Worth the Effort....

So I have this great friend named Robin (www.rolesofrobin.blogspot.com) who shares my love in bargain shopping! We love being frugal with our money and thrive on getting good deals. Robin has for some time now, been writing about her amazing deals with her use of "price-matching" and coupons. (For anyone who does not know, Wal-Mart accepts any competitor's ads and will match their prices.) She has been encouraging everyone to save ads and flyers and use them at Wal-Mart (since they already have good prices). So I took her up on the challenge. I saved my ads, went through and found deals on the groceries I needed to get, wrote my list out and shopped away!
I was blown away at my savings!
So I thought I would share as a means of encouraging others to see how much money they could save. I know you may feel like it's too much of a hassle and maybe it isn't worth the effort for you but after I saw the receipt I knew I was going to be addicted. So here is a pic of just the groceries I used price matching on. The total I spent for these items was $27.96 (and that includes 13.5 lbs of meat!):



And here are the numbers:
2lbs of Velveeta Cheese: Regular Price: $4.98 Sale:$3.99 = Savings of $0.79
(2packs)Philadelphia Cream Cheese: Regular Price: $1.23 Sale: $0.99= Savings of $0.48
Ground Beef (4.5lbs): Regular Price: $10.21 Sale: $3.55= Savings of $6.66!!!!!
(2 packs) Green Giant Vegetable Steamers Regular Price: $1.27 Sale: $0.99= Savings of $0.56
Life Cereal- Regular Price: $2.25 Sale: $1.99= Savings of $0.26
(12) Limes- Regular Price $0.22 each Sale: $0.08 = Savings of $1.65
(5lb bag) Russet Potatoes: Regular Price $2.25 Sale: $1.29= Savings of $0.96
Whole Chicken Fryer: Regular Price: $4.98 Sale $2.74= Savings of $2.24
Planters Dry Roasted Peanuts: Regular Price $2.20 Sale: $1.99= Savings of $0.21
(3Cans) Rotel: Regular Price $0.83 each Sale:$0.37 each= Savings of $1.38
And last but my favorite:
(5 lbs)Boneless/ Skinless Chicken Breasts: Regular Price: $13.98 Sale: $1.27 (lb)= Savings of $7.63!!!!
So that means if I would have paid regular price I would have spent $50.72, and I only paid $27.96 which means I saved: $22.72!!!!

So there's my attempt to encourage you to take a little time and try out price matching. I also just got a Sunday paper and went through the coupons in there so it'll be interesting to see what great deals I can get with combining price matching and coupons.
It has been really interesting learning all kinds of new responsibilities as a wife this last year and a half. And honestly I've enjoyed learning to grocery shop, cook creatively, host dinners, learn ways to save or make money, and keep a clean, inviting home.
I'm actually really thankful that the Lord gave me this role and opportunity to take care of my house and the needs of my family. Although some days I'd love to have a chef, maid and probably a nanny (for future kiddos), I'm ultimately thankful that He gives me the grace and wisdom to slowly learn what it means to model my life after Proverbs 31. Hopefully I will remember to always see these roles as opportunities for growth and joy and not simply roles I am obligated to fulfill just because.

Treasures.....

Anyone who knows me, knows I love books. Not just any books, but normally books that are very rich in theology. Most of the books I love happen to be written by very old dead guys- but not all. I have not always been a big reader- actually not until the summer after my senior year of college (2004). But since that summer, I have been addicted to books that help me see God better. Since that summer I have accumulated about 150 books on my own, and they are precious treasures to me! So my friend Brienne (www.plantedheretogrow.blogspot.com) and I decided to post our top lists of books we love. I also decided to let you in on what is currently on my future reading list- I would love to finish this stack in the next 2 years or less. But we'll see....
I just finished a great book: "God's Abundant Life" by Henry Scougal modernized by Steve Hanchett. This book is an updated version of "The Life of God in the Soul of Man". The book was great but I think I'm going to read the original and just use Hanchett's version as a stepping stone. Sometimes when someone "updates" a book, things get lost and I do not want to miss out on any of Scougal's thoughts.
I am currently reading two books that I would already recommend: "The Silent and Soft Communion: The Spiritual Narratives of Sarah Pierpont Edwards and Sarah Prince Gill", by McCulley and Baker. I am also reading "Heaven A Far Better Place" by Eryl Davies.
So with no further ado Here is my top list of books I have read over the years that I would recommend: (I tried to make it a top ten list and just couldn't get it down any further) haha.



