This, That, and T'other

Guest Blog – Jennifer Grant – Author of MOMumental

2012-05-15T05:27:00.000-04:00

March 26, 2012

The Funny, Broken, Love of Parenting

I click open a Facebook message. A friend has sent me a word search and tells me to let my eyes fall onto the image and take note of the first three words that I see. These are the words that best describe me, she promises.

I shrug, take a sip of coffee, and glance at it. “Funny,” “broken,” and “love” are my words.

When I close the message, I’m tempted for a moment to try again. What other words are hidden in that tangle of letters? Maybe on my second try, my eyes will land on a combination such as “smart,” “attractive,” and “successful.” (That would be nice.)

I don’t give it another try, though. The words I read the first time are just right considering how I’ve been spending my days for the past several months, thinking and writing about the family in which I am the wife and the mother and about my family of origin, where my story began.

Funny, broken, love - sounds like family.

MOMumental: Adventures in the Messy Art of Raising a Family is about my own missteps and small victories as a mother. Over the years, after beginning my parenting journey – as so many of us do – staggering under the weight of the expectations I had for myself, I’ve loosened up. I’ve come to learn that none of us is perfect. We all fail, misunderstand our kids sometimes, and mess up in countless ways. In MOMumental, I share stories of some of my “epic fails” as a mom.

The dire messages that flash on the computer or television screen that warn what a mother absolutely must or must not do no longer hold me tightly in their grasp. I now look at myself – and at other mothers – with less judgment, knowing that we all work it out, there is no manual for motherhood, and that the most important thing in raising kids is to be authentically connected with them.

(And a person can do that whether she serves microwaved macaroni and cheese to her kids for lunch every day or gives them homemade bread and a sampling of organic greens from her vegetable garden. Whether or not she homeschools them, uses “the family bed,” or exposes them to Mozart by the time they are six days old.)

I hope in sharing my own personal – and often quite cringe-worthy – story in MOMumental, other parents will show themselves, and other parents, more grace as we raise our children.

To me, those three words – funny, broken, and love – are great ones to reflect on when I think about the gift of family. To be able to enjoy our kids, repair our relationships with them when needed, and most of to love our children like crazy covers a multitude of parental crimes and misdemeanors.

Wishing you all the best in your own messy family-making adventures!

Cheerios Giveaway!

2012-05-14T22:47:00.001-04:00

GIVEAWAY CLOSED! Congratulations to commentor #4!
I love cereal! As a missionary kid in Ukraine, dry cereal was a rare commodity and was only used for special times. Cheerios are one of my many favorites.
As budget conscious shoppers, my husband and I have a Sam’s Club membership, and go there once every couple of months to stock up on certain items. Cereal is one of the many products for which club members can get competitive prices.
General Mills just recently released new and improved packaging for Cheerios at club stores. Check it out!

Here is some information they shared with me.

What’s so exciting?

New 2 box Cheerios contains two individual boxes, making them easier to store and easier to pour!

Not to mention…

By reducing the amount of air in each individual bag, these enhanced containers fit 10% more cereal than before and use less packaging
While each box contains more cereal, packaging material has been reduced by over 200,000 lbs, saving 1,000 trees and taking 130 Cheerios trucks of the road, decreasing CO2 emissions

I am excited to be offering two of my USA readers a chance to win their own prize pack of Cheerios. You will receive two double-boxes of Cheerios. (That’s a total of 4 boxes. . . FREE!)
To enter, simply comment below telling me how long it would take you and your family to use up 4 boxes of Cheerios! (Please include your email address so that I can contact you if you win!)
Winner will be announced Friday, May 25th.

**** I received these Cheerios from General Mills through MyBlogSpark in exchange for sharing about them with you! There was no monetary compensation.

Momumental – Book Review and Giveaway

2012-05-14T22:25:00.001-04:00

GIVEAWAY CLOSED! Congratulations to commentor #1

Although I am not yet a mom, I consider myself a “Mom-in-Training” so when I was asked to review MOMumental by Jennifer Grant, I leapt at the opportunity. Before I even opened the book, the cover drew my attention. What mom hasn’t had one of those days? Amid the hubbub of yet another busy morning as you are trying to get your family to eat at least some semblance of a nourishing breakfast, the phone rings, the dog barks, and plop! The cereal is all over the table, the kids, the floor, and you! Being a mom is a messy job!

