Ready to go...

Sitting here with a lot of various thoughts running through my head. :) My husband is away again for work...so it has been me and the girls. Yesterday after school, we had to do a few errands. For fun, we stopped at Sonic. They have Happy Hour from 2-4pm...that's means they have slushes for $.49! My girls love slushes especially when they find the cherry in them! My personal favorite - their caramel java chillers! Simply divine!!! It is truly a happy hour! LOL! I also found the cutest dress for Ladies Conference...white, black and green and a black purse to go with it. :) I also found a Calvin Klein jean skirt. All thrift store specials. LOL!

Today, I spent most of the day preparing to leave for Ladies Conference. My daughters will be staying with their Papa Tastet in the day and Daddy at night. :) Summer will be going with me. So lots of packing and preparing today. I went tanning at the salon in the afternoon and stopped by Smith's for a few snacks - OK...I am an Oreo addict so I had to get more Oreos...anyways, I got two bottles of Herbal Essence Conditioner on clearance for $.09 each! Woo hoo! Yep, love those deals! :)

My girls were helping me pack and Autumn asked me..."Can I have this outfit when you are a Grandma?" I just burst out laughing. It was so sweet and sincere yet funny! They try to claim all my outfits and shoes...I shall have no wardrobe left when my girls become teenagers! LOL!

So here we are expecting another snow storm to pass through starting tomorrow! Four feet of new snow at the top...two feet at Lake Tahoe and 4-7 inches in the valley. Not exactly great timing since we have to travel over the pass...however, it is all good. :) I hope anyways...if you remember the last time I went over the pass - it was with my husband going to a football game. Yeah...pretty much a nightmare. Well, that is not exactly the most positive way to think! LOL!

They even mentioned possibly snow in San Francisco?!?!? The only time I go to CA...and it will be winter. Sigh.

So...tomorrow we are leaving for Napa! Keep us in your prayers! I am looking forward to a great time with our ladies! Pictures and stories when I return!

Napa Valley...Here We Come!

Thursday, I will be going with a few of our church ladies to Napa, CA for a ladies conference. Just thought I would share a few pictures of the Napa Valley with you! It is a beautiful place!

Recipe: Bacon-Beef Barley Stew

I was asked for the recipe for beef stew...so here it is!

Great hearty meal for the chilly month of February! :)

Bacon-Beef Barley Stew

4 bacon strips, chopped

1 1/2 lbs. beef stew meat, cut into 1/2 inch pieces

1 medium onion, chopped

4 medium red potatoes, cut into 1/2 inch cubes

1 bag of baby carrots

1 can of corn, drained OR 1 cup of frozen corn

1/4 cup of medium pearl barley

2 cans beef broth (14 1/2 oz. each)

1can diced tomatoes with basil, organo and garlic, undrained (14 1/2 oz.)

1 jar of homestyle beef gravy (12 oz.)

1/2 tsp. pepper

In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Using a slotted spoon, remove to paper towels to drain. In the drippings, cook beef and onion until meat is no longer pink; drain.

In a 5 qt. slow cooker, layer the potatoes, carrots, corn and barley. Top with beef mixture and bacon. Combine the broth, tomatoes, gravy and pepper; pour over top. (Do not stir.)

Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or until meat and vegetables are tender. Stir before serving.

***When I made this, we ate it in bowls just like you would beef stew.

I served the leftovers on mashed potatoes for a second meal...and liked it even better! It is very hearty and filling!

February

February...

...a short month. I am glad. :) March is usually close to spring - however, our January was much like spring. 50 and 60 degree weather and sunny skies. We are now having a pretty large snow storm...several feet in the mountains and several inches here in the valley. And cold in the 30's. I took the girls to the dentist today...and realized that I forgot to wear my coat after I got down the road. I had been used to just a jacket or sweatshirt all this time. :) We are now getting another blast of winter. I suppose that's OK...I picked up two new creamers for my coffee...makes the winter mornings very enjoyable. :) I love coffee!

Next week, I will be going to a Ladies Conference in Napa, CA with a few of our church ladies. We are all looking forward to the time together and learning many things from the conference. I hope the girls survive with their dad and papa while I am gone...kind of scary. LOL!

Trying out some new recipes...mmm! I think I will make some sour cream banana bread tomorrow. I made a yummy beef stew over mashed potatoes Tuesday and last night...shrimp risotto. Yummy! Cooking is good for the soul. :)

Of course, I have been hitting the stores for my couponing deals. :)

Enjoy your evening!

