God's Word- He is Our Protector!

Psa 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; I will fear no one. The LORD protects me from all danger; I will never be afraid.
Psa 27:2 When evil people attack me and try to kill me, they stumble and fall.
Psa 27:3 Even if a whole army surrounds me, I will not be afraid; even if enemies attack me, I will still trust God.
Psa 27:4 I have asked the LORD for one thing; one thing only do I want: to live in the LORD's house all my life, to marvel there at his goodness, and to ask for his guidance.
Psa 27:5 In times of trouble he will shelter me; he will keep me safe in his Temple and make me secure on a high rock.
Psa 27:6 So I will triumph over my enemies around me. With shouts of joy I will offer sacrifices in his Temple; I will sing, I will praise the LORD.

January's Grocery Budget- How Did We End Up?

I told you earlier about, how I fell of the wagon for a while with my grocery deals...

And how this month, I was asked by my hubby to start back doing 'the deals' again. I knew it was time. Our grocery budget was normally $70. or less per week for our family of 6. And at the end of this year, we were over $100. and more towards $130. on average weeks. And that was using some coupons, but not really trying hard to find the BEST deals.

Well, working at finding the best deals is worth it! In the end, my average per week for groceries, was $70. Which is where I was when I 'fell off the wagon' before. In the month of January, my first month back to 'deal shopping', I spent $284.71 for 284 items! That is $1 per item! Considering, each week I buy 6-7 gallons of milk ($2.29 ea), 3 gallons of Soy milk ($2.95 ea), and diapers ($8.99 on sale), I think my average is pretty decent!

And in fact, my goal for up coming months, is even LOWER. I had a high goal of $380. for January, which is a little higher than I wanted it to be, but I was getting back into the 'groove'. Heck, I still had over $95. to spend! :)

So, my goal for February is $285. I am hoping to get lower than that. My goal for March (as of right now) is $280. Then when Spring hits and I start being able to produce some garden vegetation, I am going to slowly start to lower my budget again. I am also planning on canning and freezing lots of garden veggies, so this will bring my grocery bill down even more!

On our small farm, we are going to be getting some meat chickens, a cow (for meat), more egg laying chickens, turkeys, and we will have goats for milk. We already have a freezer full of venison from my hubby this last Fall. I am hoping our budget can drop even more than I am planning. I am hoping at the end of the summer, I will only be spending $200. per month. So in August and September (5 shopping weeks) I will only have $40 to spend on my family of 6!

One thing that may help in that equation is that I am planning on having my littlest one potty trained... We shall see how THAT goes! :)

I am excited again, to be working on reducing our grocery budget. I am going lower than we have even gone before, and I am excited about it!

We have some other areas we are looking to apply that $$ to. We are hoping in a year from now to take our kids to Florida and go to Disney. We are of course doing this in the most economical way possible! More on THAT later! We are also starting the process of adoption. We would LOVE to add a little girl to our mostly masculine family. And unfortunately, to place a child in a good and loving home, is very expensive.

But, I think we can do this. So far, God is leading the way. And I pray that we continue to follow in His footsteps.

So, are you on a grocery budget? How did you do this month??? What changes are you planning on making for the future???

Back on Budget for the New Year

Late Fall of last year, I lost my coupon holder that I take tot he stores with me. There was about $45 in ECBs fro CVS, my CVS card, my Kroger card, majorly good coupons, and much more that just couldn't be replaced. I was SICKENED...

SO for the next several months, I didn't do much with coupons. My budget for the 6 of us went from $70 a week, to $110+. I was failing miserably. On top of that, more money was going out in improvements on our barn and fencing, and new animals! So money was quickly escaping our bank account.

At Christmas time, my hubby asked (nicely) when I was going to start couponing again. We were saving so much money, and we needed to try to do that again! So reluctantly (and sadly) I started to regroup and visit some of my old favorite sites for money saving. I also downloaded a spreadsheet to my computer to help track my savings. I gave my self a $380. budget for the month (about $95. per week), just to take it easy on myself.

Well, with a little over a week left in this month (1 shopping trip left), my total for the month has been $206.88 for 198 items ( diapers, soy milk, 6-7 gallons milk per week, etc)! The first week of January, I visited Aldi's which I always hate to do, because you don't use coupons, there are no "sales" and I always spend so much! I can definitely get things cheaper shopping sales/ coupons. So next month, I may shop Aldi's for the milk and maybe VERY FEW other thing, but not like I did this month.

