Alecia's Journeys

Publix Greenwise Market Ad Week of 4/25 to 5/4

2011-04-25T19:24:00.000-04:00

For all you Publix Shoppers out there, I have some good news. I have learned that your regular Publix store will honor the Publix Greenwise Market sales. You only have to go to the Publix Greenwise Market Website, and print a shopping list. Take that with you (and your coupons) and your store will match it! I do suggest that you call first to make sure your store honors this policy.

Here are the matchups that go with this week's sale. I compiled these myself, please leave a comment if you know about any other matchups.

BOGO’s

Betty Crocker Gluten Free Mix $4.19

Save $4.19

Big House the Birdman Pinot Grigiot Wine

Save up to $9.99

Cheetos Natural Cheese Flavored Snacks

Save up to $3.49

Organic Florida Grape Tomatoes

Save up to $3.69

Uncle Sam Cereal

Toasted Whole Wheat Berry and Flaxseed: Orginal or with Wild Strawberries

Save up to $3.69

Smart Balance Whipped Buttery Spread $3.69

Organic Certified, 13-oz Tub

Printable (enter zip code 76109)

Use two $1/1 Printables makes it .89 cents each!

Koyo Organic Rice Cakes

Mixed Grain, No Salt or Lightly Salted

Plain or Buckwheat

Save up to $3.29

Terra Summa Wine $11.99

Save up to $11.99

Meat

Publix Greenwise Market Top Sirloin Steak $6.99/lb

Dairy

Lifeway Lowfat Keifer Cultured Milk Smoothie

2/$7.00

Printable .50/1

$1/2 Lifeway Keifer Products 2/6/11 SS

As low as $3.00 each with 2 .50/1 coupons or 1 $1/2 coupon

Deli

Saint Albray Cheese $11.49/lb

Save up to $7.00/lb

Frozen

Publix Steam-In-Bag Vegetables

10/$10

Save up to $3.90 on 10

Arctic Zero All Natural Frozen Dessert 2/$7.00

Assorted Varieties 16 oz Carton

Save up to .98 cents

Produce

Organic Yellow or Zucchini Squash $1.29/lb

Seafood

Publix Greenwise Market Tilapia $7.99/lb

Save up to $1.00/lb

Grocery

Gourmet House Organic Brown Rice .99 cents each

14 oz bag

Save up to 36 cents

Publix Greenwise Market Organic Beans

Black, Pinto, Dark Red Kidney, Garbanzo or Soy

15-oz can

Save up to 30 cents

Publix Greenwise Market Tomato Ketchup

2/$4.00

Organic, 20-oz bottle

Save up to 78 cents on two

Go Raw Energy Bars 4/$9.00

Assorted flavors, 100% organic

Health and Beauty

Seventh Generation Pads $3.99

printable $1/1

$2.99 each after coupon

Jarrow Formulas Dietary Supplement $10.99

Bone-Up Regular or Vegan, 120 ct bottle, All Natural

Save up to $3.00

Baby

Gerber Organic 2^nd Foods

10/$10.00

In-Ad Coupons

Go Here and Click on Coupons

$1.00 /1 Any Immaculate Baking Co. Cookie Dough

$1.00 off the purchase of Organic Cascadian Farms Chewy Bars

$1.00/1 Cascadian Farms Organic Frozen Fruit or Vegetables

$1.00/1 Riceworks Gourmet Brown Rice Crisps

$1.00/1 Stoneyfield Organic Yogurt 32 oz tub

$1.00/2 Lipton Pyramid Teas

$1.00/2 Odwalla Smoothie

$1.00/1 Aveeno Shampoo or Conditioner and other hair care products

$5.00/1 Brita Pitcher

.50/1 Organic Valley Milk

.60/1 Back to Nature Cookies

.75/1 Blue Diamond Almond Milk

Buy Any Two Kashi Cereals Get One Kashi Bar Free

An Update...

2011-04-25T14:34:00.000-04:00

It's been a really long time since I've had a chance to update this blog. Life has been rather busy to say the least. So here are a few paragraphs to recap life at our home.

-Austin and ADHD. He is doing wonderfully at school since we put him on medication. His writing has improved dramatically (that was the first sign that meds were working). At the recommendation of the doctor, I did not tell his teacher that we had started medicine. (She did know we were talking about it.) She stopped me in the mailroom one day after school and said "What have you done with Austin, did you put him on medicine because he is like a different kid!?!" I found out that almost immediately he began keeping up with the class, behaving better and reading at a slower pace. My very smart advanced reader with ADHD often reads at warp speed. He can easily make errors this way. So we are thankful that medicine has slowed him down. We are proud to report that he made Honor Roll and got Perfect Behavior on his report card for the third quarter. Honor Roll has never been a problem for him, but he has never gotten a behavior award. I was so proud I cried!

-We are on the homestretch for school ending for the year. This week is Spring Break and then we have a 6 week long dash to the last day of school. I am looking forward to Summer Break!

-Finally, yesterday was Easter Sunday. I could write all about how my meal turned out, how many Easter Eggs Austin found at the hunt or even about the Easter Basket we gave Austin. But what I will really write about is the REAL reason for yesterday.

You see, there was a man who was without blame. He spent his 32 years on this Earth ministering to others. His mother was a virgin when He was born. There was no IVF or IUIs back in those days, so His birth was truly a miraculous one. He performed many miracles; He turned water into wine, He fed 5,000 people with a few fish and a few loaves of bread, He raised Lazarus from the dead and helped a lame man walk again. That's just a few of the things He did. He had thousands of followers. But the Pharisees wouldn't have it. They convinced the Roman Government to crucify Him. They couldn't find any fault in Him, but they crucified him anyway. They beat him to shreds before they made him carry his own cross up to the hill they were to execute him on. His hands and feet were nailed to the cross. While He hung there, the soldiers cast lots (gambled) for his clothes. He was mocked by people standing around the cross. When he finally died, there was an earthquake. He was laid in a borrowed tomb. His friends and disciples wept and cried the day after he died. But on the Sabbath, a few friends went to visit his tomb and an angel was sitting there and the stone that covered the Tomb door was rolled back. The angel told the women that He was not there, he had risen just as He said He would. Who is this man? He is Jesus. He's my Living King. Is He yours? Don't wait another second to make Him your King.

What Teachers Make

2011-02-21T22:12:00.001-05:00

(Please note--this has 2 profanities in it. If you are offended by such, please refrain by watching this. This video passionately shares what teachers actually do, and that is make a difference)

Teachers

2011-02-19T12:51:00.000-05:00

It seems that I can't take a breath without hearing bad news about teachers.

