My New Love

Costco. Love it! We just got one last summer and it is fabulous. It has been almost a year now of buying lots of different products they carry, and I haven't had too many that we didn't like. For those of you who have had a Costco in your life for a while, you are very fortunate, and those of you who don't have one yet, I weep for you. I thought I would give a review on some of the items we have bought - it might entice you to try these items as well:

Costco organic salsa - we ate the 24 quarts that I canned last summer, by February. I never buy salsa. Very rarely do I like bought salsa. Until now. Costco's salsa tastes very close to the kind you would get at On The Border or Chili's. It has the same consistency and just the right amount of heat.

Wild Flower Seed mix - You should see the variety I have growing in my flower bed. Some of the flowers, I have never seen before. It was easy to plant and I have a full bed of flowers growing!

Vanity with attached granite countertop - great price, nice details and exceptional quality!

Frozen organic veggies - you just can't beat the price on all of their frozen veggies!!

Kirkland bar soap - In our family, we get these strange bumps on the back of our upper arms, unless we use expensive soap. No more! Kirkland's bar soap has my skin smooth and soft, without leaving me dry. This is an accomplishment!

Kirkland facial wipes - again, love them! My face is having fewer break-outs and is SOFT!

Mineral Make-up - I just bought this yesterday and have only used it once, but I think for the price, it is a terrific deal. I liked the coverage and it didn't give me a shine like some other brands.

Supplements - I think they have everyone beat on supplement choices and price. I am thrilled that I can get certain vitamins and such at such a great price.

Kirkland shampoo/conditioner - This stuff is amazing! Cheap, cheap, cheap but high quality ingredients. No SLS or parabans. Mostly organic. And cheap....

Kirkland jeans and polos - GREAT price and very nice stuff. The jeans look great and for $14 a pair and five guys to clothe, WINNER!

Some things we did not like: Kirkland macaroni and cheese (YUCK), Quinoa (Yuck again).... that may be it for now.

Customer Service - They really know how to treat their customers!

I am sure there are more goodies I am forgetting to mention, but these are a few things that really just thrill me! We do about 80% of our grocery shopping at Costco now. I hope they prosper and are here to stay!

What are some products you have bought from Costco that you love??

Discrimination 101

Ok, so let me get this straight: we have paid for 100% of our sons' education over the last twelve years. We have not accepted one penny from anybody (not that anybody has offered) to pay for all of our books, supplies and software. The states of Louisiana and Georgia have collectively saved well over $200,000 over these twelve years of our home education. Now that we have a college ready student, he is not eligible for any state sponsored scholarship funds until he has completed 30 college credit hours. Basically, the states and the teachers' unions want to discredit home schoolers any way they can and make it as challenging as possible for our students to obtain funds that are readily available to public schooled students. I wish I could see the logic in this, however, I only feel violated and discriminated against. Where's the ACLU on this subject? Why it perfectly acceptable to discriminate against a block of society that outscored and outperformed all other blocks of educated children? Home schoolers out score public school kids in almost every subject. Whatever. Like always, we will man-up, play by the rules and HOPE scholarship funds will be available for us in a couple of years.

Blog Fog

I have been experiencing major blog fog. Especially now. I have contemplated blogging about a whole host of topics over the last few weeks, ranging from leftist hypocrisy to spring time gardening. I have had many opinions I would have loved to voice or recipes to share, but the nasty tornadoes have simply made me realize there is nothing truly worth blogging about in a catastrophe. There is a time to put your opinions on a shelf and come together with those in need and be as helpful as you are able. And the single most important part of it all that we are trying to teach our sons, is it's not about you. You should not go around boasting of how much money you gave or how many hours you put in on a job. It is about giving glory to God for equipping you to do His work. My mom was the best role model I had for this, and I am thankful to give her the credit for my desire to teach the guys the same important values. Matthew chapter 6 gives very clear advice on this subject. Live it in front of your children, don't simply preach it. Read these scriptures with your children.

So many people have lost their homes, their businesses and some have lost their lives. Our little town of Ringgold is a shambles. But having lived in Louisiana with bookend hurricanes Andrew and Katrina, I know we will rebuild and we will be stronger. Our character will be tested at times and our patience will be lost at times, but we must always return to our roots of faith, hope and love.

There are so many lovely and perfect Bible verses to help in times such as these. I like the Psalms during trials and then always end up in the Gospel when I have come out of the fire. All trials do lead to the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ. But if you find you are still trying to come to terms with this, the Psalms were written for such a time as this.

