I've been at it again.....

I just couldn't help myself. I was at Sherrie's yesterday and she mentioned a lady was having a yard sale today. Last time I went to her sale, I found some good bargains. So I told Sherrie to count me in and off we went.

I had walked around and looked at some things and next thing I know we are discussing...you guessed it, BASKETS.

I don't know why I have such a weakness for them. But I do. So I ventured to the back of her garage where she had some small baskets. And $2.75 later I was walking out with these....

They are all small baskets and I have no idea what I will do with them, but I'm sure I'll think of something. The white one is going to get spray painted for sure, but I don't know what color yet. I'll keep you posted on what happens with them.

When inspiration hits.....

I have had a wonderful day today. My wonderful husband took me to AC Moore, JoAnne's, Walmart and to Texas Roadhouse for lunch.

I love AC Moore and JoAnne's. I saw some wonderful things that inspired me with many new ideas for crafts when cooler weather starts. They had some awesome Christmas material that will make adorable little pillows to toss in a basket. I also picked up some new yarn for a Santa craft I want to do. Then there was really cute material to make a few snowmen to set around. Just came away full of Christmas crafts I want to do.

But the most inspirational idea I got today was nothing to do with crafts. There was a sweet lady in line with me named Donna at AC Moore. When it came her turn, she was asked if she had a rewards card. Now I don't know about you, but I have several I use on a regular basis. I keep them in the little holder with my credit cards, debit cards, ID's, everything. So each time I need one, I have to dig for it.

I know they all come with key chain size cards as well. But if I put them on my key chain, it is overloaded. I already have my car key, my alarm/door lock gizmo, two house keys, the PO box key. Adding my rewards cards would just make it to bulky.

But Donna solved that problem. She carries a separate key chain that has all her rewards cards in one place. She just flipped through, found the right one and that was that. Now some of you may already do that and I commend your brilliant minds. But it just never occurred to me to put them on a separate key chain. So guess what I did? That's right I came home and put them on a keyring. I have to find the rest of them, but for now I have my basic ones on there. I don't know why this impressed me so much, but it did.

When God Smiles.....

As a parent and grandparent, we love to watch the antics of our children and grandchildren. We love the silly things they do. They will run around in circles, dancing and prancing, until they fall down in a giggling heap on the floor. Then they get up and do it again. They play for hours with their favorite toys with such vivid imaginations that we can see they are truly young geniuses at work. I could sit for hours just watching them and quietly smiling at their antics. In the Bible, we are shown views of God. God the loving God, God the wrathful God, God the Creator. But don't you imagine, that as He sits on his throne, He sometimes watches us and the things we do bring a smile to His face. The simple acts of kindness that are instilled in our nature. The courtesy of holding a door open for someone else. Letting a car ahead of us in heavy traffic. Seeing someone searching frantically for an extra quarter and you handing one over to help them out. Picking up the tab at lunch when you are dining with someone you know has to watch their pennies even closer than you do. Does He look down when we are playing with our babies and does He smile that gentle smile that all parents have? We are His children and He is our Father. I'm sure as His child, we drive Him crazy at times. I'm sure He spends many a days shaking His head and saying "What were they thinking?" when we do something stupid. But I'm just as sure that He has many times that He watches our joy and our laughter and simply smiles and says "That's MY child."

Wash day....

Growing up on well water, we had to watch how much water was used each day. I remember taking baths in just an inch or two of water on wash day. Mom had to prepare the night before by filling the galvanized tub with water so she could rinse the clothes. She'd get up early the next day and sort the laundry while the old Maytag wringer washer was filling with suds. Detergent would vary. We'd use Tide, Fab, Oxydol, whatever had the special in them like wash towels (or as we called them, wash rags) or hand towels. As the loads would wash, she run them through the wringer to get the suds out as much as she could then put them in the rinse tub to slosh out more suds and run them through the wringer again. It's not like taking one load from washer to dryer. Each individual piece of laundry would go through the wringer...twice! With a family of 6, this was a lot of clothes and linens. Then she would get a basket full from each load and carry them outside to the clothesline and hang them up to dry.

