Ready, Set, Shop

Hey fellow couponers or anyone reading this right now ;)

I have a friend from high school who lives in Asia. Her and the family have lived there for 5 years with the Intertational Mission Board (IMB). While in Malawi, I realized how much a missionary misses things from home when you are abroad for a short time. Like, we really wanted chocolate and chips, and things of comfort like that, so I can't imagine what it's like to be without or have limited access to things of this nature. I asked my friend for a wish list of things she would like to have or even things that she needs like medicines. After much grief :), just teasing S, more like humility, she posted a list. I am going to start getting some of these with or without coupons and work on preparing a care package to send to her. If you would like to use your coupons for a good cause or if you want donate some items, please contact me. Also there are some things on her for educational purposes, as S home schools her children. If you or someone you know, can burn a DVD from TV, I need your help on that request. There's a wide range of things that the family can use, some of these things you may have laying about getting no use, like scrapbooking stuff, smell good candles, children's books, etc. Check it out, print it out and put it with your reusable grocery bags, your coupons, or in your car. It will probably be a month or so before I send it over as I want the package to be worth the shipping cost. Here's the list : (oh and Taco Bell dinner kits are BOGO this free, s they are $1.35 each)

things we NEED:
Children's Benadryl
Children's Target Brand Multivitamin (nut free, dairy free, egg free)
Nutrition Now Rhino Swirlin Calci-Bears + Vitamin D
Aveeno Daily Moisturizing lotion

Medicines:
Children's Tylenol
Chlidren's Ibuprofen
cough drops
Adult Tylenol, Ibuprofen
DayQuil
Adult Benadryl
Adult Claritin
Benadryl cream (for bug bites, etc.)

Other Stuff...

Foods:
SPLENDA!!!
Ener-G egg replacer (for her son)
Sulawasee or Sumatra coffee (Starbuck's)
Crystal Lite on-the-go (or any calorie-free drink mixes)
SWEET BABY RAY'S BBQ Sauce
Crisco shortening
Lucky Charms
Cheerios
Fruity Pebbles
Raisin Bran
Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Twinkies
pecans
chocolate chips
baking powder
cinnamon
cake mixes
cake icing
brownie mixes
garlic powder
garlic salt
onion powder
nutmeg
thyme
vanilla extract
cinnamon sugar mix (in a little bottle that you get with the spices)
taco seasoning mixes
spaghetti seasoning mixes
Taco Bell box meals
FAT FREE or Light Mayo
Reese's candy (but only if you are really diabolical and want to thwart my WW points)
Oregan Chai tea mix
pancake syrup
Christmas blend or Anniversary blend coffee from Startbuck's (only available seasonally)
Hormel pre-cooked bacon

Other:
Dove sensitive skin, fragrance free, invisible solid deodorant (for women)
Clorox wipes
De-Solv-It
Stain-Be-Gone
Laundry stain removers (Tide pens, SHOUT gel, Stain-Be-Gone, Oxi-Clean, etc.)
Christian Music CDs (esp. worship) - OR itunes gift certificates!
Anything SCRAPBOOKING - I am basically out of everything. I LOVE black letter stickers. And, I don't really have anything - not even scrapbooking tools.
School supplies!
highlighters
smell-good candles

Books and DVDs for the kiddos:
PBS Kids DVDs (what would be GREAT is full days of PBS Kids recorded on DVD)
ANYTHING School House Rock or The Electric Company (we have the School House Rock special 30th anniv. edition and Vol 2 of the Electric Company)
Anything by Lauren Child (The Charlie and Lola series of book or anything illustrated by Lauren Child)
MathStart books (story books with math)
any Step 1, 2 or 3 readers
Ni Hao, Kai Lan books
Go, Dog, Go! - P.D. Eastman
Green Eggs and Ham - Dr. Seus
Three Billy Goats Gruff
Jack and the Beanstalk
The Ugly Duckling
Chicken Little
Curious George books
Books about USA holidays (Valentine's Day, etc.)

Favorite Photos Friday -2

Samson, pastor of the church

playing jump rope

me and Innocence

I'm no Angel

No the title does not refer to my angelic behavior, but to a friend named Angel (aka the couponing queen in my opinion). She racks up the deals, check out her blog. Her last trip to Publix, she spent like $13 and saved $166, a 93% savings. While I am no Angel, and I probably will never be that good. I still like it when I get a good deal on things.

