coupon day 2

This afternoon the 3 older ones had fun cutting out all the "extra" coupons that I didn't cut out of the coupon adds. This provided them with an hour of fun and pleasant occupation - not much arguing or fussing. I got a huge load of dishes washed that had stacked up while this was happening. So the coupons have provided savings in $ for me and savings from frustrations at, what it quite often called the "4 o'clock hour" when kids and all too often mothers as well get quite disgruntled with each other waiting for supper to be done and waiting for Daddy to arrive home.
The whole household (accept Tom who was gone out of town) slept this afternoon. How long? Not quite sure. For at least an hour for me and probably longer for the kids - maybe 1.5 to 2? Needless to say they were packed full of energy tonight for the babysitter, Josie. Josie said that they had lots of fun playing "jail", hide & seek, and each even made a little puzzle by gluing a paper they'd colored onto a cracker box, which Josie cut into puzzle pieces for them. They played so much that she didn't realize it was 8:30 before they got to bed. Not really too late considering how long they all slept this afternoon.
Tom & I went to new growth group that started tonight. We're meeting at Todd & Ruth's place in Lester Prairie and the we're watching the Love and Respect DVD with speaker Emerson. It's my 3rd time seeing it and Tom's 5th or 6th time to view it. Really good stuff! There were 2 couples there that previously were not a part of any growth group - so that was really good. And everyone there said that they'd definitely come again next week.
An insight from tonight DVD session . . . . Emerson said that many husbands know their wives love them, but wonder if their wives "like" them. I need to make sure that my kids not only know I love them, but also "like" them by doing things with them, encouraging them, praising them, building them up, etc. I do so like to see them smiling and sharing their stories with me.
Another good thing happened last night with a phone call from a family down in Lester Prairie. As they were talking to Tom, they said "It would be so much easier if there was a church down here in Lester Prairie that we could go to." Ah! This might be an answer to prayer. Tom's been wanting to plant a church there, but hasn't gotten too much interest from people till now. Next week he's even going to a conference on multi-site churches to see if this is something that might work for our church - to start a second service down in Lester Prairie.
Another insight . . . . a couple of days ago I read Psalm 1 - that talks about meditating on God's law day and night. I wonder if this is one of the reasons God wanted us to have children. Who else asks such interesting questions about the Bible, about God, about spiritual things!? Ella with her random questions helps to bring me back to God and His Word throughout the week.