K-mart & Target Deals

K-mart is running a coupon special this week!  They are doubling all coupons with a face value of $2 or less.  I believe K-mart does this every now and then, but I have never taken advantage of the special.  Today I purchased everything in the picture below for $22!  The diapers alone, purchased at retail value, would normally be $40.

I apologize for the terrible picture quality – it’s actually taken with a cell phone.  I have been having trouble downloading pics from our digital camera.  In case you can’t see, these are the items I purchased:

2 packs of Huggies size 2 diapers
2 packs of Huggies pull-ups
Gilette Mach3 razors
Skintimate Shaving Cream
Clean & Clear Fash Wash
Peter Pan Peanut Butter
3 4-packs of Pudding
Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers meal

The K-mart in Midland has a limit of 10 coupons per visit, but I plan on returning tomorrow to snag a few more good deals.

On Saturday, I snagged these items at Target for $2.10!!

The items are:
A1 Steak Sauce
2 bottles of Joint Juice
Kashi Frozen Meal
3M Command Hooks (2 pack)
Edge shaving gel

An Evening Out

My sister graduated from college today.  Yeah for her!   We all went out to eat at Firefly (the buffet at the Soaring Eagle Casino).  After leaving the restaurant our night was rather chaotic.  First, Shawn had a long walk to our vehicle with a fussy baby.  Then he had to track down my dad who had Caleb’s carseat.  When he finally picked up Caleb & I (we were waiting inside the casino), Caleb had to pee and Lillian was screaming.  Caleb was saying, “I want to pee outside.  I want to pee outside.”  Wow, that’s classy.   We got in the car and drove to the nearest gas station so that Caleb could use the bathroom.  Then we found an empty parking lot so that I could feed Lillian.  Finally, we stopped at a Starbucks so that we could get some coffee.  At that point we needed it.  I think we actually started driving home about an hour after we left the restaurant!

Updates on the Little Ones

Lillian is now five weeks old!  I can’t believe how time flies…yet it seems as though she has been with us forever.  A few days ago she gave us her first “real” smile!  I saw her eyes move down to look at my smiling mouth and she smiled right back.  My heart melted!  I know there is a personality inside and I just can’t wait to see it emerge.  She is pretty cuddly right now and loves to snuggle up on my (and Shawn’s) chest to sleep.  She loves being walked around as opposed to rocked.  She hardly ever cries when I change her diaper.  She hates her bath!  And Caleb hates her bath because he hates to hear her cry that much.  She is a pretty good sleeper at night, not waking up much except to eat.  The past few nights she slept for five hours in a row!

Lillian - 4 1/2 weeks old

Yesterday I taught Caleb how to use the computer.  I tried about four months ago and he kept trying to point the mouse at the computer like a remote.  Yesterday he learned in about two seconds.  He loves www.starfall.com.  It is just right as far as not being to difficult.  He especially likes the Gingerbread game because we have read that book a lot.  The alphabet games are also fun for him and I like them because they are educational.  Our camera batteries are dead, so I wasn’t able to take a picture, but here is one of him (& daddy) at a family wedding over the weekend.

Shawn & Caleb

How God Uses Money

Crown Financial Ministries published an article that explains eight ways that God uses money and four ways that God does not use money.

Eight ways that God uses money:

1. God uses money to strengthen our trust in Him.
   
2. God uses money to develop our trustworthiness.
   
3. God uses money to prove His love. Scripture tells us that God assumes the responsibility of providing the basic necessities for everyone who trusts in Him (see Matthew 7:11).
   
4. God uses money to demonstrate His faithfulness.
   
5. God uses money to unite Christians in blessings. God will use the abundance of one Christian to supply the needs of another. Surplus money in our lives has been given by God for the purpose of helping those who are in need.
   
6. God uses money to provide direction.
   
7. God uses money to cultivate self-control.
   
8. God uses money to clarify spiritual maturity.

Four ways God does not use money:

1. God never uses money to worry us. If Christians are worried, frustrated, and upset about money, God is not in control.
   
2. God never uses money to corrupt us. Many Christians have fallen into Satan’s trap and are being corrupted. Christians whose financial life is characterized by greed, ego, deceit, and other worldly snares are at enmity with God and His plan.
   
3. God never uses money to build egos. Frequently, Christians are trapped by financial ego in that they use money in an attempt to build self-worth and ego. However, in Christ all are financially equal because all wealth will pass away. What will remain will be those things that have been laid up in heaven—the true wealth.
   
4. God never allows money to satisfy our personal whims or desires. God does not expect His people to live in poverty; however, He also does not endorse lavishness. Surplus is provided so that God’s work can be funded and those in need can be helped. If the surplus is hoarded or wasted on lavishness rather than used for His plan and purpose, chances are the surplus will be removed.

You can read the entire article here.

Quiet Time

In January, we switched Caleb (3), from an afternoon nap to a 2-hour quiet time.  Previously, I would lay him down for his nap at 1:00, and he would sleep for the full two hours, sometimes more!  However, at night he wasn’t tired at his 8:00 p.m. bedtime and was not falling asleep until 9:00 or 10:00 p.m.  The 8:00 p.m. bedtime is important for Shawn & I so that we can spend time together each night without the kids.

