I have an idea....

I decided at the end of 2012 that I was going to get back into my money saving and deal finding ways.  2012 was a busy year, especially the second half when M was hospitalized for 6 weeks and had spinal fusion.  I decided to make a fun charity goal and it goes a little something like this...

I have made a list of organizations and places I want to donate to.  First up on my list is the Ronald McDonald House.  I am designating $25 per organization.  I take a look at the their wish list, and use coupons, sales, and my deal finding-hound dog-spidey sense to get those items.  So I buy as much as I can for the $25 I've designated. 

I'd love to encourage anyone who wants to take this challenge with me to join in!  I've had about 2 weeks of deal finding so far and I do have some items that I won't specify in this post but I will share today's finds. 

I spent $31.50 on 17 toys that the original price was $98.  My favorite buy was the Xia-Xia village and pets.  The pets retail normally for $10.98 each, but were marked down to $3 each and the village was regularly $19.98 and it was marked down to less then $4. There's a child that will love that this Christmas! 





So although my goal is $25 per organization, that is hard to stick to every month, especially when you come across some great deals and know that they are not on this months charity choice.  Just participate at your comfort level.  If $25 is not in your budget, try $20, $15, or $10.  If you think you can go higher, by all means GO FOR IT!  You might also find that you need to switch the charity you choice for this month for a different one on your list, depending on the types of items you are able to get a good deal on.  Here is a list of my picks:

• The Ronald McDonald House
• Animal Shelter
• Crisis Pregnancy Center
• Food Bank
• Children's Hospital
• Local ministry that helps the homeless
• School supplies for Back to School time
• Shoe Boxes for Operation Christmas Child
• Angel Tree at Christmas

I am leaving some room on my list for if I come across a person that has fallen on hard times or if there is a natural disaster, I am prepared to donate supplies.  I am waiting for God to lead me to the needs of other organizations so I can help.   

Another great deal I happened upon was at Best Buy after Christmas.  They had a $20 coffee pot on sale for $4.99 and a $20 blender on sale for $7.99.  I had a $10 rewards certificate so I was able to purchase both for $2.99.  If I don't know of anyone getting married in the near future, this will make a great donation to a ministry that helps people recover from house fires.

Along with my list, I plan on making 4 Blessing Bags for the homeless, two to keep in my car and two to keep in my husband's car. 

So who is with me?  I'm not all high tech-fancy with my blog yet, so I don't have a linky thing, but will work on getting one.  In the mean time, leave your comments and link to your site if you want to participate.  If you don't have a site, no problem!  But I'd still love to hear from YOU!  What organization did you help for the month, what was your budget, and what were you able to purchase with that amount? 

So have fun and give cheerfully!  "Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver." - 2 Corinthians 9:7

How to Inexpensively Pack a Shoe Box for Operation Christmas Child

A common consensus about packing a shoe box for Operation Christmas Child is that it can be costly.  Although that can be true, I'm going to show you how to pack a shoebox for about $5 a box, much less then the typical $10-$15 many people spend. 

First, you need a shoebox. These can be free from shoe departments and shoe stores.  You could possibly have an extra one hiding in the back of your closet.  If you plan to pack in bulk, it might be worth your time and money to get them HERE for a nominal fee. 

It's your preference, if you are trying to pack the box as inexpensively as possible go with a cardboard box.  Plastic shoe boxes are more expensive, at about $1 a box, but are much more durable and can be reused and repurposed.  Here is a plastic box I had already.

 Running total $0.00

So far, if you use a cardboard shoebox your running total is $0.00.
I purchased several packs of these wash clothes at JCPenney.  They were marked down to $5 and I used a $10 off $10 purchase coupon.  Got 2 packs for FREE! 

 Running total is $0.00.

These combs were purchased at Walgreens.  Although these could easily be purchased with the overage we sometimes get from coupons and register rewards, I purchased these with neither.  There are 20 in a pack and they cost $2, making each comb worth $0.10.

 Running total $0.10

 Next, we have some hair ties.  As you can see they came from the dollar section at Target.  There are 12 in a pack, making each hair tie worth $0.08.  I'm putting two in each girls box.

