Favorite Christmas Movies ~ Journey Back to Christmas

Have you seen this movie?  I just love it.  I love time travel movies and this is such a good one.

A WWII era nurse is transported in time to 2016 and meets a man who helps her discover the bonds of family and that the true meaning of Christmas is timeless.  You can read about it here.

A comet is involved.

Candace Cameron Bure and Tom Skerritt are in the movie and Hallmark made it.  Need I say more?  It's good.  Here's the preview...Journey Back to Christmas.

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

British Mysteries ~ Cadfael

If you know me at all...I love all things British.  Could be because I started out as an "Albritton".  Could be that my Albritton roots landed in Jamestown early on and I'm always searching for my roots.  It's probably that it's just good content and I love watching all things British.

Photo by Chris Lawton on Unsplash

I've been re-watching one of my favorites - "Cadfael".  The medieval era cases of a Crusader turned Monk who investigates mysteries in the Norman English town of Shrewsbury.  You can see the trailer using the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_Bk_iZiQIc

You can read more about "Cadfael" here - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108717/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Fr. Cadfael is played by one of my favorite British actors - Derek Jacobi.  He's outstanding in so many roles.  Just one of the best.  I'm on a quest to see everything he's acted in.  So far I love him in Marple, Last Tango in Halifax and Vicious. He's even been in "Doctor Who".  You can read more about him below.

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001394/?ref_=tt_cl_t1

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

Grocery Planning and Savings "Go-Tos" ~ Southern Savers

I have "Go-Tos", you have "Go-Tos", we all have "Go-Tos".

According to Merriam-Webster, "Go-Tos" is defined as... "regularly or repeatedly chosen or employed for reliably good results"  (https://www.merriam-webster.com/).

One of my favorite and most reliable "Go-To" for Grocery Planning is www.southernsavers.com.  Why?  I'm glad you asked.

• You can find deals by categories - Grocery Stores, National Stores and Drug Stores.
  
  
• Each sale's item is shown with the Coupon available (digital, printed and newspaper).
  
  
• Online / App deals are also shown - (Ibotta deals, etc.).  I can make sure I have the item in my Ibotta "list" before I make my purchase.
  
  
• I can "Create or Update a Printable Shopping List".  I use this feature all of the time!  You can choose to print with or without the coupons showing.  I always print with the coupons and then I make sure I have the coupons and Ibotta deals ready to go.
  
  
• Other helpful areas on the website are:  "Frugal Living, Online Deals and New Coupons".
  

I hope this helps you as you plan.  I've always been frugal.  I've used coupon and rebates for over 30 years.  I'll write about my many years of couponing in the future.  It's been a fun journey with many interesting experiences.

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like...Fall?

I've been back in my Deep South for 16 years now.  Seems like just yesterday.

Photo by Tyler Edic on Unsplash

We hit the Savannah, GA area in October 2004 and said who needs a coat?  Not us!  That's why I named this post - "It's Beginning to Look..." since our "Winter" is more like other's "Fall".

I was really pleased to see this display of pumpkins recently.  It definitely made me feel "Fall-ish".

With our weather this week still in "A/C running" temps - I'm thankful I can diffuse this "Fall" blend - real Clove, Cinnamon Bark and Orange.

"Mulled Cider" - 2 drops each of Clove & Cinnamon Bark/4 drops of Orange

Now it's beginning to "Smell a lot like...Fall"! 

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

A Staple in my Life ~ Canned Chicken

I've been cooking and providing food for my family for decades - yes, I'm that old.  I'm very frugal - very.  One of the staples in my food arsenal has always been - canned chicken.

For me - it's got to be white, low-fat, rib meat.  I'm also picky about fat - ugh.  So - here's how I meet my own criteria (for once I'm the picky eater).

After opening the can, I pour the contents into a colander.  Sometimes I save the chicken broth and sometimes I don't.  I rinse the meat off with water and pick out the little bit of fat that made it into the can.  By the time I'm finished - I've got white meat chicken - only.