In her book, MOMumental, published by Worthy Publishing, Jennifer Grant addresses the complications of being a mom. She talks about her dreams of being a great mom, and the reality of raising a child. She writes in a vivid style that will keep the most worn-out mommy awake as she talks about the way society tends to label moms and the importance of defining yourself by God’s plan for parenthood.

This book was certainly helpful to me as I prepare my heart to parent. I enjoyed reading it, and would recommend it to moms at any stage in life! You can find MOMumental online at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or wherever books are sold.

About the Author
Jennifer Grant is mother to four children and author of Love You More: The Divine
Surprise of Adopting My Daughter (2011). For more than a decade she wrote for papers in
the Sun-Times newsgroup. Currently she freelances for the Chicago Tribune and is a
regular contributor to hermeneutics, Christianity Today magazine's blog for women. Grant
is a Wheaton College graduate who received her master's in English and Creative Writing
from Southern Methodist University. She lives outside of Chicago, IL.
I am excited that in addition to reviewing this book, I have a copy to give away to one of my USA readers as well! To enter, simply comment below telling me one of your favorite moments of being a mommy, or why you would like this book if you are not a mommy. (Please be sure to include your email so that I can reach you if you win!)
Winner will be announced Thursday, May 24th.

Be sure to stop back by my blog tomorrow for a guest post by Jennifer Grant, so that you can experience her unique writing style for yourself.

**** I received this book from Handlebar Marketing in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Messenger – Book Review

2012-05-08T20:59:00.001-04:00

image credit

When Bethany House recently contacted me about reviewing books for them I was thrilled. The first book that I received to review was The Messenger by Siri Mitchell.

The Messenger is a historical fiction book. It is set in Philadelphia during the War for Independence. It recounts the story of a Quaker girl who is forced to choose between the continuing in the pacifist beliefs of her upbringing, or following the paths along which she feels God is guiding her. In order to obtain a pass to visit her brother in jail, Hannah agrees to relay messages from the Colonials.

This story is a fascinating drama that explores the situations in jails during the War for Independence, the beliefs and lifestyles of the Quakers of that period, and the difference between religion and a relationship with God. The Messenger is well-written and thought-provoking.

You can find The Messenger at Amazon, CBD, or at your local bookstore.

**** I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. There was no monetary compensation for this post.

Children Learn What They Live

2012-04-24T03:40:00.000-04:00

As I was doing some spring cleaning in the office last week, I came across a little card that I found at a Christian bookstore during my college years. I read through it and remembered again the importance of its words. You may have seen it before, but every time I read it, it has an impact on me.

Here is what it says:

If a child lives with criticism,

He learns to condemn.

If a child lives with hostility,

He learns to fight.

If a child lives with ridicule,

He learns to be shy.

If a child lives with shame,

He learns to feel guilty.

If a child lives with tolerance,

He learns to be patient.

If a child lives with encouragement,

He learns confidence.

If a child lives with praise,

He learns to appreciate.

If a child lives with fairness,

He learns justice.

If a child lives with security,

He learns to have faith.

If a child lives with approval,

He learns to like himself.

If a child lives with acceptance and friendship,

He learns to find love in the world.

© Russ Berrie and Company, Inc.

This makes me think about what kind of teacher I am and what kind of parent I want to be. What about you? Do you have thoughts or opinions about these words?

Adoption Update

2012-04-20T15:20:00.001-04:00

If you are just begin to read about our adoption journey, please begin here and here.

When we tell someone that “We are in the process of adoption.” It is very common for them to say, “Oh, who are you adopting?” However, the truth of the matter is, because of the route that we are taking (foster-to-adopt), we don’t know yet.

That is what this phase is all about. We are currently in the matching process. That means that we, along with our social worker, are looking for the child(ren) for whom we will be the best parents. Many people assume that we are looking for the best children for our home, when in reality, the purpose of the foster care program is the other way around. Somewhere out there, in the big old state of Pennsylvania, is a child who NEEDS us. We don’t NEED them. If we did, it would be beneficial for us to look back into our reasons for adopting in the first place. Of course, we want them, but we don’t NEED them to make us into a healthy family, or to fulfill our desire for children, and we CERTAINLY DON’T NEED them to provide us with some extra money! (Please be patient with this little rant. I’ve met several couples who seemed to think that adoption was going to be a solution to their marital problems or their infertility issues.)

So, who exactly do we want? What child would best fit in our home? That is what the matching process is all about.

