Wow! Today has been filled with such a sense of accomplishment. First, I started off the day doing the work of the Lord. Our church is doing a help the community service week rather then a traditional VBS this week. I love it! It is a great way to instill within the youngsters the importance of helping others. Our two boys have not gone for the first two days this week but they will be going tomorrow and Thursday. On Friday I am not so sure that they will come. Friday it depends on if we have enough room in our vehicle to take and bring them home, as we are taken home two to four other teens. Now you may ask, and rightfully so, why would we make room for other teens instead of bringing our own children. Well, there is a multi-thought process that brought us to that decision. One, our teens are still recovering form a bug that has worn our family out a lot this summer. Two, Adam, with his Asperger's and his knee problems sometimes causes more of a fuss and tends to be overly lazy, which would bring stress on others that are there to work. three, A lot of today and yesterday was getting up and down and going up and down stairs. With Adam's knees, which have a tendency to give out on him we thought it best not to bother bringing him. Not bringing Adam means (rather then listen to the attitude) not bringing Daniel. Besides Daniel is the one who has felt physically unwell more often then his big brother, so this gives him more time to recover. Fourth and final reason is that on Friday we will be taking more kids home afterward leaving a limited number of usable seats in our van. Since Adam seems to be more melodramatic over things and lazier then the average teen (ok maybe not) we thought it best to all ow room for those teens that actually will put their best foot forward and help out as much as needed, which I do not think Adam will be willing to do. So, you see we have truly thought this through. lol
Our comminuty helping week satrted yesterday, so we weeded the church's yard and helps beautify the place a bit. We also cleaned up the inside of the church area. Afterward, on our way home Mike and I were able to tackle a few errands before heading home. Anyhow, at church this morning we organized the clothing closet and prepared it for public access, not that it wasn't ready before but now we just made it more ready. lol Although we did not complete the job we will did accomplish way more then I thought we would! We still have a few things left to do with the clothing closet but that will be worked on and finished on Friday. After church today, Mike and I were able to visit with a friend of ours for a brief time before heading home. Mike took Daniel out to have father son time and Adam had his friend, Josiah, over. I love Josiah!!! He is a terrific teen, sweet respectful, appreciative and a wonderful godly young man.Daniel then came home and the boys played all afternoon. When Josiah was here I took the boys to the pool and swam with them for a while. They trulky are crazy teen boys that is for sure! lol While I was in the pool I decided to see how long I could tread water for. The first time I tread for 12 - 13 minutes. I was amazed!!!! The second try I could have done more but stopped after 5 minutes. It was a wonderful day!
I think over the last two days we have accomplished a lot of things, both in and out of the house. We did the laundry, made some important phone calls, fixed some computer issues, bought a new blender (which I so badly wanted) and generally got a lot of little things done....
When I get a lot done like the last two days have been like it makes me think about how God must feel at what He has made. I know He is happy in some of him flock but not all. I just pray that I am one of those that has made Him happy. when I pass on I can't wait to hear well done, good and faithful servant!!!
so what ever you are doing this week, do the best you can at it and second, do it for the Lord, not for yourself or other people. Doing it for the Lord brings a greater amount of joy with it then you would ever get waiting for it. Doing things for yourself (glorifying your abilities) brings with it dissatisfaction and sometimes brings with it disappointed.
I pray thta no matter what I do with my life I do it for God and only to gloify Him!
God's goal for you in life.
Life goes on, move with it
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
76 out of 100
Ok, so I came across this tonight as I was browsing walls on facebook. I thought 'Wow! This is really interesting.' So I copied, adapted and then pasted it here.
Please feel free to copy and repost where-ever you like. I have marked wiht an 'X' what I remember from my childhood. Please when you repost, delete my X's and mark with an 'X' the ones you remember from your childhood.
thanks, Trisha
Audio-Visual Entertainment
[X ] Inserting a VHS tape into a VCR to watch a movie or to record something.
[ ] Super-8 movies and cine film of all kinds.
[X ] The number of TV channels being a single digit. I remember it being a massive event when Britain got its fourth channel.
[X ] Standard-definition, CRT TVs filling up half your living room.
[X ] Rotary dial televisions with no remote control. You know, the ones where the kids were the remote control.
[X ] High-speed dubbing.
[ ] 8-track cartridges.
[X ] Vinyl records. Even today’s DJs are going laptop or CD.
[ ] Betamax tapes.
[X ] MiniDisc.
[ ] Laserdisc: the LP of DVD.
[X ] Scanning the radio dial and hearing static between stations.
[X ] Shortwave radio.
[X ] 3-D movies meaning red-and-green glasses.
[X ] Watching TV when the networks say you should. Tivo and Sky+ are slowing killing this one.
[X ] That there was a time before ‘reality TV.’
Computers and Videogaming
[X ] Wires. OK, so they’re not gone yet, but it won’t be long.