Now I can decide what I want to do with the chicken.  A few of my "go to's" are Chicken and Yellow Rice, Chicken Pot Pie, Chicken Stew (my favorite is Brunswick Stew) and the always appreciated Chicken Salad.  This week I made Chicken Salad.

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

The Songs in My Life ~ He Will Hold Me Fast

I always have a song going in my head and heart.  For me it's praying and a constant communication with my Heavenly Father.  Last week I realized - I don't have a song.

So I prayed.  Father, I need a song right now.  I found Selah's version of an old hymn..."He Will Hold Me Fast".

Photo by Ivanna Blinova on Unsplash

It's perfect for my "right now".  The present is fraught with uncertainty and the future is also.  But..."Raised with Him to endless life - He will hold me fast.  Till our faith is turned to sight..."

Photo by Josh Boot on Unsplash

Yes, this is exactly how I'm feeling right now.  I'm not sure about the future, I'm not even sure about today.  Now I have a song for what I know in my heart - He will hold me fast.

He will hold me fast - He will hold me fast - For my Savior loves me so -

He will hold me fast.

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

For more information on this song, visit - https://hymnary.org/text/when_i_fear_my_faith_will_fail

Chemo and Coranavirus ~ really?

I'm probably living my worst nightmare.  Bill's going thru chemo for the 2nd time.  Not sure how it will go but we sure didn't need a novel virus at the same time.

There have been multiple times where I packed up his "bag" with his id, his insurance cards, wipes, something to open doors with and I dropped him off and waited in the parking lot because I wasn't allowed to go into the hospital with him for his labs prior to chemo.

He did really good on his own.  His texts were interesting and we finally decided on a check mark to say - "I'm finished - you can pull up to get me now."

I couldn't hover at the Oncologist's either.  So I carried my bottle of Thieves, Household Cleaner - sprayed the door handles down and helped him get into the lobby.  Then the waiting started.  Waiting for the call of "I'm ready - last bag just got started - come get me in 30 mins, etc."

We've done well.  He's held his own.  I'm really proud of him!

I honestly can't imagine doing life without my Bill.

Thanks for visiting ! Reia

The Songs in My Life ~ Wonderful, Merciful Savior

I know I just wrote about this song.  I haven't been able to get away from it.
I guess when you have a song to sing...you have to sing it.

Photo by Paul Zoetemeijer on Unsplash

So I did.

I found some beautiful pictures on www.unsplash.com to go with my recording.
(I placed the credits in the YouTube comments.)

From my heart to yours  - hope you enjoy my cover of Selah's "Wonderful, Merciful Savior".

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

The Songs in My Life ~ Oh Draw Me Lord

There are times when you're singing songs you've known for awhile.  Then they're songs you just discovered.  That's me tonight.  I want to put together a new cd for when I'm driving to and from my students' homes.

I particularly wanted Selah's "Wonderful, Merciful Savior".  It's been on my heart a lot lately.

Being frugal and wanting the most for my money - I started listening to Selah's album "Press On" and discovered "Oh Draw Me Lord".  Wow - talk about a prayer from my heart.

One definition for Draw - pull or drag so as to make it follow behind.  Yep, that fits.

Oh, draw me, Lord

Oh, draw me, Lord

Oh, draw me, Lord

And I'll run after You

Dear Lord - please pull or drag me so that I'm made to follow behind you -
always -
every day of my life.

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

What If You Could Have It All ~ My Friend I Do...

I can't tell you how often I've heard that phrase over my 60 plus years of life.  To which I pondered - what is "having it ALL"?

I've seen people chase the material things only to find they don't fulfill - they don't satisfy - they're empty.

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

My mother often pressed upon me this phrase - "the true meaning of life".  It stuck.

Each of us may have a different definition of "the true meaning of life".  Mine's all about "that which money can't buy".  The love of God, the love of family, the love of friends, the love of a church family - the rest doesn't actually matter.

I always fall back on Micah 6:8 - "He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

Kathleen Carnali - Micah 6:8

So when I look at people - I don't notice the clothes - I notice the face and the eyes. Are they smiling eyes or hurting eyes?

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

May we all act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God.

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia