I found great deals on meat and chicken – fully cooked Garlic Herb whole fryer chickens marked down to $1.99 from $6.99. I bought four of them, and shredded the meat into baggies.
My meat man then marked down 2 Filet Mignon steaks from $11.95 to $3.03 each – making my day by saying,
“for you….I’ll give you a great deal.”
Not to mention, my weekly coupon savings where my grand total went from $120 to $35.
All my coupons lined up perfectly.
It was one of my best weeks ever….and I was SO excited ( I won’t bore you with the picture, but I do have the proof :).
But I realized this week that my best frugal tip was found in the form of a doting daddy who filled the love tank of his daughter.
My 9 year old daughter responds to Words of Affirmation (as outlined in this amazing book,The Five Love Languages of Children),
especially from the #1 man in her life.
My hubby coached her basketball team, and instead of just handing her the team picture along with the rest of the other team members, he taped it to her headboard with the precious note above.
It signified to me the power of encouraging words.
Encouragement is a gift that requires no money, takes minimal time, and nothing fancy is required.
Yet the rewards it reaps in relationships, alongside the realization of everlasting value is priceless.
The whole tone of a loved one’s heart and attitude is transformed by simply uttering a few words.
My husband whispered to me as we watched her blossom,
“I think her love tank is full.”
Have you filled your child’s love tank lately, or that of a loved one?
It only takes a minute – literally, and the drink they will guzzle quenches many a drought.
P.S. As my teen age boys read this over my shoulder, they started mocking me by hugging each other, and then hurling insults with screaming in the back ground.
Yep, always a little bedlam mixed with the beauty. 🙂
*************************************
“One word or a pleasing smile is often enough to raise up a saddened and wounded soul.”
St Teresa of Lisieux
~~~
“Correction does much, but encouragement does more.”
Johann Wolfgang Goethe
Ah! so true!
Beautiful post!
And I think that there is so much fun in how the boys joke and make fun of us! I love it.
And then they give us a hug, for real… 🙂
Love it! Sounds like you’ve got a catch of a husband…and meat man too! LOL! Your boys sound too funny!
nothing like a doting dad….gotts to love ’em
missn ya
I love that-I still rock my two older boys at least once a week before bed and we talk and cuddle-thats our connecting time. I love putting notes in their lunch to tell them something special…
I love that-I still rock my two older boys at least once a week before bed and we talk and cuddle-thats our connecting time. I love putting notes in their lunch to tell them something special…
This is so true…I have a nine yr old daughter, too, and she also responds to words of affirmation, and simply lights up when she gets it!
A few yrs ago, my husband and I found out that we have exactly the “opposite” languages of love, which accounted for some past misunderstandings! It really helped us to see each other and our communication in a new light!
(Love the picture of you and your kids in the kitchen below…something I’ve just been thinking of doing more of with my girls!)
Blessings,
~Tammy
How sweet! Loved this post. Your boys sound so funny. 🙂
This is a great post – I think I need to start paying attention to what my little guys love language might be. Knowing is so important.
The tag line about your older sons was hilarious. Boys.
The note from your husband was so sweet!
I’m still working on trying to save money with the coupons. How many coupons do you get from the web? Most of mine just come from the Sunday paper. Still trying to use the coupons while the item is on sale. I’m also working on finding a “target” price for items.
Such a wonderful reminder!
Sandy toe
What cute note! 😀
Beautiful post, Jen. You seem to have a sweet husband.
Wow… you got some really great deals!
Very true! What a great way to fill your family!!!!
ok…can i come live with you. i need your daily reminders. and i still have not read that book.
Your kids mock you? Mine, too!
I don’t know of one store in my area that doubles coupons. I’m so impressed with your coupon-ing ability.
Melanie@Bella~Mella
Beautiful!! So one target. And the lady in my Pray It Friday today – she wanted her children to be able to make HER recipes…. she’s glad she did. Another great reason you’re teaching it.
Jen, what a lovely post! Thanks for sharing!
