Please bare with me.......

Short post to let you know that I'm doing OK. Even though, the loss of my father has really set me back. I guess I really never did think he would pass on. But this is a given in life.

My mother, bless her has really been thrown for a loop. They lived about 2 hours south east from me and after many talks it was decided that since they lived on a farm that there was no way possible for us to drive that 4 hour trip daily or even 3 times a week to take care of her and the farm. So, after much prayer and thought we put the farm on the market Saturday. I ask that you remember to pray that the farm sells quickly so we can get her closer to us. I think it is a good thing for her and also for us. It will allow us to take care of her during this time. My mother is 68 and not in good health to begin.

So now we have the big task of going though everything and condensing so that she can move into a smaller home. Oh what a task it's been. This past weekend we got though the living room, 2 bedroom's and the bathroom. Now we have 2 bedrooms, dining room, laundry room/mud room, Kitchen to go though. So I still continue to pray for strength during this trying time in our lives.

Like the old saying goes " The good Lord won't give you more then you can handle" but I do believe that he takes you to the end of the rope. We are hanging on with the hope and belief that better days are ahead.

Thank you for remembering us in your prayers.

My Eulogy to my dad.

As the eternal optimist, I never wanted to believe this day would come. I really believe that a man as courageous and strong as my Dad would live forever. But I find hope and peace in knowing that Dad is at peace and in heaven. The place where he strived to be for many many years. That he means so much to me and my family – and so many of you.

I am now the middle child, but for 16 years I was the baby. The bond between a daughter and her father is strong. I always knew
My father loved me and I loved him.

When I started to put my thoughts about my father on paper, I went back in my mind to being 5 years old and standing beside my dad at the fire station so proud that he was the man that could drive the big fire truck and he was my dad.

Of the time when he arranged for Santa to catch me under the Christmas Tree shaking presents with a little coaching from him. Always looking for the laugh.

Making the man stop the carnival ride in Shawneetown to get me off because I was scared and crying. My protector, My Dad

I remember laying in my grandma Hayes back bedroom with my dad listing to the rain hit the tin roof with dad tracing around my eyebrows, eyes and lips and drifting off to sleep.

I remember Aunt Nellie and Aunt Jody watching me and waking up crying for my dad and not settling down till dad came back. My security, My dad

I remember thinking that my father was the most handsome man in the world. Even, though I don’t remember him without gray hair. But what hair he had.

Dad was strong and a bit of hard headed and for this I did take after him. We didn’t always see eye to eye but we always came back to each other and knew that we still loved each other no matter what. “When I look at all the influences in my life, my Dad is right there


He had given me his bible a few years back and in the front it says, Dot, to get you though the rough times, for happier days, love Dad

For myself, This message is still loud and clear….

I think Dad would want us to celebrate his life with Christ, To love one another, To let the little things go and embrace life head on.



I searched the bible looking for a verse that fit my father and I came upon this:

John 17:4
I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

I don’t pretend to think that dad was a saint and did no wrong. He was human. But I do know that he finished his worked that he set out to do here on earth and now dad is rocking Nerissa and asking where’s the popcorn and milk?! And asking if there’s any raisin pie.

Dad you were loved while here on earth and you are still loved in Heaven. I will miss you terribly but I have the inter peace of knowing that I will see you again one day.


I love you, Your Sam

Another week of no good deals

First we go without any coupons which was bad enough. But then, WAIT there was not any good sales that I could see. The only sale that I got was 16 Kraft Mac and cheese from CVS for free. Free because I had found coupons at our area grocery store for 1.00 off a box. I took some of them and held on to them until the sale at CVS. Good deal of the week, only deal of the week.

I sure hope this next week turns out better......did you find any good deals?

CVS Deals week of 2/15/2009

Buy 1 Colgate Total Toothpaste (4 oz.) at $2.99, Get $2.99 ECBs (Limit 2)
$1/1 from the 2/1 SmartSource insert
Free plus overage after coupon and ECBs

Buy 1 Gillette Fusion Gamer Razor at $7.99, Get $4 ECBs (Limit 1)
Use $4/1 any Fusion Razor from the 2/8 P&G insert
Free after coupon and ECBs

Buy 3 Suave Products at $2 each, Get $2 ECBs (Limit 5)

*Deal*
Buy 3 Body Washes at $2 each
(there were also $0.75/1 coupons in the 1/11 RedPlum insert)
$0.33 each after coupons and ECBs (Thanks, SwagGrabber!)

