So here I just said I didn’t have time to really keep up with my blogs and I am adding a new post.

It’s 7:36, the three boys are in bed, John’s not home yet, the house is clean (for the most part), and my brain is thinking…scary combo!

So this fall we’re going to officially embark on homeschooling! As the “school year” (not sure when that will begin or end for us, we’re thinking of doing a 6 weeks on, 2 week off, year round schedule) my mind is all over the place.

The other night John said, “School for Miles is going to be more about learning routine than his ABC, 123′s.”

Ahhh…routine! He needs a schedule, he needs to know there’s going to be times in his life to work, times to play, times to study, times to clean…etc.

Routine…sometimes I love that word, other times I don’t. I like having a schedule, but then other times I am lazy and don’t follow it very well.

Well, being lazy as a homeschool mom…what will that equal? Lazy kids who don’t know structure or routine.

I know I have to raise these boys to be men. Men who understand hardwork! I want them to know hardwork. But do I like hardwork myself? Hum, sometimes yes, sometimes no.

So where is this going to lead us? I feel like it’s a family journey. But I know full well as a mom a lot depends on me.

When I feel out of balance, everything in my life is effected. I don’t like that about me. I don’t like feeling out of balance. But I am a person who can be passionate and emotional, so at times those passions and emotions create an imbalance in my life.

Then John centers me! Ah, I love being married to that man!

I am not worried about educating my children. That’s the easy part! The part that I know God will work on me will be teaching my children tough qualities. Especially the qualities I struggle with.

I wish that wasn’t so! I wish they didn’t pick up my bad habits, poor qualities and annoying ticks! But I know that’s what they see.

We’re all a work in progress. But with homeschooling right around the corner I am seeing myself, my ugly qualities, just glaring in front of me. I have to face them, seek God to help me change them, and plod through!

Homeschool will require me to lean so fully on the grace of God!

So I am not going to reread this post. I may be tempted to change or try to come across more secure, but I am not and I know I am not alone!

Thanks for reading!

Well, it’s hard to believe I hardly ever post here.

Facebook is way easier than xanga…easier to post pictures, easier to just do mini blogs, just plain ol’ easier!

So if you want to keep up with me, find me over there!

Click on the link in the left side of this page.

Here’s what’s going on in our world:

• We (John and I) had the flu last week
• All of us have had colds…yes on top of the flu!
• Miles turned 5
• We had a fun kid party for him
• I baby sat for a gal at church for four days…that was fun, Clark had a buddy!
• Clark is waving, crawling, trying to talk, eating, eating and eating some more, growing, sleeping and just being as cute as can be!
• My friend and I are hosting a “super couponing” workshop at our church next week
• I get about 2 to 4 “super couponing” updates from friends and family every day (and I love hearing about everyone’s deals)
• I am working on endorsements for my book…it will go into it’s third printing with Crossway this July
• We’ve enjoyed some nice weather this spring
• I have done the seasonal clothes change of all three boys…phew!
• I am getting serious about buying books for kindergarten next year (Miles is super excited to be starting kindergarten next year and he announced that he’d be at home for school )
• John’s been pretty steady at work…yeah for people working in their yards
• Our weight challenge ended last week, I lost just over 12 lbs, John lost 10 lbs
• Not only has John had the flu and a cold, but his allergies are killing him this year (there’s a report saying this year is the worst it’s been in years)
• Luke is still Mr. Competitive, although we’ve banned the “who gets ________ first” game.
• Clark has discovered the bath and loves it!
• Clark’s also discovered the kitty and balls…both of which he goes crazy for!
• My super couponing stockpiles are growing and growing!
• John watched the Zion Passion Play, as an audience member, for the first time in his life (he’s been in it every year but this year)
• It’s 10:10 and I need to go to bed!

Hope you enjoyed our update!

Check out the pictures HERE

So this new way of shopping I am stockpiling when items are priced at their lowest, then I make my grocery list/meal plan based on what we have stockpiled.

I think there are misconceptions about how some just are “too busy” to shop this way, they don’t have healthy food on sale, or that you just can’t feed your family with just one shopping trip a week.