First, we sit down with our case worker, and discuss what we can and cannot accept. For example, although we would love to minister to children with medical needs, our housing would make it nearly impossible. We discuss what we kind of child we would prefer to have in our home. To be perfectly honest, as we do that I feel kind of guilty, as though I am shopping for the perfect child for us. However, I realize that just as our caseworker says, “There is no point in inquiring about children you wouldn’t be able to parent.” So, we go through a long list. Would we accept a child who does well in school? What about the child who has hearing, speech, or vision trouble? What about the one who would still want to be in contact with family? Although those questions sound like hard ones to answer, in comparison they aren’t nearly as hard as some of the questions about issues such as abuse or violence.

Once that part of the meeting is done, our caseworker tells us what we should expect. We should visit the PAE (Pennsylvania Adoption Exchange) website and browse the waiting children. She will check into children she receives emails about. She will go to matching events, where caseworkers and adoptive families go and share their waiting family and waiting children information.

As we find children we are interested in, our caseworker will call their caseworkers and see if she can get more information. From there, if we are still interested, she will give that caseworker our home study report. Most times, the child’s caseworker will have quite a few interested families, and it then becomes their job to choose the one that is best for the child(ren). They do this with interviews. Since we haven’t gotten to that stage yet, I’ll leave that for another post.

People ask us how soon we will have children in our home. The answer is that we have no idea. It could be as soon (in rare cases) as a week or two, or it could take months or even years. Since Jason and I are fairly open about what we are willing to accept in children and are willing to take a sibling group, it will likely be sooner rather than later.

I realize that this post has been rather rambly, but it is an accurate depiction of where we are right now. If you think of us, help us pray that Jesus will prepare our hearts for the ministry that we are beginning. Also, pray that Jesus would reach out to the children who will be in our home and show them even now that they are loved and that someone cares about them.

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this. I appreciate you!

Simply Grilling (book review and recipe)

2012-04-18T11:11:00.001-04:00

As a member of the BookSneeze book review group, I get chances to review all kinds of books. I was super excited to find that they even have cookbooks available for review, so I jumped at the chance to review Simply Grilling by Jennifer Chandler.

My husband and I love to grill, so this cookbook filled with recipes for grilling everything from sides to main dishes, was a hit with us. The hardcover book has more than 100 recipes. Each recipe includes a full color photo that helps you to envision the finished product. The cookbook also has some great quick and easy desserts to go along with grilling menus.

To put any cookbook to the test, however, a recipe from it should be used. My husband found a recipe he wanted to try, so I let him go at it, with the qualification that he had to take pictures of the food for my blog. (See below for recipe.) Although I am not a fan of seafood, I must say that I tasted this recipe and was pleasantly surprised.

The directions were clear and easy to follow. The extra cooking tips along the way make it easy for any amateur cook to create a delicious meal. This cookbook would be a great gift idea for the grillers in your life.

You can find Simply Grilling on Amazon, or at any major bookstore.

**** I received a copy of this book through BookSneeze in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

Here is the recipe, taken directly from Simply Grilling.

Honey Mustard Salmon

Vegetable oil, for the grates

4 4-6 ounce boneless salmon fillets

2 tablespoons olive oil

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup Honey Dijon mustard

* Preheat a clean grill to medium-high with the lid closed for 8-10 minutes. Lightly brush the grates with oil.

* Brush the salmon with the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

* Place salmon on the grill, flesh side down. Close the lid and cook for about 3-4 minutes. Turn the salmon over and brush with the mustard. Cook for 3-5 more minutes for medium. Serve immediately.

Giveaway: 250 Custom Stickers

2012-03-21T21:51:00.001-04:00

****** GIVEAWAY CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS TO COMMENTOR # 2 ******

I am a teacher. That means I spend my days with 8-10 year olds, answering questions, watching, evaluating, smiling, talking, listening, encouraging, demonstrating, motivating, rewarding. Right now, one of the ways that I reward my students is with stickers which they can later trade in for extra privileges. So, when PrintRunner contacted me about hosting this giveaway, I quickly said that I would.
Here is a little bit of information about PrintRunner:

“PrintRunner.com was established with little more than a small press and a dream. Ten years later our company became one of the foremost quality printers in Southern California. Our commitment to provide the best value and high quality full color printing at affordable price made our company grow. PrintRunner is a full service high quality printing company located in Chatsworth, California.”

PrintRunner is your convenient online print service resource. Check out their site and try printing stickers from them.

