Steals and Deals!!!

This was a shopping trip to Smith's last week. I try to browse the aisles for any items that are on sale or clearance and then I match up any coupons I have for that item and see if it ends up being a good price to purchase it. Here is the break-down:

Reach floss-Originally $1.99. Smith's e-coupon-$ .50 off and MFR coupon $1.00 off. Final price: $.50!

Pampers wipes - Originally $2.39. On sale for $1.99. Smith's e-coupon-$1.00 off. Final price: $.99!

Secret Flawless Renewal deoderant-Originally $4.43. Smith's e-coupon-$2.00 off of 2. MFR coupon-Buy 2 get 1 free. Final price each: $2.08!

Listerine Smart Rinse-Originally for kids $5.69. On sale for $2.69. Smith's e-coupon-$1.00 off. MFR coupon-$1.00 off. Final price: $.69!


I bought these items from Walgreens last week.

The Huggies diapers were originally $10.99 on sale for $8.99. I used a $2 off and $1.50 off MFR coupon for each. (Separate purchases on different days.) You also received $2.00 Register Rewards for each package. The final price for each was $4.99 and $5.49!

The Nice and Easy Hair Color was originally $9.99 on sale for $4.99. I had a MFR coupon for $2 off making the final price $2.99!

This was a skirt I got at Old Navy with their winter clearance sale for Summer for $2.79!

Here is one of my best trips! CVS had a clearance cart...here is what I picked up:

Burt's Lip Balm-Originally $2.99. I bought 9 for $.29 each!!

Revlon lipstick-Originally $6.99. Final price-$.69!!

Clairol Highlight Package-Originally $9.99. Final price-$.89!!

Sally Hanson eyeshadow-Originally $8.49. I bought 3 for $.87 each!!

Nuk 2-pack pacifiers-Originally $4.99. I bought 2 for $.49 each!!

Crest Pro Health toothpaste (designed for kids 8 yrs and up)-Originally $3.59.

You receive $2.00 Extra Bucks and I used $1.00 off MFR coupon for each. Final price-$.59 each!!

CVS Diapers- 52 diapers each pack. Originally $12.79. I bought 2 for $1.25 each!! This is $.02 a diaper!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Woo hoo!!!! I used $15 in my Extra Bucks...so I only paid $1.30 (for the taxes) out of my pocket for all these products AND I received $4.00 Extra Bucks for my next trip!!! Awesome!!

These are items I picked up on Sunday after church...

Walgreens

Special this week: Gillette Fusion Pro Glide Razor with 2 cartidges. Originally $9.99. Use a $4.00 off MFR coupon plus receive $4.00 Register Rewards. Final price-$1.99!!!

CVS

Special this week: Selected fragrances-Buy $15 (or more) and receive $10 Extra Bucks!! I bought this cologne for $17.99 so the final price was $7.99!! (Valentine's Day steal! :)

Smith's

Tampax-Originally $4.29. Final price-$.99!!

Pampers-144 diapers. Originally $29.99. Final price-$13.99!! (About .10 a diaper. :)

My recent blessings...the girls and I pray before we go and God is always good to provide deals and steals! He is so good!

Songs and Hymns...

What a blessing for our church! An anonymous donor who attends our church gave a large check designated to buy new songbooks for our church! I just ordered 100 songbooks and they should be here by the end of the week! Praise the Lord!!!!!

Proctor and Gamble Coupons Tomorrow!

Sigh...when my husband got home from work and his EMT class about 10pm...I was sitting on our bed surrounded by coupons and coupon lists. Not exactly an exciting Friday evening! LOL! He just looked at me like...Really? Ha ha!

It is a challenge to try to strategize sales and clearance with double coupons, etc. I can't seem to stop trying to get the best deal! No...it is taking me awhile to figure it all out. I just can't go whenever with four kids and school every day to multiple stores. It is too much.

