Nominated!

What a lovely way to start the week. I happened to see, by chance, that this blog was nominated for "Best Encourager" at the 7th Annual Homeschool Blog Awards at The Homeschool Post. I am humbled and thankful. Encouragement is my priority for sharing my story here at There Is Hope. I hope you will take some time over the coming days (voting will take awhile) and choose your favorites in each category. I hope you will take some time to browse the posts here and consider us when choosing "Best Encourager". Thank you for your time and consideration! Have FUN browsing!

Gratitude Challenge - A Date

The phone rang Sat. night. I was surprised to hear my husband on the other end. He has been working long hours and seven days a week since our daughter's wedding. He was not scheduled to come home for a few more hours. He proceeds to tell me that he had been called into a manager's office at his sales job. My heart sped up and my tummy turned into knots. I was thinking "Here we go again. Another layoff." He asks if I would like him to come home early. Of course, but I also want him to make sales and I sure do not want any bad news.

Surprise! He was calling to see if I would like to go on a date. Who wouldn't? He had been given two free tickets to hear the Orlando Philharmonic at the Bok Tower Gardens in Central Florida. We also could stop by the Ledger News Tent to let them know we were there, and get a few refreshments. I had forty minutes to get ready. So of course, I did, and was as giddy as a teen, 20-something, or 30-something when he used to pull the same surprises! Yes, I am blessed. I am grateful too! We ran through a drive-through and got us a sandwich laughing that some things never change. After our wedding we rushed to wash our car, (the guys had got shaving cream on the paint - a big no-no to my new hubby) then we ran through a McDonald's drive-thru because we were famished. On this night though it was a different choice and our favorite mushroom burgers. We were however, hungry and rushing yet again. So how did I get off on food? Anyway, as we were turning in between two orange groves, we realized what a crowd there would be. We parked with no problems. My gallant husband unpacked the trunk piecing together my amazing pink wheelchair. Once again, this chair would allow me to enjoy the beautiful splendor of nature, music and time with my husband. He left the tippers off, tilted me and away we went over hill and dale. People smiled and were gracious. Others laughed as they climbed onto shuttles while my husband, looking quite dashing, just marched on forward. We stopped at the lovely visitor center to take a breath. I enjoyed the beautiful art exhibit that used paper collage, much of it music, painted over, creating marvelous scenes of nature. One favorite was of a child being handed a daisy. It reminded me of our daughter. Another two had butterfly scenes, and many know my love of butterflies. Time to march onward. Back I go into a tilted position. My thoughts turned to being glad I was wearing a long skirt and tights, and that I had brought a sweater. Finally, we reached the top of the hill. We looked out among the mass of people. People were on blankets, in chairs. They had tables set with wine, candles, food. I loved admiring all the beautiful picnic baskets. We stood in amazement, and a little disbelief for we had not thought to bring any of that. We were just so excited to hear great music and go on a date! We found the tent we were to stop by, said our hello's and grabed two cola's for us. I already had the sweater on, it was chilly. After trying three spots, my husband walks away and then comes back announcing, "I have the spot I want to go to." Back I go again. He informs me that he hopes he can get me through the people. Mind you, many are laying on the ground. I am wandering if the man had blood loss while pushing me up the big hill? Sure enough though he weaves me here and there, under tree canopies and Spanish moss. We come to a clearing and look South. We can see so very far. It is beautiful as the sun is starting to lower in the sky. We came to a spot with a couple a few feet behind, and one in front but for the most part this area feels nice. We are under a huge tree. I could not get over the size of the trunk. It hangs over and some Spanish moss hangs from it. It is a beautiful tree. I am imagining the stories it could tell. Tonight it would gather another. There was a bench under the tree. It was a beautiful iron bench with a bird plaque on it. Someone had donated this bench in memory of someone they loved. I felt honored that tonight it would make such a beautiful memory for our love story.

This is part one of a story, our story, that will be shared as part of the 2011 Gratitude Challenge hosted by Brenda at Garden of Learning.

Gratitude: Men in My Life

Gratitude Challenge: Wow! I cannot believe it is already the first Friday of the month. Christmas will be here before we know it. I am joining with Brenda at Garden of Learning for the 2011 Gratitude Challenge. I have been sharing daily my gratitude on Facebook, and plan to get here as often as I can to share with you. Yesterday I was so thankful for my nephew. He is a teenager and gave a whole afternoon to help my elderly parents clean their gutters and rake leaves. thirteen bags were collected that afternoon! I live far away, and even if I was close my body would not have allowed me to give in such a way. I was so very thankful for this act of kindness my nephew showed his grandparents. Today I was celebrating my gratitude for my husband. He wears many hats, works many jobs, and many hours. He is not only my provider, my protector, and all a husband should be, but also he is my caregiver. Because of my illness he has to take on a large load of what should have been my responsibilities. For many years these jobs were. My husband has taken it all on with a smile. He carries the large load with humor, love beyond words, and great character. This thankfulness did not even cover the fact how awesome of a Father he is. That will be a gratitude post for another day. I appreciate my husband! I happen to be head over heels in love with him too. We will be celebrating 23 years in 2012!

