$$$ Thanks MPB's Mama!! $$$

A few weeks ago, my friend Suzanne, aka MPB's Mama, published this post about her big savings. She had been introduced by another friend to something called The Grocery Game. The Grocery Game is an online coupon shopping helper (that's the best way I can think of to describe it). MPBM was all excited about how much money she had saved. It was a lot of money.

Well, I got curious. I haven't been in the habit of using coupons. I tried a long time ago, but I just ended up with a lot of loose pieces of paper lying around, or scattered in my purse. I never had the ones I needed when I needed them, etc. Then there was the whole issue of obtaining the coupons. Most of them show up in the Sunday paper. We stopped taking the paper several years ago. I would sit on Sunday and read it cover to cover, complaining the whole time. I would just end up mad at the ineptness of the writers and publishers of the local paper (Oops...I hope no one reading this works for said paper.) Anyway, Kearsdad got tired of listening to me complain and made me stop reading. We canceled our subscription. For the last couple of years, any paper that made its way into our house was used strictly for BBQ fire starter. Anyway...

I talked to MPBM about how this coupon thing worked. I was really curious to see if I could save money like she did. Since we were getting ready to leave for camp, she advised that I wait until we returned to join the "game". So, last week, I signed up. Then I took the next step. I purchased a Sunday paper! I bought it on Monday, and as a result, I only paid 50 cents for it. I had already saved $1 !! This just might work...

So on Monday, I shopped. Overall, I saved $26.41 at Kroger and Walgreens. I was excited! Today marked week two. I actually bought a Sunday paper on Sunday and paid full price for it. I scoured it for all the coupons. Kat and Banana had to be at church early for a meeting, and Kearsdad had some computer work to do there, so I took off to Walgreens with my coupons and my list. Are you ready???

I spent $33.97

I saved $24.77!!!!

Yes, I saved almost as much as I spent! WooHoo!!!

Here is a picture of my purchases. All of it was useful stuff...stuff we will use...stuff we need. I didn't buy anything "just because it was on sale" or "just because I had a coupon".


Tomorrow, I'm going to Kroger.

Unpacked!

The suitcases are unpacked! They are in the attic. I have had suitcases in various stages of use out and open in my house since the first week of June. We haven't even bothered moving them...just stepped around/over/through them. However, they are now completely put away, and I am even almost through with all the laundry. Life is almost normal again!

Camp was mostly good. There were a few "issues", but overall it was a good experience and I am very glad we went. I don't think I could have said that a few days ago...it took me a while to process the week. Maybe I'm just weird. But that is how it was. I wouldn't give anything for the chance to be there as a family...to be there with Kat. And the added bonus was being there with our other "kids". I will say I learned a lot about worship. I learned that worship is an attitude, not a feeling. I learned that sometimes worship is uncomfortable, and sometimes it is work. But in the end, worship is the greatest thing we can do.

Last night, I got to sit next to my best friend as she got ready to send her oldest into Student Ministry. I can't believe it has been a whole year since it was me. JMatt and Kat will be together again. All will be right with the world.

Here are a few pictures from the last couple of weeks:



"One big happy family" as DWitt said!


We sure are going to miss this girl...


Banana and Mel...Banana is almost as tall!




So glad she went with us!


Did I mention we were on top of a mountain? Everything was UPhill.


A couple from the Transition Banquet...welcome new 7th graders!!

JMatt...my favorite new 7th grader!

Overwhelming

I really need to get this blog up to date. And so much has happened recently, I have a lot I could post. But every time I think about it, I get overwhelmed. I don't know where to begin. It's basically all good stuff...but there's just so much of it.

A couple of months ago I posted a "schedule" of sorts. Well, I made it through all those things and we survived. May was one dance thing after another. June was pretty much a blur. And July is off to a full start, but not nearly as crazy as June was.

I never did blog anything about our mission trip. I have started to several times, but I just can't find the words I want. It was, I guess, overwhelming. The week went wonderfully. Everything came together. The adults who went were fantastic. The kids were great. The reason I love the middle school trip is that I love watching young kids get to know each other in an environment that is so different from their daily lives. I love watching them stretch themselves and do things they've never done before and discover new things about themselves. The kids worked SO hard. And I wasn't disappointed. I got a glimpse of great potential in some of these kids. But still, I just can't express all the emotion that went into that trip. As we loaded up to leave on that last day, I stood in the almost empty hallway and got a lump in my throat. Overwhelming. That was my word to describe this trip from the beginning to the end.

And while Kat and I were away, Kearsdad and Banana did wonderfully at home. Kearsdad managed all of his duties...working, getting Banana to and from dance, cooking...I was very impressed. I think they enjoyed their Daddy-Daugher week. Banana only had one "bun incident". Her teacher did her hair most days, but there was that one day when teacher wasn't there yet. A mom volunteered to do it. The bun lasted about half-way through Banana's first class. But other than that, the week was good.

If you look to the side of this page, you see my "Congrats" to Banana. She made Junior Alternate in the Company. I can't really explain what Junior Alternate is except that it is sort of like "understudy to Junior Company". Only two of the 12 apprentices moved up to Junior Alternate. She is looking forward to her new dance year, but enjoying her break for now.

