Deals, Deals, Deals

In my previous post, I said that getting good deals and finding discounts makes me extremely happy. I don't know what it is, but I get all giddy and excited when I find discounts. Maybe that is why it usually is a very long process for me to purchase things. That's because I am thinking about how to get the best deal. Thinking, "How can I find a coupon code for this? Could I get it off ebay or craigslist?" So imagine my excitement, when I saved $131.14 on L's new carseat!!!!! We have been debating about when to get her next carseat and what kind we wanted. I really wanted the Britax Boulevard, but it was $309.99 And that is crazy. Even though it will last the next 4 + years, I couldn't bring myself (or Rob!) to spending that, when we could get a different brand for $150. But, Britax has amazing safety ratings, and I was in love with the comfy looking headwings of the Boulevard, and the non-rethreading system so you don't have to rethread the straps to adjust the height. So here is how I earned my deal:

Diapers.com price matches. So I set up an account there, found the Boulevard seat I wanted, and then went off searching for the same seat cheaper. Found it for the same price on another site, but this particular site had a discount code for 25% off! So, called Diapers.com and asked them for a price match. They adjusted my account so that the seat would be $232.49. Then, I found a code for diapers.com for an extra 15% off for first time customers (that's me!). So, that brought the price to $197.61. So, I spent $197.61. But the discounts don't end there my friends. I heard of this site called Bing Cash Back, (Am I the ONLY one just now learning about this marvelous site!? Where have I been?) which gives you a % cashback on the purchases that you make through their site. So prior to ordering my seat, I set up a Bing account and went through their site to get to the carseat. So now, I have $19.76 in Bing Cash Back that I will be issued. Making my $309.99 seat, a $177.85 steal!!!

I think I have officially topped my deal finding skills.

These are a few of my favorite things...

This will be my first official MckLinky game! I meant to participate in Kelsey @ The Seattle Smith's "Wishful Wednesday" last week, but I didn't get around to it. So this week, I am making MckLinky a priority! Starting with "Show us Your Life" at Kelly's Korner. This week, her topic is things that you love/make you happy.

*These two:

*Family

*Texas Tech...Wreck Em!

*Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Chi Omega Sisters, & along with this comes carnations & pearls

*Diet Coke...from a fountain

*Seeing God work in my life and the lives of others

*Massages and the spa...and I am lucky enough to get a 3 minute back massage everynight from my dear husband, "just because I am his wife"

*Being a momma

*Birthdays

*Good friends

*Mimosa's

*Texas

*Witnessing (and participating in) acts of kindness. Once I saw a truck break down in front of me at a red light and everyone started jumping out of their cars to go help them push it. You might say it is because he was in the way, but I believe they were helping because they were being kind.

*Rain

*The beach

*Using lots of coupons to get a really good deal...(which by the way, I am about to do and then I will come and tell you all about how I saved over $100 on my blog. you just wait...)

*Popcorn

*Pretty smelling candles

*A clean house with no laundry to do (HA!)

*Cake

*The fall season

*Starting new traditions and carrying on old traditions

*PINK

*Sitting with Rob on the couch at the end of the day watching our shows on DVR. Oh thank goodness for DVR...

I have to add one thing that I am NOT loving...and that is this new diet I am on. Today was day uno and I am starving. But, I have paid bucoos money for this diet so I will not cheat and I will loose wait. I am confident. But I am also starving.

The Perfect Plan

As I am seeking a job for next school year, I have really been praying about it. I know with 100% certainty that my purpose in life was to become a mother. God gives us all gifts and purposes, but mine is a passion for motherhood and family. Without passing any judgement, I also firmly believe that I personally can best do this by staying at home with my children, and not working outside the home. So, when Rob and I discussed me going back to work next year, I did not receive the idea very well at first. I knew that financially, it made since. But, emotionally I wasn't ready. And I still do not know that I am ready. How can I really be prepared to drop my precious child, the one that I love with everything I have, at daycare? It is something I struggle with the thought of, but know that I can do it, and I will do it. I am stronger than I think I am. Through many prayers about me returning to work, I realize that it is God's will that I pursue a job right now. And then if God blesses us with more children, we will re-evaluate what God is laying on our hearts.

