Blame it on Facebook

Seriously, since I've discovered Facebook, this blog has taken a back seat.

Anyway....this was the first Griffin Dirty Christmas without my cousin Mike. I have thought about him so many times the last few weeks. I know how much he liked this event, and it physically hurts my heart that he is not here. But, he is in Heaven, and for that I am thankful. All of my family came this year and the Michigan Griffin's even flew instead of driving. They stayed with us so we got to spend a lot of time with them. The gift stealing reached an all time high this year. The coveted blanket made by my Aunt Theresa went to the senior member of the family-Mike's mother, Aunt Shirley. I was glad that she got it. Here are some pictures of the friviolity.

Upcoming plans

It seems like we have been so busy lately. The next few weeks are no exception. I am having a dinner party on Saturday evening for some of my old friends from high school. Some I have kept in touch with but some I haven't seen in over 30 years. On Sunday, we are going to the newcomers class at Long Hollow as the first step in membership. Sunday night is small group meeting . We met some really nice people last week at our first meeting. We love Long Hollow!! Monday night is MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL with the Titans vs. Colts. We will be there, and since half-time is about my bedtime, if you see me on tv , I'll probably be asleep in my seat. Wednesday of next week, I am having another procedure to try and aleviate my back pain, and then on Friday I am off to Seattle to see Dale, Tina and the girls. I can't wait to see them. I will definately post pictures of that trip. Ok, time to get to work.

Sticker shock

Recently, Kevin and I have had prescriptions to be filled for very expensive medications. My insurance has a drug co-pay of $10, $35, & $80. Before I took my prescription to be filled, I did a quick search on the internet and found a $15 off coupon. It was an $80 co-pay with my insurance so the $15 off helped a little. Kevin took his prescription to be filled last week and the Dr had written a 90-day supply. The cost was $160.00!! That's right One hundred and sixty dollars. The funny thing is that it is for Restasis which is supposed to help with dry eyes. We both said it helped alright...it made us cry at the cost! Kevin questioned the pharmacist about the cost and she told him that without insurance it would be over $900.00. Who in the world can pay $900 for prescription drugs?? Armed with anger over having to pay such a high price, I did a search on the internet and found a $20 rebate for his prescription. Also, it was time to refill my expensive drug so I got another $15 coupon and Walgreens had a coupon in their ad recently for a $25 gift card with any transferred prescription. I used the coupon and the with the gift card, it brought my net out of pocket to $40.00. Hopefully I'll be able to use the gift card with some other coupons and sale items to maximze the value.

HOW BOUT THEM DORES!!!

I would be remiss if I didn't post about my favorite college sports team. The Vanderbilt Commodores (some say it is THE university of Tennessee) is 4-0 and has a nationally televised game tomorrow night on ESPN. Espn will actually be broadcasting Game Day from West End here in Nashville tomorrow.

GO DORES!! BEAT AUBURN!!

It was 30 yrs ago today

Well, it was actually 31, but who's counting? Last weekend I attended a Glencliff High School all 70's class reunion. The class of 78 had their 30 yr reunion party and all classes that graduated in the 70's were invited. Most of my favorite girls and a couple of favorite guys attended and it was really a lot of fun. Some of these people went to elementary school with me!

A special thanks to Lisa Furkins-Martin and Jane Payne Tilley for all of their hard work and a super big thank you to Lisa for taking over the event solely when Jane's son became very sick. (Praise God he is now home and recovering.) I have such great memories of high school. This event was such a success that the 79 class is thinking of having the same format. I hope Lisa will help them with the planning. She has such a gift.

Here are a couple of pictures.

My BFF's Barbara, Jackie & Kim with me and Bruce Bright.

Jennifer, Jackie, Kim, Linda, Jan, Barbara, Sherry & me.

Walgreens Day 2

Today's Walgreens bargains.

9 water toys for the pool...originally 2.00 ea. on clearance for .50 ea.