[X ] The scream of a modem connecting.
[X ] The buzz of a dot-matrix printer.
[ ] Using jumpers to set IRQs.
[X ] DOS.
[X ] Terminals accessing the mainframe.
[X ] Screens being just green (or orange) on black.
[ ] Tweaking the volume setting on your tape deck to get a computer game to load, and waiting ages for it to actually do it.
[ ] Daisy chaining your SCSI devices and making sure they’ve all got a different ID.
[ ] Counting in kilobytes.
[X ] Wondering if you can afford to buy a RAM upgrade.
[X ] Blowing the dust out of a NES cartridge in the hopes that it’ll load this time.
[ ] Turning a PlayStation on its end to try and get a game to load.
[X ] Joysticks.
[ ] Having to delete something to make room on your hard drive.
[X ] Booting your computer off of a floppy disk.
[[X ] Recording a song in a studio.
The Internet
[ ] NCSA Mosaic.
[X ] Finding out information from an encyclopedia.
[X ] Using a road atlas to get from A to B.
[X ] Doing bank business only when the bank is open.
[ ] Shopping only during the day, Monday to Saturday.
[X ] Phone books and Yellow Pages.
[X ] Newspapers and magazines made from dead trees.
[ ] Actually being able to get a domain name consisting of real words.
[X ] Filling out an order form by hand, putting it in an envelope and posting it.
[X ] Not knowing exactly what all of your friends are doing and thinking at every moment.
[X ] Carrying on a correspondence with real letters, especially the handwritten kind.
[ ] Archie searches.
[ ] Gopher searches.
[ ] Concatenating and UUDecoding binaries from Usenet.
[X ] Privacy.
[X ] The fact that words generally don’t have num8er5 in them.
[X ] Correct spelling of phrases, rather than TLAs.
[X ] Waiting several minutes (or even hours!) to download something.
[ ] The time before botnets/security vulnerabilities due to always-on and always-connected PCs.
[X ] The time before PC networks.
[X ] When Spam was just a meat product — or even a Monty Python sketch.
Gadgets
[X ] Typewriters.
[X ] Putting film in your camera: 35mm may have some life still, but what about APS or disk?
[X ] Sending that film away to be processed.
[X ] Having physical prints of photographs come back to you.
[X ] CB radios.
[X ] Getting lost. With GPS coming to more and more phones, your location is only a click away.
[X ] Rotary-dial telephones.
[X ] Answering machines.
[X ] Using a stick to point at information on a wallchart.
[X ] Pay phones.
[ ] Phones with actual bells in them.
[X ] Fax machines.
[X ] Vacuum cleaners with bags in them.
Everything Else
[X ] Taking turns picking a radio station, or selecting a tape, for everyone to listen to during a long drive.
[X ] Remembering someone’s phone number.
[X ] Not knowing who was calling you on the phone.
[X ] Actually going down to a Blockbuster store to rent a movie.
[X ] Toys actually being suitable for the under-3s.
[X ] LEGO just being square blocks of various sizes, with the odd wheel, window or door.
[X ] Waiting for the television-network premiere to watch a movie after its run at the theater.
[X ] Relying on the 5-minute sport segment on the nightly news for baseball highlights.
[X ] Neat handwriting.
[X ] The days before the nanny state.
[X ] Starbuck being a man.
[X ] Han shoots first.
[X ] “Obi-Wan never told you what happened to your father.” But they’ve already seen Episode III, so it’s no big surprise.
[X ] Kentucky Fried Chicken, as opposed to KFC.
[ ] Trig tables and log tables.
[X ] “Don’t know what a slide rule is for …”
[X ] Finding books in a card catalog at the library.
[X ] Swimming pools with diving boards.
[ ] Hershey bars in silver wrappers.
[ ] Sliding the paper outer wrapper off a Kit-Kat, placing it on the palm of your hand and clapping to make it bang loudly. Then sliding your finger down the silver foil to break off the first finger.
[ ] A Marathon bar (what a Snickers used to be called in Britain).
[X ] Having to manually unlock a car door.
[X ] Writing a check.
[X ] Looking out the window during a long drive.
[X ] Roller skates, as opposed to blades.
[X ] Cash.
[X ] Libraries as a place to get books rather than a place to use the internet.
[X ] Spending your entire allowance at the arcade in the mall.
[ ] Omni Magazine.
[X ] A physical dictionary — either for spelling or definitions.
[X ] When a ‘geek’ and a ‘nerd’ were one and the same. ok. ok. ok... now I feel so outdated!!!! Even though I am only 38 right now I feel like this shows I m in my 60's!!! lmbo!!! It was fun though. Enjoy! I got a 76 out 100. Holy cow I feel old!!!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Extreme Couponing....
