food shelf challenge

Last fall when we started experiencing a lot of expenses with Brett's therapy, I was looking for ways to save money in other areas. A friend of mine suggested couponing. I didn't think I was going to save that much because I already used coupons and shopped sales. But I didn't have a very good system. Couponing seems to work great for people who are very organized, which I am not. But with my friend's help, and some great online resources, I'm making progress.

Three weeks ago our church announced they were having a drive to restock their food shelf. I decided to put my new couponing skills to the challenge and only donate items I could get for free using coupons or pay for with the overage from items I was getting "better than free". These are the nonperishable items I got for free in the last 3 weeks:

some risks are worth it

Ten years ago today, I took a risk. I went on my first date with a boy I met in cyberspace. It was back in the day when only psychopaths and nerds went on the Internet to meet people. Fortunately, Bryan was the latter - just who I was looking for!

Bryan and I don't consider ourselves to be risk-takers. We don't drive fast; we don't like thrill rides; we don't wager money; we don't even ride in the back seat without our seat belts. "Risk" is one of those four-letter-words I don't like to use very often.

But we have learned in life some risks are worth taking. Meeting Bryan was one of the best risks I've ever taken! Choosing to build our family through transracial adoption was unconventional but has blessed us immeasurably. After Brett came home, we took another little "risk" and 9 months later our little girl was born. And we risked our sanity when we welcomed our 3rd baby under 2 into our family.

We prefer to rely on wisdom and knowledge, but sometimes we just have to go with our heart.

I'm too excited to keep it a secret. We're buying a house! A big big house with lots and lots of room. And a big big yard where we can play football. (The kids and I have been singing the Audio Adrenaline song all week.) But it's not quite heaven. It's a big big foreclosure that needs lots and lots of work. And there's still the unfinished business of our 1200sq ft humble home that has not sold. Which leads us to another four-letter-word I do not like: "debt". And one that I do like: "plan".

(Hopefully I can post pictures of our storybook house next week after the inspection.)

photos only

(not really a) house update

Have you heard this story in the news? Yuck...

But there are "happenings" in the works. Just nothing concrete enough to share yet.