Shoe box time!

"I had never received a gift before, but inside my shoebox I found a yo-yo, a toy car, and some pencils—pencils made in the United States! I felt so proud that someone in America loved me. I don’t have the yo-yo anymore. I don’t have the toy cars or the pencils either, but I have one thing that has not changed: “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” The shoebox gave me all that I need and that’s the Lord Jesus Christ." Kojo's story of receiving a shoe box when he was a boy in Ghana

It's my favorite time of the year... time to pack Operational Christmas Child shoe boxes! If you haven't participated in this ministry before, you're missing out on a wonderful privilege to bless impoverished children around the world with a shoe box full of presents (plus the amazing gift of the Gospel). National Collection Week is November 14-21, so there's still time to pack a shoe box (or more)! Find out how at Samaritan's Purse.

My Fru-Gal Christmas: $70 in Free Gift Cards from buying Diapers at Target!

Target is currently having a fantastic baby sale where, if you spend $200 on qualifying items, you'll receive $40 back in gift cards (or spend $125 and receive $20 in gift cards). Diapers and wipes are included in this deal!!

I was able to purchase 6 big boxes of diapers (we should be set for a while) and 3 big boxes of wipes, plus a box of baby food and a baby gift for a friend, spending $197 shipped after my Red Card discount of 5% (which includes free shipping). The diapers I bought were the Target Up & Up brand, and they also had another $10 gift card deal when you bought them in sets of two... so, that added an extra $30 in gift cards!

Grand total, I'll be receiving $70 back in gift cards! Woohoo! I'm planning to set these aside to use for our Christmas shopping this year.

Don't you love talking about Christmas shopping in July?! :)

Disney Princesses Rags to Riches Set for $19 at Walmart!

I came across this really great deal on Disney Princesses Rags to Riches doll set on the Walmart website for only $19 right now! It includes 3 dolls and 9 outfits! Choose ship to store for free in store pick up.

Craigslist Christmas Challenge!

I have a wonderful challenge for my readers that I'm calling the Craigslist Christmas Challenge! This is my second year doing this personally to clean out some of my kids' toys before Christmas day and I'm always amazed at the responses and needs that I receive in my inbox.

Here's what you do:
1. Get a big box or bag and fill it with toys that your children can go without to make room for new toys this year (give toys in good pre-owned condition).

2. Make a post on your local Craigslist advertising free toys to a family in need this Christmas.

3. Watch and be amazed at the responses (some very heartbreaking). Pray over the responses in your inbox and choose the person you feel most led to contact.

4. Arrange a time for your person to come pick up the toys or simply leave them outside your door for them if you won't be home. Think about including a handwritten Christmas card or wrapping paper/bags for them to use while wrapping.

5. Feel the joy of giving this Christmas season (oh you will)! AND have less toy clutter!

No toys? Think about clearing out your closets and offering a free coat instead to a person in need.

I'd love to hear from you if you try this for yourself!

"In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35

Happy Giving Tuesday!

It's Giving Tuesday! Have you "shopped" in one of the great Christmas catalogs from Samaritan's Purse, Gospel for Asia, and many other wonderful Christian organizations? Let's give back this Christmas as much as we get!

"In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" Acts 20:35

Ways to Give this Christmas: Gospel for Asia's Christmas Catalog!

Have you seen Gospel for Asia's Christmas Catalog? My husband and I are huge fans of this ministry and we enjoy "buying" items out of the GFA Christmas catalog to give to people in need throughout Central Asia. Everything from chickens to bicycles for missionaries to church buildings are available to give.

This year, we decided to buy 12 animals for each of our 12 nieces and nephews, to give to the poor of Asia in their name. We were able to create a card to print out as well for each child, explaining the significance of their specific gift.

To check out the catalog online, visit the GFA site here.

Dollar General: $2 off $2.01 purchase... I got 3 nail polishes for $1.06

Dollar General now offers digital coupons! Sign up and load a current sweet

offer, $2 off $2.01 or more purchase (available through 10/3). I tried it out and it worked perfectly... just type your phone number onto the keypass at checkout and the loaded coupons come off automatically.

I personally purchased three bright nail polishes for a part of a girly gift bag for Anna's fifth birthday (she loves painting her nails, but mommy's colors aren't always so exciting). Each nail polish was a dollar, but after the coupon and tax, I only paid $1.06 total for all 3! That's about 36 cents a bottle.

You could use this coupon to get a great deal on a grocery item, a cheap addition to an Operation Christmas Child shoe box, a stocking stuffer for your kids, or many other options since the Dollar General carries a variety of items. Let me know if you get the chance to use the coupon before Friday!

15% off entire purchase at Michael's - including dollar bins

Print this coupon here to save 15% off your entire purchase at Michael's, including sale items. This works on their dollar bins, too! I was able to stock up on note cards, Christmas wrapping paper, and other little gift items. Some of their bins are marked down to 50 cents each, making the items only 43 cents after coupon. This coupon expires tomorrow, Thursday, 9/11!

Thanks, PassionatePennyPincher.com!

Stocking up on Target Dollar Spot

15 Preschool/Kindergarten/First Grade Workbooks for 50 cents each

There are several Targets across the country who have been marking their Dollar Spots down by 70%! This is an excellent opportunity to stock up on gifts for Operation Christmas Child!

I stopped in my local Target yesterday and it was still at 50% off for now, but knowing Target, it could go down in the next day or two to the 70%. I'd recommend calling your local Target before heading in to check what the clearance markdown currently is. I still was thrilled to find these preschool/kindergarten/first grade workbooks for only 50 cents each.

Anna LOVES these; it is all I can do to have her put them away.

I had been looking for something like this for my kindergartner this winter, while we take a couple months off of our normal kindergarten curriculum with a newborn in the house. These will be easy to have her complete a few pages here and there and not be completely off from school. I also got extra copies for my toddler, for when he is old enough to work on them. 

Such a fun, inexpensive supplement to our My Father's World kindergarten curriculum. They also had various flash cards for any interested homeschoolers out there.

And when I got home, Anna couldn't wait to start one. We did about 15 pages of the math concepts book and I had to convince her to put it away until tomorrow. Hopefully, these last until the new baby arrives in a couple months.

Some of the toys for OCC and Project Night Night.

I also found some books and toys for our Operation Christmas Child boxes, Project Night Night (a ministry that provides books, blankets, and stuffed animals to children in homeless shelters), and some stocking stuffers for the kids this Christmas.

Glimpses of Our Christmas

Anna and I in our new aprons.

Our Christmas tree, the night before Christmas.

Anna, ready for her first preschool performance!

Children hearing a story from our pastor and his wife on Christmas Eve.

Spending an evening at the Denver Zoo Lights.

Christmas was a beautiful, quiet celebration for us this year. Just the four of us. I tried to keep everything simple and stress-free this Christmas season, from having most of the presents wrapped and mailed out in mid-November, to minimal baking, to giving to those in need more than buying for ourselves.

We didn't do Santa or elves or reindeer. I asked Anna who she thought put all the presents under the tree and she said matter-of-factly, "God." We rejoiced in the birth of the Savior, enjoyed Christmas lights at the Denver Zoo with friends, shared an Advent dinner with friends, had early-Christmas with grandparents and cousins, watched Anna in her first preschool performance. We baked a turkey on Christmas day, watched a new movie together that the kids received as a gift, and drank a lot of Starbucks Christmas blend coffee.

I shopped for next Christmas the day or two after this Christmas. Boxed up all the presents and decorations. I stubbornly listened to some of my favorite Christmas songs still, even though the day has past.

Now it's on to 2014 already. Anna will be 4 in a few days. How is my baby turning 4? We travel to New York in a week to see family and friends. I haven't been back home in over a year, so it will be a sweet reunion.

May God bless you in 2014 with the grace of faith, with His peace and joy no matter life's circumstances.

Love, from us.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

Make the effort to excel in the grace of giving.

“It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” 

― Mother Teresa

“For it is in giving that we receive.” 

― St. Francis of Assisi

Favored, rewarded, honored, blessed are we when we give. 

There are so many people in need around us this Christmas, more than we realize. Find some creative ways to track down these people, make the effort, do what you can to bless others and show them God's love.

It will be the best Christmas gift you get, I promise. 

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

2 Corinthians 9:6-10

Free Nativity Themed Preschool Pack from 3 Dinosaurs!

Right now, you can download a free Nativity-themed Preschool Pack from 3 Dinosaurs to work on with your preschooler this Christmas season!

A peak into our week: Brrr, it's cold!

Today started off a frigid cold spell here in Colorado with highs in the single digits, which may last for several days! It also snowed last night and throughout the day. My three year old loves to ride her bike, but it was too cold to let her play outside today, so we stayed inside and did a lot of Christmas crafts, watched the classic Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, and enjoyed hot cocoa, too. Here's a peak into our week:

Snapped this keeper on Sunday morning!

Played at a bouncey castle place for a cousin's birthday party!

My one-year old emptied the cabinets, while I worked on home school with my preschooler. 

Hubby shoveling snow today while it was super cold out.

We set up our Christmas decorations and tree over the weekend. The wooden toy box was a free find on Craigslist last week!

Anna's finger print painted Christmas lights (found idea off Pinterest).

Painting a Christmas tree.

Pumpkin mocha hot cocoa for me (with marshmallows, of course)!

Fru-Gal Giveaway: $20 off holiday cards, plus free shipping at Shutterfly!

I have plenty of Christmas cards this year, and I just received a free offer from Shutterfly. Get $20 off holiday cards plus free shipping on any holiday card purchase of $20 or more! Taxes may still apply.

This should be a steal on Christmas photo cards and Shutterfly has high quality, adorable designs to choose from!

Enter the Fru-Gal Giveaway below and I will draw the winner of the $20 credit on Friday, 11/29!

The Children's Place: 25% off sale prices plus Free Shipping!

So I just bought some Christmas presents for my kids for next Christmas with The Children's Place great deals right now (because that's how I roll). Today, you can use code S2H25HP at checkout to get 25% off sitewide, including already marked down sale items and clearance, plus free shipping!

Also, use ShopatHome.com to get 3% cashback.

Thanks, MoneySavingMom.com!

Free 8x10 Photo Collage at Walgreens!

Use code BOOCOLLAGE at checkout to get a free 8x10 photo collage from Walgreens online photo center. Pick up free in-store.

This could make a very nice Christmas gift for a family member when placed in a pretty frame.

Walmart: $1 Lindt Truffles after Coupon

Print a $2/1 Lindt coupon (you can print it twice) to get Lindt truffles bags for only a $1 (on sale at $3). You can also pick up the Lindt bars of chocolate for 23 cents after coupon. These could make great stocking stuffers for Christmas.

10 Holiday Photo Cards for 99 Cents Shipped from Winkflash!

There is a super deal right now from Winkflash for Holiday Photo Cards! Add ten holiday cards to your cart and use code FREECARDS1013 at checkout to pay only 99 cents for shipping! This offer is good through November 5th.

Thanks, MoneySavingMom.com!

Fru-Gal Christmas: Free Little Girl's Magic Wand Toy.

I love when the Shop your Way Rewards program adds free money to my card (usually every 4-6 months). I just received an e-mail a few days ago that they had added 5,000 points to my card (which equates to $5) to use at their participating stores: Sears, Kmart, and Lands' End. I headed to Kmart to pick out a toy for one of my kids. I ended up buying this magic wand for my daughter for Christmas, it cost exactly $5 so after the cashier scanned my card, it was free!

See two of my previous posts for how I did the same thing in the springtime to get a $.58 pink tulle skirt from Sears for Anna and a free car set for David, which I have yet to give them (saving also for Christmas gifts).

Clever frugality.

Sometimes I have some light-bulb frugal moments. I thought it was clever of me this week to stretch out the free twenty-five 4x6 prints deal from Walgreens by using an image editing program to get two family pictures on a 4x6 sized format. That way, I now have double the family pics for Christmas cards (in wallet size) and they were all free!