I think I can get the total even lower next month if I really try. And I am going to really try!

If you'd like to see what I do to save money, go HERE. Also visit some of the Money Saving sites that I have listed on the left.

Another thing I am really working at this year is taking our food supply up to the next level AND paying a lot LESS. We are getting more chickens (we don't pay anything for feed, money for selling eggs pays for their food and for tithing). FREE EGGS! We are going to raise meat chickens this year, and turkeys. We are also increasing the size of our garden, with lots of Heirloom plants (which means we can save the seeds from year to year, which also saves us $$$!). The more we are able to produce and possibly sell on the farm, the more we save on our own food budget!

What are you doing to save money this year?

Swagbucks

If you haven't seen me post on this, GREAT! If you have, I hope this is a reminder of a great, FREE tool that you can use to earn loot!

This Christmas, we got a good deal on a Wii (yes, we are a little behind the times, but we didn't pay as much as people did last year!) for the boys. But the accessories and games can be expensive! And if they aren't expensive, they are few are far between to find anything good.

So we had been doing searches through our Swagbucks tool bar. It is so easy, and I usually have no trouble finding what I need to find, because they use Google and Ask.com. The really great part about the searches then is you can win "Swagbucks" which you can use to purchase anything from gift cards to other prizes. I have used mine to purchase Amazon.com e-gift cards.

This Christmas, I was able to get extra accessories and games with my Amazon.com e-gift cards! Woot! I even had enough that I am now saving for a new set of stainless steel pots and pans through Amazon.com. I can't wait!

If you are interested, all you have to give them is your name and e-mail! Then you can download the free toolbar (the easiest way to do searches) or you can just click into Swagbucks each time.

***Actually right now they seem to be giving an abundance of Swagbucks away, so if you already have Swagbucks, remember to do your searches through them! We have been getting 4 or more Swagbucks a day!***

Freebies!

Here are 2 favorite freebies today:

Gold Bond Ultimate Hand Sanitizer Moisturizer

- This is alcohol-free plus has 7 hydrating moisturizers!

Thanks Money Saving Mom!

Free Kotex Pads (Variety pack!)

- I love getting samples of these, they are great to throw in your purse!

Thanks Freebies for Mom!

Free Disney Tickets

Check out my post HERE on how you can do something good, and earn a voucher for free tickets to Disney! Great thing for the whole family!

Challenge for Today

Matthew 5:3 (from the Message Bible)~

"You are blessed when you are at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. "

Ever notice THAT is when we call out to God the most? When we are at the end of our rope? That is the time when we realize how much we need Him. Let's make it a habit of calling out to Him BEFORE we get to the end of our rope, thanking Him for all of the blessings in your life and for His mercy and grace in our lives.

Long Break!

Ducks from our farm on a COLD January morning!

Thanksgiving & Christmas are hugely hectic times around this household, and throw a birthday and a mini-farm in there, and we have a BUSY SEASON!

But now, I am back. Hopefully to be post a few times a week. More of the household tips, money saving ideas and links, on being a mom and wife, and more from the Bible. I hope to see you all back here very soon!

To see some of the stuff I have been doing, and some new animals we have on our farm, so HERE.

Cleaning for the Holidays! The Bathroom!

Last week we cleaned our living room, and I did too! My son, Caden and I took everything off of shelves and dusted everything (Ah-CHOO!). We swept under all furniture, and swept down cobwebs, wiped down all of those little milk spots (from a little Mister's bottles...) on our leather furniture... But in the end, it all go done. This morning you can't tell much, but once the floor (the boy's blankets and Legos!) is cleaned up, it looks a LOT better... Everything in it's place!

This week, is our Bathroom. If you have more than one, you can focus on your MAIN bathroom, or all of them! I have one (finished!) bathroom, so I will focus on that! Here is a list of things I am going to make sure I cover:

• Spray down the outside and inside of toilet, sink & tub. Scrub down!!! If you are using one rag, start with the sink first. Then go to the tub, THEN the toilet. Washing the rag thoroughly with HOT water each time. You don't want to carry the germs from the toilet to your sink! YUCK!
• Do your cupboards need a good cleaning/ organizing? OH, buddy... Mine needs a good organizing! With 4 little boys digging in the cupboards all the time, it gets a little disorganized! Clean where you keep your toothbrushes!
• Wash the walls! Our walls get all steamed up, and then cool down. When the toilet flushes and the lid is up, there are little particles that go into the air and can land on your walls and such.... I know, YUCK! Scrub 'em down! Scrub down cupboard fronts. Dust!
• Scrub the floor! Scrub around the toilet LAST. Work from the opposite side of the room from the toilet, work toward the toilet. That way, you don't spread those germs from around the toilet to the rest of the floor.
• Clean the door handles and light switches! These are touched the most in your bathroom, make sure they get a good cleaning!
• Need to replace bulbs? Replace ANYTHING? DO it this week!