Tomorrow, in the Sunday paper....here is a heads up! There is two Red Plum coupon inserts as well as Smartsource. (You will find these websites on the side of my blog as well.) Tomorrow is also the monthly insert for P&G product coupons - Proctor and Gamble. A few of these brand names are Crest, Old Spice, Tide, Pampers, Bounce, Cover Girl, Pantene, Charmin, Olay...etc. These coupons only come out once a month and are harder to find on the internet. So I am planning to buy 2 or 3 papers tomorrow for these coupons. :)

Yesterday, I went to CVS and got their Coke product deal for this week. You buy 5 - 12 packs of Coke for $15 and receive $5 in Extra Bucks to use on your next shopping trip. This would be $2.00 for a 12 pack! Pretty good deal! :) There is still time to grab this deal...it ends today!

I also bought a Nice and Easy box of hair color. It was originally $9.99 on sale 50% off for $4.99. I added a $2 off MFR coupon making the total price $2.99! That was all that I found this week at CVS. I probably could have gotten more but nothing that I would have used. I am sticking to my budget for the things I really need for our family right now.

More shopping today! I am excited...my kids are not. :) Well, except for the coupon I have for Dairy Queen...Buy a medium blizzard and get one free...they will be happy. ;)

Savings at Smith's...

One of my favorite grocery stores to shop in is Smith's. I asked my sister in Arizona if she had a Smith's...it is called Fry's there. Basically, it is Kroger products with just different names for their stores. My parents have this store in Ohio - it is called Kroger's. :) If you want to find out what the name of your Kroger store in your area is...go to http://www.smithsfoodanddrug.com/ and click on the store locator.

The reason I like Smith's is they have a discount store card - which many grocery stores do. However, you can register your Smith's card online at the Smith's website...

then download free DIGITAL coupons to your card!

Just browse, click and select what coupons you want.

No printing or clipping...no organizing into envelopes or folders...no fumbling around with little pieces of various sizes of coupons in the store

(while corraling 4 kids :)...it is neat!

After you download your coupons onto your card...you will be able to print out a list of every coupon on your card...with the exp. date...even categorized into easy-to-find sections! Such as Baby, Beverages, Bread and Bakery, Paper Cleaning and Home, Fruits Vegetables and Produce and so on!

The extra great thing about Smith's is that you are allowed to use one digital coupon per item plus an additional paper MFR coupon!

You can double your savings on each item!

When you check out...and the cashier swipes your Smith's card...

your applicable coupons will automatically deduct from your total.

Take time and see if you have a "Kroger" store in your area and start saving! :)

BTW...if you think this might be too much work...download the coupons on your card anyway...don't print the list...and just buy the products you normally would. You will probably save here and there without even thinking about it and not a lot of fuss! :)

XO XO XO!

Just some flowers to brighten up your day and mine! :)

Thank you SVBC!

This is just a thank-you post especially for our church family today!

Thank you to...

-Papa Vern for taking care of the ushering, attendance taking, money counting and greeting! Also for buying the coffee cups that I forgot! :)

-Bro. Tom for bringing the church trailer to church every week, ushering and making the coffee!

-Bro. Shaun for leading the singing and heading up the teens!

-All the teens for setting up, carrying in all the church supplies and tearing down and reloading!

-Megan and Lisa for working in the nursery with the babies and toddlers!

-Bro. Ed for setting up and working the projector for our song service!

-Bro. Brad for MC-ing the service and preaching the morning service while my husband was away!

-Bro. Jake for helping with all odd and end areas of the church service!

-And everyone that attended the service this morning! Pastor Eric and I love and appreciate each one of you!!!!!!

Coupon Helps-Websites

If you are interested in doing some couponing and cashing in on some good deals, I have listed some websites that will be a help to you. They are listed on the right side of my blog. Many of these sites will give you tips in many areas...

-How to Learn to Coupon for Beginners

-Freebies and Samples

-Sales each week for your favorite stores...Wal-Mart, Rite Aid, Target, Walgreens, CVS...

-Explanation of items that are on sale...what coupons to use...where to find those coupons...and the final price that you can buy that item for!