2 pkgs cracker snacks originally 2.00 on sale for 1.00 ea.

napkins 2.99

swiffers 2/3399
hersheys 60 calorie chocolate sticks originally 2.99 ea. on sale for .99 ea.

3 cute little candles for the screen porch on sale for .49 ea

ponds make up remover on sale for 2/9.00

2 oust brand air and surface sprays 2.99 ea

quattro womens shavers 4.99

2 tubes of colgate toothpaste 2.99 ea

1 bottle of glade fabric freshner 2.99

bounty big roll (12) paper towels 17.99

3 pkgs northern 9 pk bathroom tissue 4.00 ea.

Coupons used:

2.00 make up removers

2.99 oust spray

2.00 shavers

1.50 toothpaste

1.50 glade spray
10.00 off of 40

Total before coupons $104.21

Total after coupons $58.57

SAVINGS= $45.64

Some IBC friends are forever.

On our last Sunday at Inglewood we invited some folks over for swimming. However, these folks (and others) are more than church friends. They really like our slide too.


.

They are going to take away my HGTV.

I have never been one of those people who sets the dining room table as if people are getting ready to eat. Frankly, we never eat at the dining room table at this house. (Or any of our others for that matter.) Anyway.....I decided that It was time to fix my table up really pretty. I was impressed at the change that it made. I also hung some sconces with greenery (fake) on either side of the tv. It looks real nice also. LOOK Y'ALL, I AM A DECORATOR.

Frugal Friday

Ok, I was headed out to Walgreens to use my $10/$40 coupon and combine it with some other coupons that I had. When I got there , I realized that I FORGOT TO PRINT THE COUPON. Not real bright. So, I went into Walgreens anyway, (because that is just what women do) and boy was it worth it. These are the items that I got:

Scrubbing Bubbles tub and shower cleaner 3.79

plastic spoons .99

Dole fruit in a cup 3 @ 2.99 ea.

Sunsilk shampoo (with free mousse attached) 2 @ 4.29

Total after tax $24.49

Here is the best part:

coupon for scrubbing bubbles 2.75

walgreens coupon for fruit 3/5.00

manufacturer coupon for fruit 1/3.00

shampoo was bogo 4.29

The sweet young girl at the counter gave me 2 coupons for the shampoo 3.00

Total after tax was $8.55!

The net on the shampoo was $1.29 for two bottles of shampoo and two cans of mousse

Savings = $15.94!!

Searching

This was our first Sunday to start looking for a new church home. I went to Long Hollow Baptist Church which is about 5 minutes from our house. The worship was really good. It was what I have needed for a long time in a church worship service. I was supposed to meet and sit with either my Aunt Linda or the Hollans family. I never found either one. The Hollans sat right in front of me though and they walked with me to my car because I had a birthday gift for Naomi. Kevin was at the Titans game so he didn't go with me. Next Sunday we are going to his home church for homecoming. I really like Long Hollow and feel like this is where we will end up.

The Word is good.

Last night and this morning, I went to hear bible study leader and speaker Pricilla Shirer at Long Hollow Baptist Church. I had the pleasure of attending this with my friends Debbie, Donna, Cynthia and my aunt Linda. My sweet cousin Tiffany blessed a couple of these girls by providing the tickets. Pricilla had a good Word from the Lord and I was convicted by the Holy Spirit to spend more time in prayer and bible study. The awesome worship music was provided by Vicki Yohe and Alex Williams. Don't pass up an opportunity to hear her speak if you have the chance.

The past-Oh yes it will come back to haunt you..

A group of folks that I went to high school have planned a all 70's reunion. We have had several meetings and at the last meeting one of the guys that was there brought me this picture. It was taken in 1981. Every year there was a concert called "One for the Sun". This particular year the headliner was the Allman Brothers band. At the time, I was hanging around with Greg Allman's cousin, and she got us backstage. This is me meeting Greg Allman and the other girl is my BFF Barbara. I can promise you that I never imagined that pictures from this existed.

Preach it girl

This is from Shannon at http://rocksinmydryer.typepad.com/ I don't know how to link yet, so I copied and pasted this. I sure hope I am not breaking any federal blogging rules.