Once the clothes would dry, she would bring them in to fold them. Me and Rachel had to help. I remember when Andy was a baby in cloth diapers and we would sit there and fold diaper after diaper. Once we folded what could be folded, Mom would sprinkle the rest with water from one those little sprinkler bottles and wrap them up in a tablecloth and place them on a shelf in the refrigerator overnight. The next morning, she would sit the iron and ironing board up in the living room and iron while we were glued to the Dick Van Dyke Show, Pete & Gladys, or Mr. Ed. I can remember her using Niagara spray starch on some of the dress clothes.

What for me is a fond memory was for my Mother almost a three day project. But I never ever heard her complain. Not once did she fret about her lot in life. It was her life. It was what she did. Being a mother was the most important job and she was one of the best at what she did.

I look back on everything she did and I wonder how she ever kept her sanity. We complain if the dishwasher goes on the fritz or the dryer hose needs replaced. I wonder how we would ever make it if we had to go back to those days.

Motivational Monday

Desire is the key to motivation, but it's determination and commitment

to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to

excellence - that will enable you to attain the

success you seek. - Mario Andretti

I love this..watch the video if you can

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q534DkOe38s There must be lights burning brighter somewhere Got to be birds flying higher in a sky more blue If I can dream of a better land Where all my brothers walk hand in hand Tell me why, oh why, oh why can't my dream come true Oh why There must be peace and understanding sometime Strong winds of promise that will blow away the doubt and fear If I can dream of a warmer sun Where hope keeps shining on everyone Tell me why, oh why, oh why won't that sun appear We're lost in a cloud With too much rain We're trapped in a world That's troubled with pain But as long as a man Has the strength to dream He can redeem his soul and fly Deep in my heart there's a tremblin' question Still I am sure that the answer, answer's gonna come somehow Out there in the dark, there's a beckoning candle, yeah And while I can think, while I can talk While I can stand, while I can walk While I can dream, please let my dream Come true......right now

The Power of Positive Thinking

In 1952, one the most profound self-help books was written by Norman Vincent Peale, founder of Guideposts magazine. It was called The Power of Positive Thinking. In the professional speaking industry, he is known as one of the greatest motivators of all times. What many don't know is that Peale applied Christianity to everyday problems blending its principles into a message of positive thinking. Peale said, "through prayer you ... make use of the great factor within yourself, the deep subconscious mind ... [which Jesus called] the kingdom of God within you ... Positive thinking is just another term for faith." I love this man!! If you know me at all, you know I am a faith fanatic. I don't go through life looking for the "woe is me's" or the "if only's". I accept what comes my way, pray to God to get me through it, and have faith that He will deliver. I am usually so optimistic that my cup is not half-full, my cup is always flowing over and I'm scurrying around trying to figure out how to catch the overflow. My life is so precious to me and I want to squeeze every moment of pure happiness from it that I can. I don't think God placed us here among all this beauty to start the gloom and doom society. He wants us to enjoy what He has provided for us and let Him handle the rest. I find joy in such simple things. Spending time just watching the antics of my grandchildren, snuggling on the couch to watch TV with my hubby, watching my children as parents, talking to my Mom on the phone, getting an email from my sister. I like get-togethers with friends, church functions, shopping on Saturday. Laughing at old sit-coms, reading the Sunday comics, browsing through yard sales. Being alive. Life is for living. It is too short to sit around and "nit-pic" every little decision or thought to pieces to look for underlying meanings. Develop a positive mindset. Put your faith in God. Get out and enjoy the life he has given you. Don't sweat the small stuff. When we get in our deepest, darkest valleys, God has a way out provided for us. He will smile on you and handle any obstacle you face if you just let him.