Fun Friday: Neely Came To Visit!

I have not seen Neely in like 2 years (she lives in California now!) and it was soooooooooooo great to see her and visit with her! Here we are at Zesto's and I cannot believe we got a picture with both babies looking at the camera. Yay!

Great Post on Why and How to Use Coupons

Check this blog post by one of the writers of the blog Prayer of Hannah. It is an excellent post on why and how to use coupons: http://prayerofhannah.blogspot.com/2009/07/why-and-how-i-use-coupons.html

Free Menu Planning Sheets

Click here to get a great free template of Menu Planning for the Week for you to fill out. You know I love planning!

The Homeschool Mom's Daily Planner and Menu Planner

Go here to see a great post by Moneysaving Mom on her weekly Menu Plan

I have found that weeks I plan out every meal we save so much money. The weeks I do not make time for it, we lose money. Charlie just recently picked up 6 Dream Dinners for us to cook for $10 each and I eat the leftovers the next day for lunch. We cook Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Tuesday nights we go to Chick Fil A and Wednesday night we go to church. Friday night we go out to eat and Sunday night we eat breakfast food. Do you have any tips on menu planning?

Wednesday's Word: Prayer

God has been teaching me so much about prayer recently.

Do we really believe God hears us and cares?

Do we really believe that prayer changes things?

God can certainly send us down a different path in our life for the same big outcome (probably why I like the show Lost so much). God has a plan for our lives!

Praying with authority in Jesus' name is so powerful. We prayed in Jesus' name that He would show us what was going on with our baby boy Jackson. We prayed in Jesus Holy name that he would show us and we prayed expectantly and in faith. We were on our knees and on our face in intense prayer for answers about Jackson. Charlie and I both knew that God would show us. The next day, he showed Charlie that his top frenulum was connected and we immediately called the doctor and got more answers. Shortly after doing some research, we realized that Jackson was tongue tied and would need surgery on both his mouth frenulums.

After some immediate results with Jackson after his surgery, we did hit a time period where he was not saying many words (last May). We prayed again that God would give him words and show us if there was any more physical problems with Jackson. Again God showed us that he had some intentional issues and we went and saw a GI doctor and God healed his problem and now every day Jackson learns more, says more words (now he is saying many phrases all throughout the day!), and our prayers are being answered (we are on miralax for the next 6 months to a year). God uses prayer to increase our faith! We are so thankful and blessed to have such a happy son and such a faithful Savior! Has your faith increased through prayer?

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7)."

Recent Pictures

Us eating at Rush's. Yes we normally get two high chairs when we go out to eat which is crazy.

Jackson playing at the playground at Sesquicentennial Park. It was hot! I love summer time. So many fun things to do!

Charlie meet us for lunch at the zoo and they got to ride the train there. Jackson really loves trains right now.

Jackson being funny at the playground at the zoo. Have a mentioned how much we love the zoo?

Jackson and his Grand. When they stopped by Jackson tried to get in their car and did not want to get in our car at all. He cried the entire way to the restuarant saying "Grand, Grand," over and over again. I think them keeping Jackson once a weekend a month has really made him attached. I am very thankful! They are like the same person.

And She Stands!

Last weekend Abigail pulled herself up on Jackson's potty and stood up. Time is flying with her. Here is a picture of Jackson standing for the first time around 8 months. We have already had to move her crib to the lowest level.

Around 6 months old I changed her to her new schedule and hope to keep this till she turns 1 year old. This schedule consists of two big naps a day. Of course it is different since I have a toddler at home and many days she does not get but a 45 minute nap in the morning because we are out doing fun stuff with Jackson.

Here is her schedule that works best for her and us

7:30 Wake up (Diaper change before each feeding) Eat 8 ozs and pears and many days 2 ozs of Pear Juice as well which helps with constipation

10:15 Nap till 11:30 or 12 pm (try for an hour and half nap but some days it is just 45 minutes if we are out)

11:30 6 ozs or 8 ozs sometimes takes her an hour here to eat her bottle, pears, cereal, etc.

