Sunday May, 22 2011. This day is the day the EF-5 tornado touched down in our hometown, Joplin, MO. Its one of those days that I can equate to 9/11 in the sense that we will remember many details of that day and where we were when tragedy struck.
This Sunday I was supposed to be heading to my cousins graduation. I would have been coming home about the time it hit in Joplin. Thank God I did not end up going. We also visited the Wal- Mart and a few other stores that day that now no longer exist. It is truly surreal. Like a nightmare that you still don't believe no matter how many times you see it.
We have driven by the damage over and over and over and every time its exhausting. So many people without a home, a car, or a single belonging. The tornado was a few blocks from our home two different times and managed to completely miss us. We were immensely blessed this day. I am realizing as each day goes on how blessed we truly are right now.
The outpouring of help has been amazing so many volunteers and communities ready and willing to help at any second.
God made us capable of craving so that we’d have an unquenchable desire for more of Him, and Him alone. Nothing changes until we make the choice to redirect our misguided cravings to the only One capable of satisfying them.
-Lysa TerKeurst Craving God-
Zondervan (2010). Craving God: A 21-Day Devotional Challenge (Kindle Locations 87-89). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
So I heard about the free Ebook Craving God for today, and I really wanted to check it out. I don't have a kindle but I was able to go to Amazon to get the kindle for PC app. It is really awesome it downloaded super quick so I can now start reading it anytime on my computer. Very cool way to get free books even without a kindle. Plus its perfect timing this book is a great great inspiration for me right now as I am just restarting my diet.
I got some freebies in the mail today with some PG coupons. I have not signed up for too many things so this is one of the few freebies I have received so far. It is a good feeling to open your mailbox and see the surprise waiting for you!
God is doing some great work in me these last few weeks. A week ago the week started out dim and seemed to get worse but I kept the faith and got over myself and it has been a blessing. Hope everyone had a wonderful easter with their families.
We sold a washing machine this week and also a computer which enabled us to upgrade to a laptop. I am super excited about it. Its going to make things much easier for us than our old desktop. So happy we were able to sell some things quickly. I found some great coupons on Retailmenot/ for our new Dell laptop that I was able to combine for a sweet $450 dollar discount!! Very exciting!
Praying that the new job I applied for comes through and I can get out of this one asap.
Happy Monday everyone
xoxo
So this week has been, sort of a mess lol. Working late nights this week. So is Jay and our dryer decided to break. Luckily we were able to get a new one. We have stuff we are trying to sell but it has been hard to get rid of stuff this week. We are selling stuff because, well we don't need it anymore and we would rather put the money into savings. We are however starting our Debt snowball!!! So that is super exciting. Baby step 2 commence! All in all it feels like it should definitely be Friday already but it isn't lol.
God is good and this week I feel I have really had a lesson in patience from him. I saw how impatient I can be when things don't go as I had planned but I am realizing this week that his plan is always better and always right. He shows me everytime that if I just relax and trust him and gain a little patience I will see what he is doing. This was a tough one for me this week but one I so desperately needed!
"Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake. " ~ Victor Hugo
I may not be the most qualified to have opinions on this subject since I currently do not have children. However I do remember what it was like to be in school and to eat school lunches. Today as I was browsing the internet I came across an article at The Chicago Tribune about a school in Chicago banning kids from bringing their lunch from home.
Principal Elsa Carmona said her intention is to protect students from their own unhealthful food choices. "Nutrition wise, it is better for the children to eat at the school," Carmona said. "It's about the nutrition and the excellent quality food that they are able to serve (in the lunchroom). It's milk versus a Coke.
This comment I found to be slightly odd. Especially the implication that a student would bring a soda from home but at school they will be drinking milk. I never brought soda from home when I took my lunch to school. I also know a lot of parents and read a lot of mothers blogs who also would not be packing soda or other unhealthy foods in their kids lunches. Also I feel that just because the milk is at the school for lunch doesn't mean the kids are drinking it.
Another part of the article lists the price for lunches if the child does not qualify for reduced or free lunches and it was a little over $2.00 a lunch. I feel like that is a little unfair because there are also a lot of parents I know who can send their kids to school with a lunch valued below $2.00 a meal. Why pay more for the same quality of food I could send from home? I am not against some regulations on what children can bring to school but at some point I still feel like it is a parents choice to send their child to school with a lunch you know they will eat and that you made for them. If you want to pay the school for your kids food that should also be your choice.
