Sometimes an ending is a perfect way to have a beautiful beginning...

Friday, November 6, 2009

A 'Fall' Thought, A Bargain and a Blessing of a Blog

I know I told all of you that I love fall but did I also mention I love trees with changing leaves on them? Well, Peeps, (that's you all, I needed a name to call all of you and this seemed to fit) I do just love colorful trees. I was at Bug's school this morning (tell you why in a sec) and saw the most beautiful tree with every color on it... reds, yellows, oranges and greens. I stopped and picked some of those beauties right off the ground. I'm sure I looked like the crazy lady with the stroller to all of the high schoolers watching me but hey, I no longer care what high schoolers think of me (as of, gulp, 1991!) As we were driving I was thinking about my leaves and my love of them and this came to me (of course, we know the Lord gave it me). These leaves are so beautiful and yet they are technically dying. Their transformation is happening because they are dying. So beautiful even in death. To me, more beautiful in death. Just like Jesus dying on the cross for the sins of mankind, He was beautiful, His gift was beautiful in death. Of course He was beautiful in life (then and now) as are green leaves in spring and summer but His beauty really was apparent when He accomplished His purpose in His death. My leaves seem more beautiful to me in their death. Just yet one more reason for me to love fall!
Ok, back to why Buglette and I were at Bug's school, my kiddo was awarded Student of the Month!!!!! Yea Bug!!!! Way to Go!!!! We are so proud of you! I got to go and surprise her by showing up to chapel when she was awarded her certificate and her coupon for a free kid's meal at Black Angus Steakhouse (woo hoo! dinner solved!).
Oh, my Peeps, good gravy, I have so much to tell you today and if I don't I will surely burst! Sometimes God just gives us one blessing right after the other and yesterday and today have been my days I guess. I found (through a teacher at Bug's school) a great second-hand store for kid's clothes in my area! The minute she told me about it we were in the car!!!! It's called New 4 You and the owner buys kids clothes as well as other items for kids/babies from other moms or yourself, pays you for them and then turns around and sells them. I was so excited I could feel my feet barely touch the floor! I love love love my girls to look cute but I LOVE a bargain even better!!! I spent $30. on three (yep, three) Gymboree outfits for Buglette; full, complete outfits with socks too!) They don't even look worn! One is for a Christmas gift! I also have plenty of clothes every month or so that I have to pack up and take to a thrift store to give away cause darnit if kids don't grow soo fast so now I can make a little money back on what I've put into their clothes. I even have a high chair in the garage to sell to her! They also have clothes for Bug's size which is awesome because I can do a one-stop-shop!!! Woo hoo!!!
My last blessing (so far) is that I stumbled onto this website/blog that has just blessed me beyond measure!!! It's called Sugar Pie Farmhouse.com/blog and is just too sweet for words. Sugar Mama (no joke, that's what she calls herself, but she looks like one classy lady) has made homemaking into an art!! She makes me feel proud to do what I do (that's hard to do) and is so loving and sweet in the process. She is from the Ozarks in Branson, Missouri and I've been there a few times and loved it, so I can relate to what she's talkin' about. She advises everyone to "put on an apron, light a great smelling candle, put on some music and go to work making your house a home"! She does wear aprons! I think I may adopt this! (hey, some of them can be slimming) Her sight and blog are just the bees' knees! Check her out so we can all drool together, Peeps!
Oh, and PS, Christy, thanks for your sweet thoughts, you made my day brighter!

Monday, November 2, 2009

Past Due Pictures and Halloween Fun

Just as promised, here are the pictures of my mantle after I re-did it... I forgot to take a photo of the before. Does anyone else do that? Anyway, before the mirror was a deep red with gold on it, I had a flower arraingement on the mantle with some photos and two candlestick lamps on each side. Now, it's so much more dramatic and eye popping! I love it!
Also, I redecorated our downstairs bathroom to something more my taste. I've posted some of those pics also! Oh, also I just today did some new things to my laundry room. Laundry room you ask? Why do you care? Well.... I hate laundry so to make doing it a little more palateable I must have a cute laundry room! It works, try it! So there are some pictures of my laundry room too!
Halloween was great. We went to Bug's BFF's for a family party. All the kids trick-or-treated and then came back and we ate dinner (chili and all the fixin's) and then the kids played a lot of cute, fun games. We really had a great time. Bug was Princess Leia (Star Wars) and Buglette was a leaf fairy. They both looked so cute! Bug has been fascinated by all the Star Wars movies since her daddy and I grew up on them. She at first wanted to be the Statue of Liberty but we had a hard time finding what we needed for that costume and when we found the Leia one she changed her mind. Buglette just loves to hear us say how pretty she looks so we knew she'd pick something 'girlie'. We were in Target and sure enough she saw it and pointed to it right away. Leaf fairy it is!
Hope your Halloween was great too! Now it feels like we've begun the holiday season! Hey, don't shoot the messenger!