3:30-5:30 Second Nap of the day. If she has only slept 45 minutes in the morning she will sleep when Jackson sleeps (2-4 pm is when he sleeps)

6 pm Dinner 6 ozs squash or some sort of vegetable here

8 pm Bath time for both babies

8:30 usually passes out in Charlie's arm

9 pm Last bottle of the day 6 ozs. The last few days she has stayed asleep for the 9 pm feeding so she is really going to bed at 8:30 pm. We are so blessed! I do keep my babies up latter because I do not want them up at 6 am ready to go.

The hardest part of the day for us is the second nap of the day. Jackson is already down and their rooms are right next to each other so I really do not like to let her cry it out like I do for the morning nap. Some days wrestling her down for a nap is like trying to wrestle a small alligator. She could stay up for 7 hours straight and be fine. Her VBS teacher could not believe how much she would not sleep because she did not want to miss out on anything. She hardly slept at all for her!

She is doing so much better now that she is not struggling with constipation. She is sleeping through the night!

Just pray she does not get hand foot and mouth disease. We did have to take Jackson to the doctor and he has blisters all down his throat and he is on motrin 2 or 3 times a day. It will be a miracle if she does not get hand foot and mouth disease since Jackson likes to secretly drink out of her juice cup.

Food Lion Baby Coupons

Thanks Southern Savers!

*new* Baby Care Coupons!

Food Coupons
$1 off (3) Gerber Baby Food
$3 off Nestle Good Start Supreme Powder
$3 off Similac or Isomil Advance Powder
$3 off Enfamil Gentlease or Prosobee LIPIL Powder
$1 off (6) Beechnut Baby Food (all exp 9/30)
Print from FL or Print PDF

Accessory Coupons
$1 off (3) Gerber Accessories
$1.50 off any Huggies Pull Ups or Goodnites
.50 off any Huggies Baby wipes or bath products
.75 off Playtex cups
$1.50 off Food Lion diapers or wipes
.75 off any 15-20 oz Food Lion baby care item (all exp 9/30)
Print from FL or Print PDF

• I have not tried to make Abigail's baby food yet because I still think she is a little young so I stocked up on some baby food at Food Lion using these coupons.
• Also, I did successfully cut Charlie's hair around his ears. He was able to us the guard to make it cleaner looking around his ears. The only problem I had was it took forever because I did not want to make a mistake.
• Sadly, I lost my coupon book and my keys all in one week. Pray I find them! I have been mainly doing our shopping at Walmart and using new coupons. We are really saving a lot of money with Jackson doing so well with potty training. Some days we only use one diaper for him and one pull up! We are so excited and proud of our little boy!
  

Movie Monday: Abigail Crawling at 7 Months Old!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Abigail is now a good crawler, I cannot believe it! Jackson was a good crawler at 7 months old as well. Here is video of him crawling. All I know is that Charlie and I create very active babies! Friday night while I was putting Jackson in the car, Abigail almost crawled out of the door into the garage!

Jackson Has Hand Foot and Mouth Disease

again. Sad, he had it last summer as well.

This time he had a fever last Thursday night and got sick to his stomach and ended up vomiting two times on Thursday night as well. Last year he had no vomiting, so I was getting worried that it was the stomach flu, but he only got sick a little bit and the blisters came on his tongue Saturday so I knew that was what he had.

The good news is that adults really cannot get it and babies under the age of 6 months usually do not get it either, so we are praying Abigail does not get it.

We are not taking him to the doctor because we did last year and they said there was nothing they could do and the test confirming the disease takes 2 weeks to come back and by that time your child is better. It is just a bad virus that has to run its course for 7-10 days. There is really no medicine that can help. Some children get it and it is not that bad for them.

He was the most contagious before he had any of the symptoms. It is very contagious but some children are not that susceptible to it. Symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, blisters on throat, mouth, or tongue, vomiting, etc.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/enterovirus/hfhf.htm

Any advice on how to help him get better quick, I would love to hear from you! Has your little one ever gotten this? I think Jackson is very susceptible to it. He is feeling so much better and Saturday and today he is has been back to his bouncing self. It is going to be hard to keep him in this week, but as long as he had the blisters we really need to stay away from other children.

What a Week!

Well first, the greatest news of this week is that three of my girls in my group accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior! Helping lead girls to Christ was definitely one of the highlights of my year so far. I had chills when talking to one child and the circumstance she is in. They were all so remorseful and sorry for their sins. God is so good!

