My Newest Endeavor to Save Money

I have a lot of time right now.  Sometimes this is good...other times it is not!  I'm trying to make myself enjoy these free hours, because I'm hoping to work a full as well as a part time job in the fall.  Since I'm not working like a crazy woman right now, I've been reading a lot about saving money.  It's a topic that really interests me.  I've found blogs about a lot of little ways to build up your bank account.  Some people make their own deodorant.  Others, have their significant others cut their hair......other's do weird things like this (*WARNING*-this has to do with menstruation).   I've decided I'm going to stop using paper towels and clorox wipes.  If you have ever been around me, you have probably noticed that I LOVE both of these products.  I believe this is due to my nursing background.  Paper towels and clorox wipes seem cleaner than rags.   Due to this fact, I probably use at LEAST 15 paper towel sheets a day and at LEAST 7 clorox wipes a day.  That's a lot of money that I will never see again.  So, I have made my own "clorox wipes."  I found this recipe from someones blog....I WON'T be using this to clean up after raw meat or anything else that could cause illness....just general spiffing up.

And just as a disclaimer....I almost feel as though I'm being a little too green by doing this.  I've always been the girl who proudly carries her groceries in plastic bags. (don't worry...I re-use them for multiple things) I also get annoyed with everyone claiming to be "GREEN"  Before you get all mad, listen to what I have to say!  In some ways I feel that the "GREEN" campaign is just a campaign.  It's the cool thing to do right now.  Do I think we should conserve the earth's resources, YES.  Do I think it is good to recycle, YES!  Do I think there is a reason humans now live longer than they did a few hundred years ago-YES.  We learned about Louis Pasteur and genetics, chemistry and ect for a reason!  Is it possible for us all to eat organic?  No....not unless you want to go back to the 1800's.  There are so many people who just want food.  It seems like only the rich ones are worried about whether it is organic or not.....I'm just saying....I'll get off my soap box now before I get murdered or something!

Family in MN

We surprised Preta with a 40th b-day party!

Why, yes...I did blow up all of those black balloons!  Collin is standing behind me.  Unfortunately....we didn't get pics of all of Preta's kids...silly us. 

Just like the happy faces in this pic!

Nummy ice cream cake!

Are the kids really this big?!? They are all super cute, still! I enjoyed playing "Spotty, the snapping turtle with Luke...even though he wondered "who the lady in the purple dress was."

I think they look like mother and daughter!

We forgot to take pictures until the end of our trip....this is our usual style :)  Maybe someday we'll learn....but enjoy the end of our trip for now.

You Know You Need a Job When.....

Today, while Joel was on the phone...I decided I was going to mess around on iPhoto, which is a photo app. on our mac.  I was TRYING to snap a picture of myself and didn't realize I was actually filming.
Here's a play by play of my thoughts.....

"Gee...that makes my nose look really long."
"Hmm...maybe I can make my lips look really big."
"Maybe it would be funny if I opened my mouth really wide."
"hmmm....why can't I get this thing to take a picture?"
"Ohh...here's the picture app."

Does this hair cut make my eyes look too close together?

Wow...I never knew I had a twin!

And just so you know that I am actually a normal looking person (granted I haven't fixed my hair and have NO makeup on)  

I know you're all thinking that I married someone WAY too cool for me....I should've ended up with Mr. Bean....Joel probably thinks this sometimes too....but he still joins in on the fun.

Our Living Room

Guest Bedroom

Dining Room

WhoooHOOO!  His/Her sinks....I've been waiting for these for a while!

Our amazing closet...I don't miss having to go outside our bedroom and up the stairs to find my hanging clothes!

Master Bedroom...I don't have to worry about running into the wall when I get out of bed in the middle of the night!

Kitchen...we can both fit in it at the same time!

Why yes...there is always a freshly baked caramel apple pie on our stove.

 We are loving our new place in Jersey.  I was a little hesitant to show pictures.  It almost seems TOO nice...but a couple of you have asked.  I didn't show you everything...we'll leave that for when you come visit. If you hurry, you'll get your own bedroom and bathroom!  Were hoping our landlords will let us stay here for more than a year!....If not...you may end up on an air mattress!

Bear Mountain

This weekend we met Candace, Erik and Carinna for a hike up Bear Mountain.  There are so many beautiful places to visit in our area.  It's like we get to take a little vacation every weekend.

Candace and I checking out the lake.

One of our views on the hike

I insisted that we needed to take a picture of Joel as I am usually the focus of our camera.

Unfortunately, we didn't get a very good picture of Carinna or Erik. Carinna is SURE cute though!

...But...Grace

Have you ever felt like you need to continually explain yourself?  For example, I find myself saying.."Well, I would have called earlier...but..."
or
"I would be working more hours.....but..."
 and
"I would be in better shape....but..."
"I'd have more friends if I hadn't just moved...and"
"My house would be cleaner if...."
"I'd be smarter if...."
"I would have worked out and ate better today if..."
"I'd be a nicer person if..."
"I'd be a GREAT wife....if..."
I find myself trying to prove myself to myself, my husband and worst of all,  I unconsciously try to show God that I am "capable."  Why do I do this?

I think it's my lack of knowledge of God's grace.  I guilt myself into doing things all of the time so I can "feel  like" I'm "a better Christian."  This is such the antithesis of the theology of the Bible.  How did I get like this?  Why do I feel like "I" need to make myself be a better person.

I'm reading "What's So Amazing About Grace?" by Phillip Yancey.  A friend recommended it to me while I was in college.  Honestly, I perused through it so she would quit asking me about it. (sorry, Jessica!) I totally missed the point of the book.  My husband suggested I read it again this summer.  It's as though I am reading something completely different.  I am beginning to understand that I really don't know what grace is.  Scary thought..huh.

My old church in Norfolk and the book I'm currently reading has showed me how extremely mixed up I've been.  If I have believed in God's grace all of these years...why haven't I lived like it?  Why am I still trying to explain my deficits to God, my husband and myself?  Why do I keep trying to just make myself be a better person?  Why am I still plagued with anxiety about my life and my personal merit?  I'm still weighing through all of this.

I believe in salvation.  I believe in God.  I'm still trying to figure out why it's hard for me, and presumably other people, to accept God's grace AFTER we confess our sins.  I know I CAN'T personally make myself be a better person....but it's in my nature to try.

Whew...this is such a hard topic to wrap my brain around....even though I would have said I completely understood it when I was 16.

So, share your thoughts folks.  I know you are out there...I have a google analytics account! :)

If THIS Doesn't Convince You NOT To Smoke.....

We bought a new car last Saturday.  It was used, but only had 27,000 miles on it.  It was also smoked in.  Joel and I didn't think that was a HUGE deal.  Well...it's been five days since we bought the car.  I've vacuumed, scattered baking soda, used bacteria eating odor spray, vacuumed some more, but to no avail.    Today, I decided I would try cleaning the interior with vinegar and water mixed in a spray bottle.  I lightly sprayed the concoction on material portion of the seat.  Then I wiped it down with a microfiber rag.  After a few wipes, I decided I needed to rinse my rag. The picture above shows the water I rinsed my rag with twice.  *Note*-I only cleaned a small portion of our car before rinsing the rag*  How disgusting!