Christmas Blessings

I have said so many times lately...but it is worth saying again...where I am now...how far I have come this year alone...amazes me.  This time last year, I was grasping on to something that just wasn't there...I was making the best of what I had and could...but struggling on so many levels.  The complete changes God has brought about in my life in the last 12 months...truly amaze me.  

I wouldn't wish the first half of this year on anyone...there was so much pain...hurt...anger...bitterness...just so much that I hate that I had to go through.  So much I am still going through at times...but the last half of this year...although not easy in many ways - has brought me so much love and forgiveness and PEACE.  Each day as I wake up and go through my routine and live my life...I have questions and I have pain to muddle through sometimes...but I have peace that I am where I need to be. 

Today, I have sat here in my home with half of my kids...4 children that bless me in ways I can't even describe.  And I just feel amazed at how much God loves me.  Not only has he given me these children to be a part of my life...but he also gave me this wonderful man, my Beau, to share the rest of my life with.  God loved me enough to give me parents who raised me to love him...who raised me the best that they knew how and who have always been there for me...no matter how much I hurt them or how I failed.  

I am Blessed.  I have a sister who is my best friend...even if we did torture each other when I was little.  And I have friends in my life...some who have been there for the birth of my children...who have listened and reprimanded me when I needed it...who have hugged me...held me...threatened to smack me...provided for me...prayed for me...

I am Blessed. 

And today - I baked cookies with my kids...broke up fights...wiped noses and bottoms...opened endless packages of crackers...sliced apples...peeled oranges...watched cartoons...gave hugs and received kisses..cleaned up endless messes..and had the time of my life.  

This is my life...each precious day that God gives me...the days with my children...the days with my Beau...the days with my parents and my sister and my friends...this is my life.  And I am blessed.  

I love being a homemaker.  I love learning how to make our dollars stretch farther.  I love teaching my son.  I love my life.  And I am so glad for all the things I have been Blessed with this year!

Book Review: Karen Kingsbury Time to Embrace

I once again am here to review a book I received from Book Sneeze through their book review program.  I always look forward to that little package in the mail and try to make extra time to read and review quickly.

 This time I chose something a bit different than my normal review topics with Book Sneeze.  I went for their fiction department and chose Karen Kingsbury's A Time To Embrace.  I do always enjoy a good Christian fiction book...but just don't have the time to read them much anymore.  This was a wonderful change of pace for me.

In the past I have read a few of Karen Kingsbury's books...but I admit, it has been YEARS since I have.  I was pleasantly surprised with how easy it was for me to get right into this book and get caught up in the characters lives and emotions.  Especially since this in the middle of a series that I have not read any of the prior books in.  (I will be looking at the library soon to read more of her books for sure!). 

This book takes us to the lives of Abby and John Reynolds.  They have already overcome great obstacles in their lives and marriage...and this book unfolds with bigger and more unexpected problems.  A couple who has already struggled in their marriage is faced with a huge physical obstacle that could cost their marriage after all.  Instead, it's a great story of how God triumphs over all. 

It has something for everyone.  It speaks to the heart of those betrayed by affairs and those hurt by divorce.  It speaks to those who have made mistakes as parents and lovers and friends.  And it shares how our stories and experiences can help others around us.  That even in our mistakes, God can make things new, use things and make our lives and others better than we ever imagined. 

It's another great book I received from Book Sneeze for free in exchange for this review and one I would highly recommend.  Karen Kingsbury has a wonderful vision and has impacted many lives with her works! Check it out!

$5 Grocery Store Coupon

One of my new favorite ways to SAVE A LOT on groceries is to shop at - You guessed it!!! 

SAVE A LOT

Seriously! Go to their home page and click on link to save $5.  You sign up for their email fan club and can print a coupon immediately on their website good for $5 off any purchase of $25 or more. 

I have been a rather infrequent Save A Lot shopper until recently.  It's not in the nicest neighborhood in my city and I always thought they didn't really have much I cared for.  How wrong I was!

