My Boys Are Growing Up......

A few weeks before we had got all this news, Jack took a few days off to work around the house. Imagine my surprise to look at the window and see Joshua and later Jacob driving the mower. They weren't actually mowing. Jack had a project where he needed to take bricks and sand up the hill and he thought it would be easier to load by using the mower and wagon. I swear they looked so grown up and they did a great job. The others enjoyed riding in the wagon between times.

Things you don't understand.......

I really struggled this morning for a title to my blog. I just really didn't know what to call it. The kids and I got up early Wednesday and headed out the door for our errands. When I returned home, there was an email from Jack saying something BIG was happening at work and it didn't sound good. A little later I received a phone call from him and he was right. His site is closing. What???? Yes, his site is closing. I've been through two lay offs in my short working career and both of those times you could see it coming. This was not the case. You plug away in life and then God shakes everything up.
I'd be lying if I'd say I wasn't upset. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried about the future. I used this as an opportunity to talk to Joshua. I asked him if this was a surprise to God. I asked him if God would take care of us. I asked him if God had a plan.
I must admit at first I really handled this like a death sentance.....ok...we have two more months before we have to stop.........(fill in the blank).
While I am very nervous and anxious and worried, I'm also very excited to see what God has planned for us. He may give us a better position. He may make us trust Him even more....who knows.
Jack has been a rock through the entire thing. If it has bothered him, he hasn't shown it at all. All he keeps saying is that we will be ok and everything will work out. I want to be the same so that I can stand behind him and not bring him down or worry him.
I am truly thankful too. Some of the employees will have to leave in July. Jack is the last to go. It looks like he will be there until December and then of course he will receive a severance package. A lot can happen between now and then. One other thing on my mind......do I go back to preschool now and work......especially if she gives me back 5 days......or do I REALLY go out on faith now and work as a sub???? Stay tuned in the next few months to see what God has planned for the McLean family.

Money Saving Madness

I love saving my family money, especially now!! Let me tell you about a few of my deals. A couple of weeks ago I needed one of those captain chairs for football and soccer. Mine died after about 4 years. CVS gave me a $15 dollar coupon for filling out a survey so I got the chair for FREE!!! whoohoo!!

Moving on this week. I got Aussie shampoo and styler from Walgreens.....totally FREE. HT started their triple coupons this week. I can't tell you how many items I got for under 50 cents. It really helps me stock up. I saved OVER $36 dollars in coupons a lone. I saved a total of $76.94 and that was my first trip (HT only lets you use 20 coupons a day). That's a lot of money for this family. $36 would pay for all of us to eat out at a restaurant. $36 is almost half of next weeks groceries. $36 is a lot of money for this family. I got this yogurt, baby powder and dipping sauce for free. I also got dentine gum for free. I love you HT, Walgreens and CVS!! Thank you for giving our family free things, and groceries for cheap!!

Champions in my heart

Joshua's team played for the championship game Saturday.....they lost, but they put up a GREAT fight. If they had to lose, I couldn't have asked for a better well fought game. The team was champions in my heart the way they played and for the sportsmanship they showed the entire season. Football is over now until the fall and Joshua did really well for his first season.

Love, Sweet Love

Tradition

What's a Myrtle Beach vacation without our yearly visit to.....Krispy Kreme.......oh, there is nothing like a box of HOT donuts (and I could eat all of them). Even the extra box for breakfast the next day does not compare. We'll have to keep this as a McLean family tradition.

Bathroom Makeover

I'm so excited to start a new project....re-doing my bathroom. I've had the same shower curtain in my bathroom since we were married!! I just found out while I was shopping for a new one, that Jack HATED the shower curtain we had, but he never told me. Anyway, I love the chocolate color with the green and blue.......so many possibilities. I will need to get some new towels and a new bath mat. The paint I have now goes well, but I'm anxious to pick up one of the colors and paint.....hm...the lighter brown, the green or the blue....so many choices. The curtain is up, but I have to wait to paint until next month because we already have some outdoor projects going on, so our money is tied up for now....but that gives me more time to think!!

