Whats Going On?

Do you ever feel like you are missing something and cannot figure out what it is?

I have been missing something and it is this ~ my blog and all of you!

So since the last time we spoke things have been pretty good

*Through faith we got through the unemployment hurdle and my hubby is now working for the unemployment office... go figure!

*I believe that we are #5 on the adoption list as of right now

*Still making changes to the house and loving every second of it including decluttering (pics will follow of this process)

*I have not found a full time job yet

* Mom launched her baking business

Italian Pepper Cookies

*Planning my parents 40th wedding anniversary party for April

I will be back ...promise!

SHOPPING CONSIGNMENT

Last week I began my three part series on Consignment Shops

You can find part one, CONSIGNING here

Part TWO is

SHOPPING CONSIGNMENT is much shorter... but has some valuable tips for success!

Shopping at Consignment shops is so much fun!!

Hit or miss... yes, but absolutely FUN!!

Here are some tips from me on making the most of your shopping experience!

1. Make friends with the shopkeeper ~ This is your absolute best shopping defense!  When you know and befriend your shopkeeper... they will call you when stuff you are looking for comes in and they will save things until you get there!
2. Add your wishes to the wish list and if the shop does not have one, encourage them to get one!
3. Use your imagination ... aim to see ordinary things in extraordinary ways and think beyond the seasons. 
4.  BUY IT TODAY... because it WILL be gone tomorrow!! Believe me!!! Trust your intuition!
5. Shop often... at the very least once a month... but do aim for much more frequently.
6. Find out if the shop offers layaway... some do for a limited 30 days
7. Ask about special discount days... some shops have a certain percentage off weekly. 
8. Subscribe to the shop newsletter and blog!
9. HAVE FUN!!!

Next week I will be back with info on making consignment a job!

I am doing it...

image from holiday hair

tomorrow!

My hairdresser (mom) is coming over tomorrow... 

I am making lunch for her and my dad and  in exchange she is CUTTING my hair!!!

WoHOoOoO!!!

I like the style above... 

I TRIED yet again to grow my hair long and I cannot take it anymore!!!

I may or may not take an after picture!!

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oh and I did it... I finished ALL of Nicholas Sparks books this week!!

All 16 of them which includes the book he co authored that was VERY hard to find!!!!

I am so proud!!

Another new year goal completed!!!

Linking up to

Hmmnn...!

I am anxious... 

not in a bad way ~  I feel like there is more out there 

and 

I am on the cusp of discovering it.

There have been a few times in my life that have caused me to 'come alive again' this is one of those times!

I can feel it!

roses from the hubby

It is not here yet but the wheels are in motion!

It all started with a blog post I did a week or so ago where I bared my face... here!

Yah I look MUCH better with makeup...

but this post had NOTHING to do with makeup at all.

This post had everything to do with ME... the real me!

Revealing ME!

That post was the hardest thing I had to do in a long time. 

I toyed with not doing it for a week

I wrote the post twice

After posting on Beth's blog... I then posted the after picture on facebook... 

 I feel liberated. 

I feel anxious. 

I am waiting for something... I have no clue what that something is

I wrote this to Beth as my comment when she posted her wrap up about the makeup blog

"Doing this post was WAY way W A Y out of my comfort zone however it had to be done"


"I am desperately trying to be real and stop pretending"


 "whether you realize it or not... you helped me with something I have struggled with for MANY years. I always hid... WHY? I have no idea"


 "I feel like you were the tour director of my journey... you set it all up and now it is up to me to have the time of my life!"

I am ready!

I will let you all know how it, whatever it is ...goes!

Blog Schedule ~ Update!

 I spent some of the weekend reflecting on my blog and the amount of time I spend on it. 

Actually I spent time this weekend doing a lot of reflecting on a lot of things!

But back to the blog... for now!

I have been spending a lot of time with reading and creating blogs. 

I love to read. I love to make things.  I love to journal  ~ but the time all of this has been taking from my life is ... taking its toll!

I began to feel overwhelmed lately 

and 

I needed to get back to the reason I began to blog  ~ to journal our adoption journey. 

Our adoption journey is at a standstill right now so there is not much to tell 

(still moving up the list though)

I love to craft too and friends and family always wanted to see what we were up to so that is why I began to add other things and then eventually combined my adoption blog with my crafting blog and so began 

In My Free Time

I then began getting hooked on a lot blogs thinking that if I was not up to date with what was going all the time with them I was missing out and not part of "the crowd" 

Dear me... this is becoming high school for me again!

Right now I follow... 435  blogs!!

Now that is way too much!

I realize this!

I am actually ashamed of this to be honest!

I am reading more about strangers than I am about my friends and family

After reading all of the wonderful responses from you all I decided to take some of the advice and make some changes to my schedule

1. I am going to cut down my reading schedule to the top 200 blogs I thoroughly enjoy ( this will eventually be paired down to 100). I will do this by taking into account this week the blogs that I REALLY enjoy.  This is going to be hard because I enjoy a variety of blogs crafting and cooking and adoption and relationships and inspirational
2. I am NOT going to join a blog... just to win a prize. 
3. I am going to ONLY blog when I actually want to blog and not when I feel obligated to be part of a blog party
4. I am only going to join parties that I can FULLY participate in ... link up to and visit at least half of the participants
5. I am limiting my blog reading to 30 minutes in the AM and 30 min in the PM per day with an actual timer! (this is going to be so hard too)

I want to thank everyone for responding

I am not looking for blogging to be a job ~ I have one of those

I am not looking to become popular

I am looking to read what I enjoy 

To share when I have something to say

To have fellowship with those I choose

Thank you all again for your help... I will be back again with an update soon!
Patricia

Dare to Bare

My friend Beth

is having a party and to be perfectly honest... it is one invitation I did not want to reply YES to

BUT

I did and so ...

Here I am ....

getting ready for the day...
hair pulled back ...
absolutely no makeup/moisturizer on at all!

 

 I begin by cleansing my face with my new favorite cleanser

Lacura

 

Yep... $2.49!

In the past I used Philosophy Purity Made Simple however I ran out and bought this one and never looked back

I then moisturize with 

 

Again... cheap... but wonderful!

I used olay all the time but decided to try this one day since I liked the cleanser and now I am hooked!

I love the lacura products and they can be found at ALDI...  HERE is a review of  the products

My personal review is I have extremely sensitive skin and especially eyes!

My eyes water with most products however with lacura... I have not had any kind of sensitivity issues

After cleansing and moisture I then Swirl, Tap and Buff my face all over with Bare Escentuals - Fairly Light

I Blush up my cheeks with Bare Minerals - Kiss

I add a bit of mascara with - Maybelline in Brown

Some lips with Bare Minerals -Buxom Dolly

 Here is what I use...

It takes me about 2 minutes per day to moisturize and apply makeup to brighten and even out my face!

That takes a lot and these products deliver!

 

New Year Goal Progress!

Hi Blog Friends 

I wanted to do a monthly update on my new years goals... 

Stop reading now if this bores you!

If not, here is how I am progressing

1. 50 lb Weight Loss ~ I think I lost something so far.  Clothes fit better. I stopped buying snacks.  No more chips and other things at all are being brought into the house. I have more energy.  My monthly cycle has been consistent.  I am currently reading Weigh Down... it makes some sense to me and will give a report on it soon.  Logging calories is lagging as is exercise... UGGH oh!
2. Make Room to Create ~ I have completed this space to the best of my ability. The hubby has a friend coming to paint the basement soon. ~ pics to be posted soon
3. Conscious Decision to be positive~ Despite the cold and winter and joblessness I keep reminding myself and the hubby that all of this is Gods plan and He will see us through.
4. Make more time for ME...  getting household stuff done first  so I could create and read
5. Make more time for God... constant contact through prayer and just talking
6. Read all of Nicholas Sparks books~ 4 more to go
   
7. Join Twitter ~ hated it!
   
8. Household Projects

• Finish decorating our bedroom ~ all that is left is to spray paint our mirror and move the curtain over our bed
• Find and re do a small desk for the office DONE
  
• drylock the basement Soon
• new front door and shutters Spring
• install lighting outside Spring
• new light fixtures in yard and on stoop Spring
• cut bushes in front of house Spring
• cover for the air conditioner in the living room Spring

That is all for now... doing pretty good... still working toward my goals and have not given up yet. I am a work in progress, I need to keep reminding myself this!

Dear John and Bargain Shopping

Linking to Tales from Bloggeritaville!


The hubby took me out for a date afternoon on Monday!

We started at the movies.

I wanted to see Dear John after reading the book of the same name by Nicholas Sparks.

I base a movie review on  whether it "moves me"

Do I cry or do I laugh or does it make me think

The movie was good. I cried throughout. 

The movie followed the book in a way. 
In other ways it did not.

I don't want to ruin this book or movie for you so I will not be including any details here.

However

I was left at the end wanting a different ending.

I liked the book ending more.

I cried more when I read the book too if that is possible.

Had I not read the book I would say this movie was beautiful... it tugged at a lot of emotions for me.

I enjoyed it and was glad to be out with my bff!

We then went to Ruby Tuesdays for lunch. Their salad bar rocks... IMO!

Oh and they have these really yummy lemonades that are flavored with real fruit... they come served in a really nice tall glass too... this time I ordered the pomegranate one ... I think the blackberry one is my favorite by far!

Then I was off to my favorite place to shop, Christmas Tree Shops

I got some really nice goodies!

Stepping stones for the garden $3.99 each

A wreath for our patio that I plan to make into a centerpiece $1.75

 

can you see all the veggies in this wreath... it is awesome!!

A cute Happy Easter sign $1.29

Garden stones $1.00 each

Overall it was a great day for both of us.