Please continue to pray for Ringgold. There has never been anything catastrophic like this around here before and they are in deep shock. This is my favorite place I have ever lived and it hurts to see Ringgold suffering.

Up on The Mountain

Yesterday, we spent the day with some of our very special friends from Louisiana. We miss them so much, but thankfully, we get to see them every few months! They own a couple of rental cabins on the brow of Lookout Mountain, in Mentone, AL. The drive to go see them is so beautiful, you hardly notice it takes an hour. Bruce grilled some burgers and we had lots of fixings. I made my annual bunny cake that I have made ever year since I was 10 or 11. He has gotten less fancy, but he still tastes quite good and the kids love the tradition.

Michelle is blessed with two 14 year old twin boys and is expecting a precious little girl in July. She has the cutest little baby bump and I can't wait to see baby Julia!!! We had a blast shopping for baby pink things and still enjoying the laugh that this little unexpected blessing presented a few months back. Ian and Evan will surely love having a little sister to spoil, and if nothing else, they get some valuable baby care skills!!! God bless you and your family, Michelle.

Keith and Bruce took all the guys to a couple of water falls down the road while we shopped, and I just have to share the gorgeous pictures. I want to go back up there soon! Enjoy the pictures and let's plan a trip there next time you come visit!

God bless!

Unplugged

We are going on a 40 day fast from most electronics. No Facebook, no video games, no iPod, no forums. It was simply necessary in our home. We have become disconnected from each other and the competition on the gaming systems has been driving me mad. Everyone, of course, wants to be able to go first and they always seem to go over on their turn, thus infuriating the next guy in line for a turn. There was sure to be a battle every day about it, often several times a day. Madness.

Now, miraculously, we are reconnecting with each other and that joyful silence I hear is quite medicinal. Let us hope and pray that we can continue bonding with each other and having fun playing many other games that have collected some dust. If your family seems hairy and disconnected, perhaps some unplugging is a solution for you, too.

Have a blessed day and enjoy the people in your life more than the electronics!!!

The Big Chill...

...waiting for the big thaw. Ok, I love winter. I love snow even more, but days on end of sub-freezing temperatures? Not so much. I feel like I am in Pennsylvania again, or maybe Maryland again, but not Georgia. The 9 inch dumping of snow was fabulous. I haven't seen that much snow in 20 years. But, I am a southerner now, and I like the here today, gone today kind of snow. This is the first time we have had snow last this long (I can hear my sister Becky laughing hysterically right now). I am by no means, ready for spring, nor am sick of the beautiful white stuff, but can we at least get above freezing? Even the chickens are staying in the coop. I guess they don't want their tail feathers to get icicles on them...

On the bright side, the snow has reignited my cooking desires, and I have made several yummy meals this week. Pecan crusted chicken, homemade bread, and potato soup. Winter is just a time to cook and snuggle under blankets and sip coffee all day.

I'm going to try and dig out the van today, with the hope of going to Costco tomorrow. I think I will need a very large ice pick and an even larger shovel.

A Time to Mourn

I dread the first week of January, now more than ever. Keith's gramma passed away last night. She was 90 years old. We all hold a very special place in our heart for her and will never forget her. She made the best gumbo and pralines on this earth! I am so glad we got to see her last month, on Thanksgiving. Rest in peace, Maw Maw Dee!

Monday marked the two year anniversary of Matt, our nephew, and the tragic car accident that took him and a half-brother. Matt was only 23 and full of life and love for the Lord. Keith's sister, Becky has to live without him and I know that is not an easy thing to do, every day.

And today marks the 21st anniversary of my mom's death. You have no idea how much I miss her. I miss her every day and wish I could have had her a little longer, but honestly, I don't think it would ever have been long enough for me. I have so many things I would have loved to share with her, especially my kids. Nobody loves you like your mother, and I have never stopped longing for that feeling, the feeling that left abruptly 21 years ago and will never return. People, if you still have your mom, please go easy on her. She's been through a lot to raise you. Love her as if this was the last day you will see her, because you just never know when you will get that phone call.

All that aside, the Lord promises he will comfort those in mourning, and He does. Today, I plan on meditating and praying these Bible verses; perhaps they will comfort you as well:

I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow. Jer 31:13

Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.
Psalm 126:4-6

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Matthew 5:3-5

...weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Psalm 30:6

God does not want to only focus on the pain of death, but the joy of life eternal. Is your heart right with God?