Along with getting ready for Thanksgiving, I will focus sometime on cleaning the bathroom. You KNOW if you have people over, everyone will hit the bathroom a few times! Make sure it is clean and ready for guests! Make sure you have enough T.P. out, and soap by the sink.

Join me! Let's clean that bathroom!

Ready for the Holidays- Clean-up Living Room!

So, last week I skipped out on my Clean-up of my Entry Area. I will definitely be coming back to it though.... I had a sick kid and the week filled up with "stuff" really quick. But, this week is my Living Room Week!

You can participate if you would like, but this is just something I like to make sure is done before the Holidays!

Living Room

This week I will be:

• First, do a "general" clean-up. Then, go to "spot cleaning".
• Take everything off of shelves, dust! When I go to put things back, does this really belong here? Maybe Re-arrange!
• Look through all of my free magazine collection, and weed out what I don't NEED anymore. The rest put back away, nicely in a basket.
• Move all furniture, sweep under! Move furniture how I am going to want it when we get our Christmas tree. So it will be all ready to go!
• Anything doesn't belong in the living room? Get it out! This is the week!
• Wash blankets and pillows on couches.
• Clean-out/ Straighten-up CD/ DVD collections.
• What do the windows look like? Clean 'em! Do curtains and/ or blind need a cleaning? Do it!
• Get rid of all cob-webs!
• No toys in the living room but baby toys. Clean out baby toy collection, clean the toys.
• Anything need fixing? Fix it?
• Light bulbs need replaced? Replace 'em!

My Goal: Not for a perfectly cleaned home, but for a cozy home that is less maintenance in the future months. I don't want to have people over and wish I had thought about cleaning the cobwebs!

Update on how everything went on Friday!

Our Reminder...

Titus 3:1 Remind your people to submit to rulers and authorities, to obey them, and to be ready to do good in every way.

3:2 Tell them not to speak evil of anyone, but to be peaceful and friendly, and always to show a gentle attitude toward everyone.

3:3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, and wrong. We were slaves to passions and pleasures of all kinds. We spent our lives in malice and envy; others hated us and we hated them.

3:4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior was revealed,

3:5 he saved us. It was not because of any good deeds that we ourselves had done, but because of his own mercy that he saved us, through the Holy Spirit, who gives us new birth and new life by washing us.

3:6 God poured out the Holy Spirit abundantly on us through Jesus Christ our Savior,

3:7 so that by his grace we might be put right with God and come into possession of the eternal life we hope for.

God is SO good. Don't be afraid to remind YOURSELF & OTHERS!

Our God is Awesome!

(Psa 24:1) The world and all that is in it belong to the LORD; the earth and all who live on it are his.

(Psa 24:2) He built it on the deep waters beneath the earth and laid its foundations in the ocean depths.

(Psa 24:3) Who has the right to go up the LORD's hill? Who may enter his holy Temple?

(Psa 24:4) Those who are pure in act and in thought, who do not worship idols or make false promises.

(Psa 24:5) The LORD will bless them and save them; God will declare them innocent.

(Psa 24:6) Such are the people who come to God, who come into the presence of the God of Jacob.

(Psa 24:7) Fling wide the gates, open the ancient doors, and the great king will come in.

(Psa 24:8) Who is this great king? He is the LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, victorious in battle.

(Psa 24:9) Fling wide the gates, open the ancient doors, and the great king will come in.

(Psa 24:10) Who is this great king? The triumphant LORD ---he is the great king!

Ready for the Holidays- Clean-up!

As we all know, the holidays can produce a LOT of stress. Especially if we are hosting an event or 2... This year, as in the last couple, I am hosting my family's Thanksgiving AND Christmas. Which, I DO love to do! But, if I don't plan ahead, I could get a little stressed out. I want to focus on the REASON for the holidays, not focusing on me and how much I have to do!

