Grocery Shopping

I am still trying to figure out how to get the best deals without wasting gas and hurting my back in the process. :-) I just recently began shopping at Aldi's, and I love the prices. However, they almost never have everything I need which means I go to other grocery stores to supplement. Yesterday's shopping trip was the worst in a while, probably because there were several errands which needed to be juggled at once. When I got home, I was just exhausted.
However, I felt that I had done well considering the stocking up that I did. A local grocery store had butter 2/$4 (real, unsalted butter), and Walmart had cream of chicken and cream of mushroom on sale for 65 cents. I usually try not to use those too often, but the holidays are coming up which means quite a bit of cooking, so I thought I should stock up. Between the sale and my coupons, I bought three cream of chicken, three cream of mushroom, and eight tomato soups and spent $7.30. I then bought six bags of frozen veggies ($1/1 coupons for each) and spent about 23 cents apiece on them.

Larry King/McCain Interview

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/29/lkl.mccain.excerpts/index.html

Walgreens

I spent $22.04 out of pocket.

I will get $17.02 put back on my gift card.

I got $8 in Register Rewards.

I will get $5.99 rebate from Excedrin.

My total profit will be $8.97!! And that is with the diapers!

Mail

See what I got in the mail today?! I wasn't even expecting this. I got it through VocalPoint, so I guess joining has paid off! I go to their site every so often to do a survey (usually five minutes or so), and every so often I get fun things like this in the mail! They also sent about four or five coupons!

Think before you ask...

Do I want a proctology exam?
That's what Joe Wurzelbacher (a.k.a. "Joe the Plumber") feels that he has gotten just for asking an elected official a question. Full story.

Quotes from Benjamin Franklin

Sir, I agree to this Constitution with all its faults, if they are such; because I think a general Government necessary for us, and there is no form of Government but what may be a blessing to the people if well administered, and believe farther that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in Despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic Government, being incapable of any other.

This will be the best security for maintaining our liberties. A nation of well-informed men who have been taught to know and prize the rights which God has given them cannot be enslaved. It is in the religion of ignorance that tyranny begins

When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.

I saw these on the Common Room blog...I thought I would share...

Organic chickens...

I just opened my package of organic chicken (and livers), and the chicken is now roasting in the oven! I didn't realize that the livers were packaged with the chicken, so thawing the whole chicken resulted in thawed livers, as well. I just started my broth and dumped in the livers; I'll add the chicken carcass (that seems so yucky, but I can't think of another word) once it's been cooked and de-meated (?). :-) I'm curious to see if my broth will gel better with an organic chicken. Hmmm.
I just heard a bump. I think my son might have awakened from his 2-1/2 hour nap...it must be this rainy, dreary day.

Prayers

Here are a few prayers I found that Paul prayed for Christians. Sometimes I find myself having a hard time knowing how to pray, so I use these prayers.

Ephesians 1:16-19 (New Living Translation)

16 I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, 17 asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. 18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.
19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him.

Ephesians 3:14-19 (New Living Translation)

14 When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Colossians 1:9-12 (New Living Translation)

9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, 12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.

Philippians 1:9-11 (New Living Translation)

9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. 11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

Interesting

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081020/ap_on_el_pr/campaign_money

From what I can understand, McCain is open about who donates money to his campaign; Obama is not open. McCain even lists donors who he is not required to list. Hmmmm....

A few ideas for yogurt

I was talking to a friend about my success with my homemade yogurt, and she just wasn't too sure about the plain yogurt. So, I thought I would share my ideas on using my homemade yogurt.
Now, Nathan (my two-year-old) loves to eat my yogurt just as it is. He doesn't know any different, so he thinks it is wonderful. I, on the other hand, have taken some time to grow accustomed to eating yogurt that doesn't have extra sugar in it. However, as I was eating some yogurt today, I thought, "Hey, this is pretty good; I think I could even eat it on its own!" The thermos-made yogurt is just wonderful. :-)
Here are my ideas:
1) Dip - Use fresh orange, apple, peach, or most any kind of fruit slices and dip them into the yogurt. We love the orange slices dipped in yogurt.
2) Smoothies
3) Yogurt cups - When we went camping I made Nathan his own yogurt cups using little Rubbermaid containers. He loved it, and I had a quick and healthy snack for him!
4) Avocado dip - 1 avocado, 1 cup of yogurt, 1/4 cup green onions, and a dash of red pepper. Process in food processor...Yum!
5) Topping for oatmeal or soup.