One day I told him that he could take two (small) toys and two books with him to bed and that he could play but he had to play in his bed.  I also told him that he could take a nap if he got tired.

One day, I found this:

I think he was reaching down to the floor and pulling whatever toys he could reach into bed with him.  I find it amazing how little kids can just fall asleep with their face smashed against a toy or with a toy held in their hand.  It’s just so cute.

The Prosperity Gospel

Finding a new normal

Now that Lillian is a month old, I am attempting to piece together a new routine and establish a new “normal” for Caleb, Lillian, & I while we are home during the day.  Lillian is not feeding at predictable times quite yet (we are getting there), so I keep this pretty flexible depending on when she needs to eat.

Pray – Before Lillian was born, I spent 15-30 minutes praying each morning, usually at 7:00 a.m.  I hope to start this again soon, when Lillian is sleeping more at night.

Shower & get ready (doesn’t always happen…)

Get kids dressed & ready (Shawn usually takes care of this)

Breakfast & Empty the dishwasher

Start laundry

Spend time with kids – I try to do some learning activities with Caleb during this time (colors, shapes, letters, numbers, etc…)

Laundry Break

Make Dinner – This has been the BEST thing about my new routine.  I dread making dinner each night, so I just decided to cook it in the morning.  Yes, this means it might feel like we are eating leftovers each night, but it also gives us more time together as a family if we don’t have as much to clean up after eating.

Eat lunch & clean-up

Quick tidy of house (10 minutes at most)

Read books with Caleb

1:00-3:00 Caleb’s Quiet or Nap Time
Fold clothes
Reading & Relaxing (So far I haven’t spent this time reading and relaxing…usually I’m nursing or cuddling with Lillian or trying to finish up a few things I didn’t get done in the morning)

Fun activity with kids (Outside if it’s nice)

Cleaning – Right now I just spend awhile cleaning whatever needs it the most!

Finish Dinner/Eat Dinner/Clean up

Family Time

Bedtime Routine forKids – Bath/Clean up Room/Story Time

Bedtime Routine for Mom – Wash Face/Read Bible

Bed by 10:00 (This hasn’t happened yet either…if I could get to bed on time, I would have more luck getting up early enough to pray)

And we also spend a lot of time doing this…

This is not a detailed schedule.  Right now, I am trying to focus on spending quality time with Caleb each day as well as lots of time cuddling with our new little Lillian!

Lillian Grace is here!

Wednesday, March 25th

5:54 a.m.

7 lbs 10 oz

20 inches

Lillian Grace (hospital photo)

Delivered by the wonderful (Aunt) Lynda Varner:

Daddy & Lillian:

Here is a recent photo:

2 1/2 weeks old

Isn’t she just about the cutest thing you’ve ever seen? 

Caleb loves his baby sister and, overall, has adjusted pretty well.

Here he is trying to share some toys with her…his horse and truck.

So far, being a mom to two is hard work!…but definately worth every sacrifice.

God’s Role in Parenting

I just started reading through, Power of a Praying Parent, by Stormie Omartian.  Each morning before my daily prayer time I  read a small section and jot down any notes, thoughts, or ideas I would like to use in my daily prayer time for my children.

The following quote was encouraging to me:

In regard to our children, we are in full partnership with God.  He would shoulder the heaviness of the burden and provide wisdom, power, protection, and ability far beyond ourselves.  We would do our job to discipline, teach, nurture, and ‘train up a child in the way he should go’ knowing that ‘when he is old, he will not depart from it’ (Proverbs 22:6).

When I find myself worrying about or being anxious about a particular parenting situation, I can take hope in the fact that God will provide the wisdom needed in each and every situation.  The Bible says…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, present your requests to God.  My responsibility is to pray and be confident that He WILL give us wisdom when we ask for it (James 1:5-8).  I must also be obedient to His Word and the direction He provides when I ask Him for help.

God is good.

Seeking Joy through Prayer

Several weeks ago, I was convicted about the lack of joy in my life. Each day felt like a blur of activity and to-do lists.  At the end of each day, as I sat down, feeling exhausted, to do my daily Bible reading and prayer time, it was becoming more apparent that I had thought of no one but myself and my family that day.  My thoughts were not on the Lord as I went through each day.

In the Lord’s wonderful timing, my spiritual mentor and I, have been going through the book, What Jesus Demands from the World, by John Piper.  Each chapter covers a command of Jesus.  In the chapter, Always Pray and Do Not Lose Heart, one of the verses discussed is John 16:24…

“Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”

I was puzzled by the verse because it specifically connects our joy with prayer.  How does prayer produce joy in our lives?

God can and will be sovereign in our lives whether we pray or not.  Our joy comes in knowing that God, in His sovereignty, has chosen to work through our prayers. We have the honor of serving Christ in His work through our prayers.   This is truly a blessing from the Lord.  To see the Lord in action and working in our lives produces joy.  When we lift up situations, people, and/or problems in prayer, we are so much more aware of God’s presence and help.

I want to experience joy in the Lord.  I want to see God working in the smallest details of life when I lift them up to Him in prayer.  I want to rejoice when I see the Lord working on behalf of others; knowing that He has allowed me to experience this joy through participating in prayer.