July started with a quick trip to Dallas to see my parents. We spent July 4th in a relatively unpatriotic way (not by choice, but because that's just how it was). We went to the Galleria and the girls went ice skating. We ate dinner at Abuelo's, an wonderful Mexican restaurant. Then the girls went swimming at the pool in my parent's neighborhood. I have pictures that I will post soon. We made it home just in time to get Banana off to her mission trip. Sweet girl...she hasn't slept in her bed since last Wednesday...

And we leave Monday for camp. Early Monday. E.A.R.L.Y. Should be interesting. Definitely should be fun. The whole family is going. Much more to post soon. Unless camp is as overwhelming as mission trip was. I'll let you know.

Wow...that was a lot of typing.

Sigh...I Wasn't Gonna Do This

But Junebug said I would...so either I'm succumbing to peer pressure, or my pride is getting the best of me...

Copy & paste if you want to play along.

1. Were you named after anyone? I think I was named after someone my parents knew (first name, Deborah-DON'T tell anyone that) Jean (after my mom) My name now (because my dad liked it.) When I got married, I changed it legally.
2. When was the last time you cried? Three weeks ago today.
3. Do you like your handwriting? No.
4. What is your favorite lunch meat? I don't like lunch meat. I like PB& J. Unless it's corned beef on a Reuben at McAllister's.
5. Do you have kids? Yeah, two. And a big black dog.
6. If you were another person would you be friends with you? Why, of course I would.
7. Do you use sarcasm? Isn't that a spiritual gift? My boss says it is.
8. Do you still have your tonsils? Yep.
9. Would you bungee jump? Absolutely, positively not. If you remember, I won't even climb the attic ladder.
10. What is your favorite cereal? Here lately, Peanut Butter Bumpers. It can be found in the organic section at Kroger.
11. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? Usually not, especially if I've been in the pasture or the barn, I don't touch them at all.
12. Do you think you are strong? Physically? Nope. Mentally? Absolutely. Emotionally? Yes.
13. What is your favorite ice cream? Bop's Amazing Grace Concrete, made by James at the Old Canton Rd. store.
14. What is the first thing you notice about people? Whether or not they look me in the eye.
15. Red or pink? Depends on where the color is. On me, pink. On a wall, probably red.
16. What is the least favorite thing about yourself? The fact that I sweat the small stuff too often.
17. Who do you miss the most? This week, all my "kids" who are on mission trip or in Israel. I also miss my Grandmama.
18. Do you want everyone to send this back to you? Sure.
19. What color pants and shoes are you wearing? I am still in my jammies.
20. What was the last thing you ate? Grits that Banana made for breakfast.
21. What are you listening to right now? Jon and Kate plus 8 (my kids are awake) and the washing machine.
22. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Unlike Junebug, I LOVE crayons. I would probably be a dark orange color. Or yellow.
23. Favorite smells? Warm Vanilla Sugar. Garlic. The barn. The bush on the side of our house (can't remember what it's called) when it is in bloom.
24. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone? My mom.
25. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Of course I do. I love her very much.
26. Favorite sports to watch? Braves baseball. And baseball at the small private school north of my house. I will also watch football there, even though I don't like or understand football. But I love the boys who are playing, so I watch anyway.
27. Hair color? Dark blond with really good blond highlights right now, because Cathy just did it a few weeks ago.
28. Eye color? Green
29. Do you wear contacts? I have before. Probably should. I wear glasses when I drive or when I really want to see clearly.
30. Favorite food? hmmm....don't know if I could name a favorite. I like sushi, I like Mexican. I like just about anything with garlic or onion.
31. Scary movies or happy endings? I'm with Junebug...No scary movies.
32. Last movie you watched? Prince Caspian? Watched Princess Bride on tv the other night, for the zillionth time.
33. What color shirt are you wearing? see number 19.
34. Favorite season? Fall, I guess. Or spring. I like summer, too, cause there is no school. And we cannot overlook winter cause it has Christmas. Hmm...( I'm not creative enough to change this answer so I'm stealing it
35. Hugs or kisses? Depends on who they are from. Kisses from the people who live in my house.
36. Favorite dessert? The CrazyEights thing that PF Changs doesn't have anymore. That makes me sad...
37. Most likely to respond? hmmm....not sure
38. Least likely to respond? not sure on this one either
39. What book are you reading now? The Maiden of Mayfair, by Lawanna Blackwell.
40. What is on your mouse pad? I don't have a mouse pad if I'm on my laptop, like right now. On the desktop, it's the Dell emblem.
41. What did you watch on tv last night? Nothing...I was working on my lesson for tonight.
42. Favorite sound? QUIET
43. Rolling Stones or Beatles? The Beatles!
44. What is the farthest you have been from home? Ocho Rios, Jamaica.
45. What specific subject do you feel you know better than any other subject? My kids.
46. If you could spend a whole day with any one historical figure, who would it be? Ronald Reagan.
47. You're driving your car late at night and come to a red light. If there are no cars in either direction, do you stop? Oh yes. Definitely! But I don't usually drive late at night.
48. Do you have a special talent? I think I'm a pretty good cook.
49. Where were you born? Montgomery, Alabama
50. Whose answers are you looking forward to getting back? Hmm...