Operation Christmas Child

It's that special time of year!!! Christmas is upon us, but I must share one of our families special ways to kick off the holiday season. If you have never participated I encourage you and your family to contribute to this special ministry. Our family has been blessed to be a part of Operation Christmas Child for the past 5 years.

It is a special way to provide some much needed items for children around the world and to share the gospel and plan of salvation.

We have been saving up gift items throughout the year and we typically fill up and send two to four boxes per year.

Click on the link and see how to participate.

Rite of Passage

It seems like the years have passed way to fast. I guess I was not prepared for this event. My darling teenage son has started the quest towards graduation...

He arrived home yesterday with the obligatory class ring info...

You might laugh, but it is true, I was unprepared and kinda' shocked.

Our son doesn't mind marching to the beat of his own drummer. So we are looking at ring vendors separate from the one offered through the high school. Shocking what rings cost nowadays. Why back in my day...

I guess I am dating myself aren't I.

At least at the moment, he chooses not to drive, he wears his shoes til they almost are falling off of his feet and he really never asks for much in the way of clothes. So we have gotten off fairly cheaply over the years.

I guess you could say, I need to get it together and get geared up for the other events left to follow. Class pictures, college applications, announcements, etc....

Where have all of the years gone?

Don't Walk, Run From Layaway Offers

I love google reader, it is so easy to review the updates from all of my favorite readers.

I think you should check out this wonderful posting from Common Sense With Money, she really has outlined a wonderful mini education session regarding the latest offers and returns of layaway plans. She's right, 'run, don't walk from layway plans'.

Black Friday

You might be wondering what in the heck is 'Black Friday'. Well, I was educated about this great phenomena last year. Basically, Black Friday is the sales day after Thanksgiving. If you are like me, sometimes you can get some great buys for the holidays. Some of the stores like to release the info about what they plan on advertising beforehand, therefore giving customers a jump on your purchase plans. This is wonderful!!!

The sales releases are starting to roll in... Right now they have received notices from Sears and Ace Hardware about what to expect. As always, the items could change somewhat based on your region or their last minute adjustments based on their competition...Better to start planning now on what your priorities might be.

Check it out...

Sears Black Friday
Ace Hardware Black Friday

Psycholbabble Parenting

I really enjoyed the posting on Jess's site. Please read it for yourself....Making Yourself At Home

Psychobabble Parenting

It is a wonderful blog statment, full of tremendous wisdom.

2008 UIL Marching Band Competition

My teenage DS wanted to make sure that I updated my PhotoBucket with the pictures from the competition this past Saturday. I think the band marched really well, though their scoring didn't reflect that. Check it out for yourself. 2008 UIL Competition pictures.

A Journey Of A Lifetime

If I invited you on a wonderful, free journey of a lifetime with me over the next year, would you go?!?


Then start with me on this journey, it promises to be life changing...Reading through the bible in a year.

Sales Cycles/Very Important Information!!!

A tremendous way to start raking in the savings is to be aware of when all of the sales cycles hit the scene. Hot coupon world is a wonderful site and they have taken the time to list out the most typical items with a monthly breakdown. Check it out and keep it on file, you will be surprised how handy it can be... Sales Cycles

Okay, Okay, Better Late Than Never Right!!!

Just to prove that I really do take pictures at special times of the year. Easter 2008. I have some more somewhere, will have to search and find...

Sweet 16!!!

I am a little slow in sharing the pictures, here is our DS recent 16th Birthday celebration. Gosh, they do grow up awful fast, don't they...

That's modern times for you, he really, really wanted to have a teeth whitening kit since he got his braces off, my frugal self was delaying it as long as possible, did I mention that I got the over $30 kit for free....still makes for a nice and much wished for gift.

Check out some more pictures if you would like.http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y115/PLNEWHOU/Kenny%2016%20Birthday/