As you may know from my Disney posts, our family has a favorite vacation destination. Disney World during Spring Break though, is not my first choice. Since we are planning a WDW trip for a more favorable time of the year, we keep going and spending to a minimum on other holidays. So what did we do instead of a Spring Break trip this year? This family (minus the husband because of work) instituted our very first Pin-cation!

I chose some ideas from my Pinterest hoards, I mean boards, and we knocked out a few "pins".
By few, I mean 3. Maybe we didn't get a lot accomplished but we had fun with the ideas we tried.

First up was a Pin attempt just for me. For some reason I have been craving iced coffee. I'm not a normal, everyday coffee drinker; I only drink coffee when it is freezing outside, then only occasionally. I love the iced version better and never have time to stop before work. Thanks to Pinterest, I am now an at home barista and enjoy an iced mocha whenever I feel like it!

The night before I tried my new concoction, I brewed 2 cups of my new Blunder Bust coffee from www.blackriflecoffee.com. While the coffee was still hot, I stirred in 2 Tbsp cocoa powder and 2 Tbsp cane sugar till it melted in. I then added a dash of vanilla extract and stirred it up as well. Then I let it all cool.

After er the coffee/mocha mix was cool enough for the frigid, I filled half an ice tray and froze that for coffee cubes. The remaining mix went in a bottle in the fridge overnight. Before I left for work the next morning I put the cubes in a travel glass, filled the glass about half full of the coffee mix and then added enough milk till I got the cafe-au-lait look. I swirled a straw around to mix it up and voila! Iced Mocha! Happy Monday!

The next Pin was for the kids. My daughter had an art project due anyway so we tried the "paint by water gun" idea. I picked up some cheap supplies at our Hobby Lobby and headed home to set up.

I bought the little squeeze top paints so it would be easier to load the water guns. If you try it, we found it best to put a bit of water in the gun as well to thin the paint so it wouldn't clog. I leaned the canvases against our fence so the paint would run down, they each picked their guns and started shooting. It was a little messy but a lot of fun and we ended up with some surprisingly cute artwork.

Our last pin for the week was the "Microwave Brownie in a Cup" . This one was something my daughter wanted to try. The recipe called for 4 tsp each of flour and sugar, 2 tsp each of cocoa, water and oil, then 1/4 tsp vanilla. She dumped it all in a large coffee mug stirred it up and microwaved it for 30 seconds.

I will ill tell you, I had my doubts about this working out but it did. In just 30 seconds she created a little personal brownie! She was real excited! We both agreed that it could have been either mixed better or microwaved a bit longer as it was a little grainy. Also it was more of a dark chocolate taste so we might cut back on the cocoa next time.

We may not have gone anywhere for Spring Break but we had fun and may even have started a new tradition. Move over Stacation, I see many more Pincations in our future! What do you think? I would love to hear your pin-ventures.

Everyone wants to save money right? I like a great deal just as much as the next gal but I have zero couponing skills. I think the whole process intimidates me. In my small town there are not many coupons in the paper and I don't have the patience for weeding through online sources that may or may not be scams. I'm also not the type that buys something I don't eat or use just because there was coupon for it. I'm not a snob, I promise. I am in awe of hard core couponers, I just don't have the knack. I started trying out different apps on my smartphone though, and have had the most luck with the three I'm sharing with you today. 

EBATES- I always try to look on Ebates before I buy anything online. I have the desktop version and the app. A good amount of my shopping is  online because of convenience, especially around Christmas, so I go to Ebates to see what cash back deals are current, find one I need and shop through the link. Once my purchase is made, Ebates lets me know how much I get back and every 3 months I get a deposit in my account. If you sign up through the link on this page, or here, you can get your first $10 to start you on your way just for signing up. If you are already going to shop these stores why not get money back for it, right?

IBOTTA- This smartphone app I LOVE because it makes me feel like a Couponer! I kept this app because it was the easiest to use and I quickly built up a balance, unlike some others I tried. There are many well known chain stores listed and I always check Ibotta before I go grocery shopping. I make my grocery list, then check Ibotta for the items I need, check them, scan my items as I put them in the buggy, and scan my receipt when I check out. My rebate is in my account the next day and once it gets to $20 ( which is quicker than you think) I can turn it in to gift cards to use at Amazon, Applebee's, Old Navy and more, or just get it put in my PayPal. Sign up here to get started, and you get $10 just for signing up.

WALMART APP - Specifically, the Savings Catcher part of the app. This is not a coupon or rebate app per se, but it is a smart app to have if you shop at Wal-Mart. Shop as normal, then when you are finished checking out, scan your receipt. In about 2-3 days, you will get a message letting you know if they found a better price in your area. If they found a better deal, you get the difference. Again, this is not a get rich quick plan but you might as well save on things you are buying anyway. I just let my cash back build up until we take a vacation, then get an egift card to use on things we need for the trip.

