To Hell and Back!

This weeks couponing trip was a bit on the "hell-ish" side (you can read more about it here if you'd like.) Not much fun! The kids did really well considering. And me....well I actually came through laughing. I could have been screaming, I could have been crying but....I chose to just laugh it off. I treated the kids to a treat (that they usually buy with their own money) and took them out for Subway after wards too. Yeah...it was THAT bad. As in 3 1/2 hours worth of bad....for a "quick trip" to three stores. Why didn't I just give up, you are wondering? Read last post here. That's me...for better or for worse. Anyhow. What I am grateful for is that we are all alive and well. I did not flip out and go psycho, although I did sweat a lot (I was in HELL after all, mind you), and...I saved a lot of money. Cheers!

The gift of psycho-ism

I have a somewhat sickening, innate DRIVE to push past perceived limits. A drive to go a little further....push a little harder...prove to myself that I can do ANYTHING I put my mind to. It's part genetic....part learned. Benefactors....my Heavenly Father and my earthly father. First, I thank my Heavenly Father every day for bestowal of this gift. It is truly a gift. And without it, I would be lost. Life is hard....it would be much easier to give up. Sometimes I wish I could. But the drive....the drive (sigh)....I just can't do it. I CAN'T GIVE UP! I think Heavenly Father knew I would need that. And that's why I am so grateful for it. Secondly, my earthly father. His loving encouragement so many years ago still rings in my ears every time I want to give up. While jogging with the "family circus" he would point out a spot and say, "Just to there." When we would reach that point he would say, "Okay...just a little further" and when we would reach there, "Alright...how about to there?" Stretching my confidence in myself little by little, making anything possible. It has had a real impact on me...even to this day. Where did this all come from? Why was I thinking about it today? I went jogging. In the rain. I was tired. It was later than usual. I gave myself permission to take it "easy", under the circumstances. You think I would know better than to lie to myself. Who was I trying to kid? I ended up running ladder-like sprints UP the mountain. Just because I told myself I could. Psycho I tell you. Psycho. So it is in life. I have just broken out of "survival mode" and am feeling quite enthusiastic about life and it's possibilities again. Life is STILL hard...there's a lot to do and a lot to undo....and I'm tired. But....I CAN DO IT! and I WILL DO IT! At least...I'm going to try! And I'll take that... ...for as long as it lasts!

Sometimes it's hard...

As excited as I am about saving money and paying off our student loan debts (and believe me...I am totally psyched about it...it consumes my every though), still.....sometime the sacrifices can be hard.

REALLY hard.



I am really going to miss my Bounty paper towels.

Sniff, sniff.

Three little men in their choneys (CHO-knees)

Don't ask me what they were doing....

actually, I will tell you.

They were screaming "NAKED" at the top of their lungs and flinging themselves onto the couch together.

Boys are a whole different species....that I know for sure!

I just don't get it.

But...their pretty cute in their undies (or as Rob calls them, choneys (CHO-knees) anyway.

It's sickening how much we love our sweets!

In a quest to slim down our spending and be more aware of our purchases, Rob and I kept EVERY receipt during the month of February. We were curious as to just how much of our $$$$$$ was going into certain things.

One of those things we were particularly curious about was how much we were spending on candy/sweets/desserts/etc.

Two days ago I went through every receipt and totaled up the dollar amount in this area.

It was STAGGERING! SHOCKING! UNBELIEVABLE!

I am thoroughly disgusted. THOROUGHLY!

I wont tell you how much it was in $'s (I'm too embarrassed)....just that it was 1/4 of our ENTIRE food budget.

RIDICULOUS!

Even more sad....I consume at least 90% of it.

It's no wonder I'm not loosing more weight.

BLEGH!

This month we are going to try and cut our sweet/treats/dessert budget down by 2/3 (or should I say, we are actually going to set a budget). When it's gone, it's gone. I'm interested in seeing how it will turn out.

Maybe now I will be able to finally loose those last few pounds. He He He!