It was nice to get out and about before the impending snowstorm!

~~~~~~~~~~~

As an aside today happens to be my buddies 10th birthday

I took care of her as her nanny for the first 5 years of her life

and love her (and her brother) like she is my own kid

I cannot even believe that she is 10

I still remember the first day with her... she was 2 months old and had a darkest hair that stuck up everywhere and a smile that would melt your heart!

Happy Birthday GG!

I so want to win THIS!!!!!
Click HERE for your chance to win

Brunch...

My friend Meghan over here at Unintended Housewife inspired me to have a brunch!

Since moving into our new home, I really enjoy having people over.

This time the invitees were my mom and dad.

I served brunch!

I did not worry if the house was clean enough...

for once!

I just called and told them to come over for 11am

I served scones with cream and jam

A breakfast casserole

A lime fruit salad

Coffee ~ Tea ~ Juice

Easy peasy!!

Really... it was

I had the scones in the freezer and warmed them up in the oven

Whipped some fresh cream

Made a egg, sausage and hash brown casserole and left it overnight in the fridge

Cut up some fruit and added some fresh lime juice, honey and poppy seed

That is it ... oh and I woke up at 10am, turned on the oven and set the table!

My dad voted that we do this weekly... no one seconded him!

But I may just call and tell them to show up again soon!

Nicholas Sparks & Ice Cider

The day before New Years Eve we made a trip to see my family in NY

We had such a good time

We stopped on the way up at this really cool apple orchard

I enjoyed some ice cider and the hubby enjoyed some hot cider

We bought some bread and pastries too...

When we arrived in NY we went to my cousins home and had lunch

While we were talking and chatting and talking and chatting we began talking about books

I began making a list of books that they suggest I read

My cousin gave me 2 Nicholas Sparks books to take home and read

The Lucky One and Dear John

I love to read and had read a few of Sparks books before and enjoyed them.

The books I find are an easy read and Nick (yep) takes me right along and I get lost...

There is nothing vulgar and everything is always bittersweet in the end

Driving home that evening I decided that I would read ALL of Nicks books in 2010

I love to set goals and achieve them

I enjoy crossing things off and I relish the challenge

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have the Notebook... and the Wedding and never yet read either

I started with Dear John ~ It was a great read!

Lots of things going on and everything tied together at the end.

I prefer to read rather than watch the movie... although I will probably go to see Dear John when it comes out in February...

I read Nights in Rodanthe and then watched the movie... I did not like the movie

I think sometimes the imagination is better than any movie could be!

I just finished reading The Last Song last weekend...  I loved this book!

I cried tears that were buried far beneath the surface

It was a beautiful book!

Well written and the theme really hit home for me in ways I never imagined!

The movie is coming soon... I hope it lives up to my expectations!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My dad taught me to read... he read to me every night

My dad taught me to pray... he prayed with me every night

The Last Song reminded me of my Dad!

So I let my dad borrow the book from me that I borrowed from the library.

My dad is a fast reader too... I hope he enjoys the book as much as I did!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So there is my goal... So far so good

I have read over  1/2 of my goal so far and it is only January still...

I will probably take a break soon... maybe!

Reading is helping me to keep my mind off my other goal of losing 50 pounds this year

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So back to our trip... after staying a while and visiting we headed back not before stopping for some ice cider and some hot cider and some sharp cheese... cuz ny sharp is the BEST!

Can you see it...

or is it just me?

 My cousin gave hubby and I this picture that she took of the woods near her home

She knows how much we love the fall and gave us this picture as a housewarming gift

I have the picture on the wall outside our bedroom

One night I was lying on my bed and looked into the hall and saw this

Can you see the face?

I was visiting my cousin 2 weeks ago and was telling her what I saw

She happened to have another copy of this picture and she brought it out for me to show her

While I was showing her my face, she saw another face...

interesting I think!

Week 3

Well it is the beginning of my 3rd week of new year goals

I don't think I ever made it this far logging calories ~  I am still at it. Yeah!

I have been eating pretty good with the occasional goodie... however I am not going over my calories so that makes me feel good.
I can still eat what I want without eliminating things ~ this is awesome

We went out to eat twice since starting this program

Once to Ruby Tuesday and once to Sonic and both times I was very cautious of what I ate but still enjoyed what I wanted

I am finding that if I know I am going out to eat that particular evening I will eat lighter during the day.

I know that this concept is so obvious to most people however it is a light bulb moment for me because I realize now that this is something I need to be aware of

So the day we went to Ruby ~ I had an orange and a fiber bar and peanut butter on high fiber bread and milk

So for dinner I was able to treat myself to a fruit tea, salad bar (lots of veggies), white bean chili and chips without feeling guilty

Food for me has been a relationship

Some people call their best friend ... I eat chips

Or ... I did eat chips for MANY years and many extra pounds

Now I log my calories and blog... notice an increase LOL

Oh and I put on my jeans and instead of being out of the dryer tight... they feel like I wore them all day... right out of the dryer
~~~~~~~~~~~