Today at publix, I spent $56 and saved $48. They even paid me 75 cents for the dog food.

Purina Dog Food, blueberries, strawberries, 4 cucumbers, 3 squash, diapers, teddy grahams, lenders bagels, sweet tea, bag of potatoes, steamfresh meal, 3 4pk pediasure, 3 baby veggies, 3 graduate meals, Dora yogurt, 2 boxes of Total cereal, box of fruit loops, knorr pasta, and betty crocker cookie mix.

Conisdering the diapers and the pediasure without coupons or sale would have cost me $36 or so plus tax. I think I made out pretty well, but no Angel :)

Love you Angel!!!

15 months

Rock of Love with Dylan

I am a few days behind posting this, but I wanted to wait until Dylan had his checkup so I could include his weight and height. He is 20lbs, 15oz, which is the 8th percentile and is 32.25 inches tall, which is the 82nd percentile. The doctor wants us back in 2 weeks to do a weight check. If he continues to drop in percentiles, she wants to do some lab tests to make sure nothing is abnormal. I chalk it up to being overly active and not really caring about eating. What am I to do, shove chocolate cake down him and strap him down so he gains weight. Ugh. Oh well, at least he's growing taller.

He's such a good child. I am so pleased how he plays independently and how well he plays with me and other children. He doesn't mind when I drop him off at childcare whether it be at the gym, church or if I have a sitter watch him. He's a great sleeper for the most part. He goes to bed at 8:00ish without crying and wakes up usually around 6:30. He holds my hand when we are out and about (for the most part) and enjoys being outside and playing. He is definitely the monkey see, monkey do type. I love him so much and can't wait until he's a little older when he can enjoy so much more. I just hope it doesn't go by too fast.

Now, don't get me wrong. He's not an angel all the time. While I was in Africa, he started throwing more temper tantrums, but he's getting that under control. Let's hope the terrible 2's don't kick in soon.

Mommy's little helper

Zoo Crew

Today, Dylan and I went to the zoo. It was member day, so we got to get in a little early, which also meant free carousel rides until the park opened to the public. Dylan was a little nervous to get on the carousel. He rode the anteater, and when it was time to get off, he cried. Luckily, there was one more free ride left and we got back in line. This time he rode the zebra and cried when it was over as well.

He loved seeing all the animals. The giraffes were up close and the elephants were walking around the yard together. The leopard came right up to the glass. He was so intrigued. He also enjoyed just running around and examining everything. Oh the life and the curiosity of a child.

He loved playing in the Jungle Gym area and I can't wait to take him back it when cools down some and he can run and play all morning. Hey it's free since we have a membership might as well take advantage of it right. We also get a guest in for free, so let me know if you want to go.

Celebrity Sightings

I couldn't believe the number of celebrities that I saw in Malawi.

Eddie Murphy

George Clooney

Jamie Foxx (as a kid)

and if you ask the people in the village, either one of us women (mostly Suzy and Kelley) were Madonna. They would yell "Madonna" as we walked passed. People were hiding their babies, just kidding, they weren't

Favorite Photos Friday

I want to share with my readers, over the next few weeks, some of the pictures that speak to me. Just maybe, they will speak to you as well.

stepping off the plane to this, was amazing

ABCs of Malawi

Mary, one of our leaders on the trip, told us that on her mission trips, she likes to make a list of adjectives that describe where she has visited to help her put in to words what she has seen/experienced. I thought that was a great idea, so I did a list myself to share with you.  Not all of them will need explanations, but I will expand on the ones that do.

A - alive, able

• For a place that is barren and where resources are minimal, the people in Malawi are so alive. They wake up smiling and work hard all day. With God, the impossible is made possible and they make the most out of everything.
  

B - brown, bumpy

• There's not a lot of greenery in Malawi unless you have money to water your grass. The roads are extremely bumpy. In Kauma, the black top ends and the clay begins (yes sing the George Strait song) The dirt roads were just as bumpy. 
  

C - caring, cheerful, crowded

D - delightful, determined

• Some people can't afford to send children to school, but they work their hardest to make the most out of what they have so that they can. Also, Felix, one of the builders, came down with pneumonia while we were there. They told him to not work, but he couldn't afford to not work because then his kids wouldn't eat. 
  

