Best and Brightest

Our family doesn't typically purchase a Sunday paper except for two special editions: Black Friday edition and Best & Brightest.

Best & Brightest showcases senior high school students in the Central PA region who are making strides to better their community, their families, and themselves.  They are selected by a panel of local community figures.

I enjoy reading what these young people are up to.  I get excited listening to their aspirations and learning about the obstacles they have overcome to reach their goals.  One of the young people selected was one of my husband's students and he is quoted in the article about her.

The student that stood out to me, however, was a young man named Scott Fogle from Cumberland Valley High School.  What set him apart from all the other Best and Brightest students is his plans for after graduating high school.  They read as follows:

Defer his acceptance to the University of Pittsburgh's Honor's College at Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Science to save for college.  He will live with his aunt in Redwood City, Calif., and work full time.

Wow.  This is the first time I've ever seen "work" listed under the immediate plans for any student selected for this honor.  What an encouragement.  What an eye-opener.  How refreshing.

Interestingly enough, there was also an article in this Sunday's paper entitled "Degrees of Debt" which features area college graduates telling of their struggle with repaying student loans.  One woman shares that her student loan debt drains her of about half of her disposable work income.  Given the chance she shares that she would have made different financial decisions.  Another woman in the article likens her college debt to a noose around her neck that tightens every time she tries to better her life.  Pretty sad.

Proverbs 22:7 reads, "The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender."  Right before this is the all too familiar verse that speaks of training our children in the way they should go so that when they get old they will not turn from it.  I don't believe that this is a coincidence.

Kudos to Scott and his parents for starting his future out on the right foot.  Although their decision may not be a popular one, it clearly is the best and brightest.

Temptation

Today I went grocery shopping at my all-time favorite grocery store, Sharp Shopper.  As I turned onto the road adjacent to the store I noticed a banner out front signifying a special event.  Squinting my eyes to detect its message, I finally made out the words: "Customer Appreciation Event".

Woo-hoo!  This was my lucky day. Once a year for one week Sharp Shopper has store specials (as if their prices weren't already low enough) and daily drawings to win gift cards to their store as well as other retail stores.  I usually hear about when the event is coming around this year it fell off my radar.

As I parked the van, my eyes fell upon the sidewalk leading up to the store.  A myriad of people were setting up to sell food.  During customer appreciation days Sharp Shopper has a local church sell a meal of a hot dog, chips, and a soda for 50 cents.  That's right just 50 cents!  Usually I would be all over such a deal.  However, sitting right next to me in the passenger side of the vehicle was the sandwich and baby carrots I had brought with me.  Generally I am ready to eat lunch about an hour into my grocery shopping.  I bring food along so that I won't be tempted to buy food for lunch that would cost me way more.  "But this is only 50 cents" my flesh pleaded with me.  "It's a nice sunny day.  Wouldn't a grilled hot dog taste good on a day like today?"  Hmm, I could just bring the sandwich home and put it in Ross's lunch for tomorrow.  After all I had made it exactly the way that he likes it.  50 cents--what's the big deal?

I walked into the grocery store and spent about 45 minutes shopping.  I walked out of the grocery store, gave a quick glance to the concession area outside and walked on.  Sigh.  That was hard.  But I was proud of myself.  It wasn't about the 50 cents really.  It was about the discipline.  If I allow myself to be tempted by a meal that I don't really need, then I could eventually be tempted by more expensive things that I don't need.  Thus begins the very cycle that got me into debt 22 years ago.

My sandwich was delightful...as was the sweet taste of victory.

85 cent dress

Yesterday I was talking on the phone with a friend about clothes shopping.  She is a bargain hunter like me and was sharing about how she was able to buy a pair of pants on-line and get the top to match it for free.  The subject then turned to Mother's Day.

My friend has grown.  In her words, "Normally I would have to have a brand new outfit to wear to church for Mother's Day.  But this year, I'm going to pick out one of my old brand new outfits from my closet, doll it up, and make it look brand new."

I let her know how proud I was of her.  Then I told her what I was going to wear--the same 85 cent dress from Goodwill that I wore last year.  "85 cents?," she queried.  "Yep," I said, "and I'll let anyone who asks know."

We had a good laugh over that.  She said she's going to look for me to come in Sunday and then grin from ear to ear.

I used to have to have new this or that for me and my children.  But I realize now that clothes, furnishings, things are temporary.  Here today, gone tomorrow.  Matthew 6:19 puts it this way,

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

These days my perspective is to invest in those things that last--building up others and sharing the good news of Jesus.  My time and my resources go to these causes.  My 85 cents goes to the dress.