Michelle Rhee claims that if you fire the bottom 8% of teachers across the board (based on test scores), then automatically your school district will improve. This from the same woman who openly admits she taped her students' mouths shut and pulled the tape off and made them bleed. Albeit while her moves in DC sparked Waiting For Superman, we now find out that the data behind that movie was false.

Our newly elected governor in Florida wants to cut per-student funding (a direct contradiction to his campaign promises--didn't take long, did it), make all state employees fund their retirement while the big whigs in the state get to increase their pay and benefits.

Wisconsin teachers are facing huge cuts and the loss of their right to have a Union.

Anytime a student struggles or has problems, I hear that it's because of the teachers. If only the teachers would teach rather than sit at their desks... If only the teachers would stop playing videos and letting the students draw, then they would learn. If only the teachers would....
Let me ask you, when is the last time your kid came home from school and told you that all they did was sit and watch movies and draw all day?

I know that there are some teachers who do not do their jobs. That don't follow best-practice, that do allow students to draw, that do show movies rather than teach. Those teachers, just like any employee in any job, need to be given fair warning and then let go if there is no improvement.

But to state that it's all because of the teachers?

Every teacher I know, myself included, works hard. I do not currently personally KNOW any teacher that just flat out does not do their job. I personally work so hard that I'm going grey at 32 years old. My students are taught from the second our morning show ends until they call for dismissal. I don't take breaks, there is no down time and there's no "free time" to do anything else. In fact, we rarely go outside at this point. Please don't think I'm the only one in this boat, because I am not. I call parents, email parents, and send communication home in attempt to get the students in my class to put forth 100% effort every day. I work HARD. I come home to my own family at night and I'm exhausted, but my family also deserves my 100%. I don't make a lot of money. It's taken me 11 years and a Masters Degree to break over $40,000 a year. I spend money on my own classroom, spend my own gas to go out to the public library to get books I need to teach with, spend time I should be spending with my family to work on lessons for my class.

I am so tired of hearing how much teachers stink. I am tired of being blamed for all of the ills of society. It's time our citizenry stand up for teacher's rights and start treating them like honored people who do the dirty work that no one else wants to do. Stop blaming it all on us and start standing up for us.

(Please do not post negative comments regarding Teacher's Unions, the President or any political party. These are my feelings. Negative comments will be deleted. Please rant somewhere else or on your own blog. Thank you.)

Medication

2011-02-18T22:29:00.000-05:00

This seems to be one of the most controversial topics when it comes to medication for a child who is diagnosed with ADHD. It seems that anyone I encounter with a negative opinion has not researched the issue. They base their opinions on hear-say, old trends and sometimes even religious convictions.

This is not an effort to bash those with a negative opinion. However, it segues quite easily into my first point; RESEARCH. Just as you need to be well versed on laws pertaining to your child's diagnosis, you need to be up-to-date on information pertaining to current ADHD treatments. The days of the zombie child on Ritalin are long gone. There are many different kinds of medication and side effects for each one. Do not become Dr. Google and rely on information you have found on Wikipedia, message boards, or even blogs. Yes, even mind. Instead, go to reliable sources of information on the internet. Here is a link to over 200 articles on the Mayo Clinic website on ADHD. The Mayo Clinic is a fabulous site on which to do your research on medical issues. It is much more reliable than message boards or anything that can be edited by regular folks and not medical professionals. You can also go on Google Scholar and search Journal Articles on any topic. These are articles published in scholarly journals. That means that they are research based articles and not based on opinion. You can research from the comfort of your own home. You can also go to the library and check out books or read articles on your topic of research. You really don't have to spend any money to become educated, just take the time to read.

Now on to why we chose to put our child on medication. There are several reasons...

First, I am a teacher. I've seen children from many different backgrounds with many different issues. In my eleven years of experience, I have seen more children than I can count who benefit from medication for ADHD. These same children who are on medication are usually completely different people on a day that a pill is forgotten. I can well remember one particular child that I could just look at in the morning and his whole demeanor told me if he was on meds or not. I have seen children who are failing everything go on medication and begin to excel in school. I have also seen children who have parents who for whatever reason have chosen to not medicate their child. I respect parents for their choices, but I've also watched their child suffer through trying to keep up with the pace of the class, be on the same page in the book as us, complete assignments, etc. I have even seen a student who's parents took him or her off medication and then the student became impulsive. What was once a trustworthy dependable child became a child who was lying and stealing every time I turned around. Clearly, I have seen quite more benefit than harm in medication for children with ADHD. In all of my years, I think I've seen maybe one student who was "zombie-fied" by the medication, but a change in meds fixed that problem. I have seen decreased appetites. However, medication can be adjusted for that issue as well. Again, research is key.

Have a conversation with your doctor. If your pediatrician doesn't answer all of your questions they way you want, then spend the money to see a child Psychiatrist. We have not gone this route yet, but it remains an open option if we start experiencing changes with medication.

We wanted our son to have the best opportunity possible to reach his full potential. We want him to be able to do whatever he wants in life and we don't want a low attention-span to hold him back. We felt that with careful consideration and monitoring of medication our son could be helped tremendously. I am proud to say that now after taking over a week to finish this post, our son has been on medication for 2 weeks now. There will be a post to come on that as well, but so far so good.

Our journey is just beginning. Don't rush to judgement on an option for ADHD medication. Do your homework and base your conclusion on real research and not hear-say.

Home Behavior Therapy

2011-01-29T20:48:00.000-05:00

Let me start by saying I'm no expert. I am not the perfect parent and there is no manual on how to perfectly parent your ADHD child. This is a chronicle of my first attempt at at home behavior therapy.

To me, this is something that you can use with any child, ADHD or not. I've read very little about this, but between my experience as a teacher, my conversation with the psychologist who examined Austin and a little googling, I've figured some things out. Behavior therapy is simply teaching your child to develop good habits. The idea is that by positively reinforcing the desired behaviors, you build good habits. It's a plus that we're starting this with Austin when he's 5. Old habits die hard for us all, don't they?

I'm going to be honest. The worst attention issue we have with Austin is getting ready in the mornings. It's enough to make me want to rip my hair out. When I tell him to get dressed in the morning, I leave his clothes out for him in his room to get dressed. While he's supposed to be getting dressed, I'm in the kitchen making three lunches, putting dinner in the crock pot (or preparing something so it'll be easier when I get home), making mine and Austin's breakfast and sometimes loading the dishwasher. (multi-tasking much?) More often than not, I go to check on his progress and he's standing in his room (often naked) and doing nothing. It can be very frustrating, especially since we're on a time schedule in the mornings. Let's get real people, there's a lot going on in the mornings. I have to get to work. I am NOT a morning person. I get frustrated with Austin's inability to pay attention. At times yelling ensues. I'm not proud of it, and it makes the morning STINK. The first goal of our plan is for him to get dressed, socks on, backpack ready in 15 minutes. There will be a timer involved. This is a reasonable amount of time.