Ok, so I tried this Extreme Couponing thing everyone is getting gung ho about. My first initial thought was I don't think I can do this but I can try it and see how it works out. If it works, great, if not, no biggie… Well, with some guidance from a neighbor and from facebook friends I started collecting my coupons. I bought the Sunday papers to get the weekly coupons; I made sure I received all the local grocery store and drug store weekly ads. I ‘liked’ practcally everything on facebook. I bought a binder and organized it well. lol So, you see I did really invest time into this. If it worked out well and I saved some money it would be worth it to me. Well, was it really worth it? To me, well no.
Let me tell you why though. I am not one that has a lot of free time as it is. I hate to sit still for too long and if it is not really important to my family and I, I won't usually do it. Yes, the couponing would benefit my family and myself but the benefits did not outweight the inconvience it created. What were the benefits and what were the inconviences you might ask? Well, I will break it down to the best of my ability.
Pros: (Benefits)
Saving money
Getting product we might not usually get
Many local stores take Internet coupons
Cons: (Inconviences)
Time consuming (for me this is a huge con!):
Searching for the coupons online
Looking through papers and ads, clipping coupons
Time used to travel to multiple stores
Costly to start, as you have to build your coupon base (as you have to buy some of the papers to get the coupons).
Boring, for me at least
Ok, so now you see the pros and the cons. Why are the cons such a problem for me? Well, to put it simply, I value my time. I value it more then just saving money. My time to me is time with my family, time praising and worship my God. Time reading and learning, time cleaning and making my home a stress free environment for my hubby to come home to and for my kids to live in. Bottom-lining it, my time is being sucked away by this extreme couponing and I hate that! My hubby is not to thrilled with it either. My oldest son even commented on how much time it takes and he hates that I am so wrapped up in it. In reality I’m sure it would take less time as I get used to doing it but I would rather not keep doing it.
Pretty soon my time will be even sparser due to searching for and then teaching my kids curriculum. I do homeschool them and that is one of my biggest responsibilities. I also have othe projects I want to work on. I wish to go through all my pics on the computer and organize them. I wish to scrapbook quite a bit as I have lots of ideas but little time and even less energy to do so. I wish to work on other things as well. I will also be babysitting come September and that is one thing I am looking forward to doing. I do not want couponing to cut into that time either.
Most of you know that I have fibromyalgia and this brings with it pain and fatigue. Now, with my medicines I am fairly ok most days but the fatigue is a hard thing to manage sometimes. The pain I have gotten used to out of necessity. The time and energy I have I want to use to the fullest to benefit my family and flourish our relationships with God and each other. I do not want to spend that time and energy clipping and searching for coupons. I do not want to spend that time running from store to store to get the sale items.
Ok, so the pros sound so good, right? Well, it really depends on your perspecitve I guess. Yes, saving money is a nice thing to do, but at what expense? In my house it seemed to be at the expense of family time. So not worth it in my book!!! Trying new things is also a nice thing. I am finding out though many generic items are of equal quality to the name brand, at least in our opinion, and can be cheaper then the name brand even with a coupon. Internet coupons are a huge plus but for us it is not that easy to get. You see, we have dial up and that makes the Internet slow. Why do we have dial up? For a number of reasons, price being first and foremost, but safety racks right up there too. I am picky about what my kids do, see, listen to and hang around. That means I know what they play with, toys wise and games wise. I know what music they listen to and I know what they read. I know all my kids’ friends and their families. Yes, my kids are teens and I may not "need" to because they are growing up. But that is exactly why I do it, why I am so watchful of my family. There are so many things out there that can tempt young minds away from God, our personal Saviour and the King of kings. The boys are still finding their place in the world and their relationship with Christ is still developing. I do not want things to lead them away from that growth. Keeping the interent at bay keeps the temptations at bay too. Having a fast Internet would be nice to play games and such but it's not worth risking our kids’ spiritual stability, at least in our (my hubby and mine) eyes.
Now, having the stores accept Internet coupons is wonderful also but not all our local stores take these Internet coupons due to fraudulent use of them. The stores actually can lose lots of money on accepting coupons that they may not be reimbursed for. They also lose on the money that was doubled (or in some cases tripled) on those same unreimbursed coupons. Therefore it is not as easy as some might think in using these great coupons that you can print out at home.
When I shop I want to get in the store, get my stuff and get out. Yes, I do love window shipping and I do not mind and taking my time while shopping. My issue is I rarely have the time to take my time, if you know what I mean. I'm usually on a tight time schedule. I can't take the time to do multiple transactions at the same store just to use my coupons. I also cannot take the time to go to multiple stores. I alos tend to have one or more kids with me, which brings distractions causing me to forget certain items or using certain coupons. That defeats the purpose of couponing… lol
I don't want to hold up the other customers either, as I feel that is rude. I wouldn't want to wait for one person to have 5 - 10 (or Lord forbid 18) transactions before I even get a chance to have one, so why should I make others wait for me to do that?
