Why I choose to coupon

I choose to use coupons.   I am by no means an extreme couponer as seen on TV, but I do spend quite a bit of my time looking at coupon blogs and going to stores to get their deals.  I have managed to save my family a whole lot of money.  Before we moved, we lived off of our stock pile (with the exception of fresh veggies and fruit of course) for about 3 months.  We were able to save that grocery money and apply it to the down payment needed for our new home.  What a blessing!  It does take time and discipline but I believe it is well worth it!  Yesterday I went to CVS and spent $3.84.  What did I get for that?  4 bottles of shampoo, 1 bottle of hair spray, 1 tube of Bengay (I use it to help with tension headaches), 3 toothbrushes-1 battery powered and 2 bottles of Dawn dishwashing detergent!  Well worth it I would say. 

Bike and Walk to school day!

To promote a healthy life style, the ecology club at Caroline's school sponsored a bike/walk to school day.  Caroline was soooo excited and asked her daddy to participate in this event with her.  Nick assigned out of class assignments for his 8 o'clock class to make this happen and then it was rained out!  The school reset the date for the following week and of course Nick would not be able to get out of class again so.....Mommy gets to go!  Thankfully we had beautiful weather and it was fun.  Caroline was so excited and kept saying "mom this is so awesome!!!"  Glad Nick insisted on buying me a bicycle right after we moved here so that I could join Caroline for this event.  Although as a nurse I was distressed at how many children and parents did not have helmets on!  My kiddos have learned from day one if you are on a riding toy, bicycle etc you must wear a helmet!!  Off we go!

Our First CSU game!

Over Labor Day weekend we got to travel with the CSU band to Orlando for the CSU/UCF game!  We had a super fun weekend and went to Universal Studios (aka: Harry Potter World) too.  I will definitely post pictures of that soon.  The Forrester's went along too and our families had a blast together!  It is hard to be on the losing end of the game but we still enjoyed our time there!

 Caroline and Katie ready to cheer on the BUCS!!!

 Nicholas LOVES football but when the score is 62-0 it is hard to watch!

 The Pride of the Low Country!!

A new friend!

Moving this summer has probably been the hardest on Nicholas.  We prayed for good friends, great schools and a growing and exciting youth group.  We are so blessed that Nahom is in all of Nicholas' classes and is only one street way in our neighborhood!  Thank you LORD for this gift!

What's on my heart right now!

I have posted many times over the years how worship through music touches my heart in no other way --perhaps that is how I ended up marrying a musician :).  Right now what is on my heart is this beautiful song that is sung by Natalie Grant!  Hope it touches you as it does me!

YOUR GREAT NAME

Lost are saved; find their way; at the sound of your great name
All condemned; feel no shame, at the sound of your great name
Every fear; has no place; at the sound of your great name
The enemy; he has to leave; at the sound of your great name

Jesus, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us, Son of God and Man
You are high and lifted up; that all the world will praise your great name

All the weak; find their strength; at the sound of your great name
Hungry souls; receive grace; at the sound of your great name

The fatherless; they find their rest; at the sound of your great name
Sick are healed; and the dead are raised; at the sound of your great name

Jesus, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us, Son of God and Man
You are high and lifted up; that all the world will praise your great name

Redeemer, My Healer, Almighty
My savior, Defender, You are My King

Jesus, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us, Son of God and Man
You are high and lifted up; that all the world will praise your great name

Happy Birthday to Adrienne and Jason!

 Caroline, Olivia and Aunt Adrienne!!

Uncle Jason and his boys!

I just want to send out a great big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our sis-in-law Adrienne who's birthday is today and to bro-in-law who's bday was yesterday!  Hope your days are awesome!!  Please forgive me for not having better pictures!

Irene

As many of you know Irene recently visited several of our states and wrecked havoc along the way.  Although we wish Irene would have stayed out in the ocean and are very sad that she destroyed so much on her journey, we are very thankful she did not make a landfall visit to our new hometown.  I have lived near the coast off and on much of my life and really didn't get nervous (although I did ask Nick to call and make sure our flood policy was taken care of).  I lived in Cocoa Beach with hurricane David many moons ago and I remember when they thought Hugo would hit coastal GA, so I didn't push the panic button.  Nick and the kids wanted to go "surf"--Caroline's hero is Bethany Hamilton aka Soul Surfer but I quickly put the mom "NO" on those ideas. We did however make a trip to the beach the day school was canceled due to the tropical storm.  Here is what we saw: