Tips for shopping sales before spring!

         Ok - guys!!! March is truly a month of madness for clearance sales!!!   Actually January through March are all good months for clearances.  In January you have the after Christmas clearances - both in the extra food, decorations, seasonal gift items, and candy!!!  February you will start seeing clearances on winter clothing as well as items in the household departments as they start bringing in Spring and Summer items.  Again there are great sales on candy and gifts after Valentines Day!!!  I like to scout out these things for gifts for Mothers Day or any gals with birthdays in the spring months.  Then in February and March the department stores will have clearances for their winter things as well.  Be sure to go to your favorite stores and ask if they are going to be having sales so that you don't miss out on any deals!!!  (Now, I will explain here that I live in rural Kansas.  We do not have a lot of big name brand stores out here - and so my information and experience pertains to rural areas and may not be applicable to others in other places.)

       I have been scouting Walmart stores for clearances in their children's department.  It is hard to buy shoes ahead because feet seem to be typically more unpredictable but I definitely buy clothes ahead!!! This is easier to do for toddlers and kids rather than infants because the infants can grow so fast and are unpredictable!!!  But I have found racks with long sleeve boys T-shirts, in all sizes, for $1!  Then I will buy several in a size up from what my son is currently wearing for the next winter.  It really depends on each individual store as to what price or what choices you have in clearance sales.  I will find a rack of shirts like that in a Walmart in Kansas but then go up to Nebraska and they will only have pajamas on sale.  That's fine - I'll pick up a pair of those then!  You can also hold your cards and wait a week too.  Because later, you might go in and see a garment marked down from $7 to $5 - but if you wait a few more days you can come back and find it marked down to $3.  But you also might miss out if someone else buys it first - so it's a gamble!

       Winter apparel goes on sale in the spring.  Always a good time to stock up for next year with those light cotton mittens that go on sale for 75 cents a pair - stocking caps for $1.  Coats and snow boots get marked down too.  Don't forget to look at Goodwill and other thrift stores for these things too.  People will be cleaning out their closets after Christmas and at the first sign of warmer weather, so take advantage of those second hand deals as well!

       I will also scout out clothes for myself.  Leggings and sport clothing went on a major sale in January!  Then in February I looked for the sweater that I admired in the clearance section - and after looking at three different Walmarts - I found one in my size for $7!!!  Women's jeans will often go on sale in February - March to make room for the shorts and capris coming in.  Found a pair at Walmart marked down to $5 on clearance!  I also hit the mall in March and found Christopher and Banks, Maurices, and many other womens clothing stores with Winter Clearance sales and picked up some great deals on vests, jackets, long sleeve blouses, and those classy knee high boots!

       Another tip that I have found to be true is to get your grilling supplies in March before the Tailgate party prices and summer prices rise!

       Lets not forget groceries!  Again you will have to look into your own local store and learn their sales systems.  Watch the flyers - maybe keep a couple weeks worth of them to be able to compare and familiarize yourself with the prices of the things you buy most often and see if there is a repeating sales for any of those items and learn to buy them when they are on sale - and get extras to last you until the next one.  For example - our local grocery store will have a fairly regular sale on canned vegetables such as corn, peas and carrots for 79 cents.  I will buy a flat of the kind I use and it will last me a month or until the next sale.  My kids love the little cutie oranges.  But I know that my store will have them out on sale about every other week or so.  So I will buy two bags when they're on sale and then we don't buy them again until they are on sale again.  And my kids have started to ask me "Mom, is this on sale?"  If it's not, they've learned to walk away from it and wait until another week!  Other things to watch for are things like toilet paper, dish soap, bread, favorite salads, favorite macaroni brand, dairy products, etc. . .
Here's two websites that I found with further helpful advice on groceries and sales that I will share below and also some links to my favorite places to shop for sales online.  Please let me know if anything in this post was helpful to you or if you have further sale shopping advice that you'd like to share with me!  Thank-you!


