Saturday, March 31, 2012

Menu Plan for the Week of April 1

This week is a busy one for us. We're celebrating my husband's birthday and going for an ultrasound on Tuesday, and on Saturday, we'll be celebrating Easter at my grandmother's. As I've mentioned, I am trying to prepare some meals for after the Baby arrives, so I am hoping to freeze some leftovers for us to eat on postpartum.

Our menu for the week:

Sunday, April 1:
Chocolate-chip walnut pancakes & sausage links
Leftovers
Grilled Alaskan cod, corn-on-the-cob, salad greens, & roasted sweet potatoes


Monday, April 2:
Leftover pancakes, sausage, and orange wedges
Peanut butter & jelly
Taco Salad with homemade salsa, plain yogurt, and avocado wedges

Tuesday, April 3
Yogurt & granola
Tuna salad sandwiches and fruit
Birthday Grill out! Grilled Steak Gyros on homemade oven-baked Naan with tomatoes, lettuce, and cucumber-dill sauce, and Roasted Potatoes with Rosemary & Bay, Birthday Cake!


Wednesday, April 4
Oatmeal with mixed berries
Lunch out!
Pinto beans, cauliflower with cheese sauce, & hoecakes (recipe to come!)

Thursday, April 5
Scrambled eggs with orange slices
Grilled cheese & fruit
Creamy Chicken & Rice Casserole with steamed green beans and whole wheat rolls

Friday, April 6
French toast with maple syrup and fruit
Black bean nachos
Pizza night!!

Saturday, April 7
Pancakes with berry compote
Easter lunch at Grandmother's house (I'm taking potato salad--recipe to come!)
Leftovers

What's on your menu this week?

 Keri


For comments or questions, contact me at: growinginhisglory@gmail.com

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Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Encouragement for Challenging Financial Times

 If you are a regular follower of this blog, then you know that for the past six weeks we have been looking at different ways to save money at the grocery store

My purpose in this indefinitely long series has been to stimulate you to reevaluate your spending habits and provide you with some helpful ways to stretch your dollar. 

Ultimately, though, my goal is to encourage us to be good stewards of the financial blessings the Lord has granted us.

With rising gas and food prices and increasing economic strain, I know many people right now are living from paycheck to paycheck. Many of us are struggling just to keep our kids clothed, food on the table, and roofs over our heads. That is why I want to encourage you today to remember that our God is faithful and just. 

He never promises happiness or financial security, but He does promise ALWAYS to be with us. 

"For the Lord will not forsake His people;
He will not abandon His heritage;"

Psalm 94:14


Maybe you are concerned about your family's financial situation. 

Maybe clipping coupons or putting together a price book seems inconsequential when you consider the significant debt you're in.

Maybe shopping at multiple stores, even to save money, is just not an option right now. 

Maybe planning a weekly menu is just too stressful.

Maybe using cash sounds good, but you just don't have it.

Maybe you are sinking under the weight of financial insecurity and don't know what to do or where to turn.

Go to the Lord. 

Seek Him on bended knee. 

Bring your burdens to Him.
"Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." 

Matthew 11:30
My earnest prayer is that God will "grow" us to His glory.  If you are struggling financially today, I hope you will take the time to go to the One who is the Great Provider, our Jehovah-jireh. Only in Him will we find the peace that "surpasses all understanding" (Philippians 4:7).

May God richly bless you,
Keri

For other helpful tips for saving money at the grocery store, check out these related posts::
How to Make a Price Book
Menu Planning 
Menu Planning: The Ins & Outs
Shop at Multiple Stores
Couponing: Pros & Cons
Couponing: Where to Find Coupons
Use Cash to Save Money!


This post is linked to:









Monday, March 26, 2012

Growing in Love: An Answered Prayer

For over a year now my earnest prayer has been, "Lord, teach me to love." This prayer request originally arose during a trying time I had with our oldest daughter, then two, as well as an inner struggle I was having about my own identity. 

Because my daughter seemed to require so much of my attention, I struggled with anxiety over how best to meet her needs while still maintaining my own and keeping my sanity. I felt guilty for wanting time to myself but also resentment towards my daughter. I knew something had to change. I was miserable.  