(One of my favorite things on these sites!!!!)

-Giveaways and promotions

-Local restaurant deals

-Online coupon classes

-Coupons, coupons and more coupons!!

There is so much information at your fingertips! That is how I am...if I decide to do something...I learn all I can about the subject. I am an information junkie!!! LOL!

I have also listed a few websites to find coupons and then print them from your home printer. You will have to register and then download a coupon printer application for these programs but it is worth the time. I printed off some coupons and when I was browsing some clearance items...I found one item on clearance then I had a coupon for $1 off. You don't need to print them all...however, you just never know what great deal you will come across!

My last tip for this posting...

Print out the stores coupon policy of the stores that you will be shopping at.

I have printed off Walgreens, Wal-Mart, CVS and Target. I will keep them in my coupon binder. This is good to have just in case you come across a conflict when trying to use a coupon. :)

If this doesn't interest you...pass it up. If you like a good challenge though...this is for you!

Love you all!

Couponing Adventure: Walgreens

My First Walgreens Trip:

There is no rewards or discount card for Walgreens. In the front of the store, they do offer a coupon booklet only for their stores. I believe it is a booklet that comes out monthly. They also have Walgreens store coupons each week in their circular.

You may combine one Walgreens coupon with one manufacter's coupon (MFR).

They also do not seem to offer the clearance sales that CVS does. That was my first opinion. They also do not mark their sales like CVS which I did not really like.

I did browse their sales and this is what I bought.

2 - Wrigley Gum - The new flavor of desserts 2/$1.00.
Final price: $.50 each!
1 - Sharpie markers - Pack of 2-black. Originally $2.99. Walgreens store coupon $2.00 off. Final price: $.99!
1 - Starbucks Frappaccinos - 4 pack bottles. Originally $6.49. Walgreens store coupon $2.50 off. Final price: $3.99!
2 - Sun Laundry Detergent - 72 loads. Originally $4.99. Walgreens store coupon - Buy one get one free. Final price: $2.49 each!
1 - Walgreens Diapers Jumbo pack. Originally $9.99
Final price: $6.00!
1 - Carefree Ladies Products. Originally $1.49. Walgreens store coupon - $.50 off. MFR coupon - $.50 off. Final price: $.49!


*** I normally don't prefer to buy generic brand diapers and laundry detergent...however, the only coupon I had for diapers was for Huggies and they were not on sale at either store. So I opted the the store brand that were on sale for this time. I also did not have any coupons for laundry detergent so I opted for a generic brand that I will use for towels and play clothes. I needed both items so I had to buy at this time instead of waiting for another sale.

We will see what next week holds! :)

My Journey Into The Couponing World...

OK...I have officially begun.

I went shopping and I used coupons! I actually looked at the store circular...matched coupons with sales...and shopped!

I have had some friends that do couponing and do it well and I was inspired to do it to.

I am starting small and trying a few things at a time. I will give you a few tips at a time...and maybe you might be inspired to try it as well!

I came home and almost felt let down. LOL! I guess I thought I was going to go on one shopping trip and come home with a stockpile for the next six months! Well, it doesn't happen that way. It is just hard work...and it goes slowly at first...but I am looking forward to more good results on this new journey!

Here is my shopping trip to CVS...

The first thing I did was sign up for the CVS Extra Care Card. With this card, you will receive discounts as well as earn Extra Bucks towards future purchases.

This is what I bought on my first trip to CVS :).

6 - 12 packs of Pepsi products : The sale price was 3 for $10. I bought 6 for $20 - I then received $10 in Extra Bucks which is basically $10 that I can use on my next trip. Or you can look at it this way - Each 12 pack was $1.67! Yay!



2 - Dawn dish soap - Hand Renewal with Olay Beauty (9.5 fl. oz) : Sale price was $.97 each.



2 - Crest 3D White Toothpaste (4 oz.) : Originally $4.19. On sale for $2.99. You receive $2.00 in Extra Bucks. Final price for each: $.99!