I know some people make their weekly meal menus from the sales that they find that week. Well, that is not practical for us. We have one child with a soy allergy, which eliminates many products that are on the market, one child that is extremely picky and a husband who is very picky also. I have a sensitive stomach so I also have to be careful what I eat or I will pay for it for the next few days. Having two people in my house with Asperger’s (a high functioning form and autism) makes having different meals difficult. We tend to have the same stuff over and over. We do have some variety but not too much. It is the way my husband likes it and I like him to be happy. I do not usually plan my meals ahead of time either. I buy what foods we like and each day, depending on how tired I feel or how busy I have been, I chose the meal that is practical for that night.
So, you see, I have tried the Extremem Couponing and have decided it really isn't for my family and I. Will I stop using coupons entirely? No, I'll still use them here and there but only for things I will get even if I have no coupon. I will not plan my shopping around the coupons. I will not plan my meals around my coupons and around store sales.
I hope this opens your eyes to the possibilities of Extreme Couponing and the pros and cons that go along with it. Take what you will from this post and leave behind what you don’t like. I know what works for my family and the couponing thing wasn’t it. We, here, are okay with that too. We are cautious with what God has given us and try to be frugal and wise with our finances. God has always gone before us and therefore I am not worried for our finacial future. Keeping Him in the forefront of our hearts has kept us debt free so far. He has always provided and I know that He will continue to do so. :o)
Let me tell you why though. I am not one that has a lot of free time as it is. I hate to sit still for too long and if it is not really important to my family and I, I won't usually do it. Yes, the couponing would benefit my family and myself but the benefits did not outweight the inconvience it created. What were the benefits and what were the inconviences you might ask? Well, I will break it down to the best of my ability.
Pros: (Benefits)
Saving money
Getting product we might not usually get
Many local stores take Internet coupons
Cons: (Inconviences)
Time consuming (for me this is a huge con!):
Searching for the coupons online
Looking through papers and ads, clipping coupons
Time used to travel to multiple stores
Costly to start, as you have to build your coupon base (as you have to buy some of the papers to get the coupons).
Boring, for me at least
Ok, so now you see the pros and the cons. Why are the cons such a problem for me? Well, to put it simply, I value my time. I value it more then just saving money. My time to me is time with my family, time praising and worship my God. Time reading and learning, time cleaning and making my home a stress free environment for my hubby to come home to and for my kids to live in. Bottom-lining it, my time is being sucked away by this extreme couponing and I hate that! My hubby is not to thrilled with it either. My oldest son even commented on how much time it takes and he hates that I am so wrapped up in it. In reality I’m sure it would take less time as I get used to doing it but I would rather not keep doing it.
Pretty soon my time will be even sparser due to searching for and then teaching my kids curriculum. I do homeschool them and that is one of my biggest responsibilities. I also have othe projects I want to work on. I wish to go through all my pics on the computer and organize them. I wish to scrapbook quite a bit as I have lots of ideas but little time and even less energy to do so. I wish to work on other things as well. I will also be babysitting come September and that is one thing I am looking forward to doing. I do not want couponing to cut into that time either.
Most of you know that I have fibromyalgia and this brings with it pain and fatigue. Now, with my medicines I am fairly ok most days but the fatigue is a hard thing to manage sometimes. The pain I have gotten used to out of necessity. The time and energy I have I want to use to the fullest to benefit my family and flourish our relationships with God and each other. I do not want to spend that time and energy clipping and searching for coupons. I do not want to spend that time running from store to store to get the sale items.
Ok, so the pros sound so good, right? Well, it really depends on your perspecitve I guess. Yes, saving money is a nice thing to do, but at what expense? In my house it seemed to be at the expense of family time. So not worth it in my book!!! Trying new things is also a nice thing. I am finding out though many generic items are of equal quality to the name brand, at least in our opinion, and can be cheaper then the name brand even with a coupon. Internet coupons are a huge plus but for us it is not that easy to get. You see, we have dial up and that makes the Internet slow. Why do we have dial up? For a number of reasons, price being first and foremost, but safety racks right up there too. I am picky about what my kids do, see, listen to and hang around. That means I know what they play with, toys wise and games wise. I know what music they listen to and I know what they read. I know all my kids’ friends and their families. Yes, my kids are teens and I may not "need" to because they are growing up. But that is exactly why I do it, why I am so watchful of my family. There are so many things out there that can tempt young minds away from God, our personal Saviour and the King of kings. The boys are still finding their place in the world and their relationship with Christ is still developing. I do not want things to lead them away from that growth. Keeping the interent at bay keeps the temptations at bay too. Having a fast Internet would be nice to play games and such but it's not worth risking our kids’ spiritual stability, at least in our (my hubby and mine) eyes.