So, I began to pray that God would show me how to love my daughter more deeply, to grow me in my capacity to love her, and to decrease "me" and increase "us."

"May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you."
I Thessalonians 3:12

If anyone can show us how to love, it's the Lord: the One who laid down His life for us. But learning how to love was never something I had concerned myself with before I had children. I didn't realize what a challenge it could be to truly love the way God calls us to love others:

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers."
I John 3:16
The Lord's call for me to love my children sacrificially has meant the shedding of buckets of tears as well as many intense moments of anger and frustration. I have felt at times like a woman with a split personality: torn between holding on to my old self and putting my needs first or removing the old and accepting my new self and putting the needs of my family and others first. 

The grappling over a "lost" identity shook me to the core, but I have since realized that I have not "lost" anything. Instead, like Paul, I have gained everything! 
  
"...I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things."
 Philippians 3:8

Looking back, I can clearly see the change God has worked in me for my good and for the good of our family. And I know He is still at work in me.

Yes, I do struggle daily to love my children the way my Father loves me. There are too many moments when harsh words slip from my tongue and cut my daughter to the quick. There are still too many instances when I don't control my temper but lash out in hurtful ways. I also still long for more time to myself. But I am finding more joy in being with my children than by myself or with others. That is a big change for me.

Motherhood is character-building. It is identity-changing. Beginning first in the throes of labor, it turns you inside-out and outside-in. Once you think you’ve gotten it figured out, it knocks you down, breathless. Thankfully, there are beautiful pauses in between when life glides smoothly along, and you can catch your breath and feel at peace.

Motherhood breaks your heart, pushes you to the limit and beyond, and shows you that you are capable of enduring even more than you ever thought possible.


Besides becoming a follower of Christ, there is nothing in this world that has changed "who I am" more than carrying, laboring, delivering, and mothering my own children. Praying for a deeper capacity to love has been life-changing for me as a mother. I pray God will continue to grow me in His love.

How has God "grown" YOU as a mom?

Praying God's richest blessings on you!

Keri

For comments or questions, contact me at: growinginhisglory@gmail.com

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Sunday, March 25, 2012

Menu Plan for the Week of March 25th

Last week I took a break from formal meal planning because we were on Spring Break and spent some time at the grandparents', but this week we are back in the swing of things and trying out some more new recipes. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I have started doubling up some of our favorite recipes to freeze because of the little one due to debut soon. This week is no exception either. It is such a blessing not to have to worry about meal planning and cooking in the weeks after a new baby arrives, so you can spend that time and energy in more important ways.

That being said, here is what we will be eating at our house this week:

Sunday, March 25
Breakfast: French toast with maple syrup
Lunch: Leftovers
Dinner: Grilled chicken Caesar salad with baked potatoes (sweet potato fries for the kiddos)

Monday, March 26
Breakfast: Overnight Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal
Lunch: Black Bean & Salmon Tostadas with oranges
Dinner: Oven-fried flounder with roasted potato wedges, creamy coleslaw, and hush puppies

 

Tuesday, March 27
Breakfast: Fried eggs, toast, and oranges
Lunch: Black bean & cheese quesadillas with watermelon
Dinner: Baked spaghetti with homemade spaghetti sauce (double recipe to freeze), steamed broccoli, and whole wheat rolls

Wednesday, March 28
Breakfast: Yogurt & granola with strawberries
Lunch: Peanut butter & jelly sandwiches with apple slices
Dinner: Pinto beans, sliced tomatoes, & hoecakes (double recipe for refried beans)
Thursday, March 29
Breakfast: Pumpkin chocolate chip muffins and scrambled eggs
Lunch: Grilled cheese [tuna salad on spinach for me] with orange wedges
Dinner: Chicken & refried beans with lettuce and tomatoes (double recipe to freeze)


Friday, March 30
Breakfast: Skillet-poached eggs with spinach, toast, and strawberries
Lunch: Peanut-butter & honey roll-ups with apple slices
Dinner: Pizza Night!!

Saturday, March 31
Breakfast: Chocolate chip pancakes with maple syrup
Lunch: Mama's Day Out! Lunch by Daddy!
Dinner: Hamburgers and French fries

What's on your menu this week?