Guide to Grocery shopping through 2020
https://www.livingrichwithcoupons.com/2012/01/guide-to-grocery-sale-cycles-getting-the-best-prices-2.html#march

How to save money on groceries:
https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/finance/money/ways-to-save-money-on-food-groceries/?shoppingrhr&12

Walmart clearance sales:
https://www.walmart.com/browse?cat_id=0&facet=special_offers%3AClearance

Bath and Body Works sales:
https://www.bathandbodyworks.com/g/top-offers

Christopher and Banks sales:
https://www.christopherandbanks.com/sale-and-outlet/

The Children's Place sales:
https://www.childrensplace.com/us/c/clearance-us

Idols in your pocket?

"Whatever a man seeks, honors, or exalts more than God, this is the god of idolatry." ~William Ullathorne

      We often think of idolatry as people bowing to a statue.  Or worshiping the Sun, moon, or stars.  But idols come in all shapes and sizes - and often are things very familiar to us.  Like being wealthy, our dreams, a relationship, a mentor, or our children. 
      How can we check our hearts and see if we have any idols?  One way is to look at your bank account records.  Matthew 6:21 says "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  Where are you investing your money?  Towards that dream purchase?  Toward a vacation trip?  Towards charity and the church?  Now, I don't mean that saving for a boat or a vacation is bad in and of itself.  But is it consuming all your time, energy and resources in the pursuit of it?  Are you seeking the Lord's direction in those things or are you pressing towards it in an attempt to just make it happen?
     Another way to check our hearts is to put our blessings and desires to the test.  Abraham was asked to sacrifice his only son, his promised son that he waited over 25 years for.  The son who was to be the hope for his family line and the heir of the promises of God.  Abraham showed no hesitation and immediate obedience to God asking for him to give up his blessing, to risk his future, to return the gift he'd been given.  Are we willing to do the same?  Is there anything in your life that if God asked you to give it back, you would hesitate?  Your job?  Your home?  Your health?  Your child?
     When I checked my heart by asking this question - I was stopped short.  For I found that my hesitation was in the plans I had for my family.  What I wanted it to look like and how I was going to get us there.  I justified this action because the things I desire are good, valuable, and even necessary - at least in my perspective.  But was I making those things gods??  Was I pursuing them more than the Lord??  Was I pursuing them outside of God's will and way of doing things?  And my heart convicted me that I was.  I was not only focusing and pursuing them more than God, I was unintentionally declaring myself as God over those things.  
       Lord have mercy!  But what should I do!? What could I do? Repent, first of all.  God promises in 1 John that He is a just judge and faithful to forgive those who confess their sins. Not only forgive, but cleanse from all unrighteousness.  What hope! What Grace! The second thing I could do was submit to Him the wrong paths taken, let Him navigate the best route back to a right course, and then humbly follow.  This is the tough part. Leaving the paths we thought were so good and beautiful.  Can we be sure Gods way is really worth it?  Let's take a look at Proverbs 14:12 "There is a way that seems right to a man, but it's end is the way of death." Just a few verses down in verse 16 it says "A wise man fears and departs from evil, but a fool rages and is self confident."  I've found this to be the bar that I hold myself up to when I am questioning my own motives and wanting to be following the Lord.  Am I humble?  Am I seeking the Lord and what I know to be true about His will?  Am I being self-confident about this?  Am I pushing through or trusting the Lord to be the discern-er and the decision maker here?  Am I raging in getting it done or trusting the Lord to be the strength and power through which all good things come?  Another Scripture that comes to mind is Matthew 6:10.  "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven."  Am I seeking to establish the Lords kingdom here or my own?   Later on in that same chapter in verse 24 it says "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both God and money."  That word money can also be translated wealth.  Am I pursuing the wealth of the earth or the riches that are stored away in Heaven?
 After repentance and evaluating the reasons for my idolatry - I could refocus. Place my gaze once again on my Lord and Master and seek after His kingdom.  To do that, I needed to know what His desires and purposes are.  Then I could also ask for Him to work in my heart and make them my desires and purposes.  I first sought the Lord in prayer.  For Him to open my eyes and my heart to knowing Him and His desires.  And what amazement and joy and grace I found in that pursuit!  Sometimes God's word seems so restrictive and it can be uncomfortable and even fearful to surrender all control and authority over ourselves to another.  But when you stop and consider the one to whom we are surrendering to - there is no reason to fear.  For He has a kind character, a compassionate Father, and powerful Protector, and a good Shepherd.  His children shall not be in want of any good thing.  
     Then after acknowledging the goodness and authority of God, I reorganized the order in which I went about things.  I sought the Lord's system of authority with Christ as the head over all believers, then my husband as head over me, and him and I jointly having authority over our kids.  Then I could stop and back up and remember to seek the Lord in my plans and desires for our family and see if I was keeping the same priorities for my family as God does.  Then I needed to take my desires to my husband and work together with him on setting out our way for our family and not just my way.  Things go much slower now and work out to look differently than I had in mind at first, but it's more peaceful and unified.  It's less tiring for me as I do not have to push things through so hard!  And best of all - it is more of a pattern that I would like for my kids to follow after me in.  It's not perfect and it's not without mistakes.  But I'm grateful that God convicted me of this now and that I was able to take the opportunity to make the necessary changes before I got to much farther down a wrong path and had so much more to undo and apologize for! 
     
