Image by anguila40 / Alejandro Groenewold via Flickr
Oh my goodness - time is FLYING by these days!
Last year, in an effort to cut expenses, I began researching on the internet how to save money while grocery shopping and using coupons. That's when I discovered the "game" of shopping at CVS and Walgreen's and getting a whole lot of products for very little money out of pocket.
In the process of learning about shopping with coupons and bargain shopping I also realized there are a ton of samples/freebies out there that are yours just for asking! Between the samples I have received and the sweepstakes I have won this last year I feel immensely blessed.
In an effort to share these deals/findings with you I started my other blog - Addicted to Savings - in August 2008. I really have become "addicted" to finding the deals and freebies and passing those on to others, not only through my blog but in real life. I have been physically helping others learn how to shop frugally and cut their expenses. This has been very rewarding over the last year!
I praise God that I have had this to keep me busy and focused this past year because it has been an extremely rough year on a personal level. I can't discuss the details on here other than to say that my blogs, and reading the hilarious, sweet, insightful, thoughtful blogs of others is what has kept me laughing and from delving into the despairs of depression when things where at their worst.
I had pretty much dropped out of everything at church (choir, running the Women's ministry, leading Bible studies) and was only going on Sunday mornings because Dakota wanted to go. If it wasn't for him, I would not have gone most days. I was tired of walking around with a smile on my face and saying "fine, everything's okay" when asked how I was doing - when in reality I just wanted to scream and cry.
Around Christmastime I decided enough was enough. It was time for me to get back to living, get back to praying and get back to doing the work God has put me here for. I re-joined the choir and have started slowly getting back involved at church.
In doing this, I think there must now be a huge blinking "AVAILABLE" sign on my forehead because the last few weeks I have been so incredibly busy ministering to those around me. I know we go through situations in our life so we can minister to those around us. I praise God that in my time of despair and healing I was still able to learn something (shopping and saving money) that I can now use as an open door into the lives of others and minister to them where they are. So if I am not posting as much on this blog....it's because I have gotten back to living and just don't have as much time these days. :-)
8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the LORD.
9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9
1 comment:
:) Sometimes stepping away is good for perspective, evaluation and even struggling, but God certainly doesn't leave us there for long:) Be blessed, my friend, just as you are a blessing to many.
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