Craig's List, An Ocean of Opportunity

I love how gracious the Lord is when He points out how self focused I can be.  I get a little too excited about the great deals to be had and get a wee bit wrapped up in MY intentions in the moment.  My focus seems to shift.  I get somewhat of an addictive high when I find such good deals and unfortunately today's high came at the expense of another.  That high suddenly became such a huge huge low.

So to back up a bit...earlier today I found some AMAZING deals on Craig's list.  I was so excited for the price and the furniture I was about to get.  The prices were so fabulously low and I knew the potential they had, wa-hoo score for me.  I couldn't wait to get my hands on the new pieces.  The girls and I hitched the trailer and set out for our first stop.  I met a nice family, we swapped some stories, picked up the two new (old) dressers and off we went to our second stop.  As we pulled up to the next house I was on this high because things were going so well...thinking yea for me...and then...the good deal turned bad, so bad.  Pain struck my heart soon after the lady of the house opened the door.  She asked me to please excuse her mess of  a house, she was preparing to move.  Last Sunday this mother of five, not to much older than me, lost her husband suddenly.  She can't keep the house, she is scrambling to selling most of their stuff.  She and her five boys are moving in with her parents.  She shared that one of her sons wakes up screaming in the middle of the night for his daddy...another one looks up to Heaven begging Heaven to give his daddy back. 
A total stranger shared her grief stricken heart with another stranger. This trip to Gilbert today was not about a dresser...it was about an opportunity.

If you are reading this please take 2 minutes to lift this family up in prayer.  I have her contact info and I have a couple ideas that I am praying over that I would like to do for her.  I am not sure what God would have me do???  I am overwhelmed with her situation and all that she shared.  I cannot even fathom what she is going through but I do know that God can.  I know today was orchestrated by a Sovereign God who hears our cry.

Like I said, it was a gracious reminder to me that it's ALWAYS about Him...every single second of the day.  All of a sudden my trailer of worldly goods seem so. so. completely. unimportant.

If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.  Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth.  Colossians 3:1&2

Did You Have a Dream?

I thought this was a great article.

Something that came to mind while reading this...

"God forbid something happens to your husband, make sure you have some education or something to fall back on."

Worldly wisdom or Godly wisdom?

We've been so inundated with so much worldly wisdom that it's so hard sometimes to know what Godly wisdom is. 

That's when we say..."Lord, I have heard so much...help me to set aside all that I have heard and teach me through your word what is from you.  Help me to discern well...open my eyes and give me Your wisdom."

"If any of you should lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him." James 1:5

Great Ideas For Kids

You may have already seen this cause it's been going around.  I have already gotten it twice.  But just in case you have not seen it...

A lot of great ideas for little ones

http://cuegly.blogspot.com/2011/09/75-kid-activities.html

Somethign I am Dreaming about

I am on this everlasting search for an affordable credenza.  I have found these AMAZING credenzas but they are so outrageously expensive.  If I could just find one with straight lines then I would be able to refinish it but even that has been almost impossible!!  I will keep on dreaming and searching....

This is the one I have now and it has become a bit too retro for my taste.  I already have a buyer as soon as I can find a new one. 

Make-Up Etc...

I added a new blog to the right side of my blog list.  Most of you know I use to be a Make-Up artist/ Aesthetician.  I still love to dabble and I love to see what the new trends are in both fields.  Thought I would pass this site on.  If you love Skin Care and Make-up, you will LOVE this site!  She has a plethora of great tutorials on You-Tube, I could watch all day...not to mention, she has an awesome accent so she is pleasent to listen to.  Of course these girls are beautiful and have amazing skin...that helps!

Anyway, enjoy!

So many great videos but if I had to choose one to pass on right now I would choose this one since it is Spring and it is such a beautiful natural look.  Of course I would go with a peachy lip but either way, it's beautiful.
 

Family Photo

Thank you Erin!!!  Most of you know my sister in law is a fabulous photographer...if you don't, now you do!  Her web site is located on the right side of my blog. 

Recent CA Trip

The girl and I recently got to travel with hubby on one of  his business trips to San Diego.  Even though we hit a major snow storm driving there which nearly gave me a heart attack and it rained while we were there, we still managed to have fun! 

                                                   snow storm.  Crazy huh!!

After a few days in SD hubby had to fly to Sacramento so the girls and I drove to North Hollywood to visit our friends.  So Fun!!  Dawn lives by some amazing thrift stores that were calling my name.  It was like the mother ship calling me home lol!  There was a street of several mid-century stores.  I was dying!!  They were all pretty pricey but I'm sure if I had time to pick thru everything I might have found a good deal.  It was mid-century heaven.  So many pieces.  I was drooling.  Here is an example of how much some mid-century chairs cost

                                                                      YIKES!!
So as Dawn and I were roaming the stores I came across a piece and FREAKED out because it was a piece I had just bought!!!  here is the one we saw in the store.  It had been painted which means it is no longer in original form.  It was nice but COME ON $650!!! Seriously?!?!?!

                           Here is the one I just bought. 

It was listed for $99 at a local thrift store by me.  I was able to talk her down to $89.  Yeah, I am pretty much doing the happy dance once again. 

I have also been looking for a certain mid century bench that I can recover.  I did find one on e bay for $80 but after shipping it was not worth it.  I also found one at the local thrift store by me for $90...UMM, I don't think so!!  Dawn took me into this huge thrift store that was, um, a bit shady.  I walked in and defiantly did not think I would find anything!  Wellllll, guess what!!  See the price!!  $11.95 with tax.

The streets are lined with vintage/ thrift stores.

I love little girls!!

Dawn, I'm coming back and I am bringing my trailer!!