Coupon Fun

My wife and I have recently started using coupons with our grocery shopping. I'm definitely more into it than she is. It was originally her idea, but I think I'm the one that has taken off with it. We are using the Sunday paper in conjunction with online coupons. Since we have started, a typical grocery bill see at least 30% savings off of the total bill. That 30% is a combination of coupons and sale items. My favorite thing is when we get an item for free. Today I got a free pack of Orbit gum from Walgreen's after the coupons.

We haven't had as much luck with restaurants. I'm convinced some restaurants just plain don't do coupons. For the big chains, this is just sad. They get loads of business and should do some things to give back to their customers. Oh well.

For anyone looking for a good place to start finding online coupons, check on http://www.couponmom.com. They have plenty of links to printable coupons as well as other tips to help save money.

- Ben

A great break

Well, I haven't blogged much the last month or so.  Mostly because of Christmas.  Things get way to busy in December.  Being the first Christmas Michelle and I have spent together, we have discovered just how strenuous this time of year can get.  Well, the break is over.  Michelle and I drove to Texas and back to visit my sister.  This was the first time she spent a major holiday away from family.  She was very happy to have us there.

Michelle started a new job at the Children's Hospital last week and I started back to work this week.  On one hand, it's nice to be back to work, on the other, I wish we were still on break.  Oh well. As for now, when there's work to be done, there's work to be done.

 - Ben

Tis the Season

It's Christmastime, and one of my favorite times of year!  This is the first year I get to spend it married.  I'm very excited about all that is to come before it's all over.  One thing I have noticed is that with two families there is twice as much to do.  So far I think Michelle and I have been able to keep things fairly balanced.  We just got to visit my grandparents this past weekend.  Tonight, we are going to Epcot for the Candlelight processional.  This weekend, we have Michelle's nursing pinning ceremony, my school's staff party, my parent's Christmas party, playing at church on Sunday morning, and Christmas with the Boston/Barror Family.  It will be busy but we will definitely be able to do it all.

Throughout this time, I think is important for everyone to take time out and appreciate their families.  I know its easy to say things like this when Michelle and I are newlyweds that absolutely adore each other, and we get along with each others families.  I know there are families out there that struggle to live with each other and rarely take time out to truly appreciate each others individual personalities.  I hope and pray that this year will be a wonderful time of family and friends for everyone.

Merry Christmas!

 - Ben

Ohio fun

Today, we leave Ohio to go back home.  I have experienced the joys of having cousins for the first time in my life.  I have no first cousins in my family!  Michelle has 6 on her dad's side.  I got to meet all of them and I think I have them matched with the appropriate aunt.  Actually, I probably don't.  I got to see the cousins kids as well.  They are all 3 under 2.  The best part is, there are three more on the way.  Michelle and I are not expecting at this time.

While we were here, we got to see snow!  It was the first snow in Ohio this year.  Here is a picture for all to see.  The snow didn't stick for long, but for somebody from Florida, it is snow none the less.  It'll make for great stories when we get back to Florida.



 - Ben

Off to Ohio

From what I understand, both from hearing about and now experiencing it, holidays are tricky for newlyweds. There is always an issue of which parents to go and visit. Michelle and I are being rebellious this Thanksgiving and flying to Ohio! We are missing both sets of parents. :( Actually, there's more to it than that, and we aren't truly being rebellious. There is a whole load of Michelle's family that I have yet to meet and they all live in Ohio. Michelle's dad is out of the country and we are going to spend Sunday with my parents, so it all works out.

Anyways, Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

- Ben

Sick of Sick

Being sick is never fun.  Being sick is even less fun when you live with someone else.  It's even worse when you and the person you are married to are both sick.  This is the story of our marriage.  In two weeks, we'll be celebrating three months of marriage.  In three months, there has probably only been one week where neither one of us have been sick.  Michelle says maybe two weeks.  Either way, it's pretty sad.  We all know that married couples pass germs back and forth, but this is ridiculous.  It's usually me that catches the bug, and Michelle that gets it later, but I think it's safe to say it has gone the other way as well.

Currently Michelle has a strange form of pneumonia that takes over a month to cure.  Hopefully she'll be in the clear by the end of next week.  She's been on antibiotics for over a month.  Antibiotics are nice until they start to mess with your system.  Spicy foods are not Michelle's friend right now.

All in all, I'm glad Michelle is a nurse when I'm sick.  You can tell that it's her profession.  On the other hand, I can only dream of having a comparable bedside manner.  I can't even compare.  I like to think I try, but there is no way my bedside manner comes even close to Michelle's.  The sad thing is that Michelle will even take care of me when she is sick.  I have a tough time doing anything when I'm sick.

 - Ben

Building on Trust

My wife and I started a good habit of doing a devotion together every night before bed. The devotions we are doing this week center around the idea of trust in the marriage. It makes for an interesting bit of discussion especially since we are still newlyweds. It's been awkward with several of the topics geared more toward couple that have been married for longer periods of time. For us, I think this is the most awkward. On one hand, it feels to us like trust is not a big issue in our marriage. On the other hand, we haven't been married long enough to test our trust in each other.

It's interesting reading the illustrations about other couple that have been tested over and over. We read their stories, and then talk about situations our own parents went through while we were growing up. At this point it is easy to say it will never happen to us, but then again, we have never truly been tested in this area. I can honestly say I love my wife and completely trust her. I can also say that I trust in God to guide my wife and keep her safe. I know that my wife feels the same way about me.

I pray that we never experience a situation where we lose trust in each other. I also pray that if it ever happens, God will help our marriage to overcome the trials.

- Ben