Although some of this is true…some of it is not!

As for being “way too busy”…I believe for every hour you put into learning how to “super coupon” you’ll save your family a $100…easily! So if you have 30 minutes you can save $50.

Just learning how it all works takes a couple of months. I heard some great advice on the fan page of www.couponingfor4.net , she told a “newbie” to “give yourself two months”. That’s so true! Give yourself time to understand all this. Don’t think you’ll be making amazing deals your first couple of shopping trips. It takes time. It takes learning the system…but once you start making deals, seeing how it works, it gets easier and easier and you’ll spend less and less time.

Also, if you think you have to “chase” the deals…you don’t! It’s hard at the beginning to not run after each deal, but as you’ll soon discover items you use do go on sale more often than not and if you missed it this time around, just get it next time it goes on sale!

It would seem that the really good sales are on less “healthy food”…but grocery stores have fruits/veggies and other healthier items on sale each week. We can stock pile some of those items…the non perishable ones…when they are at the low end. But each week you can save money by buying the perishable items on sale.

Yes, you can shop like this in just one shopping trip! I do go a couple times a week and about three weeks ago (when the deals were OUT OF THIS WORLD) I went about 5 times that week. I normally shop after the boys are in bed and when John’s home. Jewel is 2 miles from my house, so it’s not like I am driving 30 minutes to get there. I also spend about an hour planning my big shopping trip before I even go.

I received the Jewel flier this past Tuesday night. I spent about an hour looking over the flier, figuring out what we need, what I can make based on what we need, what’s on sale, what I have coupons for…etc. Again the website I’ve listed help in this process. (www.jillcataldo.com www.couponmom.com, www.coupontom.com, www.mashupmom.com , www.couponfor4.net , www.thekrazycouponlady.com , www.moneysavingmom.com ) They take some of the guess work out of it for me!

I went shopping this morning…yes with all three boys but my next few days are super busy with other things so this was my best chance!

This is what I bought:

1 bag of apples, 1 bag potatoes, 7 bags of cheese, 11 boxes of spaghetti, 2 boxes of Velveeta craft and cheese, 2 jars of ragu, 4 jars of peanuts, 2 bags of salad, 2 bags of carrots, 1 bag of radish, 2 crest toothpaste, celery, 2 bags of sugar, 5 cans of olives and 2 coffee mate creamers

All the noodles, ragu and cheese are for a dinner our Sunday School is making this Sunday.

All of this food PRE Jewel Preferred price (which is ridiculously high) is $110.16

All of this food PRE coupon price: $68.71

All of this food AFTER coupons: $41.14

All of the food I bought for church: $31.43 (buying the cheese and ragu earned me $7 to spend again)

All of the food for my family: $9.71

Money I have to spend on my next order: $5.00 (I actually have $12, but again $7 of that was from the church food).

NET COST: $4.71

So is it worth learning…you tell me!!!

Again I have friends from all over the US. They say, “Oh I wish I had a Jewel by me!” Well, Jewel is part of SuperValue grocery chain…so Albertsons, Shaws, and a few others have these same deals! Chances are the grocery store that is the most expensive offers the best deals!

If you have any questions, I’d be happy to answer!

This week we’ve had AMAZING weather! Wednesday, Thursday and Friday we pretty much lived outside! I LOVE SPRING!

Today, snow! Oh well!

Clark’s been teething this week and we’ve had some rough nights, but he seems to be feeling better, and if he follows his brothers he’ll have teeth in the next month or so!

Here’s some pictures from this week:

Clark’s first time in the hot tub:

He loved it!

Our neighbor gave Luke a wood sword! Luke was getting the tree:

“No, not your brother or else it’s gone!”

Bubbles

Clark after hot tub time last night:

He was starting to get fussy and tired, but I love the cubby baby he’s becoming So squeezable!

AKA: Luke

(Silly photo we took)

I need some help from other mommies!

I don’t have much of a competitive spirit. I mean sure I like to win, but it’s not like I have to win to have a good time.

