One GIANT step....

Today was one GIANT step towards....

I took a test on January 5th...my comprehensive exams. I have to take them and pass to graduate. I got my results today and I PASSED! So happy, I don't have to retake it or face my graduation committee!

One step down....only a couple big ones to go: 
1. Finishing this semester
2. Two summer classes
3. One more semester
4. The NCE (the BIG MacDaddy of all tests that if I don't pass in October, I have to wait until April and can not get a job).

However, I can do it. After all, today was one GIANT step.

One of my favorite things.

I am sitting and watching Julie and Julia and hearing their stories of loving cooking! It made me think about my favorite thing to do. I LOVE baking chocolate chop cookies.

It's kind of like an addiction for me. It makes me really happy to make them & it REALLY makes wonderful after effects of being able to enjoy them. I went on a spree last week. It possibly could have been because it was my first crazy insane week of school and I wanted something to make me less stressed.

One of the best new additions to making my cookies - is an AMAZING new spatula. I'm not kidding. It's seriously that good. I received it from my wonderful husband in my stocking this year. I love making the cookies by hand and not by mixer - I don't know why, but I just think they taste better. Anyways, look below at the best spatulas ever: Paula Deen Silicone Spatula Set!

I am not kidding, it really is that wonderful, to warrant any entire blog post about it. It really makes my joy of making chocolate chop cookies so much better! Anyways, I really do love baking cookies.

What is your favorite thing to bake/cook? What is your favorite kitchen tool/utensil?

Haiti - My Personal Connection

I know everyone knows about the tragedy of the massive earthquake in such a poverty stricken place. My home congregation has a long history with orphanages in Haiti and supporing missionaries and medical clinics. The parents of one of my best friends growing up, live in Haiti, as missionaries. Their names are Tim & Debbie Vanderbeek. They live in Thomazeau, Haiti which is not to far from PAP (Port Au Prince). They have been in PAP helping the past several days. I want you to read this, in Debbie's words, and see her pictures, to see a portion of what they are experiencing.

January 14th:
I do not even know how or where to begin. This has been the most surreal day. Could this really be happening!? What we saw and experienced today is beyond words. And the tremors continue. When we were leaving the orphanage this afternoon a fairly strong tremor shook. The kids are so high strung. Everyone, I mean everyone is in the streets. They have been told not to go into their homes. Nothing is stable. So much is not only not left standing, but not recognizable. People are still trapped in rubble. The dead literally line the streets.

This is the rubble of a school & church in Haiti.

January 15th:
People are everywhere on the streets and look dazed. There is an emptiness in many of their eyes. There are decomposing bodies still on the streets. The government is asking people to photograph the dead, bury them in designated mass graves and document, along with the photo where they are buried. Many are trying to get out of the city, to go to relatives in the provinces. There are more taptaps on the roads today, making getting anyplace a challenge.

This is a park where thousands are now living because they have no home.

The local news here skyped and you can listen to Tim Vanderbeek describe the scenes in Haiti.


What can you do? PRAY! Give - Haitians need everything - clothes, food, water. If you are interested in places to donate, here are a few I suggest:

1. PRCOC (they are giving the money directly to the Vanderbeeks to distribute)
2. Hope for Haiti's Children (the organization Debbie works for) - they do a lot for orphans in Haiti.
3. Red Cross
4. Compassion International

There are so many other programs...please consider one. Take time, prayerfully consider the Haitian people, and decide if you can afford to give. The people of Haiti are in desperate need, when is a better time to give? We are praying fervently that they see and feel the healing power of Christ.

Blogging

I love reading blogs and explouring coupon forums. It's become a habit. I think it's healthy though because it saves me money or motivates me! I've found several new blogs lately about debt management, financial goals, savings, and more, all which interest me. Tim and I want to be debt free from student loans as soon as possible. We are trying to live on less than we make so we can pay off more loans. It's had since I'm in school, he's trying to go back to school, and both of our jobs are constantly changing our hours/pay. Yet, we're trying as hard as we can.

That's why I get so excited about Super Double, Tripe Coupons, or buying stuff at BJ's! We load up on food for pretty cheap and then get to reduce our grocery bill for the month! Several of the blogs I read are doing "Eat from my pantry challenge" which I love. For the rest of the month, except for bread and milk, Tim and I are eating out of what we already have in our home. It makes it easier that my friend Rachel and I spent ALL day one day last month making meals to freeze for this month when I started back to school and she started full time work. We ended up making about 15 meals, NOT counting the leftovers!! It was awesome. Rachel has gotten hooked onto coupons with me and we share a lot of coupons.

Half of our freezer:

If you have any recipies that you love that are good to be frozen....PLEASE share!

&

This is my most recent Super Double....you can't see everything so I am listing it below.

1- 12pk Double Roll Cottonelle; 10 - Special K Cereals; 10- Special K Cereal Bars; 3 - Coffeemate Creamers; 4 - Kraft Shredded Cheese; 3 - Philadelphia Cream Cheese; 6 - Jello - Gelatin/Pudding; 1 - Wet Ones; 2 - Lysol Disenfectant Wipes; 2 - Reach Floss; 2 - Listerine Total Care; 1 - Crest Toothpaste; 1 - Johnson Baby Powder; 2 - Oikos Yogurt; 1 - Chobani Yogurt; 5 - Northland Juice; 1 - Ivory Soap 3 pk; 1 - Herbal Essences Shampoo; 1- Band-Aid; 1 - Cookies and Cream Bar.

Original Price: $182.95

Savings: $159.98

OOP (Out of Pocket) = $22.97!

Between the stocked up meals Rachel & I made and the super doubles - we will not need groceries for almost the rest of the month (except milk!) and allowed us to stock up on some toiletries (such as the mouthwash the dentist told me I needed)! I'm so glad I spend the time reading blogs, cutting coupons, and preparing. It seriously saves us so much money in the long run!