I was not a big Bigg's fan until ...

I have never liked Bigg's -- I'm a Kroger person almost 90% of the time but last week I was wooed into the store with the bait of double and triple coupons up to $2.00.

I left with a huge smile on my face even though I had to spend extra time finding the stuff in the unfamiliar aisles.

Here's what the receipt reads:

Advertised Savings : $1.50
Manufacturer Coupons: $37.25
Store/Dbl/Triple Coupons: $46.15
SRP Savings: $49.87

You saved a grand total of: $134.77
That is a savings of: 77%

Total spent: $40.94

Yes, Yes, Yes!!!!

Plus I signed up (free) for their gas card program and can save 18 cents a gallon on my next fill-up at a Sunoco station. Not bad!

David eats a Fish

You can order fried trout anywhere in the world but David was hoping for
a fish that really looked like a fish...
he got his wish!

After commenting on how delicious it was and enjoying the main portions
he decided to taste an eyeball!
I'm "grossing out" and telling him he's disgusting, his grandparents are amused...

Here's what's left...and yes, he did eat an eyeball, but only one...
"squishy, a little sour...think I'll just eat one..."

Thanks to Nellie, I enjoy my fish cooked this way!!!!
It was delicious!

The People of Romania

One of my reasons to visit Romania with my parents was to meet the people they love and that love them in return. I was in constant amazement of the deep friendships they share.

We stayed in "Mama Ghita's" home.
Here she and her sister posed for a picture...sweet women...

Tinca Church Children

Another David

Lifting "weights" with Cristi

This dear woman prays for my parents every morning and evening.

Daniel and Roxanna -- love these kids!!

Gypsy Children I had the privilege of teaching.

A Wonderful Christian family -- so many things I could say about our time spent with them.
Maybe later...

This family lived down the street from my parents in Solanta. Let's just say they were VERY EXCITED to see Mom and Dad show up unexpectedly!!!! We received royal treatment!!

A dear lady - Eva - that works in the orphanage.

One of the two birthday cakes that dad received while there.

David and Cipiri see each other after 4 years. This isn't the picture that shows their happy faces but I'm too lazy to change it.

All the children couldn't get enough of playing with David!

David meets a new friend, Josef. Here they are discussing the rules of baseball - a very uncommon game in Romania!! Soccer rules there.

This woman was sitting outside her gate when she spotted us. Her kiss says it all.

The children from the church in Batar.

These girls have lived at the orphanage since they were very young.
They were so happy to see "Grandpa and Grandma" again and could hardly say good-bye.

The neighbor from down the street...sooo happy to see the "big" David.

Graduation!!!

The pictures loaded backwards but here's a few...
Unfortunately this one isn't great but it's the only one we have as a family!

2nd Generation Graduate of God's Bible School

Justin and David...they call each other "brothers"

Nathaniel Davison gets an Associates...these guys have been friends for about 14 years...
I'm sure they have lots of stories to tell!

Headed down the aisle to get a diploma!


Not much time to write...

David and I are headed to Romania in the morning around 7:00 AM with my parents.
I am soooooo excited...God does give us the desires of our heart!
Will return June 2nd if all goes as planned...

Pray for us and pray for Dave and the children...this is all new for us!

Pics coming later!

She's in a Better Place

I still haven't figured out exactly who "she" refers to in this book title, but in the last 2 days I allowed myself the privilege of a "no brainer" novel by Angela Hunt.

An interesting book, of sorts, I picked it up because the setting is a funeral home and my hope was to learn a little bit more about embalming, procedures, etc. since David is headed that direction for his life's occupation.

I did find some of the stuff intriguing -- did you know you may still moan or even "burp" after death? It'll be my luck to burp!

She writes this sentence..."Though you won't find it written in any book, one of the surest ways to know you're ready to be a full-time funeral director is when you start talking to the clients."
I asked David if he talks to them and with a little self-conscious grin he admitted that he does!

There was a bunch of other stuff I learned but you can find it out for yourself if you're
wanting to know what happens to your body after death. I do know I need to get on a serious weight loss program --- I don't want any embalmer grunting over my "dead weight!"

