Operation Christmas Child--you don't gotta spend a fortune!

So I love doing Operation Christmas Child gift boxes.  But I usually wait until the last minute, and then it costs a lot of money.  Well, this year, I am thinking ahead!  I got my first bunch of stuff recently at a scratch-and-dent store that is in an Amish settlement near my folk's house.  Here is the first haul....

A red zippered pouch for storage of goodies--$0.50

A better shot of it without the plastic bag on it  :)

A bar of soap that smells awesome--$0.25

Mini toothpaste--$0.25

Jumprope--$0.75

A hair accessory/bendy bow thing--$0.65

Three pack of necklaces--$0.45

And some pencils I got at Walgreens on clearance for $0.25.

Grand total so far--$3.10!!!!  I will of course be adding more, and I will keep you all posted of the grand total when it is chock full.

I hope to encourage others to do as many boxes as possible!  It does not take a lot of money if you just keep your eyes peeled throughout the year.  And what a blessing to the recipients!!!!

Summer Fun Ideas 2013--so far....

• Camp in back yard 
• Scavenger Hunt/Geocaching
• Tie Dying
• Fishing
• Lemonade stand/baked goods too?
• Farmer's Market
• Free Kids Movies at Collins Road Theaters
• Write letters to Grandma, Abby
• Sherbet Watermelon Pie
• Homemade hot air balloons
• Colored pasta, make jewelry
• Freeze toys in water, get out with screwdriver and hammer
• Homemade gak
• Bake cookies
• Build a fort, pop popcorn and watch a movie
• Play salon by doing hair and painting nails, put on jewelry
• Water balloon/gun fight
• Roast marshmallows
• Make puppets, have a puppet show
• Shop for school clothes
• Sewing lessons for Rose
• Paint pictures
• Adventureland
• Treats for neighbors
• Stargazing
• Homemade Slip and Slide
• Plant flowers
• Paper Bead jewelry
• Make bird feeders
• Old McDonald's Farm
• Family movie night—go to a theater
• Board game night
• Make greeting cards
• Choose a recipe, make a meal
• Wash the cars
• Make stepping stones
• Create a scrapbook
• Milk carton boats, then float them at the stream
• Make homemade ice cream
• Teach the kids to follow the FlyLady Daily Kids Challenges
• Try out different parks in town
• Make hobo dinners
• Watermelon seed spitting contest
• Paper airplane contest
• Library reading program
• Nodland Family Reunion
• Creek stomping
• Breakfast at Belinda's
• Go to pool
• Go shopping
• Have a lot of play dates
• Ride bikes
• Get Bobs
• Learn to crochet
• 1,2,3 Cannonball on the trampoline
• Get a YouTube channel
• Learn guitar
• Make friendship bracelets
• Make cute necklaces and bracelets
• Do crafts
• Sell stuff for money (bracelets, pictures, necklaces, etc)
• Play outside
• Have breakfast outside/at a park
• Face painting
• Bubble paintings
• Toilet paper roll target practice
• Make funnel cakes
• Iowa State Fair
• Go roller skating
• Pick berries at a strawberry farm
• Have a fancy tea party

Wondering if this will ever end?

So on January 1, 2013, I joined Weight Watchers.  My weight was the highest it has ever been, 271.6.  Talk about humiliation.  I hesitate to even put that on there because I know my husband reads my blog and I don't want him to know, I am so ashamed.  :(  But maybe that is what it will take?  I don't know.  Anyway, I have lost about 12 lbs so far.  Actually more than that--but I have lost, gained, lost, gained--I would guess I have lost and regained maybe 15-20 lbs.  All in a three month period.  I want this time to be different--I want to lose 100 lbs.  I want to weigh less than I ever have in my adult life.  I believe when I had my senior pics taken, I weighed 175.  I thought I was so fat then!  Now I am nearly 100 lbs more than that.  UGH.  I want to be healthy for my family.  I want to be beautiful for my husband.  I want him to be able to carry me across the threshold  :)  I want to be able to go into a regular clothing store and buy a cute dress and have it fit me!  I want to not feel like I have let God down because I have chosen food over Him as a god in my life.  Ouch.  That hurts to admit but it is true.  I read on another blog today that if I cut out all sugar and refined flour that I will eventually stop craving it.  I think that is what needs to happen because I tell you what, if you put a box of cookies in front of me, I could eat the whole thing.  I have done it before, I know I could.  I don't know how to do it in a way that my family will accept, but I need to find a way.  Lord help me.