1 - Listerine Total Care Mouthwash (500ml) : Originally $5.89. On sale for $3.99. You receive $1.00 in Extra Bucks. I used a MFR coupon for $1.00 off. Final price: $1.99!



1 - Garnier Fructis Conditioner (25.4 fl. oz.): Originally $7.49. On sale 50% off $3.74. I used a MFR coupon for $1.00 off. Final price: $2.74!



1 - White Rain Shampoo-Energizing Citrus (33.8 fl. oz.): Originally $1.99. On sale 50% off. Final price: $.99!



1 - White Rain Conditioner-Energizing Citrus (33.8 fl. oz.): Originally $1.99. On sale 75% off. Final price: $.49!

I was blessed because I was in need of many of these things. In my next post, I will share my Walgreens trip. :) Happy couponing!

Recipe: Grilled Roast Beef Sandwiches

If you are looking for a new sandwich to go with your soup this winter...here is a yummy one to try! I made it for dinner tonight with along with broccoli cheese soup....mmm! It is nice and hearty!

Grilled Roast Beef Sandwiches

1 can chopped green chilies, drained

2 tbsp. mayo

1 tbsp. Dijon mustard

10 slices rye bread

5 slices Swiss cheese

10 slices roast beef

2 tbsp. butter/margarine

Combine chilies, mayo and mustard, spread on each slice of the inside of the pieces of bread. Top with 1 slice of cheese and 2 slices of roast beef. Cover with remaining bread. Butter the outside of the breads. Grill sandwiches in a large skillet over medium heat until both sides are golden brown and the cheese is melted.

5 servings

Enjoy!!

The Lord Hath Blessed Me For Thy Sake...

This morning, the girls and I were doing our Bible reading...and I read this verse in Genesis 30...

"And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake."


The story is...Jacob had worked many years for Laban, his father-in-law. It came to the time that Jacob wanted to take his wives, children and belongings...and move and make his own life for himself. We then read in the verse above that Laban beseeched Jacob to stay. Why did Laban want Jacob to stay? He said, "...for I have learned by experience that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake." Laban knew that the blessings he had received in his life was only a result of Jacob.


What a sad point in your life to come to! Take a minute and evaluate your life. Is your life blessed? Where is your blessings coming from?


Think about your church. If you attend any church, most likely you are receiving blessings. But whose blessings are they? Do you just attend Sunday School and receive a blessing or do you participate in Sunday School and make that blessing yours? Do you tithe of your increase and have your own blessings or do you just share in the tithing blessings of others around you? Do you read your Bible for yourself and seek your blessings or do you just listen to your pastor on Sundays and share his blessings that he has received?


God has blessings for all His children! Go and find yours today!
Don't come to the end of your life's experiences...like Laban did...and realize that you have only experienced the blessings of others.

Being On Time...And Other Little Things.

This morning, I read in Matthew 25 - "His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."

There are so many things in life that are "Little Things". Things that really don't seem to matter much. The fact of the matter is...they do matter! A lot!

Let me share an example with you. I struggle with getting my two oldest daughters to be on time in the mornings. Even though they go to bed at 8pm and get plenty of rest...they are just slowpokes in the mornings! It seems to take them forever to get up, get dressed, eat breakfast, brush their teeth and hair and do their chores. They seem to be late every day to their school work.

I used to keep telling them..."Come on...come on! You only have 45 minutes left!" They got tired of hearing it...it didn't seem to make a difference...and it only served to aggravate me in the mornings.

Now, the new rule is, if you are late in the morning...you go to bed an hour earlier that night. If this doesn't prove to work...we will add corporal punishment (if you get my drift! ;). Why all the fuss, you say? My daughters home school so what does it matter if they are starting on time?

Yes, that is the easy way out - especially for me! But it is the little things in life that are sometimes the most important. Being on time - no matter for what - is important!

If I make it important in my kids' lives now...they will make it important for themselves in their teen and adult lives.

In college, they used to say...If you are not 10 minutes early, you are late!

