4K, Here We Come!

Tomorrow is Tristan's first official day of 4K (four year old kindergarten for those who don't know the lingo). ;) He is SO excited. He has literally been counting down the days (and hours) until school starts.

Last Friday, we went to the school to meet his teacher and see his classroom. We were all impressed. Tristan's teacher is super sweet and seems eager to see the kids learn. As a mom and teacher, I LOVE that! She seems to be very organized and gave us a list of the objectives the kids will be learning between now and December and then between January and May. Again, I was impressed.

I can't tell you how much it warms my heart to see that Tristan has a teacher who genuinely seems to love children and seeing them learn. You would think that would be a prerequisite in order to teach, but sadly, it's not. Through the four and half years he has gone to school, we have had a couple of teachers who seemed to not enjoy their jobs. That always made me sad, and I even thought about pulling him out of school a couple of times. Each time I decided to do so, God would show me that Tristan was in the best place. He would even send "helper teachers" that would balance the others out.

Tristan's class this year is also full of friends. He has several of his friends from his previous years of school, as well as a super sweet kid we love from his soccer team, and one of his oldest friends from our neighborhood. He really has a great group of sweet kids this year. Praise God!

So tomorrow's the first day. Let the fun begin!

Honest Couponing?

I just stopped by one of my most favorite frugal blogs, Keeping the Kingdom First. Alyssa has published a really great post written by Dana of Frugal in Virginia about honest couponing and using God's principles as we shop and take advantage of deals. I strongly encourage everyone to read it, especially if you're a frugal shopper. Many of the things she mentions in her post are specific things that God has been speaking to me over the past couple of weeks.
I trust that you will find it as helpful, convicting, and encouraging as I did!

Honest Couponing

Dana, if you read this, thank you for being such a great role model for the rest of us!

Prophesy to the Bones

Last night as I was preparing dinner, I turned on Joyce Meyer (I took a mini break from watching the Olympics because they were doing re-plays). About a year or so ago, I became a huge Joyce Meyer fan. For so long, I refused to watch her because what I had seen of her made me think she was harsh and critical. Once I actually sat down and watched her teach, I knew I was wrong. She is an awesome teacher of the Word. I respect her so much and can relate to her because I feel like I sometimes deal with the same struggles she has overcome.

Last night's lesson was one of the best I've heard from her. It was a powerful lesson on what God can do in my life. I'll share just a couple of the things she said because I can't remember all of it.

She was talking about how many people pray to God to change their circumstances but they never speak any life over themselves. They pray for God to help them financially, with their families, to be healed, better jobs, etc, but after they're done praying, they say stuff like, "Oh, I'll always be sick." Or, "I'll never be able to eat anything but hamburgers. I'll never be able to afford to buy steaks." She said that when you do that, not even God can help you because you keep talking Him out of it. You have NO faith! She said that she's not a "name it claim it" person (which I really respect). She said she thinks that's weird and doesn't believe in that (and gave examples of people doing that sort of thing); however, she said what you speak determines so much. She gave these examples from the Bible:

She used Romans 4 and the story of how Abraham came to be the father of many nations. She taught of how he was told, when it seemed impossible, that he would be the father of many nations...when he had NO children. Romans 4:17 says, "As it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations." he is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed-the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.

The highlighted verse is one that she directly pointed out. God called this into Abraham's life. It had not happened yet, but it was called into his life as if it had already happened. We must do the same! If you want to be healthy, don't walk around always talking about how sick you are! Speak words of life and words of health over yourself. If you want to be more stable financially, don't walk around talking about how it will never happen!

Joyce also quoted this amazing story from scripture as an example of the power of words:
Ezekiel 37:1-9: The hand of the Lord was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. he asked me, "Son of man, can these bones live?"
I said, "O Sovereign Lord, you alone know.
Then He said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!' This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord."
So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.
Then He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.'" So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet-a vast army.

The Lord told him to "prophesy over the bones"; to speak life over them. Joyce said that if he could raise a dead army with the power of his words, we can certainly speak life and God's Word over our bodies and our circumstances! We don't have to settle for mediocre lives. So why do we? Why do I? Why do I continue to see the worst and expect it to always be that way? Today I am going to go the other route. I am going to speak words of life over myself, my family, my friends, our circumstances... I am going to trust God and believe that He can and will do what He says He can do.

Today Joyce is doing part two of this amazing lesson. To watch yesterday's lesson (because she explains it WAY WAY better than I just did), click the link:

Your Words and Your Future- Pt 1- Viewer's Choice #1

Your Words and Your Future- Pt 2- Viewer's Choice #1

After watching yesterday's lesson, I know why this is the #1 viewer's choice. It's really really great! I strongly encourage you to watch these lessons, especially if you struggle at all with the words you speak and the expectations you have of your life. It will take 20 minutes of your life (each lesson) but will give you so much more!!!

$25 CVS Giftcard Giveaway

The Newlyweds blog is giving away a $25 CVS gift card. Check out her post for all the details. Think of the damage you could do with $25 at CVS!!!

The Savin' Mavin is doing a $25 CVS gift card giveaway too! Check it out for all the details!

Random Thoughts

I thought I would try something new today. I'm going to share some of the random thoughts and questions I've had this morning and over the past couple of days. So, here they are. Oh and a little disclaimer, they're not necessarily deep thoughts or philosophical. Just random, weird thoughts...

