Ingels and Kroger 1/27/10

Ingles

4 Oikos Greek yogurts
2 cans Pilsbury Grands biscuits

Total before savings $10.45
Total savings $8.28
Total OOP $2.17


Kroger
2 packages Pepperidge Farm Goldfish
4 cans Rotell tomatoes
2 16oz containers Daisy sour cream
2 bottles Frank's Hot Sauce
2 bottles French's mustard
2 packages Mission Tortillas
2 boxes Pillsbury Toaster Struddells
2 boxes Quacker chewy granola bars
1 box I can't believe it's not butter baking sticks
1 bottle French's Worchestershire sauce
1 bar of Axe deoderant

Total before Savings $45.99
Total OOP $11.72
Total Savings $34.27

Daily Grand Totals

Total OOP  $13.89

Total Savings  $42.55

Publix and Bi-Lo 1/26/10

Publix
1 Red Baron Pizza
2 bags Genisoy Soy Crisps
2 bottles Kraft salad dressing
6 cans Hunts tomatoes
1 package Morningstar Farms Chick' patties
2 boxes Ritz crackers
2 jars Bertolli spaghetti sauce

Total Befor Savings $45.04

Total savings $27.88

Total OOP $17.16


Bi-Lo
1 6-pack Pepsi Cola
1 box Chicken Helper
1 package Life Savers gummies
1 box Premium saltine crackers
1 box Southern Home saltine crackers
3 cans Chef Boyardee
2 Sparkle paper towel rolls
2 4 packs Angel Soft bath tissue
1 small pack Pampers Cruisers
1 dozen large eggs
1 Stouffer's Lasgna
1 Peppperidge Farm garlic bread
1 Pepperidge Farm lemon cake
1 can cream of mushroom soup
3 Delmont fresh fruit cups
1 bunch brocoli
1 3lb bag yellow onions
1 1lp bag carrots
1 box Bryan frozen corn dogs
1 large package split chicken breast
1 boneless tip roast
1 value pack ground chuck
1 bag tilapia fillets

Total before savings $113.21

Total savings $52.32

Total OOP $60.89

Total OOP $78.05

Total Savings $80.20

Faith

Lately, I have been journaling more on my blog more. I just recently remembered how much I used to love to journal and stopped not long after I got married. I was reminded by someone how important it is to write things down so you can see how far you come. So here are a few of my thoughts and ramblings.


Faith. It has been on my mind a lot here recently. Why is so easy to have faith in some things and so hard to have faith in others? Just today, while driving down the road, I passed under a bridge that is being constructed. I have passed underneath this bridge hundreds of times without ever thinking about it. I have faith that the people building this bridge are doing what they should and it won't collapse on my car while I drive under it. I have faith that when I ride an elevator it will take me to the top without any problems. I have faith that I will make it home and back safe every time I go out without ever a second thought. We put our faith, blind faith, in things all the time but when it comes to spiritual faith it's another story.

How can someone have faith enough to get on a plane and fly around the world but not have enough faith to believe in Jesus Christ? People accept that an explosion just created all that we see easier than believing there is a God and that He created the world in seven days. People accept things so out of the realm of our comprehension like how gravity works, keeps up standing up straight, but you can travel to somewhere towards the top or bottom of the earth and still be standing in the same direction. We can accept all that but can't except that Jesus is God's Son; he came to earth, lived a perfect life, and died on the cross to be the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.

Maybe it's because to believe in Christ, means your faith will be tested. When you believe, you become accountable for what you do and say. You have people watching you to see how you will show your faith. If you don't believe in God, then there are no consequences for your actions. Of course, that is not the case. We will all be judged one day whether you believe here on earth or not. I just think most people who don't believe are just self absorbed and really don't want to have to work for or towards anything or anyone but themselves. It’s the way we are wired, our sinful nature is all about me, self. So, if there is no belief then you don’t have to depend on someone else to meet your needs. When you believe, you have to give up control of your life. God will see what you are willing to give to Him and what you are willing to do for Him, He will test your faith.

I know what faith is, I have seen it firsthand. Maybe it makes it easier for me to believe because I have seen it. My parents had blind faith, when they moved off from home and left everyone they knew and loved behind to do what God was calling them to do. Because of their faith, I saw things growing up I wouldn't have seen otherwise. I am not saying my parents didn't work hard and that God just gave us handouts, it was just the opposite in fact. The Lord met our needs whether big or small because my parents did their part and had the faith to believe God would provide whatever we lacked. It's not always glamorous but He always gives in the way sees best. I don't have the best car or the nicest house but I am able to stay at home with my children, debt free, because I was willing to sacrifice some things in order to what the Lord wanted me to do. He has brought me opportunities to make extra money for my family several times and I have faith he will continue to do so as long as I am willing to listen and respond when talked to.

I have never had to experience life altering circumstances that really test my faith to the limit but I think those little trials and tribulations are just as meaningful. If you are never tested, how could you ever grow? If you never grew, how would your faith ever hold in the times of tremendous struggles? I still feel like I am a new Christian a lot of time because I really didn't start living for the Lord and listening to His voice until I had my children. I have a lot of head knowledge but my heart knowledge is just now starting to catch up. I know with all of my being that the Lord was calling me to do something as a teenager and I didn’t listen. I changed coarse and, in essence, changed His will for my life. I know I didn’t step out with blind faith and I took a different path. I then walked away from my faith for a while. I didn’t want to face the decision I made, so I tuned His voice out. I just now am getting back on track and listening to His voice again. I am learning to listen to that small voice and learning when to step out on faith and let the Lord to guide me in the way He deems best. It is amazing how freeing it has been just to let go and give it all to Him. I don't worry about all things that are out of my control, I have stopped playing the “what if game”, I am trying to focus on the here and now, I am working on my walk and heart, I am trying to do what He wants me to do, and looking forward to the days to come. I want to be sure, if I ever do have one of those life altering circumstances that my faith does not waver and I can have joy and peace in the storm.