We also have issues with him cleaning his room. I am currently spending the weekend reorganizing his room, again. We are going to reinforce positive behavior when he picks up the things in his room at the end of the night. So the second goal in his plan is to pick up his toys at the end of the night.

Here is a picture of the goal board I created tonight. I had a small bulletin board stored in a closet. It has flowers on it and they are so "yucky" to Austin, so I got some of my scrapbooking paper out and re-covered it. Then I typed out a simple chart on the computer. Austin is able to read this chart and read the whole thing to me as soon as I put it up. Then we talked about it. I think if he weren't able to read this well, I may have use pictures instead. I have it saved so we can start fresh each week. The most important part in a behavior plan for an ADHD child is that the rewards are quick and that he doesn't have to wait for them. (the end of the week is NOT going to work) If he follows the first goal and gets ready in time then he can play with the dog until I have his breakfast ready. If he meets the second goal then he gets the treasure box (junk from the dollar store). We already have a treasure box for "green" days at school, so we had that on hand already.

There are some other organizational things I am working on at home also. They really don't have anything to do with his ADHD issues, but more with having our home flow more smoothly to prevent some of his issues.

Do I know that this is going to be it, that I have solved all of my child's problems with this chart and some stickers? No! This is the beginning. We'll see how this works, there will probably be some tweaking and then we'll try again. Also, if you think that picking up toys and getting dressed on time is all the problems we have, then think again. We are starting with the thing we need to work on the most and moving on from there. Once we get these things mastered, or at least more manageable, there are more behaviors we need to work on with Austin.

And so the journey continues....

Do Your Homework!!

2011-01-29T07:20:00.000-05:00

Oh, you thought I might be writing about teaching school? Yes, I say those words all the time, but this has nothing to do with my own classroom.

I won't go into specific details on the internet for all to see, but I wanted to share a first lesson that we have learned in this process.

READ THE LAWS! If your child is going to receive assistance in any way from the Public Schools, then you need to read the laws. Go to the school officials armed with factual information. Exceptional Student Education services and 504 Plans are all related to laws. Here is information on Section 504 from the US Department of Education. You can also find information on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act here.

If you are met with any opposition at your Public School, take a deep breath. Educate yourself and go in with the facts. Don't be afraid to stand up for your child in a calm way. If you have to go above your school administration because you feel you have exhausted all options at that level, then do so. Don't be afraid to calmly stand up for your rights under our Federal Law.

A New Journey for Our Family

2011-01-27T21:08:00.000-05:00

When Austin was just a tiny baby in my womb, I went to my doctor for an ultrasound. My child, at about 9 or 10 weeks gestation, was dancing around in my womb. His small nubs for arms and legs were flying around. He looked like he was doing the jig and we all thought it was funny. At the next ultrasound several weeks later, he moved so quickly they couldn't get a clear picture of him to give us. While I carried him he was always moving, and often woke me up at night while he seemingly tapped dance on my ribs. While in labor, he was squirming so much in my belly that they couldn't keep the heart rate monitor on him. He was getting his last chance at dancing in the water.

As soon as he figured out how to move around outside of the womb, my baby was a mover. He kicked out of his swaddle. He would lie on the changing table and kick his legs a mile a minute. He kicked so much that over time, he wore a hole in his changing pad where his feet would hit it when he kicked. When Austin finally learned to walk, it immediately became running.

When he was about 18 months old, he learned the alphabet. Just as fast as he picked that up, he knew the sounds. When he was nearing 2, I was cooking dinner and he was playing with the magnetic letters on our fridge. He took an M and turned it upside down and said "look mommy, W". Then he took a 6 and turned it upside down and said "look mommy, 9". My jaw was in the floor.

From a very young age, we knew we had a very smart and active child. It wasn't until Austin was about 3 or 4 years old that we started to realize that he was having difficulty paying attention and at times seemed scattered all over the place.

Austin is now in kindergarten. I am fortunate that he goes to school at the same school where I teach. His teacher is willing to chat with me here and there. We knew that Austin was doing quite well (he can read far above grade level), but he struggles with paying attention in class. His teacher pulled me aside a few months ago and said that his lack of paying attention was hindering him from growing academically. Those words were all that Paul and I needed to confirm that something more needed to be done.

After consulting with our pediatrician, and talking to some people we knew who were parents of children with similar struggles, we decided to pursue our own independent psychoeducational evaluation. I am writing this because I want others who may have some of our same issues to know what their options are and what to expect. This service was not fully covered under our insurance and what was fell under our deductible. This is a sacrifice that we felt was necessary for our family at this time.

The entire process took about three weeks. We went to a Child Psychologist. There was a parent interview where he took our family history and inquired about our concerns for Austin. Then, before Austin met him, the doctor went to Austin's classroom to observe him in his environment. He was a non-biased eye and was able to compare Austin to his typical peers. Finally, I took Austin to his office one morning and the formal evaluation took place over a few hours.

I got the results back this Wednesday. Austin has a very high IQ and does have ADHD. This does not surprise Paul and I at all. We knew this was the case. The psychological report gives us a full picture of Austin and allows us to fully understand him and his abilities and limitations.

This is just the beginning. I plan to blog about our journey as we pursue the next steps for him. If you are reading this, you need to know that I am not putting this out there so that the world can critique our parenting skills. This is our journey, and with the help of the Lord, we are going to do the best we can to parent our child through his focusing difficulties so that he can meet his full potential. If you so desire, please learn from our experiences as we go down this new road with our precious son.

Free Organize In Style Coupon Booklet!

2011-01-23T21:06:00.001-05:00

Go over here to get your free Organize In Style Coupon booklet. It comes with several free coupons on products such as Febreeze, Swiffer, Cascade and Lysol.

A Grand Purpose...

2011-01-23T14:03:00.000-05:00

There are some days when I feel like my life is one of details and duty. Oftentimes those duties can become overwhelming because quite frankly I have more of them to do in one day than is humanly possible. When I feel overwhelmed, exhaustion sets in and at times it is depressing.

Sometimes when trials or storms come our way I don't understand the purpose. It's so easy to ask the God that I know is perfect and has a plan, why?

My cousin and her husband are mourning the loss of their unborn child. I don't know why the Lord allows for things like this to happen, but Romans 8:28 tells us that "All things work together for good for those who are called according to His purpose". I've never lost a child, and I can't imagine their pain, but sometimes you just want to ask why.

That very same cousin of mine who is experiencing loss, posted this on her blog about a week ago; how appropriate of a reminder it is in times of difficulty.

