physical certainties that have never been proved not to govern the situations to which they apply.

Just as there are laws in the physical realm, so there are laws in the spiritual realm. One found in Galatians 6:7 is the universal Law of the Harvest:

". . . for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap."

That spiritual law is based on observations from the first-century world of agriculture: plant a seed and, absent unnatural forces, it will germinate and lead to a harvest. Paul applied that universal law to spiritually-based actions. If we sow a godly action, we will reap a godly blessing. If we sow an ungodly action, we reap godly discipline or judgment. Strangely, people who know the Law of Gravity applies to them feel they are exempt from the effects of God's Harvest Law.

Before you act this week, decide what kind of harvest you want to reap--and sow accordingly. . .

***

Kung Fu Panda's little turtle guy said something profound as well. And the two go hand in hand. (I hope I get this right.)

"The past is history, the future a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it's called present."

When we're going through a crisis, it's easier (at least for me) to keep in mind what's important. But when things are going along at a normal craziness, I let this line of thinking get pushed aside. Sadly, I need this reminder almost moment by moment.

Let's use the gift of today wisely and sow some godly seeds!

Bathtub Safety Bar Portable and Affordable

I found this DMI Bathtub Bar last year at Aldi's for just $19.99 and decided to pick one up in anticipation of my parents' visit. We found the bar to be heavy duty, well made, and securing it to the tub was a snap. I also liked the portability of it. It takes no tools to install. Rather, you pick the best spot along the side of the tub and simply clamp it on. It is surprisingly secure, even with my husband pulling hard on it.

Mom and Dad both have mobility issues and loved it. What a difference it made for them getting into and out of the tub!

I thought about removing it once Mom and Dad left, but found it is also great for little ones. My four year old uses it to steady himself and keep from slipping on the wet tub. I LOVE that!

Really, I can't recommend it enough.

Aldi's is offering it again, I see, starting on January 11th, for the same price. Check it out, and if you know of someone who would benefit from such a bar, you might want to tell them about this one. It could potentially be a lifesaver.

Since they will probably have them in stock for only a limited time, I wanted to post this right away. But I'll also link this to Works For Me Wednesday next week at Rocks In My Dryer so that the heads up reaches more people.

Turning Mountains Into Mole-hills

Of laundry, that is! My husband was able to get our washer back up and running and I have been slowly shrinking the mountain of dirty clothes. Things are taking longer to dry, though. I'm not sure if the washer is still not spinning right, or if the dryer is now having issues. The jury is still out, but I'm running things through anyhow.

My youngest and I just spent an invigorating time (actually, it was bone-numbingly cold) outside scraping the driveway. Since we have been getting so much ice lately, I wanted to expose some blacktop to the sun to help melt as much as possible. It's now melting nicely and I'm snacking on some chili to warm me up. Try explaining the wisdom of that to a four-year-old.

The boys will fuss at me for destroying their skating rink, but I'm rather fond of staying on my feet when I go out the door.

It's nice to be home and finding a routine again.

Oh, and speaking of routines, for three days, my little guy has been watching Herbie. But this afternoon, it's all about Lightning McQueen. CaChing!

I'll just stick to my happy little washing machine...

Works For Me Wednesday:Wax Paper...A Handyman's Tool?

I was going to take a break this week from Shannon's WFMW (only because I'm still recovering from vacation disorganization). But after my discovery, yesterday, I changed my mind.

I asked for this nifty Wooden Desktop Organizer for Christmas which my husband gave me, along with a handy set of wooden drawers he ordered, as well.

Anyway, I decided to "install" them yesterday and they did a wonderful job handling the clutter! But the drawers were a little rough and didn't glide smoothly.

Mom had a similar problem with a large old chest of drawers last week and my husband suggested she rub wax paper on the contact points. Mom and I were skeptical and as it turns out, we didn't have the time to test his idea.

But it came to mind yesterday, and I headed for the kitchen.

Not being an expert on wax paper (or much of anything in the kitchen), I examined it closely to see which side was waxed. After scratching both sides with a fingernail, examining it in various lights, and rumpling it in various ways, I hadn't the foggiest idea. So I chose to be safe and rub both sides along each of the drawers' contact points, all the while hoping I wasn't on Candid Camera.

But it worked! The wax paper trick really worked! The drawers FLY in and out now with only the slightest touch. Sorry I doubted you, honey. You rock! It's no wonder you're an engineer! And although I'm sure all of you out there knew this, wax paper has wax on both sides (knowledge courtesy of said engineer).

I love my space, now, and even marked my territory with two bottles of nail polish, tucked neatly into a cubbyhole. When my husband saw them, he asked why they were there. Feeling rather protective of my new desk space, I said, "I just wanted it to be clear to all the males in the household that this is a GIRL's space.

Back off...or risk girl germs...or worse.

It will work on my nine and eleven year old, anyway...

This, by the way, is the before picture, in case you were wondering.

Looking for Normal

After putting something like 1500 miles on our trusty little Subaru, we're back! We managed to surprise many of our family and friends back east and had a wonderful time of visiting and catching up.

While at my parents, we converted a downstairs room into a bedroom. This involved cleaning out an enormous chest freezer and moving it to another room. My husband found the unidentifiable meat and veggies in the bottom of it rather amusing. Mom studied one bag of frosty dark stuff and decided it was some kind of "chewy meat". Indeed! Lol!

It inspired me to find the bottom of my chest freezer yesterday and to take inventory.

I still need to climb Mount Laundry but that will have to wait. Our 15 year old washer croaked just before we left and we are awaiting parts. The boys have been given orders to change socks and underwear daily, but fold and re-wear all other reasonably clean things until further notice. It is interesting to see how they interpret "reasonably clean."

This morning, I read some of my favorite blogs and was amazed at how so many of you are already reclaiming your schedule. Actually, jealous is a better word. You are such wonderful inspirations! To those of you who actually have all your decorations put away and are creating some wonderfully crafty thing, (sigh) my hat goes off. I hope to find myself at that point before Memorial Day.

For now, I will simply be content if I can find my counters, sort the mail, remember which kid needs to be picked up from where, and reclaim order at my desk. Making something remotely appetizing for dinner, I'm sure, would be appreciated as well.

It is wonderful to be home, and I'm looking forward to spending more time catching up on what you all have been up to!