Input Requested - Being Frugal during Changing Seasons of Life!

Being frugal is not always easy. For the past three months, I have clipped maybe 10 coupons (which is nothing for me), have looked at store sales perhaps 4 times, and have done the shopping even less. If you know me or have read my blog for any length of time, you would know that these things are some of my favorite things to do. I LOVE saving money. However, for the past three months, I have also been experiencing almost constant nausea, vomiting and exhaustion which has made my usually frugal self kind of jump out the window (well, not completely).

I am so grateful for a wonderful husband who has been doing a lot of the shopping and cooking and has gotten me take out when I needed it. He is amazing. Everyone keeps telling me to simply enjoy this season of life, but I do wish I could do more to help. I'd really love it if anyone, especially moms, could give some input as to easy meals to make that were good when you were pregnant. I'm having a hard time eating meat right now and my stomach is very touchy, so it has really limited my choices and I have run out of ideas. This is our first child, so this is all very new to me! I am very thankful for this child and this season of life, I just feel so different. My husband is wondering when I'm going to go back to CVS! It better be soon because the toilet paper I stocked up on in October is almost gone!

Thank you for your input. I really do appreciate you all.

For some other ideas on being frugal, see Frugal Friday at Biblical Womanhood.

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P.S. This is NOT my belly yet! I'm only 13 weeks! : )

P.S.S. Right after I posted this, I found this great post at Keeper of the Home. Isn't it great how your fellow bloggers can enhance your life???

Breaking the Silence...

Ok folks, if you wanna know where I've been for the past few weeks, here's a "little" hint!

"Mystery" Roar Detected from Faraway Space

There is "something new and interesting going on in the universe," said Alan Kogut of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.

I don't know about you, butI feel like there are some interesting things going on in the world today. Here's one of the latest...

Mystery Roar Detected from Faraway Space

I can't help but think of the words of the prophet Amos -

"The lion hath roared; who will not fear? the LORD GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?"

I did a search on Google for "lion of judah roars" and saw this message from the ICEJ. Now, you may not agree with everything in this message, however, I loved the last point. Perhaps this "mysterious" roaring has something to do with the Lion of Judah!

Dude, Where's My Car?

Well friends, I'm sorry I have been pretty non-existent on here for a few weeks. Between Thanksgiving, a wedding (my sister-in-law's) and going out of my house one morning only to find that my car had been stolen...it's been an insane (but good!) couple of weeks. Honestly, I should have known it was coming. After reading Rabbi Lazer Brody's Garden of Emuna, I have been praying for HaShem to increase my emuna (faith) through the situations in my life. It sure has been a wild (but good!) ride, and I'm excited to see what HE has in store for us next. He is so good, so faithful and amazing. I'll be back soon, but check out my archives if you want! Miss you all!

P.S. Don't worry...He hasn't left me high and dry as a strict pedestrian! My awesome co-workers and husband have graciously been making sure I get around! I was even able to sneak in a CVS run this week to get the 15 ProMax bars for free...Yummy!

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Five Reasons I ♥ the Sabbath!

This is our table one Friday evening before we ushered in the Shabbat.

1. God made it for us!

After He created us, what did He do next? He created the Sabbath, by resting Himself. Also in Mark 2, Yeshua literally said that Shabbat was made for man. It is His gift to us, and we should enjoy it!

2. We need it!

Studies have shown, and it's just plain common sense, that human beings need a "day of rest" every week. If you think about it, God could have made our bodies so that we didn't need rest or sleep. He could have made us so that we were able to just go, go, go 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. BUT, He didn't. He created us so that our bodies, our souls, our minds all needed a physical, spiritual and mental break.

3. It's something to look forward to.

All week long people say, "Is it Friday yet?" I kind of laugh to myself because they don't know it, but they are longing for the Sabbath as well. The rabbis say that starting Saturday evening immediately after the Sabbath, we should begin preparing for the next one. I heard a story about a lady who after every Havdalah (conclusion service of the Sabbath) would scurry to the kitchen to begin cleaning her Sabbath candlesticks for the next week. I, myself, remember the first time our family celebrated the Shabbat. I think I was around 8 or 9, but it is such a vivid memory. Immediately after the Sabbath meal on Friday evening, my sister and I begged our parents, "Can we do this again next week?"

4. It's a holiday, only every week!

If you ever get the chance to go to my parents' house for a Shabbat dinner, I highly recommend it. My dad has this theory that the more people they have for Shabbat, the better; the more food for Shabbat, the better. So basically, it is like celebrating Thanksgiving dinner with your family and friends every Friday night. It's not only fun, but a great way to bond as a family. We eat (of course!), sing songs, talk about the Bible, and just enjoy each other. It truly is a beautiful time.

5. It's a rehearsal.

One of the words God uses in the Torah for Shabbat is mikrah, which can be translated as "a rehearsal." What are we rehearsing for? The Seventh "Day", that is, the time when Messiah returns! Remember His words in John 9, "Night is coming, when no one can work." Some rabbis have said that we are entering in to the "Friday afternoon" of God's timeline. It's time for us to work like never before, to be prepared for the "Yom Shekulo Shabbat" (the Day that is ALL Sabbath) that is coming.

Those are just a few reasons I LOVE the Sabbath. If you want to read more about how my family celebrates, go here. How about you? I'd love to hear how others enjoy God's special day!

For Many Shall Come in My Name...

Matthew 24:5 - Do NOT be deceived!

It seems like everyone is talking about it. "The Messiah's coming, the Messiah's coming!" Actually, there's an elderly lady at my synagogue that asks me every Shabbat, "Is the Messiah coming soon?" "I hope so," is my reply every time. And now, I really do mean it. When I was younger, I used to think (which I'm kind of ashamed to admit now), "I hope Moshiach doesn't come until after I get married, or have kids, etc." But now, I really do mean it. If he came today, that would be A-OK with me!

Today I read an interesting article by Rabbi Lazer Brody here that really encouraged me. I like the fact that there is much rabbinic disdain for trying to speculate about specific details of the Messiah's arrival. I like that he encourages "simple and innocent faith" that Messiah IS coming. Read his article and let me know what you think!


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