Here are the details about this giveaway:
            Prize:      Stickers
            Sticker Shape             :    Standard Stickers
            Flat Width                  :    2"
            Flat Height                 :    3.5"
            Quantity                    :    250
            Paper                        :    Premium Sticker Stock
            Colors                       :    Full Color ( 4 Color Process), Black and White
            Proof                        :    NONE
            Ready to Ship In       :    3 Business Days
        *Giveaway is open to US Residents only, ages 18 years old and above. Winner will   be chosen Sunday April 15th.
To Enter:
Simply comment on this post telling me how you would use the stickers. For additional entries, you may like PrintRunner on Facebook, or follow them on Twitter. Please leave an additional comment for each extra entry.
****Thank you to PrintRunner for providing us this giveaway, I will receive a set of stickers for hosting this.

Thoughts: Voting and Elections

2012-03-20T00:48:00.000-04:00

When I was a little girl in Kansas, I remember going to the library with my dad. Along the way, he stopped at a big brick building. He told us that he would be right back. A few minutes later, he came out, but the strange thing to my little mind was that he took nothing into the building with him, and he came out with nothing. I was confused. “What did you do, Daddy?” I asked. He replied that he had just voted.

That is my earliest remembrance of voting and politics. As the years passed and I grew older, I dreamed of the day when I could vote. When we were in Ukraine, it was very important to my parents that they get their absentee ballots sent in time. I knew that in my family, voting was important.

I remember the values that I was taught about respecting the office of the president. As we traveled around the country telling others about our ministry in Ukraine, I heard countless jokes about the leaders of our country, and wondered if that was the way that God would have us treat those men in power. After all, we as a country had voted for them.

I was so proud the first time I was able to vote. In my mind I was making a difference in my community and my country. I was working at Taco Bell at the time, and I just happened to be closing the store that night. Into the wee hours, the other employees and I listened to the radio to hear the results. The general manager was incredibly disappointed by the results, but I was thrilled. The majority had agreed with me! My voice had been heard!

As my college years went by, I never missed an election. I still don’t. Some of the elections have gone the way I wanted, and some have not. But, although I have voted so many times, and I know that it carries a tremendous importance, I never really thought about why it is important until just recently.

You see, my big brother started a blog. He puts into words the things he has thought and pondered through the years. He puts into words the values my parents instilled in us. As I read his posts, I think, “Oh, that makes sense!” One of the things he said lately on his Facebook page was about the many people in Ohio who did not vote. He said, “Then I guess they forfeited their right to complain!” What talent he has as a writer. Rather than try to express my thoughts myself, I’ll refer you to his blog, Deliberating Dave, where you can read for yourself. Check it out and follow along!

Frugal Friday #3: Real Rewards!

2012-03-16T05:43:00.000-04:00

Welcome back to Frugal Friday! If you are just visiting for the first time, be sure to check out what Frugal Friday is all about, and check out the first and second post in this series.

Since Jason and I live on a budget, we each have a ~~very~~ small amount of spending money each month. We both are always looking for ways to make that money stretch and multiply. One of the ways we do this is by participating in rewards communities. In the past year, I have increased my spending money by about $70 by being a member of these communities.
I actively participate in three communities. Today, I’d like to tell you a little bit about each of them so that you can check them out for yourself.
The first community I am a part of is MyPoints. MyPoints is primarily an email/shopping rewards community. When you join them, they send you emails. As you click on the emails and visit partner sites, you receive points. You can receive more points if you buy from the retailers they advertise, but even without spending money at any of their retailers, the points add up. You can trade in your points for gift cards to many major stores. If you’d like me to send you an invite, let me know in a comment! MyPoints was the first rewards community that I joined. Over the last few years, several others have come out. I normally earn enough points for one $25 Wal-Mart gift card per year, and I spend very little time clicking through on the emails.
SwagBucks is another great community. I use it to earn Amazon gift cards. Although you can earn points in lots of different ways, I primarily use SwagBucks as a search engine. As you go through your normal day and search as usual, you can earn SwagBucks which can be traded in for great prizes or gift cards.

Search results are provided by google and ask.com, so are quite reliable. As a SwagBucks member, you can also participate in daily polls, hunt for codes in swag hunts, play games, and complete surveys or other offers to earn points. I earned $55 dollars in the past year through SwagBucks! Click the banner to sign up!
The final rewards community that I use is called Super Points. Just like every other group, Super Points has its own unique way of earning points. To earn points, you simply visit the Super Points site, and click the “Super Lucky” button. Randomly, you will be awarded points. With Super Points, you also receive occasional emails simply containing more points. In the two months that I have been actively participating at Super Points, I have earned enough points to redeem two $10 gift cards. (Gift cards are available for all kinds of places including Amazon and PayPal.) Of the three communities, this is my favorite.
I realize that each of these take time, but the extra bit of cash really helps! Check these three communities for yourself! You may find that one of them or all of them is super quick and easy for you!

