Random pics of my three

My buddies. I marvel at God's goodness.

Imagination Library

Two years ago, I signed Andrew up for the Imagination Library (IL). IL exists to help promote reading among children under age five. To read how your child can receive a free book each month, click here. Pictured below are a few of the books Andrew has received. His bookshelf contains two years of books and still has six months of free books to come!


Thanks, Becky, for reminding me how awesome this program is.

Unclaimed baggage

I enjoy meeting new people at church. Being that we live in a large city with a military base, visitors in church are very common. When I see a new face, I don't hesitate to sit and introduce myself and then ask them a few questions such as, "Are you new to (this city)?, Where's home for you?, How long will you be living here?, Have you learned your way around yet?"...etc, etc, etc. Today, I met a lady from Scottsboro, Alabama. The first thing that popped out of my mouth when she said her hometown name was, "Oh, that's were you can buy items from people's unclaimed baggage, right?". She laughed and said yes.


So, if you're like me, I went directly to their website and browsed around. There's some pretty unique stuff that people left behind. Maybe they left some of these items unclaimed on purpose! There's also some normal things that are priced lower than regular retail.

Ok, ok....click here to visit the unclaimed baggage store 'cause you know you're now curious.

LE slippers for cheap!

It's getting cold. It's almost time to turn on the heat in the house. ALMOST.

I've been wearing the same 'ole pair of slippers for about three years. Yeah, I know....most of you have pairs that are way older than that. I wear mine every minute that I'm at home (which is alot) so they don't last very long. They take out the trash with me, catch juice droplets at the refrigerator door, get wet when a child upchucks on them, and get a bath every night when splashing and laughing with the kids in the tub. I don't like that my slippers are open-toe causing my feet to catch a draft and stay cold during the autumn and winter. Don't likey.

Then, I saw this post and new it was a way to get some good quality slippers for a low price. Don't you like them? My feet and toes are very appreciative.
Cozy....warm....book...cup of joe....zzzzzzz

Free taco?

Click here to see how you can get a free taco at Taco Bell during the World Series. Go Tampa Bay Rays!

Canceled MySpace

I officially canceled my MySpace page. Just wanted to let friends and family know in case they can't find me in their FRIEND page.

I prefer Facebook so you can find me there (if not here, or on email, or on my cell - but NOT on Twitter).

Homemade playdough

Want to make your own playdough? Click here for one of the easiest recipes I've found yet.

If you want to paint your masterpiece and make it permanent, click here for another recipe involving salt.

BOOK: Whiter than Snow

Remember when I mentioned that my husband is a book nerd? Well, I'm so glad he is. We have similar tastes in what we like to read so it's very normal for me to pick up a book from his night stand or book rack to see what he is reading, just read, or is gonna read soon. Last night, I opened the book, Whiter Than Snow, by Paul David Tripp. Wow. Wow. Wow. Can I just share a little of what I read and why I'm gonna savor every word written within?

I wish I would live with You in view;
Eyes to Your glory
Ears for Your wisdom
Heart for Your grace.
But I live with me in view.
Eyes to my kingdom
Ears for my opinion
Heart captured by my will.
I know I was made for You,
I know that Hope
Meaning
Purpose
Identity
My agenda for everyday,
Is to be found in You.
But I want my own kingdom
I love my own glory
I define my own meaning
I delight in my control.
There's a war that never ends;
The battleground is my heart.
It's a moral skirmish
Between what you have ordained
And what I want.
So I don't find pleasure in Your glory,
I don't delight in Your law.
But my heart doesn't rest,
I know there's a better way.
I know you are God
And I am not.
My sin is more than
Bad behavior
A bad choice
Wrong words.
My sin is a violation of the relationship
That I was meant to have with You.
My sin is an act
Where I replace You
With something I love more.
Every wrong thing I do
Reflects
A lack of love for You,
Reflects
A love of self.
Help me
To see
To acknowledge
To weep
And say,
"Against You, You only have I sinned
And done what is evil in Your sight."
And then help me to rest
In Your mercy
In Your great compassion
In Your unfailing love,
Even as the war goes on.

For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
Psalm 51:16

It reminds me a little of the puritan prayers in the book The Valley Of Vision, except written in our everyday language. The poems in the book capture the depravity of my heart and are good reminders of how desperately I need a Savior. So glad there is one...Jesus. I am his and He is mine. To God be the glory.

How to make your own envelope

I thought this tutorial was easy and cool. Once I run out of envelopes, I'm gonna get busy making my own. I love sending snail mail (and I love getting it * hint-hint*).

