Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Watch Me on KSL's Studio 5 Friday
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Is Couponing Really Worth It?
Let me share with you what I was able to get this morning paying only $ 6.03 out of my personal pocket! You read it right SIX dollars and THREE Cents! Ready for the list of what I got. Plus I returned home with $22 in Register Rewards from Walgreens and $4 more Extra Care Dollars to spend at CVS on my next visit.
Here were my stops!
I bought 2 Herbal Essence Hydralicious Sham or Cond $2.88
Get $1.00 ECB
Use $3.00/2 Herbal Essence 2/8/PG
=.38¢ each after coupon and ECB
I picked up 1 Crest Pro Health Toothpaste (4.2oz) at $2.99
Get $2.00 ECB
Limit one
Use $1.00 Crest ProHealth 2/8/P&G
=$.01 overage
I used the coupons and a $4 in CVS Extra Care Bucks that I received on a previous visit. My total came to $1.13 and that included the tax! Plus she handed me $2 ECB for the toothpaste and $2 ECBs for the Shampoo and Conditioner. So I have an additional $4 off my next purchase!
Today is the last day for Safeway's $5 off a purchase of 5 Cereal Sale. That brought the Life cereal to .99 and the Quaker Oatmeal Squares to 1.49 and that was without coupons.Gratefully I had coupons! Safeway double coupons up to $1 off everyday. Thanks, Safeway!
Quaker Life Cereal, andy boxes $1 off 2 boxes and Quaker Oatmeal Squares Cereal, any 16 oz or larger .50 off 1 box (both expire 3-31-09) and both can be found in Red Plum2 that came in my 1/4 Sunday paper.
I separated my orders into 2 transactions. I bought 2 Life and 3 Oatmeal Squares per order. My total after coupons for 10 boxes of cereal was $4.90!
And then, we hit Walgreens! I love Walgreens! I really love Walgreens! They basically pay me to shop there. I'm not joking! With their great rebates and amazing deals plus with great coupons, I save so much money at this store! Plus they just announced they are bringing one to my neighborhood soon! I think they love me back!!Last month I received $51 in rebates placed on my giftcard! When you monthly tell them to place your rebates on your gift card, they even give you more money back! I love it!
So, today here is what I was able to get from Walgreens with nothing paid out of my pocket!!!
I brought home 4 boxes of Kotex 18 ct tampons, 3 jumbo packs of Huggies diapers, 1 jumbo pack Huggies Pull-ups (we're getting close to potty training), 2 Glade Sented Oil Lasting Impressions air fresheners (regular price each is @ $10), 2 Glade Sense and Spray Motion-Activated Air Fresheners (regular price each is @ $10), 2 containers of Lysol Wipes, and 1 4 oz (large size) Right Guard Xtreme Gel Deodorant.
Using my rebate money on my gift card and some amazing coupons, I used $50.31 from my giftcard ($7.37 was tax). Plus, they handed me $22 back in Register Rewards to use in their store before 3/24th! Click here to see all the Walgreens deals using coupons this week.
I couldn't use the $5 off diaper coupons.com coupons because they only go up to size 2 for that type of diaper. But I ran my coupons over to a neighbor who just had a baby. She's going to be able to purchase 3 packs of the newborn diapers for $15 and Walgreens is going to hand her a $10 off her next purchase coupon that she can use on her next visit.
Is Couponing Really Worth It? Today I decided that sometimes it truly pays to be coupon savvy!
Monday, March 9, 2009
FREE Family Home Evening Pack
"If you've been wanting some more great things for your Family Home Evening collection, here's a great opportunity!
'So I stumbled across this FREE offer from LIVING scriptures and I couldn't believe it!!! They just started giving the Hinckley Family Fun Gift Pack away as of yesterday!
Just enter your information you'll receive:
Journey to the Promise Land Animated Book of Mormon DVD
The Trek West "Docudrama" DVD
A 48-Page Family Home Evening Activity Book
8 Animated Book of Mormon character magnets.
All FREE and no shipping cost!!!'
CLICK HERE!"
Thanks again for the info, Bargain Moms!