My husband asked me to include these sites that he uses to earn money as well.
Neobux: After you join you click adds and get paid to watch them. Minimum payout is $2.

Clicksense: After you join you click adds and get paid to watch them. Minimum payout is $8.

MyBrowserCash: Shows adds occasionally while you surf the web and you can click on adds too. There are also other ways to make money fast. I currently make about $0.65/day.

*** This post is not sponsored by any of these sites. It simply states my husband’s and my opinions about the sites.

Book Review: From Blah to Awe

2012-03-15T20:18:00.001-04:00

The most recent book that I received from BookSneeze is From Blah to Awe: Shaking Up a Boring Faith by Jenna Lucado Bishop (Max Lucado’s daughter).

When I first read the title, I knew that this was a book I would enjoy reading. When I received it in the mail, peeled open the flap on the envelope, and slid the book out, the bright colorful cover drew my eyes. As I began to read the first chapter, the words drew my focus and my heart.

From Blah to Awe is a book targeting young women who are “stuck” in their faith. It is not a run-of-the-mill book. Instead, readers are drawn in and encouraged to incorporate their thoughts and ideas on the numerous journaling sections. The book is written in a modern personal style and is super easy to read. The book is broken up into two sections. The first is “Why Do I Get Bored With God?” and the second is “Does God Care if I am Bored With Him?”

In the first section, Jenna discusses the reasons that we sometimes find ourselves “bored” with God or our faith. She talks about the environment we live in, with its constant stress, noise, and entertainment. She talks about the way we sometimes limit God. She addresses many of the reasons that young women (and older women) sometimes allow their walk with God to stagnate.

In the second section, the author challenges young women to see God as He asks us to see Him. He is our bridegroom! He wants us to have an intimate relationship with Him.

I enjoyed this book, and it truly made me think. I believe that God used it to draw me closer to Him. I would suggest that you read this book, whatever age you may be. You can find it at Amazon or wherever Christian books are sold.

**** I received this book from BookSneeze in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Frugal Friday #2

2012-03-09T00:11:00.000-05:00

Meat

Meat is one of the most expensive groceries that most people purchase. Jason and I do several things to make this part of our diet a little less expensive.

- Buy bigger packages and freeze.

Many grocery stores offer “family-size” packages of meat. Often these packages are less expensive per pound than the smaller sizes. We portion the meat into meal size amounts, and freeze it for later use.

- Buy meat when it is on sale.

We don’t buy meat every week. Rather, we buy it when it is on sale, or at the end of the day when it is marked down. We portion and freeze the meat. Then, I plan our meals from what we have on hand. We rarely pay more than $2/lb. for any kind of meat unless it is for a special occasion.

- Do your own trimming.

Instead of buying name brand chicken quarters that have been nicely trimmed $1-$1.50 per pound, we buy 10 pound bags of chicken quarters and trim them ourselves for $0.59 per pound. It takes a little extra time, but in the long run, even when we trim the fat and skin, we still save a significant amount of money.

- Plan meatless meals.

Meatless meals can still be healthy meals. Try to plan at least one meal a week without using any meat. Instead of meat try using beans as the protein for a meal.
Try some recipes like these: (Omit any meat in the recipes, they’ll still taste great!)
Wet Burritos
Yankee Bean Soup
Red Beans and Rice
Southwestern Rice and Bean Salad
Vegetarian Chili
Vegetarian Penne

- Use meat as an ingredient, not the main dish.

Maybe once every week or two we use meat as a main dish, when we have something like barbequed chicken, roast, or some type of fish. Most days, however, we stretch our meat out in recipes like these:
Tater Tot Casserole
Barbequed Chicken Pizza
Chicken and Dumplings
Ham Pot Pie
Cheeseburger Soup
Chicken Noodle Soup
Curried Chicken with Vegetables

So, how do you make the meat you buy stretch? Do you have a favorite meatless recipe? I’d love to hear your frugal ideas. Link them up below.

Frugal Friday #1

2012-03-02T06:51:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Frugal Friday, where each week I will be sharing a tip with you about how to live a little bit more frugally.
Since one of the areas that I save the most money is in the kitchen, today’s tip will be a cooking one.