Now, having the stores accept Internet coupons is wonderful also but not all our local stores take these Internet coupons due to fraudulent use of them. The stores actually can lose lots of money on accepting coupons that they may not be reimbursed for. They also lose on the money that was doubled (or in some cases tripled) on those same unreimbursed coupons. Therefore it is not as easy as some might think in using these great coupons that you can print out at home.
When I shop I want to get in the store, get my stuff and get out. Yes, I do love window shipping and I do not mind and taking my time while shopping. My issue is I rarely have the time to take my time, if you know what I mean. I'm usually on a tight time schedule. I can't take the time to do multiple transactions at the same store just to use my coupons. I also cannot take the time to go to multiple stores. I alos tend to have one or more kids with me, which brings distractions causing me to forget certain items or using certain coupons. That defeats the purpose of couponing… lol
I don't want to hold up the other customers either, as I feel that is rude. I wouldn't want to wait for one person to have 5 - 10 (or Lord forbid 18) transactions before I even get a chance to have one, so why should I make others wait for me to do that?
I know some people make their weekly meal menus from the sales that they find that week. Well, that is not practical for us. We have one child with a soy allergy, which eliminates many products that are on the market, one child that is extremely picky and a husband who is very picky also. I have a sensitive stomach so I also have to be careful what I eat or I will pay for it for the next few days. Having two people in my house with Asperger’s (a high functioning form and autism) makes having different meals difficult. We tend to have the same stuff over and over. We do have some variety but not too much. It is the way my husband likes it and I like him to be happy. I do not usually plan my meals ahead of time either. I buy what foods we like and each day, depending on how tired I feel or how busy I have been, I chose the meal that is practical for that night.
So, you see, I have tried the Extremem Couponing and have decided it really isn't for my family and I. Will I stop using coupons entirely? No, I'll still use them here and there but only for things I will get even if I have no coupon. I will not plan my shopping around the coupons. I will not plan my meals around my coupons and around store sales.
I hope this opens your eyes to the possibilities of Extreme Couponing and the pros and cons that go along with it. Take what you will from this post and leave behind what you don’t like. I know what works for my family and the couponing thing wasn’t it. We, here, are okay with that too. We are cautious with what God has given us and try to be frugal and wise with our finances. God has always gone before us and therefore I am not worried for our finacial future. Keeping Him in the forefront of our hearts has kept us debt free so far. He has always provided and I know that He will continue to do so. :o)
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
amazing love
Recently we have been witness to so many difficulties in relationships. This has forced me evaluate my own relationships; with God, my husband, my kids and my friends and other family. What have I done that could potentially screw up those relationships? What have I done that has helped cement those relationships? What can I do to make things better in the present & future?
I can only say one word that has made all my relationships work in the past and in the present, God. With God I am blessed with an over abundance amount of His agape love, His amazingly powerful love.
When I was little I did not personally honestly, know His love for me and for others. Oh, I was raised in a Christian home and I was told about the love God has for His creation, including human beings. I thought I knew it. I thought I was part of it. I didn't realize until I became an adult how much I was missing out on. When I was a kid I had head knowledge. Now that I am an adult I have heart knowledge. Now let me tell you there is a whole world of difference between the two!
To know God personally and be able to talk with Him at any moment in time, is an amazing feeling!!! to know I am never alone, that God is with me every moment of my life is comforting and reassuring! To knwo that god watches over me and guides me in all my comings and goings, in all my sayings and listenings, in all my ups and all my downs, is the best feeling I could have ever (or will ever) experience!
Without God I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that my marriage would not be nearly as happy and wonderful as it is, if it is happy or wonderful at all. Mike and I have had our ups and our downs in our marriage. We have had our arguments and I have packed a bag to leave on more then one occasion. Without God our marriage would have failed years ago. Putting God first in our marriage has made being in the number 2 place so worthwhile! Once you put God first He helps you align all else in your life in such a way that it brings glory to Him and makes all that happens bless you. Whether good or bad happens in the long run you see, over time, how God has the ability to use it to help you grow stronger as a person and in your faith.
So, before I go to bed let me simply say I am blessed to be counted among God's children. I am blessed to knot hat without a shadow of a doubt if I were to die tonight while I sleep or in a car crash tomorrow I would end up with Jesus worshiping Him forever! I am blessed to put Him first in all that I do and I pray you are also!
I can only say one word that has made all my relationships work in the past and in the present, God. With God I am blessed with an over abundance amount of His agape love, His amazingly powerful love.
When I was little I did not personally honestly, know His love for me and for others. Oh, I was raised in a Christian home and I was told about the love God has for His creation, including human beings. I thought I knew it. I thought I was part of it. I didn't realize until I became an adult how much I was missing out on. When I was a kid I had head knowledge. Now that I am an adult I have heart knowledge. Now let me tell you there is a whole world of difference between the two!