Happy Sigh Steals

OK...I just HAD to post about these steals tonight at Smith's! :)
Huggies Swimmers Diapers (Hey, Summer will need them one day! LOL!) -
Originally $7.99.
Clearance price: $2.00 per pack!!

Carefree Liners - Originally $1.09. On sale for $.65. MFR coupon $.50 off.
Final price: $.15!!!

Stayfree Pads - Originally $3.27.
On sale for $1.96. MFR coupon $1.00 off and BOGO Free.
Final price: One $.96 and one FREE!

Venus Divine and Vibrance Razor Cartridges
4 count - Originally $11.89.
On sale for $5.99!
8 count - Originally $22.41.
On sale for $5.99. Smith's e-coupon and MFR coupon both for $3.00 off.
Final price: FREE!!!!

I also got Adidas aftershave on clearance for $2.99!

**Happy Sigh.**

Your Legacy In Words

I was browsing through the book of Job...and pondering the story that God left for us about him. One of the thoughts that stuck out to me was this...

If the legacy of your life had to be summed up in one verse...what would it say?

Look at Job's wife...this is all that is referred to her in the entire Bible...

"Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die."

Job 2:9

And now...that is all she is remembered as. I could speculate that she was a godly woman...a good mother...a great housekeeper...a loving wife. We will never know though, until we get to Heaven and find out the rest of the story. God chose to tell us ONE thing about her.

I don't know how God would sum up my life so far. I would hope it would be something good.

We usually remember people by something they have accomplished in their life...she was a famous actress...he was a millionaire...she was the First Lady...he won the Nobel Peace Prize. But what if you were to be remembered by one thing you SAID and not one thing you DID?

It sure does make you think...

If the legacy of your life had to be summed up in one verse...what would it say?

Smith's Deals

To my Reno friends...here are a few deals at Smith's to grab...

Stovetop Stuffing: They had a few boxes on clearance in the back on sale for $1.30. I used a Smith's e-coupon and MFR for $1.00/2 and paid $.30 a box.

SunDrop 2 liters: On sale for $.99. Use a Smith's e-coupon for $.75 off. $.24!!

Pringles (Restaurant flavors): On sale for 1.48. Use a Smith's e-coupon and MFR for $1.00/2 and paid $.48 each!

If you haven't used these coupons...use them now - they are ready to expire:

Butterfinger Snackers: On sale - 2 for $1.00. With the MFR coupon - you can get 2 FREE!

Vitamin Waters: BOGO Free coupon. They are on sale this week for $1.00. Pay $.50 each.

I also picked up a bag of their small shrimp - 2 lbs. - 100-200 in a bag for $9.98. You can make several meals out of one bag. I made a shrimp pasta last night with them.

Recipe: Crab Stuffed Portobellos

Here is a recipe that would be great for an appetizer for a Valentine meal for your sweetheart...I have roasted red peppers in my fridge that I used for another recipe so I plan to use the rest with this one...stuffed mushrooms...so yummy! :)

Crab Stuffed Portobellos

2 portobello mushrooms (5 oz each)

2 tbsp. olive oil

1 garlic clove - minced

1 can crab meat (6 oz.)-drained, flaked

5 tsp. mayo

Roasted red peppers-drained

2 slices provolone cheese

Remove and discard stems from mushrooms. Place on greased baking sheet. Brush with olive oil and garlic. Broil 4-6 min. or until tender.

Combine mayo and crab meat. Top mushrooms with peppers. Top the peppers with the crab meat mixture. Broil 2-3 min. or until heated through. Top with cheese and broil until cheese is melted.

Mmm! Enjoy and Hapy Valentine's Day!

Summer Lyn...four months

This is our fourth daughter - Summer Lyn. She is now 4 months. I could just eat her up!

*Happy Sigh.*

I think she has my eyes and definitely my husband's chin and nose. (All my girls do! :) I personally think she is taking on the look of our second daughter - Autumn.

My friend, Shannon Traynor, took her pictures and again, did an amazing job!!! I just love them!!! Thank you to her! Shannon is our church's youth director's wife and does a wonderful job with the teen girls of our church! I am so thankful to call her my friend!

You can find a link to her blog on the side of my blog if you would like to see more of her work or are interested in having your pictures done. :) Her work speaks for herself.

Deals and Steals...

My Walgreens Trip:

Halls Cough Drops - Originally $1.99.
Walgreens coupon - $.99. MFR coupon - $.50 off.
Final price: $.49!

Garnier Nutrisse Hair Color - Originally $7.99.
On sale - $5.00. MFR coupon - $2.00 off.
Garnier Shampoo/Conditioner - Originally $4.99.
On sale - 3 for $10. 3 MFR coupons - $1 off each.
I spent $15.00 in Garnier products and received $5.00 Register Rewards.
Final price for 3 bottles and 1 hair color - $1.25 each!!