So, starting next week, and each week up until Christmas, I am choosing a room in my home, and I am turning it upside down, and then turning it right side up again, so it will be ready for company this holiday season.

Here is my clean-up line-up:

• Nov. 9-13 Entry Area ( This is the clutter area in my house! I want this to be a warm & inviting welcome spot in my home!)
• Nov. 16-20 Living Room (This just needs a GOOD cleanin...)
• Nov. 23-27 Bathroom ( I know this is the week of Thanksgiving, but I am assigning the bathroom to this, because it was the smallest job! I think I can do this in 2 or 3 days!)
• Nov. 30- Dec. 4 Bedrooms ( I have a few kid's rooms to go through and rid out, and my room could probably use a good cleaning too.)
• Dec. 7-11 Kitchen/ Dining Area ( For me, these 2 rooms are the same area. And it could really use a good straightening up!)
• Dec. 14-18 Outside ( If you haven't decorated or even cleaned up your outside area, now is the time to do it. At this time, I will probably add a few winter items outside, and make sure everything is in Christmas condition!)

So, that my friends, is my plans for cleaning up! If you would like to join me in clean-up, I would love it! You can link up in the comments area. But Mondays, I will show you a before pic, and on Fridays, I will post an after pic.

Now that I have the cleaning planned out, now to look at the Thanksgiving Meal... Mmmm! Can't wait! See you Monday, so I can start cleaning!

Have You Tried Swagbucks?

So far, I have bought over $70 in Amazon.com gift cards, and I have more Swag yet to use!!!

Check it out, click on the pic above...

Tropical Traditionsl Virgin Coconut Oil, WINNER!!!

We have a winner for our Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil giveaway, and it is........

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

48 

Timestamp: 2009-10-30 17:21:26 UTC

Ms Mel!!!

Congratulations!!!

I Love This Gift from My Son

One thing that I hold very close to my heart is this picture given to me from my 8 year old son...

He earned it from his Bible class in (public) school. And he gave it to me, because he "just knew I would love it". And I do! It's in a little metal frame, and obviously it is of Jesus... And best of all, whenever I look at it, I know that my first born son, gave it to me, because he knows I love Jesus!

What do you love today?

Go HERE to see more things that people LOVE!

Christmas Break is only 6 Weeks Away...

...my son informs me the other day. 6 WEEKS? I haven't even BEGAN to prepare! That is when I thought of something I am always curious about and also motivated by...

When are YOU ready for Christmas?

Like when are you finished gift shopping and finished decorating, wrapping gifts, etc?

Take our poll, and we can see what others have to say also!

New Look!

Yes, if you've been here before, you probably noticed the new look of this blog! Oh man, I found a great little place to find cute shabby chic decoration for your blog... shabbyblogs.com. So, I am so proud of myself, I got this cute background picked out, I install it. I go into the template choices on blogger and I change it, so my header color would be different. BIG MISTAKE. All of the work I had previously put into making my blog a 3 column blog went right out the window... Arrg!

So, if you have never messed with HTML's and such on a blog, then this conversation is pretty boring, but let me just say a LOT of super hard work was flushed in the 1 second it took to click on a button. And I was slightly frantic, to say the least!

So I went to work! And after over 3 hours hard work, I think I can live with what I came up with. If you like it, please let me know!

I also have to tell you, I just COULD NOT figure out why there was one certain problem happening and I could NOT fix it (I will spare you the long and boring details). I looked over my work like 10 times, I changed some numbers around... Did a little tweaking here and there... but NOTHING! I was so frustrated! That's when I stopped and prayed. Yes, I prayed about the LOOKS of my blog, and that God would help me figure out the problem. I took a walk and checked in on my boys, all asleep and snuggled in their beds. When I came back, I did a little changing of a few things that I hadn't tried before, and WA-LA! It worked! Within 1 minute of sitting back down at my computer! I nearly cried, and then I thanked my AWESOME God, who sees no request too small.

So, if you get nothing else from this entry (especially with all of the crazy HTML talk), please remember, no request is too small for God! Especially when you BELIEVE He will actually do it for you. Because my friends, He CAN do ANYTHING! He can move mountains, and He can fix blogs! We serve an awesome God! =) Am I right?!

Lots more fun stuff coming up! Keep checkin' back!