Travel & Vacation: Spending Time with Family in Kansas
The plane was delayed due to rain, but now we are ready to go. Two little chickies all buckled in….one snacking and the other one with her nose already in a book. Thankful that the girls travel well.
The girls and I recently flew out to Kansas to spend some time with my family. We stayed at my parents house, but thankfully we were able to catch up with quite a few people while we were out there visiting. While we were in Kansas Jake was traveling with work so he was managing to stay busy too.
The girls even got in on the last part of my parents church’s VBS, which included getting wet with water balloons. I think the highest temperature I saw during out week and half in Kansas was 113 while it was hot the wind helped make it more tolerable.
A cooler full of mammoth water balloons for VBS game time the next day!
Lots of little water balloons too! I think by the end the count was somewhere around 300 water balloons. The kids loved it!
Karlie picked a variety of flowers from Grandma Penny’s gardens and displayed the flowers in a pie dish. They actually lasted almost the entire time we were out there!
Brina made a blue cat while Brandon is working on some blueberry cookies!
Karlie is busy socializing and creating play dough goodies too! Grandma Penny made some homemade play dough for the kids. They loved it (and were asking me to make some a couple days ago)!
Beautiful purple flower along the road in Harlan, Kansas
Some of my Great Grandma Viola’s rose bushes were blooming near the Kelly’s Store and the Post Office in Harlan, Kansas where she used work. She planted the roses many years ago and yet they continue to bloom every year! Grandma Vi had an amazing green thumb (something I did not inherit, by the way)! She loved flowers and I thought it would be appropriate to stop to snap a quick picture of one of her pretty roses while I was in the area!
Brina and Brandon hanging out in their giant tent they built downstairs in Grandpa Russell and Grandma Penny’s basement!
Three silly kiddos hanging out in their fort tent while chomping on some “spicy” candy Aunt Renelle brought for them to try!
One of the girls favorite places to visit when in Kansas! A view of my parents house from the top of Windy Point.
Celebrating Father’s Day
Happy Father’s Day! We love you! XOXOXO
Happy Father’s Day to my Dad and my Grandpa’s for being there for me throughout my life and for continuing to make a positive impact in the lives of our kids. Happy Father’s Day to my amazing husband Jake Hayes who is a loving husband and a kind, caring, generous, considerate, and awesome Dad to our girls! Thanks for everything you do for us, all your hard work, the laughter, and fun memories you bring into our lives. I love you bunches and am grateful that God has allowed me to share this incredible journey with you! XOXO Happy Fathers Day!
Sending a Happy Father’s Day message!
The girls and I were able to spend the week before Father’s Day with my parents and extended family in Kansas. It was great getting to spend some time with my Dad right before Father’s Day since I don’t get to do that very often anymore with us being so far away. Thankful that my parents let us invade their house for about 10 days and the great memories we made while in Kansas.
We were not able to be with Jake for Father’s Day so the girls and I decided to send him a Father’s Day picture. They helped orchestrate and plan this “chalk message surprise” for Jake. They were bubbling over with so much excitement that I was afraid they would bust out with the secret before we got it done since we talked to him earlier in the day….they didn’t though.
He enjoyed his Father’s Day message from the kids (and the one furry critter that had to be in the picture too). While Father’s Day is a specific time to “thank” our Dads we are grateful that we can celebrate any time of the year. I am also, thankful that my brother and sister-in-law invited us hang out with them for a few hours on Father’s Day and for the delicious Low Country Broil they made for lunch!
Save A Lot: Deals for the week of June 19 – 25, 2013
The Save A Lot weekly ad deals are listed below for your convenience. It is a great time to stock up on some Save A Lot deals. Sign up for the Smart Shopper Club, by doing so you will get a $5.00 off of $25.00 coupon!