Being on time is just one area that I want my kids to learn. There are so many "Little Things" in their "Little Lives" that are important. It is my job as a mom to make sure they are learning them.

What "Little Things" in your life do you need to work on? What "Little Things" do you need to teach your kids? Remember, you can't teach your kids something if you are not successfully doing that same thing yourself. Let's start this year right by just working on the "Little Things"!

My Church Update...

Many new happenings at our church...

Starting in February, we will be having Sunday School every week! I am thrilled! My husband and I enjoy sitting together in our adult class hearing great teaching on the Bible. My girls love going to their classes...every Sunday they ask - "Do we have Sunday School today?" I am so happy for this!

Saturday, Jan. 15, we had our first meeting of our new teen Bible club - Young Leader's Council called YLC. The director is Bro. Jake Allen and his wife, Megan. The teens will meet every Friday night at the Hampton Inn Conference Room at 5pm. It includes games, contests, funny videos as well as Bible teaching! Each teen has a YLC notebook to help them get into their Bible during the week. We hope to use this ministry as a tool to reach the teens of the public schools in our area.

We also held our quarterly business meeting and the members voted to raise my husband's salary $100 more per month. It is truly a blessing to be so loved by our church family!! We certainly don't deserve it but are grateful for every person in our church.

In March, we are holding our first Teen Rally! Last week, I mailed out packets to 21 churches in Nevada and California inviting them to attend our rally. I also picked up t-shirts for the rally that we had made by a local company. I also booked a flight and hotel room for our guest speaker-Bro. Chris Tefft. So much work and preparation is going into this rally. Please pray that God will use it to touch many teens' hearts for God!

I wish you could see Sunday mornings...every person pulling together...carrying in all the supplies from the church trailer...setting up chairs, the piano, the nursery...making coffee...setting up the projector for the song service...putting out the offering envelopes...putting out the signs out by the street...

Every week it is a machine...it takes many people to run! Thank you all for all that you do! Pastor Eric and I couldn't do it all without YOU!

Love you SVBC family!

The Hamster Wheel of Life

It has been a busy week for me...today, my husband stopped by our home for his lunch break and knew that I had been crying. He immediately said..."What's wrong?"

I broke down and said..."I just feel like I'm a hamster in a wheel...running round and round. I get one thing accomplished just to have another one staring me in the face. I feel like it never ends...I never get caught up...I can never get it all together."

Of course, he reassured me that I am doing just fine and I do a great job in everything I do. He's such a good husband! :)

Anybody out there ever have one of those days? Yep, I think we all have. That's why I love my mornings. Well...I enjoy them once my coffee is made and I have that first sip. :)

God's mercies are new every morning. Every day is a new chance to start again where I left off the day before.

And that, my friends, keeps me going and growing. Have a wonderful weekend!

It Doesn't Even Involve You...

Recently, I was talking with a family member. This person mentioned in passing something she had done in regards to child rearing. Immediately, my first thought was..."I would never do it that way!"
After our conversation was finished and I went on with my day, I still dwelt on that small thing. "I can't believe she does that...what is she thinking...hasn't she ever read any child rearing books?"
Later, the Lord struck my heart and said..."What does it matter? Why are you worried about this ONE little thing that this person is doing AND IT DOESN'T EVEN INVOLVE YOU!!! Rebekah, LET IT GO!!!"
Yep, you are absolutely right, God. (Well, obviously. LOL!)

How many times do we get upset about somebody else's business?
"Well...that mother should be disciplining her child this way"...
"Well...that man should not treat his wife that way"...
"Well...that wife should not go out as much and should stay home"...
"Well...that pastor should watch what he says when he preaches"...
"Well...that church member should be more friendly"...

Let me just say it...FIRST - to MYSELF - and then to others...
Let it go. It doesn't even involve you.
In our new Bible reading schedules this year, we have been reading one Proverb a day. I am devouring them...just trying to gain wisdom and understanding. If you are having problems in this area, read the book of Proverbs.