The Next Time You Feel Like God Did Not Make You For A Grand Purpose, Remember:

Noah got drunk, Genesis 9:20-22.

Abraham was too old, Genesis 17.

Jacob was a liar, Genesis 27:19.

Leah was considered ugly, Genesis 29:17

Joseph was abused, Genesis 37:24-36.

Moses stuttered, Exodus 4:10.

Gideon was afraid, Judges 6:21-23.

Samson had long hair and was a womanizer,

Judges 14.

Rahab was a prostitute, Joshua 2:1.

Jeremiah and Timothy were too young,

Jere.1:6-7 and 2Timothy 1:2.

David had an affair and was a murderer,

2Samuel 11:3-27.

Elijah was suicidal, 1King 19.

Isaiah preached naked, Isaiah 20:2-4.

Jonah ran from God, The book of Jonah

Naomi was a widow, Ruth 1:3.

Job went bankrupt, The Book of Job.

Peter denied Christ, Matt.26:69-70.

The Disciples fell asleep while praying, Matthew 26:40.

Martha worried about everything, Luke 10:40.

Mary Magdalene was cleansed of seven demons,

Mark 16:9.

The Samaritan woman at the well had five husbands, John 4:18.

Zaccheus was too small, Luke 19:3.

Paul was too religious, Acts 8:1. (note: I left this in, but am dubious about “too religious”…)

Timothy had an ulcer, 1Timothy 5:23.

Lazarus was dead! John 11.

God desires for you to reach your full potential.

Are you available?

You are not the message. You are the messenger!

My friend Marni

2011-01-20T17:10:00.000-05:00

Today is Show Us Your Life Friday over at KellysKorner. The cool part is that today’s theme is Show Us Your Singles. When Kelly did this the first time, I immediately wished I would have known and thought about a friend. When she mentioned she was going to do this again, I got my friend’s permission and this blog post is all about her.

I want to tell you about my friend Marni. I’ve known Marni since we were about 14 or 15 years old. We met at summer camp. I believe in those days we had idealistic conversations about our latest crushes and shared our dreams about the future. We’ve never lived in the same city, but we have always kept in touch. She gave me the honor of being in my wedding. Marni is one of those friends I can truly call a friend for life.

Marni is one of the most caring, beautiful women I know. She has a huge heart, is extremely considerate of others and loves the Lord. You see, Marni is born again and calls Jesus her Lord. She also has a quirky side and has very often had me in stitches with her sense of humor. She is a lovely person on the inside and out.

She is also a fabulous Aunt to her twin niece and nephew. Aren’t they cute?

Marni is also a very intelligent 31 year old woman with a successful career and calls Central Florida her home. She is a Doctor of Pharmacy. She works in a big hospital and her drug management knowledge saves lives every day. That’s pretty amazing to me.

I don’t know what the Lord has in store for my friend’s future. But should it be a relationship with a wonderful Christian man, I can say without a doubt that she would be a committed, loving and wonderful woman in his life.

Here is a link to Marni’s blog. Stop by and say hello. Or, email her here. I’m sure you won’t regret it.

Keep the Laundry Basket Full

2010-12-31T15:41:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I feel like all I do is wash clothes, fold clothes, sort clothes, put away clothes, empty the dishwasher, load the dishwasher. And repeat. Times a million and repeat again. Really, it's kind of unreasonable that 3 people and a dog should have this much laundry and need to run the dishwasher all the time, but we do. Between sheets, towels and the fact that eating out isn't regular around here the sink and the laundry basket are always in need of attention.

I made the comment recently on Facebook that sometimes I feel like all I do is the laundry and dishes. Then someone who has grown children made the comment that in a few years I won't have all those things anymore but that will also mean that the hugs and kisses will be gone too.

So it made me realize that as we go into a new year, I need to savor the moments more. I need to focus on not letting the details get in the way. No dust on my furniture (or fans) or dirt on the floor needs to take precedent over my family. I need to savor my moments with my son and my husband. One day the floor will be spotless and my boy will be gone. I'd rather have dirty floors and laundry piled to the ceiling so I don't forget a moment or a day with my son. So keep my laundry basket full, I've got a little boy to mother and love.

The Best Part of the Day

2010-12-30T21:28:00.000-05:00

Today Austin and I woke up and on a whim took off to Disney. We bought Annual Passes last spring, so we can go whenever we'd like. I have a backpack cooler so we take our own lunch and go for the day on occasion. We can get there in about an hour from our home.

We chose to go to the Magic Kingdom. To say it was packed is an understatement at the least. There were rides that had wait times of up to 180 minutes. Yikes. Anyway, we didn't ride nearly what we could have on a day when the crowds aren't as large. We did get to his favorites; Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and The Haunted Mansion. Neither scare him and he gets a thrill from both. We made our first ever trek over to Tom Sawyer's Island. I hadn't been over there since I was a kid and I had forgotten about the caves and the Fort. Austin was able to shoot pretend guns in the fort and you would have thought he'd died and gone to heaven. I thought I'd never get him off the Island and when I finally did he wasn't happy about it. We rode the People Mover and we had Mickey Popsicles while sitting on the ground. In one part of the park, they were having a dance party. It was a lot of fun, and lots of folks were making pure fools of themselves and having a great time doing it. Austin decided he wanted to join in. I got it on video

Here he is after eating his Popsicle:

And this picture says enough:

On the longest tram ride back to the car in the history of the world, I took our picture, and this is what I got:

As we were driving home, I asked him what his favorite part of the day was. He said "spending time with you Momma". I nearly cried. I may have if I weren't driving. I told him that it was one of the sweetest things he'd ever told me. What a sweet boy I've been blessed with.

My Take on TLC's Extreme Couponing

2010-12-29T23:56:00.000-05:00

This show aired and profiled four people who coupon. The first woman coupons so much that it's overtaken her home and her husband has had to give up his own space for her. She admitted it is an obsession and that she often sacrifices time with her husband and family to go shopping. The second woman actually dives in recycling dumpsters just to get coupons. The third woman collects coupons and helps others. The final couponer was a man who has to pull a trailer behind his car just to bring his purchases home.

The thing that bothered me the most about this show is that it showed people who literally do nothing but coupon. Their habits have resulted in a stockpile that has taken over their homes. They spend tons of money on coupon clipping services and could probably be diagnosed as OCD. But there are people who have lost their jobs and are not sure how they are going to eat their next meal. There are people that are so overstretched because of the economy that buying groceries is nearly impossible. These people need to know that they can truly coupon without getting to the point of needing to visit the mental ward of the nearest hospital.

So to debunk a few myths; couponing does not have to consume your life. When you first get started, it does take some time to learn a system that works for you. You do not have to create such a stockpile that takes over your home.