More menu planning ideas at OrgJunkie!

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Wednesday, March 21, 2012

"Saving at the Grocery Store": Use Cash!!

 
If you really want to start saving money at the grocery store, leave your debit and credit cards at home and bring only cash.

Recently, my husband and I started using Dave Ramsey's envelope system for certain areas of our budget: namely Groceries, Gas, Entertainment, & Clothing. Each week when I deposit his check, I take out a lump sum in cash that is allocated to each of these four categories.
    The objective is to spend only our budgeted amount for each category, and when that amount is gone, then we have to wait until the next week to replenish it. There is no "robbing Peter to pay Paul," meaning you can't dip into another envelope to cover overspending in another area. When the Grocery envelope is empty, there is no more money to spend in that area. That's it!

    In implementing the envelope system, I have had to be much more disciplined about how I plan to spend the money I have each week. That means paying VERY close attention to what we need versus what we want, only buying necessities, shopping multiple stores for sales items, and clipping and matching coupons anywhere I can. I even bring my calculator to the store to ensure that I have enough money available in my Grocery envelope to cover the cost. {We no longer have any credit cards and rarely use our debit card.}

    Here are some of the things I have learned simply by utilizing a "cash-only" approach at the store:

    1. You WILL have to be prepared when you go to the store. Without a grocery list or menu plan, you set yourself up for overspending because you will be more prone to make random choices as to what goes in your cart. I always go to the store with the following: (1) My Grocery List, (2) Meal Plan for the week, (3) Coupons, (4) Store Ad, (5) Grocery store's frequent shopper card (if applicable), and (6) Grocery Envelope.

    2. You WILL pay closer attention to what goes in the shopping cart. I have discovered that without a credit or debit card to cover me if I go over budget, I am much more attentive to what I'm buying and less apt to casually drop in a bag of chips or carton of ice cream that wasn't on my list. 

    3. You WILL know how much you spend at the grocery store each week. This is good to know for two primary reasons. One: If the amount you have budgeted is not enough--that is, you continually overspend each week--then you may need to increase your budget temporarily or permanently. Two: If you have money left over each week, then you may want to decrease that budgeted amount and either put the extra money into savings or allocate it to another category. 

    4. You WILL save money!  Since we adopted the "cash-only" approach at the grocery store, I have discovered that I was significantly overspending on food and then having to dip into our checking account for gas money. By having only a set amount to spend in this area, I am limiting our grocery store purchases and no longer relying on my debit card for extra purchases. In this way we are saving money.

    How can you get started using a "cash-only" approach at the grocery store?
    If you don't already have a budgeted amount for Groceries and have no idea what you spend in a week, start by collecting receipts from your trips to the store. If "Groceries" include "Household Items," be sure to keep store receipts for both. After three or four weeks, you should have a good basis for determining an average amount you are spending each week in this area.

    Sample:


    Week 1 Receipts
    $32.50 + $16.00 + $7.50 = $56.00
    Week 2 Receipts
    $41.75 + $22.25 + 6.00 = $70.00
    Week 3 Receipts
    $29.25 + 24.50 + $10.25 + $6.00 = $70.00
    Week 4 Receipts
    $88.95

    The 4-week average is approximately $71.00. So, you might start your Grocery budget around $70-75. However, if you feel like you are spending a lot more than you should be at the store, then you might want to aim for a lower budgeted amount, say $60-65, and see if that is doable.

    I would strongly encourage you to start using a "cash-only" approach at the grocery store. Try it for a few weeks, and see if you don't save money. Without a credit or debit card, you will pay much closer attention to what you buy and also probably eat a whole lot healthier too! 

    What are your thoughts on using cash versus a debit or credit card at the grocery store? Have you found that using cash keeps you from overspending?

    I am praying God's richest blessings on you as you endeavor to be good stewards of His generous provisions!


