Complainer v Comforter and an Update on the Couponing Sit.

A complainer vs a comforter?  Sister Puslispher is the best.  I'm now trying to extend that lesson and decide if I'm a complainer or comforter in my marriage.  For those interested, Nakeu, is a comforter.

***28 June 2004 NOTES: Zone Conference - Sister Pulsipher "Tips for Companionships"
          1. No matter where you are in life you are preparing for the future.  Make the best of a new situation.
          2. Don't let first impressions cloud your mind.
          3. Be a good example
          4. Don't lose sight of your goal.  Visualize it.
          5. Alma 29:9 - be an instrument in the hands of God
          6. Doctrine and Covenants 42:6 - like unto the angels of God
          7. Feel uncomfortable?
               a. Work through it
               b. Make a mental image and work towards that goal
          8. 1 Nephi 5
               a. complainer vs comforter
               b. talk about things with your companion, don't hold a grudge
          9. It is important to bring up matters of concern with your companion.
          10. It is important to listen to matters of concern from your companion.
          11. You are here for a reason.

19 June 2013 - An Update on Couponing

I did my couponing thing yesterday at Longs and Foodland.  We saved something like 49% at Longs.  It was awesome!  I ran into some difficulties while using smartshopper to do matchups.  It would list coupons from the Sunday paper that I couldn't find.  So I contacted Ashley at hawaiishopaholics.com to see what was up.  She said that the database at smartshopper is faulty and the smartshopper company has yet to fix it.  The wouldn't allow her to show the matchups the way she usually does on her website with peelies and other coupons so so no longer puts matchups together for them.  I have since decided to stop using smartshopper because it isn't worth it.  I spend double the time checking that site and then going to  http://hawaiishopaholics.com/coupon-database to make sure I get the right coupons.  I may start posting my matchups, just of the stuff I get to help anyone along who's working out couponing here in Hawaii.

New Missionary Orientation and Coupon Extravaganza

The awesome notes from orientation.  It was after the first day of orientation that I realized the mistake in writing in pencil.  It's a good thing I'm trying to decipher this now and not ten years from now ... it may be too faded by then.

I broke this down into two parts so it doesn't get too lengthy all at once

***06/17/04 Orientation Notes: Day One, Part One
          - Doctrine and Covenants 31:3

"Lift up your heart and rejoice, for the hour of your mission is come; and your tongue shall be loosed, and you shall declare glad tidings of great joy unto this generation."

          - 2 Nephi 4:16

 "Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard."

          1. Internet Analogy:
               a. The Holy Ghost is the internet of the mind
               b. It connects to the giant search engine: Heavenly Father.
          2. Another Analogy:
               a. The battery starts the engine (<-- power)
               b. Obedience starts the spiritual engine (<-- the Holy Ghost)
               c. the power of the gospel is in the spirit
          3. Learn the language of the spirit
              (we are the limitation of the spirit)
               a. Doctrine and Covenants 130:22 - the Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit
               b. John 19:26 - the Holy Ghost can teach all things, bring all things to remembrance
               c. Doctrine and Covenants 8:2-3 - tell your mind and heart
               d. Jacob 4:13 - speaketh the truth plainly - teaches things as they really are
               e. John 15:26 - testifies of Christ
               f. 2 Nephi 2:10 - law = blessings or punishments

18 April 2013

Yesterday I went to a couponing seminar at the Honolulu Advertiser Building in Kapolei.  I learned some great new things!

I've been couponing now for almost two years, picking up tips and tricks here and there.  The benefit of this seminar is that it was free, which means most of the information was very basic.  The catch (because there's no such thing as a free lunch) is they try to get you to buy subscriptions to the Sunday paper.  Our household already has two subscriptions to the Sunday paper (this is the only sure way to get all the coupons), but you can get up to five subscriptions if you go to the seminar.  For now, two subscriptions is enough for our family.

          Here's what I learned:

Principles of Couponing:

1. Use a coupon when something is on sale
2. Use multiples of the same coupon to stock up on a particular sale item

Important things to know:

1. You need to know the coupon policies of the stores at which you want to use coupons.  (see coupon page /\)
2. It is suggested that you get one subscription to the Sunday paper per member of your family
3. You don't need to use every coupon!
4. If a coupon expires, Let it go.  And preferably let it go to a warehouse where they will ship it overseas because military families can use expired coupons for up to six months past the expiry date

So I usually lug around a giant binder full of all the coupons I clip and print.  Then look up all the match-ups, search coupon databases and set up scenarios.  Doing all this work takes me 10s of hours each week.

Yesterday I learned how to use a filing system instead

<<First: Get inserts from Sunday paper and write the date

>>Second: Put into filing folder

<<Third: Clip as needed

*keep coupons for five months then trash or donate to military families





They also talked about a new website that should take out all the work from finding match-up and creating scenarios at: staradvertiser.com/smartshopper

So, exciting.  When I get to using the website next week, I'll post about it.

Next Post: Bean Bag Frogs, Cornelius and Thoughts on Elder Holland's Talk

Spiritual Direction

Thanks for sticking it out, we're almost out of the MTC

*** June, 12, 2004 JOURNAL: Such a Blessed Day
          I got three letters today.  I learned that mail takes forever to get to Hawaii, like a whole week.  I guess I really let myself get down about mail last week.  But at least I know they're getting my mail back at home.
          Aunty Stacy Halemano wrote!  I didn't really expect that, so it was definitely nice.
          Family wrote, of course.  But, I can't open it until tomorrow, 10:00 am Hawaii time.
          I'm going to miss my district.  So awesome.  A lot of good times.
          We said goodbye to Sister King and gave her some candy and a lei.  We gave Brother Robinson an engraved journal with our testimonies in it and a lei.

10 April 2013 - Learning to Listen to the Spirit About the Secular in Nature
On Monday mornings I like to hop over to the local Foodland and check out the manager's specials on meat.  I've found the Monday mornings to generally be successful for me.  However on this particular morning there was nothing.  As I was about to leave I felt to go searching in other sections of the store.  Normally, I have no trouble walking out of a store without buying anything.  Among other things I decided on some pre-made cookie dough that I had coupons for and were on sale.  Simply because I felt it was the right thing to do.  I have all the ingredients to make cookies at home, so I didn't need pre-made dough.  Yesterday morning Nake'u called saying we were asked to feed the missionaries that night.  Picking up the cookie dough was orchestrated inspiration, as it took me all day to clean up down stairs and taking care of babies.  Sometimes I forget that Heavenly Father can direct us in all things not just churchy things.