Target Trip

This week there are some good bargains at Tar-Jay, especially if you like Kashi items.  They have their Kashi items Buy 5 Get 1 Free this week.  And when you stack coupons on top of that it was definitely time to stock up.  I was very happy with this because I want to save money but I also want to make sure we are still eating healthy too.  Here is what I scored:

4 Kashi meals, 2 boxes of crackers, 1 box of cookies, 1 box of pita chips, 3 boxes of granola bars, 1 bottle of glass cleaner, 2 hand soaps, 1 can of shaving cream, 1 can of hairspray, box of Schick disposable razors, 7-count Zyrtec, and Advil.

The total got close to $60 when the cashier first rang everything up, but after coupons (which today I had one for every item I purchased) my total with tax was $30.98!

You can find the coupons for Kashi granola bars, cereals and snack items on the Target Coupon Page. You can also print these coupons here:
$.75/1 Kashi Frozen Entree or Pizza 
$1/3 Kashi GoLean Bars, Single Serve or Multi-packs


Thanks to Clippin with Carie for always helping me find great deals!

Fun with Friends and Family (Part 2)

After my visit with friends in IN, I headed back to MO where my mom and sister's family arrived the night before for a fun labor day weekend with Bill and I.  The drive back wasn't bad and I gained an hour so I was home by noon.  It was too hot and humid to do anything outdoors that day so we suggested the Science Center.  It was nice because this was something my sister, brother-in-law, and nieces had never done in any of their previous visits.  They had lots of fun hands-on things to do for the girls.  Their favorite was building the arch.

Then on Sunday we went to Busch Stadium for a Cards game.  We are all really Cubs fans, but enjoy watching baseball in general.  Most of the day was overcast and the temp had dropped dramatically.  It was fine with us.  We were happy we were not sweltering in the sun like yesterday would have been.

Bill and I love having visitors.  It is hard to live away from our families so we cherish the quality time we get to have when they are here.  In fact we have three more weekends of visitors coming up in Sept/Oct. I have often told Bill it would be fun to own and run a bed and breakfast- welcome to our Inn!

Remembering

I know I was due to give you Part 2 of my friends and family week, but when I went to schedule my post for Sunday I just had to postpone it.  Today I am remembering those whose lives were forever changed on 9-11.

Most of us probably remember just where we were and what we were doing that awful day.  I was a senior in college and on my way to attend class that morning.  I heard on the radio that a plane had hit the World Trade Center.  It didn't even phase me yet because I thought I must have heard wrong or there was some weird program.  As I entered the building, it was eerily quiet as the only sound that could be heard throughout the halls were the news reporters coming from every classroom TV.  It was at that moment that I realized that what I had heard on the radio was real and it wasn't just an accident.  No one was teaching so I joined some students in the next classroom I passed and sat down.  People came and went, but no one said a word.  I just remember everyone staring at the screen in complete disbelief.  When I returned to my apartment I called my family and talked to everyone to tell them I loved them.  

 I pray for those whose lives were lost that day.  I pray for all those who have to go on living without their loved ones because of such an evil act.  I pray that Jesus reaches the hearts of those who want to hurt innocent people.

Where were you and what were you doing on September 11?

Fun with Friends and Family (Part 1)

Well I am back...from my trip and back to my blog.  It has been a fun week and as I promised I have some pics to share with you.  I started out my trek to Indiana and met up with a college professor and her husband.  They continue to be very good friends to both Bill and I and it has been a few years since I had seen them last.  We had a very nice dinner and I was able to share with them the news of our adoption in person.  I was so bummed though that I forgot to use my camera that evening to take a picture of us.  It was nice being near Ball State campus again and it flooded my mind with great memories.

Then I traveled to northern Indiana to visit my dear friend Heather and her family.  She was my roommate for the first two years in college (Woody-Shales 532 to be exact!)  We went potluck and to this day I feel so lucky to have been matched up with her.  We were told they never put two people together with the same major, but I still remember the first call I made to her where we discovered we were both dance majors.  We share a love for dance along with our strong love for God, family, and friends.  I love her sweet personality and genuinely kind heart.

Moving in to the dorms

Senior Year

Our recent visit

We stood up at each other's weddings and now Heather and her husband Ryan have two adorable little boys.  I brought some of my scrapbooks with me and we had a great time looking through old pictures and reminiscing about our college days.  We chatted about everything and anything that night and when we looked at the clock it was 3am!