 Running total $0.26

The next item we love to put in the shoe boxes are...well...SHOES=)  Although flip flops are perfectly fine and take up minimal space, I prefer to give tennis shoes.  I used to give flip flops and sandals, but I decided to concentrate on finding tennis shoes and my budget is $3 a pair.  Sometimes I will go a little over, but I pretty much stick to that price point.  I like the concept of tennis shoes because they won't break like flip flops do, they last longer, and they are better made for walking the distance (and these children can walk many miles a day).  The cute pair of Dora the Explorer shoes below have a price tag of $12, but they were marked 75% off at Dollar General, making them $3 a pair.  Right on budget=)

 Running total $3.26

If you are a couponer you probably remember the $0.50 Ivory Soap coupon a couple months back.  They were priced at $1 for a 3 pack at Kroger, and since the coupon doubled it made for FREE soap.  Perfect for the shoe boxes!  The toothpaste was a free sample from Wal-Mart, but again if you coupon when was the last time you actually paid for toothpaste?  The Reach toothbrush was FREE once again at Kroger because it was $1 and I had a $1 coupon.

 Running total $3.26

I hear that the children REALLY LOVE stuffed animals.  This is normally not something we pack, but decided to this year.  I bought this cute little bunny after Easter this year.  She was marked down to $0.75.  There weren't too many left, but I was able to get a few.  Cheaper then the Dollar Store.  

Running total $4.01

The next picture came from Halloween markdowns.  We've never put a bowl in a shoe box, but these were originally 2/$1 but they were half price after Halloween making them $0.25 each.  The paddle ball and kaleidoscope were left over goodies from last year's post Halloween shopping, and cost $0.05 each.  The big bat (and yes I know, this box is for a girl, but the bat glows in the dark, which is kinda cool) was $0.08 and the ring was $0.02 after post Halloween markdowns.

Running total $4.46

 This picture is of those draw string bags (not sure the actual name for them).  But we often get these for free.  We've received free ones while at the mall one day and it was advertising The Arts for the city.  My husband brought 2 of these home race weekend and again, they were FREE=)  I thought they would be perfect for the shoe boxes.  The children can carry their goodies in them.  It can make travel a bit more convenient too!

 Running total $4.46

Does your child have a massive...uhum....small collection of McDonald's toys?  Why not put one in a shoe box?  Again, FREE=)

 Running total $4.46

School supplies are wonderful items to help fill a shoe box.  Remember that many of these are going to third world countries and an education is really the only hope of escape.  These children cherish school supplies.  August/Back-to-School is the perfect time to get some great deals.  I purchased the notebook for $0.05. the pencils were $0.05 each (if you get the basic yellow ones they are actually cheaper), and the ink pens were $0.05 for two.  Again if you area a couponer, you may remember some great coupons that made for free ink pens.  The crayons were $0.20.  

 Running total $4.86

Lastly, just as a filler I bought this bag of suckers.  They were $0.98, which equals out to a little over $0.01 each, $0.013 to be exact.  Throw 10 suckers in.  Cost is 0.13.

  Running total $4.99

So there you have it....a packed shoe box for under $5!  With a little bit of preparation and thought, you can pack a great shoe box "on the cheap!"  Don't forget to incorporate these ideas anytime in your community too!  Some places/people who could use items similar to this are:

-students in need

-the homeless

-battered women's shelter

-foster homes

-local children's hospitals

Please refer to Samaritans Purse for guidelines of what are acceptable items to pack.  Thanks for reading and please leave you comments below and share any other ideas.  I'd love to hear them ALL=)

Peanut Pie Update

WOW! 

What a day!! 

My mom stayed with Peanut Pie last night, so Daddy B and I could go home and get some rest.  Just before 6am the phone rings.  Unbeknown to me why I didn't have my phone beside the bed (?)  I run through the house in the dark to answer it.  She tells me we need to get to the hospital because MB's sats were dropping and they had nurses, respiratory, and doctors in working on her.  I moved as fast as I could getting JD up and dressed, myself dressed, and grabbing what we needed. 