Stretching the Paycheck

Decided to start writing some blog posts for my recently married daughter and her friends. Hope some others gain some wisdom from them as well. I will file them under Life Matters, Marriage Matters, and or Home Matters.

Wanted to share a few of my stretching the paycheck tips:

Many stores now offer online printable coupons to use: Target, Walmart, Walgreens, and Dollar General to name a few. Only down side was all the time I took cutting them out. It keeps your hands busy while watching a movie though. I have different containers for each store and file. Remember to note the expiration dates. I also always check the Walgreens and CVS weekly ad's first for good deals and coupons. I can often earn extra reward points which means extracare dollars each quarter, which always seem to come at the right time! Be aware though, it is always good to then compare your good deal list to sales at the local grocery store. Sometimes the great deal is even better somewhere else. Plus, many grocery store chains are now offering gas dollars. My own seventy-something Mother recently earned almost a full tank over time and had a blast turning in those *dollars* that did not come out of her wallet! "Like" your stores on Facebook. Sometimes there are exclusive deals located on their wall. Be sure and subscribe so you get the latest updates. You should always shop with a list. The deals you find will also help stock your pantry if you manage correctly. Often if I find a good bogo sale, we stockpile the free one and just consume the one we originally included in our menu plan. If we find for example a cleaning product at 3/2, we buy the three. I put one with my cleaning supplies and the other two go with the stockpile. For laundry detergent we found that one pharmacy in our area puts one brand at it's lowest price every four weeks. We buy four each time, and I have enough detergent to last a month or longer for $5. Watch the cycles! Plan ahead! Hope this helped a bit. Feel free to leave your own tips or any questions. May God continue to bless you as you build your home! ~Becky/ Mama P

*** This article was featured in the finance section of "The Christian Home Magazine, Issue 36" on Nov. 7, 2011. Visit the link for more great and helpful articles from Christian homes***

2011 Gratitude Challenge

Again this year, I want to join in on focusing on gratitude with Garden of Learning and the 2011 Gratitude Challenge! I have so many blessings in my life, so many things to be grateful for. Yesterday, on my FB wall, I shared how thankful I was for all my FB friends. FB has been a God-send for us because it has reconnected us with friends that we have gathered over the years and miles. It also has been a great source for family scattered over the world. Recently God has answered my prayers "to extend my boundaries" and has brought new friends from various countries and states, several who live the similar and yet diverse lifestyle of Homeschooling. Through friends new and old I am daily blessed, encouraged, stretched, and challenged. Today I celebrated the beauty of having a precious daughter. Our daughter is now grown and married. Yet, despite being busy and a newlywed, she finds time for some one on one conversation with me (Mama). For twenty years, having one on one with her was my priority. What a beautiful new season as she has become her own butterfly ,setting her course, spreading her wings. Knowing she makes a priority to speak with me, pray for me, and help me, shows me the depth of her love in a tangible way. She is expressing the love our Jesus has for us. He too longs for one on one with us, so that our relationship with him never becomes stale. May you be blessed as you visit There Is Hope Blog. I hope you too will join in on focusing on gratitude daily this month. As you do, share it with others! Praying you experience the JOY and HOPE, Becky

Tasty Brownie Recipe

I am thrilled to join my good friend, Jennifer, over at her blog "A Glimpse of our Life". She is hostessing "Tasty Tuesday's" on the first Tuesday of each month. Here is a great way to gather up some wonderful recipes for the Holiday Season and beyond.

I am going to share an unhealthy recipe that is a Holiday favorite here at our household. Remember it is ok to treat yourself in small quantities once in awhile, as long as there is not a food allergy involved. You will find this recipe affordable and easy, while very rewarding. I forget where I first got the idea to do these but I started making them when my daughter, now twenty, was just three. They have been her holiday treat request every year since. RECIPE: Take one box of your favorite brownie mix and make according to directions. Before the brownies cool add some leftover peanut butter/chocolate from Halloween, or perhaps a new bag. We prefer the small sizes they came out with years after we began this. You put the candy pushed down into the brownie in the center. We found we liked the texture and slightly melted candy by sometimes sticking the brownies back into the cooling oven, turned off. We would leave it in for just a few minutes. This is optional though. Now many of you may have seen a similar recipe on the back of a popular candy. Yes, following that works too. Believe it - we were making this before they ever added it to their bags! We have also played around with various flavors of brownie mix. The Double Fudge Chocolate Brownie mix with the pb/chocolate candy was my favorite. Enjoy!