Wednesday, December 31, 2008

New Year's Blessings.......

to you and yours! I hope you have a safe and joyous night! We are home and safe together and alone (the boys are tucked in bed) and ready to ring in the New Year. WE might try to stay up......we'll see!

Blessings Always!!!

Why Are You Getting Rid Of That?

I gave it to you. Yes, Mom you have given me a lot. That was just part of the conversation. My Mom has given me a lot of Christmasy things. things that she bought and not heirlooms passed down. Yet, I have way too much and no where to store it all. She is very upset with me. I don't know what to do. She is a pack rat and I am not.

Our 4 bedroom manufactured home is full and I am ready to simplify! She and my Daddy have a 5 bedroom with lots of space and a full basement and it is full to the brim, all 5500 sq. ft. of it.

So, what do you do? Most of the time if I put something in the yard sale she will just buy it and if I do not use something one year (because I gave it to the Salvations Army) she says you better not have gotten rid of such and such. If you tell her you don't need or want a particular item, she'll say something like just be that way and see if you get anything else. Heavens to Betsy!!! What's this girl to do????

I love my Mom and do not want to hurt or offend her..............BUT!!!!

Suggestions?????? Please!!!

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

I'm Back and The Wrapping Paper is Gone!

Well, it's almost gone. I still have 9 more gifts to wrap for Saturday's get together with hubby's family. The unwrapped gifts are put together , the batteries are in, the toys are old now to the kiddos and all of the boxes have been burned.

Christmas was wonderful! Just being with family and friends. The gifts were nice too, especially the ring hubby gave me, but it's not about what you get. It's about the gift the Lord sent, right?! Thank you Jesus!

Hubby was off Christmas day only out of the 5 day work week and it will be that way for New's Year's too. That is fine, as we can use the income. I am so thankful he even has a job!

I am going to start taking the decorations down today. I also have a bunch to go through that we've had for 10 years or so, that are never used. I am going to make a large donation to the Salvation Army tomorrow, of clothes, shpoes, toiletries and Christmas decorations.

I have had several people ask about the taxes on the truck he won at work. They is something about an employer cannot give an employee something of that magnitude. So, the value of the truck was added on to his W-2. Normally it is the employee's responsibility to pay his part of the FICA and SS, but his employer cut us a check for that amount. We only have to pay the income taxes on that cut check. It will be about $2500 rounded around. So, his safety bonus will take care of that. We are blessed beyond words!

I am feeling better with the anemia. I am taking iron once again. It has helped a lot. I had a dental appointment yesterday. I had the porcelain crowns on my front two teeth taken off. I am going to have to have new ones, the old ones were cracking and debris had gotten to the nubs and caused decay. I did NOT know I was also going to have to have posts put in through the nubs. They are like small metal screws. OUCH!!! My gum line is supper sore......hurting like crazy is more like it. I has some loose tissue and they removed that. Then they made and put on the temporaries. I am still not myself from the anesthesia. Thankfully they did not give me a lot, because being supper woman I drove myself (40 minutes one way). Did I mention that my nose is even sore? I am bruised as well. My lip cracked and busted too.

I have a few things I am working on this week........2009's budget (more so just January's), tax stuff, January's menu planner, putting together a weight loss program and resolutions.

My Mom is coming to get the boys about 9am or so. I am so thankful.

I will be around now, so here goes!

There is not much more to write other than I have missed you all! What are you working on at this time of the year?

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

One Weak Momma

First and foremost thank you Lord for your Son and our blessings! You are so, so good!

Today, it all has caught up with me. since I wrote last on the 18th, I have..........
  • made and delivered 24 fruit baskets
  • finished up my mixes and shipped all orders out
  • fixed food and been to 5 get togethers (have 5 more to go)
  • had boys portraits made
  • framed portraits for gifts
  • taken care of tax and title and tag stuff for new truck (talk about in another post)
  • baked 192 chocolate chip cookies
  • baked 14 loaves of bread
  • made 19 containers full of sweet chex mix
  • bought the rest of Christmas from my fil to the boys and from my parents to us 4
  • I also have wrapped way too many gifts (176 to be exact)
  • we have visited santa and his village (at Bass pro Shops)
  • cooked more meals than I care to count
  • taken care of daily household things
  • bought groceries
  • bathed, read and tucked in tired little boys
  • drove around and looked at too many Christmas lights
  • each night we read the real Christmas story and another book of their choosing
  • we have built a gingerbread house and decorated the cookies from that kit
  • we have been out to eat with friends and had company way too late some nights
  • I have stamped and finally gotten all of the Christmas cards mailed out (way more than 100 of them)
  • we have listened to beautiful Christmas music and been to plays at our church
  • we have watched the classic Christmas movies and cartoons
  • we have had a truly blessed season