Meat and Seafood
Chicken Drumsticks or Thighs – $0.99
Fridge and Freezer
Save A Lot Milk (1 gallon) – $1.99
Coburn Farm Eggs (1 dozen) – $0.99
Chicken Nuggets, Strips or Dyno Bites (7 oz) – $1.00
Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls (5 count) – $1.00
Eckrich Bologna (12 oz) – $1.00
Popsicle or Fudgsicle (8 count) – $1.00
Tropicana Fruit or Berry Punch (59 oz) – $1.00
Fairgrounds Hot Dogs (12 oz) – $1.00
Sunny D (64 oz) – $1.00
Banquet Dinners, Assorted Varieties (4 – 9 oz) – $1.00
Produce
Tomatoes – $0.69 lb
Cucumbers – $0.39 each
Grocery
Save A Lot Today Soda (12 pack) – $2.50
Crystal 2.0 Purified Drinking Water (24 pack, 16.9 oz each) – $1.99
Ginger Evans Granulated Sugar (4 pounds) – $1.99
Libby’s Canned Pineapple (20 oz) – $1.00
Mrs. Freshley’s Mini Donuts or Honey Buns (16 count / 4 count) – $1.00
Mondo Fruit Squeezers (6 count) – $1.00
Gatorade (32 oz) – $1.00
Golden Baked White Bread (20 oz) – $1.00
Hormel Sliced Pepperoni or Hard Salami (3.5 oz) – $1.00
Splash Liquid Water Enhancer – $2.79
Thirst Quench’r Drink Sticks – $1.00
Fruit Fizzers Flavored Sparkling Water – $0.65
Splash Out Juice Pouches (10 count) – $1.99
J. Higgs Potato Chips (10 oz) – $1.00
Wylwood Canned Vegetables – $0.49
Kurtz Ketchup (32 oz) – $0.89
Kurtz Mustard (16 oz) – $0.69
So Cheesy Shells & Cheddar (12 oz) – $1.39
Remember you can use the $5/$25 printable coupon to sweeten these deals! Plus you can earn up to 5 additional $5 off $25 coupons for sharing the coupon with your friends. For more information about Save A Lot’s coupon policies go here. If you find additional deals or savings please let me know and I will add them to the list. Please make sure to check with your local Save A Lot store, the ads do vary per region.
Intentional Living: Weekly Goals
The girls and I were able to spend some extra time with my extended family in Kansas last week. The time went by too fast and now that we are back home (and mostly unpacked). I hit the ground running this past weekend when we landed in South Carolina and don’t think I’ll be stopping any time soon. There are many fun activities as well as long list of projects on the agenda this week, so I am hoping to get through a bunch of them while having fun along the way!
Last week’s goals
Family Goals
Read Imagination Station: Problems in Plymouthby Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (Book 6)
Plan one special Activity with the FamilyPlay a board gamePrepare for Upcoming Summer Events- Spend some time Monday – Friday having the girls read & do workbooks – we had a travel day in there but otherwise we did pretty well (and we even did some while traveling too)
Spend time with extended familyGo to nephews baseball game
Personal Goals
Drink 8 glasses of water each dayContinue my YouVersion plan(s)Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp– thankful for some down time on the airplane so I could finish this book!
Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals
All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one dayPay all upcoming bills– had a stack of them when we got home
Business Goals
Work on ideas for upcoming blog postsKeep up with the day to day items that need my attention- Work completed for clients – took time off last week since I was visiting family
Ministry Goals
Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
Financial Goals
- Payoff the Vehicles – working on it
- Pay medical bills in full – making payments
My goals for the upcoming week
Family Goals
- Read Imagination Station: Secret of the Prince’s Tomb by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (Book 7)
- Plan one special activity with the family
- Play a board game
- Prepare for Upcoming Summer Events
- Spend some time Monday – Friday having the girls read & do workbooks
- Go to Science Camp
- Prepare for a big weekend
- Ride bikes with the kids
Personal Goals
- Drink 8 glasses of water each day
- Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
- Pay all upcoming bills
- Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
Business Goals
- Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
- Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
- Work completed for clients
Ministry Goals
- Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
Financial Goals
- Payoff the Vehicles
- Pay medical bills in full
I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us. I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true. When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals. Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick). Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.
Why Share My Goals?
- To keep me accountable
- To share a piece of my life with you as I strive to be a better Child of God, Wife, Mom, Friend, Homemaker, Entrepreneur and the many other roles I have each week
- To have my goals consistently written down so I can gauge progress more accurately
- Create healthy habits in my life
- To encourage you to share your goals with me as you continue to grown and learn
How did you do this week on your goals? Feel free to share or link to your list of weekly goals.
The picture above is one that I created for my own purposes, however, The “SMART” acronym was originally coined 30 years ago by Peter Drucker in his classic work, Management by Results.
