Christmas Lights

I hope each and every one of you enjoyed a very blessed Thanksgiving day. My family spent the day in our usual tradition: on the phone wishing those family members who live in other parts of our world a blessed day, in the kitchen baking and cooking with the stove (and Mom!) going into overtime, eating entirely too much, and taking long afternoon naps!

I had hoped to put my Christmas lights on our trees and bushes outside, but that was not to be...my tired body and full tummy had other plans.

I want to start focusing on getting ready for Christmas. As you follow along in the next few weeks, it won't take you long to figure out that this is, indeed, my most favorite time of the year. I turn into a major toddler!! Everything is beautiful and exciting!!..and my wonderful hubby has learned to just indulge my childish fun for a month!

Speaking about those outdoor lights though, let me share what we're doing differently this year.

I, like most of you, have used the same Christmas lights over and over for years and years. I love Christmas lights and while I don't have as many as I'd like, I do have a lot! However, I see myself adding to our light surplus over the next few years in a different way.

About a month ago, we got a flyer from Home Depot in our paper. I noticed an ad for LED Christmas lights. My husband is over maintenance at our local hospital and I'd heard him mention before about how much energy these little lights saved.

A string of 50 lights were $6.99. I thought this was kind of high but hubby explained that while the initial cost may be a little expensive, the lights would pay for themselves this Christmas alone! The box said that these lights could last up to 20 years..so I'm thinking that's 19 years of free electricity for Christmas lights!

Our December electric bill tends to be higher than most months, but like I said, hubby indulges me... However, it's my job as his wife to be saving and as frugal as I can be, so when I saw this ad I started doing the math.

Yes, it was $6.99 for only 50 lights, but I can run 8 sets of these lights for the same wattage that I can run 1 set of the traditional Christmas lights (100 count)!

We have a big evergreen in our front yard that is perfect Christmas tree shape and it takes at least 150 lights to go around this tree ( that amount lights it up, but not like I'd like it). 150 traditional=3 sets of LED

I have 2 bushes in front of my porch that I light up at 100 lights for each bush. 200 traditional=4 sets of LED.

Right now that's all I light up outside, simply because of the electric bill factor. So...lighting up only what I normally do outside, I can string lights on everything I normally do cheaper with the LED lights.

I feel like I'm chasing myself here so this is what I'm trying to say:

Normally I use 350 traditional lights to light outside. Have you ever watched that little dial on your electric box when you plug those lights up?? That thing looks like it's trying to spin out into orbit! However, with the LED lights I can use the same 350 lights and that little dial doesn't even seem to be moving! Saving electricity which means savings in your wallet and saving our environment. Win-win situation to me.

At the time Home Depot was running their ad, they offered $3 off a set of LED lights for every traditional strand you brought in to trade. The limit was 5 per customer, so I bought 5 sets and dear hubby did as well. We bought 10 sets of LED's for a little more than $40. I use 350 lights outside, 150 on our Christmas tree, and so I have another 100 lights to use somewhere else!!

I'm anxious to see what our electric bill for December will be and I'll pass that along when the time comes.

Maybe you can only buy a couple of sets of LED's this year, but I wanted to make you aware so you can take advantage of sales that might come along before Christmas and especially after.

Blessings......

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I just wanted to wish everyone a blessed Thanksgiving Day!!

Hold tight to those you love and cherish and take a moment today to let them know just how important they are to you.

With that being said, all of you who take a moment to check in and read this blog, those who take a moment to leave a comment or a word of encouragement, those of you who have become friends to me..I am incredibly thankful for you. You have blessed me beyond anything you could ever imagine.

Colossians 3:15-17

"And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all it's richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom He gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father." NLT

Blessings....

God and Cars

We don't owe for any of our vehicles. Each one is completely paid for and in good shape. Each one was a direct presentation from God about how faithful He truly is. Let me share...

I drive a 2002 Hyundai Elantra. Prior to that, I was driving a 1992 Plymouth Grand Voyager, and let me tell you, that thing was on it's last wheels. It had made many trips cross country simply because we bought it in Colorado and when you begin driving from Colorado to Alabama several times a year, those miles can really rack up. Anyway, Philip decided last year that he wanted to get me a car for Christmas. Gas prices were just beginning their uphill climb and it was already taking so much to fill the van up. We decided that we weren't going to go in debt for a vehicle and we only wanted to spend $3000. Now, I urge you to spend an afternoon trying to find a dependable, nice looking vehicle for $3000. Not as easy as it sounds.