Sunday, March 8, 2009
To Learn, To Do, To Be
Today I gave my first talk in Arizona. Yes, we have lived here for 3 1/2+ years. Somehow I had managed to slip under the Sunday talk radar. On Wednesday morning, my phone rang at 8:20 a.m.. It was Brother Carranza who nonchalantly asked if I knew who had the DVDs from a class we had taken with them. I told him we had just gotten them last Sunday, but that we had so much going on in our lives trying to get ready for an upcoming trip and trying to get our corporate taxes done. He was welcome to take them and watch them if he wanted. We've become very close friends to the Carranzas. We started talking about finance and the economy for a few minutes. Then, I told him that I better let him go because I needed to run my kids to school. Then, he dropped the bomb. There was something else he needed to ask me- if we would speak in church on Sunday.
Of course, I said we'd speak. So, today Ivan and I spoke in front of (I'm guessing) 400+ people. I wrote out my talk this morning with lots and lots of help from above!!!! I thought I'd post it for those of you who were unable to hear it in person.
MY TALK
We were asked to speak on President Thomas S. Monson’s talk given to the priesthood session of General Conference last October. I’m grateful for the chance I had to study this talk.
I was touched with how in tune the prophet is with what has been happening in the world around us.
President Monson said, “Many areas of the world have experienced difficult economic times. Businesses have failed, jobs have been lost, and investments have been jeopardized. We must make certain that those for whom we share responsibility do not go hungry or unclothed or unsheltered. When the priesthood of this Church works together as one in meeting these vexing conditions, near miracles take place.
We urge all Latter-day Saints to be prudent in their planning, to be conservative in their living, and to avoid excessive or unnecessary debt.”
As long as I can always remember the leaders of the church have urged us to get our homes in order. Lately, our bishop has been giving different families in the ward the opportunity to live off their food storage. I was grateful for the chance my family had to do this recently. I realized that I need to be prepared with more than just food and water. It’s nice to have extra diapers. They can’t be rationed like goldfish crackers!
Our neighbors and friends are noticing as individual families participate in this challenge. Lately one of my friends asked what it was all about. For those who are new to the church or just learning about the church, let me explain.
The church has published a pamphlet entitled All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage. In the pamphlet, we are given 4 steps to building our home storage.
The first step is: Gradually build a small supply of food that is part of your normal, daily diet until it is sufficient for three months. President Hinckley taught us “We can begin ever so modestly,” “We can begin with a one week’s food supply and gradually build it to a month, and then to three months.”1
Second, we are counseled to Store drinking water.
Third, we are asked to Establish a financial reserve by setting aside a little money each week, and gradually increase it to a reasonable amount.
And the fourth and final step is that once families have achieved the first three objectives, they are counseled to expand their efforts, as circumstances allow, into a supply of long-term basic foods such as grains, legumes, and other staples.
Of the new guidelines, Presiding Bishop H. David Burton says, “Our objective was to establish a simple, inexpensive, and achievable program that would help people become self-reliant. We are confident that by introducing these few, simple steps we can, over time, have more success.”
During the 80s, my dad was laid off from his job for a whole year. He did odd jobs to help bring in what money he could. My parents had 6 little mouths to feed. I remember my mom constantly expressing her gratitude for the blessings that had come to our family because they had followed the counsel of the church leaders when it came to food storage. I know that as we that as we follow these 4 steps and the council of President Monson that we will be blessed.
President Monson goes on to say, “Let us make our homes sanctuaries of righteousness, places of prayer, and abodes of love that we might merit the blessings that can come only from our Heavenly Father. We need His guidance in our daily lives.” One way we can make our home a sanctuary is by following our bishop’s council to read the Book of Mormon everyday with our families. As we do this, the Holy Ghost will bless our homes with its presence. As the world and all the chaos happening outside spins around us, we can feel the same peace we feel here at church in our homes.
President Monson stated “We have the hands to lift others from complacency and inactivity. We have the hearts to serve faithfully in our priesthood callings and thereby inspire others to walk on higher ground and to avoid the swamps of sin which threaten to engulf so many. The worth of souls is indeed great in the sight of God. Ours is the precious privilege, armed with this knowledge, to make a difference in the lives of others.
He then shared 3 imperatives (or duties) for those who follow the Savior in this sacred gospel work.
First, learn what we should learn.
Second, do what we should do.
And third, be what we should be.
First, learn what we should learn. President Monson quoted the apostle Paul who said to the Philippians in Philippians 3:13–14., “One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”2 And to the Hebrews in Hebrews 12:1–2 he urged, “Lay aside … sin[;] … let us run with patience the race … set before us, looking [for an example] unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.”3
One of my favorite primary songs is “I’m Trying To Be Like Jesus.” To try to be like Jesus, we must first learn how he was. How do we do this? We do this by trying to learn of him. As we study and ponder the scriptures, the Holy Ghost will teach us what we individually must learn.