Heart Reflections: Oops I Did It Again!
Is it just me or do you seem to repeat the same mistakes too? Sometimes I feel like take two steps forward and one step back in the process (possibly at times is it more like 2 steps forward and 3 steps back).
It is hard to be find joy and contentment in every moment of every day, especially when it seems like no matter what there’s always little ripples that happen throughout the days, weeks, months, and years. How do we find joy in the moments when we want to just go back to bed or go somewhere quiet or escape the stress of life?
- Find joy in the little things. Everything may not be going well, but there is always something to be thankful for in your life. It could be your health, family, friends, a job, home, food on the table, a vehicle to drive, sunshine, or a whole bunch of other things we tend to take for granted. Taking a few moments to count your blessings can really change your outlook on life. A thankful heart is a positive heart.
- Point your focus upward. When we look to Christ for our guidance we tend to see a bigger picture and we realize that it really isn’t that bad after all. Yes, we make choices that can make life easier or more challenging for us, but we can also put our lives into the hands of the one who created the universe and trust that He really knows what is the best for us. Just knowing that He holds my life in his hand can take some of the pressure off my tendency to micro-manage all aspects of my life.
- Spend time helping others. We are by nature selfish people. When we take a few moments to focus our energy on someone else it can also lift our spirit too. Take time to do something nice for someone else today and don’t expect any reward (or favor returned). Not only will you help another person in the process your heart isn’t stuck on yourself and your issues.
If you find yourself repeating the same mistakes over and over again. Ask God for help, he can help you overcome even the little things that pop up in your life. Find people that you trust to be an accountability partners for you. You want people in your life that are not afraid to confront you if they see something in your life that isn’t wholesome for you and your family. Take time to pray and spend time with people who will encourage you to live a life that reflects goodness instead of repeating the same mistakes.
Look for the blessings in your life throughout each day. Turn your focus upward and outward. Every one of us has the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives around us.
Intentional Living: Weekly Goals
Last week was better even if I am running a couple days late with my weekly goal updates. The girls and I traveled a little last week so we could spend time with extended family. It has been nice catching up with Great Grandparents, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Nieces, Nephews, Cousins and more! This week I have a lot I want to do, but the schedule will be a little different from the normal routine.
Last week’s goals
Family Goals
- Read Imagination Station: Problems in Plymouthby Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (Book 6) – we’ve been busy and a little off schedule with the traveling last week
Plan one special Activity with the FamilyPlay a board gamePrepare for Upcoming Summer EventsCelebrate the Girls Last Day of SchoolSpend time with extended family
Personal Goals
- Exercise at least 5 days this week – didn’t get any official exercise done, but I was really active
- Drink 8 glasses of water each day – on the day the girls & I traveled I did not stay up on my water
Continue my YouVersion plan(s)Finish reading Overcoming Dyslexia by M.D. Sally Shaywitz– finished and returned it, now need to type out all my notes!
Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals
All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day- Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week – traveled part of the week so didn’t plan out those days
Pay all upcoming bills
Business Goals
Work on ideas for upcoming blog postsKeep up with the day to day items that need my attentionWork completed for clients
Ministry Goals
Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
Financial Goals
- Payoff the Vehicles – made another payment
- Pay medical bills in full – making payments
My goals for the upcoming week
Family Goals
- Read Imagination Station: Problems in Plymouthby Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (Book 6)
- Plan one special Activity with the Family
- Play a board game
- Prepare for Upcoming Summer Events
- Spend some time Monday – Friday having the girls read & do workbooks
- Spend time with extended family
- Go to nephews baseball game
Personal Goals
- Drink 8 glasses of water each day
- Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
- Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
- Pay all upcoming bills
Business Goals
- Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
- Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
- Work completed for clients
Ministry Goals
- Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
Financial Goals
- Payoff the Vehicles
- Pay medical bills in full
I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us. I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true. When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals. Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick). Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.
Why Share My Goals?
- To keep me accountable
- To share a piece of my life with you as I strive to be a better Child of God, Wife, Mom, Friend, Homemaker, Entrepreneur and the many other roles I have each week
- To have my goals consistently written down so I can gauge progress more accurately
- Create healthy habits in my life
- To encourage you to share your goals with me as you continue to grown and learn
How did you do this week on your goals? Feel free to share or link to your list of weekly goals.
