Sunday, October 30, 2011

Bargainmania!!!!!!!

I'm a sucker for a bargain! 

I'm a clearance shopper/coupon user/sale consumer! 
I love thrift stores,

flea markets, 

and garage sales! 

And I love love love to come home and share my "bargain" with the fam! They don't seem to get as excited as I do! 
Last Saturday, #2 daughter and I were going to Saturday Surplus and the flea markets for therapy. As we were driving, I saw a garage sale of a friend who I had her daughter in 3rd grade. She has since had another daughter and so was selling her baby clothes! I did a "slamonthebrakes" and pulled in!

It was a beautiful day and so Haley and I sat on the concrete driveway and went through TUBS of baby GIRL clothes! Excellent condition...very gently worn!!  Oh joy to my heart! It was so fun and after much time had passed... the infamous line used in our family came rolling out of Haley's mouth....

"MOM you are out of control!"

So I took a deep breath and stopped! But I could of done more damage! 

Here are some pictures of my adorable goodies I got for my granddaughter-to-be

Now I want you to guess what I paid for all these! (That's the game I like to play at my house!) And I'll let you know at the end of the pictures! 















And the grand total......

$21.70

A sidenote....I'm fascinated by "Extreme Couponers"! I would love to have the time to learn to be one! What an awesome feeling to go to the grocery store and spend pennies for such an enormous amount of goods in so many carts. Does anyone do that or do you know the trick to it? It seems like for sure you have to go to a grocery store that doubles coupons.

Friday, October 28, 2011

Sugar and spice
and everything nice
that's what little girls are made of

Sunshine and rainbows
and ribbons for hair bows
that's what little girls are made of

Tea parties, laces
and baby doll faces
that's what little girls are made of.


Well, it's official!  2 sonograms later....
1st sono was a little iffy...she didn't want to provide the best angle for viewing so it was not a 100% confirmation....but after a 2nd viewing this week, we will be blessed with a little Granddaughter! YIPPEE! Grandpa was pretty excited! He's a pro at little girls! 
Grandma T was holding off....restraining myself to buy anything pink or blue until confirmed....
but now....
look out...
because I've got lots of pink, bows, tutus, ruffles to buy. 
Her momma has the nursery all planned and it will be adorable. 
Lace is doing very well and has really just starting showing. Her belly is getting so cute! Her 20 Kindergarteners love to give the baby hugs as well as Auntie D and Auntie H. 
February 13th is arrival day....but wouldn't a day late be so fun?  Pink and Red for sure that day!


 We are so excited for her to get here....
I get to put up my crib and changing table that Daddy and I bought for our first born and all 4 of my babies used.  I've been stocking up on diapers and wipies.
I have a framed poem in my house that says

"Our family is a circle of strength and love, with every birth and every union, the circle will grow, every joy shared adds more love, every crisis faced together, makes the circle stronger." 

 

That pretty much sums it up, huh? I'm betting that all of you out there that have already experienced the joy of Grandparenthood will say that it's pretty good, pretty fun, and pretty fulfilling.

 

I keep getting told that "there's nothing like it."  

 

I've already been praying for this little darling....for so many things....but most of all that she will love God and know Jesus. I'm excited for her to go to Sunday School, to learn "Jesus Loves Me" for the first time, to fold her little hands and pray, and to have a little Bible all her own.

I know her Momma and Daddy will bring her up "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."   Ephesians 6:4

 All Grandparenting advice is welcome! 

 

 


Monday, October 24, 2011

How about those Wildcats??

Note....I just found this post...I had it all typed up and forgot to hit PUBLISH! Yes...it's true....I'm forgetful...! 

Football is in full force around this house.....And since 2 of our daughters and 1 son in law went to K State....we love those Wildcats!  I think daughter #3 has sights on KSU as well. We went to the game October 2nd and had a great time. As of today...they are unbeaten! 









Wednesday, October 19, 2011

She Said YES!


Excitement...Happy...Joyous....Thankful....
OH how Momma and Daddy are so all of the above! 


Haley Elizabeth is engaged!! 

I'm getting a 2nd son in law! We are so happy for Cody and Haley!