To know God personally and be able to talk with Him at any moment in time, is an amazing feeling!!! to know I am never alone, that God is with me every moment of my life is comforting and reassuring! To knwo that god watches over me and guides me in all my comings and goings, in all my sayings and listenings, in all my ups and all my downs, is the best feeling I could have ever (or will ever) experience!
Without God I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that my marriage would not be nearly as happy and wonderful as it is, if it is happy or wonderful at all. Mike and I have had our ups and our downs in our marriage. We have had our arguments and I have packed a bag to leave on more then one occasion. Without God our marriage would have failed years ago. Putting God first in our marriage has made being in the number 2 place so worthwhile! Once you put God first He helps you align all else in your life in such a way that it brings glory to Him and makes all that happens bless you. Whether good or bad happens in the long run you see, over time, how God has the ability to use it to help you grow stronger as a person and in your faith.
So, before I go to bed let me simply say I am blessed to be counted among God's children. I am blessed to knot hat without a shadow of a doubt if I were to die tonight while I sleep or in a car crash tomorrow I would end up with Jesus worshiping Him forever! I am blessed to put Him first in all that I do and I pray you are also!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
My thoughts on Extreme Couponing
Written on 7/4/11.
Hi. I have been himming and hawing over what to do about this extreme couponing thing. I know many people LOVE couponing and swear by it. There are a whole slew of websites devoted to it. There is a television show devoted to it. There are so many facebook pages started to help others start couponing. I even have a couple of friends who are into it.
I was thinking about my reasons for starting to coupon and my reasons why it might not be a great idea when I came across this article. I found it interesting and saddening at the same time. Apparently, some of these people, a good amount from the sounds of it, gang-cut their coupons. Now I had no idea what gang-cutting was until I read this. Now I know why it's detrimental to the companies out there.
http://www.jillcataldo.com/gang_cut_coupons
So knowing this has left me in a bit of a conundrum. Do I continue to coupon like this or do I stop? Now, before we go any further let me clarify a few things.
1) I DO NOT gang-cut coupons. EVER.
2) I DO NOT get more then 2 papers on Sundays if I get that many.
3) I think Gang-cutting is wrong therefore making it sinful.
4) I DO NOT want to (even remotely appear to) be participating in sinful acts.
So you see I am left wondering is the extreme couponing a sinful thing to do? Am I actually participating in Extreme couponing and therefore in participating in a sinful act?
My husband, Mike, says I am not sinning by using coupons. I am using the coupons the way the manufactures have intended them to be used and therefore am not sinning. My dilemma is do I participate in something that can be so sinful, even if I, myself, am not sinning doing it? Mike says that everytthing on this Earth can be sinful in some way and that I don't need to worry about it.
Ok, my original reasons for starting to coupon again. I have tried it before but not particularly very well. lol I would forget the coupons all the time and decided it wasn't worth it to cut them and collect them if I forgot to use them at the store. So I stopped using them. Ok, my reasons, were simply two fold. One was to see if I could do it and two was to try to save money. Having two teens and a hubby that drives 19 miles one way to work 5 days a week make the money we do have not go as far as we would like it to sometimes.
BUT!!! I never intended to do the "Extreme Couponing" and go crazy like some people do. I will not spend money on things I do not use nor need. I will not stock pile the items. Maybe having two or three on hand in case I run out might be a nice idea but I do not need (nor do I want) 10 of the same item! lol
My last thought about this couponing thing is I am not trusting in God to provide all we need if I coupon? I want to trust the Lord as I know that is not only right but it is an act of faith that has ALWAYS brought us blessings. I want God to know that I trust my life and the lives of my children and family in His more then capable & loving hands. Will couponing pick away at the amount of trust I give God? I DO NOT ever wish my trust to be diminished by anything!
So, in conclusion, I am trying to the couponing thing until God gives me a clearer direction to proceed with. I trust God to provide all we ever need but I am also trying to be a faithful stewardess with all that He already given me. I am trying to be wise with the finances we have and fully rely on Him to help me through this whole experience....
I would appreciate any and all thoughts on Extreme Couponing that you might have. Thanks!
Hi. I have been himming and hawing over what to do about this extreme couponing thing. I know many people LOVE couponing and swear by it. There are a whole slew of websites devoted to it. There is a television show devoted to it. There are so many facebook pages started to help others start couponing. I even have a couple of friends who are into it.
I was thinking about my reasons for starting to coupon and my reasons why it might not be a great idea when I came across this article. I found it interesting and saddening at the same time. Apparently, some of these people, a good amount from the sounds of it, gang-cut their coupons. Now I had no idea what gang-cutting was until I read this. Now I know why it's detrimental to the companies out there.
http://www.jillcataldo.com/gang_cut_coupons
So knowing this has left me in a bit of a conundrum. Do I continue to coupon like this or do I stop? Now, before we go any further let me clarify a few things.
1) I DO NOT gang-cut coupons. EVER.
