Motherload

I have been finding crazy good deals on kids' clothes the past few times I have been out shopping. Yesterday and today I hit the $1 jean motherload for Hannah! I try to stop at Goodwill at least once a week. It seems that I either find tons of deals or absolutely nothing. Here is what I got yesterday:

Look at all those pretty embellished jeans! I am pretty sure most of them are new but only the pair of capris on the very end have the tags still. I paid $1 for each of these!

Then today I wanted to make a quick trip to aldi, just for a few things. Ha!! Seems like when I say that I am guaranteed to spend more money than I planned on. I had to walk by the clearance Christmas gifts to get to the rest of the food so I ended up with a few gifts that I will give to the kids at their brithdays this year (if I can keep all these goodies hidden) if I can contain my excitement!

Playdoh for $1.99! I bought 2 of these.

Hannah's friend, Taylor, got a keyboard for Christmas and Hannah had so much fun playing on it so when I saw this on clearance for $9.99, I had to get it! I texted Brad a picture of it to make sure he didn't care if I bought it.

Hotwheels wall track for $4.99! I really wanted to get Ryan this for Christmas but they were $25. You actually stick the track to the wall. I think he will like it.

When Brad texted me back and said he didn't care if I bought the keyboard, he also asked me to get him some soap while I was out. That involved an impromptu trip to walmart. It is right down the street but I hadn't planned on going there.

Of course, I had to walk by their clearance racks to get to the soap, in a round about way. =) I found more $1 jeans and yoga pants for Hannah! The 2 smaller pairs are for Abigail, but I don't think they will fit until next year.

Nothing like finding a good deal!

Worship

Last night Brad and I and a couple from church went to Winter Jam 2013. It is a concert with 10 of the lasted christian artists. Charleston is the first stop of the tour and I think they said they make 44 stops in 3 months. It was my first concert since 1997 when the school music teacher took a bunch of us to a Michael W Smith concert so I wasn't sure what to expect.

Overall it was really good, When the music wasn't head banging stuff and you could understand what was being said. It was great to be with a community of people who have the same goal as you; to worship God. There were small devotions and bible verses read throughout. It was great to hear songs that I hear on the radio but maybe don't pay much attention to and really listen to the words and focus on praising God. While it will take my ear drums several years to recover, I do want to take the kids when they are older.


Here are the lyrics to one of my favorite songs of the night. "live like that" by Sidewalk Prophets. If you want to see the actual video, which has more affect than just reading the words, look it up on You Tube.

Sometimes I think
What will people say of me
When I'm only just a memory
When I'm home where my soul belongs

Was I love
When no one else would show up
Was I Jesus to the least of those
Was my worship more than just a song

I want to live like that
And give it all I have
So that everything I say and do
Points to You

If love is who I am
Then this is where I'll stand
Recklessly abandoned
Never holding back

I want to live like that
I want to live like that

Am I proof
That You are who you say You are
That grace can really change a heart
Do I live like Your love is true

People pass
And even if they don't know my name
Is there evidence that I've been changed
When they see me, do they see You

I want to live like that
And give it all I have
So that everything I say and do
Points to You

If love is who I am
Then this is where I'll stand
Recklessly abandoned
Never holding back

I want to live like that
I want to live like that


I want to show the world the love You gave for me
I'm longing for the world to know the glory of the King

I want to live like that
And give it all I have
So that everything I say and do
Points to You

If love is who I am
Then this is where I'll stand
Recklessly abandoned
Never holding back

I want to live like that
I want to live like that

dreams

I can't believe another year is upon us. Whenever I think about a new year, my mind instantly goes to the year Y2K. Brad and I were only dating then and I remember sitting in his car in a neighboring town, watching fireworks that night. All the while, wondering if anything was going to happen when the clock struck 12. We were so young, full of life and had so many dreams for ourselves. Brad didn't want to have kids until we had been married 10 years. I guess he was dreaming of traveling the world and enjoying our 20's, just the 2 of us....Boring! We both have always wanted to live out in the country, have a few acres and farm animals. I always imagine us when we are 60, sitting in our rocking chairs on the front porch, holding hands and watching our grandkids in the yard. But most of all we just dreamed to be together. And now here we are 13 years later.

Right now I'm really sad that our plans are not always God's plans. Tell me I'm not the only one who has ever thought my ideas might be better!! Of course, I am so happy with my family and the life I have been blessed with. I'm actually really thankful for the hardships I have endured. The big ones involved moving. I still will never understand but I'm so thankful to serve a big God who cares about each of his children and only wants the best for us. I know all those things.

Will I ever get to have a sheep and a duck on lots of acres where there are no noisy railroad tracks or tons of neighbors? I don't know. I hope God has that in my plans somewhere...sooner rather than later would be nice. =) Will Brad be able to retire when he's 60 and hang out on the front porch with me? Probably not the way the economy is looking right now but I hope God wants that for him!

So this year I want to focus more on being truly thankful. Thankful for my blessings, whether they are good or bad in my eyes.

He holds the future in His hands and for that I am thankful! I hope you are too. Our own dreams will let us down. GOd's dreams for us will never let us down. I'm feeling better already!