Not only are their canned goods as good as name brand but they are literally half the price.  Recently - they had all of their canned veggies on sale for only .39 cents a can!!!  Their brand of "shells & cheese" is not only BETTER than the name brand - but it too is half the price!  They carry some brand name items at lower prices...but mostly their brands.  For the holidays, I even discovered their brand of whipped topping (ahem Cool Whip) is only .79 cents a tub...the cheapest I've ever seen it on sale anywhere else - generic or not - was .88 cents!  And that's their every day price!

So - take a few minutes - slip over to their website...check for a store near you and print the coupon to start great savings today!

Love Knows No Bounds

I consider myself blessed.  I have made many mistakes in my life and made poor choices, but God has still seen fit to bless me.  No, he hasn't take away all the consequences of my bad choices, but he has loved me despite them. 

Children are blessings from God.  And I personally, have been blessed eightfold. 

But not all of my 8 children came from my womb.  And I can honestly say I love them all and would do anything for any of them.  The 2 I gave birth to...or the other 6 I have chosen to love. 

You see, 7 years ago, I gave birth to my first son.  He was a surprise to say the least.  He wasn't planned...he wasn't thought about before he arrived...but the moment he did...there was no turning back.  He had my heart (and my Dad's...lol..his Poppy Daddy adores him!).  In so many ways, I wasn't ready for him.  Physically I wasn't prepared...emotionally...I wasn't prepared...I wasn't mature enough...so many factors...but it didn't change how much I loved him. 

Then almost 5 years ago, I got married.  My (now ex) husband had 5 children.  Over the course of 4 years of marriage, I fell in love with all 5 of those children.  The oldest 2 boys are practically "out of the nest" so to speak.  I don't see them often, and of all the children, probably spent the least amount of time with them.  Being older, in high school and now college and college bound...they had jobs...activities...so much going on all the time.  But the time I spent with them, I grew to love them.  They are young men any mother would be proud to have as her sons.  Hard working.  Polite.  Smart.  Giving.  They are good men...great sons...wonderful brothers. 

The middle child, the only daughter in the group...wow...what can I say?  I watched her grow up.  I have seen her as a little girl...almost woman...turn into a young woman...and a lady I am so proud of.  She has always been incredibly smart and she too is hard working and a good kid...but watching her make good choices and buckle down over the last year, I have beamed at times.  She has become a woman and a wise young lady.  She IS my daughter.

Then there are the younger 2 boys...and my own son with my ex husband.  These 3 I have spent more time with than any of the others.  And these 3 boys...I know the best...and I love...so much!  They are each different.  Each have their own little personalities.  One's a leader for sure...but often only after following in the men in his life footsteps.  His stepfather and my Beau...when around them...he looks to them for leading...then he leads his younger siblings in order.  He is a lover...a hugger...a caring and affectionate boy.  His younger brother...he is full of action and yes...mischievousness.  I think he often gets shuffled along as a middle child...but he is not ignored...he indeed makes his needs/wants and himself as a whole known!  He is not as much a lover as his older brother...but he can snuggle and hang out with the best of them!  :-)  This year, watching him start kindergarten and seeing him learn and be so proud of himself...it has been such a blessing.  I am SOOOO Proud of him and how well he has done. 

And my baby...my little fella...he may be small..but he is BIG on personality.  This year...I have been blessed to spend so much more time with him as I have stayed at home.  He is super smart and such a quick learner...he is a hugger and a snuggler for sure!  But he is one Sassy little critter too!  He wants to argue everything and wants to do everything HIS way.  He is coming into his personality with a bang for sure!  But I wouldn't trade him for anything in the world...nor would I any of his brothers and sisters. 

And finally...the most recent addition to my list of children...the middle 2 boys...they have a younger sister.  I have known her as a baby and watched her grow into a cute little preschooler over the last few years as I picked up and dropped off her "bubbas".  And recently, we realized how much my baby loved playing with her...and before I knew it...I had fallen in love with her too.  She is now a regular part of our household along with her brothers.  She is the baby...and she gets spoiled as one...but she is so sweet tempered and so good!  Of course, she has her Diva moments...and those moments are hilarious!  And I love it! 