It has been way to full though. The only thing I have left to do is bake Jesus a birthday cake......we shall see. Also the get togethers. I will be doing little or no cooking for those. The anemia is back and has knocked me on my hiney, royally!

I am so weak today I can barley stand. I called the doctor and they started me back on my meds. I could see the doctor, but not mine and it would be an ER visit, so I will deal with it until next week and hope and pray it is better!

I am ready to simplify things a bit.......at least at Christmas time. For another time.......

Hope you all are well and happy!

I will be away for a bit, not sure how long but I need a break.I will visit each of your blogs from time to time, but may not be up to commenting, so please forgive me ahead of time.

So here's to you..........Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Please remember that little baby, born so long ago that God gave to each of us, to save us. What a sacrifice, what a true gift! Have you received him as yours? How blessed we are!

Blessings!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

The Going On's Around Here

The last few days have been harried and hectic. Yesterday we went (my Mom and I) and had the boys Christmas pictures made. Hubby went to Mobile and got his new truck. Mom needed to go to Penny's and to K Mart as well. We also had lunch. It was a nerve racking kind of day.

Hubby's recliner broke, after 10 years. We received a new medical bill to the tune of $559 and when I checked with insurance I found out it is ours to pay.

I have two more orders to get shipped today (Nikki and Julie). Then that's ALL! Yay! I am so excited to get my tubs of supplies put away for a few days.

Tonight I am cooking a hashbrown breakfast casserole with ham for supper. We have to finalize everything with insurance and the accountant on the truck, too.

Tomorrow I am doing household things. Things like, dishes, laundry, cleaning out the fridges, sweeping, mopping, wiping counters, changing linens, etc. I and the boys are going to make a gingerbread house too.

I also will go to the newspaper interview with hubby at work and drive the extra (our old truck) back home. Tomorrow night we have ours mother's helper coming to babysit while we finish the shopping and go out to eat.

Saturday we are going to pick up Angel Food and later that night we are taking the boys to ZooLight Safari. We have a season pass to the zoo. We may meet up with some friends there.

Sunday is church and we have company coming afterwards for lunch. Then that night we are taking the boys to look at Christmas lights close to the house.

Monday I will finish the wrapping and the baking and extra cooking. I will start delivering gifts to the postmaster, my stylist, the pharmacist, the eye doctor, the........well, you get the picture.

Tuesday I will wrap my Mom's gifts for her and just relax that evening. I may try to get my hair appointment for that day. I oh so need a cut! It has grown almost 3 inches since the last cut, in September.

Wednesday I am doing nothing!!! Well, we are going to bake Jesus a birthday cake. A day of relaxing around the fire and tree reading and curled up with my little boys (hubby has to work). what a day that will be!

Thursday is Christmas! Lots of plans.......I will detail all of that later.

Right now I am off to make about 5 #'s of seasoning salt and unload the dw. Then it's on to laundry and getting the boys dressed. I need to get dressed too!

I hope you all have a great day and many blessings!

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Can Ya Believe This?

I need advice. Our accountant is on vacation and we are in a crisis!

I am going to try and explain this the best way I know how.

Hubby's companies accountant told him that instant of gifting the truck to us, they are adding it as income. It will show as extra income on our taxes, to the tune of roughly $30,000.00!!!!!!!!!

Then they will cut us a check for their part of the taxes and then we will pay them.

Does this sound legit to you? I know nothing of this type of thing, so we need help.

NOW, a friend of hubby's told him instead of doing the above...........

have his comapny make him a bill of sale and sale him the truck for $1.00.

Is that legit?

HELP!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Taking a Break!

I just wanted to let you know that if you are interested in ordering anything from my store, please email me by Thursday morning at the latest. I will be closing the store and taking a break until after the first of the new year.

Thank you for your past orders and I hope to see you again soon!

Blessings!

Monday, December 15, 2008

Wow.......Again!