A weekend with the Akins

Every year a family singing group, The Akins, comes to our church. They have been coming for about 10 years now. There is the dad, David, and his three sons, Davy, Nick, and Eli. They are grounded in The Word and in their faith, down to earth, sweet, funny, and very, very talented men. Max LOVES them! He gets so excited every time they come and very upset every time they leave. He loves them all but Nick is his special buddy.

He was so excited when I read to him from the bulletin one Sunday morning, "Do you want to spend a weekend with The Akins?" He thought he was going to get to spend the night with them and was very disappointed when I told him they would just be here for the weekend, it didn't mean he got to spend the night with them.

They were here for Friday night, Saturday night, and both Sunday services. Wesley really enjoyed the music, he clapped along with the songs, danced, and clapped at the end of each song. Max loved the music as always. After the services were over each night, Max would wait on pins and needles until they let him play their drums and guitars. Wesley loved playing the drums, as well. So much so that he pitched a huge fit one night when we had to take him off the drums to leave.

The Akins have released a new CD and it is awesome. The songs and lyrics are their best yet! They are currently working to make it to the big leagues. Their current single, I want my stage to be an altar, made it to the #8 spot on the Singing News Chart last week. They were super excited and so were we! They are such a blessing and the Lord always works in me when they come. It was a wonderful weekend full of great music and lots of laughs. We can't wait unitl next year!

Wesley singing.

Nick and Max

Max and Nick playing drums

                                     

Max doing rim shots for Nick's jokes

Wes loving the drums

Max with Eli's guitar. Eli built this guitar and another he brought with him. He is amazing!

Eli helping Max out with playing.

These boots were made for walkin'

Wesley loves shoes, loves everyones shoes. He decided to take a walk in my new ankle boots I got for Christmas. I actually was able to capture it on my new Flip video camera! Thanks Mom for the camera and Jessi for the boots!

Week one

Well, I survived the frigid temps and was actually able to stay pretty well on track. I missed one workout this week because it was planned for Thursday and since it snowed we lost one day. My sweet friend, Jen, invited me to join her at her gym on Saturday morning and we exercised together. I may just have to find a way to come up with the extra money for the gym so I can always have somewhere to run and I would really like to do some aerobics classes, as well.

The group as a whole is starting over with week one with our training program since most ladies only got one session in. Thankfully, it will be a littler bit warmer than last week. Not much better but hey, any thing above freezing is good at this point.

I did pretty well on my diet and only had one bad day. I lost 5 pounds so I can't complain! I am excited about our walk/run tonight! I think we have decided to shoot for a local 5K in April through the Chickamauga Battlefield. That should be a really good practice run for us! I am staying on track! I will do this! :)

Resolutions

I am not usually one for making resolutions mainly because I just don't stick to them and it's always the same thing, loosing weight.

I have always struggled with my weight and some years I do achieve weight loss and then of course pack the lbs right back on later. I did loose about 15 pounds last year but gained most of it back once I got off the diet I was on. It is always a constant yo-yo with me, no permanency here.

This year my resolution is to get healthy. I want to be a fun, active mom. Yes, I know I am those but I want to be fun and active in different ways. I really want my kids to have a healthy, physically active role model to look up to. I want my kids not to struggle with weight issues their entire lives. I know if they see their parents exercising they will know and understand that it has to be a part of life to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I used to go to an aerobics class I loved and did it for a couple of years, when I stopped exercising, I started packing the pounds back on. I still have never found anything I liked as well as that class to this day! I have tried and tried to exercise at home but that is just not happening with two wild boys running around, stopping my DVDs, and asking nonstop for things while I try to exercise. I would love a treadmill but I have absolutely no room in my current home for one. I have thought about the gym but we really don't have the extra money for the membership every month.

After our annual mom's night out Christmas dinner with my playgroup moms, we started talking about how miserable we all were with our current bodies. One of the girls said she loved the idea of running and how when ever you saw someone doing it, it just looked so peaceful. After much discussion on the topic we decided to start a walking/running group and plan to run our first 5K in May. We did some research and decided to go with the Couch to 5K program. It in cooperates walking and running in different time increments with more walking than running to start with, ever week you run more and walk less. You do this 3 times a week and in 9 weeks you should be running for a solid 30 minutes.

We braved the 20 degree weather for our first meeting on Monday. Rex kept telling me I was crazy but I knew I had to start or I would find another excuse why not to start! I was the slow, fat girl in the back. (I can say this about myself because it's the truth!:)) Man, I didn't really realize how bad out of shape I was, I didn't think I could make it but I did! I survived! That is an accomplishment all on it's own. I have never, ever been a runner!! I love to walk and do aerobics but run, ha!

I started back on a combination of Weight Watchers and Thrive this week. I am counting my points but still doing a low carb version of it. My body does really respond better to the whole low carb, high protein, land lots of fibrous veggies combo. I do want to loose at least 80 pounds but I really just want to be healthy. I don't want to be miserable anymore and I really want to be a mom and wife my kids and husband can be proud of. I know it's going to take a lot of hard work and patience but I will do it this year. I know my friends and I can do this together! We will accomplish this to be able to run our first marathon together!!! Keep me in your prayers because I have the world's worst will power! I know God will give me the strength to make my body the living temple it should be, healthy and strong!