VBS is going great this year and I think we have had 340 workers and kids which is up 50 or so people. I love the group format!

Also, last Friday we pulled out the potty I bought at the mom sale last year. Within 10 minutes he used the bathroom on the potty. We were in shock. If I had not been told by a doctor that I had to wait, we would have probably tried really hard about 6 months ago. Anyway, he did really well for the next few days and even went #2 on his potty on Saturday. Then, on Wednesday he woke up dry and did not have one accident all day. He went to the bathroom at church and even at a Mexican restaurant. He gets a cookie every time he goes to the bathroom but on Wednesday he was so successful I did not give him one 2 or 3 times (especially in the morning...yuck).

I really think the key with Jackson is that he was so ready and I did not try to early for him. Also I just keep a pull up on all day and have his potty out so he can go whenever he wants to go. He did so well on Wednesday he even pulled down his pull up while I was changing Abigail's diaper in the other room, and went all on his own. He was also able to tell me that he had to go potty as well. He is becoming such a big boy, and one night I forgot to say our prayers (I have had bronchitis as well this week) he said "pray" and then folded his little hands and closed his eyes as I prayed...oh there were tears from mommy. He then said, "cry?" and I said no happy cry. Ha! I am just so proud of all the words he is using. God is so good for answering our prayers.

My only dilemma now is how I am going to help him use the restroom in a public bathroom with a baby who wants to crawl. Umbrella stroller? Love to hear any suggestions on potty training and taking your toddler into public restrooms.

PLEASE VOTE FOR ABIGAIL IN CHICK FIL A PICTURE CONTEST!!!!!!!!!!!‏

We participated in the Chick Fil a Cow Day Friday and we successfully entered a picture of Abigail and myself in their big picture contest. The top 20 pictures when eating at Chick Fil A for a year free. The picture that currently has the most votes has 300 votes.....ha!

We currently have 15 votes which is great, but we would love to have more.

Go here:
http://www.showusthecow.com/photos.php?view=browse&tag=ABIGAIL

Click vote for this photo: Our Photo Title is: "Abigail's first Cow Appreciate Day!"

You only have to fill out your first name, city, state, and email address.

Your vote will not count until you click on the link they send you through email.

You are not signing up for anything and will not receive any other emails from them.

We also can win more prizes now that are in the contest (like Chick-Fil A coupons). Yay! Tell all your friends to vote. Thank you so much!

Tomorrow, July 10th, is Cow Appreciate Day at Chick Fil A ----Free Combo Meals for every person Who Dresses Like a Cow!

Last year we did this and we had so much fun (I was pregnant with Abigail). We all get free combo meals and I just went to Walmart and got black construction paper and Charlie cut them up into cow spots, and we stuck it all over our white shirts. We will probably be going to the Harbison one this year since I my cell phone broke and I need to get a new phone out there. Also, we will use the costume kit ( we will print it out on Pdf file) found on Chick Fil A website. If anyone want to meet us out there just let me know!

Money Saving Mom writes

"Friday July 10, 2009, is annual Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-fil-A. If you dress head-to-toe like a cow you'll receive a free combo meal at and if you wear a cow accessory you'll receive a free entree item. More details here.

Now for the fun part... Because I love Chick-Fil-A and because I like to keep things exciting, we're celebrating "Dress Like a Cow Day" here on Friday. If you have a Chick-Fil-A nearby and you aren't ashamed of doing something a little goofy in order to get free food, here are the details:

::Dress up in some way, shape, or form like a cow. There are lots of ideas here and here to get your creative juices flowing. The only stipulation is that you use materials you already have on hand to make your cow costume; do not go out and buy something to make your costume otherwise it ruins the whole concept of the food being free! Get your whole family in on the act, if possible.

::Take pictures of your whole clan dressed up and ready to head out the door to Chick-fil-A. (Or get extra points for taking the pictures at Chick-fil-A!). Post pictures of your cow-adorned selves on your blog and I'll have a Mr. Linky up so you can leave your link.

::Enjoy your free food, make an unforgettable memory with your children and/or friends, and have a blast while other people look at you like you've lost your mind. Oh the things we frugal folks will do when there is free food involved!