In Proverbs 14:16, "A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident."
The Bible also says in Proverbs 15:14..."The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness."

Wow. These verses speak for themselves, don't they?
I know that the next time I am tempted to get into someone's business...that doesn't involve me...and doesn't matter...then I hope God shuts me up.
I don't want to be considered a "FOOL" in the eyes of God.

Disneyland and Dreams...

The other night...I stopped what I was doing and while the girls were getting ready for bed...I started telling them about when I went to college. I have two younger sisters...and my girls always like to hear stories about their mommy and aunties. I told them how I got a new bed set and shared a room with another girl. I had the bottom bunk and so on. Tonight, one of my girls pulled out an old college picture of me. The girls commented about my dress...how long my hair was then...so I told them that was a picture of me even before I met Daddy. I said...I had a different boyfriend... (Don't think I will go there! LOL!) They ate it up. They loved hearing about those stories. They asked if I had any pictures of when I was a kid.

I then started telling them..."You know, maybe one day, you will go to college like Mommy and Daddy." We talked about college and where they might go and dating. We always tease them and say they can't date until they get married. Yes, it is far away yet just around the corner.

Without them realizing it...I am giving them a dream. Goals...godly desires...hopes...
My husband and I don't have specific dreams that maybe some parents do. Whatever our kids decide to do whether it is become a nurse or a pastor's wife...we will be happy.
But I want to give them a dream.

We have been planning our first trip to Disneyland for 3 yrs. now. So much talking...and looking at the Disney website...questions...and excitement! These girls have been dreaming about their first trip to Disneyland and now it is almost here. How wonderful it will be to those girls when all their dreams are fulfilled!

I had a dream attending public school...that one day I would go to a Christian college...and I did...and I loved it. I also had a dream as a teen girl that I would marry and become a pastor's wife...and I am.

Give your children dreams!

A Good Name

It seems lately, the topic of my husband and my conversations on our dates seem to drift to our four daughters and what their future holds. As our kids get older, the reality of life starts to hit you hard. Granted, our oldest is only seven and in 2nd grade, but that doesn't mean we don't think about it.

We often talk about if they will go to college...dating...the direction they will choose...a future spouse. We both agree that communication is such a vital key in rearing your kids. But that is another subject for another day.

This morning, I read in Genesis the story of Isaac and Rebekah. I think this is one of the greatest love stories in the Bible! It truly is amazing for Rebekah had never met or even saw a picture of Isaac...yet she chose to go with his servant and to marry him. As I read that story, I asked myself why?

It wasn't because he was tall, dark and handsome...well, perhaps he was...but she didn't know it. :) It wasn't because he had a charming or funny personality. She had never talked to him. It wasn't because he was smart and had a degree. It wasn't because he was famous. Even though he was wealthy, she didn't base her decision on that. It wasn't even because he "completed" her. Let me just stop right there and say this...even though I believe that my husband and I "complete" each other - that we have brought out the best in each other over our 9 years of marriage...that he is my soulmate...and all that...
God is the only person who really can "complete" you!!!

So...why did Rebekah choose to say yes and go to marry Isaac? I believe it was because Isaac had a "good name". What did this good name entail?

Abraham did not want his son to marry a heathen - someone who did not believe in the Lord God of Heaven.

As I think about my daughters' futures, one of my hopes is that they will marry a man with a "good name".
No, I do not mean a preacher. A good name in these things...
1. Salvation. He has trusted Christ as his Saviour and his name is written in God's book.
2. His work ethic. He has earned a good name by showing up to work on time, working hard and going the extra mile. He will provide for my daughter because of his work ethic.
3. His moral ethic. He has kept himself pure for his bride. Girls, if you marry a guy that has been immoral with others before you...you will be setting yourself up for later heartache. He will also strive to be pure mentally.
Save yourself great heartache...stay pure before marriage and marry someone that has also stayed pure.
4. His family name. A good name does not necessarily mean his family name. I came from a pastor's home with a good upbringing with a good family name. My husband came from a divorced home and not so good upbringing. There was divorce and immoral life styles, alcohol and drugs, prison, and no God or church in the home. However, my husband was saved and took a different path for his life. He changed his personal family name and made it into something good!
5. His leaders, counselors and family. Rebekah was encouraged by her parents and family to go and marry Isaac. If my daughter's pastor, godly leaders and her dad and myself do not approve her choice for a mate...I pray that she will reconsider her choice. Parents, this is why you should be proactive in your child's dating life. If our daughters go away to college, you can bet their dad and I will be traveling a lot and spending a lot of time with our girls and the guys they are dating. We are responsible for helping them make the right decisions...so we need to get to really know these guys. Parents can usually see right through a faker. They will see past the outside and see the true character.

