Mother/Daughter Time

My very swwet friend Vicki has a special time once a month for mothers and daughters. She has us over to her house, we usually have lunch, and it is such a sweet time of fellowship. She is a lovely lady of God and I just love being around her.

Today was our gathering. We brought dolls and talked of how dolls relate to training daughters to be Godly wives and mamas. Then she served a wonderful lunch of turkey croissants, raspberry tea, deviled eggs, fruit salad with wonderful pineapple so sweet, brownies, a veggie tray, fresh mozzarella and tomatoes. It was so wonderful.

Then, the girls played apples to apples while the grown ladies talked. It is always such a sweet time. I am so glad she includes us in her time.

Mr Brown took Piglet for his special boy time. They went to Lowes and to Chick-fil-A. Then Piglet took a wonderful nap since he was so tired from his activities. Such a lovely day, and good thing since it is now pouring rain and we have a tornado warning. So, off the computer I am going now!

Monday happenings

I got Pepper and Pear new handwriting books, A Reason for Handwriting. It is based on scripture, and they learn a new verse each week. They are loving it!

The one Pear has is called transition and it helps them go from print to cursive. She is loving it and can't wait to get to the cursive part!

I have a horrible headache today, so I don't think I am going grocery shopping today. It dropped in temp again this weekend, and I think my body is not adjusting to the weather very well. I am not sure why because it happens every year, but that's the way it is right now. It doesn't look like there are ground breaking deals this week anyway. I will have to meal-plan from the freezer, but thats why I have that option right?

Awesome Grocery Deals & Meal Plan Monday

Okay, I got some great great deals at the grocery today. I went to Sam's this weekend and got my months worth of supplies I get from there ($252.65), and I am only going to get what is on super sale and I have coupons for at the grocery.

Okay April, if you are reading this, this is for you and your brother in law! I went to Publix and Bi-Lo today and got all of the following:

2 6-pack Kashi Crackers
2 6-pack Special K Crackers
1 Frozen Steamfresh deluxe veggie
1 Frozen Steamfresh Meal for 2 (Shrimp)
2 Danactive 4 pack smoothies
4 Cans Progresso Soup
16 Cans of mixed veggies (4 each peas, corn, green beans)
2 Cans Tomato Paste
*1 Box Captain Crunch Cereal *
*2 Boxes Life Cereal*
*10 Boxes Pop Tarts*
2 boxes of 10 pack drink mix in for water bottles
2 Boxes Spagetti
3 6 pack yogurt
3 4 pack yogurt
2 Shampoos
1 Conditioner
1/2 lb greek olives
3 2 liter soda
4 small packs of candy for Mr Brown's lunch
1 box brownie mix
1 brick of coffee
4 large pieces of Salmon
3 Cans Tomato Soup
2 Voila Frozen Meals (Shrimp)
4 pack toilet paper
2 4pack sandwich rolls
1 lb deli sliced chicken
1/4 lb deli cheese
1 package gum

For a whopping $57.83! Now, the *'s are things I NEVER buy, so my kids were very shocked and wondering if I truly had a nervous breakdown this weekend over my van, and the yogurt I usually make, BUT, the store actually paid me for these things. The coupons were worth more than the products, so it helped bring my overall total down. Crazy I know, but hey that's a lot of groceries for 58 bucks!

I got at Bilo:

33 cans of tuna
4 loaves of sandwich bread

for $14. Not bad I thought. Even though I usually make my bread, it was too good not to pass up and we use it for french toast casserole.

My savings were $125 according to the sales and my coupons, alomost double what I spent!

So, my meal plan is as follows:

Monday: Chicken, mashed potatoes and corn
Tuesday: Spagetti and green beans
Wednesday: Tuna noodle casserole
Thursday: Beans, Smoked Sausage, and cornbread
Friday: Shrimp dinner with rice
Saturday: Salmon, peas and salads
Sunday: Smothered Chicken

I think I am off to a great start for March. My stuff from Sam's includes cleaning supplies, some meat, laundry soap, and pet food. I spend $24 a week on my local milk. So, my grand total so far for March is $308. My plan is to try to stay under $600 this month, including milk and get a stockpile going so I can spend under $500 next month. We'll see.

Car Troubles and Answered Prayers

My God never ceases to amaze me!

My van has had numerous problems over the last 2 years. Mr Brown can do some things to it, but the major engine things we take it to a mechanic. In October, we spent $700 on repairs. Last week, it seemed to blow up in our driveway. We have been saving and saving for some major house repairs, as in roof, wood repair and gutters. I did not want to have to spend this money on repairs. We had it towed in and they said it would be $600. So, we paid it and picked it up 2 days later when it was ready.

I took the kids to church Wednesday night and when we got back in the van, it had a hard time starting, and on the way home the engine light came on. Great, not even 24 hours and the van is messed up again.

So, by yesterday we picked it back up, with more repairs done and I was told we needed to start looking for a new vehicle because this one was just worn out. I was a mess, we had literally 5 things to do yesterday and I was incapable of doing them. Then today I was just crying and asking God "why why" We have been doing Dave Ramsey and have committed not to borrow, but this is just so big. This past year it has been saving for this project, and next year we are saving for a bigger vehicle, so this doesn't fit into our plan.

Then here comes Mr Brown saying "God just told me to take the starter out and take it to the store to get tested." Um, okay Mr Brown like the mechanic didn't check that I said.

Just in case y'all don't know, we are having horrible winter weather. It was freezing cold and it has been raining very hard for about 12 hours. So, he goes outside in this weather while I am pouting in the couch. He crawls under the van, pulls the starter out, takes it to the store and GUESS WHAT? It is faulty.

Yep, you heard right, failing starter. So, $124 and a couple hours later I have a new starter, a thawing husband and a working van. So, after apologizing profusely for my nasty attitude and asking God to forgive me, and thanking my wonderful handy husband, I started thinking about my attitude.

Instead of trusting Him, or thinking that no matter what He will get the glory, like in this - He told Mr Brown the problem - I start questioning his motives and plan. I really need to just trust him and know it will work out in the end and He will get the glory.

Luckily, I cooked in both of my crock-pots today so I could put up some stuff. In my huge crock-pot I cooked 4 meals of salsa beef, and in the regular one I cooked 2 italian chicken ones. So, we had plenty of dinner and everyone got to choose what they wanted.

We just finished watching a Toby Mac special about "Jesus Freak" the song. What powerful words they are. DC Talk was on the brink of a huge successful record deal and they just needed to tone down their christianity. Toby Mac wrote these words

What will people think
When they hear that I'm a Jesus freak
What will people do when they find that its true
I don't really care if they label me a Jesus freak
There ain't no disguising the truth

it shot them to the top of the charts, changed christian music forever, and all because of their blatant unashamed faith in God. How fitting to listen to that when I have had the day and week I have.

God never ceases to amaze me!