Still no intentional exercise however I will NOT feel guilty about this.
I am finding more energy during the day so I am thrilled!

~~~~~~~~~~~

I am still reading Nicholas Sparks books at a rate of 1 book every 2 days...
I read really FAST~!

Still giving my book report to the hubs too!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The basement is done!
Well my part is done... now we need to paint the walls and floor and get a new work surface and hang peg board and add shelving and...
At any rate... my part is done... pics will come sooner than later!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Trying to be positive... even though it is difficult with personal stuff and local stuff and international stuff
That is where I look to God and ask him for His will to be done

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am also doing good with our bedroom and have added new lamps and some accessories... it is so cozy and is becoming what I wanted it to be!
Pics of that soon too!

Come to realize!

I’ve come to realize that my job. . .although temporary is fun!

I’ve come to realize that when I’m driving. . . I am like the little old lady who drives the speed limit, stops at stop signs and for little kids... stops at the yellow light and always obeys traffic law!

I’ve come to realize that I need. . .reassurance all the time.

I’ve come to realize that I have lost. . .more than I could ever imagine but have gained more than I can ever realize.

I’ve come to realize that I hate it when. . . I am so bullheaded!

I’ve come to realize that money. . .is not happiness.

I’ve come to realize that certain people. . .bring joy to my life

I’ve come to realize that I’ll always. . . be messy ~ controlled!

I’ve come to realize that my cell phone. . .is great for emergencys

I’ve come to realize that when I woke up this morning. . .I wanted to go back to sleep

I’ve come to realize that last night before I went to sleep. . . I could not find my book so I had a hard time drifting off!

I’ve come to realize that right now I am thinking. . .praying actually for my husband!

I’ve come to realize that when I get on Facebook. . .that my friends and family are at my fingertips!

I’ve come to realize that today. . .is a blah day!

I’ve come to realize that tonight. . .I will cuddle up and read!

I’ve come to realize that tomorrow. . .will be Friday!

I’ve come to realize that I really want to . . .be a mom!

I’ve come to realize that life. . .is not what I had expected... it is better!

I’ve come to realize that this weekend. . .I will relax

I’ve come to realize that this year. . .I will lose 50 pounds

I’ve come to realize that my husband. . .is my best friend

I’ve come to realize that maybe I should. . . .pray!

I’ve come to realize that I love. . .to craft!

I’ve come to realize that I don’t understand. . .a lot!

I’ve come to realize my past. . .is best left alone!

I’ve come to realize that parties. . .are fun with the right group!

I’ve come to realize that I’m totally terrified. . .of mice!

I’ve come to realize that my life. . .will have highs and lows and will be shorter than I can imagine!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to my Blog Friends 

For the first time in my life I am looking forward to the new year.

I feel like 2010 is going to be my best year yet

I do not make resolutions 

I am a work in progress and to me resolutions are too final and they don't leave enough room for mistakes

I make goals

I have some goals that I am posting now in the hope that by the  dawn of 2011

I will have accomplished them

Here are my goals in no particular order

1. 50 lb Weight Loss ~ I have a lot of weight to lose ~ I need to lose  more than what most people weigh. My mini goal is 50 for this year.  I plan to lose weight by including intentional exercise (walking and dancing) and through monitoring my caloric intake on Livestrong.com
2. Make Room to Create ~ I have a great space in my basement of my new house and I want to make this a space that I can express myself
3. Conscious Decision to be positive ~ too many times I have been way to serious about things that never mattered in the long term. I have also held back my feelings at the risk of being hurt. 
4. Make more time for ME...  taking care of my needs in addition to the needs of others
5. Make more time for God... through prayer and meditation
6. Read all of Nicholas Sparks books
7. Join Twitter
8. Household Projects

• Finish decorating our bedroom
• Find and re do a small desk for the office
• drylock the basement
• new front door and shutters
• install lighting outside