    Keri
    For other helpful tips for saving money at the grocery store, check out my other posts & stay tuned each Thursday:
    How to Make a Price Book
    Menu Planning 
    Menu Planning: The Ins & Outs
    Shop at Multiple Stores
    Couponing: Pros & Cons
    Couponing: Where to Find Coupons 

    For comments or questions, contact me at: growinginhisglory@gmail.com

    Find Growing in His Glory on Facebook.

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    Linking up at...











    Friday, March 16, 2012

    Sisters

    As I watch our girls grow, I am amazed at their sense of devotion and loyalty. When Cora, the youngest, is sad, who does she run to? Not Mama anymore but "Sissy," who comforts her with a bear hug and kind, nurturing words: "It's okay, sweet baby. I love you." And little sister just grins at her Sissy, as if Sissy hung the moon. 

    And if Kate, the oldest, wakes up before her little sister, she begs to wake up "Cor-Cor" so she can play with her. The love and affection our daughters show toward one another is precious and tugs at my heartstrings.   

    As a sister to a younger brother, that bond is something I cannot fully understand. A brother-sister relationship is just different, I think. My brother and I were never affectionate or gentle towards one another as our girls are. While I empathized with him when he had to endure a spanking, I seriously think he laughed when I was punished. We never sat and had long talks like sisters do, nor did we ever share clothes. :) Sure we played together and had our share of adventures, but it was just different.

    In the weeks following our ultrasound--when we found out we were expecting our third daughter--I admit I was sad. Part of me really longed for a little boy to love and nurture and to experience that special "mother-son relationship" with. Yet, as I think about this next little girl and her place in our family, my heart is comforted because I know she will be dearly loved: Not only by her Daddy and Mama, but also by a big Sissy who will be her protector and by her little Sissy who will kiss and hug her probably more than she will like. 

     While change is often difficult, especially the arrival of a new baby into a family, I know that the bond between these girls--these sisters--will transcend the difficulties. Thankfully, we serve a God who knows exactly what His children need even when it isn't necessarily what we want.


    Growing Home





    Wednesday, March 14, 2012

    "Saving at the Grocery Store": Where to Find Coupons & Other Deals


    Last week in our series "Saving at the Grocery Store," we looked at some of the pros and cons of couponing, and I challenged you to determine for yourselves whether clipping coupons is a valuable way for you to save money.

    For me, the money I save on non-food items in particular--namely toothpaste, diapers, dish soap, detergent, and other household items--more than compensates for the time spent locating, clipping, and organizing coupons. Honestly, I haven't bought a tube of toothpaste in two years all because of couponing! Plus, there are some great organic coupons out there that I love (see links below).

    However, in order to get good deals and save money, you really need to know WHERE to get coupons.

    1. The Sunday Newspaper
    I have found it saves time and money to subscribe to our local newspaper--Sunday only--simply for the coupons. However, if you want to see what coupons will be in the paper before you buy it each week, subscribe to Sunday Coupon Preview. Every Thursday you will receive an email giving a preview of what coupons will be in the paper that week. It is VERY helpful as you plan grocery shopping trips because some weeks there are no good coupons and you won't need to buy the paper. Plus, some Sundays there are no coupon inserts at all; these are usually on holiday weekends. 
    2. Websites

    Besides the Sunday paper, I regularly print coupons from the following websites:
    Coupons.com
    Red Plum
    Smart Source.com
    Coupon Network
    Shortcuts (both electronic & printable coupons)
    Cellfire Grocery Coupons (e-coupons to be loaded to a frequent shopper card)
    Mambo Sprouts (for great organic, natural food coupons!)


    3. All You magazine
    I also subscribe to All You, a monthly magazine that not only has great articles and recipes, but it is FILLED with high-value coupons. It's usually about $20 a year for a subscription or you can buy the magazine at Wal-Mart. {Right now, though, you can get 12 issues for $12 on All You's website!}




     


    4. Store websites
    Also, check out your local grocery stores' websites for coupons. Some stores like Kroger have e-coupons that load onto your frequent buyer card.  

    Here are links to some national and regional stores where you can find coupons to print or load onto your frequent buyer card. (Note: you will have to register for a shopper's card before you can load coupons onto it.)


    Unless the coupon is a STORE coupon ("For use only at Wal-Mart"), then you can use a coupon from Wal-Mart's website at any store that accepts manufacturer's coupons.  

