Nov 18-coupons and deals...God provides!

Come on, now you HAD to know in the midst of posts of thanksgiving there would be at least one post that involved coupons and deals. I am so thankful for how God provides that way. I guess it's the sign of the season of life that I'm in, but I count couponing/deals as my hobby. Pathetic? Maybe...I think not! Just call it part of my life as a homemaker, which is by the way the BEST job in the world!!

I am also so very, very thankful for the job that the Lord has provided for Michael. We are often greatly blessed by "projects" that he brings home, even when it's just old crackers and cereal that we give the the animals.

This month we set a goal as a family that we would just pay cash for things (except gas) and that we would eat out of our pantry and freezer and not eat out unless it was after football games (which happens to be quite often this month, so don't feel too sorry for us!) I was trying to make it each week just buying fresh stuff, like milk, bread and (gasp!) eggs and fresh produce and then make due with meals from what we have at home.** I have to take a moment and be thankful for all the eggs that our girls have given us in the last months. They are all molting (which means their feathers are falling out and they don't lay eggs) AT THE SAME TIME, so we've been eggless for about 3 weeks now. I must say, you just CAN'T get store bought eggs of any type that are as good as "home grown"! I'm thinking it'll be cheaper just to buy more hens than to keep buying eggs. We'll see how that goes!**

So, I'm thankful for boys who have good attitudes about what we eat even when it's not tacos every night. Or even when it's not something they would even choose to eat. Jeremy especially is so faithful to get a smile on his face and say "OK, mom. That's great!" So, thanks, Jeremy!!!

All that to say, I was interested to see how God was going to provide even the basics for us this month. And of course, he's come through! Three weeks ago, I got milk marked down to $1.50 a gallon. I picked up 5 gallons. Just earlier this week that milk and bread from the freezer ran out and look what God provided in the last three days at the store/from Michael's work...

A total of two gallons of organic milk, a 1/2 gallon of lactose free milk, a 1/2 gallon of soy milk (which we don't drink, but it was free so I just use it in cooking), two bottles of Loreal nail polish, a Loreal lip gloss, two loaves of bread and a bag of vegetarian vegetable soup. We also had a bag of chicken tortilla soup at lunch today, so it counts, it just didn't make it to the picture. I paid a total of $2.50 for all of this!!! Michael brought home the soups and the organic milk, I had a coupon to get the soy milk free, got the l-free milk free b/c I found one on the cooler that was out of date (gotta love HEB!!), the bread was buy the Nature's Own get the HEB free (can I say it again.....gotta love HEB!!) and I used coupons and sales at CVS to get the hair color and lip gloss/nail polish for only $1.04. And YES, I do consider hair color a basic necessity! Right up there with milk, bread and produce! The nail polish will be used at "Toes R Us" , an exclusive mani/pedi spa that is operated by Aunt Jennie when Lauren and Katie are around. Here's a shout out to my two best clients!! Lauren and Katie, I have an appointment for you NEXT WEEK! :-)

And speaking of deals...another thing I'm thankful for is coming up soon. Black Friday shopping w/ my sis! It ranks right up there with my favorite days of the year and I'm nearly giddy with excitement about getting to shop with her this year!! Can't wait, can't wait!! I seriously doubt that there will be pictures of the loot...it is Christmas you know. But I can guarantee there will be a cheap watch in the mix...it is the fast track to the short line at Kohl's! And the weather forecast for next Friday is a low of 40 high of 60....perfecto!!

"My God shall supply ALL your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus our Lord" Philippians 4:19 It's so true and I'm so thankful!!