Lately Luke has been Mr. Competitive!

He has to win at everything and EVERYTHING is a game. Who gets in their bed first, who gets in the van first, who gets in their seat first, who jumps off the couch first, who gets to the table first, who pees first before bed, who picks up their toys first…everything is a game!

It’s about ready to drive me bonkers!

When Miles “wins”…you know gets in his bed first…Luke break downs crying.

He’s almost gets BESIDE himself with the fact that he “lost”.

Thankfully, Miles is a good sport. He’ll get out of bed and let Luke “win”. Yesterday though Miles wanted to win the “who gets in the seat in the van” first game. OH BOY! Then I two boys who melted down…balling…I wanted to win, I don’t want to lose…AHHHAAHHH.

Help me out here, what would you do? Sometimes the game is helpful…you know the who picks up their toys first wins. But for the most part I am noticing that it is becoming all consuming for Luke to win.

I want to foster and grow this spirit. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being competitive…but I don’t think it should override relationships and attitudes.

Any advice would be helpful!

Last night I read through an interesting blog: www.razingruth.blogspot.com . I know that there are some who may be offended by this blog, but this young woman was raised as a very conservative homeschooler. She shares how her parents trained her, some of their techniques, and some of the “rules” they used.

As I read through her blog, I began searching my own style of parenting. I desire first time obedience from my boys, but to be honest they don’t always obey me right away….and I am not always consistent in my style of discipline with them.

To be honest I don’t always obey God right away….there’s grace and His love. I believe it is my job as a mom to train my boys to follow the Lord. To obey Him, to delight in Him, to enjoy Him, and to live their lives for Him. But in doing so I want to teach them that we serve a just God and a gracious God.

At times I feel this overwhelming pressure to have perfect children because of what the world thinks. But my goal in mothering isn’t to please the world. My goal is not to have perfect children who never act up, who never speak back, who never make mistakes. My number one goal is to raise three boys who’s heart are sensitive to the Lord, who see His wonderful justice and grace all mingled in one.

I must show them His love and grace. His justice and His forgiveness.

Ruth writes about the sever ways her parents treated her. It broke my heart that they did this under the banner of teaching her about God.

I am not a perfect child of God. I make mistakes, mess up, lack self-control, lose my cool, get frustrated, hurt other people’s feelings, and a host of other ugly things. I deserve more “spankings” from God than He gives me. He’s beyond gracious to me. Therefore, I must extend grace to my children. Does this mean they can walk all over me, rule the house, get away with everything…of course not! But it means that in raising them, I must allow them the freedom to express themselves, be kids, and grow up in a loving, just, grace-filled home.

Ruth was raised by legalistic parents. Rules were more important than relationship. When I was reading through her blog I kept thinking, “Being legalistic undoes the work of the cross!” Christ came for relationship. When were in that relationship the natural overflow is obedience. We see what He did for us and can’t help but want to please Him.

The sad thing is, I know Ruth’s not alone.

Anyway…that’s what I’m thinking about today! In case you wondered

The internet has a way of connecting people like no other time in history. We become friends through our screens and keyboards, through connecting on blogs, facebook, message boards and by watching our lives unfold.

I have one friend, Gen, who I met before I was ever pregnant! We met on a “Trying To Get Pregnant” board She had one daughter….I had no kids. Gen and I have never met, we’ve never spoken on the phone, and our only connection has been through the computer.

Gen and I both did get pregnant, I miscarried. I got pregnant again…and now she has four kids and I have three. We’ve stayed in touch…kept up with each other through blogs and facebook.

Gen has walked through some serious issues since “meeting” her 6 years ago…her own miscarriages, school, tyroid cancer, a tubal pregnancy, and now her sweet three year old daughter Amy is very sick and has been sick since October of last year.

Please pray for Amy, for Gen, for their family.

Gen made this video of photos of Amy.

Watching this video my heart just breaks. The road before them is unknown. Amy is Luke’s age. As a mom of a three year old…well there are no words, just prayers.