    If the coupon says "Manufacturer's Coupon" on it {note: Almost every coupon in the Sunday paper is a manufacturer's coupon}, then it can be used anywhere manufacturer's coupons are accepted. You are not limited to using that coupon only at Wal-Mart just because you printed it off Wal-Mart's website.

    **Always be sure to check out the store's coupon policy, located on their website or at customer service. Each store is different regarding what it will and will not accept.

    When I first started couponing, the only coupons I used were the ones from the Sunday newspaper and some store coupons I received in the mail. It wasn't until I started reading some money-saving blogs that I found the treasure trove of coupons available.

    Here are some great money-saving blogs that I read daily: 
    • Southern Savers (also a regional website but with great national deals as well)

    If you want to save money at the grocery store, then you have to stay up to date on the latest deals. That's why I strongly recommend finding a good money-saving blog in your region to follow. Bargain Briana has created an excellent tool for locating your "perfect frugal blog match" called "The Frugal Map." Simply click on the image below to find money-saving blogs in your state. That way you don't have to search all these different coupon databases for the best deals. Let the experts do the work for you!


    Where do you find the best coupons? 
      
    Blessings to you as you continue to grow in God's glory!
     Keri




    For other helpful tips for saving money at the grocery store, check out my other posts & stay tuned each Thursday:
    How to Make a Price Book
    Menu Planning 
    Menu Planning: The Ins & Outs
    Shop at Multiple Stores
    Couponing: Pros & Cons

     
















    For comments or questions, contact me at: growinginhisglory@gmail.com

    Find Growing in His Glory on Facebook.

    I would love to see more of you!  If you are encouraged by what you read here and would like to have posts from Growing in His Glory delivered to your inbox daily, simply click here.  Or you can subscribe in a reader of your choice in the right sidebar.


    Growing Home 





    Sunday, March 11, 2012

    Menu Plan for the Week of March 11


    As I spent some time on Saturday planning for the week ahead, I started panicking a little. In less than two months, we'll have a new baby in the house, and while I am excited about meeting our little munchkin, I really need to get to work making some freezer meals for the weeks after her birth. {I also need to move our 17-month-old in with her three-year-old sissy, come up with a name for the baby, find and wash baby clothes, buy diapers, figure out how where to put baby's car-seat in the car, ad nauseaum.} 

    But, in the midst of all this hoopla, my plan in the upcoming weeks--while I still have some energy--is to make a few meals that I can double or triple up on and freeze for later.  I would LOVE LOVE LOVE any suggestions! {I would also appreciate any suggestions for the other items on my to-do list :)}

    Here's our menu plan for the week. Notice that I have listed foods for Breakfast-Lunch-Snack-Dinner.

    Sunday, March 11
    Chocolate chip-walnut pancakes with maple syrup 
    Leftovers
    Fruit
    Chicken & vegetable stir-fry on rice


    Monday, March 12
    Scrambled eggs with cheese, yogurt, and fruit
    Pizza bread with fresh pineapple
    Homemade Chewy Granola Bars
    Refried bean tostadas with Spanish rice, lettuce, tomatoes, & sour cream; French Lemon Yogurt Cake


    Tuesday, March 13
    Cinnamon toast with yogurt and pears
    Turkey sandwich, carrot sticks, & pineapple
    Hummus with crackers
    Fried cabbage & potatoes, field peas, & biscuits with fresh homemade strawberry jam


    Wednesday, March 14
    Mixed berry muffins with yogurt
    "Car Picnic": Cheese & turkey on crackers, pear slices, & mixed berry muffins
    Oven-Baked Naan with honey & pears
    Caesar fish salad with naan




    Thursday, March 15
    Fried eggs, biscuits, & jam
    Turkey sandwich with carrot sticks & dried fruit
    Yogurt & granola
    Irish stew with Irish soda bread & Dubliner cheese (We're celebrating St. Paddy's Day early!)

    Friday, March 16
    Oatmeal with frozen berries
    Bean & cheese nachos
    Stove-top popcorn
    Pizza Night!!