Buy 1 Herbal Essence Shampoo, Conditioner, or Styler at $2.99, Get $1 ECB (Limit 5)
Use $3/2 Herbal Essence coupon from the 02/08 P&G insert
$0.49 each after coupon and ECBs

******NON-ECB DEALS******

Pringles Minis (1.58 oz.)--$1 (look near the end caps for these)
Use $1/1 coupon from 01/25 insert
Free after coupon

Windex Wipes--on sale $2.50
Send in for full rebate from the 1/11 SmartSource insert
Free plus overage after coupon and rebate

Clorox Bleach Products--on sale Buy 1, Get 1 for $0.01
Buy 2 at approx. $2.49 and use $0.75/1 coupon from 01/25 Valassis insert
$0.50 each after coupon and sale

Lysol Freshmatic Starter Kit--on sale $5.99
Use $5/1 from the 1/11 SmartSource insert
$0.99 after coupon



******FEBRUARY ECB DEALS******

Buy 1 Renuzit TriScents at $5.49, Get $2 ECBs (Limit 5)
Use $5/1 peelies found on some packages
Free plus overage after coupon and ECBs

Buy 2 CVS-brand make-up remover pads at $1 each, Get $2 ECBs (Limit 5)
Buy in two separate transactions and use $1/1 CVS-brand skin care coupons from the Beauty Booklet
Free plus $2 over after coupons and ECBs (or free, if you don't have the coupons)

Buy 1 Cherry Extra Strength 12-oz. bottle of Mylanta at $3.56, Get $3 ECBs (Limit 5) (These are ringing up at $3.56 at many stores, be sure to price check these at your store before buying to make sure they are ringing up at this price.)
Use this $2/1 coupon or the $2/1 coupons from the 1/04 inserts
Free plus $1.35 in overage after coupon and ECBs

Buy 1 Stayfree pads (14-24 ct.) at $3.99, Earn $2 ECBs (Limit 5)

*Deal*
Buy 4 Stayfree pads at $3.99 each
Use 1 $1/2 coupon from the 01/04 RedPlum insert
Use 2 B1G1 coupons
Spend $6.98 out of pocket
Get $8 ECBs

Buy 1 CVS Children's Chewable Aspirin (36 ct.) at $1.99, Get $1.99 ECBs (Limit 1)
Free after ECBs

Buy 1 Extreme Energy 6-hour shot at $4.99, Get $4.99 ECBs (Limit 1)
Free after ECBs

Buy 1 Earinse at $7.99, Get $7.99 ECBs (Limit 2)
Free after ECBs

Buy 1 Gillette Shampoo or Conditioner at $4.99, Get $3 ECBs (Limit 5)
Use $2/1 coupon from the 01/18 P&G insert
Free after ECBs

Buy 1 BodiHeat Pain Relieving Heat Pad (3 ct.) at $3.99, Get $3 ECBs (Limit 5)
Look for $1/1 peelies on the packages
Free after coupon and ECBs

Buy 1 Johnson & Johnson First Aid pad with Neosporin at $4.99, Get $3 ECBs (Limit 5)
Buy 2 and use this $3/2 printable
$0.49 after coupon and ECBs


thank you Money Saving Mom for the heads up on these

Kmart Doubling coupons

Kmart will be starting another $2 Double Coupon Event in select stores all over the states. This event will run 2/22 through 2/28.