Favorite Beach Shots

Finally pictures

Here is where we stayed this year. It was like a mini apartment, which is good since the kids are getting bigger. We had two beds in the bedroom, a fold out bed and a fold out couch. It was a little more than our normal place, however cooking most meals inside made up for it. I really enjoyed the big garden tub with a whirlpool inside. I think when we get a new house I will try to find that. It was so nice and relaxing at night!! More pictures to follow!

relaxation

I'll have to wait till I get home to post pictures. I wish I could show them to you. Monday we went out on the beach and then hit the pools and water slides. I'm amazed what a difference a year makes. The kids are jumping in and are not scared at all. I need to get them swimming lessons. I made lunch in the room and then we hit Broadway at the Beach to do some shopping. When we got done, I fixed hot dogs and macaroni in the room and we headed back out. Tuesday was much of the same except we went to the outlet mall and then I had a gift card from doing surveys for Outback. Wow, that was yummy. I also rec'd a gift card to Dunkin Donuts, so we ate those yesterday for breakfast. We headed out last night for Broadway at the Beach to see fireworks....and they were VERY good. The kids were exhausted. Today we did much of the same...beach, pool, lunch. I'm letting them play for a little while and then we will have a 30 minute rest period. I'll cook tacos and then we might get our HOT krispy kreme donuts!! Oh, I can't wait!!! I've so enjoyed sitting by the beach reading my new book. I'm half way done and might even finish before we leave Friday morning.

vacation

I'm loving it here at the beach. I'll try to post pictures if Jack brought the cord, otherwise it will have to wait until we get home. We got here yesterday at noon, started playing on the water slides and then got our room and some groceries. This place is amazing. I love looking out my door to see nothing but ocean....and then to hear the beautiful sound! The place has water slides and pools and hot tubs and the list goes on. The room has a oven, microwave and full refrigerator/freezer. We are able to cook meals here which saves us money! They even have a small putt putt place outside and the kids and I enjoyed it. This vacation is just what I needed and I'm so thankful for a few more days of it. Stay tuned for more pictures either tomorrow or Friday! I'll try to post more later.

Money Saving Mania

I've got the fever....saving money....it's so addicting!! I don't have pictures, but let me tell you what I got. I got a free razor coming in the mail....I nice mens one. Next at Walgreens I got one bar of Neutrogena soap free, some Ecotrin Asprin, and two twelve packs of soda. (all free) I also bought two more bars of Neutrogena soap. I spent $6 and got back $12. Not too bad. CVS didn't have deals I wanted for this week.
Next, yard sale finds. I started Friday morning and got a new pink scripture purse plus a pair of pants for Jacob for school. Friday night I went to Lydia's to help her and got so many treasures....some nice books for me and the kids, a Steve Green CD (I love Steve Green), some mini loaf pans, a barbie for Jenna, legos for Jacob, a basketball for Joshua, some place mats and a Dave Ramsey book and cd set unopened (I'm not sure if I'm ready to follow of his methods). This morning we went back out and found a game for Jenna, Lincoln logs for Jacob, a Duke hat for Joshua, some jewelry and jewelry boxes for Jenna, a nerf gun and some big black pipes for our backyard that we were about ready to go to Lowe's for.

A Tough Choice.....

Look at these cute kids on their graduation day. I thought it would be easy this year since my kids were out of preschool, but it was still very touching to see them go. I also got so many cards from parents thanking me for working with their kids and how great it was to have such wonderful teachers that cared etc.....All of that makes it a very difficult choice for me. Do I stay and have all this joy and the extra income we need, or do I quit and be a "on call sub" and go to Southside? We really could use the extra money for Christmas, vacations, babysitters and all the extras that we can't do unless we have extra money. It's just not easy. The only way it may become easy for me is if the rumors at preschool are right and Melody will only be teaching 3's. I would much rather have the 4's, so that might make a difference.....if not....I don't know what to do!!!