Cody came and talked to Daddy late one night a few weeks ago unbeknownst to Haley and Momma! We were upstairs cuddling in Momma's bed talking and giggling. Daddy gave his blessing and the best was yet to come! We patiently waited to hear the news!
October 10th, Haley was working and desperately trying to get out of the restaurant by 9:00 to meet Cody and his family for a pizza night. Everyone kept her there to stall by visiting, discussing something, etcetc....finally she was told to come to the patio before she left and there was Cody with roses and ring in hand. Haley in work clothes! With anxious coworkers watching from the windows and cameras clicking....he knelt and asked my little girl to be his wife. We are so excited for them! They are a wonderful couple who love each other. But most of all they put God first and love the Lord. I'm so thankful God has answered our prayers to provide a Godly man for her. We have been praying for this since she was our tiny baby. God is good!  Daddy knew someday he would have to share her and give her away. But she will always always be "Daddy's girl".  Her first words to Cody were, "Is it okay with my Dad?"
Cody makes her complete, he brings out the best in her, and he is deeply respectful of her. What more could a Momma want....of course as a Mommy I would love to keep her little and here with me....but this is God's plan and his plan is PERFECT!! 
Congratulations Cody and Haley! We love you very much and we are so very happy for you!


A friend of Haley's that she works with captured this special event moment by moment... and I'm so grateful to get to see the joy in my daughter's face on such a memorable occasion. Cody, I'm so proud of you for pulling this off!








Yes....I cried!

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Refrain
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.
O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
O how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Refrain
What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

I have had to come to a realization this past week. I think it came on Thursday actually. I knew all this, I believed it, I've read it, and I've been told it.....but I have to "walk the walk".  Lately, my walk has been weary and heavy laden and I have not considered my personal walk with my God and Jesus Christ. I have been wayyyyy to wrapped up in "pleasing"   and "pacifying"  and it has affected my physical, mental, and spiritual life.  My family and I are getting back to the priorities.  Without boring you with my issues, my family is heavily burdened with pressures and accusations from my sibling as I care for my Mom with Alzheimers. As my parent's Power of Attorney, I put my Mom's needs first and foremost at all times. I will continue to and I will not be distracted anymore in the care of my mom. And I will be Leaning on the Everlasting Arms to do so. Sometimes we (well I !) get so consumed with pleasing others that I lose sight of my priorities. Serving God is number one! 


Matthew 22:37-40

King James Version (KJV)

 37Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
 38This is the first and great commandment.
 39And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
 40On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Lately (the past year!) I have felt I have lost sight of my focus. Circumstances beyond my control have really shook things up. Losing my Dad and my Dad in Law in one year, tending to my Mom and Mom in Law has really changed things for our family. I visualize it as sinking in water and trying to keep my head above the water surface to just survive. Thursday God spoke to me after a long hard couple of weeks of many tears and heartache, and I had a peace come over me. The Holy Spirit comforted me. Jesus left the Holy Spirit for us while he is gone. We are never alone.

John 14 >>
King James Version

1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 5Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
8Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 10Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. 12Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 13And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
15If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 19Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. 20At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 21He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
25These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. 29And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. 30Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. 31But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.

I feel lighter, I feel happier, I feel more joy. Rodney and I are on a quest to appreciate every day and get every thing in perspective again. My hubby is a "program" man....so we are getting focused with Spiritual as the main one. When that is first, everything else falls into place. Now I don't mean to sound like I've gone off the deep end or anything....I'm way to boring and conservative for that!!....I just have been feeling so pulled and torn and pushed in way too many directions. And sometimes saying NO to things is a good thing. And it is my responsibility to take the bull by the horns so to speak.
Have you been there? Have you felt torn and worn? Your words of encouragement inspire me.....I welcome them.


And a happier note...
Darbey Rhea was nominated as a Homecoming candidate. Festivities were Friday. She was not the Queen but she's our little Queenie every day! We were very proud of her. 

Cody and Darb are great friends!




 They are having way too much fun!

 Daddy coaching....not a good night for a win!

Dance team performed before the game. Darb choreographed this night's dance!