It was a cold blustery day, even for Alabama, but we got ready and headed out. Car lot after car lot. As the day went on, we grew more and more frustrated. I can't tell you the strange looks we got from dealers when we told them that we only intended on spending $3000! You'd thought we'd asked them to give up their first born!

After getting in and out of the van at least 20 times, we'd about given up when I remembered a small little place just outside of town. We drove out there and this dealer only had a few cars and all looked way out of our price range. I was so disappointed-then Philip spotted "Ella" (that's what I named her after we bought her!). She looked perfect on the outside, not a scratch. I told Philip that after the day we'd had, I was sure that car was way over $3000. He insisted we ask anyway. I wouldn't get out of the van. I was so tired of getting excited over a car only to find out the dealer was hard of hearing. We'd ask for what they had at $3000 or less and they'd take us to every $6000 and above car they had~seriously..

In just a moment, Philip came back and told me to get out and look at the car. The dealer had just got it in and hadn't even had time to clean it up. He only wanted $3000 for it!! I couldn't believe what I was hearing!

I almost leaped out of that van and ran to Ella. She was dirty, but she was perfect! We took her on a test drive and she ran perfectly! I was thrilled!! Back at the dealer, we decided to see if he'd take the van as any part of a trade in. He told us the van was in pretty bad shape, and it was, but he would give us $500 for it. Again, we were thrilled!! Our out of pocket expense for Ella: $2500!! God had truly answered a prayer.

A year later, she still looks great and runs like a dream!

Philip drives a 1994 Suzuki Sidekick and it shares just as sweet a story. He was driving a 1984 Toyota 4 wheel drive pickup and this truck, while faithful to run, ran rough. It coughed and sputtered and wheezed like someone who'd been smoking 4 packs a day for 30 years!! Because he also has a motorcycle, he didn't really drive the truck that much anyway, so he just hadn't concerned himself with looking for something else.

About 6 months ago, unbeknownst to me, he began praying about a different vehicle for himself..only he didn't want to spend a dime. He wanted to trade "Rusty" even up. Now, believe me, in order for that to happen, it would truly take a miracle. Philip made a few phone calls on different vehicles but nothing ever came to pass. Then about 2 months ago, he noticed an ad in the paper for a Sidekick (just what he was looking for) for $1500. He called about it and began talking with the owner. By the end of the conversation, the owner decided that he wanted to look at Rusty..he might be willing to trade.

The next evening Philip drove to the guy's house in Rusty. I thought to myself as he left, "He's going to come back so disappointed." Oh me of little faith! When Philip got home, he was on top of the world, The guy loved Rusty (?!) and was willing to trade even!! Today~an even trade and a new set of tires later~Philip is driving Suzie. Another answered prayer.

Beth's car "Lurch", is, yet again, a product of the faithfulness of God. Philip and I decided way back that when the kids got old enough to get their first car, we would pay half of the purchase price. They had to pay the other half and have no debt.

About 2 months before she turned 16, our neighbors across the street put their 1994 Ford Taurus up for sale. Day after day it sat there with no one stopping by to look at it. The car was in great condition and our neighbors take very good care of their vehicles so we couldn't understand why it wasn't even being looked at. One day as we were turning in our driveway, Beth made the statement that the reason they hadn't sold that car was because it was her car. She was claiming it, God was saving it for her. I smiled inwardly because there was no way that car was still going to be sitting there when she finally got the money for her half.

A few days of persistent begging found Beth and her dad walking across the street to look at the car and ask the price. Great car, sounds good.. $2500...Beth was disappointed, but still determined that somehow, God would give her that car. She turned 16 and went to work. By April she was ready to buy a car. She had saved up $600, which meant that she could afford a $1200 car. Believe it or not, 6 months later that Ford Taurus was still sitting in our neighbor's yard!!

She and her daddy walked back across the street to talk to them again. Our neighbors were discouraged because that car had sat there for 6 months and only 3 people had stopped to look at it. Beth told them no one had bought it because it was her car! She asked what was the rock bottom price they would take for the car~hoping it would be $1200. They looked at her and told her that $1200 was as low as they could go! She fairly floated home in her Ford Taurus! God showed up and showed out again. Almost 2 years later, she's still driving Lurch. She's had to invest a little in him, but it's been minimal which is great for a teenager on a very limited budget!