Three Thrifty Uses for Tomato Sauce

When I was growing up in Ukraine, it was not possible to buy cans/jars of spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce, or enchilada sauce. When we wanted any of those things, we would buy either tomato sauce or tomato paste and make our own. When Jason and I first married, he was used to buying 26 oz. jars of spaghetti sauce for $1 - $2. I suggested that we try making our own the way I had grown up doing. So, we bought a 80 oz. can of tomato sauce for $2.86. We already had the seasonings we needed on hand, and Jason enjoyed the homemade sauce, so that is the way we’ve been making it ever since. I also make my own pizza and enchilada sauce.
When I have such a large can of sauce, I split it into at least three different meals throughout a week. Some of the meals that I make using tomato sauce are:
Spaghetti with meat sauce
Spaghetti and meatballs
Chili
Lasagna
Pizza
Wet Burritos
Taco Soup
Some other ideas are:
Tomato Soup
Vegetable Beef Soup
Spicy Potato Soup

Sauces are very subjective, but here are the seasonings I add to each type of sauce. (amounts are approximate, as I rarely measure)

1. Spaghetti Sauce – about 4 cups of tomato sauce

1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning

1 teaspoon Oregano
1/2 teaspoon Basil
1/2 teaspoon Crushed Bay Leaves
1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
2 teaspoons Dried minced onion
1/2 teaspoon Dried minced garlic
a tad bit of sugar (takes a little of the acidity out of the sauce)

2. Pizza Sauce – about 2 cups of tomato sauce

2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning

1/2 teaspoon Oregano
1/2 teaspoon Crushed Bay Leaves
1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
2 teaspoons Dried minced onion
1/2 teaspoon Dried minced garlic
a tad bit of sugar (takes a little of the acidity out of the sauce)

3. Enchilada Sauce – about 3 cups of tomato sauce

2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon garlic powder
dash of hot sauce

Do you make your own sauce? Do you can it? I’d love to hear from you! Be sure to link up your own frugal tip of the day below!

Frugal Friday – What Is It All About?

2012-02-24T05:40:00.000-05:00

How many of you have ever taken one of those online surveys? You know the ones. First, you have to enter your age and gender. After that come more questions for demographic purposes. Before long, you’ll get to one that looks something like this. . .

When I take those surveys, I have never once been able to honestly mark anything past the first selection. I work for a non-profit school, and my husband’s job is seasonal. Please don’t think that I am complaining. I know how blessed I am. When I spent my growing up years in Ukraine, I saw what true poverty was. I don’t feel at all deprived. However, I do have to find lots of ways to make our pennies and our dollars stretch as far as possible.
Although you may not be in the same situation as I am in, you may still be looking for ways to pinch your pennies. So, over the next few weeks, I am going to be sharing some of the ways that I practice frugality. Hopefully they will help you in some way.
I would love to have you join me on this journey! Do you have ways that you make your money stretch? I’d love to hear about them.
Please feel free to grab a Frugal Friday button either here, or from the sidebar. Let’s start saving together!

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Connections

2012-02-21T00:02:00.000-05:00

Facebook. Twitter. Pinterest. Google+. Email. Cell Phones. Connections.

We all have them. We all need them. They are our friends from the past, bloggers we have never met, and people we have read or heard about. They are our family, friends, and co-workers. Life is about connections.

We connect every day with the people around us, both online and in person. Some connections are chosen and some are seemingly forced upon us. We don’t always choose who we connect with, but we do choose how we connect with them.

In today’s society of connections, it seems that we are so busy living our lives publicly on social media sites that we let our private connections suffer. We connect with quick words, a few sentences here and there, a greeting at the church. It seems as though our conversations don’t get much deeper than the weather, politics, and the daily happenings of life. Our connections are momentary and so many times insignificant.

I think about the connections Jesus had. There were the Samaritans, harlots, children, laborers, politicians, the undesirable ones, but there were also the Pharisees, the Sadducees and the other “righteous” people of his day.

How did He connect? He looked for needs and He met them. If the need was forgiveness, He gave it. If the need was honesty, He shared it. If the need was healing, He provided it. He reached out. He touched lives. He made changes. I don’t read of any connection he made that was insignificant.

It is so easy to reach out to someone who posts about loneliness with a few kind words. Does that touch their life? I suppose. But it is much more difficult to take the time to make a change by visiting that person, or giving them a phone call.

I don’t want to just make momentary connections. I don’t want my encouragement for others to be limited to words. I want to make connections like Jesus did. I want to show others His love by touching lives and make changes. I want to connect like Christ.

