The World My Children Will Grow Up In.

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The World my children will grow up in is much different from the world I grew up in.  My husband and I have been talking about this more and more lately.  It feels like every time you turn on the news you learn of more "compromise" by our nation.  It seems like the more people you cross paths with the more you learn "compromise" is becoming the standard in people's lives.  And yet the reality is not that "it seems" the reality is that my children are growing up in a world of compromise.

I have been thinking about the best way to write out these thoughts and after I saw a piece on the Today Show this morning, I felt more compelled to write these thoughts down.  They were doing a piece on sexual enhancement drugs for women.  At this time, the TV was on in our living room and I was making french toast in the kitchen for our family.  The lady being interviewed said "I think women these days want novelty in the bedroom.  They want fantasy and imagination with more than one person.  Perhaps we have been told for so long that we should live in monogamy, when in fact what today's women want is less monogamy".

Seriously?!  This is the world of "compromise" that my children will grow up in, are growing up in.  I turned around from the skillet and I said "What about commitment"?  Nothing in today's society requires "commitment".  So why should anyone live in commitment?  Don't commit to marriage.  Don't commit to self-control.  Don't commit to your health.  Don't commit to your finances.  Don't commit to disciplining your children.  Just "compromise" so that you don't step on anyone's toes.

A year or two ago our pastor did a small series called "Gumption".  It spoke so clearly and deeply into my soul.  Gumption it is the CHARACTER to COMMIT and COMPLETE!  That is what I want for my marriage, for our family, and for my children.  That we would be people of deep COMMITMENT that allows us to COMPLETE strong.

That in our marriage we would commit even when we don't always see eye to eye or it is hard.  And that as a result we would COMPLETE life together.

In our self-control that we would commit to bringing our wants and desires under HIS authority and that we would COMPLETE life with excellent CHARACTER.

In our health that we would commit to working hard and eating well so that we would LIVE life on earth COMPLETE.

In our finances that we would commit to SAVE, GIVE, and SPEND within our means.  And that we would live within the boundaries of the season of our commitment whether it be plant, grow or harvest.

In the discipline of our children that we would commit to be consistent.  That we would model out in our lives our completion to follow through on what God asks of us through obedience.

Yes, the world will be a harder place for my children to grow up in than it was for me.  And the world will be a harder place for me to parent in than it was for my parents.  But I am confident that God can raise up an army of believers, of mighty warriors, who stand for something and have the GUMPTION, the CHARACTER to COMMIT and COMPLETE.

"Gideon then crossed the Jordan River with his 300 men, and though exhausted, they continued to chase the enemy".

Judges 8:4 NLT  

Here is the link to the Gumption Series if you are interested  

http://12stone.com/series/gumption/

Summer Reading List

The next several months of my life will be busy.  But I do have a "Summer Reading" List.  When I had my first baby, I made it through many feedings by my iPhone alone.  I know that may not be the "bonding" thing to do and some may say that I am missing out by being on my phone, but honestly.....for me....it was my saving grace.

When I had my second child, my sister had just had a baby as well.  There were a lot of feedings spent communicating with her back and forth through text during feedings.  It was a sweet time for me to help encourage my sister in her new found mommy hood.

The nursing of both of my children lead to a lot of blog reading on my iPhone and various different websites.  It honestly was such a good connecting place for me.  And while this time around I want to utilize my iPhone for brainless searching of the internet, I also want pour valuable things my heart as well.

I am huge fan of the Kindle for iPhone app.  I have read many books on my iPhone Kindle App when our iPad was not available to me.  I just downloaded

  

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I have only heard really great reviews about this book and it comes highly recommended by several of my closest friends.  There is also a Bloom Book Club series of videos to go along with it.  Just click on the link and scroll down to Seven: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess and there are videos that walk you through chapter by chapter.   

I am sure if I get through this one book I will be doing well.  Here are a few more books I hope to read at least before the end of the year.

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 And of course my stack of magazines that keeps growing, and growing, and growing........

Deals and Steals: Michele Zakeri Photography

My friend Michele has a great eye for a lot of things. 

She is a jack of all trades.

She has finally started a photography business.......

Michele Zakeri Photography

And she has a GiveAway!!!!

Which is my last Deal and Steal for this week.

All you have to do is 

1.  Visit her FB page (Click on this link)

2.  Share the 1 hour session give away on your page

3. Leave a comment that says "shared"

And you will be entered to WIN!

Hurry because she will draw a WINNER 

Friday, May 17th @ noon.

Here are a few of my favorite pics she recently took of our family.

Deals and Steals: Shoe Organizer

In our old closet we had a nice built in's for our shoes.  

