Jr Coupon-er in the making

Last week I had K help me cut coupons, I was behind and needed some help. She then started asking me when we could do it again. I wonder if it is just a novel idea or a new found passion for her. You can really never tell with her. She doesn't really have very many interests; Christmas shopping is so hard for her. I buy her things just to give, throw, or hand down things in mere weeks. I wonder how she would like a set of scissors and a newspaper subscription for Christmas...

Tin Haul boots

Really loving this brand of boots. Cute, cute, cute... The down side is the price and the marketing ploy that they are for rebel cowboy teens. I just love them.

When times get tough: COUPON

I have always been a cheap skate when it comes to buying food and things for the house. I have never spent  $900 a month like a few couples have claimed on food. I have ALWAYS kept to the 100 a person rule/ more or less.
So, it all humbly began when I bought 10 pie crust on clearance sale last year after Thanksgiving. Who knew what I was going to do with them; they were just about $.50. I couldn't pass them up and I figured I would do something about the in the year. I haven't, but they have kept well in the year; I have used about 3.

From that beginning, I really started paying closer attention to the sale ads and stocking up somewhat on their sale items. My goal was to create food storage for our family.  Earlier this year, my sitter suggested that we visit a known coupon-er, Shelly, to see what she does. And so it truly began in earnest.
I now have a binder with dividers where I cut coupons, sort, and store them. I get 3 Sunday papers and print on line all the free coupons I might need. I have about4 web sites that I skim each Sunday and Tuesday. I also haggle with stores (usually Safeway they have the hardest coupon policy)

My best deals so far: Argo corn starch WO HOO .$29... makeup where they paid me .$50...

Being Patient, Be Still, Be Prayerful-Listen

As I try to weather the stormy events of our house, I keep reminding myself of all the conference talks that applied to our situation. I have been reminded strongly that I am remembered by the Lord, that he loves us all, that he knows our situation, that we are here to be better than we could imagine and with the Lord all things are possible. It is so so hard to believe that I am worth it. To have hope when it seems impossible. To humble myself and open my mind to possibilities that I didn't want before.

I use to read quotes, quips with those words in them and they really didn't mean much to me. I wanted him to love me in the direction I wanted to go. I still want things to be easy- who doesn't- but I am having faith to walk the invisible "Indiana Jones" bridge before we get to the treasure. I don't like this direction. On my low days I think we will be stuck like this. Yet, quite whisperings of encouragement help me not notice how bad it is.

Someone came to talk to me about our situation, to check in. I felt ok and told her so. Really ok. Do I HATE that our house is in the situation it is-YES!!! with millions of exclamations. But as I talked to her, I decided that I am really just embarrassed at the way we are living right now. I am not worried, or scared or hopeless-most of the time. I believed the words of hope I was giving her about us.

When this all started I told myself I know I had the strength to stand this for another year. Later, I was talking to someone about their problems and answers. I decided that if this year and trial was enough to help my hubby and myself become closer to the Lord I would gladly sacrifice my home and all that I know to be safe  to bring him and me closer -individually and as a couple- to the Lord.
As we are walking through the trial now, I don't see how we are getting closer and I am worried that my thoughts are wrong- but maybe not. We don't see the good until we look back sometimes.

So I am dedicating this problem to my hubby's growth to be closer to the Lord, to my growth, and to an example of faith and trust to others. I am having patience to wait and see the miracles and blessings this will bring us. I will be still, be prayerful and listen.

I will be amazed at the impossible out come. I know this to be true in my heart, mind, and soul.

A slaughter, a massacre on a Friday in SJ

Got home finally at 10 last night after leaving the house at 7:30 that morning. The sophomore class had concessions for the slaughter of SJ/BR game last night. I quit looking at the score at half time. It was just sad. Who knew that you could be massacred without blood. Those poor boys tried so hard.
 It was a little slaughter in the concession stands too. It really makes me realize who will go the distance and who is there to work harder at not working.

I have a respect for one girl that is just amazing; she is a true Christian among Christians, a good student, and really has things going on. No matter what her life choices are, I can see her as a success in life. I have never see a kid work so hard. It puts new faith in teens back into me

Now if I could just find the same faith in co workers- ones who say they are too busy to help and then forget what they said; show up where you are and then try to hid from you in a crowd... Really stupid.

Can you smile

So sue me, I can't stop thinking about my role and place in our current trials with this house. All other trials seem like a walk in the park in comparison. Every one has trials: small and big in life. They are the roller coaster that makes life interesting. You can't have the good without the bad-I know this to be true and in all things around us you can see how opposites are designed to be the ying and the yang of each other. So there must have been good in our life that I didn't full recognize and the good that will be coming soon.