Menu Plan Monday 2-19-12

2012-02-20T00:01:00.000-05:00

It’s Monday again. That means that it is time for another menu plan. Thanks to orgjunkie for hosting this meme. Click on the picture above to visit her site.

Monday – Pot Pie

Tuesday – Jason’s day to cook

Wednesday – Italian sausage rigatoni

Thursday - Steak, potatoes, corn

Friday – Crazy crust pizza

Saturday – Chicken nuggets, french fries

Sunday – Chicken and dumplings

Happy Valentine’s Day

2012-02-14T05:56:00.000-05:00

I have always enjoyed making the valentines I give my students. This year, I was stuck. So, I did what I never wanted to do. I went to Wal-Mart and bought a box of Valentine’s Day packaged candy. (Please don’t misunderstand me. I do not think that there is anything at all wrong with buying valentines. I just love the idea that I am putting time and effort into the valentine that each one of my students receive.) However, the more I thought, the more displeased I was. So, I went online and searched some more. I just happened to find this tutorial. So, each of my students will be receiving their own IPods today! Typically, my students think anything techy is cool, so hopefully they will enjoy them!

Have a beautiful and blessed Valentine’s Day!

Big G Cereal Giveaway – Star Wars

2012-02-09T05:48:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to commenter #1

**** Giveaway is now closed*****

Big G and BlogSpark have teamed up to host another giveaway here on my blog. They are celebrating the release of Star Wars in 3D by including packages of Star Wars pens in their cereals. You can check out the trailer for the movie or the General Mills website.
General Mills produces several of my favorite cereals, and they are going to share some with you!
BlogSpark and General Mills are offering one of my readers a sample package which includes everything you see pictured above. That means one reader will receive 2 boxes of Big G cereals, 4 Star Wars pens, a sticker sheet, and two magnets. To enter, simply leave a comment on the post between now and Friday, February 17th. Winner will be announced on Saturday, February 18th.
***** Disclosure: Prize pack, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

Thought for Tuesday

2012-01-24T05:06:00.000-05:00

We’ve all faced them I would think. Those annoying chores or duties for others that we’d rather not perform. It could be explaining with the same type of story problem for what seems like the ten zillionth time to the student who was daydreaming the day that you taught the lesson. Perhaps it is picking up your husband’s clothes from the bedroom floor, putting away your child’s backpack, or folding a load of laundry. . . again. Maybe it is answering that phone call and listening to a friend tell you all of their cares and woes, just as he or she did the day before. I’m sure by now you can think of some of your own examples. Or perhaps, just maybe, you live in a glorious world where things like that don’t occur. If so, be sure to comment with your secret!

The other day, I was in the middle of one of those tasks, and my mind was whirling with thoughts of self-pity. “Why do I have to do this? Why am I always the servant?” My thoughts were quickly interrupted.

“Serving them is serving Me.” I repeated the words in my mind several times. Gone were the thoughts of pity. My faithful teacher Jesus was speaking to me. “Daughter, serving them is serving Me.”

My job suddenly seemed a little less tedious. As I continued to think about the words that Jesus whispered to me, a verse came to mind. Matthew 25:40 says, “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

So, when I did the same job the next day, a smile came to my lips. After all, I was doing something for Jesus. I am certainly far from perfection, but as I have faithfully and joyfully chosen to serve others throughout this past week, those words have been brought to my mind over and over again.

“Serving them is serving Me.”

So, how will you choose to serve Jesus this week?

Menu Plan Monday 1-23-12

2012-01-23T05:21:00.000-05:00

Monday – Salads

Tuesday – Jason’s day

Wednesday – Chicken and rice burritos

Thursday – Broccoli and Chicken casserole

Friday – Beef Stroganoff

Saturday - Sandwiches

Sunday – Chicken and Dumplings, Mashed Potatoes

What’s it Like? (FAQ about Our Adoption Journey)

