Part II- “It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.”

So in an attempt to get my mind off of things, I did two couponing trips this week and set up my stockpiling shelves (yes, I have a stockpiling shelf now!).

CVS is quickly becoming one of my favorite stores to do my couponing. Since I was sick and my husband was trying to take care of me (and probably wanted to keep an eye on my emotional stability too) he decided to join me. 

(CVS sales begin and end on Saturdays, so these deals are still available today if you are interested.)

Scott Paper Towels $5.49
     Use $1/1 Scott Paper Towel Rolls (SmartSource 11/13)
     Total: $4.49

Scott Toliet Paper $7.49
     Use $1/1 Scott Bath Tissues (SmartSource 11/13)
     Total: $6.49

Colgate Optic White Toothpaste $3.49
     Use $1/1 Colgate Optic White coupon (SmartSource 11/13)
     Total: $2.49 (and you will get $1.50 Extra Care Bucks)

Dawn Dish Soap $.99
      Use $.50/1 Dawn coupon (Proctor & Gamble 10/30)
      Total: $.49

Finish Gel Pac Dish Detergent $2.99
     Use $0.75/1 Finish Powerball or Gelpacs (SmartSource 10/23)
     Total: $2.24

Blistex $2.00
     Use $1/2 Blistex (11/13 don't remember which insert though)
     Total: $1.50 each (and you will get $1.00 Extra Care Buck, limit 1)

Kleenex Facial Tissue $.99
     Use $0.50/3 Kleenex Boxes coupon  (SmartSource 11/6)
     Total: $.82 each

Garnier Fructis Shampoo & Conditioner 3/$10
     Use 3/$1 off coupons (found online)
     Total: $2.33 each

Advil Congestion $4.99
     Use $1/1 coupon (found online)
     Total $3.99

After buying a few other things, my total was 80.31
   Then I scanned my Extra Care Card, my coupons, and my Extra Care Bucks from a previous shopping trip. 

Total: $19.25 (before sales tax for my Delaware readers)

Part I- "For some moments in life there are no words"

Since my blog is about life, and this week was a reality check in that department, I have decided to dedicate this entry to writing about just that.  However, in an attempt to prevent you all from slipping into a deep depression, I will write a "part II", and that one will be about couponing... something I did once or twice this week to get my mind off things.

We all knew it was inevitable. My mom fought unlike anyone for much longer than doctors believed she could.  In July of 2009, doctors told her she had a very aggressive form of Appendix cancer and there wasn't much they could do.  Despite being told she had about three months to get her affairs in order, my mom researched, found doctors, and endured countless surgeries.  She prayed, fought, and made promises to my sister and I that she would be at our weddings; promises that she kept.  As the priest at our church put it "Barb lived until the day she died".

While my family knew how sick mom was, I think everyone started to believe that she was untouchable.  No matter what happened, mom would pull through.  That being said, I still spent countless moments over the past few years a puddly little mess, crying about all the things my mom would miss in my life, and my sisters lives.  My mom would never get to meet my children, she wouldn't get to see my little sister go to high school, prom, college, and wouldn't get to see her get married and become a mother of her own.  I will spare you all the thoughts I have had about the things my mom and dad had planned that he is left to do alone.

My mom was my hero, and this week helped me realize I wasn't the only one who saw her as one.  The amount of people who have reached out to my family and I has been overwhelming, and for a moment yesterday I thought "if she could only see how many people she has affected".  Sitting in church I felt comfort in the belief that mom was watching.  She was seeing everything from her new home, and was helping me get through the day.  I found strength this week that I never knew I had, and I thank her for giving me that strength.