So get your coupons together

And how was your week? and coupon inserts this week

Well after our insurance episode I figured that everything would quiet down. NOOOOOOO, we still don't have the insurance completed on our house, motor home or boat. But they are working on it. Famous last words. : )
Then my youngest son had the lenses come out of his glasses so I run them over to the eye place. Get them fixed and on the way out the door I decide to grab a pot of tulips for my daughter and a bouquet of balloon's for my very special grand baby, Sophia. I rush out the door. Sit everything on the hood while I wrestle with the balloons. Then I hop in and drive off. Did you get the hop in and drive off part? No mention of getting the glasses off the hood of the CAR!!!!
Yup they are now somewhere in a 10 mile stretch....... and my youngest has no glasses. I jump back in the car and go back without finding them. So 210.00 later we have a new pair ordered Huston.........
This has been a expensive week around here. I don't dare say what next....... but you know a beach in the Caribbean is sounding so good.........

I also want to mention that there is not suppose to be any coupon inserts this week. That's a BOO! What's wrong with these people? Do they not know us couponers depend on these things?

A Insurance deal that was SOUR!

I debated about posting this, then though why not?! There are surely people out there that this has happened too or it's happening too and they need to know. So here's my story. It might be a little long but worth the reading. After you read it you might just want to check your policies and make sure you are covered. If this could happen to me, it could happen to you!

On Monday it was a hectic day around here. After work I had a doctors appointment to check my ears after having the tubes put in. I am happy to report that my hearing went up 40 percent! Yes 40 Percent, then it was hurry to my oldest son's ballgame. I made it with 2 minutes to spare before the game began (and yes they did WIN!). Then it was hurry hurry to get my youngest son who is 6 a bath and in bed. It was getting to be around 8:30 at that point and he can't function on 6 hours sleep. So I run though the shower after getting him settled down and it dawned on me that I had not checked the mail. So to the mailbox I go. Let me tell you it's a good thing my mailbox is right by my front door. I would not of wanted the passerby to see me in my Jammie's. But, hey there were clean. That counts for something doesn't it? LOL

So I get the mail and I thought wow the freebies have been great today. I got 5 magazines and a few other things including my 2 liter bottle of Diet Dr. Pepper. But back to the story, I dropped all this mail off on my desk and went to do a few other things when I thought "that was alot of mail today". So I come back and thumb though it and there was several letters in it from ABC insurance company. ABC is NOT the name of my insurance but for here it will be. We have everything though them. Trucks, SUV, RV, Pontoon Boat, jet ski's, Our home, rental home, My scooter and hubbies Harley motorcycle. So I opened it up and it says this:

Dear Mr. and Mrs. XXX

We value your service as a customer. However, do to non payment your policies will be cancelled on Feb. 22, 2009.

Thank you,
ABC insurance

I was like WHAT? We paid these policies on September 30, 2008 in full though our agent. This has got to be a mistake. So I pick up the phone, knowing that there probably wasn't someone in the office at that time of night and called. Low and behold someone picked up the phone. I explained why I was calling and she said can you hold while I pull of your accounts. I said sure, knowing that they were going to find this was a mistake and everything would go back to Happy land. Well she comes back on the line and says

Mrs. XXX your house insurance for both your home and rental has not received any payments and is due to be cancelled on the 22ND of February. I said WHAT? You got to be kidding me. I paid this in one lump sum back in September with my agent. She said well apparently you didn't. I said could you check and tell me about the other claims. Well I was told that they haven't been covered since October, 2008. I was in SHOCK. All the blood came running out of my face and ended up in my feet! Literally. I Kid you not.

SO I thank her and thought this has got to be some kind of joke. I had our insurance agents cellphone and decided to call him. I call and he says Hello, I said hello and he hangs up the phone. I'm thinking not a smart move. So I call back and this is what I said.

Mr. POS (not his real name, even though I should post it and might later)

Mr. Pos this is Mrs. XXX and I don't care if you have to stand out in the middle of the highway to get a signal you best be calling me back, because of 8 am in the morning I will be contacting the Insurance comissioners office first thing. And, with that I hung up.

And you know what? Mr. POS called me back within minutes. I mean I barely got the phone sat down and it was him calling back. So we have this conversation:

Mr. POS: I'm sorry, they made a mistake and I'll take care of it in the morning. I don't know why they can't get this thing right. I'm going to take care of it.I'm on the way back from a funeral and have been gone for 2 days.

ME: No Mr. POS your not, this is what your going to do. I'll be at your office at 8am and we will have a conference call with ABC insurance and then I can know which one of you is lieing.