    Saturday, March 17
    French toast with maple syrup
    Turkey breast sandwiches with chips & fruit
    Foraging will commence
    Husband's choice (He cooks on the weekends--Mommy Break!)

    What are some of your favorite freezer meals?

    Blessings to you!
    Keri

    For comments or questions, contact me at: growinginhisglory@gmail.com

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    Wednesday, March 7, 2012

    "Saving at the Grocery Store": Couponing, The Pros & Cons

    So far in our series on Saving at the Grocery Store, we have looked at some basic ways to save:

    (1) Make a Price Book: To keep track of the best prices on foods and products you buy most frequently and where to purchase them.

    (2) Menu planning: To plan meals around grocery sales ads and what you have in your own kitchen pantry or freezer.

    (3) Shop at Multiple Stores: To stock up on "loss leaders" and get the lowest prices on everything else.

    Today, I want to discuss couponing.

    Because there is a lot I could talk about, I want to begin by looking at the pros and cons of couponing. The pros are pretty obvious, right? Saving money. Yet, as I look back over the four years I have been actively couponing, I am beginning to see that today I clip and use less and less coupons than I did in the beginning.
     
    For starters, there are relatively few coupons available for the items we use. I you consider just the coupons in the Sunday paper, you have probably noticed that most food coupons are for name brand convenience foods. Think Pillsbury crescent rolls, Oscar Mayer deli meat, Progresso soup, Wishbone salad dressing, Lean Cuisine frozen entrees. Because I have been trying for the last two years to make foods from scratch and stay away from highly-processed foods, I have found that I am saving less and less at the grocery store with coupons. When I shop at Aldi and Kroger for the basics, I almost never use coupons because (1) Aldi doesn't accept them and (2) the items I buy rarely have coupons. However, sometimes there are manufacturer or store coupons for condiments, bread, meat, eggs, cheese, milk--the items I most often buy--and when I have those coupons, I make every effort to use them. Still, you have to determine if the coupons are for products that you normally buy.

    Another con to couponing is the time involved. When I first started couponing, I easily spent 4-5 hours a week searching for, clipping, organizing, and locating coupons to use for upcoming shopping trips, not to mention the time it took me to set up an effective coupon organizer. It was a little extreme, I know, but I felt gratified when I saved 110% at the grocery store. Now I spend maybe an hour a week tops on couponing. Still, time is very valuable, and when you have other priorities, you have to determine if couponing is really making you enough money to warrant doing it.

    Still another deterrent to couponing is that even with a coupon you can often get the product cheaper by buying a different brand or going generic. Again, this is where having a price book comes in handy. For example, last week I had a coupon for Hunt's brand canned tomatoes. They were not on sale, but with the coupon, the price was roughly $1 a can. Despite the fact that I had a coupon, those canned tomatoes were still more expensive than Aldi's off-brand canned tomatoes of the same quantity and, dare I say, quality. So what did I do? I left the store minus the canned tomatoes and bought them at Aldi instead. The real key to saving money is not using a coupon but following the lowest price. And because I had my price book with me, I knew where I could get the item at a lower price.

    So, if there are so many reasons not to coupon, why do it? 

    For me, the big reason why I coupon is to save money on the items for which there are rarely coupons available, namely meats, produce, and dairy, both organic and non-organic. What I mean is this: When an item that I normally buy goes on sale and I have a coupon, I save a lot of money. Just by purchasing the coupon items on sale, I save big (especially when the sale is Buy One-Get One Free)!  Then, I drive to my cheaper stores and buy the rest of my shopping list there. With the savings I've racked up at the more expensive store, I am able to buy the whole foods I want to feed my family. 

    Despite the time and effort involved in couponing, the pay-offs can be great if you are careful not to let coupons dictate what you buy.


    “With a coupon, I am tempted to buy something that I normally would not buy—just because I have a coupon. When I am tempted to buy an item because I have a coupon, I ask myself three questions:

    (1)   Do I need it?
    (2)   Can I buy it cheaper in another brand?
    (3)   Can I prepare it cheaper myself?”