Thank you all for the great comments! You know when you think it just can't get any better, God shows you again.

Last night I found out that my mother's helper (KK) and my other helper (for my business) were sick. Oh, heavens I thought! I had another order to come in yesterday and I've got 15-$100 baskets to get mixes made for, packaged and packed in the baskets and then packaged in boxes and shipped out by tomorrow. CRUD!!

So, this morning at 4am I got every basket put together and filled, not packaged. I needed to see how many more mixes I liked having enough. Guess what! I had exactly enough for each one!
Not one mix was duplicated! Yay! All I have to do is get the filling in each one, the products arranged and them wrapped and to the shipper! Yay! it may be tomorrow, but that's okay.

My Mom is going to watch the boys today and maybe in the morning. Thank you Lord!

I have all but a handful for the order I got yesterday! Thank you Julie!

I also have a ton of errands to do today. I need to call our accountant about the taxes on the truck hubby won. I have NO idea how all of that works. If any of you would know, I would appreciate some insight. I need to gas up my Durango, go to the post office, run to CVS and Wal-Mart, as well as the bank.

I have gifts to wrap, gifts to buy, food to cook and oh so many things!

I hope to relax soon......We have family pictures Wednesday morning and then the newspapers will be doing a write up and taking pix that afternoon about the new truck.

Maybe Thursday would be a good day to ...........do NOTHING! ;) LOL!

What's on your agenda for today? Are all of your gifts wrapped and under the tree?

I hope you all have a wonderful day! Many blessings!

Friday, December 12, 2008

Speechless

I guess, that's okay since I am typing it all out anyhow. We have been so blessed, I don't even know how to say this. Hubby got the $3000 safety bonus today. His company surprised the drivers by also giving a $500 Christmas bonus to everyone.

There was only 23 drivers out of 120 in four terminals to earn the safety bonus. Well, there was then a grand prize. They put each driver's name (only the ones that earned the safety bonus) in a box and had a drawing and hubby won!

He won a new.......................................................................................











TRUCK!!!!!!!! (click on truck)

The only difference is it is white. Can I get an AMEN!?!

Praise the Lord! thank you Lord! You are so, so good!

Hubby should receive it mid week. It is at another terminal right now. We are sooooo excited!

Hubby has a 1999 Chevy that has almost 114,000 miles on it. It is a single cab and you cannot get 2 adults and 2 carseats in it, but we can in the new one!

Blessings!!!

Craziness!

The last few days have been so tiring! Hubby has had to work over and had a blowout as well as break down on the big truck. Oh and did i mention that you just cannot parka tanker truck anywhere when it is loaded with reminents of destroyed chemical weapons in waste water?!

He has not seen the boys in two days and they are not happy campers! It was suppose to snow yesterday, instead it was COLD rain that froze into ice last night. Most of the bridges and overpasses are iced this morning and schools are opening 2 hours later than normal.

I have had the boys and working on the mixes by myself this week and that has been quite challenging. I turned out about 100 or so bags and jars! Yeah! I also cooked a couple meals for close friends that have been sick and made 8 dozen cookies and froze some. Laundry is an ongoing process as the washer and dryer are both humming now.

The next few days are going to be dozies!

Today I have to get food out of the freezer to cook for tomorrow's family reunion. I also need to go to the courthouse, grocery store and post office. We have a bb game at the school to go to tonight.

Tomorrow we need to go to the bank, go to Kohl's, K-Mart, New Balance, Penny's, Target, Michael's, Bath and Body Works, Bed Bath and Beyond as well as the Christian bookstore. It's kind of like each place has sent a coupon or gift card and we need maybe one item or two from each place. The cost should be very little! LOL! I hope, anyhow. The main thing will be time. The drive is about 45 minutes to the big city!

When we get back, the boys will need a nap and I will need to cook and get clothes ready for the reunion. i am making a green tomato casserole, a honey apple cake, rolls and a couple of gallons of sweet tea. Hubby will be going to get my uncle and the boys and I with the food in tow will leave here and arrive at the reunion around 5pm. The reunion is over about 9pm. Thankfully it is being held close to home!

Sunday is church and hopefully a day of rest!

I need to check my list and see what all I like before Christmas. How are you doing with your "list"? Have you already "checked it twice"?

Have a great weekend!

Blessings!!!!

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Boy, Did I Get Mine!