The picture above is one that I created for my own purposes, however, The “SMART” acronym was originally coined 30 years ago by Peter Drucker in his classic work, Management by Results.
- Read Imagination Station: Problems in Plymouthby Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (Book 6) – we’ve been busy and a little off schedule with the traveling last week
Save A Lot: Deals for the week of June 12 – 18, 2013
The Save A Lot weekly ad deals are listed below for your convenience. It is a great time to stock up on some Save A Lot deals. Sign up for the Smart Shopper Club, by doing so you will get a $5.00 off of $25.00 coupon!
Meat and Seafood
Beef Bottom Round Roast – $2.99 lb
Assorted Pork Chops – $1.79 lb
Country Style Ribs – $0.99 lb
Beef T Bone Steak– $4.99 lb
Carolina Ground Turkey – $1.00
Hunt’s Snack Pack Pudding Cups (4 count) – $1.00
Chef Boyardee Canned Pasta, Assorted Variety – $1.00
Holten Thick & Juicy Beef Patties (32 oz) – $5.99
Hillshire Farms Smoked Sausage (12 oz) – $1.99
Use $1.00/1 coupon found on Winetag Hangtags
$0.99 each after coupon*Pick 5 for $19.99 promotion on going! Pick any 5 specially marked packages of your favorite cuts or types of meats, vegetables and more.
Fridge and Freezer
Totino’s Pizza Rolls– $1.00
Oscar Mayer Lunchables – $1.00
Home Churned Butter (45 oz) – $1.99
Banquet Dinners, Assorted Varieties – $1.00
Banquet Brown & Serve Sausage – $1.00
Butterball Turkey Bacon (6 oz) – $1.00
Pillsbury Grands Junior Biscuits – $1.00
Golden Baked White Bread (20 oz) – $1.00
Tony’s Crispy Crust Pizza – $1.00
World’s Fair Frozen Pops (10 count) – $1.00
Ballpark Franks (12 oz) – $1.50
Produce
Dole Head Iceberg Lettuce – $0.99
Hot House Tomatoes -$0.99 lb
Potatoes (10 pounds) – $2.99
Biggins Potatoes (15 pounds) – $3.99
Grocery
Hunt’s Snack Pack Pudding Cups (4 count) – $1.00
Chef Boyardee Canned Pasta, Assorted Variety – $1.00
Pringles Potato Crisps – $1.00
Gatorade (32 oz) – $1.00
Sunny D (62 oz) – $1.00
Knorr Pasta Sides, Assorted Variety – $1.00
Hunt’s Ketchup (24 oz) – $1.00
Hunt’s Original Manwich – $1.00
Betty Crocker Hamburger Helper – $1.00
Save A Lot Today Soda (12 pack) – $2.50
Libby’s Country Sausage Gravy – $1.00
Libby’s Canned Pineapple – $1.00
Mantia’s Spaghetti Sauce -$1.00
Crystal 2.0 Purified Drinking Water (24 pack, 16.9 oz each) – $2.29
J. Higgs Potato Chips (10 oz) – $1.00
Wylwood Canned Vegetables – $0.49
Portside Chunk Light Tuna (5 oz) $0.69
Save A Lot Today Soda (2 liter) – $0.89
Kurtz Ketchup – $0.89
So Cheesy Shells & Cheddar (12 oz) – $1.39
Remember you can use the $5/$25 printable coupon to sweeten these deals! Plus you can earn up to 5 additional $5 off $25 coupons for sharing the coupon with your friends. For more information about Save A Lot’s coupon policies go here. If you find additional deals or savings please let me know and I will add them to the list. Please make sure to check with your local Save A Lot store, the ads do vary per region.
Multiplication CD by Twin Sisters
This past year in school the girls started learning their Multiplication facts. They actually had a good start with multiplication because they had been listening to the Multiplication CD by Twin Sisters for awhile now. Karlie was actually given an award (and medal) this year for having the Highest Math Achievement in her class.
While listening to a CD about Multiplication does not teach you everything you need to know it definitely can help give you a head start or help you pick up speed in a certain subject. One of our girls learns very well through audio processing so any educational CD’s like this one from Twin Sisters is a big positive for her. Both of our kids love listening to CD and audio books and this one is a bonus because they are learning something important too!