I can hardly wait to see what crazy costumes you all come up with!

Thanks, Deals from the South "

Bumkin Bibs are Great!

I recently got a bumkin bib for Abigail at Babies R Us after seeing one of my friend's baby wear it. It is the best bib I have had! I got $15 in bucks from Babies R Us reward program and I am going to get her a bigger one and one for Jackson. When I was looking for a picture of these bibs, I came across this review:

"I received these bibs as a gift for my second child, and I don't know how I lived without them for the first! These are the only bibs I use. I got a pack of two of them, and I just run them under warm water and clean them with dishwashing liquid most days. I also throw them in the wash every now and then. They are great; definitely worth the money."

They are the softest plastic bibs I have ever seen! What are you favorite bibs?

I Really Want to Learn How to My Boy's Hair!

Charlie seems to need a haircut every 6-8 weeks which is crazy!

Here is what I know:

• I feel comfortable cutting the back of Charlie's hair and around his ears, but not the middle section of his hair
• For amateurs it is the most helpful to wet his hair with a spray bottle
  
• You can get a cheap hair cutting set with scissors and all at Walmart (one of my friend's posted a facebook status that she cut her little boy's hair and it has gotten me motivated)
• You can cut a straight line by using your finger or a comb
• Here is the best post I have seen on cutting a little boy's hair. She gives step by step directions with pictures included.
• This video was also helpful
  

What I do not know:

• How to cut the middle section of the hair. Layers? I feel clueless so I might really mess up their hair
• Do you have any advice on how to cut hair? I think I might try to trim Charlie hair in the back this weekend.
  

Wednesday's Word: My New Favorite Worship Song

The Revelation Song Lyrics

Worthy is the,
Lamb who was slain
Holy, Holy, is He
Sing a new song, to Him who sits on
Heaven’s Mercy Seat
[Repeat 2x]

(Chorus)
Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And I will adore You…!
Yeah!

Clothed in rainbows, of living color
Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder
Blessing and honor, strength and
Glory and power be
To You the Only Wise King,
Yeah

(Chorus)

Filled with wonder,
Awestruck wonder
At the mention of Your Name
Jesus, Your Name is Power
Breath, and Living Water
Such a marvelous mystery
Yeah…

(Chorus)

Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come,
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And – I – will – adore YOU…

(Chorus)

Come up lift up His Name
To the King of Kings…
We will adore YOU Lord…
King of heaven and earth
King Jesus, King Jesus
Aleluya, aleluya, aleluya!
Majesty, awestruck Honor
And Power and Strength and Dominion
To You Lord,
To the King, to King
To the King of Glory

Chorus (Repeats)

Tuesday's Tip: Kmart is Doubling Coupons This Week---Great Deals on Diapers

Straight from Coupon Cravings Blog:

DEAL IDEA

$39.96 when you buy four jumbo packs of Pampers diapers
$3.33 when you buy one Pantene Shampoo/Conditioner
$10 in items that are free after doubled coupon this week (see my extensive list here)
=$53.29
-$5/50 Kmart Coupon available when you sign up for their email updates
-$16 when you double 4 $2/1 Pampers coupons from 7/5 P&G insert
-$3.33 when you double one $2/1 Pantene coupon from 7/5 P&G insert
-10 when you double coupons for your filler items
=Pay $18.96 out of pocket and get the $10 off coupon for a future visit

That’s like paying $2.25 per jumbo pack of Pampers diapers!

If Pampers is not your brand of choice, don’t forget about this deal on Huggies diapers still available:

Huggies Deal

Catalina promotion called “Buy More, Save More” and these are the details:

* Spend $20, get a coupon good for $3 off your next purchase
* Spend $35, get a coupon for $7 off your next purchase
* Spend $50, get a coupon for $14 off your next purchase

Includes: selected Unilever, Kimberly-Clark and SC Johnson Products.

DEAL IDEA

$49.95 when you buy 5 packs of Huggies Pull Ups
$1.99 when you buy one 46 ct Huggies Wipes pouch
$51.94 pre-coupon total
-$5/50 Kmart Coupon available when you sign up for their email updates
-$20 (when you double $2/1 Pull Ups coupons from 5/17 or 6/14 SS insert) or $2/1 printable coupon
-$2 (when you double $1/1 Huggies bodycare coupon from 4/19 inserts)
=$24.94 plus tax out of pocket and get a coupon for $14 off your next order.