I have loved watching the Olympics this year. The athletes, their stories, and their God-given abilities are incredibly inspiring. I've never enjoyed an Olympic season like this one.

I have a hard time coping with the athletes who don't get gold, especially those that look really nervous before they perform. I had a super tough time with one of the 100 meter sprinters from Jamaica over the weekend. He looked SO nervous before he ran, he lost to a guy who seemed really arrogant, and he looked heart-broken. I worried about him for two days!

Is Michael Phelps part fish? I mean, seriously. Is he? Has anyone checked? That guy is INCREDIBLE! He is no human. The guy has got to have gills somewhere.

Is the scrunchy back? A great majority of the female Olympic athletes wear them. Do they even sell them in stores anymore, or is they made specially for Olympic athletes? I haven't rocked a scrunchy in many years. I was just wondering if I should be running to Wal-Mart.

A night out with a friend, minus the hubby and kids, is needed more than I realized! I had dinner with a great friend last night and was reminded of how I need to do that more often. Friends and personal time should be more of a priority for me. I must make time. I'm a better wife, mom and friend for it.

Asher can say so many things these days. He never ceases to amaze me.

Tristan's school actually starts next week. I can't believe it! For so long, it seemed a ways away, now it's just days. He can't wait.

Kobe Bryant is fluent in Italian and Spanish (and who knows how many other languages). Who knew?

Charles Barkley has a really embarrassing golf swing, and he's coming out with a golf show. I will have to watch that!

I missed Sunday's service at church and am sad about it. I heard it was really great. I tried to watch it online but ran into trouble. When will I find a spare 30 minutes to watch it?

Is it bad to tell people how much you love your makeup? Because I do. I think it's fantastic. But if I came up to you and said, "Wow. I really like my new mineral makeup." Would you think, "Wow. Thanks for letting me know because I've been wanting to try that out. Now I know I shouldn't." Is it one of those things? I'm going to confess right here... I've thought that before when someone has told me how much they love their makeup. That's BAD!!! I'm not proud of it. Or do you think, "Man, she sure is conceited. She's bragging about how pretty she thinks she is." Just wondering.
On this note...thanks, Lindsay, for pointing me in the right direction! I LOVE it!

I really really want to use my $2/$10 CVS coupon. It STINKS that they don't want me to.

That's all I can think of right now. Do you have any random thoughts you want to share???

Sad Day for Me and My CVS Plans

This morning, I happened across an awesome blog, The Homemakers Resource. As I was reading her posts, I came across some sad news that will affect the deals I have planned for CVS. Check out what she found on Hot Coupon World:

"CVS has LEGALLY requested that online printable coupons no longer be posted anywhere on the internet. CVS has contacted several of the larger websites, not just HCW. It is their position that the only valid printable coupons will be sent to you directly through their email system.

As to the online magazines and newspapers. Their online version is simply a convenience service. It's not meant to be printed out and replace their paper magazines and newspapers, otherwise they'd lose their income from their product. Same goes with the coupons in those situations, they are not meant to be printed out and replace the paper ones. My guess is CVS doesn't have the time to police every single newspaper or magazine's online source to make sure that their coupons are blacked out or made unprintable.

In the end, we at HCW are intent on following the parameters stated on the legal notice that we received. And that is that the only valid internet coupons will come directly to you in your email and that any other sources of internet coupons are not legitimate, not approved by CVS and will not be allowed to be posted on HCW."

So... that $2/$10 CVS coupon I've been printing and using, the one found from the Richmond Parent's Magazine, should only be used if I actually bought the magazine and cut it out. SAD!
Like the Homemaker's Resource and HCW, I want to make sure that all my frugal shopping trips are ethical, legit, and 100% above board. That being said, I will only be using CVS printable coupons that I personally receive through email. So CVS, if you read this (and I'm SO sure you do) please send me some coupons. Pretty please!

To read more about this, check out this ABC News story: Secrets of Online Shopping Discounts

Lake + Friends = Fun!

Last weekend, my three boys and I headed down to the lake for a much-needed getaway. We haven't been able to go much this year because we've had such a busy summer. The fact that we haven't been down in more than a month and that we had good friends who were able to join us made this weekend even sweeter.
For Tristan, there is no greater place to go than the lake. He counted down all week last week. Friday couldn't get here soon enough.

Here are my two of my three boys and me right after we got there:

Jon and Karen, two of our family's favorite people, joined us Friday night. They don't have any kids yet, but they sure do love on ours. Our boys adore them! We are so blessed to have such awesome friends!!! Here they are on Saturday morning, right before we went down for some relaxing on the lake:
My sweet Tristan floating in the lake. Sheer joy!Karen and Tristan on one of our boat rides:Asher is a GREAT driver!
Daddy's first mate!
Tristan and Jon on the sea doo. Jon was amazed at how fast Tristan likes to drive. He said Tristan always has the throttle completely down. That's my boy!
Here are a couple of random pics of my sweet boys. The first one is a great "noodle" shot (that's what I call it when my boys don't have any clothes on). I just love noodle babies!And finally, my sweet grinning Tristan!We had a great weekend. We didn't get much rest because Asher didn't sleep well...at all. Aside from that, it was the perfect getaway. We enjoyed it so much, we think we'll go back this weekend and spend some time with Mimi and PaPa.