We think it is funny that
these are actually "in"now

After a little sleep I headed to visit my wonderful friend Nikki and her family.  We met our first year in college but Nikki was also my roommate junior and senior year where we lived in the on campus apartments.  Nikki and I love to be a little crazy together and I just love her fun spirit.  She is such a loyal friend and I am so lucky to know her.  She would do anything for me including washing my hair to get the blood out after I cracked open my head and had to have 8 staples.  (It may sound like that had to do with one of our crazy moments but actually I fainted and fell straight back- me and fainting is a whole other post)  But seriously I don't know what I would have done without her that day.

Senior Year

Our recent visit

We stood up at each other's weddings and now Nikki and her husband Eric have a little boy and girl.  We spent the evening doing a little shopping and then sat down to enjoy a nice sangria.  I was glad to spend time with her but it was way too short as always.


What I love most about these girls is that no matter how much time and distance may come between us we pick up right where we left off.  Maybe that is why it is hard to believe that next spring will be 10 years since we graduated!

I headed back to St. Louis on Sat because my mom, sister and her family all came to visit for Labor Day weekend.  It was a busy week of visiting and having visitors but I loved every minute.  Check back for Part 2!

On the road

I am currently on a trip to IN to visit some friends.  It has been a long time and I am so glad to finally have a chance to see them.  I love that I still keep in touch with my college room mates.  They stood up at our wedding and have been there for me through so much since then too.

I will also get to see a professor that I still keep in touch with and her husband.  They were wonderful to me back then and I love that they are still a part of my life.  When studying dance in college, classes were usually small and instructors went by their first names.  So that, along with the many hours we spent with instructors in class, rehearsals, the theatre etc., it was not unusual to become really good friends.

See you again soon with a post about my trip!

Our Little Visitor

So my darling husband comes back inside the house the other evening from taking the dogs out.  He says, Diane I have something to show you outside, but before I do promise me you will NOT touch it.  I didn't quite know what he was up to either.  I promised but as soon as he showed me I understood why he said what he did.

Don't you just want to scoop this baby bunny up and cuddle him!  My hubby knows me so well!  

The dogs actually spotted him laying on the warm rocks all tucked away safe.  I was very worried about where the mother was, but we did finally see her and the little one together later that evening. 

Try not to think about it?

Ever heard this before? I have heard this phrase for many things and unfortunately one too many times in relation to waiting for our baby.  Crazy right? How does one do that when the only thing you want to think about is the VERY thing you are casually being told- just don't think about it. Frustrating.

Well I can't do that but I have been doing this: singing at the top of my lungs in the car, at home, whenever I need it!  I think by throwing my voice into the heavens it helps me to remember to give my worries to the one who loves us most.  If you you have never done that you should try it- it is exhilarating!  I started listening to Joy FM, a contemporary Christian radio station here in St. Louis and I am so glad I turned the dial.  I have come across some great artists and songs that have been so incredibly uplifting.  I feel like some of them are totally speaking to me.  And I would like to share with you the song that has been really helpful to me right now- Lift Me Up by The Afters.  The lyrics are inspiring, the singing is beautiful, and the beat is hard to get out of your head.  Here are the lyrics and the song to listen to.  I dare you to sing along and not just a little- I am talking your loudest voice (dancing optional) and see how you feel at the end.   It is an awesome song that reminds us of God's great love for us and how if we just cry out to Him, He will always be there to carry us.  I think this is much better than just "trying not to think about it"!

"Lift Me Up"

Waiting for the sunrise

Waiting for the day

Waiting for a sign

That I'm where you want me to be

You know my heart is heavy

And the hurt is deep

But when I feel like giving up

You're reminding me

That we all fall down sometimes

But when I hit the ground

You lift me up when I am weak

Your arms wrap around me

Your love catches me so I'm letting go

You lift me up when I can't see

Your heart is all that I need

Your love carries me so I'm letting go

You lift me up with your love

You lift me up with your love

You lift me up with your love

You lift me up

I know I'm not perfect

I know I make mistakes

I know that I have let you down

But you love me the same

And when I'm surrounded

When I lose my way

When I'm crying out and falling down

You are here to

Lift me up when I am weak

Your arms wrap around me

Your love catches me so I'm letting go

You lift me up when I can't see

Your heart is all that I need

Your love carries me so I'm letting go

I can see the dawn is breaking

I am feeling overtaken with your love

With your love

I don't know what I can offer

In this moment I surrender to your love

To your love

You lift me up when I am weak

Your arms wrap around me

Your love catches me so I'm letting go

You lift me up when I am weak

Your arms wrap around me

Your love catches me so I'm letting go

You lift me up when I can't see

Your heart is all that I need

Your love carries me so I'm letting go

I can see the dawn is breaking

I am feeling overtaken with your love

You lift me up with your love

You lift me up with your love

You lift me up with your love

You lift me up