2) I DO NOT get more then 2 papers on Sundays if I get that many.
3) I think Gang-cutting is wrong therefore making it sinful.
4) I DO NOT want to (even remotely appear to) be participating in sinful acts.
So you see I am left wondering is the extreme couponing a sinful thing to do? Am I actually participating in Extreme couponing and therefore in participating in a sinful act?
My husband, Mike, says I am not sinning by using coupons. I am using the coupons the way the manufactures have intended them to be used and therefore am not sinning. My dilemma is do I participate in something that can be so sinful, even if I, myself, am not sinning doing it? Mike says that everytthing on this Earth can be sinful in some way and that I don't need to worry about it.
Ok, my original reasons for starting to coupon again. I have tried it before but not particularly very well. lol I would forget the coupons all the time and decided it wasn't worth it to cut them and collect them if I forgot to use them at the store. So I stopped using them. Ok, my reasons, were simply two fold. One was to see if I could do it and two was to try to save money. Having two teens and a hubby that drives 19 miles one way to work 5 days a week make the money we do have not go as far as we would like it to sometimes.
BUT!!! I never intended to do the "Extreme Couponing" and go crazy like some people do. I will not spend money on things I do not use nor need. I will not stock pile the items. Maybe having two or three on hand in case I run out might be a nice idea but I do not need (nor do I want) 10 of the same item! lol
My last thought about this couponing thing is I am not trusting in God to provide all we need if I coupon? I want to trust the Lord as I know that is not only right but it is an act of faith that has ALWAYS brought us blessings. I want God to know that I trust my life and the lives of my children and family in His more then capable & loving hands. Will couponing pick away at the amount of trust I give God? I DO NOT ever wish my trust to be diminished by anything!
So, in conclusion, I am trying to the couponing thing until God gives me a clearer direction to proceed with. I trust God to provide all we ever need but I am also trying to be a faithful stewardess with all that He already given me. I am trying to be wise with the finances we have and fully rely on Him to help me through this whole experience....
I would appreciate any and all thoughts on Extreme Couponing that you might have. Thanks!
friendships
Written on 5/28/11.
friendship is one of those things that requires strength and wisdom.
Is this person really a friend?
Are they trying to "pull the wool over your eyes?'
Can you trust them to tell you the truth?
Are you honest with them?
Can you connect with them on various topics of life?
Do they have a similar mind set?
Well, Recently I have been posed with just the questions in regards to a few "friends" in particular. One I will call Lynn and one I will call Sarah. A third "friend" is one I am still a bit confused over what type of friendship there is. Her name I will say is Emily. To my knowledge none of these ladies or their families are saved.
Now, at our first interaction these three ladies left me with three different feelings entirely. Now I knew Sarah I could trust. I had a good feeling about Sarah. She seemed like a great lady who has made some bad choices in life but realized her mistake and has tried to do good after that. When I met Lynn, I got a uncomfortable feeling but she was nice so I gave her the benefit of the doubt. Seeing how I would have many interactions with this lady I thought it was worth it to become "friends". I'm not so sure now. Emily, well, she is nice and we got along from the get go but I also have reservations about her. Although we get along well I still have this strange sensation when interacting with her. It's as if I feel a whisper saying be-careful. Maybe it's my own mind playing games with me seeing as to how one friendship just broke up in a bad way, maybe it is God's warning and guidance. I do not know. I guess we will see how these friendships pan out over time.
Ok, so I wrote the above a while ago. Now on 7/5/11 I am updating this before posting. I am still friends with all 3 of these ladies. I say "friends" but I'm not sure how far that friendship actually goes. Now Sarah, I know I can trust, I like her a lot. She is sweet funny and a great friend. I have known her for years and have been blessed by our friendship. Lynn, well, I am still not sure where that lies. lol she is a nice person but I feel like everything I hear from her is said with some ulterior motive, whether it is meant to deceive me or make me think better of her I'm not sure. Either way, my biggest pet peeve in life is being lied to. This bothers me greatly about this friend. Now, Emily and I also get along great. She is sweet, helpful and fun to be around. However, I still get that "be careful" warning in my head so I am listening to it.
Either way no matter if these ladies are my true honest to goodness friends or not is yet to be seen. I know that the only person I really need in life is Christ. I have Him without fail each day of my life. :o)
friendship is one of those things that requires strength and wisdom.
Is this person really a friend?
Are they trying to "pull the wool over your eyes?'
Can you trust them to tell you the truth?
Are you honest with them?
Can you connect with them on various topics of life?
Do they have a similar mind set?
Well, Recently I have been posed with just the questions in regards to a few "friends" in particular. One I will call Lynn and one I will call Sarah. A third "friend" is one I am still a bit confused over what type of friendship there is. Her name I will say is Emily. To my knowledge none of these ladies or their families are saved.
