April & May... what's been happening

What a fun and eventful past few months we have had! As we prepare for our mission trip this summer, we reflect on (wow!) everything the Lord has blessed us with.

Playin' in the backyard

 

Easter Sunday

 

Easter lunch

Alice loves flowers

 

At the park with friend, Josiah

 

And the greatest news....

Lilla Noland is here!!!

 

Alice liked meeting her new friend

 

Lilla's wonderful parents!... and their nurse

 

Book time!

 

My campaigner Bible study group... love these girls!

 

 Red Birds game

We love baseball games

 

Mama and Mama-to-be night out!

 

 

Fun night out at Juke Joint

 

Juke Joint Festival train ride!

 

Oh, hello

 

Alice loves her cousin Greenie

 

And her friend Noah

 

Family photo

 

On the train with Chad

 

 

Uncle Charles and Dad at cousin Laura's wedding 

 

Group selfie... Rainer, Charlotte, Charles, Lauren, Dad 

 

The beautiful bride and lucky groom

  

Charles and Laura have a dance 

The aquarium!

 

What is that Dada?!

 

Watching the sting rays

 

 

Playing in the puddles

 

Ready for the wedding!

 

Family! Laura, Brooks, mom, dad

 and lots of aunts, uncles, and cousins!

 

On the art museum roof top 

 

Lunch with mom and dad in Chattanooga

 

My cousin Charlotte...

technically my half sister!

 

This is where my parents met many years ago

 

Alice and Alice

 

 

Just catching up 

 

Mimi and Poppi!

The last YoungLife Club... FOOD CLUB!

 

WyldLife Club

 

Rainer's group at Griot after school program

 

Alice and me with the girls at scavenger hunt Club

 

 

Fish fry at the Noland's lake house

A quick trip to the White River in Arkansas

 

Rainer took the youth for a work project

 

Harper's baptism

 

Mamas and daughters

 

Family selfie

 

Look what I can do!

 

 

JJ and Papa and the girls

 

On the swing with neighbor Janet

 

Mark and Rainer fishing

Balloon game at Club

 

Cooking hams to help get kids to YL camp!

 

Posing

At the soda shoppe

 

Cousin Harper!

 

Alice loves her Harper

Happy birthday grandmother Shirley!

 

Pete's famous blender game!

 

Spring is here!

 

Talking loaves and fishes

 

Rainer speaking to the entire Lee Academy

student body about Royal Servants

 

We are cheering him on!

 

 

....AND stuff on Alice's head

 

 

 

 

 

Gear-up Wish List

 

Our mission trip this year is to Costa Rica! First, we head to Wisconsin for training camp (tent camping for 5 weeks), and then to Costa Rica (for 4.5 weeks). Our team will be sharing Jesus and growing in their faith through soccer matches, relationships, and street performances. We are very excited to see how God will move in Costa Rica!

 

Help us gear-up for the summer. If you would like to bless us with any of these, email Rainer or just send them our way. Thank you!!! rpowell@reignministries.org

 

Until May 21st:

Rainer and Lindsey Powell

324 Bobo Street

PO Box 251

Lyon, MS 38645

We can get mail at training camp, starting June 1st:

Royal Servants

Rainer and Lindsey Powell

W4797 State Rd 33
Pardeeville, WI 53954

 

Thank you for being a part of our ministry! Click the link in red

• Amazon gift card Soccer gear for Rainer – Cleats, shinguards, etc.
• Camping highchair “Ciao! Baby Go Anywhere High Chair” blue or red
• Walmart gift cards For everything we buy in Wisconsin and for Costa
• Pack-n-Play (any brand, or used) To leave at training camp- Alice’s bed in our tent
• Gas gift cards (Shell) Trip to Wisconsin & home from Chicago after Costa
• Rain boots for Alice Size 5-6
• Hiking baby backpack For Costa
• Travel noise machine For Alice's naps

 

 

Groceries on a budget: Lindsey's 5 tips

 

I believe that being a good steward of the money the Lord has given to us extends beyond tithing, giving and saving, but also in spending. That is why with almost everything I purchase, I try to find the best price, the best value and hopefully a good quality. I love to see a dollar stretch as far as possible. As for grocery shopping, I really enjoy it. I like to cook and eat good food, so going to the grocery store is a part of that. Groceries can really add up, so here are a few ways I try to save.

1. Plan ahead
Plan meals for 1-3 weeks. Make a list of everything you need for those meals and staples. Stick to the list. Never go grocery shopping without a list. Also, organize the list by areas of the store. It makes it faster and cheaper because you will be less tempted to just grab things up. Have a budget for the month for groceries.

2. Where to shop
There are lots of options. Even in my small town there are 4+ places to buy groceries. Find the store that overall has the best prices and products (including store brands, coupons, sales, etc.).

3. What to buy
I buy the store brand whenever possible (most things that are made with a store brand are basically the same thing). I buy the discounted meat and freeze it.

4. Coupons, but be careful
I do use coupons, but only for things I normally buy anyways. Also, I check prices on name-brand coupons vs. the store brand, because sometimes using the coupon ends up costing more.

5. Walmart savings catcher
Since I shop at Walmart for most things, I started using their app for Walmart Savings Catcher. I've gotten back over $40 in just 4 months... for doing nothing but scanning my receipt... that's $10 a month.... every dollar counts! That could be a free grocery trip every year.

If anyone else have tips, leave them in the comments, I'm always interested in learning ways to spend wisely!