My D-Wee

Time to Start Saying YES!

As most of you know, I have once again jumped into my frugal obsession lifestyle, and love to see how much I can save. I tend to look at it as a game...just how much can I save. I started swimming with coupons about  2 years ago or so, and put it down when our sweet Wendy passed away. With the roller coaster of turmoil that brought, God closed and opened doors and has allowed me to pick this awesome hobby back up.

Now, while most of you aren't jumping for joy over the site of these little waste of time papers on brands that I never use money saving coupons, I think literally dollar bills! With a little flexibility on brand jumping, and spending not more time..but spread out time rather...at the store, and the help of little hands cutting away...You can literally shred dollars off of your budget! Am i starting to sound like a late night infomerical yet??

For the past 6 years God has blessed me with the opportunity to stay home with our littles and finishing my education. While my paycheck of love, giggles, and hugs that I receive is wonderful...it has yet to put food on our table. We have put our trust in the Lord, and he has always provided! When times get tough, I always think..."maybe I should just go to work", etc. but then God opened up my eyes on couponing again! With a little work, and trimming some "fatty areas," we would be able to like always..make it work!

So, after getting back in the routine, and several people asking...I am here to introduce you to "Journey to Simplicity." Since I started back I have had several ask for me to teach a class, list matchups, etc. I love helping my friends save money, and seeing them get excited over freebies! Although we may not have all the answers, or everything figured out to a "T," with God's guidance we will work towards living a much more simplier and gratfeul life. For so long I have worried about "what are we going to do"..."how are we going to eat"...but Matthew 6:30-34 says "But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

I have prayed and prayed seeking God's guidance on whether or not to take this hobby further, and I am nervously going to say yes! Altohugh I am going to take baby steps, we'll see where it goes and hopefully it will help others the way it has helped us. Through every letter I type, or every freebie I find, I want God to use it for his honor and glory. Afterall, if it weren't for HIM, I wouldnt be where I am today!

So with all that said...I would love for you all to meet my best friend.....
this is my coupon binder! Crazy...right....see why its an obsession!Over the next few days I will give you some tips that I use..hopefully they will be helpful....for you to strao up, get organized, and save some dollars!

I hope you all will consider taking the "journey to simplicity" with me!



"In every thing I say and do, may it bring honor and glory to YOU!"

What Have I Done...

The title says it all....which means I must admit, I am the blogger giver upper. The one who has this grand idea that blogging is an awesome way to reflect on where you came from, and where the Lord has led you to...but then the huge reality sets in...where postings go from every few days...to months...years....and squash, its done. So, its been heavy on my heart to rant  lay out our story, along with some thoughts here and there, in hopes that God can use it for his glory. Along with all of the blessings God has provided, there are a few that I would like you to meet.

G-Man

This is our sweet, innocent,wonderful Gavin, or G-Man as we call him. He is been nothing short of a blessing here on earth these past 51/2 years, which churns my stomach to even begin to think its been that long...He is finishing up pre-k this year, and if mommy can let go he will start K in the fall...hopefully there's a therapy class out there for this...<sigh> This little man is my sidekick, my right arm, my "little" squeeze. He is a momma's boy....sshhh.... which makes the candidate for the perfect pushover which gets him most anything...Come on...look at that smile over there...it CANT say no! When G's not behind the X-Box controller, or deer huntin, fishin, etc...you will most likely finding him what he does best...soccer...can I get a little <ah-hum> on that one, momma the soccer player back in the day, LOL. But in all fairness...ALL props go to dad for coaching every season...even taking on two this past season, which brings on exhibit B ; )

Next we have our little Miss Sassy Britches, Daughtry Lynn, otherwise known as Sweets.She is a little 31 pounder that packs a serious punch, no pun intended,lol. She is very deceiving, although she loves frilly paint your fingernails and dress up days...

the other side of her simply enjoys rolling up her sleeves and getting mud all over those painted fingernails. ; ) She is my one who I can have pick up the fish...even when mommy may be a little scared herself...or find her suited up in a cowboy hat and boots playing deer hunting with G-Man. I tell her go for it! Deer huntin' and fishin' are the only way to go, the childhood that I know....and LOVED! Daughtry has been such a blessing to watch grow so far. She never seems to amaze me! She is Daniel made-over with the heart for animals...thats why my home looks like a zoo....  Unlike Gavin, I have to give Daniel props by saying....<cough>, she's a daddy's girl...ooo that one hurt, lol. We defintly have our fun, but when she's hurt, sad, etc...she wants her rock, her shield, her dad. Although everyone tells me she's my little mini me, Im afraid Ill have to change your answer...one look at Aunt Wendy's baby pictures would truly change your minds...which I will HAVE to do in a future post, because the resembalance is that good, which brings Exhibit C ; )

 

Finally, we have our little...well, not so much little, but you get the idea ; ) Recently God has had a different plan, a different path for all of our lives, especially this life...Trey, otherwise known as T-LEEZY. Where to begin on his story would be a post in itself. From the time I first met the kid, Halloween party of 5th grade, until ordering class rings and sorting through colleges together, I knew that there was something special about this kid. His resilence and spirit always seem to amaze me, and make me feel proud to be apart of his life. Although Daniel & I feel like we need a manual sometimes to make it through these teenage years , (love you Trey) it is such a blessing to just sit back and take a glimpse of what God has done, and continues to do in his life. All I can say is, Wendy did an outstanding, superb, over-the-top job of raising this young man. Her life is a true reflection of him, which makes me feel blessed to get to be a part of. Getting more into his story will be a post in itself, a novel rather, and I look forward to sharing. It is from his life experiences that this blog title can exist, it is why I can atest and say...there is JOY in the morning, a Beauty and Grace that can be restored from the pain. But back to te technicalities, lol, Trey has blessed us with his presence since August, and the footprints he has left -and continues to leave- with our children, Daniel and I is astounding. I pray each and every day for him, along with my other 2 littles, that they to can find that true JOY out of life, and know that anything is possible for them through the eyes of God. Not always can we choose our cards that we are dealt, but it is how we respond that God will judge us for. I cannot fathom the plan that God has for this kid's life, but I tell you what...when he realizes it and runs with it, we better watch out because man will it be good.

Trey giving blood in honor of his mother-which he does every time he is allowed to give.

Finally, the final piece of my puzzle...the most important rather, where it all began....Although he'll kill me for putting him on here shirtless Most commonly known as Babe, Hun, etc... Daniel has been my rock, my shield, my comforter, and most importantly my best friend. We met back in 2004 over a monogrammed bookbag and "jacked up" Jeep <which still makes my knees buckle>. From then on, the rest is history. Words cannot express the gratitude that I have for him. Although we may not have it all figured out, and it has its ups and downs, its been a blessing to enjyoy the roller coaster with him. The fact that he graciously provides for the kids and I, so that I was able to finish my education and stay home with the littles makes me eternally grateful. His decision to truly be the spiritual leader of this home is one that is unrepayable, it is one that will not only be rewarded eternally, but one that we are blessed to see the rewards from by watching these 3 amazing kiddos everyday. The overwhelmingly sized heart he has for these kids, and how he is truly the giver<....not neccessarily with his bank account, but with his actions...> makes my knees weak, and my heart giddy. He is truly a person...THE person...I hope to grow old with.

 

Relax, take a load off....I hope you can find a little something out of our craziness, and if nothing else...laugh with us, cry with us, pray with us, & live with us......

~In everything I say & do, may it bring honor & glory to you.~