The truth is that couponing can change your life. You can free up room in your budget to help you get out of debt, save for the future or just have some wiggle room. You can have a small stockpile that will allow your family to weather a crisis. You can feed hungry children without having to worry about having enough on hand for them when they want to snack.

Don't let this show stop you from couponing if you haven't started. There are plenty of sane individuals like myself who help their families by couponing. It can change your life for the positive if you just give it a try!

Out of our Abundance

2010-12-29T09:54:00.000-05:00

I worry. I know, the Bible says not to worry. But in this case, I worry about my son. You see, we are blessed. My son doesn't have any idea what real hunger is. He has no idea what it is to want for a meal or to be without clothes or toys. He's never had to worry about having a roof over his head, and has been provided for well.

But there are kids in his own school who know all too well about those kinds of worries. There are people all around us everywhere we go that struggle in some way or another. I don't want my son to think that this is just how everyone has it. I want him to understand that he needs to be grateful and realize that he's blessed.

So how do you teach a five year old that he'd better be thankful there's something to eat, a roof over his head and he doesn't have to worry about his needs?

One of the things we do to help our son realize this is at Christmas Time. We intentionally set aside a certain amount of money based on what we feel we can sacrifice to go out and shop for presents for needy children. We usually choose a child or two to sponsor from an angel tree or from a list of needy children somewhere. We explain to Austin that these kids wouldn't have Christmas Presents if they weren't donated to them. Austin is involved in the shopping, wrapping and delivery of the presents.

A second thing I do is donate out of my stockpile. I could easily do this without Austin knowing. But he watches me and I tell him that we are giving this to people in need. We frequently remind him that not everyone has cabinets and shelves full of food like we do.

As my son gets older we will involve him more in helping others. But it's so important to teach him that he needs to be thankful for all that we have been blessed with. We may not have the fanciest house, or the nicest cars or go on lavish vacations, but we have a roof over our heads, a stockpile of groceries, he has more toys than I can physically count, he never misses a meal and he goes to the doctor when he needs to go. God has been good to us and it is our goal to help our son realize and appreciate that goodness.

Extreme Couponing?

2010-12-29T09:37:00.000-05:00

Tonight on TLC at 8PM, they are going to air a show called Extreme Couponing. Some of these folks allow couponing to literally rule their lives. But really, it's amazing to see some of the savings they are pulling off!

The Truth (part two)

2010-12-27T23:28:00.000-05:00

You can read the first part of this story here.

  So after a laparoscopy, I began to feel like a human being again. The doctor did find some scar tissue and some endometriosis, and he removed it all. After a few days, I began to feel alive again. I began to feel like I could be a mom and play with my son without being in pain. I felt like a participant in my marriage and like I could live and not just get through the day.
  I didn't tell Austin's birth story to the whole world so that I could garner support. But the truth is that just because I call Jesus my Lord does not mean that life comes without trials. I wanted nothing more than to have a few kids and be a mom. But my body isn't so fond of the whole giving birth thing. Does it mean that I'm not a good enough Christian or that I'm not thankful enough to the Lord. I heard several comments from other Christians when I was enduring my difficult pregnancy "Oh, I loved being pregnant, I was so thankful to the Lord for my baby that all those little symptoms didn't bother me." Okay, honestly folks... who in the world would want to revel in the fact that puking was a regular part of your day? Really, do you think that I wanted to be that miserable? Well, no, I didn't. It was no fun. I still have heartburn issues due to my little fella. But you know what? I am thankful that God allowed me to have my son. I can't imagine my life without him. What I went through was terrible, but I love my son and I am thankful for him. No level of thankfulness to the Lord will help you avoid trials and tribulations. God has a plan in it all, even if it's bad.
   Call it Christianese. My husband and I often refer to them as Used Car Salesmen. You can call it whatever you want. But there are some REALLY fake people that grace the doors of churches every Sunday. Why these folks never have any problems. Why? Well that's because they call the good Lord just that, Lord. Why since they were saved they've never had problems. The bills have always been paid with ease, nothing in the house has broken when they don't have the funds to fix it, everyone is healthy, and their job is sunshine and roses. At least that's what they want you to think.
  But the truth? Life is ugly. People sin. They act in ways they don't want to and they make stupid mistakes. People are judgmental and rude. Things don't work out the way we want them to. You can make the grandest of plans, but God has another plan and it just might not fit in your little box.
  I recently read Choosing to SEE: A Journey of Struggle and Hope by Mary Beth Chapman, and it is an amazing book. This book goes into detail about Mary Beth's own journey through life's struggles. She talks about how those smaller struggles led up to the biggest struggle of her life; the death of her five year old daughter. She is very clear in the book that God has a plan in the mess. It might be a huge mess, but God has a plan in that huge mess.
   I think it's high time that Christians start being real. Real about the truth of life. God sent His Son Jesus to die for us. Because of that, we can have everlasting life when we accept Him as our Savior. And God has a plan for each of us and orders our step according to His purpose. But the truth? Those steps aren't always wonderful, they aren't always rainbows and sunshine. However, there are times that you see God's purpose in a trial and you come through a situation where you can see where God had you headed. Bottom line, in the end God's plan is perfect, even if the details are messy and terrible. And that's the truth.

The Truth (part one)