I am blessed.  Not only did God see fit to allow me to give birth to 2 beautiful sons...he also brought 6 more children...4 boys and 2 girls into my life to love and care for as  my own.  And I would say, that my Beau feels much the way I do...he never thought he'd have ANY children...and now...he too...has many. 

So many people out there long to have children.  So many physically can't.  But why stop there?  Why put so much effort and money into forcing your body to produce a child, when there are so many children already out there needing love?  I don't discount the desire of others to have children...I too have desired things in my life that were seemingly impossible...and some just flat are impossible for me...but I have also found that can be for the best. 



I have seen the rosters and seen the court cases in my area personally...there are hundreds upon hundreds of children...from infants to teens who are without parents to care for them.  Some have been through horrible circumstances.  Some have major emotional and physical problems.  But maybe God knows YOU are just what they need.  And THEY are just what YOU need. 

Keep your heart open...and you'll find when it comes to a child...Love Knows No Bounds!

$20 in Amazon Cards from SWAGBUCKS!!!

Just for browsing and using Swagbucks as my search engine...and occasionally doing surveys or filling out for their special offers...I have earned not only enough Swagbucks to result in $20 Amazon gift cards, but also numerous other prizes.  

Since August of this year, I have received markers, stickers, post it notes, pens, math & letter/number flash cards and even $5 cash.  

WOOT! WOOT!

It takes a few minutes to set Swagbucks as your home page, download the tool bar and get started.  I check in each morning on the daily polls and earn $1 Swagbuck - which isn't much, but over the course of a month - you've earned $30 in Swagbucks.  I also check the surveys daily, watch my toolbar for hints on swagcodes, added swagbucks on Facebook and Twitter and watch their daily discussions for various tips and codes...and it really takes me no more time to do than I normally spend on the internet.  

The Special Offers section has some useful things for free...some things I'll never use, but are free and easy to download, install and then later if I see I don't use can uninstall easily.  Some offers give me better deals on purchases...are good clubs or programs to sign up for, and do cost a few dollars...but...especially around the Holidays, I've found that some of the Savings clubs, after the amount of Swagbucks given back to me for using them, end up helping me get Christmas gifts for a fraction of the price.  Definitely worth it! 

I have a toolbar at the top of my posts that you can click on to get started with Swagbucks.  Trust me - it's worth your time and little bit of effort to get FREE products!!!!!

Counting My Blessings

I'm sure everyone, like me, feels overwhelmed and swamped by this point in the Holiday season.  We've survived Thanksgiving, but don't even have time to take a deep breath before Christmas is upon us!  

This year has been one obstacle after another for me, but as the year comes to a close, I am so thankful for each step that has brought me here.  This time last year, I never would have imagined being divorced, selling my home, moving to a new home/area and being with such a different/wonderful man and having a "new" family.  I feel incredibly blessed to have come this journey over the past 12 months.  

So, in October, I sold my home, my Beau purchased a new home and we all moved.  Me, Beau, my 3 year old son and 3 kitties.  Moving became more of an adventure than any of us expected though!  No major trials...but a lot more work than we first thought.  Boxes seemed to breed boxes in our garage and office.  We STILL have SOOOO much to go through!  But, our home, quickly became just that...HOME. 

I know I have felt sadness at losing my old home...and even material things I sold in the move...I miss my bed...I miss furniture...for sentimental reasons...and for the lower back pain the different bed has caused.  ::snort::  But in all of that, each day has brought new gifts, new peace and new joy.  All change brings both sadness and joy.  

So now, here I am...the countdown seems to be closing in on me and I am struggling to get my "stuff" together to get the house decorated, stray boxes tucked away in corners or closets and presents wrapped and under the tree.  And..get back to my personal pleasure of writing/blogging each day.  I haven't managed to make the time for writing every day yet...I hope soon I will.  But I am going to count my blessings...no matter how hurried/hectic/overwhelming things may be...no matter how many days go by without me chillin and blogging...I am blessed beyond what I deserve and am so HAPPY to be HERE, right where I am...being loved and cared for like never before. 

Hope everyone has a blessed day/week/month and end of this year!!!