I cannot say it better than this

Billy Graham's Prayer For Our Nation

'Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the earth with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and Set us free. Amen!'

Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on his radio program, 'The Rest of the Story,' and received a larger response to this program than any other he has ever aired. With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again can be called 'One Nation under God.'

Winter Vaca

A few weeks ago we travelled to Aspen, CO to spend time with family in the snow. What a fabulous treat. We skied...we played...we relaxed...we ate. Papa got the pleasure ;) of flying over with us. We arrived in Aspen on a cold snowy day. Mimi & Uncle David were already there waiting for us. We got settled and dressed the kids to play in the snow. They loved it. Well...Andrew honestly never got adjusted to gloves so that made things a little difficult but it was the only bump (that I recall) that we didn't get over.

Drew and I had lots of time on the slopes in Snowmass. We truly enjoy skiing together - although we like to break for our own runs every now and then. The fresh snow we got on the first few days made conditions great. By the end of the week it was in the 30s and much warmer than when we arrived.Andrew went to ski school 3 days while we were there. He LOVED it! His age group had snack, played indoors, and skied for 1 hour in the mornings. After skiing they came in for lunch and napped before more play time. The first day we didn't time our runs just right and we missed seeing him. We were quite disappointed but the moment we picked him up I knew he loved it. He wanted to put his skis back on. "I need little skis." Drew and I picked him up early on his second day and took him for a few runs on the bunny slope. The last day he went with his cousin Luke. We have no doubt we've got more skiing vacations in our future with these two. Andrew loved tubing and sledding and stomping in the snow...if only his hands could stay warm and dry without gloves.
Lila would have been on skis in 2 seconds if they had let her. She stayed inside with Mimi in the mornings so we could enjoy the slopes. She had fun playing and eating "crack ah"s. Each afternoon she greeted us at the door ready to bundle up and have her turn in the snow. She tromped and stomped and hit and scattered the snow wearing her big bright smile. She enjoyed taking strolls and sledding as well. She had an especially fun time once her cousin Ainsley arrived to play with her.

This trip was lots of fun. We spent lots of time enjoying one another and making memories that although the kids may not remember, we definitely will. Thanks Papa and Mimi for a fun time in Colorado!

Christmas 2008

My heart has been filled with thanksgiving this Christmas season. I was a tad bit overwhelmed before our family began to arrive on the 22nd. But by Christmas Eve everything had fallen in place and everyone was settled in to enjoy each other as we celebrated the birth of our magnificent Savior.

Drew, Andrew, me & Lila at a Christmas Eve service at our church. It was Andrew's first time in "big" church and we were all a bit surprised he made it through...loved lighting the candles at the end.

Reading the account of Christ's birth before heading downstairs to open presents.

Here's a link to more pictures of our Christmas fun:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=12407&l=a2806&id=1388395781

Everyday unwrapped

I've really been making an effort to spend more time with my kids. Unless you are/were a stay at home mom you might be saying "what?" But I find myself busy with cleaning and cooking and projects and (shhhh) the computer and many days don't spend that one on one time that my sweet kids deserve. I want to remember these days. I want them to remember a mom who laughed and played and not one who always said "in a little while."

I decided last week we would make cookies - I just don't do this enough - I worry about the mess and the kids consuming so much sugar, etc. I think we are going to try ornaments this week (Ornament how to). Messy, yes. Sugar, no.

My Christmas wish is that every day I wake up with a grateful heart for the life and love my God has given me. He is so full of mercy and grace. I see it everyday when I look at these cute (and often mischievous) faces.

Meal Planning and Sale Shopping

Every few months I get really lazy with meal planning and grocery shopping. Inevitably during those times we eat out alot and spend alot of money. After a few weeks of this irresponsible behavior I come back to my senses and renew my excitement for saving money at the grocery store.

Before you say, "that's too much work" let me tell you what I do not do. I am not a super crazy coupon clipper. I do not frequent several stores in hunt for bargain basement prices. I do not make my family eat/use yucky products just because they are on sale.

Here's what I'm doing right now to keep my grocery budget in check:

* I subscribe to GroceryGame.com. For $10 each week, I can print out the deals at my favorite grocer (HEB). This list tells me what is on sale and which sale items are actually good deals (if you aren't aware, sales are often gimmicks and don't truly save you money). It also tells me which in store coupons to use (this is HUGE at HEB as they do not operate a shopping card for sales) and if you are a coupon clipper which newspaper coupons would work to get you the best price. I've never really gotten into newspaper coupons thought I've tried a few times. (The grocery game now offers a sub for WalMart where the list spells out all the price matches from local grocers if you are into that sort of thing.)

* Once I've printed out my sale list from grocerygame.com, I sit down to make my grocery list. I meal plan (usually 1 week at a time) based on what we like and what is on sale. This just makes sense to me. For example, this week there was a great "meal deal" with the purchase of a roast. Now, we love roast, but it is not always on the top of my head when I'm thinking of meals for the week. But I got a great deal on it and several other products because I decided to make it this week instead of next.

* A friend of mine told me about a great *free* website Money Saving Mom that teaches you how to work the system if you will at Walgreens and CVS. She also blogs manufacturers deals and other random deals.

* From Money Saving Mom I came across Deal Seeking Mom. Now this one I really like. She gives breakdowns for Target and WalMart among MANY other (non grocery)deals and tips. I love that these ladies spend so much of their time teaching others.

* I also make a trip to Sam's or Wal-Mart once every month or 2 for diapers, wipes, soap, cleaning products, etc.

I am by no means a grocery shopping money saving expert, but just want to encourage you that if you are not meal planning or educating yourself as to sale items you could be missing out on an easy way to save your family cash.