• new light fixtures in yard and on stoop
• cut bushes in front of house
• cover for the air conditioner in the living room

Tear down the school...

my school, my grade school and the church.

A few years ago, my grade school became in ill repair

The local paper invited readers to come to the school and reminisce  about the days gone by

I was one such reader who came by that day and did just that...

I went to this school from K-8

I knew every class room, every hallway, every nook and crannie

I remember slamming Rochelles finger in the crayon box in Kindergarten

I remember meeting Vanessa in 1st grade and Patti in 2nd (two dear friends I have till this day)

I remember just not "getting" 3rd grade math and the day that the baggies full of water (to resemble the Red Sea) burst all over my desk in 4th grade

Oh and how could I forget 5th grade and my crush on a certain blonde hair blue eyed guy

In 6th grade I won the art contest and in 7th grade I can still remember that Dawn take grease out of your way but doesn't make for a great experiment at the science fair

I was counting down the days for 8th grade to arrive and I was holding onto every second as it flew by without my consent

The day I was able to go back to the school was a day I will never forget... I went to each and every classroom ~ now decrepit with age and  reminiscent ickiness of  a burst pipe

I could hear the giggles and I could smell the chalk dust

I could see myself and where I sat in each and every room and I could close my eyes for a second and be back there again

Yellow shirts and plaid jumpers... this may be where my love of plaid came from

I took the mission bank from 2nd grade and a metal hook from the "cloak" room in 4th grade... I stopped and recalled the day Orlando jumped up high on the lockers and they fell, right on the pointer finger of my left hand

Every room was practically vacant but still filled

I am sad now because they are tearing it down... all of it, the school, the church, the cafeteria, the library and the gym

The church where I learned that actually singing is easier than making the nuns think you are singing by lip synching...

The cafeteria where I fell in love with PBJ and Mrs Grass Soup...

The library where we snuck around the nun and read Agnes of God behind the shelves (but only the "bad" parts)

The gym where I learned that "no, you are not cut out for basketball honey"

It is going, and almost gone

I looked up the street today and saw an empty hole

Buildings though I guess ~ bricks and mortar ~not much more after all the good stuff is gone

Bricks and Mortar...not lifelong friendships and memories... The Good Stuff!

Here is a slide show done by someone who understands

I entered this post as my fav for 2009 at Nester

Feeling JOY again...

I don't blame anyone for hardening me.

I am stronger now than I ever was

I was married in 1999 to the love of my life.

When I met him I began to feel. I began to express how I felt. 

We had some tough situations happen to us in 10 years ... we made it through each one stronger!

But I became hard again.

Build a wall with brick and mortar and nothing will hurt

I often felt alone again in my feelings... like I did as a kid.

I very rarely expressed any real emotions!

Despite my hardened being... life went on and  we finally both felt like things were falling into place

~ buying a home ~ adopting a baby!

Finally life would be perfect!

We signed the mortgage on our home on October 9th and on October 15th my husband walked through the door of our new home crying because after 12 years, he lost his job to a foreign contract!

I held him and we both cried and then I said we would be okay.

God will provide

Deep down I know this to be true

On the surface though I wonder sometimes and then I pray AGAIN and ask God to handle it his way.

I ended up getting a job that although very temporary, it brings me joy!

JOY!

I am not sure when or how or why the shift even took place but I am glad it did.
I find myself laughing and crying and smiling and feeling


I realize that this life is temporary  and when God closes a door he opens a window and sometimes He pushes you out and lets you fly!

Finding Gram....

Well I did not make it to my friends party tonight because of all the snow!

I am so looking forward to April when the snow stops and I can visit people again!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FINDING GRAM

My gram died back in July ~ I miss her!

On Monday when I was preparing for my tea I thought of her and cried

I could actually hear her in my heart telling me that she was with me

