California Dreaming

Have you missed reading my posts lately?  It’s hard to believe that 4 weeks have already passed since my last post!  Our family has been incredibly busy during this time.

I sold my car on September 1, taking a crash course in Craigslist, inspections, and car sales.  Brad was invited to California for another week, during which he spent some of his time touring rental homes.  I researched details on the internet which I e-mailed to him, and then he toured and photographed the homes to discuss later with me.  We chose our rental home right before we left Maryland. Our departure from Maryland was delayed two days while Brad’s grandfather was rushed to the hospital, but on Monday September 5, we were finally able to begin our journey westward.  Our family of four was accompanied by Brad’s mom and my mom.

The week-long journey across the USA was full of adventures, but we arrived in California safe and sound on Monday morning September 12.  Our new home was a bee-hive of activity as our new youth ministry committee prepared our home for us.  We decided to stay in committee homes for the week while the clean-up and painting were completed.  On September 16 we moved into our new home, and on September 17 Brad drove both of our mom’s to the airport.  For the first time in a year, our family has a home of our own.  We are still busily working on washing windows, stacking firewood, painting, unpacking, and otherwise updating the maintenance of our home.  We are also locating necessities like the grocery store, bank, library, schools, and parks.

I hope to get back to writing regularly soon, but for now I will have to ask for your patience as we continue to unpack our home (with two small children ever-present) and begin again in a new place.  New job.  New community.  New friends.  All this means lots of new things to write about!  So, hang in there…I’ll be back in the swing of things before you know it!

Jessica

The Drugstore Game Returns

This week I had to make a few purchases at CVS that would cost me $28.78.  I decided to put my new Drugstore Gaming knowledge to the test. I had a $2 CVS gift card that you might remember I received earlier this summer.

When I arrived at CVS, I put both kids in the cart and studied the sale paper.  I looked specifically for items that were low cost and high reward.  It turned out that Revlon Lip Colors were on sale for $6.99, with 5 ECBs back.

So I bought my Revlon Lip Color for $7.41 (with tax) and got 5 ECBs back.  Then I turned around (not literally!) and applied my 5 ECBs and my $2 CVS Gift Card to my $28.78 purchase.

Collective Total of Both Orders: $29.19.

Cost of the Revlon Lip Color (alone): $0.41.

Success!  I added the Lip Color to my growing stock pile of products to use once my current products run out.

Have you attempted to play the drugstore game recently?

Photo Credit

Freebie Friday!

In all the craziness of preparing to move to California, my pile of free stuff has been growing!  Here are some of the freebies I’ve collected!

  • Good Housekeeping Magazine
  • Wood Magazine
  • Working Mother Magazine (2 Copies)
  • Walmart Wag World Magazine
  • Parenting: The Early Years Magazine
  • Parents Magazine
  • Whole Living Magazine
  • Huggies Diapers (2)
  • Quaker Oatmeal Squares Cereal
  • Align ProBiotic
  • Kashi TLC Layered Granola Bar: Peanutty Dark Chocolate
  • Tampax Pearl (Super)
  • Purina Beneful: Healthy Fiesta

What freebies have you collected this week?

The Abundant Husband: We’re Moving to California!

 

“‘Come,’ he said.  Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.” Matthew 14: 29

 

Here we go again!  Like Peter jumping out of the boat to walk on the water with Jesus, we too are about to take another leap of faith.

As this summer has moved along we have been looking at a few ministry options for the fall, and we have come to the conclusion that California is the place that we need to be.  On Friday, I officially accepted a youth ministry position in California!

We are really excited about this opportunity as it allows me to pursue my passion of doing full-time ministry with high school students.    They also have a middle school ministry, and a vision to minister to those with special-needs.

The start date for this position is not set in stone, but right now we hope to leave for California sometime over Labor Day weekend.   We hope to find time for family and friends on the east coast at least once or twice a year. You are also welcome to visit us!

After a year of searching, we are very grateful to have this opportunity, and we are confident in the Lord’s calling.  Thank you for praying for our ministry work over the past four years.  In fact, your prayers have been vital, life-giving, acts of faith that have encouraged us far more than you can imagine.  We invite you to continue to pray for us as we move forward in the ministry that the Lord has prepared for us.

Please keep us in your prayers as we prepare to move, build new friendships, and start a new job.

 

As always, living life outside the boat,

Brad

Freebie Friday!

Yes, I know it’s Saturday!  I was hoping to post this yesterday, but instead we were at the dentist and then the oral surgeon as Naomi had her front tooth pulled.  She’s doing well now, but she fell on concrete on Thursday night, splitting her top left front tooth.  The doctors agreed…the tooth could not be saved.  So we’re adjusting to her new look today!

In other news, here are the freebies I’ve accumulated this week!