Not so much now.  

After 2 weeks of boxes in our closet 

and me being unable to navigate around them, 

I set out to find something to store our shoes on/in.  

And of course, I was not willing to drop a load on shoe storage.  

I ended up with these hanging shoe holders.  

I purchased them at Wal-Mart for $5.00 each.  

I used to have one hanging in our hall closet at our old house,

 so I new they were durable.

They are made by HomeStays and are found near hangers and closet organizing stuff.  

I look at it this way....if one breaks I can always replace it for $5.00!  

And that to me sounds like a great Deal and Steal!

Deals and Steals: Sibling Shirts

I have been eyeing a few Etsy sites for "sibling" shirts for when #3 makes his debut.  

I have even considered having some shirts monogrammed.  

But, in all honesty the price makes me think twice.  

I could use that $60 plus dollars for diapers!

When I was in Hobby Lobby last week, I happened upon these "iron-on"

 BIG SISTER, BIG BROTHER, and LITTLE BROTHER packages.  

For $1.99 each, I could not pass them up.

Made by SEI Crafts out of Utah

Here is the package just in case you want/need 

to find them somewhere else than Hobby Lobby.

I picked up a white t-shirt for my daughter.  

I had a hard time finding a white t-shirt for my son, but ended up with one with a pocket. 

 I simply removed the pocket with a seam ripper.  

And baby boy has tons of solid white onesies.

I followed the directions on the package and VIOLA!  

Sibling shirts for $14.00!  

Which leaves me $46.00 left over for diapers. 

Pretty good deal if you ask me.

 For #3

For #1

For #2

I am really SOOOOO Excited to see them in these!

Deals and Steals: ALDI

My most FAVORITE recent find is ALDI.  I can not take ANY credit for this.....I owe it all to my friend Michele.  She has been shopping at ALDI for a while and they built one closer to our house several months ago....so I decided to see what all the fuss was about.

WOW!  All I can say is WOW!  I am a Publix lover but I HATE their produce prices.  And since I usually make MULTIPLE trips a week for produce I needed to try and cut produce costs.  ALDI is the place where I can do just that.

It is amazing how much lower their produce prices are.  And much to my surprise many of their produce is the SAME produce brands I buy at Publix.  You do have to bag your own groceries and put your own cart back up but man I can do that!

This was one of my first purchases.

Peanut Butter

Grape JElly

Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes

Peppers

Lemons

Limes

Tomatoes

Cuties

Bananas

Salad

Cucumbers

Strawberries

Mushroom

Carrots

Grapes

Pinapple

Garlic Powder

Onion Powder

Bread

Gold Fish Crackers

Sweet Potato Chips

All for ~ $40/45!!!!!!!

That left me with a TON in my budget for milk, eggs, meat, and cheese.

I was truly AMAZED!  I am now HOOKED on ALDI.

And I am proud that I can feed my family FRESH PRODUCE for a lot less.

ALDI also has seasonal sections.

Last week I found these items in the seasonal section 

and I could not be more pleased.

Patio Table Umbrella (cranks and tilts) $29.99

Patio Table Umbrella Stand (30lbs) ($16.99)

Patio Umbrella LED lights ($8.99)

I have been eyeing these 3 items on Amazon for the last year!

NO JOKE.

Umbrella Stand $30.00-$50.00

Umbrella (crank, tilt and LED lights) $150.00

Amazon's Price &150.00

ALDI's price $55.97

I have never had to return anything but I do hear that they have an EXCELLENT return policy!

Deals and Steals: New Front Porch Furniture

I promised to write this week about a few steals and deals I have encountered lately.

First up:

Front Porch Furniture

We have never had a front porch and we now do.

I love the idea of sitting on the front porch but I hated the prices of front porch furniture.

I could not find anything in my budget at Home Depot, Amazon, Lowes or Target.

One day I happened on these steals at World Market.

This bench and chair are actually dining furniture but are the perfect height for our front porch.

They are being discontinued so you know I got a great deal

Bench $104.00

Chair $56.00

And the sales lady gave me a coupon for an extra 10% off.

They are the perfect addition to our front porch.

I dropped by Costco and picked up a 2 pillow pack for $25.00

You can't really beat that either when most places want $25.00 for ONE outdoor pillow.

I got this cute metal drum table as well. 

 It was not that much of a steal

but I loved it and decided to get it!

So all in all WORLD MARKET

&

COSTCO

get props for these Deals and Steals. 

Join World Market's Explorer Program (FREE)

and get TONS of coupons and Free stuff every week.

It really does pay to join!