10 posts tagged “church”

Sorry.  We've had a busy and stressed October.  Charles has had a major bout of depression, and while we've turned the corner on that, he's about to head to his mom's for a week of destressing, so I'm coming up on a single parent week.  A little stressful for me, since he's the kid wrangler normally in our arrangement.  But we'll survive.  The only outstanding issue is me to find someone to watch the kids Wednesday so I don't have to miss my Disciple 1 class. 

I had extra bread that was getting stale this morning (I overshopped on a deal) so I channeled Martha this morning and made homemade french toast.  I could use a little more practice but it was tasty.  I've put dinner in the crockpot (homemade vegetable soup that I froze), emptied the dishwasher, reloaded it with breakfast dishes, and now I'm getting in some well deserved computer time.  Still on the list this morning is to pick up the newspaper(s) for coupons, shower, hit church, and a little grocery shopping.

Great deal alert -- $20 in free gas money.  Go here, and read all about it!  I'm trying hard to ramp up my refunding again.  With all the Wachovia/Wells Fargo stuff, medical bills, and growing boys (especially the smaller one who has holes in the knees of all his jeans!), money is at a premium right now.

Connor's soccer team won their game yesterday 7-1.  Woot!  His season finishes up this week, but due to rain outs, we have THREE more games... Thursday at 5pm, Saturday at 11:30 am, and Sunday at 4:00 pm.  All by myself.  Youch!

A shout out or two... Drama Mama, remember in your christmas letter a few years ago, when you talked about how you were simplifying your life?  I think I get it now... this disciple class has really been a gift so far.  Perhaps we'll have time to talk at the Thanksgiving gathering about it... to all of you who have added me as your friend on Facebook, thank you for making me feel loved... and please keep my extended family in your prayers on Monday.  A beloved family member is having surgery on Monday, and we are very hopeful it will be positively life changing.

Sorry to leave you hanging almost a month.  Maybe November will be better?

We figured out what the denial from Social Security was – only a denial for SSI, which is temporary support while they process your claim.  I can see that benefit being denied.  We’ve had yet MORE paperwork to fill out on the disability process.

 

Our Disciple bible study talked about wonder last night.  There are now five of us taking the class.  We read parts of Genesis, Job, and a lot of Psalms this week.  A good portion of our discussion was around free-will vs. pre-determination, observation of the Sabbath, and our relationship to God.  I’m starting to feel more comfortable with the conversations, and to feel like I have something to contribute.  We had quite the chuckle as a group over Job telling God to “… gird your loins like a man…”  I am moved by some of my personal reflections, about being both a speck of dust but also God’s amazing creation in his likeness.  I was not totally prepared for this week’s lesson and briefly pondered not going last night.  I decided that nothing had changed from my original thought that I needed to make time for this class, and that I would go, prepared or not.  I can say that I got more out of this week than last, so that supports my instinct to go no matter what.  Next week’s lesson has the keyword “sin”.

 

I’m back on my “part time job” of being a frugal deal hunter.  I’ve been rolling register rewards like everyone else at Walgreens, stocking up on cold medicine and oral hygiene stuff.  I had two pretty great moments in the past two weeks.  For the first one, I got a loaf of bread, Food Lion’s On-the-go-Bistro Mac & Cheese, FL Crisp Crunch cereal, and a 2 liter of Mountain Dew… for a total of $0.03 out-of-pocket.  I used several free item coupons to make that happen.  The 2 liter was a filler to keep them from owing me.  Tuesday’s success involved a gift card I won by attending our United Way presentation at work.  It was a $10 Papa John’s card.  I combined that with a B1G1F coupon out of my 2009 Entertainment Book, and got two large one topping pizzas for $2.81, including tax!   I’m also restocking air fresheners, Gatorade, and deodorants.  I need to catch a toilet paper deal, so if anyone knows of one…  The Entertainment book has been very helpful so far; I already used the “get a $25 gift card…” one for CVS, and mentioned trading some of my sporting goods stores c/o to someone who wasn’t going to use her CVS one.  I brought my book to fellowship last night.  She didn’t bring me the one in her book (she says that will be next week), but brought me a $25 g.c. mailer from CVS.  Free $$!  I read blogs like Crystal’s, and others, when they talk about knowing the Lord will provide.  I can honestly say as I’ve started the Disciple class, and tried to center myself on doing the right thing now, and worry about tomorrow tomorrow, I am seeing HIM provide for my needs.  Wachovia has started an enhanced prescription drug benefit program for diabetics, which will take many of our Rx co-pays down, some to $0, for diabetes related medication.

 

Speaking of HIM, I received a ray of sunshine in my mailbox last week in the form of a letter from Upendo.  She is doing well.  I know now she has an older brother, and she attends church every Sunday afternoon.  I had started to worry a little bit about the letters slowing down, but this one was dated 7/30, so I think simply it’s taking longer for letters to come and go.  This letter responded to one I wrote in May.  She still has letters from 6/20, 7/7, 7/10, 8/4, 8/29, and 9/17 to receive.    I am still waiting for my first response from Birri.   My very first letter to her was on 7/14.   I’ve written three more times to her.  I found a deal for free photo printing that I will take advantage of to print some photos to send to both girls.   Some of the postings on Compassion’s blog talk about a pecking order for the children in the centers – kids who gets letters AND photos are viewed as more lucky/blessed.