Please realize that whatever is big to you, is big to God. He wants His children to be happy and He's eager to answer their prayers. His timing may be different than ours and His answer may be no or not now. Philip waited for months before God decided to bring him Suzie, but He was faithful. All we have to do is trust Him and be faithful to Him.

Blessings....

Freebie and Black Friday

I don't know about you, but I love getting samples in the mail! As a matter of fact, I love getting mail! I'm one of those weird people who love to get their mail as soon as the mail person has run and since I've been getting so many freebies in the mail, it makes it even sweeter!

Check out www.lacoste-parfums.com click on the free sample tab and get your own freebie of this perfume!


Just out of curiosity, how many of you are going to get up in the wee hours of the morning and hit the Black Friday sales??

I have only done that once or twice and frankly I wasn't terribly impressed. For the minimal amount of things I would buy anyway, fighting a crowd of thousands and encountering many angry--by the way, I know why they're angry....I would be vicious if I was out and about by 4am too!!...--got-to-have-that, focused people, it's just not worth it. Nope. Think I'll stay snuggled in the bed with dear hubby, wake up whenever, and work on just enjoying the day with my family!

Blessings....

Suppertime Conversation

I am incredibly thankful for the conversation around our table at suppertime.

The one thing we've always done is eat supper together. As the kids have gotten older and started part time jobs, this has sometimes been a challenge, but as often as we can, we make sure and eat together as a family. If you're not at work, you'll be at home eating supper with the family...that's just the way it is.

At our house, the meal is seldom fancy. Last night it was tacos. The kids (and Beth's boyfriend) sat the table while I finished up the meal and Philip tried to collect himself after a long day at work. For me, it is very rewarding to sit down to the table after cooking a meal~no matter how difficult or simple~and look around the table at your family.

Someone prays thanking God for His wonderful blessings. You can always tell what kind of day the person praying has had. Sometimes the prayers are just blessings on the food~that would usually be our 15 year old, Zack. Sometimes the prayers are thankfulness for the accomplishments of the day and the food~usually me. With Philip and Beth though, the ones that work outside the home, the prayers will reflect their day and after "Amen", the conversation begins. Food is passed around and the conversation is always busy. It can be lively or serious. It can begin with a, "How was your day?"

Last night was no exception. Chris, Beth's boyfriend of 14 months prayed and the conversation turned to his upcoming trip this week to spend Thanksgiving with extended family.

From there it progressed to how Beth should approach her old boss about getting her old job back.

Philip shared about his day and the fact that it was a better than usual day.

Zack shared about his girlfriend getting her permit and needing to go to Birmingham to pick out her Christmas present.

Me...I mostly listened. I listened to the bonding. I listened to my daughter go to her dad for advice. I listened to Chris, who, when he first started dating Beth, thought our supper table sounded like chaos..."So many conversations going at once!"...interjecting his opinions and sharing the plans he has for his very immediate future. In the 14 months they've been dating, he's decided that when he has his own family, he wants it to be open and close like ours~how humbling...I watched as Zack and Chris "fought" over the shredded cheese and taco sauce.

I laughed as Chris pretended he didn't have a root beer for Beth when he came back in from the kitchen to get a napkin.

After our meal, as I was washing dishes, I listened to the rustling of the newspaper as my husband continued to unwind from his day.

I listened to the laughter from Chris and Zack as they cleared off the table and I enjoyed the conversation with my daughter as she helped me clean the kitchen back up.

Sometimes, I feel that we open up the most and grow the closest when we're eating supper. Why? I believe it's because we are all together at one time..not each going their own way. I believe it's a time when we actually are sitting down and we all have each other's attention. I believe it's because the TV is off and the telephone is ignored.

No, it's not as easy as it was to organize supper as a family as it was when the kids were younger, but I am so thankful that it was something we didn't leave optional as a new family. Now, almost 18 years later, we are reaping the blessings of making family..our family.. a priority.

If you don't already, start tonight eating supper together. You may have to eat a little later or a little earlier. You may have to fix something quick because of somewhere someone needs to be..or better yet, drag out that crock pot. You can have an awesome meal with little effort. Whatever you do, put forth that effort to sit your family down together one time a day. You will be amazed at how close your family will become!!