Gillette Fusion Pro glide Razor and Cartridges - Originally $10.99.
On sale - $9.99. MFR coupon - $4 off. Register Rewards - $4.00.
Final price: $1.99!!

My Smith's trip:

Gillette Men's Body Wash - Originally $3.99.
On sale -2 for $5. Smith's e-coupon and 3 MFR coupons-$2 off each coupon.
Final price: 4 for $.50 each!!!

Oral B Floss Picks (for kids) - Originally $1.99.
Smith's e-coupon-$.75 off. MFR coupon-$.75 off.
Final price: $.49!!

Suave Professionals Shampoo & Conditioner - Originally $1.99.
On sale - $1.68. Smith's e-coupon-$1.00 off/2.
Final price: $1.18 each!

Dove Deoderant - Originally $3.82.
On sale - $2.29. Smith's e-coupon - $2.00 off.
Final price: $.29!!

Spot Shot Instant Carpet Stain and Odor Eliminator - Originally $5.39.
On sale - $4.79. Smith's e-coupon - $1.00 off. MFR coupon - $1.00 off.
Final price: $2.79!

Tide Stain Release Liquid - Originally $7.49.
Smith's e-coupon - $3.00 off. MFR coupon - $3.00 off.
Final price: $1.49!!

My CVS Trip:

Dial Soap - Originally $2.77.
Sale - BOGO Free.
Final price $1.33! (Best deal I could find without a coupon and my hubby needed soap! LOL!)

Loreal Excellence Hair Color - Originally $10.79.
On sale - 75% off - $2.69. MFR coupon - $2.00 off.
Final price: $.69!!

Stride Gum - $.99
Extra Care Bucks - $.99
Final price: FREE!

Sunday School and Super Bowl :)

Busy, busy weekend! :) On Saturday, my husband did church visits in the morning...we then met Bounna and Thy Has-missionaries to Cambodia-and took them out to lunch. Bro. Jake and Megan were so great to open their home and host the Has's. In the evening, we went to our teen Bible club-Young Leaders for Christ-which we hold at the Hampton Inn every Saturday evening. We play games, watch funny videos, sing, do notebook checks and have teaching/preaching. Bro. Bounna taught the teens a great lesson-including an adventure with sharks and a floating dolphin head! You know the teens loved that!

Sunday, we had Sunday School. It is wonderful to see all of our people pull together on Sundays! I had great reports of Miss Cortney and Danyelle leading the singing for children's church! I was excited to see Miss Lisa and Megan teaching their first lesson for the nursery age children! It was a blessing to hear the good reports of the teen class...to see their class newsletter...and see the teens reminding each other to grab their five postcards to pass out this week for YLC. It was awesome to see 50 people participating in our Sunday School program!

After Sunday School, I was playing the piano and just saw people coming in to church! New visitors! We actually broke our record attendance yesterday - 65!! It was truly amazing! I was really expecting it to be a low day with the Super Bowl. Wow!

After a great morning service, we had a church Super Bowl party starting at 3pm in our youth director's clubhouse in their community. Food, fun and fellowship! I ate way too many helping of spinach and artichoke dip! :) And I never got any of Lisa's guacamole dip! :(

My husband and I are so blessed! What an amazing God we serve!

Summer Lyn...

Summer Lyn - 4 1/2 months. :) I just love this baby!

Smith's Deals :)

You guessed it! My deal from Smith's today...

Colgate Toothpaste-Originally $2.47 each. On sale for $.97. I bought 4 and used 4 MFR $.75 off coupons. Final price: $.23 each!!!

Old Spice Deoderant-Originally $2.29 each. I used a Smith's digital coupon for $1 off. I also used 2 MFR coupons for $1 off/2. Final price: $.79 each!!!

Consumed...

This week...I have been hurt by someone...someone who used to be a friend.

It has bothered me so much that I even had dreams about it. And they weren't good ones.

All week long...my heart was heavy with a depressed feeling. I just couldn't be happy.

This morning, as my husband walked out the door for work, he made this comment...

"Let me know when you are going to stop thinking about what other people have done and when you are ready to concentrate on us."

Yep. He is right. I was so wrapped up in what these others have said...and their actions...that I just let it consume me.

What do you have in your life that is consuming you? Is that thing getting in the way of loving your husband...rearing your children...your relationship with God?

Take time today to decide to be consumed...with the right things!

"Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established."

Proverbs 16:3