 

 

 

There is a good article out on MSNBC about the current crisis in the financial industry.  It touches on a subject familiar to frugal wannabes – the idea of living within your means.

 

On a (sarcastically) humorous note, we mailed some paperwork for Charles’ disability application to social security last Friday, so they should have gotten the medical release paperwork on Monday.  Imagine my surprise to get a notification from Medicare on Wednesday telling us they had been notified his SSI application had been denied.  Wow, isn’t our government amazing, that they can get his medical records, review them, and make a decision in 48 hours?!  I knew this was going to be a long haul but geez….

 

I had my first class discussion for the Disciple bible study last night.  There are four of us taking the class.  Our lesson was on authority.  We talked about the structure of the bible, it’s purpose, the writers, and looked at various types of writing styles and then on several passages about God’s authority.  This week’s lesson is on wonder.

 

Duncan and I are going camping with the Boy Scouts this weekend.  We are headed to Damascus, VA so that several of the boys can ride the Virginia Creeper Trail.  Duncan & I are taking responsibility for preparing the evening meal, grilled cheese sandwiches and vegetable beef soup.  Then we are having eggs, bacon & English muffins for breakfast.  Yum!  He has had a tough time with the transition to middle school, so I am hoping some one on one time with me during the day Saturday will help put him more at ease with life in general.

 

On a very sad note, I learned yesterday that an internet friend from South Africa passed away from cancer.  Our group hadn’t heard from Lesley, so Cathy mailed a letter, and we got a note back from her parents.   Lesley had such a beautiful spirit… she will be missed very much.

I'm so sorry to neglect you all.  Our fall "kid" season has taken off with a bang,   Scouts for both boys, fellowship night, soccer, my Disciple I class at church.... we are in run mode.  They keep changing Duncan's schedule at school, which has him a bundle of nerves.  Work has been ... interesting... watching the other banks fall.  I've always said we were punished for being honest and confessing our missteps early.  Hopefully now people will realize we aren't in nearly as bad of shape as some of the financial institutions.

We got a ton of rain recently; yesterday was cool and delightful.  I am so looking forward to fall!  I go camping with the boy scouts this weekend.

Connor and the rest of the children's choir sang in the choir loft today with the big choir.  He was quite proud of himself... as you can see. 

We put the Christmas tree up today, much to the amazement and curiosity of the youngest members of our family...

 

 

I shudder to think what will happen when it has ornaments, and pretty packages underneath it...

 

I have dinner cooking in the crockpot already, have emptied, refilled and started the dishwasher, and have Connor dressed and ready to sing at church today.  Not too bad for 9:30 am on a Sunday!  Duncan isn't feeling well this morning so Charles & Duncan are staying home.  Today is the first advent Sunday, and the "hanging of the greens" at church.  Should be a good morning!

Is it possible that there are only three more days to November?  Wow, where has this year gone already?  We sit in the moments wishing our lives away, and then look up and wish we had it back. 

Duncan and his den worked on their readyman pin at the fire station last night.  Charles went with him, and said he did well.  Monday night they visit their first boy scout troop.  I have got to get off my rump and get him by the few I want him to see.  Connor has scouts Monday night too, so the whole family will get to go!

Tonite is fellowship at church.  I have to go early to work on costumes for our White Christmas event on 12/9... the kids get to pick their part as they enter the church.  They can be angels, sheperds, or animals.  It should prove an interesting evening.  Supper sounds good; Evelyn is making lasagne.  We really love not having to cook one night a week.  Connor should have choir practice after supper as well.

I was sorry Marie Osmond got eliminated last night from Dancing with the Stars, but I thought she handled it very well.  I thought the best dancer last night won, although Mel B was outstanding too.

More later... it's about time for me to head on to work.

Wow, I heard something I never thought I'd hear about Connor... he's lost weight on his ADHD medicine, and to paraphrase, we need to fatten him up.  Wow.  I am terribly concerned about simply getting him to eat more, I think we need to get him to eat smarter where we can.  We are also changing the ADHD medicine to daytrana.  I'd never heard of it before today.

If you give me a little bit, I will have pictures uploaded shortly from Flickr from the church's petting zoo for the kids on Wednesday.  It should show in my photos on the side.

Sorry, there was more I was going to say, but I'm still in shock over needing to fatten up the kid who used to have fat rolls behind his knees at six months old!

Fall is going to be very short at this pace! Connor had his first yellow light at school for playing in the water in the bathroom. He wasn't terribly upset about it, and neither was I. We'll see how he feels on Friday when he doesn't get his reward for the week since it wasn't all green lights.

Last night we went to fellowship, and Connor had his first night in the Children's Choir (he was previously in the preschool choir). I hope he really enjoys it. He had to draw a picture in Sunday school of what God called him to do... he told Ms. Lynn that God called him to sing.

Here we are, "official" members of Ardmore UMC!! That took up alot of our Sunday, obviously. We spent alot of Saturday shopping for clothes for the kids. Our big excursion was to the $2 theater to see Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. Both of us really enjoyed it. Oh, and new kitten pictures up on the photo blog!