     I hope this is helpful and encouraging to you.  If you find that you have something you are inadvertently worshiping  I hope that you will not feel alone in that or horrified with yourself.  We are sinners  in so much need of a Savior!  Thank the Lord that He offers to help us and forgive us!  Leave me a comment if this was helpful to you or if you have any questions about how to seek forgiveness from the Lord.  The Bible says He extends forgiveness to anyone who asks and will give wisdom liberally and without reproach.  He's not out to punish you - He's out to pursue you with His love and grace!  

     
     

Love the Lord with all your HEART ❤

 My heart can be so quickly distracted by the pleasures and stuff of this world.  When we had Netflix on our television I started watching the interior decorating shows and home makeover shows.  And my heart got distracted by wanting a better home.  I became disappointed in my own home and began making a long list of things that needed to be improved.  And the more I looked at those things day after day it depressed me more that I didn't have the money to just remodel my house.  And I planned and schemed to repaint, or buy different curtains and wall decorations just to make changes to the look of my home and make me feel happier with it.  But it didn't.  Maybe for a while but then I would look sadly at the other things that "needed" to be redone to promote unity, peace, joy, and happiness in my house.  A bigger kitchen would bring more convenience and less stress.  Better lighting would bring an atmosphere of cheeriness to the living room.  An essential oil dispenser would bring a calm, peaceful and healthy scent to my bedroom. One day I snapped myself out of it and said "Hold on!  Where does my joy and peace and serenity come from?  From a paint color or essential oil smell???  NO!  But it DOES come from the Lord!  I can have joy and peace in my home just the way it is by looking to the TRUE source of these things that I desire.  The Lord is a jealous God and He does not share the affections of His Bride - me - with anyone or anything!  I do a serious dishonor to Him by turning my heart to other things.
 Oh Lord forgive my discontent and my earthly mindedness!  Forgive me for making a god out of my house and pursuing other things outside of You - who is all sufficient!  Fill me with a desire for Your Kingdom and Your gifts that You bestow on me freely as a part of Your church, Your Bride! 

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust can destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven where moth and rust do not destroy and thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is there your heart will be also."  Matthew 6:19-21
"You open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.  The Lord is righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works.  The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.  He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them."  Psalm 145:16-19
"Teach me your way O Lord and I will live by Your truth.  Give me an undivided heart to fear Your name."  Psalm 86:11
Matthew 22:37 (NKJV) "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind."   

Baskets in May - Kindness for Today!