Okay, my brain quit. I've also heard of people mixing yogurt with honey, which could be good for you if the honey is raw (having the natural enzymes and such). Also, it is quite a bit cheaper to make your own yogurt than it is to buy yogurt. One gallon of milk costs $4 (although I rarely pay more than $3.60), and a quart of good yogurt costs at least $3.50. One quart of milk plus 1/4 cup of yogurt makes one quart of yogurt, so you can get four quarts of yogurt out of one gallon of milk.
Enough? Oh, if you have a baby or toddler, I highly recommend starting them on plain yogurt. I believe infants 9 months and older can have yogurt. My whole goal has been to start Nathan out with healthy food so he will hopefully not have the cravings for junk food like I do. :-)

Little Things

It's definitely little things that make my day! We went to a museum this morning (yes, I took my two-year-old to a museum...it was my penance...), and I stopped by a few garage sales on the way home. I spent $10 on the books and toys! The lady wanted $10 for the books, and I asked if she would throw in the toys if I bought the books. I probably shouldn't have bought them, but they remind me of the kinds of books I loved to have around to read when I was young!

I am happy!!

Although I am in the middle of inner turmoil, I was dancing in my kitchen this morning! ;-) Okay, almost dancing! I found a nifty new way to make yogurt, AND IT WORKS!! After using my old recipe the first time, I have not been able to get it to work again. So, I went to the Internet for some advice. I found this page and thought I'd give it a try. It works!!! I heated my milk on the stove, not in the microwave, and the whole recipe worked beautifully. Whew. No more leaving the oven on warm all night long only to find warm milk awaiting me in the morning. ;-) I am happy.
Still having a bit of inner turmoil, though. It just might be because my grandmother (not the Texan one) is coming today and has invited herself to my mom's night out tonight. She will not be going, so either I make up a reason that neither of us can go, or I just tell her that I will have to go it alone tonight. That sounds so horrible, but I will not take her. These moms don't get mom's night out very often, and when they do, I don't believe they are looking to be talking to Grandmother all night. I do try to have common courtesy sometimes. ;-)
So, think of me as a heartless pig if you want...my yogurt still worked!!! Yippee!!!!

Morning Thoughts, Part 2

The point of McDowell's questioning was that we need more than "just because" as an answer to the question "Why do you believe?" There is so much information being fed to the masses about Christianity that Christians need to be informed about their beliefs.
I agree that Christians should know more about their beliefs than they currently do. I think that many Christians have become lax in their knowledge because America was, for so long, a predominantly Christian nation. That is no longer. Christians should be able to give an answer (a reasonable answer) for their faith.
However, there does need to be balance. We will not always be able to give an answer for every question that people pose. We will never be able to prove "without a shadow of a doubt" our beliefs or else we wouldn't need faith, now would we? I've seen some people want to argue until they are blue in the face about Christianity. That is unnecessary. People generally don't listen very well to blue-faced people, anyway. :-) Christians should be able to give an answer for their beliefs yet realize that only God can give the faith.
That said, I enjoyed hearing Josh McDowell speak. I think he leans a bit toward arguing, but he does enjoy debate. I would recommend his books because I think many Christians need the extra resources to enable them stand before the wave of humanism or any other of the "-isms" that are overtaking our country today.