There you go. My favorite three apps to make money on your everyday shopping. Do you have a favorite? Share in the comments below, I love trying new apps!

At the very beginning of my working adult life, I was a sales rep for a cell phone company. This was way back, pre-smart phone days. Phones were mobile, texting took longer than talking ( hit the "4" twice for an "H", three times for an "I") and they were mainly for the driving age teen and up. You remember! That was only 15 or so years ago!
Now, smart phones are mini computers and it seems that everyone old enough to talk, has one. I was the weird mom that figured that as long as I was still going everywhere my daughter went, there was no use in spending money on this extravagance, no matter how many of her friends had them. When she was old enough to be left at softball practice or go to birthday parties or sleepovers unaccompanied, we gave in and hooked her up. She was properly appreciative and is a responsible technology user. Teens like my daughter were sort of introduced to the tech world slowly. Toddlers like my son have been exposed since birth!
This kid knew how to swipe the power on on his dad's I-Phone before he was ONE! Now at 3 and a half he has games on every phone in our household and can somehow manage to get on YouTube if we don't watch him. This is the new age and I am trying to be OK with it.

Recently , I saw a promotion on Amazon for Fire Kids Edition Tablet 7" Display, Wi-Fi, 8 GB, Blue Kid-Proof Case, for Kids for $79.99 ( At last check it is $99.99) . I wasn't really looking for some sort of kiddie tech toy, it just jumped out at me. I thought, "It will keep him off our phones and make sure he only has access to what we want him to have." So I read the reviews, thought about it, read reviews again and thought "Let's try it"! What sealed the deal for me? Two things; price and no questions asked 2 year warranty!I have Amazon Prime so it was delivered in 2 days, free shipping! The tablet was very easy to set up right out of the box, which is pretty great since I don't like reading directions. My particular package came with a free 1 year subscription to Free Time (SWEET!) and picking out age appropriate games and books was a breeze. Set up might have taken 30 minutes, tops, then I just charged it completely. By the time I picked up BG after work, he was ready to start playing Star Wars Rebels and watching Mickey Mouse Club House Appisodes!

Am I all for parking my kid in front of the TV or device for hours on end? NO! Am I for giving them something quiet to do in the car or anytime they need to wait quietly somewhere? Yes! Am I for maybe using the use of the device as a reward for good behavior and the loss of privileges for bad behavior? ABSOLUTELY! Little Man has had his Kindle for almost a month now and still loves it. I can add new books or games when he gets tired of the ones he already has so he doesn't get bored. I feel a little less guilty because he is actually learning from most of the content and if you want, there are parental controls to specify goals and time limits. WIN, WIN!
The world we live in is increasingly digital, so why not give your little techie a head start if the price is right?

"Ain't it funny how some people pop into your head so easily, I haven't seen you in there for so long." - Dawes
​
Some people have indeed popped into my head lately. Some of these people recently in my thoughts I see regularly, some I only had contact with once and some are from my early, formative years. I really want to tell you about them. Stay with me, I have a point.

First, there is the lady from church that I thought was so cool. She must have taught Sunday school but I forget. When her name flits through my subconscious now days I just remember going to the park with her sometimes for picnic's. I remember she was friends with my parents and grandparents. She was in the military. I still remember a funny thing she said. "Boise Southern, keep your dress-tail down!", she would say when the local paper mill was causing an odor. I can't remember the details of what she looked like but I remember she was kind and patient to a little girl that latched onto her.

Then, there is the family from the same church that had daughters nearly the same age as my sister and me. We would go home with each other after church and play till it was time to go back for evening services. I remember some of the details of their house; we played school in the hall. I remember the mom making sure we were presentable for church before we went back, fixing our hair, that sort of thing.

Fast forward a few years. New city, new church, new school. I remember a quiet, humble lady. A lady that played with my mom on the church softball team and refused to play in pants or shorts, opting instead for a knee length jean skirt. My preteen self didn't understand why, since our church placed no restrictions on pants or shorts. My older self understood her convictions, and was thankful for and could appreciate her example of feminine modesty.

Forward again to high school. One of my husband's best friends. I mean real friends! This guy was with my husband through pee wee football, junior high and high school. This friend that was always respectful to me when few boys are at that age. The young man that was in our wedding and my husband was in his. The man that was back in town visiting his family recently and showed up at my father -in- laws funeral. This man and his family, from parents to children, is in my mind often, with no negative thoughts attached.