2010-12-27T20:54:00.000-05:00

   This post isn't for the weak at heart or for those who only want to read about wonderful things. This won't be about butterflies and rainbows, in fact it will be about the void of such things.
   My husband and I recently had a conversation about the difficulties of life. I'm not going to divulge everything in our personal lives out in the open for all of the internet to see, but suffice it to say that in the ten and a half years we've been married, life hasn't always been full of happiness and it hasn't always been easy. We've certainly made wrong choices or bad decisions. But there have been times when we've been faced with choices that aren't pleasant or comfortable. There have been difficult times in our marriage as well as good ones. Isn't not all sunshine, rainbows and butterflies over here.
   When we found out we were expecting our son, it was against a doctor's predicted odds. Just a few weeks prior to my getting a positive pregnancy test, my doctor told me it may be impossible for me to have a baby on my own. I was so thankful that I was given this gift of my own child. A few weeks later, the sickness hit and it didn't stop until delivery. In fact, I was sick so often that there were several instances that my doctor talked about putting me in the hospital on IVs. My back hurt so bad while I was pregnant (which could have been fixed, more on that later) that I was miserable and often in a lot of pain. My blood pressure was high. I retained so much water that none of my shoes fit and I couldn't wear my wedding rings or my watch. I couldn't stand the sight or smell of any chicken. I couldn't take out the trash or I'd puke. I went into labor and over 24 hours later after an epidural and pitocin, I pushed for over 2 hours. Austin was so big that he just wouldn't come down. He still has a slight scar between his eyes from my bone during delivery. After a grueling labor and attempt at delivery, I ended up having a c-section. If you saw a picture of me after delivery, you wouldn't believe it was me. After they took me to my room, my blood pressure began to skyrocket. I was so thirsty and felt horrible. They wouldn't even let me have ice chips and I was so exhausted. A doctor may tell you I'm wrong, but I really think that if they would have let me have something to drink and had left me alone to rest I would have been okay. But they came in and turned me on my left side. I was no longer numb from the epidural and I had a fresh incision. When they began turning me I begged them not to. It hurt so bad. As they turned me they told me that they had to so they could get my blood pressure to drop. I began SCREAMING. I didn't scream like that when my epidural wore off during delivery. I was worn out, but I can tell you that I remember thinking that my incision was going to bust open right there in that room. My husband held a box of kleenex while I balled my eyes out in pain. They finally came in with some morphine and put it in my IV. I guess they gave me enough to knock me out because I remember falling asleep. I guess you can't have a woman screaming in the recovery section of labor and delivery. The turning did it's job. To this day I remember it as one of the most traumatic events of my life. I wouldn't wish that pain on the worst of criminals. They put those pressure cuffs on my legs all night that night and I remember calling the nurse over and over again and begging for something to drink. I just wanted something to drink. They wouldn't even let me wash my mouth out. I was dirty and covered in sweat and it was miserable. They did let Austin stay in our room that night and I remember that between begging for something to drink, I was trying to nurse him. The next morning they tried to get me out of the bed. I hadn't drank anything for going on 72 hours now so I was limp like a rag. The angel, also known as the Nurses Aide, that was trying to help me kindly asked me if I had eaten or drank anything. When I explained that even though I had begged, I had in fact had nothing to eat or drink, she came to my aide. I will never forget the four 8 ounce portions of grape juice I drank in about 2 minutes. It was fabulous and felt so good. She let me rest a bit so I wouldn't be lightheaded anymore and then she came back and helped me up. God bless those women. They helped me go to the restroom, they bathed me in the shower. They washed my hair and helped me get dressed into fresh clothes. It couldn't have been pleasant for them, but they were a Godsend. I can still remember what they looked like. They helped me throughout the rest of my stay and I am forever grateful.
   After I took Austin home, recovery was difficult. It was painful and I never really got over that pinching feeling from the incision. My back still hurt and I just wasn't myself. I struggled with depression and even ended up on anti-depressants when he was about 15 months old. I had doctors blow me off about my pain and tell me that there wasn't anything wrong with me. Finally, I had a doctor declare that I must have scar tissue. She admitted it couldn't be seen on any kind of scan. I started Therapy for women with my kind of issues. That woman helped me fix my back and tailbone pain and told me that I could have seen her during my pregnancy to help with that pain. My skin from my abdomen was so full of adhesions, that it felt like you were ripping it apart when you pulled it. Finally, I decided I couldn't take it anymore. My son was nearing his second birthday and I felt like I just got out of labor and delivery. I told my husband I no longer wanted to feel like I had just had a baby and I couldn't deal with it anymore. I made another appointment and went in and scheduled a laparoscopy.

To be continued....

More Slow Cooker Recipes

2010-12-21T13:26:00.002-05:00

Scroll down to my previous post to see more about my slow cooking ways...

Pre-made Frozen Meatballs

There are literally hundreds of meatball recipes out there. In fact, you may have one you love. When I buy that huge tube of lean ground beef at Sam's Club, I take a large portion of it and make meatballs. This is how I make mine:

Ground Beef

Salt and Pepper

Bread Crumbs

Egg(s)

Italian Seasoning

Garlic Powder

I mix it up and make meatballs. Then I put them on a plate so they aren't touching. I put them in my freezer and freeze them. Yes, I freeze them raw. Then after they are frozen I put them in freezer bags. Sometimes I have to do this a few times. It helps to put saran wrap on your plate before you put the meatballs down as it's easier to remove them.

You can put the meatballs in the crock pot and do whatever you'd like to them and let them cook on low all day. You can add spaghetti sauce, alfredo sauce, cream of mushroom soup, cream of cheese soup, etc. You can make sweet and sour meatballs, or any other meatball recipe you can google. You can serve them on hogie rolls or with pasta. Boiling pasta or rice when you get home makes the meal very simple. and the family will be pleased.

Slow Cooker Lasagna

This is a huge hit in my home. I rarely have time to make a lasagna. This makes it simple. Serve with a salad and garlic bread and you have dinner. This recipe is from the Kraft Foods website.

1 lb ground beef, cooked

1 jar spaghetti sauce

1 cup water

15oz Ricotta Cheese

Mozzarella Cheese, grated (about 1 lb will do)

1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese

1 egg

Lasagna Noodles

Brown the meat. Stir in spaghetti sauce and water. Seperately combine the ricotta, mozarella (reserve some for the top), egg and parmesan. Layer as follows: sauce--noodles--cheese--noodles--cheese--sauce. Cook on low 4-6 hours. When you get home put the remaining mozzarella on top and turn the crock on high just until the cheese is melted. Serve.

Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches

Beef Broth

Salt, Pepper, Italian Seasoning, Garlic Powder

Chuck Roast

1 package Dry Italian Dressing mix

Cheese of your choice

Good Sandwich Rolls

Combine everything above except the cheese and rolls. Cook on low for 8 hours. Shred the beef when you get home. Put it on the rolls and then put your cheese on top of the meat. Melt under the broiler. Serve with veggies, salad, or chips. Yum.

Italian Sausage and Potatoes

5 or 6 Italian Sausage Links cut in chunks

Onion Soup Mix

1 can Beef Broth

2 small onions, quartered

3-4 potatoes cut in chunks

Water (about 1 can)

Dump everything in the crock pot. Cook on low for 8 hours. Serve.

There are several other resources you can use to find Crock Pot recipes that work for you. Here are a few:

Crockpot 365

All Recipes Crock Pot Section

I do have more ideas. More recipes coming soon!

The Tricks Up My Sleeves (Time Saving Recipes Inside)

2010-12-21T09:14:00.002-05:00

I came to a stark realization this school year. I can't keep up with it all. A child in kindergarten, my own fifth grade class to teach, volunteering at church, a husband and marriage to tend to, a house to keep clean, grocery shopping, couponing, meal preparing and planning. It was all getting to me. I can't say that it still doesn't, but I decided I had to make some changes. I found myself coming home after work exhausted. Flat out body hurting tired. I didn't feel like standing at a stove or even thinking about dinner. Since a hungry five year old and husband come around every night around dinner time, I had to do something.