Happy patch

Abigail enjoyed the visiting the pumpkin patch this morning. She might just end up being a great farmer's wife.

Happy anniversary, Babe.

Yes, I'm a day late but....

Happy 9th anniversary, Mitch!
You're my favorite person in the whole wide world.

If you need reminding of how crazy in love I am with this man, click here.

CC, I think it's time

CC, I think it's time.
Wanna shake on it?

Walgreens $5 off $20, Oct. 17-18

Whoopie! It's another coupon! I actually didn't use the last two coupons WAGS offered but it was good to know they were available if I needed a large quantity of last minute items. This would be an even sweeter deal if I could wait around near the end of each month to use it on the "free after rebate" items.

Anywhooooooo.....

Click here to print your coupon to Walgreens for $5 off $20 purchase, good on Friday, Oct. 17, and Saturday, Oct 18 only.

Bento box

I want to get the boys a Bento Box to pack their school lunches in. I can't seem to find very many kid-friendly ones that are masculine. Most of the ones being sold are geared toward girls (Hello Kitty). I think it would encourage healthier eating and smaller portions. Anyone ever tried the Bento Box method?

I MIGHT switch

I'm thinking of switching blog readers (RSS feed). I currently use Bloglines and have enjoyed it, until recently. I originally used the old version of Bloglines but switched a month ago when I discovered their new BETA version. Now, I am constantly having to log out and log back in in order to read my feeds. The refresh button doesn't make a difference and I am always getting error messages. Ugh.

I am still undecided but Google Reader is looking more attractive everyday.

What reader do you use?
Got any suggestions?

By the way, I am almost certain I'm going to delete my MySpace account. It's useless to me. Shhhh! I know I've just stepped on some toes. I prefer Facebook. Who needs two social accounts? I ain't the energy. See, I can't even write a complete sentence!

Free tall capp. at B&N

Click here to print a coupon for a free tall cappuccino at Barnes & Noble (a Starbucks counter), good until October 31. Thanks to Free 2Be Frugal for this awesome news.

Ugly People

Well, I don't normally "forward" emails (isn't that what everyone says?) nor do I usually pass along what I read (I usually quickly hit delete - sorry, friends), but my friend, Kim P., sent the below funny story to me and it made me crack up. Hope you do, too!

A bus carrying only ugly people crashes into an oncoming truck, and everyone inside dies. As they stand at the Pearly Gates waiting to enter Paradise and meet their maker, God decides to grant each person one wish because of the grief they have experienced.

They're all lined up, and God asks the first one what the wish is. "I want to be gorgeous," and so God snaps His fingers, and it is done.

The second one in line hears this and says "I want to be gorgeous too" Another snap of His fingers and the wish is granted.

This goes on for a while with each one asking to be gorgeous, but when God is halfway down the line, the last guy in the line starts laughing.

When there are only ten people left, this guy is rolling on the floor, laughing his head off.

Finally, God reaches this last guy and asks him what his wish will be. The guy eventually calms down and says:

"Make 'em all ugly again."

NEXT TIME YOU'RE LAST IN LINE. BE HAPPY

Artsy baby

Looks like we have birthed another art lover (or could it be she's just a product of her environment?). At least she's not eating the crayons in this picture. "No eat, Abble. Yucky, yucky!". "Abble" is our nickname for her since the boys have a hard time saying all three syllables quickly.

Seriously, Abigail enjoys standing in a chair at the kitchen table and coloring on any piece of paper on which she can see her strokes.

Wordless Wednesday

Free digital photos

Besides the shipping costs, I don't think I've paid for the majority of my pictures in the past few months. I take LOTS of pictures and then wait eagerly by the mailbox for them to arrive so I can organize them and prepare them for my monthly scrapbooking crop (which is this Friday, by the way. I'm so excited!).

Do you have lots of digital prints stored up on your camera or computer that you've yet to have printed? Don't let the Internet scare you. Download them to an online service and receive them in your mailbox in a matter of days. I know, I know.....you like the instant gratification of Walmart or Sam's, huh? Bet you spent more money than me......

Believe me, it's easy. I prefer York and Snapfish but I will venture out in order to spend less money, of course, without compromising the quality. Now, both of these online services offer great deals to members (membership is free to all of these online services) here and there but you can't pass up the free prints offered to new members on various other sites.

Ok, enough talk type. Thanks to MoneySavingMethods, you can click here to read all of the other free online photo printing offers. Hurry!