How do I tell you about the others. How do I tell you about the old, like 90 years old, man that still worked in his own garden and would bring vegetables for the ladies in the office when I worked at the hospital in college. How I was amazed at his grit. I have no time to tell you about the co-worker, that prayed at her station at work and made me not so self conscious about praying at mine. How I cheered her on as she has advanced her education and career while raising a beautiful, wonderful daughter. She probably doesn't know. Or about the lady at my church that I will forever associate with the best hugs ever! I wish everyone could experience a hug from this lady who's God given gift must be to pour out love and peace and warm fuzzies through a mere HUG! Then there is the lady that makes it a point to get all us others together for a Lady's Day, and shows such support for our youth group. Let me not leave out the total stranger that prayed over me not even three weeks ago when I had surgery. Or the stronger than you can imagine, wise, christian example lady from church that is who-knows how old ,was married to her husband for 60 years and still drives around in a zippy sports car.

Where am I going with all this, you ask?

Here we go.

Every person I just mentioned is black. Non-white. African -American. Black. I am not.

Why do I mention this? It doesn't matter. Not to me. The world in general wants to make a deal of it though.

I mention these people because the world wants to divide us into groups and I don't want to be divided. As Tennyson said, "I am a part of all that I have met". Let that sink in. Divide and conquer is a strategy as old as time. These days! The news! The devil! They make you doubt those people were ever part of your life. They want you to forget the kind lady, the friends mom, the brothers and sisters in Christ that helped form who you are. Forget the friends you went to school with, the ones you shared with, the ones you ate at the same friggin' table with! The world says, gone are those positive influences on your life, here is the bad! The world wants you to believe goodness and respect and human decency doesn't exist anymore! The world wants you only to focus on the bad, and the sad thing is... We are. We are so bombarded with hateful images and statements that if we are not careful we get swept up in emotions and forget truth. Not my truth, his truth , her truth, their truth, our truth, I'm talking about THE TRUTH!

The John 14:6 "the way, and the truth, and the life," truth!

Take a timeout, turn off the news, shut down your Facebook and read His book. I'm not being funny, I'm begging you. Let cooler heads prevail!

We get so caught up in the immediate emotions that we don't take time to think, pray, seek answers from the only One who has them. We make judgments and vast blanket statements before we remember who we are. Children of God! Citizens of Christ's Kingdom! Not separated by our color but joined together in this earthly journey by His saving blood! I'm ashamed of us. I know it's hard to not get caught up in the injustice of what's going on, it's hard to not take sides, God knows I know! Literally, He knows! I know this because I struggle with righteous anger.

I struggle! I perceive an injustice and ,Lord help me, my first instinct is to lash out against it. I am Simon Peter in the Garden, cutting off the ear of the man that dared take my Jesus. God knows my struggle and I have faith He will help me overcome it. Part of overcoming is realizing that I have to stop a beat and think. Anger, no matter the cause, is an ugly emotion. It's right there with hate, jealousy, pride...see where I'm going? While you are angry in your corner and I'm angry in mine, it's easier for the Enemy to deal with and defeat us separately. Wonder who uses those emotions for control? Who's controlling you?

There are a few things I want you to read and think about before I'm done. I'm not even going to comment on them, I'm just going to let God work through His word and your heart.( I'm preaching to my self as well, believe me)

1) “If you love only the people who love you, what praise should you get? Even sinners love the people who love them.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:32‬ ‭NCV‬‬
http://bible.com/105/luk.6.32.ncv

2) “I may have the gift of prophecy. I may understand all the secret things of God and have all knowledge, and I may have faith so great I can move mountains. But even with all these things, if I do not have love, then I am nothing.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:2‬ ‭NCV‬‬
http://bible.com/105/1co.13.2.ncv

3) “Your love must be real. Hate what is evil, and hold on to what is good. Love each other like brothers and sisters. Give each other more honor than you want for yourselves. Do not be lazy but work hard, serving the Lord with all your heart. Be joyful because you have hope. Be patient when trouble comes, and pray at all times. Share with God’s people who need help. Bring strangers in need into your homes. Wish good for those who harm you; wish them well and do not curse them. Be happy with those who are happy, and be sad with those who are sad. Live in peace with each other. Do not be proud, but make friends with those who seem unimportant. Do not think how smart you are. If someone does wrong to you, do not pay him back by doing wrong to him. Try to do what everyone thinks is right. Do your best to live in peace with everyone. My friends, do not try to punish others when they wrong you, but wait for God to punish them with his anger. It is written: “I will punish those who do wrong; I will repay them,” says the Lord. But you should do this: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. Doing this will be like pouring burning coals on his head.” Do not let evil defeat you, but defeat evil by doing good.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:9-21‬ ‭NCV‬‬
http://bible.com/105/rom.12.9-21.ncv

Sometimes we need to hit the reset button. Stop and think. Remember who you are. When you remember who you are help someone who doesn't know yet. That's what we are here for!