I do not even know where to start, my heart is so very full! I thought it would be heavy with disappointment but I let him lead me and look what he gave me in return! I have a dear friend that is having a hard time.....a very hard time. Her hubby lost his job 3 days after they closed on their very first house. I have known her since I was expecting the boys. She has been so very good to me and my family, even though we have never met. I love you sweet friend and I wish for you not to be mad at me.......please!


A few weeks back after learning of her situation, the message at church was on giving and letting the spirit lead you. The verse was Luke 6:38. I felt it on my heart right there in the church building. I knew I had to do something to help her, but what? We are strapped ourselves, so I petitioned some of you. I sent 20 or so an email asking to send her a gift card to Wal-Mart (for groceries and gifts for her kids). I was not asking anyone to anything I was not willing to do myself. Only two responded, one could help and the other did not feel led to help. I am not mad or hurt, perhaps a little disappointed but God works wonderful things out.


My gift card was returned because I had the wrong zip and I resent it today with some essential items.

Fast forward to last Monday.


The one that said she could help had emailed me and said her children had "something small" coming for my boys. I didn't think anymore about it.


I went to buy groceries at Wal-Mart and saw these darling little Handy Manny trucks. I knew my boys would love them but we could not afford one of them much less two. So, I put it out of my head. On Friday I went to check the mail and the postmaster said I had two big packages and I thought what in the world is that (and from toys r us)? We already had the boys presents bought. I got them home and realized it was the same exact trucks that I wanted for the boys. God was in that. MY friend didn't know a thing about this until now.


But wait, that's not all! Then on Saturday I checked the mail again. The night before i had looked to see how many dvd's we had for the boys stockings, we have 5, not an even number. I wanted 6 but needed the money for other things. Well, in the mail that day was a Handy Manny dvd. God is here.

But wait, that's not all! My hubby's company is not doing well and we knew a Christmas bonus was probably a thing of the past.........but according to a little bird, it will be more than ever. IT should be here Friday.....to the tune of $2500.00! Praise the Lord!

UPDATE!!!! Make that $3000 instead of $2500! Hubby just called and he had just found out!

But wait, that's not all.........an out of state customer called and confirmed his order for baskets from my mixes.....all 15 of them at $100 each to be shipped out next week! I also had an order over $100 go out this week and another one for $100 going out next week.

I was certainly not expecting ANY of this but God is good and true to his promises. Check out Luke 6:38! Thank you to my dear blogging friend as well. I love you sweet friend and God has something special in store for you!

I am not bragging, but God is so true to his word. Please don't think I am, I just wanted to show his works........... THANK YOU LORD, YOU ARE SO GOOD, ALL OF THE TIME!

Christmas Blessings!

1 Year Was When?!

I've been a little preoccupied lately.......make that a lot preoccupied! Anyhoo, December 5th was my 1 year anniversary here in blog world and I missed it. I thought I might give you a few of my favorite things, 25 to be exact.

  1. Seeing my kiddos smile and hearing them laugh
  2. Smelling their freshly bathed bodies lathered in baby lotion, how long can I use that on them anyway?
  3. The Fall of the year.....I love everything about it!
  4. A good book or magazine
  5. A long hot bath
  6. Bath and Body Works, their scents are the best! Winter Candy Apple specifically!
  7. Talking to my parents every night at 9pm to tell them I love them and good night.
  8. Yankee candles (Christmas Eve)
  9. Waking up to my hubby every morning
  10. Hubby brushing my hair and rubbing my neck (almost every night)
  11. Being frugal and getting that sale
  12. God supplying every need and just when you need it most!
  13. My parents
  14. Hearing my boys say Amen! Praise Shesus! I uv ew momma!
  15. Having every piece of my laundry washed, Ironed (if needed) and put away
  16. The smell and feel of my house just after my cleaning lady has left
  17. I cup of hot cider
  18. Canning and seeing each jar safely tucked away for the cold winter
  19. Growing most all of our fruits and veggies
  20. Pecan Logs
  21. Fresh linens on the bed, the smell and the feel
  22. Christmas cards coming in the mail
  23. A clean vehicle
  24. Good Italian food
  25. Sleeping, a precious commodity!

What are some of your favorite things?

Christmas Blessings!!!!