While reading the book that I have recently blogged about, "I Will Carry You," I learned something. I do not always pray about a problem in the way that God desires me to. I am a perfectionist, and a planner. And neither of those is achievable. We are all sinners, but by the grace of God, are forgiven time and time again. I will never be perfect. I fall short. I also like to have a plan. Well the joke is on me because God laughs at my plans. Because my "plan" doesn't matter. The only master plan is His plan. When I pray about something, I ask him for what I desire....find a job soon, a job I like, etc. Then I read this in the book I was telling about:

"...What Mary and Martha say in their message to Jesus is not as interesting to me as what they don't say. They don't refer to Lazarus by name, nor do they ask Him to heal their brother. While we can infer that they were conveying a need for help, they don't actually ask Him to do anything specific. The request is similar to the one Mary, the mother of Jesus, made at the wedding feast in Cana. We are told that as the wine started to run out, she said to Jesus, 'They have no more wine." She doesn't explicitly tell Him the solution she is looking for but rather states the problem and waits to see what He will do about it. As I read their words, it occurred to me that this is not the way I approach the Lord with a crisis. I run to him with a laundry list of suitable responses and beg him to accommodate me."

This is exactly what I needed to read. God doesn't need me to give Him solutions, or ideas, or the way I hope it turns out. He knows my heart, but His plan is the only and best answer. So, instead of praying to find a good job soon, I have prayed, "Lord I do not have a job..."

I had an interview for and was offered a part time private school teaching position today. One year ago, 6 months ago, one month ago, this is exactly what I would have wanted to do. Isn't it funny though, how things can change so quickly. After hoping for a job like this to become available, I am feeling God lead me in a different direction. I am taking a leap of faith. I am trusting in Him and know His perfect plan for me will be done. Not yet knowing what the plan is..."Lord, I do not have a job..."

Water Baby

We took Lorelei to the pool today for the first time. She loved it! Then when we got home I put her in her crib to rest and this is what I walked in there and saw:

Notice the wubba on the floor. Maybe that is what motivated her to stand. But this was the first time she has ever pulled up. yikes!

a good book

Before Lorelei was born I read all the time. The day she was born, there was never again time to read. I have about 20 magazines that I intend to get through and several books. When I do have time to myself, I feel like it has to be filled with far more important things than getting through a book or magazine. But thankfully, one book has brought me back. Back to making time to read. And I am loving it! I really can't put into words this book, or this woman's blog, because my words won't do it justice. You have to read it for yourself. Her book was free on Barnes & Noble ebooks, which I downloaded to my iphone. Which made me want a kindle. But that is beside the point. Her book is amazing and I can't put it down. You really should check it out here.

And since I won't attempt any of my own words for this story, here is the b&n synopsis: "The powerful story of a mother who carried a child deemed “incompatible with life,” and the eternal insights gained from a baby that lived less than three hours on earth."

Really, go read it. Powerful doesn't even begin to describe it.

Somethin's in my boots...

Sunday am:

Get dressed for church. Rob slips on his cowboy boots as we are walking out. (Boots are kept in the garage because we don't wear shoes in the apartment.) On way to church, Rob is really crabby and tells me he has a stick in his shoe. (At which point I asked him if he was sure it was in his shoe..)

Church:

Rob: "I know this is inappropriate but I need to get the stick out."

(Pulls off boot and takes a tiny stick looking thing out)

Go to lunch. (Still complaining about something in his boot)

Go to outlet mall.

J-Crew:

Rob in dressing room. Me waiting with L in store. Rob comes out of dressing room and whispers to me.

Rob: "We need to leave immediately. There are crickets in my boots."

Me: "crickets!!??"

Rob: "Yes, plural. And I couldn't dump them out in the dressing room."

Me: trying to contain my laughter

Parking Lot:

Rob takes off one boot. Out plop 2 whole crickets. Takes off other boot, sock is discolored with, as Rob called it, "cricket juices."

Rob: "This boot did have them in it but I think they got left in the dressing room."

Time to get aggressive with the crickets. I have vowed to squish to pieces any cricket I see. No more scaredy-cat lady. Watch out crickets, we are on the hunt for you.

