Overwhelmed & Undeserving

So Levi's been out of town for 1/2 a week now...1/2 week to go and schedules will be back to normal which is so abnormal it's not even funny.  I've enjoyed my time, I freezer cooked (proper grammar-doesn't sound like it).  Planning on getting some other stuff done that I want to do.  That part's nice.  However, I do miss him and will be glad for him to be back!!  I hurried out this morning so I wouldn't be late to church...I would have been on time except the line at the doughnut shop was forever long.  Good excuse right?? That's our Sunday morning routine...well Daddy's routine and I couldn't let them down.

I hurried to get in & get ready.  I hate when I forget to pray on Sunday mornings.  It's like I leave that part out of the equation but want everything to go marvelously.  Anyway....practice was fine, hanging out like normal.  We sang (the music was really good today, everything just flowed which is nice b/c it's not always that way).  I sat down like normal & Blain started.  I loved what he was saying and I think he was right on.  It's funny b/c in my journal I wrote a couple of times last week about feeling entitled to certain things and how I hate that about me.  I wasn't speaking in terms of religiosity but in other areas of my life. The Jews felt entitled to Jesus' miracles & power and they threatened to kill him because he was sharing that with the Gentiles.  I don't want to be that way.  Blain showed an incredible clip because he also talked about Jesus' message as heard by the Gentiles. He talked about how the Gentiles felt like the kid who is that last to get picked when he finally was chosen first.  I cried a lot of the way through the service today.  I loved the message and the words & the truth he spoke. 

...BUT...I also loved that Blain preached, that he had the ability and the willingness to do that, he's quality.  I love that he loves my husband & vice versa and gave him a break this morning.  That's the kind of people that Catalyst peeps are.  I love that!! I love Sprang (no this isn't online confessional time)...in a brotherly way of course!!!  I love his spirit & don't tell him that enough.  I love that he & Levi work on purposefully planning.  I love that I can just be me and as goofy & silly & as imperfect that I am, they love me or at least act like they like me.  I love our band & our music....so blessed to be able to sing with them.   I love that I looked out this morning to see a chunk of our C Group sitting together in church.  I love that as I hear stories & meet people my heart is so overwhelmed with joy that it brings me to tears.  I love most of all that our God orchestrated all of this and about 2 years ago I was regretting the decision to come here and mad about the whole thing.  I love that God doesn't give up on us & glad we didn't give up on Catalyst.  I feel so undeserving to even be a part of it sometimes but so thankful that I am :)

Kroger Mega Deal

Okay so I'm going to try to list out my mega deal and see who close I come:

Here's what I got:
3 NY Texas Toast
2 Green Giant Frozen Veggies
2 Wheat Thins
3 Quaker Granola Bars
2 Kellogs Fruit Snacks
2 Purina Dog Treats
2 Solo Cups
4 DiGorno Pizzas
1 Sister Schubert Rolls
2 Dixie Plates
12 Kraft Shredded Cheese
1 Bird's Eye Frozen Meal for 2
1 Dixie Napkins
3 2-packs of I Can't Believe It's Not Butter
2 Kraft Mac-N- Cheese Deluxe
3 Post Raisin Bran Cereal
4 Hunt's Tomato Paste or Sauce
2 French's Mustard
1 Snyder's Pretzels
1 Rotel
2 -12 pack of Quilted Northern Bath Tissue
4 Quaker Snack Cakes
1 Kraft Ranch Dressing
1 12 Pack Brawny Paper Towels
2 Motts Apple Juice
2 Philadelphia Cream Cheese
1 Oscar Meyer Lunchable
1 Chex Mix
1 PoppyCock
1 Claussen Pickles
1 Capri Sun

So I also bought freezer cooking stuff so some of this doubled for that.  However, my total went down $35 right off the bat because of the Mega Deal. I had 70 items that qualified.  So, for every 10 items, I got $5 off.  Then, I had $73.22 in coupons.  I think my total for all of that was $172.
I paid $57 for all 70 items (including 2 big packs of toilet paper & 1 big pack of paper towels.).  Pretty good!!