E - energetic
F - familiar, faithful


• In a place where I didn't know anyone, never been there before, I felt so at home.  Like I was with family. There were few times that I felt uncomfortable.
  

G - graceful, grateful


H - healthy, hospitable

• I had a certain expectation of seeing a lot of babies with bloated bellies from malnutrition. Surprisingly, in the village we were in, I didn't see any. Not say that people weren't sick, but not what I imagined.  
  

I - independent, innocent

• Many people, like widows, are very independent. They rely solely on what they earn for there family. However the community does help out when they can. Innocent in the fact that some people don't know of anything than what's outside their community. 
  

J - joyous
K - kindhearted
L - loving
M - mysterious

• I wonder so much about the life of the typical Malawian. Especially when we drove through the village at night to take James home from dinner. It was quiet and dark. It was kind of eery in a way.
  

N - natural, neighborly

• This is truly a community. You know the saying it takes a village to raise a child. This is living proof, so many families have taken in orphans to raise and the love exudes.
  

O - obedient, observant

• I am still in shock on how obedient the children are there. The children's program would have anywhere from 100-150 children daily. The kids were so attentive and listened to the story. I have a hard time getting 20 kids to listen to me on Sunday morning. While on prayer walks, if James told them to quit following us, they did.  They were very observant. When arriving, we were told that Malawians will trust you more once they know your heart (more so true for the adults and not the kids). I would say this was very true. 
  

P - polite, productive

• I can't believe how hard the people in Malawi work. The average worker makes $1 a day. They work 7 days a week from 7 until 5. They aren't working cushy jobs behind a desk, but doing real physical labor. The women, if they work inside the home, are busy doing chores all day long: cooking, washing, cleaning and getting water and wood.
  

Q - quiet

• The night we drove through the village, it was like the Christmas story. All was quiet as a mouse. Like I said, kind of eery.
  

R - resilient, resourceful

• I can't believe how strong the people are, not just physically but emotionally and spiritually. Death is common. I asked Joy how many funerals there were in the village within a month she said around 6. That's just in this village. Resourceful in that they can take the most obscure thing and make it into something to play with or to use around the house. For instance, one lady made small cakes using tin cans. Children were playing with a sticks and tires and wheeling them around.
  

S - sick, smiley

• I  know I said healthy earlier but that was in consideration of my expectations. I was shocked to learn that in sub sahara Africa, every 5 seconds someone dies of Malaria. We hear so much about HIV/AIDS being THE killer, that Malaria gets overlooked and it can be prevented a lot more than it is through education. Steve (the school head master) was telling the kids simple things like, keeping grass cut short, sleeping under nets and emptying sitting water out. 
  

T - thankful, tender

• Any time we visited with anyone, they were so thankful. One family brought us a bowl of roasted peanuts as we were sitting down. We each took 1 out of the bowl and then James started loading his pockets. We looked at him funny and he said if you don't take them, she will be offended. (He didn't even like nuts), so we started eating more. Later that day, we bought timber for their roof and when we came back, she had yet another bowl (3x the size of the first one) with more nuts. We bagged them up.
  

U - unbiased, upbeat

• I never felt like an outsider (in a bad way) for the color of my skin. Okay, maybe when little babies when scream because we scared them as they hadn't seen a AZUNGU (white person) before but other than that there were never any prejudice. 
  

V - victorious

• The people of Malawi have to overcome a lot of trials, but they are victorious. They have so little, but so much as they rely on God for everything. 
  

W - welcoming, willing
X - xeric

• Okay so I am stretching it here for an "X" word without saying xciting or something like that. This word means being deficient in moisture which it is for most of the year, so it works :)

Y - youthful
Z - zealous

• Man these kids have so much energy 
  

Saving for the Future

Apparently, Dylan's idea of what's important varies just a little bit of what we think is important. To cut him some slack though, he doesn't really understand the value of things, just if they fit in the hole or not.

I know I haven't posted anything from Malawi on this blog, but I did do our team blog on a day by day basis while in Malawi. Eventually, I will post some things on my personal blog, once I get to feeling better. I went to the minute clinic today and got some antibiotics for the beginning of a sinus infection. She looked in my ears several times trying to figure out if  I had an air bubble or if it was ruptured.  I promise stories and pics will come soon, until then gnaw on the stuff on www.hisfaceoflove.blogspot.com