     The dispersing of May Baskets on the first day of May is a tradition that has been lost in the passing of time and the changes of our American culture.  This charming tradition began in Europe where the month of April is quite chilly and usually rainy, much like our weather this year!  But then May begins to show promise of warmer weather.  This promise inspired the European folks to give gifts of hope and encouragement to one another.  The spring flowers that had bloomed after all the rain would be picked and tucked into a basket along with gifts or sweet treats and hung anonymously on the doors of friends,  neighbors and strangers.  This was also where the saying "April showers bring May flowers" originated.  This old tradition is an inspiration to me when I hear the news and read the stories of the cold-heartedness, brokenness, darkness, and terror of people in our country today.  Yet there are blossoms of kindness, goodness, love, and joy in the midst.  Perhaps this tradition and the good people and blessings in our lives can inspire us to gather these kind of  blossoms and pass them out as gifts of hope and encouragement to the friends,  neighbors and strangers in our community!

Trusting is Risking - or is it?

I've been thinking a lot about the risk of trusting God. But then again it isn't really that much of risk. We can live our lives alone, face the odds in our own strength and reasoning, strive to meet our created needs in whatever we find that fills them. At least temporarily. Or we can choose to place faith and trust in one who is higher, stronger, kinder, wiser, and more faithful than anyone or any thing else. In Him we have more fulfillment, joy, peace, and security than any lover, career, hobby, bottle, meditation, ritual, or gun. With Him we have comfort, hope, endurance, promise, goodness, grace, mercy, and kindness to come alongside us through this messy, sinful, and painful world. We are promised to be taken out of this place and be given purity and peace and release from such things, once we are in Heaven. But for now we have a purpose. To share God with others, to live out the things He gives us so that others will see and want and reach for it too. I'm not saying it's easy - because I know firsthand that it is not! But it is simple. It's simply Jesus and following His Word! The risk He took on us is far greater than the risk we have to take Him. My prayer is that God will give me a heart that is willing to take the risk day by day - and live out His Word and promised gifts day by day!

To the Mama without Hope for the New Year

         Winter time can be so drab for the stay at home mother with little children.  She starts the day with a list of chores but it seems that she spends more time entertaining her bored kids than getting anything done.  She stays up late on Pinterest trying to find some new ideas that might keep them preoccupied tomorrow.  It's too cold and wet for them to go outside, at least not for very long and it takes her longer to get the little ones bundled up than they actually stay out and play.  There is extra laundry from the kids getting wet in the snow and she has to keep the boots rotated around the heater to get them dry for tomorrow.   She cooks hot meals and plenty of soup and hot chocolate.  Then stares at the stacks of dirty cups and bowls and wonders why she didn't just fix sandwiches.  She hasn't seen her friends in a couple weeks 'cause everyone is on a rotation for having sick kids.  She teaches her toddlers to sing "Jesus Loves Me" and feels good about herself as a mom for a moment but then like a failure when bath time ends in tears for both her and the child.  As a Christian she feels like she should be caring for her home and kids with a smile and joy and should have a tidy and welcoming house all the time.  But it's not and she's not, why can't she do it right?  What can she do to find peace with herself, peace in the home, contentment and a better mood, and get everything done that needs to be done?