  • Thriving Family magazine
  • Dentek Comfort Clean Floss
  • Downy Unstoppables In-Wash Scent Boosters
  • Soyjoy Bar (Berry)
  • Crest Pro-Health Toothpaste
  • Crest Pro-Health Glide Floss
  • Crest Pro-Health Complete Rinse
  • Nature’s Bounty Fish Oil Liquid Softgels
  • Gerber Formula Check
  • Coupon for Free Pantene Shampoo or Conditioner (below)
  • Coupon for Free Aussie Product (below)
  • Coupon for Free Herbal Essences Product (below)

What freebies have you received this week?

Toddler Tuesday: Naomi’s Box-of-Fun!

Last winter as Naomi and I tried to find indoor activities to pass the time, I found myself carrying a lot of things up and down the stairs from our basement bedroom to my parents’ kitchen.  So I found a box and began carrying our playtime items in it.  The box has evolved over time, and now includes some of her favorite outdoor activities too.

Naomi is always thrilled to see me reach for her box-of-fun, and dances around eagerly waiting for me to sit it down and begin pulling things out of it.  Here are a few items you might want to include in your own Toddler Box-of-Fun!

  • Bubbles
  • Crayons, Coloring Books, and Paper
  • Sidewalk Chalk
  • Homemade Play-Dough & Tools (Plastic Fork, Spoon, & Cookie Cutter)
  • Frisbee
  • Magnetic Book with Magnets

Can you suggest some other items to include in a Toddler Box-of-Fun?

 

7 Items at Old Navy for $17!

Back in June I bought a $20 voucher to Old Navy for only $10 through the daily deals website called Groupon.  I was hanging onto it in hopes that I would find a great deal!

At the end of July, Old Navy had a $4 Sale on lots of there summer items.

In addition, Money Saving Mom published a coupon for $5 off of a $25 purchase at Old Navy.

Thank goodness someone on her website mentioned that the Groupon expired on July 30!

I hurried out and bought four short-sleeved shirts, two pairs of shorts, and a pair of sunglasses for $32.86.  With my coupons, I only spent $10 for the Groupon and $7.86 in-store.

Grand Total: $17.86 for 7 Items!  That’s about $2.55 each!

FREE Books!

As I was packing for two trips recently, I collected some of the books I was hoping to read.  I love to read!  I love relaxing with a book, and I love learning new things.  I also love finding FREE books!  Among the books above are

  • two books that I borrowed (one from my mom, and one from my dad),
  • and three books that I got from the library.

One of the benefits of having a large family of people who love to read, is that we are always borrowing one another’s books!  So one book can supply all of us with hours of reading pleasure. In this case, those hours were spent reading on our annual family vacation at the beach!

What are some ways that you are able to find FREE or inexpensive books?

 

Lots of FREE Stuff!

I thought you would enjoy seeing the culmination of FREE stuff I have documented since I have started this blog.  Most of these things have been accumulated through following websites like Money Saving Mom and Free Samples and Freebies, learning to do things myself, or gifts from family and friends.  Isn’t God great?

Mailbox Freebies

Mailbox Freebies

Mailbox Freebies

Mailbox Freebies

Mailbox Freebies

Mailbox Freebies

Mailbox Freebies

Target, Library, & Mailbox Freebies

Staples, Adidas, & Mailbox Freebies

Mailbox Freebies

Mailbox Freebies

Mailbox Freebies

Baby Doll Stroller and Homemade Doll Dress

Drugstore Game Freebies

The Double Stroller

Library Books & DVDs

Breastmilk and Breast Pump

Brad’s Haircut

Naomi’s Haircut

Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”  Luke 12:15

Counting with Toddlers

Earlier this month, Naomi celebrated her second birthday!  It is so exciting to make discoveries together as she is more aware of her surroundings and more vocal than ever.  One of those exciting discoveries is COUNTING!

We have been COUNTING all kinds of things around here, and Naomi is picking up on them quickly!  Here are a few suggestions for things you can COUNT with your toddler.  I’m sure you’ll think of more suggestions to add to my list!

  • COUNT with your toddler holding your hands, swinging between two adults.  “One, Two, Three, Whee!!!”
  • COUNT your toddler’s fingers and toes.  Mix it up by singing the “Itsy, Bitsy Spider” or “This Little Piggy.”
  • COUNT when you walk up or down the stairs with your toddler holding your hand.  They can repeat each number after you.
  • COUNT when you cook, as you scoop with measuring cups or spoons.
  • COUNT when you serve food, sort laundry, or distribute other items to your toddler.
  • COUNT when your toddler jumps off the side of the pool or slides down the slide into your arms.
  • COUNT when you read to your toddler and point to the images on the page.

What other ways have you found to incorporate counting into your toddler’s daily activities?

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