Blessings.....

A Week of Thankfulness

Thanksgiving is Thursday and I thought I'd just take the next few days and blog about the things I'm thankful for and the whys behind them.

Let me begin with the fact that I'm thankful for my salvation. I know me and sometimes, even I don't like me..but in spite of that, God still loved me enough to give up His Son. Jesus loved me enough to give up His life. Would I give up my life for one of my kids? In a heartbeat!! Would I give up one of my kids for someone else...no. So I cannot begin to fathom the love of God. I'm just thankful that for whatever reason, He loved me..and He loves you. He saved me from the pit of hell, and He'll save you too. Want to know how? Contact me, I'll be blessed to share.

I'm thankful for my husband. Philip and I will celebrate 25 years of marriage on the 16th of December. For the most part, we've had an awesome 25 years, but there was a period in our lives, around the 7 year mark, that neither of us thought we would make it. We didn't know Jesus and our lives were a mess. Divorce was going to happen and we had fought so much, we reached a place of being too tired to try. Our daughter was only 8 months old. We had tried for so many years to get pregnant, and now that we had her we were going to tear her life apart. But we met a Man....Someone Who would not only save our souls, but our family as well. How thankful I am that when we wanted to give up..Jesus didn't. I am married to the most wonderful, patient, loving, kind-hearted, hard working man I know. He is an awesome husband, loving me in spite of me. My kids are blessed to have a Daddy that would give up everything to keep them safe and provided for. Beth has a perfect role model for a husband in her daddy and Zack has a perfect role model of what a great husband and daddy is. I have a safe place. I have strength and completion when he's with me.

I'm thankful for Beth. It took so long to get pregnant with her. 5 years of fertility drugs..and when we finally just gave up, we got pregnant. We had a scare with Spina Bifida and was told it wasn't too late to abort... are you joking??? Now...she will be 18 in January and she is a true blessing. She lives life pushing the limits and can be quite a challenge sometimes, and although she is my daughter first and foremost, she is one of my best friends. I love spending the day hanging out with her. She is so funny and loves life so much! She loves crazy clothes and wild fingernails. Even right now, her brown hair is loaded with hot pink highlights! She loves loud Christian concerts and weeps at sappy commercials. She is strong, but not always confident. She brings a joy into my life that no one else ever could.

I'm thankful for Zack. He's my "Little Buddy", although at 5'11, 225 pounds he's not so little anymore. He'll be 16 in December and fills my life with smiles. Like his sister, I had complications while I was pregnant with him. We know his exact date of conception, and was told when we were 4 ½ months pregnant with him that he had no kidneys or bladder. The sonar clearly showed that these very vital organs were missing. Doc could do what he could, but the Maker of Life was going to have to intervene if my little boy was to live outside the womb. Again, I was told by a nurse that it wasn't too late to abort. Again...are you kidding??? God will choose whether this child lives or dies. 2 weeks later, another sonogram showed that the Maker of Life, decided to let Zack live and made him 2 kidneys and a bladder!! All working and performing in harmony!! He can lift my spirits when I'm down. He's one of my biggest encouragers. He is always taking care of me if Dad isn't around. Still kisses and hugs me even in front of his buddies and tells me he loves me before he hangs up the phone...every time. He's my practical joker and brings so much laughter into our home. He is a tower of strength, in every meaning of the word. My life would be empty without him.

I am thankful for our home. Yes, I'm thankful for our house...a simple 3 bedroom house that has been a constant remodel since we bought it 3 years ago. It's modest and old but notice my wording....I'm thankful for our home. The 2x4's and siding. The sheetrock and paint. The floors and roof..it's all nice..it's all needed...but our home is one of laughter and tears. It is a place where each one of us long to be at the end of the day. We all know that no matter how tough the day's been, home is our destination. We know when we get here that love, hugs, encouragement, conversation, laughter, tears, a cold glass of water, a hot chocolate, a warm bath, a snuggly bed is waiting. Strength is found. The ability to try again is found. Since I stay at home, I know when my family gets home that everything will be okay. No matter how tough my day has been, my Father, my Safe Place, my Joy and my Little Buddy will make everything worth it.

How about sharing what you're thankful for with me..

I'll share more as I have time. Until then..

Blessings...