It’s like paying $2.18 per pack of pull ups after doubled coupons and catalina promotion.

If you are wondering how you can spend the $10 OYNO coupon, what I usually do is look at clearance products. Also consider using it on weekly essentials or items you usually don’t have coupons for (something like formula comes to mind). That way you stretch it to the max.

She also has a list of items you can get free once you have used your coupons here

Kmart doubling your coupons is wonderful! Now, if only we had a Harris Teeter in our area (they double coupons all the time), we would be set!

July 4th Pictures

We had a great 4th of July weekend in Spartanburg. It is the best most refreshing time we have had since we went to the beach with my parents in May. It is so great to have so much help and get to sleep! We went to the pool, a show, and a lake party. It is so hard to get Jackson out of the pool. They are both at a really fun age!

Jackson and Abigail at 6 months old

Wednesday's Word: What is the Gospel?

"The Gospel is the cumulative event of the sending, coming, living, dying, and continuing life of this incomprehensible One"
Oden

*from Systematic Theology with Dr. Schemm....yeah I came up with that....ha!

The Gospel: He Came, He Lived, He Died, He Rose (1 Cor. 15:1-4)

Present Condition of Humanity:

• Brought Forth in Iniquity (Psalm 51:5)
• Wicked and Evil Continually (Gen. 6:5)
• None Does Good, Not One (Psalm 14:3)
• Dead in Trespasses and Sins (Eph 2:1)
• Children of Wrath (Eph. 2:1-3)
• Alienated from God (Col 1:21; Eph. 4:18)
• Guilty and Condemned (Rom 5:16-18)
• Enslaved by Sin and Satan (Rom 6:16-17)

Calling

• God's chosen means fro delivering the call is the proclamation of the Gospel

What is Biblical Conversion?

• "A person's decisive turning from sin, self, and Satan unto God through Jesus Christ and the power of the Spirit" (Demarest 249)
• Have to have repentance and faith
• Repentance is to turn in sorrow and remorse from sin to God
• Repentance is a remorseful change of mind, conduct, and ultimate loyalty whereby unbelievers turn from sin to God
  
• it is not just a change of inward disposition but a complete turn-about of one's life, with all that such a re-direction implies of the need fro God's help on the one side and of ethical conduct on man's side (Demarest 252)

Regeneration:

• An instantaneous act of God by which new spiritual life is granted --- a result that only occurs after repentance and faith
• Regeneration is a new spiritual birth (John 3)

Salvation Continues: Being Transformed into His likeness (2 Cor. 3:18)

I throw out all these deep and big words out there because they are so important for us to understand. How do we ask children these questions?

VBS is in 14 days and Charlie and I have been talking a lot about salvation recently, so I decided to break out my Systematic Theology notes. When it comes to children, we have to be careful because they have such tender hearts. However, society and everyone tells them over and over again that they are "good." If we keep telling our kids over and over again how good they are....why will they need a Savior?

I believe it is crucial for a child to understand that he is a sinner. Gently, reading the passages above and talking through them is a key. Until a child feels remorse from their sin, I do not know how it is possible for them to be saved. That child has to turn from sin and to God.

On the other hand, I believe sometimes we make it too easy for kids. We say it is a free gift and all you have to do it take that gift. Wrong. A child needs to know that if they decide to follow Jesus it is not going to be easy. They are going to continually have to die to themselves and depend on God. They are going to have to do things that they don't want to do, and things that they don't "feel" like doing.

Additionally, we need to make their decision to accept Christ and follow him, the most important decision and day of their lives...because it is! My parents did a great job and doing that with me. I accepted Christ at age 10 at a revival. My mom got me a charm bracelet with the date on it (it was May 1990) and lots of family came to see me get baptized. It was a big deal at my house and I remember the sorrow I felt over my sin and the joy that came with accepting Jesus and having His Spirit come live in me.

Another good idea is to type up everything that your child says when he accepts Christ, especially if he is real young. That way if he does not remember fully accepting Christ, you can show him what he said when asked questions.

What are you thoughts on presenting the Gospel to your children?