Embracing Him

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything; you may have an abundance for every good deed (2 Corinthians 9:8 )

Coupon clipping has become my newest interest. (Yes, yes, I know.  I need to get out a bit more frequently.)

My coupon craze started in the winter when the savvy moms on the message boards and forums I frequent started describing how much money they were saving with coupons. Not wanting to be left out of the savings circle, I grabbed the coupon inserts from the Sunday paper and a pair of scissors and started clipping. Since then I’ve clipped and used hundreds of coupons.

At Rite Aid this week, I walked out with a few free items thanks to these coupons and Rite Aid rebates.

1. Crest toothpaste is on sale for $2.49 and Rite Aid is offering a $1.74 rebate bringing the price down to $.75. After using a $1.00 coupon from the Sunday newspaper, I got the toothpaste for free.
2. Herbal Essences Shampoo is on sale as well, 2 for $5.00. Rite Aid is offering a $2.00 rebate on two bottles bringing the price down to $3.00. After using a $3.00 manufacturer’s coupon, both bottles are free. (We don’t use Herbal Essences Shampoo, but the girls’ babysitter does. She was happy to take it off our hands.)
3. Infusium shampoo is on sale this week for $4.99. Rite Aid is offering a $1.99 rebate bringing the price down to $3.00. Once I used the $3.00 manufacturer’s coupon, the shampoo was free.
4. Gillette’s Venus Vibrance razor is regularly $11.99 but is on sale for $7.99. Rite Aid is offering a $5.00 rebate bringing the price down to $2.99. Once I applied the manufacturer’s $2.00 coupon, the razor was only $.99. (It wasn’t free but it was pretty close!)

If you’re interested in learning more about Rite Aid rebates, click here. The rebate claim procedure is a breeze and can be done online. If you want to learn more about drugstore and supermarket deals, visit the forums over at Hot Coupon World, one of my new favorite internet spots.

Photo: Courtesy of LZBone

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! (I Corinthians 10:12)

Yesterday morning the girls began their simultaneous summer swim lessons. Because we have to be in the pool by 8:45 am, I need to be extremely organized to make the swim plan work.

All mommies know that packing everything the night before is the key to any successful outing. However after swim lessons end is when I really see whether my organizational skills pass or fail. Since all three of us had towels to dry off with, clean underwear, diapers, and dry clothes to slip into, plastic bags to contain wet suits, flip flops on our feet, and nothing was left behind, I figured I had scored a perfect 10 with my swim plan.

As I left swim lessons, I was feeling quite proud of my super mommy skills, so I decided to run an errand before heading home. I made my way over to Rite Aid armed with coupons and ready to shop for some free items (I’ll post about those deals later.). Unfortunately, I did not consider the words of I Corinthians 10:12 and took a hard fall from grace at the Rite Aid register! Can someone say Reality Check?!

Brazenly (and foolishly), I headed up and down the Rite Aid aisles in search of the items on my list. It didn’t take long for Sweet Pea to catch an attitude and begin whining because I would not let her push her sister’s stroller. Stubbornly, I ignored the voice inside my head telling me it was time to go. I pressed on simply because I didn’t feel like coming back to the store later. By the time I got to the register, Sweet Pea was whining while poking and prodding her sister and Sugar Plum released her frustration by repeatedly screaming at the top of her lungs.

Because there was only one register up and running, it didn’t take long for a line to form behind me. As the cashier sorted through my coupons and completed a dreaded “price check”, the girls continued their performance. I could feel eyes boring holes into my back and when I looked behind me, I saw a few different responses.

The young woman directly behind me appeared to be entertained by the girls’ tirade and let loose a chuckle or two. Another woman smiled and gave me a sympathetic, “been-there-done-that” look, while the woman behind her rolled her eyes and shook her head. The man at the end of the line abruptly ended his cell phone conversation proclaiming it was “impossible to hear over the screaming kids in line”.

Once home, the girls received a good reprimand, devoured a hearty lunch, and headed off for much needed naps. When all was quiet, I reflected upon the importance of timing errands properly, not doing too much with the girls at once, and listening when the Lord speaks in that still small voice.

After all that, it turns out that I did have to go back to Rite Aid later anyway. In the midst of all the kid commotion, I picked up the wrong toothpaste and ended up paying full price for it! You know we can’t have that!

Photo: Courtesy of Tortuga One