I called the nurse on the way and she said they had her up to 100% oxygen and they thought that the tube had moved in her chest.  X-ray confirmed that and they had to reintibate.  She did okay after they got it fixed, only to have another episode while Mommy Me stepped down to the cafeteria to get some coffee.  Daddy B was here and his nerves were on end.  She had to be suctioned because some secretions were blocking her airways.

So....

Even after all that, this afternoon she was able to COME OFF THE VENT!!! YAY!!!  She is doing well.  She is on 2 liters of oxygen and her sats are 98-100%  She has gained 1 lb 10 oz since Sunday.  She is definitely on the road to recovery!  Thank you to everyone who have been praying for her!  I may know you, but God does and I pray blessings upon blessings for everyone of you!

The Last 3 Days

Wow!  I am so overwhelmed I don't even know where to begin.  Sunday morning I took Peanut Pie to the ER with low blood sugar.  It was registering at 68.  After some fluids we were able to get it up to 128.  Everything was looking good so we were discharged.  She seemed fine that evening.  She ate, drank, and played some.  I thought a major crisis had be averted.  

Until the next morning......

She seemed to have slept well that night. I woke up as usual and was getting Daddy B and JD ready for work and school.  Since Peanut Pie didn't have school Monday she normally sleeps until right before we leave.  I walked in to wake her up.  She had gotten sick all over her bed.  She looked bad.  I called Daddy B, and plugged her up to the pulse ox meter.  Her oxygen was at 92%, which is still good for her.  I grabbed some things, and out the door we went.  I thought she just had a stomach bug and would need more fluids, so I took JD to school first.  On the 25 minute car ride to the children's hospital she was a little lethargic.  But she always came back to reality when I called out her name.  Once we got to the ER she cried a little because she didn't even want me to pick her up.  Again, I just thought she was feeling bad.  

They immediately took us back to a room....

They told me to lay her on the bed...

When I went to pick her up she went limp and unresponsive...

They rushed her into another room and immediately went to work on her.  They got her on oxygen, IV, etc.  I called Daddy B very frantic for him to get to the hospital!  Once he got here MB seemed somewhat stable.  The doctors, nurses, and respiratory had all left the room.  I was sitting beside her bed when Daddy B asked, "Is that her heart rate?"  

I looked up and it was very low.  

I looked down at her chest and it wasn't moving...

I screamed, "SHE'S NOT BREATHING!!!"

Round 2 Began....

They intibated.  The first tube was too small.  It was taking so long.  Her heart rate was dropping again.  Her oxygen saturation had went from 92% at home to a low 33% with an oxygen mask on her face.  It happened so fast.  She was put on a ventilator Monday morning.

Fast forward to Wednesday...

She has 2 viruses.  Rhino-virus and Para influenza.  Her blood sugar had spiked to nearly 400 during her traumatic episode.  Her body just couldn't handle the stress.  It has leveled back out.  She went for an MRI earlier to determine if she had a seizure in the ER.  We are awaiting the results and trusting in Him.  She has been placed on anti-seizure meds "just in case."  They hope to be able to ween her off the vent after the results are back.  Her blood culture started growing a bacteria, but we are hopeful that it is just a skin contaminate from having to put a line in so fast in the ER.  

My mom stayed with Peanut Pie last night while Daddy B and I went home to try and get some rest.  I had a good nights sleep, but have found I would rather have the broken sleep at the hospital then the dreams.  

I don't like the dreams=(

But He has everything under control!

So now, we still wait....

While I'm Waiting By John Waller

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

Humility

Dear Lord,

Who am I?  I am nobody who you made into somebody.  But for a brief moment, I thought of myself as higher then that.  I read an urgent prayer request from a friend on Facebook, and I thought to myself that I was too busy to pray for this person that I didn't even know.  How dare I!?!  All this person can do is wait on you.  When her body and mind is too weak to pray, she needs others to stand in the gap for her.  Sometimes it is the prayers of one certain person that turns a hopeless situation around!  Thank you Lord for everyone, even the complete strangers, who were praying for my daughter when life and death hung in the balance.  May their cup runnith over!  Lord I pray for this woman, and for a Divine intervention!  May this affliction bring you all honor and glory.  Heal her body please Sweet Savior....Amen.