    Jonni McCoy, Miserly Moms













    As you consider whether couponing is right for you, think about the products you typically buy (are there coupons available for them?), the time involved, the "cost" of preparing the product yourself, and the availability of cheaper brands. It may not be a wise investment of your time and energy, or it may help you save enough money to buy the products you really want for your family.

    Do you coupon? Why or why not?

    Next week we will look at places to find coupons and different methods of coupon organization. I look forward to your feedback.

    Blessings to you!

    Keri

    For comments or questions, contact me at: growinginhisglory@gmail.com

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    Tuesday, March 6, 2012

    Pursuing Holiness, Not Happiness, in Marriage

    We all want to be happy. In fact, many people think they deserve to be happy. In their quest for happiness, they end relationships when they feel that the other person is no longer meeting their needs. However, when we enter into the marriage covenant, we promise to honor our vows and stick with our spouse "for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health...til' death do us part." 

    Yet, you will not always be happy with your spouse. 

    He will annoy you by leaving the toilet seat up or spraying the bathroom mirror with toothpaste spit.
    He will frustrate you by mistaking your need for affection or conversation with a desire for romance.
    He will upset you by forgetting your birthday or not picking up on the subtle hints about a certain gift you want.
    He will mistake your silence for agreement and go forward with his plans. 

    He will forget.
    He will misunderstand.
    He will mess up.
    He will not always make you happy, even if he tries really hard.

    Our husbands, just like us, are imperfect people. Yet, as wives we are called to love and serve our husbands in spite of their shortcomings and differences. We are called to pursue holiness by being the very best wives we can be. We are called to subordinate our own desire for happiness to our pursuit of holiness. No, that is not an easy task or even a popular one by the world's standards. But that is God's will for marriages.

    Do you struggle with giving up "what makes me feel good" with "doing what God has called me to"?

    These thoughts come from my response to a marriage seminar session held by Danny Camp, D. Min.

    I'm praying God's richest blessings on you and your marriage as you continue to grow in His glory!

    Keri

    For comments or questions, contact me at: growinginhisglory@gmail.com

    Find Growing in His Glory on Facebook.

    I would love to see more of you!  If you are encouraged by what you read here and would like to have posts from Growing in His Glory delivered to your inbox daily, simply click here.  Or you can subscribe in a reader of your choice in the right sidebar.

    Monday, March 5, 2012

    Menu Plan for the Week of March 4-10

    I have been on a quest for new breakfast foods as oatmeal is getting a little redundant these days, and the girls aren't huge egg eaters like me. This week I'm also cleaning out the rest of the beef and shrimp from the freezer to make way for more, and we're eating from what's on sale at the grocery stores. 

    Here's what we're eating this week:

    Sunday, March 4
    Daddy's French toast
    Leftovers
    Daddy's Shepherd's Pie (recipe forthcoming)
     
    Monday, March 5
    Leftover French toast & strawberries
    Grilled cheese sandwiches & chips
    Chicken with homemade barbecue sauce, roasted potatoes, corn, & green beans

    Tuesday, March 6
    Homemade granola bars and pear slices
    Mac & cheese with strawberries
    Sweet & Sour Shrimp on brown rice with stir-fry veggies 
     
    Wednesday, March 7
    Yogurt, healthy poptarts, & strawberries
    Cheese quesadillas, carrot sticks, & pear slices ("car-picnic")
    Beans & cornbread


    Thursday, March 8
    Yogurt, granola, & berry medley
    Chicken-vegetable soup (from the freezer) & grilled cheese sandwiches
    Beef enchiladas with homemade refried beans and fixins' (Iettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, etc.)

    Friday, March 9
    Hide & Seek Muffins (recipe forthcoming) 
    Nachos with leftover refried beans

    Saturday, March 10
    Pancakes with maple syrup
    Leftovers
    Hamburgers & fries

    What's on your menu this week?

    Praying God's richest blessings on you as you grow in His glory!

    Keri
    For comments or questions, contact me at: growinginhisglory@gmail.com

    Find Growing in His Glory on Facebook.

    I would love to see more of you!  If you are encouraged by what you read here and would like to have posts from Growing in His Glory delivered to your inbox daily, simply click here.  Or you can subscribe in a reader of your choice in the right sidebar.