My Morning Thoughts, Part 1

Evan and I went to a Josh McDowell seminar back in the spring. We both found the seminar very interesting and thought-provoking. When he was younger, McDowell actually set out to prove the Bible inaccurate; yet he finally decided after doing research that the Bible had more than enough evidence to support its truth. Once he had proven to himself the truth of the Bible, he knew that he could not dismiss the Bible as “hogwash” anymore but had to decide whether to accept or reject its message. He accepted. Josh McDowell has now written many books and done much research about the authenticity of the Bible as well as the beliefs of young people today.
Josh McDowell has an interesting way of starting his seminar. He begins by asking people why they believe in Jesus. People give various answers, and he gives various reasons why those answers could also be given by Muslims, Buddists, Hindu, etc. For example, Muslims have faith, Buddism has “changed people’s lives,” Hinduism can make people feel good. Its very interesting, and I really was hoping that he would not pick me out of the crowd. ;-)
Okay, I’ll finish my post later since I can hear my child in the other room. Honestly, though, what would you say in answer to a question like that?

Difference

Today I was looking through my fridge, and I had the random thought, "I wonder how different the contents of my fridge are today than a year ago?" Nice random thought, right? Here's what I could find:

1) Buttermilk: I did not generally buy buttermilk last year. Now, it is a staple. I use it to soak oats for oatmeal, make pancakes, and do a few other things.
2) Sauerkraut: I would never have had this in my fridge last year. Now, I have a mason jar of homemade sauerkraut in my fridge that I use occasionally for garnish (generally on bean soup). Supposedly, according to Nourishing Traditions, sauerkraut is a wonderful food for your stomach since it is fermented. Doesn't that sound delicious?
3) Whey: I don't use this very often, but I have used it enough that I think it will be gone before it's six month refrigerator life. :-)
4) Vegetable clippings: I now keep a container of onion tops, celery tops, tomato peels/ends, broccoli stalks, and any other random vegetable clipping for broth/stock.

Interesting, no?

Hard time blogging

Life is just so busy. Between taking care of Nathan, spending time with Evan, and doing all the things I do to keep our home the way I like it (gracious, I just sneezed, and Nathan came in here from playing blocks with Daddy to say "Bless you, Mom."), I just don't have the brain-power to blog half the time. I started carrying a journal outside with me, but half the time what I write isn't really interesting once I get a chance to sit down and blog. So I'll just write snippets. :-)
We had barbecue chicken with a tomato platter tonight for supper, and I absolutely love that salad/platter. Just to let you know.
I had my volunteer day in the nursery this morning. There are so many two-year-olds right now! They had to open three classes to hold them all. It's so funny to watch two-year-olds try to play. After going to our church for five years and feeling that it was just huge, I can now say that the church is definitely feeling smaller now. Having a child in the nursery and getting involved are two good ways to get to know people. :-) How brilliant of me.
Let's see, what other random things can I say? I am still keeping up with the coupons and deals; I just don't have the energy to post. I didn't even take a picture of my last deal at Walgreens! By the way, the Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Gel (the ones that stick to the side of the toilet) are strong!!! Every time I open the toilet lid I am almost overwhelmed by the smell! I wanted to get the citrus ones, but the Walgreens I went to didn't have them. Blech.
I can't believe how time flies. I can hardly believe that we are almost half-way through October. Maybe tomorrow I'll post a menu or something. I don't really know if anyone cares, anyway. ;-)
Enough of the rambling...

A Link

Here it is.

I love how a certain political party makes big promises on how they will use our money. They make people feel guilty by saying, "Oh, you can afford to have more taken away from you, really." They forget that the government is the absolute worst steward of money that ever was. Or maybe they don't forget; maybe they want us to forget. My reasons why the government is not my charity of choice:
1) Accountability -- non-existent
2) Efficiency -- non-existent (been to a post office or tag agency lately?)
3) Cost -- how many government officials does it take (do we pay) to change a lightbulb??
4) Personal responsibility -- we don't have to help the poor...that's the government's job

There you go. :-)