You can get this CD online at Amazon or in several bookstores. We actually found it for $2 at Garden Ridge in their CD clearance section. It has definitely been with the couple dollars we invested in it!
Heart Reflections: You Are My Glue
God, you are the glue that holds my life together. When schedules get interrupted, things don’t go as planned, and life seems to be coming at me from all directions You are what keeps me from coming apart at the seams. On those days when I am exhausted and it takes everything in me to keep moving forward. You give me the strength and energy to face what lies ahead of me. When it feels like I am spinning my wheels and getting no where fast. You give me a new perspective. God thank you for being my glue. For loving me especially when I don’t deserve it. For bringing a song to my heart for encouragement when I need it most. For reminding me of your word and promises. For revealing your truth in unique and amazing ways. For the countless ways you shower me with your mercy and grace over and over again. Thank you God for holding my heart and life gently in your hands. May I continue to trust as you mold and make me into the person you want me to be.Save A Lot: Deals for the week of June 5 – 11, 2013
The Save A Lot weekly ad deals are listed below for your convenience. It is a great time to stock up on some Save A Lot deals. Sign up for the Smart Shopper Club, by doing so you will get a $5.00 off of $25.00 coupon!
Meat and Seafood
Beef Bottom Round Roast – $2.99 lb
Assorted Pork Chops – $1.79 lb
Country Style Ribs – $0.99 lb
Beef T Bone Steak– $4.99 lb
Carolina Ground Turkey – $1.00
Hunt’s Snack Pack Pudding Cups (4 count) – $1.00
Chef Boyardee Canned Pasta, Assorted Variety – $1.00
Holten Thick & Juicy Beef Patties (32 oz) – $5.99
Hillshire Farms Smoked Sausage (12 oz) – $1.99
Use $1.00/1 coupon found on Winetag Hangtags
$0.99 each after coupon*Pick 5 for $19.99 promotion on going! Pick any 5 specially marked packages of your favorite cuts or types of meats, vegetables and more.
Fridge and Freezer
Totino’s Pizza Rolls– $1.00
Oscar Mayer Lunchables – $1.00
Home Churned Butter (45 oz) – $1.99
Banquet Dinners, Assorted Varieties – $1.00
Banquet Brown & Serve Sausage – $1.00
Butterball Turkey Bacon (6 oz) – $1.00
Pillsbury Grands Junior Biscuits – $1.00
Golden Baked White Bread (20 oz) – $1.00
Tony’s Crispy Crust Pizza – $1.00
World’s Fair Frozen Pops (10 count) – $1.00
Ballpark Franks (12 oz) – $1.50
Produce
Dole Head Iceberg Lettuce – $0.99
Hot House Tomatoes -$0.99 lb
Potatoes (10 pounds) – $2.99
Biggins Potatoes (15 pounds) – $3.99
Grocery
Hunt’s Snack Pack Pudding Cups (4 count) – $1.00
Chef Boyardee Canned Pasta, Assorted Variety – $1.00
Pringles Potato Crisps – $1.00
Gatorade (32 oz) – $1.00
Sunny D (62 oz) – $1.00
Knorr Pasta Sides, Assorted Variety – $1.00
Hunt’s Ketchup (24 oz) – $1.00
Hunt’s Original Manwich – $1.00
Betty Crocker Hamburger Helper – $1.00
Save A Lot Today Soda (12 pack) – $2.50
Libby’s Country Sausage Gravy – $1.00
Libby’s Canned Pineapple – $1.00
Mantia’s Spaghetti Sauce -$1.00
Crystal 2.0 Purified Drinking Water (24 pack, 16.9 oz each) – $2.29
J. Higgs Potato Chips (10 oz) – $1.00
Wylwood Canned Vegetables – $0.49
Portside Chunk Light Tuna (5 oz) $0.69
Save A Lot Today Soda (2 liter) – $0.89
Kurtz Ketchup – $0.89
So Cheesy Shells & Cheddar (12 oz) – $1.39
Remember you can use the $5/$25 printable coupon to sweeten these deals! Plus you can earn up to 5 additional $5 off $25 coupons for sharing the coupon with your friends. For more information about Save A Lot’s coupon policies go here. If you find additional deals or savings please let me know and I will add them to the list. Please make sure to check with your local Save A Lot store, the ads do vary per region.