         I heard from someone once that we just need to focus on the essentials for life.  We need food, water, clothing and shelter to live.  As long as those bases are covered then tell yourself you are doing fine as a mom.  But I just couldn't find complete comfort in that.  I could feed my kids junk food and have them wearing dirty clothes - and by that definition be fine.  But that doesn't even mention the spiritual side or education.  I was behind in teaching the ABC's, cause the neighbors kid already knew them and I hadn't even started with teaching Bible verses when that little kid on Facebook new 20!  By now I hope you can see that I had a comparison and perfection problem, but it drove me to look to the Bible for what God considers essential to life.
           There have been many passages that have helped me with this but the first being the passage in Luke 10:38-42. The account of Jesus going to Martha's house for lunch.  He commends Mary for being at His feet and rebukes Martha of her many fussings.  I puzzled over this account for a long time because I always heard people say, "He's telling Martha she needs to not worry about making things fancy but to just serve a simple meal and calm down!"  But when I read it I just felt that there was more to it than that.  So I began to dig, look up definitions of the Greek words  that were originally used and think about the whole story and how it was written in order to figure out what was the intended message that the author was trying to communicate.  These are the things I noticed.  The passage reads that Jesus and his disciples were traveling and came to a certain town where a woman named Martha opens her home. She feels that her and her sister need to do for the Lord.  She complains to Jesus that her sister isn't doing her share.  And Jesus says so tenderly to her "Martha, Martha you are worried and upset about much serving, but only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen that good part, and it will not be taken from her."  Ok, get ready because this is the best part!  Look deeper at those words! Martha was cumbered about much serving - vs. 40 - cumbered means to drag all around, to be distracted with cares.  The word much- means often, many times.  The word serving - means ministry, relief, as a servant attends, to aid; particularly this word was used as service to the Teacher - Christ.

Then He said "one thing is needed" - well what is it?  This is the answer I was looking for and I thought hard with bated breath!  That word needed is also translated as useful, ought to be, or needs to be furnished, one's business.  Now get this its not busy-ness it's business.  As in working for an employer. When you commit yourself to work for someone you commit to making their business your business.  You have a responsibility to them.  You take that job seriously because you owe them as an employer.   I began to cry at this point as that feeling of owing begins to dawn on me and as I saw how Christ responds to it.  Then Christ said to her "Martha, there is only one thing that you owe me.  Mary has chosen that good part." (remember Martha was complaining that Mary wasn't doing her share of the work?)  That word "part"  means portion or share!  He said that Mary had chosen her share and it would not be taken from her. What was it that she was doing?  Sitting at his feet while Martha had been running about.  Being in His presence while Martha had left the room.  Listening to Him while Martha had been listening to herself.  Having eyes fixed on Him while Martha had her eyes on tasks to be done.  Folding her hands rather than Martha who sought to keep her hands busy.  Giving Him focus rather than Martha who'd been cumbered, distracted, and running herself into the ground.  

      I see myself in Martha.  I get cumbered and worried about doing everything perfectly and get miserably depressed when it is not.  I get down on myself about my failures which makes me upset and negative about everything!  Then because I lack joy I get down on myself about being a bad Christian too!  But I don't have the time for self pity and a movie with chocolates - because there are dishes and laundry that need done and a land mine of toys between me and the TV.   If you get this way too, cheer up because this passage teaches us that there is one thing that is needed. Just one thing that we are responsible to do for Christ.  One thing out of all the others that really needs done each and every day.  One obligation that is our business to him as our Master and Teacher -  being in His presence, listening to His words, focusing our eyes on His face.  That's it!!! That's the answer!

       It's not just business or busy-ness; it's relationship!  Jesus' only expectation of us is relationship.  Isn't that so freeing!  I just bawled and bawled when it hit me because it gave me relief, it gave me motivation, it gave me hope, it gave me a tender feeling to see how God had shown Himself to little ol' me.   A simple girl and stay-at-home mom.  He spoke to my heart and chose to show me something about Himself.  He met me right where I was at - just like He did to Martha!  How blessed we are to have a God who cares so much about us and is willing to reach out to us and show us clearly the way we need to go.  He is so wonderful and gracious and tender and patient and kind!  I just love Him and am so grateful for Him in my life!  

       There are other passages that have helped me with the challenges of motherhood and the mundane day to day life - so stay tuned and I will be working on sharing those soon!!! Thanks for reading - God Bless You!

Can Jesus REALLY relate to me as a Mom?