Mr. POS: Ok then

ME: GOODBYE

So, I call in to work and take a personal day. Just how I wanted to spend my personal days let me tell you. So I figured I had better get ready to go to bed since I need to be on my toes to handle this. Other things were just sitting waiting and I had no idea.

10:54 my phone rings

ME: Hello

Mr. POS: I wanted to call you back and tell you I couldnt talk cause I had a car full of men (not exactly what he said MEN but for the sake of this we will leave it at that) and I couldnt talk. I'm sorry you are so upset.

ME: Wait, you got it all wrong. I'm not upset. I am LIVID, no I am PISSED! You got I am literally pissed off. What did you do with my money?

Mr. POS: This is all a mistake and I can take care of it in the morning. I said you are right you will take care of it in the morning. Because I'm going to be at your office and we are going to have a conference call and if I find out you lied to me this is what I'm going to do. First I'm going to stop at the count house and I'm going to file a suit against you for stealing my money, Then I'm going to stop by the newspaper and find a reporter to print my story, then I'm going to file a complaint with the Insurance commisioner and if it's the last thing I do I'll get your license if I found out you took my money.

What he said next threw me for a loop and I am not one easlier shocked.

Mr. POS: I know I've done things that are wrong, I know I should of not done it. If you call the insurance commisioner you will be taking my lively hood from me. What can I do to make this right so you dont' do that. I have to have this job to support my family.

ME: Ok, well first off you should not of taken my money which I'm now hearing you say you did. So you can return all my money that I paid you back in September, 2008.

Mr. POS: He said how much?

Me:I gave him the figure (several thousand's of dollars). I said and I don't want a personal check either because you tried to pay for my policies back a few weeks ago and bounced a check to them and I'm not taking a personal check. Cash or cashiers check. that's the only thing I'm taking.

Mr. POS: Gave me 2 days to come up with this money.

ME: NO you have until 10 am tomorrow.

Mr. POS: Ok I'll see what I can do

With that we hung up.

I didnt sleep after that. I tried but 2 girls decided that it was prank phone call night and called for the next hour and half off and on. I finally ended it at 3 am when I called and called until their mother answered the phone and said why are you calling at this time of morning. I said lady, maybe you should ask that of your daughters........ I've had enough drama for one night. LOL

So next morning, I get the boys on the bus (thanks to the sub for working for me) and I get over to the insurance agencies office. I took my 22 year old daughter with me. You know, witness in case there was something to witness. Well we came in and was in the office and we stood by the door. he finally came out of the back room and pointed to his desk and said it's right there. Right there being a envelope with my name on it. I opened it up to find a envelope with a cashier's check in it made out to my husband and myself. I shook my head ok and he said. Take care and I hit the door with daughter in tow.

So you would think that this is the end of the story would'nt you? Well it's not. The best is yet to come.....

So now the realization has hit that I have no insurance on anything that we own. So I get on the phone and start calling and I called 7 companies

The first 6 call back with I can't help you......you have had a lapse in coverage and we can't cover you. You are high RISK! High RISK? It isnt my fault that I had a insurance agent take my money. What am I going to do?

I finally get insurance on 2 trucks and 1 SUV but nothing else.

So today I'm working on getting insurance on those. But I will say this, I feel lucky to have gotten my money back. I have since learned that the insurance agent has his home in foreclosure, That the company has pulled his license and he can't sell their insurance anymore and they have turned him in to the insurance commisioner of the state and he will probably be losing his license before very much longer.

Am I happy? No I'm not. I do not wish for anyone to lose their home, exspecially in this day and time. I'm not cold hearted. However, I also think that even in bad times you must keep your morals and with morals I do believe comes not stealing from people and lieing. I hate liar's and Thefts more then anything.

So you might what to double check your insurance and make sure you have insurance and your paid up. Even if you agent says you are. In the defense of ABC insurance I received a call from their cheif security officer and was told that they would be glad to give me to a another agent and let me keep their insurance. I just can't help but think that I need to distance myself from this mess and start over. Even if it means more money out of my pocket. I've lived and I've certainly learned.