Freezer Cooking =WOWSER

Okay so first let me say that freezer cooking is a crazy endeavor. It is tiresome and crazy while you're doing it, however, the benefits of having food for the next month is AWESOME. I've done freezer cooking a variety of ways. One time, Meagan and I shopped and cooked together and it was crazy.  Other times, I've done it cooperatively. Where, say 5 of us each cook 5 of 2 dishes and then we swap.  Well, this time, I did it solo....well, with my kids.  I grocery shopped with my kids which was overwhelming & frustrating because we needed so much.  I was also doing the KROGER mega sale so I had certain coupons and had to count items & confusing stuff like that.  The kids actually did great, I'm a mess when thrown off my schedule & that is why it was trying for me. I'm going to try to break my total spent down by freezer cooking & then the MEGA sale stuff that I couldn't pass up b/c it was free or SUPA cheap.  So, here is what I have in my freezer:

Main Dishes:
4 Poppy Seed Chicken (6 servings each)
4 Garlic Pizza Kits (not sure servings but each will make a large pizza)
3 Beef Stroganoff ( 6 servings each)
4 Calzones (4 servings each)
2 Sloppy Joes (6 servings each)
3 Salisbury Steak (4 servings each)
2 Taco Pies (6 servings each)
4 Cheesy Chicken Pot Pies (6 servings each)
4 Ziti (6 servings each)
2 Saucy Pork Chops ( 4 servings each)
2 BBQ Brisket (4 servings each)

Side Dishes:
4 Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes (6 servings each)
2 Creamy Italian Noodles ( 6 servings each)
5 Mac N Cheese (6 servings each)

Desserts:
4 Ice Cream Shoppe Pies (1 Blueberry/Strawberry, 1 Random Swirl, 1 Rocky Road, 1 Chocolate Chip)
3 Frozen Peanut Butter Bars (48 servings total)

Levi requested hot pockets which I haven't gotten to yet but I do have crescent rolls and chicken left so I may do a cheesy chicken crescent hot pocket or I might try bacon, egg, & cheese hot pockets. I'm worn out so those will have to wait at least until tomorrow.  The kitchen is closed.

The funny thing is, I started at 9:30pm on Wed. and went to bed at 2am.  Thursday night, I started at 7pm and went to bed at 2 am. Friday, I did some during the day but not much, I finished that night. I started at 8:30 pm and went to bed at 1:30am.   I did most of this while the kids were in bed.  It was easier that way, I could start & finish for the most part. 

Okay so now for the totals of what I spent. I spent approximately $152 on groceries, freezer bags, etc.  So, if I break that down into servings, I have a total of servings 320 (Main Dishes= 182 servings, Side Dishes= 66, Desserts=72 ). So, that means each serving cost about $0.46.  That is crazy to think about!!!

If you've never freezer cooked...it's fun and so nice for the rest of the month if you can handle the butt kickin' at the beginning!!

ENJOY!

Got lots to say.....

let's see if I'm awake enough when I get home tonight to say it:)

weird week

This week has been weird for me.  To be perfectly honest, it's not been great.  I'm tired.  I don't get really tired all that often but I just feel weary.  I feel burdened.  I feel a lot of stress right now.  Stress about decisions, stress about relationships, stress about the future.  It's kind of a weird place for me.  I tend to worry too much and care what people think too much and sometimes avoid or side step truth in the process.  I'm thankful for Levi in that way (well lots of ways but most of the others have nothing to do with this post).  He is truthful even when it hurts.  He isn't afraid to confront or be honest even when it's not what the other person wants to hear.  As I type that, i do realize that some of that could also be a character flaw at times but he's usually pretty tactful (at least with other people).  Anyway, kind of random I guess.

I found out tonight that a dear friend from college who is 19 weeks pregnant with twin baby girls is at the hospital because her water broke.  My heart is breaking & aching all over for her. 