President Monson went on to say, “Now, some of you may be shy by nature or consider yourselves inadequate to respond affirmatively to a calling. (That’s how I felt about giving this talk in Sacrament meeting.) Remember that this work is not yours and mine alone. It is the Lord’s work, and when we are on the Lord’s errand, we are entitled to the Lord’s help. Remember that the Lord will shape the back to bear the burden placed upon it.
Second, do what we should do. Once we learn what we should learn, we need to act on it.
President Monson stated, “No assignment is menial in the work of the Lord, for each has eternal consequences. President John Taylor warned us, “If you do not magnify your callings, God will hold you responsible for those whom you might have saved had you done your duty.”7 And who of us can afford to be responsible for the delay of eternal life of a human soul? If great joy is the reward of saving one soul, then how terrible must be the remorse of those whose timid efforts have allowed a child of God to go unwarned or unaided so that he has to wait till a dependable servant of God comes along.
The old adage is ever true: “Do your duty, that is best; leave unto the Lord the rest.”
People have asked me what my motivation is in sharing the gospel with my family, friends, and neighbors. My motivation is just this: When my life is over, I do not want to meet up with anyone that I loved down here on earth in paradise and have them ask me why I didn’t share something that I knew would bring them and their families joy and happiness not only on earth but for eternity. I could not live with that pain. So, I invite them whenever I can. I know how much joy and peace the gospel of Jesus Christ brings to me and my family and I want them to taste of those blessings as well!
Third, be what we should be. In 1 Timothy 4:12, it reads “be thou an bexample of the believers, in word, in cconversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in dpurity.”
President Monson urged all of us “to pray concerning our assignments and to seek divine help, that we might be successful in accomplishing that which we are called to do.” He continued, “Man must seek, believe in, pray, and hope that he will find. No such sincere, prayerful effort will go unanswered: that is the very constitution of the philosophy of faith. Divine favor will attend those who humbly seek it.”
Each one of these 3 duties build on each other. Prayer is a great example. We first need to learn how to pray. We learn that we address our Heavenly Father, we thank him for our blessings, and we ask for things we stand in need of, then we close in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ. Once we learn that we need to act upon it. We act by praying individually and as families at the beginning and ending of our day and over the meals we eat. As we do, we are blessed. But then, prayer becomes a part of who we are. We find ourselves praying in the car or as we exercise. It just becomes an integral part of our day.
I pray that we can each do our duty to the best of our ability. I know as we do this Heavenly Father will pour out his blessings upon us. I know that President Monson is a prophet of God and that he leads Christ’s church on the earth today. I know as we act upon what he taught, we will be blessed.
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen
Friday, March 6, 2009
My Sister-In Law Camille's Baptism
My brother, Chad, and Camille on her baptism day
Chad and his wife surprised us by coming to our home for Christmas last year. We were so happy to be able to see both of them again. While in Arizona, they went to church with us. Once they got back to Florida, Camille told my brother that she really wanted to start going to church. They started going to church, and she started reading the Book of Mormon and praying to know if it was true.
In the Book of Mormon, there is a promise given by the prophet Moroni. He stated, “Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.” (Moroni 10:3-5)
Camille felt in her heart that the Book of Mormon was true, but she wasn't sure she knew enough to be baptized. She started praying about it. She opened up to Heavenly Father expressing a concern that she wasn't sure she really knew how to pray. She asked him to teach her. She also asked him to let her know when she should be baptized.
She flipped open my brothers phone and selected scriptures. Usually it made her select which book and which chapter. But this time, it opened up directly to Alma chapter 34. She thought to herself, "That's not where I was reading." But she felt impressed to read what it had to say. This is what she read.
17 Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your afaithbcall upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you; unto repentance, that ye begin to
Wow! There was her answer about how to pray. She kept reading.
30 And now, my brethren, I would that, after ye have areceived so many witnesses, seeing that the holy scriptures testify of these things, ye come forth and bring bfruit unto repentance.
The gospel is true! It always amazes me how Heavenly Father knows each one of us and answers each one of us individually as we come to him in prayer. We are his children and he loves us all so much. This much I know is true!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Amazing Grace
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
My Kids Creating Recipes
Spencer wanted to have a turn as well! I love all the ingredients he chooses to mix together! It's classic!