blessed rain

It rained yesterday morning. What bliss! We are in the midst of a heat-streak and the relief was so very welcome. Husby and I awoke to a dark room and faint rumblings of thunder. I made coffee. He got ready to leave for work. Baby Girl (who really is not a baby anymore, but a real toddler!) was still asleep. And she's always awake by 7am. I poured a cup of coffee and sat on the porch, relishing the quiet, listening to the pitter-patter of raindrops and watching the distant streaks of lightning. What a refreshing way to start the morning! A few solid days of this kind of weather would not bother me in the least.

First Ever Blog Giveaway!!!!

Inspired by the generosity of others, I'm doing my very first ever blog giveaway!

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The prize package will include:

1 Febreeze Flameless Luminary Starter Kit (pomegranate mango)
3 Luminary Refills (pomegranate mango)
1 Febreeze Scented Reed Diffuser (pomegranate mango)
1 Febreeze Set & Refresh Air Freshener (Hawaiian Aloha)
Fresh Summer Entertaining Tip & recipe card
(5) $1.50/1 Febreeze Set & Refresh coupons
2 coupon booklets for Febreeze Home Collections products ($12 in savings each)
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Let me tell you... the pomegranate mango scent is AMAZING. I am in love with it.

All of these products are compliments of www.houseparty.com. If you haven't heard of it, I encourage you to go check it out. As a member, you are able to apply to host "house parties" for new products. If selected to host, you will receive a package of goodies to share with friends, along with great coupons. I'm definitely a fan!


I bet you are drooling over this package just as much as I would, so here's how to enter:

1) Leave me a comment telling me about your favorite summertime activity on a budget.
2) Share this giveaway on your own blog and/or facebook, and then come back and leave me a comment telling me where.
3) Leave a comment or send me a message with a low-calorie, easy summertime dessert.

You can enter by #1 one time, and by #2 and #3 once PER DAY. Giveaway will end Friday, June 26. Winner will be posted Saturday, June 27.
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Good luck!

little sister

My youngest sister is visiting me for three weeks. THREE whole weeks!!! It's SO very wonderful to have a part of my family here with me. I really love Oklahoma and my life here, but a girl does get homesick now and again. Anyway, we've been hanging out lots, having GREAT times. Sixteen is a fun age. :) Time at the pool, playing with Baby Girl, shopping, baking, movies... it's been a lovely three days so far. :) AND.... I'm giving her a crash course in couponing and finding deals. So far we've hit up Walgreens (sweet deals!), Target (more sweet deals), Krispy Kreme (do I hear a shout out for free donuts??), introduced her to Chikfila (free spicy chicken sandwiches!), and checked out the brand new QT (three cheers for .49cent drinks). We also stumbled on coupons for free drinks at Taco Bell and more free donuts from Krispy Kreme, so you can guess where we'll be eating... Now we need to work some exercise into our plans. (bah humbug!)

Baby Girl has discovered the fine art of rolling over, from her tummy to her back. It's incredibly adorable to find her in her bed in the morning, not on her tummy, but on her back, rolling around and talking to herself. Even at 4:30 in the morning...

Sweet deals this week:
Walgreens: we spent $10.92, saved $56.38, and have $4.50 in RR! We got: 4 boxes Kotex U products, 4 bags of Hersheys pieces, 3 bars Neutrogena face soap, 7 packs of Orbit gum, 3 cans Arizona tea, 2 bags of Lifesavers, 1 Butterfinger, and 3 bottles asprin. Not bad for $10, eh?

Target: (we totally rocked here!)
I think I threw my receipts away when I cleaned out my purse, but I can tell you about the 40 bottles of Sobe Lifewater for only $5 oop!!!! Target had a deal this week that for every 10 bottles you bought, you'd get a $5 gift card. We used a .50/1 Target coupon for each bottle, and did four separate transactions. We spent $5 the first time, and then the second transactions we used the $5 GC. The third transaction we had three B1/G1 coupons to add to the .50/1 Qs, so we only used $2 off the GC. Last transaction we had two b1/g1 Qs, so we used the remaining $3 on the GC and came out with an extra $5 GC. I think we did pretty good, eh?

This week will bring more sisterly, deal-finding adventures.... we'll be sure to keep you posted!

summer news

The summer is flying by far too quickly. It's been a little but of an adjustment for me, being here - in HOT Oklahoma, but I'm managing. Quite often, spending time outdoors is nearly impossible, but I do enjoy leaving my patio door open some mornings, and I rejoice when the days are mild and not scorching. We've been blessed to be able to take a few little trips... I've been home to Michigan twice! Once in early June for the siblings' graduation parties, and then Ryan and I went last week for our wedding reception. It was a lovely time, and SO wonderful to see friends and family... as a married couple. Also, we were able to go to Houston over the 4th of July weekend and spend time with P.J. and Paulina. They are such a wonderful couple, and growing together so much. I'm very proud of them.

A bit of big, exciting news.... In early June, Ryan and I found out that we are expecting a little one! Our bundle of joy is due to arrive around Valentine's Day. :) My morning sickness (or rather, "all-day sickness") is mostly over now, but I still tire rather easily. We had our first doctor appointment a few weeks ago and were able to hear the heartbeat.... Quite an amazing thing! God is SO creative and amazing.

In the time I've been married to Ryan, I feel as if my eyes have been opened to what God is doing in our lives so much more than I ever took time to notice before. Beginning with Ryan's ankle ordeal and God's provision through all of that, and on to month-by-month, and day-by-day, provisions... I'm amazed. Last fall I was introduced to the song "God of this City", and I have fallen in love with it. At the most random moments, lines run through my head... "For there is no one like our God..." and "Greater things have yet to come, and greater things are still to be done - here..." It's such a hopeful song. A reminder of all that God is, all that He always will be, all that He wants to do in each of our lives and in the world... A reminder of the hope that He provides...

You're the light in this darkness
You're the hope to the hopeless
You're the peace to the restless
You are....

You're the strength in our weakness
You're the love to the broken
You're the joy in the sadness
You are...

There is no one like our God....

Greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done...
Here.

He is good, isn't He?