5

My baby turned  5 today.  What a milestone it was for us!  I reminisced about the past 5 years and all of the changes that have happened during that time.  It's crazy to think back. I am so thankful for Addy. She is a wonderful little girl.  She has a compassionate heart. She truly cares for others.  She says what she thinks.  Her vocabulary amazes me at times.  She asks lots of questions.  She talks nonstop.  She takes care of Keegan.  She cares what other people think.  She loves ranch, pizza, cherries, & pickles.  She loves people.  She is mischievous.  She can whistle.  She likes to help.  She reminds me so much of my mom it's scary sometimes.  She tattles.  She has a memory like none other.  She remembers names.  She calls me out when I'm not being kind.  She loves animals, dogs in particular, dalmations in particular.  She loves movies.  She loves & needs time to herself.  She has a great sense of humor and is starting to crack jokes that make sense.   She is starting to understand God's love and asking questions about it.  She loves to sing & dance & she can shake it.  She is empathetic when others hurt.  She tells us she wants to live with us forever. 

I love that girl.  I cannot imagine 1 day without her in my life and I'm not sure what life was like without her. 

Happy Birthday Addyson Marie.

A First

So tonight I had a first...i went to a movie by myself.  It was so no big deal but I'd just never done it before. I liked it.  Definitely think it will happen again. I was going to go with a friend but she couldn't go so I went alone.  I've seen more movie in the last month than I've seen in the last year probably.  It's been fun. I definitely WILL NOT be spending $9.25 for another movie but love going to the early movies for $5 a pop or better yet the $1 movies. 

BTW, I saw Leap Year, it was cute.  The music was great. I love Colbie Coliat.  The texture of her voice is awesome!!! It's late and I need to go to bed.  Gotta get up early tomorrow for church.  You can catch us on the web at www.catrow.tv  

Have a great Sunday!!

Heart Breaking

I was tutoring tonight and was catching up on my blogs through blogline and emails all at the same time...yeah I can multitask...sometimes!  I came across a prayer request from a fellow blogger for another blogger in Hawaii.  It was truly heart breaking.  Natalie is a photographer from Hawaii.  She had her fourth child (i think he was her fourth) in October.  After Christmas, they rushed him to the hospital and discovered he had RSV and pertussis.  He died today.  It broke my heart.  I hate that people hurt, I absolutely hate it.

BTW

I made photo Christmas cards and have yet to send them....dang Character Flaw #2 but who's counting????

Character Flaw

Yeah.....I knew that'd get you.  So here goes...it bugs me that Levi's blog has 20 more views this month than mine YET, his last post was Dec. 15 and I have posted 6 entries since then.  What is up with that?? Okay, so it's not that big of a deal...just a little friendly competition I like to have with him.  He's winning!!

We are back in the swing.  Today we started back at Mother's Day Out. I am loving the 4 year old class. I miss my 2/3 year old babies but it is nice to feel like it's more school-ish.  I love that I get to work with Kelli.  She makes my life so much easier...she is a wealth of expertise, I love that!  And it's a bonus that she goes to Catalyst and got me this job...thanks girl!!

It was really nice to chill over the holidays. I missed seeing all of our families and so glad my parents came for Thanksgiving.  I would have been BUMMED to not see them at all.  It was nice to relax and enjoy Christmas instead of living out of a suitcase. 

Life is good, super excited about some upcoming stuff, church, life, etc.  Levi & I are doing really well.  I love saying that because as you know relationships are stressful and not so fun at times.  I almost typed it's nice to have an upper and then realized how that sounded.  It's nice to be in a good place!   Okay you're updated...I know kind of boring right now....that's okay by me!

Date Night with the Sprangs

So tonight we celebrated Christmas with the Sprangs. We had a lot of fun.  They treated us to a wonderful dinner. It was lovely.  We had Sbux and then just chilled at our house.  We love those two crazies:)