Mornin'

There is a little known fact about living in a manufactured home.......you have to get out during tornados. Now, many of you will ask, why we don't live in a site built home. Well, to be honest, brutally honest.......... my parents as well as us and my brother and his family live on one farm. My bro and my parents each have site built homes. We all decided that hubby and I would just have a manufactured home and when/if something happened to my parents they wanted us to have their house. It would be simplier to move the manufactured home out, than try to do something with an extra site built home. We could live here forever if we so desired! We love our house!

Some perks of our house.
  • It's paid for!
  • We love it......other than when tornados approach!
  • It is so pretty!

There have been tornados and strong storms allllllllllllllll night long here. One funnel cloud came with a mile of us. I had slept from 10:30pm until 12am. The weather radio woke me up then. I then in turn woke hubby......he had come to bed at 11pm.

We stayed at my parents until almost 3am. We went to the basement once. The boys got no rest and hubby had to leave for work at 3am! My Mom is the wrold's worst to ge the boys wound up and you cannnot get her to leave them alone and try to be quiet. No wonder they couldn't go to sleep over there.

We finally got home and got to sleep around 3:10am. Hubby slept a little over and left at 4:30am. I was sleeping good until 6:30am, when a little boy named Mmonkey woke his Mommy and his brother...........calling..........I want out!

So, we have had breakfast and I have some clothes washing. We are having a mandatory nap time in one hour!!!!

Oh, did I mention that our appointment at 9:30am, one hour away at Portrait Innovations will now be rescheduled. With these two ill boys and one grumpy mommy, it is a no go!

So, for now I am goin to ge the boys ready for their, make that my nap!

Blessings and hope you are safe!

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Finally........The Store is Open

I just wanted to let you know that the store is now open! Please check it out! http://marvasmixes.blogspot.com/

Thanks and Blessings!!!!!

Sickness Update

I am better this morning but very weak. We ate at Lonestar yesterday afternoon (after the open house. We each had a lunch special and the Amarillo Cheese Fries. We ate there because we had a $10 off coupon and some $ left on a gift card. It was yummy.........going down. I got so sick after a couple, maybe three hours. The chills, headache, and the other two yuckies. I never had the stomach cramps, so I figure it wasn't food poisoning. The food just did not settle......at ALL! The good news is that we were only out $2 and some change for our meal! LOL!

I also got a new cell phone finally (hubby too). We both had had ours for 2 years and mine died in the summer. I had to get a refurbished one and it broke almost into two. I had used it this way for two months or so. It was very fruustrating to say the least. However, we wach got a new phone and the boys got some "toy" phones all for $4.50! Yay!

Then we went to Kohl's I had a 15% off coupon on total purchase and $20 in Kohl's cash to spend yesterday. I got a pair of Levi's for $7.40! They were regular $31.74 if I had paid full price, with tax!

We also hit Winn Dixie and got several Pilsbury products and free eggs! They were also doubling coupons up to $.50. The deal was buy 4 Pilsbury products and get a dozen large eggs free.
WE got 16 Pilsbury products and 4 dozen eggs for $16! Yay!

Then onto K-Mart. My Mom wanted the 48 inch animated deer. They were regular $29.99 each and were reduced to $14.99 each. She gave us the money to buy 4. When we got back, she said 2 of them were for us! How sweet! I have such a great Mom! thanks Momma!

Then we started back home, by then I thought I was getting a migraine but started getting sick at my tummy. We finally were home and hubby and KK got the boys down for the night, while I went to bed. I was up and down and all the yuckies to go with it. Like I said, I feel better but weak. I am staying home from church and hope to feel well enough to get the store up today.

I did not sale as much product as I would have liked and we sold the least I ever have at an open house BUT I did get several orders! We did well all in all and are very blessed!

I am off to get some toast and gatorade. Yum! LOL!

I hope you all have a great Sunday! I will post when the store is open for business!

Christmas Blessings!

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Sick, Very Sick

For now the store is on hold........Sunday sometime....maybe. I am very sick and cannot fuction right now. Please pray.

Blessings!

Friday, December 5, 2008

A Wittle Behins

That is what Monkey says (A Little Behind).......so cute!

We are running behind. Hubby and I just finally got the boys down for the night. My brain seems fried. My Microsoft Word went down this afternoon. That is where all and I mean ALL of my labels are. I could not retrieve any for more than 2 hours. I worked at the computer and then decided to pray over it. Within 5 minutes I had labels. Some had to be modified. It worked though! Yay!