14."Living Holiness" by Helen Roseveare

13. "Rachel's Tears"- The Spiritual Journey of Columbine Martyr Rachel Scott

12. "A Chance to Die"- The Life of Amy Carmichael by Elizabeth Elliot

11. "Power Through Prayer" by E.M. Bounds

10. "The Pursuit of God"- by A.W. Tozer

9. "A Hunger for God"- by John Piper

8. "The Believer's Joy" by Robert Murray McCheyne

7. "Don't Waste Your Life" by John Piper

6. "Stepping Heavenward"- Journals of Elizabeth Prentiss

5. "The True Christian's Love" by Thomas Vincent

4. "True Discipleship" by William McDonald

3. "Because We Love Him" by Clyde Cranford- I have now read this book 4 times all the way through and hope to read it at least four more times before I die. Absolutley priceless to me.

2. "Knowledge of the Holy" by A.W. Tozer- by far the most effective and challenging book in the way I see God- I think every Christian should read this book.

1. "Valley of Vision" A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions by Arthur Bennett- I have also read this little book at least four times all the way through. This little treasure is what I read before I open my Bible during my time with the Lord. It is matchless in preparing my soul to meet and love God. This book is a springboard for worship.

Now here are the stacks which I hope to devour in the next two years:


I would love to hear anyone else's fav's- so feel free to leave me a comment.

"When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments." 2 Timothy 4:13

Ok, Ok, so I've shown a really pathetic commitment to blogging but I'm going to try to make a come back. Thank you Brienne for your patience and encouragment!

I have a million things I want to write about but fortunatley for you, I've shortened the list.

First of all I just want to begin this post by saying I am extremely proud of Jase! He graduated from seminary last month and not only finished but finished well. He makes it so easy to be a proud and grateful wife.

In light of graduation we have really been spending a lot of time talking and praying about the future. We are so ready to start pouring our lives into international students, and I am so hungry to really disciple some other hungry girls. There are times when I feel like I want to explode, but I quickly remember there are reasons why we are right where we are right now. Someone at church asked me this morning if I was disappointed that our plans for Memphis were not coming along as quickly as I was hoping they would, and I thought -some days yes, but most of the time God lets me remember not to be disappointed in anything that He has ordained. I need to be ready to rejoice even if it means sitting in the waiting room for a long time. He has always been so gracious and faithful to us that it would be hard, much less ignorant to question His purposes now. We are thankful for whatever He decides to do with us, and whenever He decides to do it.

Last weekend we decided to get away for a few days to really spend some time with the Lord so we stayed at a little lodge in Granbury. We spent most of the time just reading and praying and it was such a blessing to my soul, and I think to our marriage as well. While we were there we had some guests who just refused to stay away....

We did feed them a couple times after they showed up and jason even managed to teach them to jump and eat from his hand or catch it in mid air. It really was a lot of fun...
The lodge we stayed at was great, as well as cheap which just made it that much greater. We had this nice view....




So it really was a great weekend and we were thankful for the intimate time we were able to spend with the Lord.

Also wanted to show my latest "trash to treasure" project-
We were driving one day and saw four of these ugly chairs on the side of the road just waiting for the dumpster to pick them up- but since they were in great shape structurally I decided I would try to save them- so the before shot....

then after a little painting and "distressing"- it now has a "shabby chic" style...



Well this post became fairly long unintentionally so I'll go ahead and save the rest of my ramblings for later.