What a fabulous Dad!!!
blessings,
kari & kijsa
1. Your husband is such a gem. He is lucky to have a Proverbs 31 wife in you too.
2. Your daughter’s future husband will be a gem because she will look for her father and what a great example.
3. Your boys are hilarious.
Thanks for keeping it real.
Cynthia
It’s amazing how kind words ‘stick.’ Some time in the future, your daughter may come back and tell you about something said or done she never forgot, and it will surprise you–because you might have forgotten it. One thing for me was the simple phrase from my older sister: ‘you look good in glasses.’ I was a teenager and I didn’t like them, but hearing such nice words really boosted my ego!
Boys, though, LOL! I heard that they tend to act silly and even use ‘interesting language’ as signs of love. I left a note in my son’s lunchbox once when he was about 10. He said to me, “mom, that was really nice, but don’t do it again…all the guys were making fun of me.” My daughter, however, loved it, LOL!
i loved reading this post!
Wow! This is just really meaningful. My dad wrote me many a note too growing up and they are so cherished. Kelly
I loved seeing that note!
I think that “encouraging” is the word I would use to describe my most favorite people. There is not a coincidence for that one! We are called to do it. May I do it even more!
What a lovely post. I try to fill my kids love tanks every day – even the ones that are no longer at home.
Thank you for visiting me. I will be back here as well. Have a wonderful weekend.
Beautiful post, my friend. The 5 Love Languages book changed my relationship with my husband. We read it as part of our pre-marriage counseling and it gave us such new and wonderful insight into each other and how to love each other best.
I haven’t given much purposeful thought to using it on my kids, though. Thanks for the reminder.
K
This is a wonderful post, Jen…I love your savings report, and laughed when you said that you “have the proof!” LOL And the note from your husband to your daughter is the sweetest thing. My father was such a stand-offish, unaffectionate person, and I think your children are just SO blessed to have both you and your husband as parents. 🙂
loved reading your post! isn’t it amazing how different boys are from girls? i’m so inspired by your savings. i’m trying to get started with coupons, if you have any advice i would love an email – thanks! have a blessed weekend.
I’m laughing at your teen boys reaction. I do like the love languages book.
This photo of the note for your daughter just brought tears to my eyes. Abby is such a lucky girl. And now I want to go out and see the Love Languages for Children book. I have read the adult version and didn’t know there was one for kids!
Hope things are good with you! Have a great weekend! 🙂
Carrie
Great tip! I really need to figure the love languages of my kids. Oh, and thank you for answering my question about the Keeper’s Club!
This is so true Jen. My son delights in just sitting and talking, I do alot of the listening and when he is done he is all hugs and smiles. He also loves to play games and we do that often. My daughter really likes gifts. I would not classify her as materialistic-she is a total thrift shopper like me! But for her birthday she asked for rain boots. I found some black with little polka dots and she wears them to school, even when it isn’t raining! :o)
Both of my children have a special pocket in their back packs that only I can put things into! :o) Sweet notes, a piece of candy, etc!
My strongest love language is gift giving (even a flower picked in the yard, missing petals, from my children delights me!!). My second strongest is acts of service and my sweet husband helped me paint the laundry room this morning! :o) His is physical touch. :o)
Sincerely ~ Tricia Anne
Just stopping by to say hello after reading your comments at A LA Mode. Isn’t the story about her camera wonderful. God is so great to meat us where we are in life and touch where only He knows we need touching. I love your grocery story. I need more bargains like that. I’m clipping coupons but some weeks it feels like more work than it’s worth. Your story was inspiring. Send some grocery love my way.
Julie
at
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/juliestew
You may just be one of the most beautiful people I’ve ever laid eyes on. I love your blog and how you convey Spirit.
They have a good Mama.
Love,
Amber
http://therunamuck.com/
I love the phrase ‘love tank’…that is just adorable!
I loved reading this post and am leaving your blog today with a big smile on my face ready to face tomorrow with a big smile as well!
Yep, that’s definitely the ind of example a father should be setting for his children.
Yep, my mom found chicken for a great deal too.
My church’s book club is starting that read next week…now I really REALLY cannot wait!
🙂
Thank you for such a great reminder. Fabulous!!