We got everything packaged and labeled.......about 600 jars and bags. Then we started gift baskets, while my bff was here cleaning. KK had the boys. Hubby took my Dad to my nephew's bb game 1 1/2 hours away.

I also cut my thumb very badly. WE finally got the bleeding to stop....we thought. I have been through two big gauze and now am on my second band-aid. It hurts!!! Ouch, it hurts!

I just went to take my pix for the store and would you believe my camera is almost dead?! It is charging! I am so very tired and my eyes ache. I will get the store finished and open on Sunday. I know, it is one day later, but I promise it will be worth the wait! Please bear with us. Thank you all!

I will see you at the store on Sunday! Many blessings and say a little prayer for the open house tomorrow.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Thirteen Years Ago

I was given another chance at life. I bet you didn't know that did you? Okay, so some of you did. This made me carrying a child or two at the same time that much more special and scary!

I had open heart surgery at the ripe ole age of 19. I had birth defects that had all but went away, or so we thought. I had seen a cardiologist at UAB for a very long time (thirteen years to be exact). I was told I probably would never have anymore problems. Except one of the holes didn't close completely. And then when they did the surgery at 19......they found another. The one they found had never been detected before.

I will save the story for another time. Just know that God was with me and my 8 hour surgery. I am walking and talking and fat and sassy and a MOMMY! Thank you Lord! All the glory goes to you!

To the Rest of You

I am sorry for the rant. I really wonder about folks sometimes though. I share not to be insulted. Okay, I'll hush.

It is raining here this morning and my kiddos are ALREADY up. I am staying tired. Wonder why? Could it be because I have made over 600 bag and jars of mixes in the last 36 hours (with the exception of help on 200 or so)? Hubby was home yesterday but I did not get as much done as I had wanted.

I also had an eye doctor's appointment and got another prescription. Some of the glands in my right eye are starting to die. My eyes hurt so badly and are so inflamed. The new drop is an antibiotic and anti-inflammatory in one. It was $60 for 35 drops, that was after insurance. So, that make $190 on eye medications alone in the last 2 weeks. I am happy we have prescription coverage but man that is still a lot!

I have run out of labels, so I need to send someone for those. I am not getting the boys out in this mess. I hope it lets off soon, so we can go to the parade tonight. The Christmas parade starts at 6pm.

I am so excited about Christmas this year! The boys are really beginning to understand so much and it is wonderful. I finally got a few decorations out and the tree finished (except for the bows on the top). I also have all of the mess of store containers and boxes left in my sitting room to be gotten up today.

I have a couple more mixes to get done (only about 30 or so jars), so I hope to get that taken care of as well. Then I need to get the paper bag mixes packaged. Laundry is still waiting my attention as well. We shall see how far I get.

Tomorrow may be easier with 3 ladies coming to help with the kiddos, clean and help me with mixes and gift baskets. I will be glad to see their faces! I am not sure that hubby is happy to come home with so much estrogen flying around, but it will be a good thing. I am off to get the day started with a shower.

I hope you all have a wonderful day and many Christmas Blessings for you!

Correction!

I have received a couple of negative emails about having a cleaning lady. So, I just wanted to straighten this out for those of you that think I "cannot afford anything" and I hire a cleaning lady and "take milk from my children's mouths"! We choose a frugal lifestyle for a reason. I do not go to the salon every week or even every month. I do my own manicures and pedicures as needed. Having a clean home is my gift to myself!

First and foremost my "cleaning lady" is my bff C.T. We have been friends for over 12 years now. She comes every 2-3 weeks to do heavy cleaning that I cannot do while I have 2 year old twins......boys at that under my feet. I know there is one of you that does not have children and does not understand......so be it.

This is really none of your business.......BUT to help you better understand the fact that "I do not take milk from my children's mouths".........

Usually her payment is more of a barter. Fresh fruits, some veggies, canned goods, meals, mixes. It depends on what I have on hand and what she wants. Sometimes I pay here cash or check or a combination.

FEAR NOT! My children are not doing without.......anything! We cut a lot of corner's but our bills are paid. We owe not much to anyone....some dental expenses and that is all. We sacrifice a lot so I can be home with the boys and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. I am so blessed!

I hope you are as blessed this Christmas season!