Saved 90%atCVS

I paid 2.39 for the above items.  Here is the breakdown:

1.  Herbal Essence:  on sale for 2.49:  coupon in mail for FREE
2.  Pantence:  on sale for 3.49:  coupon in mail for FREE
3.  Purpose cleanser:  10.49
4.  2 root beer:  on sale .88 cents each

I got the shampoo and conditioner free and used 9.99 in ECBs

The Jesus Creed: Loving God, Loving Others by Scot McKnight (Part 5)

Points from Chapters 8 and 9: (my paraphrases)

Our reputation with others is not important; what matters is who we are with God. An example given was Joseph, earthly father of Jesus. He struggled with what to do with Mary when he discovered she was pregnant. His reputation was important to him, but he followed God and sacrificed that reputation to obey God and marry her. (Chapter 8)


Each of us is called by God to "bloom where we are planted" (not from this book, but it sums it up)---we have a vocation, a calling, and we are to do God's bidding there to the best of our ability.For some it is homeschooling their own kids; others, it is construction work; for others, it is painting houses (etc....). Whatever it is, we are to be ambassadors of Christ. Example from the text: Mary, mother of Jesus: her vocation was rearing Jesus and his siblings. (Chapter 9)

The Jesus Creed: Loving God, Loving Others by Scot McKnight (Part 4)

Points from Chapter 7:

The secret to a new beginning is repentance, confessing we are sinners.


"We exist on 3 levels (most people, that is): the person we are in public; the person we appear to be to friends and family; and the person we are to ourselves (and God). In other words:


a. our public persona
b. our family image
c. our inner self (the hardest part filled with our dreams, desires, insecurities---that which is known to us and God)
Confessing our true selves to God is the only way to be truly set free through His forgiveness.


We are to tell the truth about:


a. our spirituality: Where is it anchored?
b. our possessions: Do we possess 'things' or do they possess us?
c. our power": How do we use it......or abuse it?

Good reminders of things I already knew---puts it all together, though.

Cats on Tuesday

For more cat tales, head over to Gattina's.

Above:  I can not stress enough how much NONE of the other cats like old man Miles.  They sometimes tolerate him.  Here, both he and Humpty are trying to sleep on *my* bed, but Humpty is giving him "the look".

Above:  Thumper is always serious about his eating.  This is how he eats, almost crawling into the bowl.  The other cats don't relax their bodies like he does; he plans on being there awhile.

84% Savings at CVS

Today I made another trip to CVS (I forgot to take the pic yesterday).  The retail for the above items was $18.65; I had $4.75 in coupons and discounts were $3.88.  I paid $10.73 out of pocket and earned $6.99 in Extra Care Bucks, so when all was done, I paid $3.74 for the above 5 items!

The Jesus Creed: Loving God, Loving Others by Scot McKnight(Part 3)

Parts 1 and 2 of my study of  The Jesus Creed:  Loving God, Loving Others by Scot McKnight can be found here and here

"Loving God properly means tending to those in need.



Those who follow the letter of the law often miss fundamental teachings about loving God and others.


Look to the side to see the need in others.


Christians are not called to tolerance; christians are called to love. Toleration condescends; love honors.


From Francis Schaeffer's The Mark of a Christian: 'Love and the unity it attests to--is the mark Christ gave Christians to wear before the world. Only with this mark may the world know that Christians are indeed Christians and that Jesus was sent by the Father.'"

Friday Finals

I got some great deals today for Friday Finals.  The first trip to Publix where I saved over 53%, you can read here.  Then, I went back when I found more Morningstar Farms coupons.  For these 4 boxes I paid $4 and some change.....$1 a box.  They were 2 for $4.19 and I used 4 $1 coupons.

Then, I went to Walgreens.  I am not happy with them, and don't go there nearly as much as I used to.  They had these Mitchum deodorants on sale 2 for $6, and they would generate a $4Register Reward.  I had 2 $1 coupons.  I used the coupons, but no register reward printed.  I got my money back, including the $2 for the 2 coupons.  I took that money and went to the other Walgreens in town and effectively with the register reward that printed, got these FREE:

Saved 53.69% at Publix

I love, love, love Kashi cereal and stock up whenever it is on sale at Pubix.  This is how I paid $18.61 for $39.87 worth of groceries:

• Publix has a coupon out whereby you get a free box of Kashi crackers or cookies when you buy 1 box of cereal and granola bars.  I got 2 deals, so 2 FREE boxes of KASHI cookies
• Morningstar Farms:  B1G1F:  2 for $4.19/I used 2 1.00 coupons.

I really messed up on the Morningstar Farms because I found I had *4* more $1 coupons, so I will be making another trip to Publix for 4 more boxes.

The Jesus Creed: Loving God, Loving Others by Scot McKnight(Part 2)

This is Part 2 of my study of The Jesus Creed:  Loving God, Loving Others by Scot McKnight.  Part 1 can be found     here.


"Our love for God is sacred.

We are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.


Love is sacred because genuine love is total in its commitment.


Compromises of love can crush the heart, darken the day, and harden the arteries of trust.


Our love for God is truly sacred when we surrender to him totally.

Sacred love transforms our speech.


Sacred love converts our acts.


Our Abba father is impeccably pure, majestically marvelous, and embarrassingly faithful in his love for us. It is this good sense of embarrassment that evokes repentance from us, and helps us to see our violations of love against God and others as sin.


Sacred love converts acts of sin to acts of love.

Sacred love inspires our worship."

Cats on Tuesday

For more cat stories by cataholics like me, go to Gattina's.  On an episode of "Animal Planet" they talked about how there are two types of cats:  tree huggers and bush stalkers.  Tree huggers are climbers; bush stalkers tend to stick close to the ground.

Below:  Humpty Dumpty is an obvious Tree Hugger (at times)  He spends much of his day asleep on *my* (his) bed, but he does survey his kingdom some, as below.  This is the ledge above the cabinet ABOVE the refrigerator.

same ledge, different angle---Tree Hugger---Below:  Tree Huggers Humpty and Snowflake

Below:  Miles and Thumper are both Bush Stalkers---They *rarely* climb at all, but stick close to the ground.

Below:  Lovey is a Bush Stalker, even though he does climb on the bed.  He looks at the Tree Huggers in a puzzled way when he sees them climb because he doesn't know how! (or perhaps doesn't understand *why* they do it)

Below:  Both of my girls, Snowflake and Minnie, are Tree Climbers.

So, to sum up, I have 3 Tree Climbers and 3 Bush Stalkers.  Can you see that your cat(s) are one or the other?