Dear Little Baby

Dear Lorelei,

You are almost officially crawling! Where has the time gone? You are getting up on your hands and knees and rocking, ready to move! You can take about 2-3 movements and then you fall over. What is motivating you? Dog bowls. Dog food and the dogs' water bowls look so much fun to you. Whenever you see the bowls, you try harder to get to them. And actually, you did get into the dog food the other night. I was obviously not paying close enough attention to you, just chatting away on the phone, and heard a little rustling of the dog food. I looked over, you had dumped the bowl on its' side and had a piece in your mouth. My first thought was "ew she is eating dog food." Then I realized, "she can choke on dog food!!" So I threw the phone down, reached in your mouth and pulled out your snack. You were very unhappy with me.

You started a gymnastics class once a week. It is so much fun to see you smile and squeal the whole time. We sing songs, dance, swing, practice crawling, play in the ball pit, hang from the bars, bounce on the tramp, ride the zipline, and play with other babies.

At 7 months old (almost to the day), you started sleeping through the night. Your Daddy and I waited so long for this! You sleep around 12 hours every night. Some nights you wake up, but it is usually because you need to be changed, or don't feel well.

You still do not have any teeth, but that is okay. You eat a fruit in the morning and a veggie at night, sometimes having a fruit for lunch. I have found you to be very picky. You still love sweet potatoes, squash, and pears. You hate bananas, apricots, yogurt, and peas.

You took your very first boat ride. We went to the lake for the weekend. We put your life jacket on you and Granmommy held you, but the second we got seated in the boat, you fell asleep. Your Daddy drove the boat and Grandpa sat up front with him. Grandpa says he wants you to be a little lake girl. Aunt Mel will teach you to ski, we will float by the dock, and lay in the sun. You are going to love the lake, dear girl!

You just turned 8 months and last weekend was my first Mother's Day with you. Being your momma is the most precious gift. I could never have imagined how amazing it is to be your mommy. You are beautiful. I pray that you will also have a beautiful heart, love God with all of your being, be courageous, compassionate, strong, and kind. There are so many things that I wish for you, and I know that God will guide your Daddy and I to be the best parents we can be and teach you what we hope for you. I love you with all of my heart and always will.

Love,

Momma

Reflections

Family Life:

Many years ago, my dear friend JB told me about Family Life, a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. Family Life has these Marriage Getaways, called Weekend to Remember. Rob and I went one our first Weekend to Remember last summer. I say "first," because we can't wait to go to another. You can choose from locations all over the US, including fun spots like Hawaii or Orlando. We were looking forward to going to Austin and spending the weekend away from Lubbock, with no computers, DVR, chores, or errands to run. Just simply listening to the speakers, to each other, and to God's word. As the weekend drew near, I have to admit that Rob was not thrilled about going. If I remember correctly, it was probably one of his only weekend's off of work and he would have rather stayed home on the couch catching up on sleep. But we got in the car and went for it. We loved it. It was one of the most memorable weekends we have had. We went out to eat, went to a date at the Oasis on the lake, talked about the upcoming arrival of our precious Lorelei, listened to the speakers talk about our roles in our marriage, God's purpose for bringing us together, and resolving conflict, and spent time talking to each other about everything we were learning. There were tons of couples there, from newlyweds to couples married 50 years, some there to strengthen their marriages, save their marriages, or learn more about their marriages. Going to Austin that weekend was one of the best decisions we could have made for us. Now, they have a Weekend to Remember CRUISE! I am not one for cruising (we tried that last year too and it didn't go so well for me), but how awesome would that be? A trip to the Bahamas, on a fabulous cruise ship, and lots of time for listening and reflecting about our relationship with each other and with God.

The other day I have found another reason to love Family Life. I was at Weirs and found these prayer cards. I bought one that is titled "Lifting My Children Through Prayer" and another that is "Lifting my Husband Through Prayer." These cards put clear words and scriptures for exactly what I want to pray for Lorelei and Rob. How fabulous!

Nashville:

I don't know how I got started thinking about this but...If I had to move, I would move to Nashville. Don't know anyone there, don't know much about it. But I do know it is the Home of Country Music and that tops everything else. Seriously, you couldn't get any closer to country music. heaven on earth! And Rob has always talked about Vanderbilt, or "Vandy."