~~~~

Tomorrow while we bake cookies... I know I will think of her often, that was our thing

My gram, my mom and I would make and bake for Christmas

Gram flattened the nutroll cookies with the bottom of a glass and then spread the nuts evenly over the dough and roll them so tight with her beautiful hands

As we made more and more cookies Gram would clean the messes and make lunch

~~~

Grams service when she died was beautiful... my Uncle made programs and every once in a while my hubby will come across the program around the house or in his car... it really is the darnedest thing, he will put the program in one place only to have it appear in another

He will look up with his baby blue eyes and ask Gram what she is trying to say to him

Today he found the program again...

and tonight he came across a birthday card from her to me with $10.00 in it in our filing cabinet

~~~~

She always signed the cards "luv u Gram"

I smiled when I saw the card and teared up because I miss her.

When we "find" Gram around the house or in the car it is a blessing... the hubby rolls his eyes sometimes because he is not "into it" like I am ... deep down though I know he believes she is telling us she is still around

I will miss her tomorrow... a little more than I do today

But I know that I will feel the tug at my heart and feel her presence with us

~~~~

I like finding Gram... and someday when my time is through here on earth I will find her and  will get to keep her close!

Random post

The weekend is here and I am excited!

Since starting my new job I really look forward to the weekend!
Not that I am tired I just like to have them off!

When I managed my moms shop I worked every Saturday for 3 years so not having anything to go to on a Saturday is nice.

I do miss that place though... especially at this time of year!

I miss all of the Christmas stuff, my brother playing Santa and hearing about everyone's traditions!

We made so many friends and it is ironic that one of our best customers is my neighbor... just 2 doors away!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tonight the hubby and I are gong to watch movies... we have been using red box to rent them and for a buck you can't go wrong

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My brother is coming home for a visit!
I miss him so it will be nice to see him!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tomorrow is my friend yearly Christmas party in her new home I am excited to see her tree ~
I made some buckeyes that I will be bringing!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sunday is the day that my mom, 2 aunts and I bake cookies... 10 different kind!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Monday I will be recovering from that... not only the baking but the TESTING too!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I only work Tuesday through Friday and next week I work a long day Tuesday and then Wednesday till noon only and then I am off for 2 weeks!

I am so excited for Christmas and plan to take lots of pictures!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Merry Christmas 
&

God Bless!

Today

My hubby was off from work today because we had the radon system installed

After the system was installed, he surprised me with a visit to

HOBBY LOBBY

Never been and never wanted to leave!

He drove 1.5 hours in the rain and fog to take us away for a few hours

I am in love  strong like with HL!

What an AMAZING store

I like it a lot more than other craft stores

The prices too were great I thought in comparision to other stores

Plus 40% off coupon and other store dicounts made it AWESOME

Even though I bought only a few things (I need NOTHING...)

I ended up getting a beautiful tin sign for our kitchen and I am doing my version of this project so I got candle sticks and bases

Even the hubby enjoyed the visit and lasted longer than he ever has in a craft store

I will definately be visiting again... oh and I love all the crosses they have there they remind me of this awesome bloggers wall that I so admire

I am so glad to have gotten away even if it was just for 5 hours

Grateful!

It is 2 am and I can't sleep!

My mind is wandering in thanksgiving to God and to our new home!

CLOSING DAY

After a night of tossing and turning, we arrived at our new home to do our final walk through with our realtor

He went over some papers and then we headed down to the lawyers office where we were greeted by a lawyer who also happened to be from my church and who went to school with my brother

All the stress and anxiety melted for both of us!

The sellers agent showed up and gave us the keys ~ we signed some papers and within 20 minutes we were on our way

I called my mom and she screamed

I called my mom in law and she screamed

We did a few errands, picking up some cleaning supplies,  stopping to tell a friend of ours and then finally a stop back to our current home in disbelief that we just bought a house!

We drove by the house twice with both of us looking at each other and saying "that is ours and we can go in"

So we finally went in

My mom was the first to arrive followed by my little cousin who took the tour and was on his way

Then my  cousins husband arrived, took the tour gave us some advice on the neighborhood and left

By then my mother in law and brother in law came by

My mother in law is so cute she brought a broom, salt, bread and money!

Meanwhile the hub was walking from room to room in complete disbelief!

I so wanted the grating to be gone from our front door ~ and was very pleasantly surprised to know that it was only held on with screws!

However the screw drivers would not fit all the screws and it became a battle to get it off

Just then my friend arrived and was determined to remove the grating and after a bit ... did it!

Hub was still walking around in disbelief!

So then the hubs friend called to say he was driving by and that we must be in the house because the wreath was on the door... so he came too for a visit... which helped the hubby because all the guys went to the patio to chat!

Then who came through the front door but my other cousin with champagne!

So then my dad arrived with folding chairs and tree trimming tools!

He is so cute!

My mother in law decided to take a stab at cutting down a bush and before we knew it, we all took various cuts from trees and bushes!

My father in law is coming down this morning to trim and remove!

My Uncle who is superly duperly handy stopped by too and I gave him the tour which put me at ease when he said he really liked the house and that everything I pointed out was fixable!

In all the business of the day we (just the two of us) did not have a chance to sit down and realize what we just did (buy a house) until after my parents left ~ this is when we sat in the folding chairs at a card table and cried both realizing how blessed we are and how God brought us to this day. My hub said a beautiful prayer in thanksgiving for our blessing and then we came home... to my childhood home that I have lived in for 34 years!

I went to sleep at 9pm and woke up at 2 because I had to share my day and get it our so I can rest again!

The hubby and I are  still in shock ~ there is so much to do but we are so blessed to have the friends and family that we do that will be there for us during this time and always!