My question now is: how to I act during the bad, the horrible so that it will be pleasing unto the Lord?  How can I be an example of faith, dedication and peace. I don't want to break down and have a fitful meltdown over this all. I want to believe the Lord has something in store for me bigger and better than I can wish, think, or hope for.

I want to be directed by the Lord in all things related to this trial. I feel like it is a turning point in my life- a moment that will define me, my character, and my relationship with both my husband and my Lord in my future. I feel this will be a point in life that I will look back upon. I want to see the memory with pride and gratitude and not shame and guilt.
 I want to ask  "Why not me- I deserve this opportunity for blessings" rather than "why me- why do I deserve this trial."

I have been urgently desiring to be "that woman" or to be growing into "that woman" . I want to be that sister at church, home, and work who is such a true and real spiritual beacon that even though my life isn't perfect that I am obviously on the right path. I want to be the matriarch in my family that is wise, good, giving, - a quiet leader in faith, peace, and true righteousness. I just didn't know how to get there- still don't really. I know what I don't want to look like, act like, and grow like. I see that in family and acquaintanceships.
While waiting for answers, I watch others I admire and try to be like them; I don't know what else to do. I read good materials both spiritual and temporal.
I practice smiling when it hurts. Today it hurts; the fear that first gripped me made it hard to hear the Lord's comfort as I prayed yesterday for what to do.
I don't know yet what to do; I am sure that this trial with be a big burden of growth and struggle. I am willing to bear it if it means my own growth and that of my hubby. How many people would sacrifice a year or so to get a set of spiritual blessings tailored to their needs. I have decided that I can and want it.

 I can smile, even if it is only a little today.

Do I have the strength for this?

I checked the mail and we got the check and reports from the insurance company. The reports were not totally accurate. In fact in one place the engineer said that we had left the water on for 6 weeks after we had discovered the leak and that is what caused most of the damage... not true so not true. That statement might be why we only got 35k for repairs.
Called the construction guy and he said he couldn't do the repairs for that much and to call the company that gave them the quote.. Funny their name doesn't appear anywhere in the reports.
Also read part of my policy and found that at initial review we only had a year to get a lawyer and that year ended last Friday... what a coincidence.  They have done a good job of dragging their feet. I really thought I was up for fighting the company but I feel like I have no ground to stand out.

Scott was really upset with me when I called him. He said I was so negative about everything. He wouldn't talk to me much about it. It was a day that I felt lost with out my dad. He would listen to all my worries and then find a way to start solving them. It was like Scott couldn't handle my worries on top of his. He was so so so grumpy all night.

Where does this leave us? I dont' know. I called a lawyer anyway and got an appointment for at least an initial review for $150... so I am going to spend the weekend on my knees because there is nothing I can do except trust the Lord and what he knows about our needs.

Can I really battle this house and the insurance company?

Does Disaster come in 3's?

We have been battling  our house for a while. They wouldn't take my calls for like a week and then magically they said they mailed a check on the 9th of September. I know exactly what happened... they didn't want to tell me what was the low amount they wrote and wanted to make sure it got here before they told me they did it. I don't know what the amount was, but I am sure I am not going to like it....

I dont' know what the next step is. I need to call our contractor and possibly  a lawyer...

Then Scott goes down for hay and gets T-boned. Truck totaled. We are so blessed again that we don't feel devastated and are not hindered by the loss. The bad thing is the insurance company is giving us the run around about who's insurance the claim will be processing on. "To speed things up" as they told Scott, they are putting it on our insurance but the girl who caused all the accident is with them too, I totally don't understand why they are doing it that way. I am getting to the bottom of this today. I am pretty sure they are giving Scott the run around.

So now what is next?

When 4.5 weeks can kill you

When you don't turn in tests on time
when you steal tests and try to cheat and get caught
when you forget to do your homework
when you show up to class very late and then have to potty for like 20 minutes
when all of your papers are falling like trails of bread crumbs behind you
when  your mom figures out the computer
when your teacher says "I told you so" in a no sorry sort of smiley voice
When you throw your papers in the trash
when  you just don't care...

Dirt in My sheets and other events at 3:38

It was 3:38 am when I finally gave up sleeping.

• there is dirt in my sheets
• scott had awoken (yes that is the correct verb conjugation: i checked)  me 2 x with 2 lights
• first to get ready to hunt
• second to get his pillow and over night bag
• a nursery rhyme and an unrelated song repeated over and over in my head while dozing
• the kitchen light was left one
• I had to go to the bathroom
• I was cold and pulled the blanket up only to discover the amount of dirt on it from kid shoes
• my day will be long
• I am thinking about running 
• my body is about 2 hours ahead of schedule: 7 pm will be ugly