When it gets scary, and I hope things don't get much scarier, remember: “My dear children, you belong to God and have defeated them; because God’s Spirit, who is in you, is greater than the devil, who is in the world.” - 1 John‬ ‭4:4‬ ‭NCV‬‬

I hope it made sense! Love and peace to you all!

Remember when you were young and played outside till dark.  The darker it got, the more your eyes adjusted so you could see better.  Then someone switched on the porch light and your eyes were drawn to that brightness.  When you looked back to the yard , you couldn't believe it was so dark. 

Last week our Bible study group covered Proverbs 6 - 10.  In these chapters it dawned on me how pleasing Satan has made sin look.  We read of how the lying woman uses her "beauty" and "pleasing words" to capture in Proverbs 6:20-23.  We are told how she decorated her sinful bed with "colored coverings" and "perfume". The devil has had ages to perfect his pitch and he is still ensnaring us today the same way as in Bible times.  

If we think of these warnings as they apply to our everyday lives, not only marriage, we see many instances where we are deceived into venturing outside of our relationship with God.  Do we not let the allure of TV and pleasing words of a good book keep us from time we could spend in Scripture?  Do we not let many "colored coverings" of the world distract us from knowing and telling others HIS truths?  God gave us a great big, wonderful creation to enjoy, but not at the expense of our relationship with HIM.  We have all sinned and fallen short.  Everyone will at one time or another venture into the darkness of sin, the important thing is NOT staying there. Don't let your eyes become adjusted to the darkness.

Sadly some souls have spent so much time in the dark that they can see pretty clearly there.

Last week I wrote a blog post about the chapters we were covering and it never made it to the page.  I tried three different times to upload the post but on the last try, I completely lost the whole thing.  I was upset about it but then Friday happened.  With one decision the Supreme Court caused division in our nation and sadly even out churches.   Maybe I was supposed to write my post from this perspective, I don't know.  I do believe that God has a purpose for everything.  I am thankful that a year ago I somehow stumbled onto a page that led me to the Good Morning Girls Bible Study.  I am thankful that I have learned a way to study the scriptures that works for me.  I am thankful that I am right now studying Proverbs with the GMG's so I had HIS words on my heart when my heart was angry about the decisions of the world.  There is hope. There is light.

For all the warnings of Proverbs, the book also gives us advice to obey HIS commands ( 7:2 ), guard HIS teachings (7:3), write them on our heart (7:3).  Wisdom is "shouting to all people" (8:4), and what wisdom says is "right" and "refuses to speak evil',(8:7). One of my personal favorites in light of recent events is Proverbs 6;20-23, it  says ...

          My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. Bind them always on your heart;
fasten them around your neck. When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you;
when you awake, they will speak to you. For this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and correction and instruction are the way to life,

There are many souls playing outside in the dark.  The more time we spend in HIS word , studying HIS teaching, the brighter "porch light" we can be to others.  How wonderful would it be if we were so charged by God's Word that our "porch light" shone so brightly that the eyes of those playing in the "dark yard" of the world were drawn to the Light and were no longer able to see in the dark!  It can happen!  I sincerely urge you to spend time in HIS word everyday so you can be a bright light to a dark world.

Today my daughter has tryouts for a school sport.  She really loves what she does and is always improving. She is READY to try out!  In her mind, she is a little nervous but she loves playing ball and will continue to play somewhere no matter the outcome of these tryouts. All-in-all, she is calm, cool and collected.

Me on the other hand?  I'm a hot mess of doubt and worry.  Like, make-me-sick stressed out!  Ridiculous right? RIGHT!

I have faith in my daughters ability. I feel like she will perform well.  She has the best, respectful, no-drama attitude any coach would want.  The problem is, I am not in charge.  It's not up to me.  I have no control over the outcome of tryouts. If she makes it, GREAT!  If she doesn't , we will handle any upset and LIFE WILL GO ON!  

While I was telling myself to chill out, I was walking into work.  Head down and a whole inner dialog playing in my head, I just happened to notice, out of all the billions of rocks in the parking lot, the one pictured below.  My eye had subconsciously caught the heart ( not painted or drawn , I checked!)  on the rock.  In keeping with the "notice the good in the every day" theme, I thought, "This is it, this is my thing for today".  You can interpret my super cool rock find as coincidence but after a bit of reflection I think God was telling me to chill out too!  

God knows me, my wants, my wishes, my needs.  He also knows my daughters, and yours!  Just stop and think about this verse....


For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. - Jeremiah 29:11


Awesome, Right?  


This tryout, for this team, this year is something important to one of God's children RIGHT now, but HE sees the bigger picture! He has plans for my girl! My little guy! My Hubby! Me! You! There is comfort in that!  So go about your day today, with a heart for God, eyes open for His hand in your everyday life and know that, 

... all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.-Romans 8:28



And when God gives you a rock with a heart on it, chill out and reflect on what He may be trying to tell you:)