2012-01-21T21:59:00.001-05:00

It has been what seems like eons ago since I posted about why we want to adopt. I planned on posting this shortly afterward, but have not seemed to be in a writing mood.
Before I explain the process we’ve been through so far, I should clarify what kind of children we will be adopting. We are not adopting internationally, although we would love to. We are not adopting an infant, although that would also be fantastic. Our desire is to reach out to those children who have been in the foster system and are looking for a forever family. We want to show them that there is a loving God, by showing them that there are loving people. Most likely, we are looking at 1-2 children between the ages of one and thirteen. Since we are hoping to adopt through the foster system, we have to go through all the work to become foster parents as well as the adoption process.
“So, what does that look like?” you may ask. If you are really curious, or interested, keep reading.
The first step in our adoption journey was to choose an organization. From the beginning, we knew that we wanted to work with a Christian organization. We researched several that were in the area, and decided that we were most interested in Bethany Christian Services. We chose them because they offer a huge network of support in many states and several countries, and because they have a fantastic reputation. (And Jason liked the name of the organization as well!) So, on a cold November evening, we went to Lancaster to attend a overview meeting. They told us about the process, what to expect, and how they would handle things. We were pleased with what we heard, and so we decided to fill out our initial application and sign up for training.
We signed up for training in Bethany’s State College office starting in February, but unfortunately we were the only ones who signed up, so that was cancelled. So, we started training in April. We went to Lancaster twice a month for three months and spent the day learning and listening. The training dealt with many different issues such as grief and loss, dealing with emotional baggage, and many other practical parenting issues. (I’ve said several times since then that if all parents had to go through the training foster parents go through, there would be much fewer children in foster care!) We did homework between sessions, and spent a lot of time reading practical books on adoption and foster care.
We finished training in July. Then, due to our caseworker’s vacation and holidays and such, we waited. We finally were able to meet with our caseworker for the first time in August. She gave us an overview of how the process would go, recommended that we read a certain book or two, inspected our house, and did a joint interview asking about our lives, how we met, our town, our beliefs, etcetera. These questions were asked in preparation for writing our home study.
The next time she visited was in October. She conducted individual interviews asking things like what we liked most about each other, what we liked least, what our biggest strengths and weaknesses were, and other questions that would help her to write an accurate report.
A few months and a few meetings later, (January 5th, as a matter of fact) we sat down with our caseworker and went over our completed home study to verify its contents. We signed the corrected copy. She signed that we had been approved for adoption through Bethany Christian Services, and that was that!
Although we feel a huge sense of excitement that another step in the process is finished, we realize that really, that is only the beginning. Now we are waiting. As soon as our paperwork has been filed through the state, we’ll be able to start searching for our children. Hopefully, we can begin looking sometime next week. However, there will be a lot of waiting along the way.
Please help us pray that God will find the children who most need parents like us. If He finds them, I’m sure He’ll lead us to them. We’ve been praying for some time for the children that God is preparing for our home. We would so appreciate your prayers for them as well.
Bethany

Menu Plan Monday – 1-16-12

2012-01-16T04:18:00.000-05:00

Monday – Hamburger Helper

Tuesday – Lasagna & Garlic bread

Wednesday – Grilled Chicken Salads

Thursday - Pizza

Friday – Chicken nuggets and fries

Saturday - Sandwiches

Sunday – Barbecued Chicken, green bean casserole

Heaven is for Real: Book Review

2012-01-14T10:09:00.001-05:00

As a part of the BookSneeze book review team, I recently received a copy of Heaven is for Real to read and review. There had already been quite a buzz about this book, and I was eager to read it for myself.

Heaven is for Real is the true story of a young boy’s trip to heaven while he was the subject of an emergency operation. In Heaven, little Colton met his miscarried sister, whom he had never been told about. He met and described his great grandfather, who had died 30 years before Colton’s birth, and gives other amazing descriptions of Heaven. His father, a Nebraskan pastor, began to study Colton’s descriptions and compare them to the Biblical descriptions of Heaven. What he found surprised him. The more he studied, the more he realized that his son’s experiences lined up with the Bible.

To be honest, when I began reading this book, I was rather skeptical. As I read, however, I was truly fascinated with the accounts of Colton’s experiences. One of the most fascinating parts of the book to me was Colton’s description of Jesus, and this picture. This picture was drawn by a little girl with similar experiences to Colton’s, and is the only picture that Colton has seen that he thinks is an accurate portrayal of Jesus. I would strongly recommend that you read this book for yourself!

Heaven is for Real is written by Colton’s father Todd Burpo, with Lynn Vincent. It is published by Thomas Nelson publishers and is available wherever Christian books are sold.

**** I received this book in exchange for an honest review as part of the BookSneeze blogger team. If you are a blogger interested in reviewing Christian books, go check them out at BookSneeze.com.

2011-10-26T07:38:00.001-04:00

It's a beautiful morning in Pennsylvania.

2011-10-18T21:10:00.001-04:00

My nephew was visiting, and I just happened to be making an apple pie. So of course, there were leftover scraps. How thrilled my nephew was to see these treats spelling out his name!