I’ve had a sad week. Last weekend I had a dream of my friend Kevin. Kevin and I grew up together. We both were homeschooled and hung out a lot in highschool. Eight years ago on Wednesday Kevin passed away after a short battle with cancer. He was an amazing piano player and in my dream I was begging him to play his piano. He wouldn’t play. I woke up and realized Kevin’s playing in heaven and how my heart longs for the peace that heaven will bring.

So the more I am learning about how to save money through “super couponing“, the more I am realizing that my mindset about how I shop has changed.

Friends are asking how I am saving money and how it all works and I realized that unless you have a new mindset about shopping, it’s going to all seem overwhelming and time consuming.

The first thing I had to rethink was about how I shopped.

Before I’d make a menu list for two weeks, go to Aldi, pick up what I needed and not deviate off that list. When you shop this way (as Jill Cataldo of Super Couponing points out) you spend more money than needed. You’re not seeking out the sales, but buying what you need….which may or may not be on sale.

My new way of thinking about shopping is finding out what’s on sale and buying it in bulk! Stockpiling items that have a longer shelf life and that I know we’ll use. Or things I can freeze. (I’ve done this with bread, meat, juice, and other frozen food items) I have a five foot standing freezer that’s pretty packed as well.

Again, Jill, taught me that things are on a pricing cycle, so I stockpiled with that 12 week cycle in mind. (Of course when you can get 11 boxes of fruit snacks for -$2 you stockpile! yes, the store paid me $2 to buy 11 boxes of fruit snacks!)

This last week was a great sale on shredded cheese. I got 14 bags of shredded cheese for 63 cents a bag. I put them in my freezer and that should last us a good few months!

The other thing that changed in my thinking was this concept of stockpiling. At the risk of being slightly embarrassed, I took pictures of my “stockpiles”. John and I have cleaned up some space to store our food and other items.

Here’s our cabinet upstairs…everything you see in here was either free (or they paid me to take it out of their store) or under $1.50 (beside the face lotion I paid full price for because I only use that brand and it hardly goes on sale!)

There three razors there on the bottom shelf and they were each 50 cents a piece! The degree was either free or 29 cents, toothpaste…free…most the shampoo and condition, and body wash was free or they paid me to take it out of their store! So we’re stocked up on these items!

Also, since we started this I’ve not paid more than $1 net cost for my Cover Girl makeup and I have a stockpile of toilet paper…again I aim to spend about 35 to 42 cents per roll!

Here’s my boxes of fruit snacks:

This is the cabinet we cleaned (mostly out) for our extra food:

Boxes of cereal…some of those boxes were 25 cents per box…but normally I can get a box for about $1.

One of the side benefits of having this stockpile is being able to help out! We’ve been able to give away bags of groceries to those who are in need. So we’re not just hording all this food ourselves…it’s awesome to be able to give it away!

Now, I make my menu based on what we have in our freezer and what’s on sale. I have lots of meals, mostly in my freezer, that I can make. This week I am able to stock up on lunch meat…which I plan on freezing as well. Also, ground beef is $1.99 a pound…so I am going to get about 6 lbs of that!

You’ll still have to buy groceries…but by stockpiling you’ll be able to save at least $25 a week and that’s $1300 a year! Of course if you get a bit more crazy, like me, you’ll see your bill even shrink more!

You may think this is really time consuming…but once you get the hang of it…it will take about an hour of planning ahead of time and maybe an hour or two of shopping.

Last night I spent about an hour looking at the sale flyer, checking out the main websites I go to, (www.coupontom.com is a site to find coupons. www.mashupmom.com is a site that tells you what’s on sale and where to find the coupons and of course, www.jillcataldo.com she posts the main sales on Monday for Jewel, Dominics, Target, Meijer, Walgreens and CVS) and getting my coupons ready. I only shopped for 30 minutes at Jewel and plan on running by the Pig for the meat sale later. So it’s not all consuming…just takes a bit of prep work!

Hope this helps!

Don’t forget I’ve posted two cheesy videos on youtube.com explaining what I’ve learned.