Why I Believe
There are times when I wish my faith in God was perfectly box-shaped, with the corners tucked in neatly, and the whole thing tied up with a big, red bow.
There are times I wish I had bite-sized answers for the hard questions. Answers that make easy sense within the framework of my humanity. Answers that don't stretch me too much.
But it doesn't work that way. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. And that can get messy. Young mothers get sick. Husbands leave. Terrorists fly planes into buildings. I follow a God who has promised me peace and comfort and joy, but on His terms, not mine.
And I know--I really do know--that this is a tough thing for some people to swallow. From the outside looking in, it looks like a blind faith, or a crutch. I've traveled that road of skepticism more times than I can count. I wrestled until my soul was bruised. There were times, when I was younger, that I didn't think I'd ever be able to believe again.
But I do believe now. I do, with all my heart. Even when it's messy. But how? How can I follow a God who doesn't always stop suffering?
I don't have a theologian's answer to that question, because I'm not a theologian. There was I time when I needed that kind of answer--the facts, the explanations, the persuasion. I've heard them all, and those answers are all an important part of my faith journey.
Now, all I really need to see is His track record in my life. I believe because I've seen what He's done, in my own life--my peace in the storms, my journeys out of the wildnerness. I don't doubt His goodness, simply because He's proven it to me so many times, through my own circumstances, through Scripture, and most of all, on the cross.
My daughter hates it when I make her hold my hand to cross a parking lot. She hates it when I have to tug a little to get the tangles out of her hair. She hates it when I say "no" to snacks right before dinner.
I do all this because I see the big picture. She doesn't.
Yet in all of this, she still loves me and prefers me. Why? Because she knows that the same momma who says "no" to snacks is the same momma who makes sure she's always well-fed. The same momma who grabs her hand in the parking lot is the same momma who kisses her scraped-up knee. I have a track record of proving my love for her. When I do something that makes her angry, she ultimately accepts it as coming from the hand of a mother who always acts with her best interests at heart.
Is that too simple an analogy? Maybe. But faith is simple. It's taking a leap and suspending disbelief just long enough to see if God is who He says He is. If He is, He can handle the tough questions. If He is, He'll meet us on our journey, taking a thousand steps toward us when we take just one toward Him.
From the bottom of my heart, I'll tell you--He's worth the risk.

Busy weekend

It was another busy weekend at the house of Hicks in Hendersonville. On Friday night, we celebrated the birthday (I'm not sure which one....maybe 49?) of our good friend Doug Owen. Carter made it halfway down the slide. He's about to run out of summer to go all the way down! Good food and good fellowship. But the evening was about to get more crazy than Doug as we hosted our final IBC Surrender Weekend. We had 10 boys and it was all out chaos. Dale, didn't you start this?? Late nights of swimming, early mornings of eating, losing things, and general overall displeasure to our dog Jack.
Yesterday after church, we went to my brother's house for a cookout and swim with one of my cousins. We got home late last night and it is back to work this morning. Oh, and Kevin's mom had minor surgery on Friday and we made a trip to Nashville to visit her in the hospital on Saturday as well. This weekend will be busy also because I am going to hear Pricilla Shirer speak at Long Hollow Baptist Church on Friday night and Saturday morning.

This is how the rich roll ya'll

The company that I work for Rogers Group, Inc has a luxury suite at LP field where the Titans play. Last night was the first preseason game and I was given two tickets to sit in the suite. It is a little nicer than the nose bleed section that we normally sit in. As my guest, I took Nick, the nephew.

Leaving IBC

This is our last month at IBC. We will be leaving at the end of August to find a church to serve and worship closer to home. We have driven to Inglewood from Hendersonville since 2002 but we feel the timing is right for us now to be closer to home. We have so many good friends and it is going to be hard to say goodbye, but we feel really strong that God is leading us elsewhere.

Swim in it if you got it.