    I read this verse at 2:30am one morning because I was awake with my 3 1/2 month old son, who'd decided that he'd had enough sleep and wanted to play.  He was laying on the floor cooing and kicking and squealing in delight while I was sulking in the chair feeling sorry for myself.  Then I reminded myself that I had set a goal to try to find something positive with every situation.  So I decided that since he was only playing and not crying, I would be thankful for that.  And since I'm always complianing that I don't have time to read my Bible - I would go ahead and read now.  But read what?  What did the Bible have to say tabout sitting up with your baby in the middle of the night when you'd really rather be sleeping?  I was prompted to turn to Hebrews and my eyes found the passage at the end of chapter 4.  Words that I had underlined after having written a paper about it at college.  "For we do not have a High Preist who is unable to sympathize . . ."  Ah!  That's what I needed right then, Sympathy!  So I began to pour out to the Lord how tired I was, and stressed I was, and to please make this child get sleepy soon!
     Then I read the next verse.  "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."   I was reminded that God did not promise to change our circumstances, but to give us HELP when we were in need.  And then I realized that I did not need a quick fix, I needed to address my selfishness.  I needed to address my pride and attitude of independence and realize that I cannot not do anything good by myself.  By myself I am a wicked, selfish sinner.  And that person would destroy my relationships and make a mess of my life.  I did not want that,  I wanted to be a good mom and I wanted to be kind and not frustrated with my son.  But I did not feel kind!  How could I do this?  What would Jesus do?  I don't know - I bet Jesus never stayed up with a baby.  I bet he never changed a diaper or dealt with little kids all day, every day!  No, but he did see to people's needs.  He did deal with people all day, and their sin, and filfth, and needs, and sicknesses, and problems.  My mind recalled a study my husband and I had done together through the first part of the book of Mark, specifically Chapter 1 and verses 21-34.  It was the Sabbath day and Jesus went to the synagogue and taught.  Now my husband, who is a pastor, will tell you that preaching one 30 minute sermon on a Sunday morning makes him feel as though he has worked one of the 8 hour shifts throwing boxes he used to do at Wal-Mart.   And we know from Scripture that Jesus felt all the needs of any other human, he got tired and hungry just as we do.  We also know from Scripture that he could feel power going out of him when he healed people (Mark 5;30).  Looking back at Mark 1 vs. 23, a man with an unclean spirit comes to Jesus and Christ heals him.  So he's been teaching and now performed a healing - we can assume that he is feeling tired from that effort and power having been expended.  Then he goes with his first 4 disciples to Simon and Andrews house, vs. 29, and there they bring to Jesus's attention that their mother is sick in bed.  Christ goes to her and heals her as well.  More draining of power.  Vs. 32 says that that same evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon possessed.  ALL!!  It says the whole town gathered at the door!  And Jesus healed many and cast out many demons.  He has been meeting people's needs all day long and into the night.  He has dealt with their problems, thier sickness, and even spiritual issues.  Wow!  Jesus Christ really does understand what I do - because he did the same things and even more!  That was a huge comfort to me!  To know that Jesus understood!  He dealt with stressful situations all day and even into the night - just as I deal with my little kids and their needs 24 hours a day.  But then again, Jesus was GOD!!  He was perfect!  He had all the power of the universe with him, even though he was temporarily in a human body.  Can I really be like that?  Can I asquire the patience, compassion, and strength to handle situations the way He did?
    Then I read vs. 35, I read:  "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed."  What!?  After a long, tiring day like that and staying up late in the night to boot, he gets up early?  Why not sleep in and recharge?  Because he went to pray.  He went to talk to his Father before he left to go on and preach some more and heal some more and deal with people some more (vs. 38-39).   Hmm.   Was I practicing that kind of dependence on the Father?   No.   But the Bible says that as a believer I can come boldly to the throne of grace, so that I may receive mercy and find grace to help me in my time of need.  Hmm.  What comfort, what a gift!
     So after the Lord blessed me with these thoughts that night and I had prayed at the throne of grace, I played with my son til 4 o clock, held my daughter who woke up crying, warmed up some milk for her and put her back to bed, nursed my son and got him to bed, and finally went back to bed myself at 4:30 - expecting to have to take a nap at some point later that day.  But I didn't.  I woke up feeling fine and I went all day with unexplainable energy.  Hmm, I guess the grace of God really works!!!!!!