The Tradition

Peaking through the clear glass of our front door there is just enough of an angle for me to see our neighbor’s front door.  I watch the boys making a bee-line there, desserts in hand.  Running this requested errand is a delight to them.  They will gladly take homemade dessert over to our neighbor because it means they leave their house with a handful of candies.

I love watching the exchange.  They don’t even know that I’m watching.  But with my nose pressed up against the glass I can see them ringing the doorbell, standing there dutifully, respectfully.  The husband answers.  He is like a grandpa in their eyes and his wife like a grandma.  Always buying whatever fundraiser they are selling.  Always giving them treats.  The boys’ mouths move as they recite the names of the desserts to him just as we rehearsed.  He listens intently with a twinkle in his eyes and takes the desserts in both hands.  Then he leaves the entryway, the door still ajar.  This is the best part.

During the intermission, Blaise jumps up and down off the steps to pass the time.  Hunter sways back and forth patiently waiting, always moving.  Eventually, the doorframe fills again with his figure.  Pairs of cupped, outstretched hands raise up one at a time to receive the fruits of their labor.  I overhear the sweet chorus of “thank you” from each mouth.  The door closes and sprinting feet head back toward our home.  I quickly move away from the door and loosely engage myself in reading the mail.  They run in and show me their spoils.  I look them over briefly before they sock them away to be enjoyed for a later time.  As they run off to other preoccupations I smile as I realize that this is a childhood tradition they will reminisce over in days to come.

A Tale of Two Deals

Today on the way to visit my mom, I went on a couple of small shopping trips.  Little did I know what bargains awaited me...okay I had some idea with my first stop because it was my second time there today.  The first time I went to CVS looking for a few items which I ended up not finding at the prices that I wanted.  But what I did find was a really good deal on razor refills...

When you go to CVS they have a kiosk where you can scan your rewards card to see if any coupons are awaiting you.  One of the coupons that it spit out was for $4 off any $12 or more razor purchase.  Another coupon was 20% off any regular priced item.  I remembered that I also had a $6 off manufacturer coupon at home for these razor refills.  I already have a brand new box of razor refills in my bathroom vanity, but I also wasn't gonna pass up a deal like this.  So I returned to CVS later that day to purchase the $19.99 razor refills--less a $6 manufacturer coupon, less a $4 off razor items CVS coupon, less a 20% off coupon for a grand total of $6.51.  See why I had to get them?

My next stop was the Giant out by where my mom lives.  In a previous post I talked about yellow tag meat. Well there are many other yellow tag items that Giant carries.  Most Giants have a three-tiered metal shelf in the frozen food section stocked with yellow tag items.  In addition to miscellaneous packaged foods (usually with dented or crushed outer containers) I love to buy the discounted bread.  It is usually bread that has an approaching "best by" date.  I will take it to use right away or just freeze it.  This is what I picked up today.

Each box of cereal was 92 cents, the cake flour was 74 cents, bread and rolls were anywhere from 31 cents to 74 cents.  All total I paid $4.86 for all of this food which was so cool because I had a 5-dollar bill and a 20-dollar bill and didn't even have to break my twenty--sweet!

Would I normally buy cake flour?  No, I have a 25-pound bag of flour sitting in my basement right now.  Just the same, the cake flour will not go to waste.  I've already used it to make cupcakes for two occasions this week.

After shopping adventure, I arrived at my mom's to show her and my sister the bag of goods I racked up and share the prices that I got them at.  Right away my sister smiled, walked over to the table, and dangled a pack of hamburger buns in front of me with none other than...a yellow tag.

Happy Ending

A spontaneous note from our youngest topped off my 40th birthday this evening.  Priceless!

Delay Start

On my oven I have a 'Delay Start' button.




Say I'm out of the house for the day and want the oven heated up to cook dinner upon my return.  All I have to do is push the delay start button and the oven allows me to program the time that I want to begin  preheating up to the temperature at which I want to cook.  Voila!  I come home to an oven that is ready to cook food.

Lately it has been brought to my attention that I have a delay start mentality.  Twice in the last week I've caught myself knowing the good that I ought to do and delaying rather than doing it right away.  It has been driving me crazy!  It's like my brain is going, "Wait for it, wait for it..........now wait for it some more..."

My prayer is to break free of whatever fear I have and just do trusting God for the results.  May I already be fired up and ready to go whenever He's ready for me to get cooking!