Last weekend we had a plethora of friends at our house to swim. Debbie, Dakota & Duncan Gowins started the Saturday off by swimming in the morning. In the afternoon, Erin Wilson had her birthday party at our house. She had a big crowd and a really good Hannah Montana white cake with white icing.

On Sunday after church, the Owen family came over and we swam for most of the afternoon. It was a big pool day for the Owen children. Claire spent all afternoon jumping in the deep end and Carter advanced from dipping his toe to full fledged underwater jumping in. My buddy Cooper is like me...he prefers to take it nice and slow and just move around the edge of the pool.

I will NOT spare Kristi Wilson the embarassment of posting her picture wearing the blond Hannah Montana wig. We will sure miss all of these folks when we leave IBC but hope that we will continue to see them often.

I love these children.

The Braswells were in town for Sarah Shrum & Keith Beck's wedding week before last and on Sunday we invited them up for a swim. Kevin also invited his 5 & 6th grade Sunday School class . Poor Dale got the brunt of the boys in the pool. They jumped all over him and made him throw them in the pool. This is normally done by Kevin, but he was glad that Dale was here to do the honors. We also had the Hollans, Mr. Eddie & Mrs. Brenda and Tina's parents. It was a lot of fun and I got to love on Kaitlyn and Hannah a little bit more.

Cause I'm older and I have more insurance.

I fried up a mess (does anybody under 50 know what that means?) of green tomatoes last night and yes maam, they were good. I was in such a hurry to eat them that I didn't want to go upstairs and get the camera. Trust me though, they were pretty.

Bellantes in the house

The Bellantes made their way up yesterday from Franklin. I believe the pictures say it all. Sorry Nick....I didn't get you on the slide.

Jack has a BIG boo boo.

Our dog Jack caught his two front paws in between the planks on the deck yesterday in a rather freakish accident. One of his toenails was barely hanging on so we had to make a trip to the Rivergate Emergency Pet Clinic. He ended up losing three toenails. Kevin took him today to our vet and they rebandaged his feet and gave him antibodics and anti inflamatory pills. He is almost back to normal today, but yesterday he was so pitiful. Here he is today after getting new bandages. Orange of all colors!!

Bridal Shower recipes

Several of the guests asked for the recipes, so here they are. The link is for the cupcakes, and the chicken salad is below. The berry salad is in another day's post below.


http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/cda/recipe_print/0,1946,FOOD_9936_32146_PRINT-RECIPE-FULL-PAGE,00.html


Mama's Chicken Salad
4 whole chicken breasts cooked with salt, pepper and celery sticks
Juice of 2 lemons (I used bottled lemon juice- just a couple of tablespoons)
2 small jars of sweet pickle relish ( I only used about 1/4 cup)
2 small cans of crushed pineapple ( I used one can, and next time I will drain it good!)
2 stalks of fresh celery, chopped fine
1 1/2 cups of walnuts or pecans
1 cup of Hellman's mayonnaise (
1 tablespoon of powdered curry (stirred into mayonnaise)

Chop cooled chicken into small pieces and pour lemon juice over all. Add all ingredients, stir until mixed well, and refrigerate for at least 24 hours. Serve on lettuce leaf or with assorted crackers.

Rick & Bubba -Rick & Bubba

I went with my friend Duchess to Barnes & Noble in Brentwood to a book signing by none other than RICK AND BUBBA!! It was so much fun to be standing in line with other Rick & Bubba Fanatics. The guys were so gracious and friendly. We also got a big hug from Don Juan. He is a real cutie. I will post our pictures as soon as Duchess sends them to me.

Cool summer salad

I am making this salad on Saturday to serve at a bridal shower that I am giving for Sarah Shrum. She is my "graduated from high school with my son" friend who is getting married to another DA classmate. This recipe is from Publix.

5 oz spring mix salad blend
1 cup fresh blueberries-rinsed
1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
3 tablespoons crumbled blue cheese
1 cup fresh strawberries-rinsed
1/4 cup raspberry vinaigrette

Place salad blend, blueberries, nuts and blue cheese in salad bowl. Cut strawberries into bite-sized pieces and add to salad. Toss with dressing just prior to serving.