ANY WAY...the real reason I thought I'd share this no brainer book was because of this quote somewhere about 2/3rds the way through where the main character (raising a teen) talks with her mother...the mother replies with this sentence -

"Being a mother in the teenage years is like being a guardrail on the highway.
You're gonna get bumped and scraped and tested a lot. But its your job to
stand firm and keep your kid on the right road." pg 182

With a thankful and humble heart I praise God that I haven't been
banged up severely...some scrapes and tests, yes, but no major collisions...
may I always stand as a firm guardrail!!


Here's to all of us guardrails out there!!

I Wonder What they have been up to...?

We said good-bye to David's Pathfinder tonight...he traded it in for a "summer car"...

Try to get four children in line...

Not on your life...

Surprise!

Where I do brain arobics...

This is the entrance to the bathrooms at Jungle Jim's...very odd feeling let me tell you..
Your brain is trained to think certain things when you open this type of door and everything
is not as expected...hilarious!

I absolutely love spring!!!
Thanks to the previous "owners", we enjoy these tulips year after year.

I thought the pics were going to post last...instead the last shall be first and the first last..

Well now, I decided to check this blog to see if anything new had happened since the last time I posted and to my astonishment a month and a day has passed!!

Where in the world have I been and exactly what have I been doing for an entire month? In no particular order and really for my own journaling purposes I shall review the last thirty something days...

...another class is completed at Cincinnati Christian University for a total of...drum roll...12 hours!! At this rate I'll graduate about 2015 - literally!

Classes at GBS and Aldersgate and Mt. Auburn Academy (thought that sounded really official) continue...

IHC has come and gone...enjoyed WOW for the first time and heard President Avery deliver a powerful and challenging message Wednesday night...

VIP Day has come and gone...great day by the way!!...

The Midwest Homeschool Convention has come and gone....loved it...learned more about dyslexia, budgeting, writing in high school, ways to teach grammar, and found some great deals for curriculum...

Easter with it's celebrations and activities...this year I watched The Passion on Good Friday and for the first time...for the very visual person that I am, it made such a difference in my perspective of Calvary. The Easter Egg Hunt and Pancake breakfast was well attended and a bright spot...

Let's see...there's been a visit to Jungle Jim's with a friend, an evening spent at the emergency room with a student, window shopping with my daughters, and the annual GBS Lock-in - Dave and I made it until 5:00 AM -- CRAZY!!
JCPenney took a huge chunk of change in exchange for Dave and I both sporting bi-focals...

The basement of 520 Channing is now lookin' pretty good for a change...family: the basement pics are for you - I know, get over the shock -- it feels delicious to walk down there!...in fact you should have seen the entire house for the day of doom -- every 5 years the GBS house insurance people come around and take pics of important stuff (mantles, stained glass windows, etc) in your house. Along with them comes maintenance to see what needs fixed and some of the housing committee ---talk about house cleaning incentives!!!! You should have seen this place my dear family and close friends...I would have impressed even you!!!

Enough for one night...until the next month...maybe I'll post from Romania!

Char

The Praiser Year Ends

The Girls take 3rd in Division AA.

My apologies for the blurry pics -- the lighting was horrible and the photographer was even worse!

The 2009 Seniors
We'll miss you!!!

Chelsea and mom, Sharon, enjoying the moment.

Johnathan and Mark wait around for the next event.
These two boys really kicked in at the end and made valuable plays and points for the team.

David and Erik -- have no clue what it's about

Celebrating the recent victory

David's Award

Brittany, Bethany, Christina, and Chelsea all received All Region Awards

Alicia and Chelsea with their "old" Praiser Friends.
Thanks so much for coming to cheer!!

Coach Steve came for the year-end tournament and stayed both days.
He tried to remain a spectator but ended up on the bench.
It was great to have him and the girls with us.

What a great season! It's always sad to say good-bye to another year.

Although the boys did not place they sure muddied the waters!
They moved up to the top division and placed 6th out of 32 teams.
Unfortunately, we lost to what ended up being the championship team by 1 point in the last 6.4 seconds.