I wanted to do something that would please my family. You might find something that seems easy, but you have to prepare foods that actually work for you and your family. Every family has different tastes and preferences, and this is what is working for my family. I hope that sharing my ideas can help you. But remember that this is all null and void at the end of the day if your family doesn't like what you're making.

I thought about cooking for a month. This does work for some people. I've tried it before and some of the recipes were not a hit with my hubby. There are still some things that I sometimes make ahead and freeze (such as sauces), but the whole cooking for a month and freezing it thing just wasn't working for us.

Then I thought about my crock pot/slow cooker. I considered that many people frequently use their crock pots on a regular basis. The thought of coming home and dinner being done made my heart happy, so I began to do some research. There are some recipes that have not been a hit with my family, but I have found some that work for us. Some of my tips, tricks and recipes are as follows:

My Slowcooker

I have a slow cooker with a timer on it. After cooking for the time I told it to cook, it shuts off to warm and keeps my dinner warm until I get home. This is the model I have here. You don't have to go out and get a new slow cooker if you don't have one with a timer. Just cook everything on low if you are going to be gone all day. Then one day when your current slow cooker gives out, buy one with a timer.

Meat Purchasing and Stockpiling

Being the couponer that I am, stockpiling might as well be my middle name. Buying meat on sale is very important regardless of how you cook. Personally, I can't beat the prices at my local Sam's Club. Learning the best price to purchase meat at in your area will prevent over-spending and allow you to budget. I like to go to Sams Club about once a month and I usually only purchase meat at this trip. The meat I purchase is as follows:

-Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts ($1.99/lb at Sam's Club)

-Chuck Roast--these are huge and I usually get four roasts for our family out of it when I slice them in half ($2.88/lb at Sam's Club) This cut of roast turns out the most moist and is very versatile in the crock pot.

-90% Lean Ground Beef-this comes in a GIANT tube to get it at the lowest price, it usually lasts us 2 months after I slice it up and portion it out. ($2.39/lb at Sam's Club)

-Round Steak--because I am cooking in a crock pot, this cheaper cut of meat saves money and is tenderized by cooking slow all day ($2.98/lb at Sam's Club)

Sometimes I also purchase Italian Sausage or a large Pork Loin that I portion up. Lately the hubby is tired of pork, so we're taking a break from it.

Things to have on hand for Crock-Potting:

-Stock/broth: I often get cans or cartons of chicken, beef or vegetable broth/stock on sale. Usually one can is enough for whatever meal you're making, but the carton is nice to store in the fridge.

-Onion Soup Mix

-Beef Bullion Cubes

-Canned Tomatoes (also frequently on sale)

-Dry Beans of your choice

-Onions, garlic, carrots, potatoes, frozen veggies, etc.

-Crock Pot Liners (sold where the foil and saran wrap are) these are a lifesaver. Just remove, rinse your crock pot and you're done.

Before you read my recipes, please know that this is NOT an exact science. The glory of slow cooker cooking is that there is a lot of room for variation. I don't measure anything. I eyeball it all.

Recipes:

Traditional Pot Roast (AKA Sunday Dinner)

I frequently put this in the crock pot on Sunday Mornings

1 Chuck Roast big enough for your family

1-2 cans or a carton of beef stock/broth

Carrots cut into chunks or the baby carrots are fine

2 small/medium onions cut into fourths

1 beef bullion cube

1 packet of onion soup mix (optional)

water

Coat the roast with salt and pepper. If you have time, sear it in a pan with hot oil. If you don't have time, don't fret. I've done it both ways and it's good. Put your crock pot liner in the crock pot. Put the roast in. Add the carrots, onions, beef bullion cube, onion soup mix, and any other seasoning you think looks good. Then add the beef stock and some water so the top of the roast will be covered.

Put your slow cooker on low for 8 hours or on high for four. When I'm making this on Sunday I put it on high and it's ready when we get home. I like to make mashed potatoes with my roast. However, you can also add potatoes to this roast if you really want them in there.

Beef and Noodles

1 small chuck roast

2-3 cans of cream of mushroom soup

Beef Stock

salt, pepper to taste

Egg Noodles or any noodle of your choice.

Line your slow cooker. Put the roast in the crock pot and dump the cream of mushroom soup over the top. Cook on low for 8-10 hours. Shred the beef and then boil the noodles on your stovetop. Meanwhile, add beef stock to your shredded beef to thin it out a little. Drain the noodles when they are done and add to the beef. Stir together and then serve.

Totally Cheating Veggie Soup

1 bag of frozen veggies of your choice

1 can of diced tomatoes

1 can of chicken or veggie stock

a few handfuls of dry beans of your choice

1 can of tomato sauce (or cheat like me and take a can of those diced tomatoes and put them in your food chopper and you have sauce)

Salt, pepper, italian seasoning or what looks good to taste

Water (about a can full)

Pasta of your choice (optional)

Line the crock pot. Dump everything in. Stir. I know, this is so hard. Put the crock pot on low for 8 hours. If you want to add pasta then boil it when you get home and add it in. Serve with some warm rolls that you bought frozen and call it a day.

Beef Stew

1 small chuck roast cut into cubes

5 or 6 carrots chunked up or about 3 cups of small carrots

3-4 potatoes

2 small onions cut into fourths (or however you want)

2 garlic cloves, diced or minced

Beef Stock

Dump everything in the crock pot. Add enough beef stock to cover everything. Cook on low for 8 hours. Or high for 4. Yum.

Okay, that's a start for now. I will add more later. I would love to hear if this is helpful for you.

Mary, an unlikely miracle

2010-12-19T22:48:00.002-05:00

This morning on the way to church, I was listening to our local Christian radio station. They play mostly Christmas music this time of year and Austin enjoyed listening to some of his favorites.

As I rounded the corner to the road our church is on, the song by Amy Grant that we've all heard a million times came on; "Mary Did You Know". I've heard this song more times than I can imagine. In fact, when I was in high school and this song was all the rage, one of my really good friends sang it for a staff reunion at the summer camp I attended in those days.

But today was different. I was subbing in Austin's class and I was going to teach the traditional Christmas story. I was thinking that I wanted to get across to the five year olds that this coming Saturday isn't about all those presents under the tree, and is truly about our Savior being born.

As I listened to that song, I began to think about what it must have been like for Mary. I guess I've never thought deeply about this before, but today I did. I remember carrying my son. I remember holding my belly and feeling him kick and squirm and talking to the boy I hadn't yet met. I remember telling him then how much I loved him. I remember that in spite of the incessant heart burn, never-ending back aches, unending all-day sickness and swollen feet, I was desperately in love with this baby inside of me. But for Mary, it was different. I am sure that she too loved the baby she carried with a love only a mother can have. But rather than being in love with just a baby, she was carrying the Savior of the world. I can't imagine knowing that the baby I carried was prophesied for thousands of years before and that the same prophecies that were being fulfilled also carried the message that this baby would be crucified by the very ones he came to save. I can't call up Mary and find out what she was thinking, but I can imagine that she was beyond overwhelmed at the honor of bringing our Savior into the world.