Beach Vacation '08

Fee for 5 nights of camping $145.00
Dinner for 2 adults, 4 nieces and 1 nephew per night- average of $130.00
My portable DVD player and noice cancelling headphones for the drive down and back-Priceless

Retail Therapy

I have finally been bitten by the bug of super duper saving money using coupons, store sales and the expertise of folks on the internet.

Thanks to http://www.moneysavingmom.com/ and fiddledeedeeblog.blogspot.com.

Walgreens had a coupon that was good yesterday for $10 off of a $30 purchase. This is what I got. We are going camping at the beach next week and I needed several things.

Northern toilet tissue 3 pkgs at $4.00 ea $12.00

Travel pillows 1.99 ea 3.98

2 pillow cases for these 1.99 1.99

2 Mini book lights-these are great for the camper 1.50 ea. 3.00

Colgate toothpaste 2.59

Excedrin 1.99

4 bags of Chex mix-on sale for .99 3.96

Pop up hamper on clearance for $2.00 2.00

Tru lemon 1.99

Edge shave gel 2.99

Schick Titanum shavers 2 @ 9.49 ea. 18.98

Dove chocolate on sale for 2/$6.00 6.00

Dixie plates & cups 7.58

Plastic spoons .99

Total after tax $76.51

Now here comes the sweet part. I had coupons for these:

$10.00 walgreens coupon

3.60 off of the plates & cups

1.00 tru lemon

4.71 off of dove chocolate

1.60 off of toothpaste

1.00 off of shave gel

19.00 off of shavers

4.00 off of chex mix

1.00 off excedrin

My total after tax was 29.11! The young man working the register was quite impressed.

Here is a picture of my loot.

A Princess

This is what a Princess looks like on her way to Prom.

I love free stuff!

http://f.e.bathandbodyworks.com/i/34/528207786/20080320_socoupon.html


This is a great coupon for Bath & Body Works.
You can buy something for $1.00 and get one free item up to $11. I used mine Sunday at the new store in Hendersonville.

Custom word cloud image

This is pretty cool. You can get your own at www.snapshirts.com

You're on the blog Nick.....

My nephew Nick has given me grief because his little sister's picture is on the blog but not his. Not any more. I do love my little buddy.

It's a rough life for a dog

Our dog Jack likes to lay in the sun and take naps. If he is disturbed, he looks up as if to say "Hey, I am napping, don't bother me!". He is very spoiled.

Oh, my aching back.

I was diagnosed with a herniated disc around Christmas of last year and have been treating with chiropractic adjustments since January. I have also had 20 spinal decompression sessions (at $50 a visit!) and thought I was making progress. The last few days I have been hurting quite a bit. It is so frustrating! It hurts to sit yet, I have to sit at work. Even though I try to get up every so often and walk around, it goes right back to hurting as soon as I sit back down. I am starting stretching exercises on Monday so maybe they will have some impact. I would appreciate your prayers that I will get some relief real soon.

Hannah banana

We had an Easter egg hunt today at church followed by a simple Gospel message and a time of fellowship. Congratulations to Anna Grace for finding 49 eggs!!

Sadness

My cousin Mike passed away last Thursday. His funeral was held on Sunday. Mike had accepted Jesus in the last month and I rejoice in that fact, but my heart hurts in ways that I hadn't expected.

I knew how many friends that Mike had and knew how much he was loved. What I under estimated was that even though I thought that I was very important in his life, I was but one of hundreds that thought the same thing. Mike was the most non-judgemental person that I ever knew. He found good in everyone and lived by the rule that if you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all. (The only person that I ever knew him to critize was someone who definately deserved it. I won't say who that is, but I bet most of my family will know who I am talking about.)


Go rest high on that mountain cousin Mikey.

Hicks in Hendersonville

Hey!!! I have a blog. I may not have time to post because I spend too much time reading other peoples blog, but we will see.

Later