Now, at our first interaction these three ladies left me with three different feelings entirely. Now I knew Sarah I could trust. I had a good feeling about Sarah. She seemed like a great lady who has made some bad choices in life but realized her mistake and has tried to do good after that. When I met Lynn, I got a uncomfortable feeling but she was nice so I gave her the benefit of the doubt. Seeing how I would have many interactions with this lady I thought it was worth it to become "friends". I'm not so sure now. Emily, well, she is nice and we got along from the get go but I also have reservations about her. Although we get along well I still have this strange sensation when interacting with her. It's as if I feel a whisper saying be-careful. Maybe it's my own mind playing games with me seeing as to how one friendship just broke up in a bad way, maybe it is God's warning and guidance. I do not know. I guess we will see how these friendships pan out over time.
Ok, so I wrote the above a while ago. Now on 7/5/11 I am updating this before posting. I am still friends with all 3 of these ladies. I say "friends" but I'm not sure how far that friendship actually goes. Now Sarah, I know I can trust, I like her a lot. She is sweet funny and a great friend. I have known her for years and have been blessed by our friendship. Lynn, well, I am still not sure where that lies. lol she is a nice person but I feel like everything I hear from her is said with some ulterior motive, whether it is meant to deceive me or make me think better of her I'm not sure. Either way, my biggest pet peeve in life is being lied to. This bothers me greatly about this friend. Now, Emily and I also get along great. She is sweet, helpful and fun to be around. However, I still get that "be careful" warning in my head so I am listening to it.
Either way no matter if these ladies are my true honest to goodness friends or not is yet to be seen. I know that the only person I really need in life is Christ. I have Him without fail each day of my life. :o)
just thinking about life.... being bored.... lol
Written on 6/9/11.
I have not been sure of what to write lately. That is one reason I haven't written lately. When I do think of something to write it is late and I am too tired. But today I wanted to write anyhow. I have nothing on my mind and nothing exciting has happened that is so exciting that I just have to tell someone about so there really isn't anything to write about. My boys are done with school and have been for a while. Mike is on vacation starting this Saturday. We are going camping on Sunday and will return on Friday. As for extended family; well, all things are well there too. Mike's mom is doing well, all things considered, seeing as how her father recently passed away. Mike's aunt and uncle are in town for a bit and it is so enjoyable to spend time with them. My siblings are all doing well as far as I know so there is no worries there either. lol It seems to me that I live a very mundane, boring repetitive life. But through it all I feel immensely blessed.
God has given me a wonderful life. I have a husband whom I am madly in love with even after 17 years of marriage, two wonderful boys who are growing up loving the Lord. I have a great place to live, my husband has a job that takes care of our bills, and we have many amenities that make our lives easier and more pleasant. So although my life is boring and mundane I am more then happy and content. God is awesome and has blessed me in so many, many ways! For that I am always thankful!
I have not been sure of what to write lately. That is one reason I haven't written lately. When I do think of something to write it is late and I am too tired. But today I wanted to write anyhow. I have nothing on my mind and nothing exciting has happened that is so exciting that I just have to tell someone about so there really isn't anything to write about. My boys are done with school and have been for a while. Mike is on vacation starting this Saturday. We are going camping on Sunday and will return on Friday. As for extended family; well, all things are well there too. Mike's mom is doing well, all things considered, seeing as how her father recently passed away. Mike's aunt and uncle are in town for a bit and it is so enjoyable to spend time with them. My siblings are all doing well as far as I know so there is no worries there either. lol It seems to me that I live a very mundane, boring repetitive life. But through it all I feel immensely blessed.
God has given me a wonderful life. I have a husband whom I am madly in love with even after 17 years of marriage, two wonderful boys who are growing up loving the Lord. I have a great place to live, my husband has a job that takes care of our bills, and we have many amenities that make our lives easier and more pleasant. So although my life is boring and mundane I am more then happy and content. God is awesome and has blessed me in so many, many ways! For that I am always thankful!
life recently
Written on 5/26/11.
Life recently has been sort of different... Mike had off all last week because of the death of his grandfather. He helped his aunt and his mom with his grandfather's apartment a little bit. We visited with his extended family a couple of days. It was a somber but actually enjoyable time. I know that may sound bad but when you do not see family members in a long time then seeing them for any reason practically, turns out to be nice. Grandpa will be greatly missed. He was unsaved and a hard headed self mad man but loving, caring and funny. My heart breaks now that he is no longer with us.
Life recently has been sort of different... Mike had off all last week because of the death of his grandfather. He helped his aunt and his mom with his grandfather's apartment a little bit. We visited with his extended family a couple of days. It was a somber but actually enjoyable time. I know that may sound bad but when you do not see family members in a long time then seeing them for any reason practically, turns out to be nice. Grandpa will be greatly missed. He was unsaved and a hard headed self mad man but loving, caring and funny. My heart breaks now that he is no longer with us.
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