Let's choose a "GOOD NAME"!

Loving and Hurting...

There are so many things new in my life lately...
...having my fourth baby.
...learning websites.
...adjusting my schedule to our busy life.

One of the new things was becoming a pastor's wife. Wow. What a change. I grew up as a PK...so many parts of the ministry was not new to me. Organizing potlucks...singing specials...playing the piano...secretary duties...and lots of unknown little things that just come along.

One part that I am still adjusting to...is how much you begin to love people. You hurt for people. You yearn for people to make the right decisions. You crave a good marriage for others. You cry when you see people fall. You rejoice when someone takes a step toward God.

Every week, it is an emotional roller coaster. I wish I could fix all the broken marriages. I wish I could help each young person go to their wedding alter pure. I wish I could make every father of our families stand up and be the spiritual leader in their home and the church. I wish I could have every Christian know the wonderful life that God can give them by choosing what He has chosen for them.

But I can't. My heart will hurt because I love. I won't stop loving though.

If you love...and hurt...remember...

1. Accept people just the way they are. Many times...what they do or don't do...will hurt. In many cases, they will never change. Just love them.

2. Then give it to God.

Tomorrow...I will wake up...grab my favorite sunny yellow Winnie the Pooh coffee cup...pour a cup of hot Folger's coffee with french vanilla creamer...head to the dining room table with my Bible...and give my thoughts to God.

Cause what is amazing...is how much God loves us. I know it is way more than I could ever love. I can't fathom how some days He feels. How His heart must feel looking down on this world. So when my heart hurts when I love...I have a perfect friend to tell...that I know understands completely.

Sunday, January 2-A Great Start!

Hunsberger Elementary where we meet

Nursery Class - James, Emmalee and Aimee

Mrs. Lisa Maxwell and Summer-the youngest Pastor's daughter :)

Mrs. Pam Hurley with helpers, Danyelle and Cortney, and the Junior age classes

The Teen Class with workers...Mr. and Mrs. Traynor and Bro. Jacob Allen

The Adult Class taught by Bro. Brad Hurley

Our church auditorium

Baptism service at the Hampton Inn

Mrs. Claudia Lewis

Brianna Purdy

Kayla Lewis

Here a few pictures from today's services - January 2, 2011.

We had our second Sunday School - we hold Sunday School classes once a month. I have so enjoyed Bro. Brad's Sunday School lessons on "What We Believe and Why". Today's lesson was how to study the Bible. My daughters are also enjoying their classes with Mrs. Pam, Mrs. Danyelle and Miss Cortney.

We had 39 in Sunday School and 50 in church. We also had 6 new visitors.
Bro. Eduardo was able to have a projector donated to our church. We were able to use it for the first time for our song service. We are not able to purchase new songbooks - and the ones we have used for our first six months just do not have many familiar hymns and we have exhausted the ones we do know. :) Now we are able to sing any hymn we want with our new projector! I am very excited to be able to introduce more of the great hymns of our faith to our young congregation!
After our morning service, we all traveled over to the Hampton Inn-our first "church building" :)...and had our second baptismal service with a mother and her two daughters being baptized - Claudia, Brianna and Kayla! We then went to the Teen Fellowship with our church teens and workers at McDonald's.
God is great and I am thankful for all the blessings in this day!!!