Lubbock: (Warning- this gets a little nostalgic)

Through this move, I have realized that Lubbock was not just a crappy little town in the middle of nowhere that we went to college in and then moved away from. Yes, that is what it is to most people who go to Tech and are not from Lubbock. But, not.us. Lubbock was where we started. It was where we grew up. It was where we started our family. It was where we started our professions. It was where we met some great friends. I moved to Lubbock in 2003 and like most people, no intention of staying here past my college years. Freshman year is filled with memories of lots of time spent with sorority friends, lots of time missing Rob, and loving being on my own. In January 2004, Rob transferred to Tech. In summer 2005, on the front door step of his little apartment, he proposed. We started planning our life together, taking time trying to decide if we would move back to Dallas once we both graduated, or if we would stay in Lubbock. After much consideration, we decided to stay. We made plans for our first apartment, and in January 2007, just after the wedding and Christmas holiday, he moved into my apartment. How is it that we had no money at all, but life was so easy? Life was simple. As simple as it was, it was a crowded life in that little apartment. We decided to build a house. Rob graduated nursing school and started his career. I had started teaching. We were loving married life, we had a great little house, good friends, and full time careers. After two years of married life, we knew something was missing. We would not ever feel complete without children. Lorelei was been the greatest blessing, and I am so happy that she was born in a place that holds so much meaning to us. So, as much complaining as we did about being in Lubbock, we do miss it. We have learned--even though we are very happy in Dallas, at the same time we can greatly miss our life in Lubbock.

Cricket Update

Total Killed Today: 4 (2 in the apartment, 2 in the garage)

Total Spotted Today: Uncountable. Tons in the garage that I am too scared to go after.

Maybe we do have a cricket family in the apartment. ewwww.

To Do:

Get Maintenance over to spray ASAP. Check.

Cricket Hunting

The Remains:

What happened to that disgusting, no good, fast jumping cricket? Well let me tell you the story of this cricket:

Last week sometime:

Maintenance comes to spray garage for crickets because we have a lovely cricket cemetery in an empty bucket in the garage. (This is where I would show a picture if I thought I could take a picture without throwing up.)

Saturday morning:

Carry L's laundry basket to laundry closet. (note that it is a closet, not a laundry room) Run water in washer and add soap. L and Rob in her room playing. Notice gigantic black creature on top of L's clothes. Scream. Jump. Act like a 5 year old. Call Rob into the get the cricket. Bring Rob toilet paper to kill it. He yells says he needs a paper towel so he doesn't get cricket guts on him. (picky, picky) Run for paper towels. Come back to laundry closet and hear the terrible news. HE GOT AWAY. Spend next 45 minutes searching and hunting the cricket. Move washer and dryers, search with flashlight, drain the washer to make sure he wasn't in it, look through all clothes that were hanging in the laundry closet. Close laundry closet doors and pray that he can't squeeze under the doors to get out into the hallway. Begin searching internet for how to hunt a loose cricket. Ask Rob to go check on the laundry closet every few hours to see if he could find him. Worry about our apartment becoming home to cricket babies.

Saturday night:

L's laundry is done. Begin moving the clothes to the dryer and see some black parts. EW! Cricket pieces!! Rob decides to rock L to sleep and put me in charge of picking cricket body parts off her clothes (because he isn't a good cricket picker he says.) Find a part. Put it on paper towel. Get grossed out. Switch jobs with Rob. Me: baby rocking, Rob: cricket picking. 5 clothing articles and still Rob has not found pieces. He tells me we need to switch jobs. Switch. Me: cricket picking, Rob: baby rocking. Still not finding cricket pieces. Rob calls me into L's dark room to see something funny she is doing. Me (multitasking as always), goes to look while pulling baby pants right side out. Stick hand in pant leg, scream, act like a 2 year old, freak out, wash off my hand and arm for 5 minutes. The cricket remains were contained inside of the pants that I just put my arm into. SWITCH! Rob: cricket picking, Me: Baby rocking and listening to Rob talk about how the head is mostly still in tact. ewwwww.

The good news of the story is that we do not have a loose cricket or any growing families of crickets..that we know of.