Dance in the Rain: Learning to Say YES!

Have your kids ever asked to play in the rain? Mine have...and I have always said no. I don't like to be wet, I don't want them to get wet...seems just too messy.  Probably not a good reason to not let them play in the rain. ( I am not talking lightning here)

Growing up my dad's rule of thumb in parenting was to always say yes when you can because there are so many things that you will and must say no to.

So often as parents we have already decided the answer before our child has even finished asking the question. Maybe it is because we are too tired to even think about what it is they are asking or we are in the middle of something else. Sometimes it's because it is easier to pull the "because I said so" card and say no. Maybe it is because saying yes will require something of us, like our time.

Sadly to say I have been guilty of all the reasons above. I often say no because it is the easiest thing to say at that moment, and just as often I am met with eyes full of disappointment.

So I am working on saying yes more often.

Like when this one asks to eat marshmallows in her chair while watching an episode of Full
House...in her messy room. My logic tells me to say NO! But then I ask myself "why not?"

                                  

I think my dad was right. There are so many things that we, as parents, as Christian parents, will have to say no to, so why not say yes as often as we can.

I heard a preacher say one time "If it doesn't affect eternity...then let it go."

So next time it rains..... this girl and her four kids are dancing in the rain...because I WILL say YES!

Schnucks...Triple Coupons...Yes, Please

There is nothing that gets me more excited to go grocery shopping than when Schnucks, or any store for that matter, has a triple coupon week.

Guess who is excited to go grocery shopping this week?

When I am excited I like to share..so I figured I would share with you some deals that I have seen just by scanning their ad.  

General Mills Cereal as low as FREE

Selected Varieties of GM Cereals are on sale this week for 4 for $6 or $1.50 when you buy 4
Use the following printable coupons to score them for free:
$0.50 off ONE BOX Original Cheerios cereal
$0.50 off ONE BOX Cocoa Puffs cereal  
Purchase two of each cereal, remember you can print each coupon off twice, and they will each triple to $1.50 making it all FREE!

If you want a variety of cereals you can print off the following coupon and still score a great deal!
$1.00 off TWO BOXES any General Mills kid cereals  

Totinos Pizza Rolls - $0.50
Use the $0.75 off THREE PACKAGES Totino's Rolls Snacks coupon, which will triple, making them only $0.50 each. My kids like these for an after school snack sometimes.  

Pillsbury Toaster Strudels - $1.25
Use the $0.75 off THREE Pillsbury Toaster Strudel coupon which will triple making them only $1.25 each. If you like these, this is really a great price.  

Hormel REV Wraps - $1
Use the $1.00 off 2 HORMEL REV Wraps coupon. This will not triple, but they are on sale for $1.50 each, so after coupon $1 each. I haven't tried these, but my oldest daughter and one of her friends have and they both really liked them. They make a nice little snack.


These were the deals that I immediately saw for the available printable coupons. I am sure there are more that I have missed. I am planning my trip for either tomorrow or Friday. If I find amazing, too good not to share deals...well, I will share them with you! Happy grocery shopping this week!

They Call Me Mama

And can I just say that I totally love it!

Not sure how my two oldest girls came to call me "mama" as opposed to "mom, mommy, etc." like the others (I don't get called "etc" by the others, promise ;))

When they call me that my mind wanders to the memories of hearing my mom call my grandma "mama". My grandma, who has gone on to be with Jesus, was a kind soul, who loved her family something fierce. She was an incredible hard worker, who rarely, if ever, sat idle, for even when she was sitting she was crocheting an afghan for someone.  Whenever I read Proverbs 31:27 that says "She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness."  I think of my grandma, that verse fits her perfectly. 

I strive be the "Proverbs 31" woman and fall short greatly in spite of the wonderful examples that have been set before me in both of my grandmothers and my own mom. So for a moment when my daughters call me "mama", not only do I feel all nostalgic but in a way I feel like maybe, just maybe a little bit of my grandma is coming out in me and maybe I am a step closer to being the "Proverbs 31" woman that I long to be. 

Linking up to Casey..check it out!

High School...We Got This!

Our oldest starts high school this year.

In less than 24 hours.

We attended her open house the other night. As I was following her from room to room, wading through a sea of teens and their parents, I started looking around and thinking about how some of these kids, maybe most of these kids here tonight, could play a role, whether it be big or small, in how the next four years of her life will go. 

Then I got scared. 

For her.

For me. 

We are new. We do not know very many people at all. We do not know their backgrounds. Do we share the same faith? Do they even have a faith? Are they nice? Are they mean? Will they introduce temptations to her that I have protected her from so far?

The reality is that there will be other Christians there and there will be those who do not have a belief system. There will be nice people and there will be mean people. Unfortunately, she will more than likely face temptation there over the next four years...that is what Satan does. 

So what as a parent, will I do, to help the next four years to be successful?

First of all, we will continue our before school prayer time. Every morning before school we pray together that we will have a good day, make wise choices, learn what is being taught to us and to be a light for Christ to others. 

Second, I will trust that the foundation my husband and I have laid for her will remain firm. That she will remember the times she has heard "it is easier to bring someone down than to pull someone up..choose your friends wisely" and "you are known by the friends you keep..again choose your friends wisely" from us. 

Finally...I will pray fervently for her and her friends. They will spend more awake time with her than I will on most days, I need them to be just as strong as I know our daughter is, so I will cover them in prayer too. 

Our oldest has a very strong faith. She has seen the Lord work in her own life even at her young age. Her heart's desire is to be used by Him in a mighty way. While I am nervous about the "junk" that her and every teenager has to face today, I am thankful that she serves a God who is bigger and mightier than anything that Satan could ever throw at her!

On a lighter note....please pray for me and her dad...we are parents to a high school(er)...who is not shy about her interest in boys....yikes...lots of prayers folks, lots of prayer ;)

Linking up at Raising Homemakers (Great website for moms of daughters)

School Registration + Tax-Free Weekend

I registered three of our four kids yesterday, registration for the oldest is not until Monday.  They are so excited to go back to school. They are eager to make friends. Over the summer our oldest made the high school cheerleading team, so she has already had the opportunity to make new friends and I assume has proven herself friendly since she has already had friends over to hang out and stay the night. 

As I had posted on Facebook, the registration went great! While there it was mentioned a time or two or three about how organized I was ;)  Apparently not all students come prepared with all of the paperwork that is needed. I, put on a good show, and came completely prepared...BOOYAH!

We met with the Assistant Principal. She shared with us how they are a tight-knit group there at the school. She and the Principal give out birthday presents to all the students...a perk of going to a small school I guess..it certainly caught my kids' attention!

I also learned that I will not have breakfast duty once school resumes...yes, be jealous! All students are given a FREE breakfast every morning that is served in their classroom. Of course, I am trying not to be too excited, with my luck they will serve one of the kajillion things that my kids do not even like for breakfast..here's to hoping though!!

And as if that was not enough good "going back to school" news...this weekend is tax-free weekend in Missouri! 

Happy Back to School Everyone!!