This season I celebrate our Lord and Savior. It's not about all the gifts, lights, parties and cookies. It's about celebrating the fact that Jesus came to be born in a barn, was laid in a trough, was crucified by the very ones he came to save and rose again three days later. Praise God for His immeasurable gift, His Son.

Free Christmas Cards from Shutterfly!

2010-11-20T09:00:00.005-05:00

Shut Up!? Free?? Shutterfly is giving away 50 free Christmas Picture Cards to bloggers who write a post about their wonderful services.

We have used Shutterfly in the past to order pictures, and I've also gotten a photo book or two from them. They always have high quality and are a good deal! How easy it is to sit on my couch and take my time to order high quality photos from Shutterfly. I haven't used them for cards before, and I am so excited to get my cards and send them out.

Here are some of my favorite Christmas products:

There are so many more that I love. Head on over here to see all of their wonderful Christmas cards!

Did you know that you can also get photo mugs , wall calendars, birthday cards, holiday invitations, and stationery from Shutterfly?

Now I am going to have the daunting task of narrowing down my choices and choosing pictures to go in my cards. How exciting for many folks who don't get to see our son to see how much he's grown and changed!

I've never sent out photo Christmas cards before and this excites me! If you have a blog, you can go here to get your free cards! You just have to write a blog post about their wonderful promotion!

I am NOT Super Mom

2010-11-16T19:46:00.002-05:00

You might be reading the title to this post and think "really, so what, who cares", or you might think "what, but I thought you were", or "if you're not then you better start fixing things".

When I did a quick Google search on "Super Mom", I found some interesting things. First of all, I found this blog where a mom confesses her desire to NOT be super mom. Then I found the how-to blog on which the Super Mom is idolized and there are directions on how to do all things super. But really, what is the proverbial "Super Mom"? It appears that the Super Mom is never behind on laundry, the dishes are always done, gourmet meals are served nightly, the house is spotless, she holds down a job of some kind, the kids are dressed in the best clothes, her husband is never neglected, she volunteers, she coupons with the best of 'em, she is the Team Mom, and always prepared for every possibility.

None of those things that describes "Super Mom" are bad in any way. In fact, if someone actually accomplishes all of that above then that's not a bad thing at all. But you know what? None of that is important. My son won't look back one day and say "hey, that time I really needed to talk to my mom and she decided to do the dishes instead, that was so okay with me because my kitchen was always clean". I am not advocating that you should live like a slob. But in the end what matters the most is that I've truly been present for my son, all the while loving his daddy like I should. Because the best gifts I can give my son besides being involved with him is to lead him to love Jesus and for me to love his daddy like I should.

So here's my confession: I have a basket of clean laundry piled up in the laundry room waiting for me to fold it. Guess what? I'm not folding it tonight. And you know what else? There are dishes in my sink right now. Guess what? I'm not putting them in the dishwasher tonight. But you know what else? After Austin got out of the tub tonight (I am not filthy, I do bathe my child) we played word games. And we laughed and we enjoyed time together. Guess what? That's a million times better than the laundry being folded and put away. And something else even better? My husband and I had a moment tonight when the song that was sung at our wedding came on a radio show he was listening to. Those things, those moments, you never get them back. But dishes, and laundry, and mopped floors... those can all be done a little later.

So I don't want to be Super Mom. And if you thought I was before you read this, please change your view of me. I am not that woman who always has it all together, and I never will be. But I'm happy as I can be that I got to be called Mom at all and I sure do love my husband.

I am Mommy

2010-09-16T21:29:00.002-04:00

I am the one who you wake up when you are sick or scared.

I am the one who changes your sheets in the middle of the night.

I am the one who comforts you when you have a bad dream.

I am the one who nurses your "boo-boos" back to health.

I am the one who has sat rocking you night after night when you had terrible ear infections.

I am Mommy.

I am the one who makes sure you have clean clothes ready to wear.

I am the one who gives you a bath every night even though you sometimes say you would rather be dirty all the time.

I am the one who brushes your teeth even if you hate it.

I am the one who fixes your hair so it looks like it's "sharked" every morning.

I am the one who wakes up much earlier than I'd like to pack your lunch.

I am the one who most likely packs too much food in your lunch, just in case.

I am Mommy.

I am the one who went through labor for 24 hours and had a rough delivery ending in a c-section.

I am the one who had to have surgery when you were 18 months old due to complications from that c-section.

I am the one they held you next to right after you were born and heard the words "Mrs. Zimmerman, this is your son."

I am the one that told the anesthesiologist I was crying because I was so happy when the tears were flowing just after I laid my eyes on you for the first time.

I am the one who laid in that hospital bed holding you in the middle of the night and through my pain and discomfort was in awe that YOU were my son.

I am Mommy.

I am the one who took you to your Kindergarten class this year one the first day of school, and managed to hold it together while I watched you embark on this new adventure in your childhood.

I am the one who remembered you were just that baby with me in the hospital the other day, or at least it seemed so.

I am the one who now walks you to the cafeteria every morning where you usually find a friend to eat breakfast with and say "Goodbye Mom!"

I am the one who walks away proud that you are doing all these things on your own.

I am Mommy.

I am the one you want when you're sick or sad.

I am the one you ask many questions, some I can't even answer.

I am the one you want to tell when you are excited or happy.

I am the one who gets to hear "I love you Mommy" several times a day.

I am the one who feels a little afraid that these days are going by just a little too fast.

I am Mommy.

I will be the one to help you when you have your first major project.

I will be the one to give you advice when the girls are no longer "yucky".

I will be the one to bid you goodbye when you drive off to take a girl on your first date.

I will be the one in the passenger seat when you learn to drive.

I will be the one cheering you on from the lobby of the DMV while you take your driving test.

I will be the one crying at High School Graduation.

I will be the one in the dorm parking lot with Kleenex and a box of goodies so you can remember home.

I will be the one crying at your wedding because I'll be so proud of the man you've become.

I will be the one in the waiting room at the hospital when you finally get to say I am Daddy.

I am Mommy.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

GDA: Knorr Sides!!

2010-07-29T17:45:00.004-04:00

In my Publix, I found the Get A Smart Start savings booklet on a display. There were products such as Ragu and Lipton on the display. The booklet has a coupon in it for .55 off 2 Knorr Sides. They are BOGO this week for $1.49. Use this coupon on 2 sides and you can get each one for .47 each. I stocked up. I hope you do too!

Here is what the booklet looks like: