Rearview Rainbows

"So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:31-34 NIV

As we traveled down I-81 last weekend, we hit a nasty storm. It rained. Hard. We could hardly see the road let alone the cars in front or behind us. We put on our flashers and went 45mph (in a 70 mph zone) At this point, I was glad my husband was driving, because I tend to get nervous and worry. I have cried in the car before because I'm scared because a storm is so bad I can't see.

Just after we came through the storm, the sun was shining drying up the road. My husband told me to look in the rearview mirror at the rainbow. I looked back to see a huge rainbow (and later a double rainbow) gleaming across the sky.

It made me think about storms in our life. We all go through trouble, whether it be loss, depression, debt, loneliness, or another trouble. A lot of times when we are in these storms, we look around and all we can see is the storm. We see the raining of tears, winds that destruct, and dark clouds that make it hard to see the light. Just as the poem "Footprints" we need to trust God and rely on Him to carry us through these times. Sometimes we still wonder, "Lord, why are you letting this happen to me?" Just as the disciples were afraid as Jesus let a storm knock their boat to and fro.

"Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping." Matthew 8:24 NIV

God always has a purpose in mind when he allows us to go through hard times, storms. After all, he loves us and he has the power to calm the storm at any point.

"The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!" He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm." Luke 8:24 NIV

Often times we can't see the point while we were in the storm. But usually, as we look back after making it through the storm, that God has worked something good in our life because we have gone through the trouble. As we look back to where we have been, we can see the rainbows in our rearview mirrors.

You Never Let Go
Matt Redman

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won't turn back
I know you are near

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We'll live to know You here on the earth

Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You

Holly

Super Savings Saturday

Here's my deals from the week:CVS: $11.68 2 6-packs of Scott Choose-A-Size, 2 packs of Hershey's Drops, and 2 Neutrogena Sunscreens


Martins: $2.30 Used the BOGO Free and $1/1 coupons from the VocalPoint mailer in conjuction with the Martins $6 off instantly off 4 kelloggs cereals. (the 4th one would be the jam filled but I gave one away so I subbed this one from last week into the picture)


Walmart: $.74 Could have used 2 more of the $5 similac coupons on the $3.78 Similac but would've had a negative total so I'm going to save them.


What deals did you get this week?

Freebie Friday

Here's what I got for free in my mailbox this week! (There was one BOGO Free coupon and 3 $1/1 miniwheats coupons with the free sample from VocalPoint. You'll see the great deal on these I got at Martin's tomorrow!)

Apparently I signed up for 2 free subscriptions to Parents magazine, I'll have to call and see if I can combine them! :-)
Signing up for freebies and for clubs like VocalPoint can get you freebies in your mailbox too!

Holly

Martin's 5/13-5/16

Towards the end of the week, my husband and I went to 3 different Martin's stores and bought some more Hallmark cards for the buy 3, get $5 deal.
Our first transaction we spent 2.80 then we kept rolling over our $5 coupons to lots of 6 cards and ended up with 18 $5 coupons ( I gave one away). In total, we spent $10.18 on 75 Hallmark cards (we did not clear off any shelves, although I know several people who arrived to find out that their Martin's/Giant had moved all the .99 cards to the back.

Before we headed out for the weekend at my in-laws my husband used 4 of the $5 off coupons to get us 2 bolthouses, a bag of trail mix, some chocolate covered almonds, and some chocolate covered raisins and a case of lipton green teas, spending $1.23 OOP. We drank the bolthouses in the car and the chocolate almonds didn't make it too far either.

At the in-laws I made a quick trip to target and snagged the following a net of .60 after using my $5 giftcard from the hairdye. (spent 3.97 OOP and have 3.37 left on giftcard)

I also swung into Wegmans (which I miss so much) and got the 12pack of Annies mac and cheese for $10.74 (usually I'll settle for $1 or less as a good price on this since we use so much)


Then today, I went to spend my 11 of my $5 coupons at Martins while my husband tutored. I got all of the following (the tea and cards and trailmix from Friday are pictured as well) The total value of everything pictured (plus the things that got eaten :) is 188.64
(4 boxes of Kelloggs's, 2 Kraft homestyle macncheese, san georgio pasta, 2 bags kettle chips, 2 bags food should taste good sweet potato chips, 3 stonyfield yogurts, potato hamburger rolls, arnold bread, knudsen juice, organic broccoli, organic frozen edamame, organic celery, organic apples, organic carrots, 10 natures promise frozen beef patties, applegate farms uncured hotdogs, 2 packs orbit, nature's promise provolone pork sausages)

We paid 12.74!!! Once we factored in the money spent OOP on cards and on Friday, the grand total was 24.09 for a savings of 87%!!!

I used one of the 2 remaining $5 off's to get ribeyes for my birthday dinner this week. And I have 1 $5 left.

Needless to say, we are set on cards for awhile :) (which is good because I usually forget to buy them!)

Super Savings Saturday

Here are my deals I got this week:


Martins: All this was $37 thanks to the Hallmark moneymaker and a very patient cashier who let me split my order up into 7 $5ish transactions so I could use all my $5 coups.



Target: And at target I used coupons to stock up on some cleaning supplies. The dish soap was free with 3 greenworks purchases and since I had coupons expiring, it made it a pretty good deal. The hair dye was about 1.99 each since I only had 1 manuf coup from the paper (seriously considering a second subscription and my husband keeps encouraging it so we can get double the deals and give more away) All in all, this order was $24.

How did you do this week?

Holly

Freebie Friday

Here's what I got for free in my mailbox this week!