Monday, March 16, 2009

SAVING...

COUPONS! COUPONS! COUPONS!

I have learned so much about saving money and I can't wait to just buy all my groceries for $20! For now I have saved a good percent of my grocery bills and it's exhilarating! Yesterday I bought 2 Bic Soleil Razors, 1 Shick Power razor, 1 toothpaste, 1 hair product, and 1 bag of chips all for $4!! How amazing is that! It takes a little bit of work, but it is so worth it!

I am going to post my pictures soon of my savings! I bet you all can't wait!

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Hope...

I started writing this at work on Friday morning in order to send home and paste in here, but am late in posting it...so here is to Friday morning.

The sun is so bright this morning and it gives me hope for the spring. Hope for planting a garden and having grass in my backyard. Hope for a deck to sit on and drink coffee in the morning if I wanted to. Hope that I can watch Noah play in the yard in the afternoon with the dogs. Hope that I will actually use the apples off of my apple tree next fall in a pie or make applesauce. Hope that I can enjoy what God gave us to enjoy and work hard like we were meant to work to make what he gave us beautiful. I have HOPE this morning and that is a good feeling.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Simpler Life a sign of the times?

Today the wind and snow are literally blowing SIDEWAYS! Olivia – You had better be happy out there in the sun!

So, I read an article about a couple that decides to leave the LA style and life and moved to Oregon. They are working on his parent’s farm and living in an Airstream trailer. Here is the link to the story if you are interested. http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/02/26/economy.survivor.farm/index.html. I find it interesting, inspiring, and am almost envious at the same time. What would it be like to start over and not have all the bills…could we live in a smaller home without sacrificing too much quality, and could we do that now that we have a child? I don’t know…I really don’t think that Mike could. No offense to my husband or anything but I do not think he could live out of a trailer…or wait a second, maybe that is what he would love to do. Sometimes I feel like I am living up to the expectations of others and not just living how I would like to live, and I know that there are times he feels the same way…what would it be like to again just sit at a coffee shop with a cigarette and a book/paper? The idea is appealing because it used to be so relaxing, but the reality is that I wouldn’t sit there and smoke because now that I quit I know what life is like without it.

Let’s get back to the story. Living on a farm (always wanted to do that), cleaning out the stalls (always envisioned myself doing that) and getting to spend time away from all the electronic devices (oh, to have my husband back.) I could grow my own garden and we would have farm fresh eggs…Noah could just go out and play in the mud whenever he wanted to and I would spray him off with a hose. The dogs…wow….the dogs would just be in dog heaven. This sort of sounds like when we lived in the trailer in the country when I was little…chasing frogs and water snakes. I know…it sounds…charming, doesn’t it?

Could you do it? For those of you reading my blog, answer back. Let me know your thoughts. Read the article.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

GOOD MORNING!


I have been scolded enough into posting! Apparently people actually come to this page to R E A D it...who knew? I have been updating Noah's page much more frequently (www.noahzirraadventures.blogspot.com) and not so much this page. I just realized though that I have not updated this since December. A lot has happened since then. We traveled to Fort Meade, MD and went and saw Washington, D.C. and we had a great time with Mike's parents for Christmas! We came back and Noah has now celebrated his very first birthday! Hard to believe that he is actually a year old, that a year ago I gave birth to him and just how grown up he already is. Everyone always says to cherish the moments because they go so fast, and I feel I have cherished the moments and it has still gone fast!!!

You may be asking, well April ... enough about that, but what is your update?! Well, I think being a mom keeps you very busy and other than truly enjoying my time with Noah there is no big update. :) I would however say that I have been a little annoyed at people in general these days and the lack of respect that people have for each other. I have been annoyed that at 32 (yes, I turned one year older) I still have to play childish high school games with people to even get along. I have been on this kick where I have felt like it was ridiculous that I should have to even cater to the emotional insecurities of other people. Then, this last Wednesday at church we ran across I Corinthians 13. It is a chapter on Charity. Most of the newer versions of the Bible have changed the word to "love" rather than as it was truly translated in the King James Version as Charity. Charity is by definition "love in action." After reading that I am reminded that no matter the circumstances, emotional states, age differences, and general frustrations of others I am to be charitable. I don't always have to like everyone, but I am commanded to love them as a person, and to love them would mean that I also act in a kind and loving manner. So, if you all must know I am trying to put aside my instant human reaction to just say to everyone, "Grow Up!" and I am trying to live the right and be a loving, kind and charitable person. The person that I have always thought I was and should be, but have been struggling with as of late.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY everyone and remember that it isn't only enough to love but also to show that love through your actions.