Give God the Glory for the Little Things...

My all-in-one printer has lost its fax capabilities. I was making a run to Staples for a cartridge for my Laser Printer. While I was there, I decided to price all-in-ones so I could get an idea of what it was going to take to get a new one. I love HP and decided to look at those. Lo and behold, they had exactly what I wanted on sale for $59.98 (original price $99.98). I was thrilled but the sale ends today. There was the dilemma.

I am very strict on my "shopping money". I usually set aside a certain limit and try to stick to it based on what my sales were for the week. I had put back about $65 to spend on my shopping expedition today because there are a few things I need.

I need to get some new tennis shoes and normally just pick up some cheapies at Walmart. But Goodies has a pair of tennis shoes exactly like I've been wanting and they are on a sale .....  that ends today! New shoes that are WANTED and are at a really good deal (Reg. $58 on sales for $38.86 and I have a coupon for 25% extra) or a new printer/fax that is NEEDED. What to do, what to do?

Then I remembered I had a friend who was looking for a printer. She HATES office supply stores and has been procrastinating since summer. We discuss all the time how she needs to get a new printer and she only wants to spend about $50.00. She wanted a printer/copier/scanner, but had no need whatsoever for a fax. Since my other machine was in perfect condition except for the short in the fax portal, I called her. She was THRILLED. So I sold her my printer and got me a new one for only $9.98.

Now, I still have enough of my allowance left to get my shoes for $29.00! And I'll have shopping money left over for a new lamp for my office. Woo Hoo and Woo Hoo. I love it when a plan comes together.

Isn't funny how the little things that thrill us so are still gifts from God. I was so excited about shopping today, but yet felt a little guilty since I needed a print. We should always give the Lord thanks for every little thing in our lives. He is always in control. One of the most beloved bible verses is Romans 8:28 "...all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

Fun at work Friday

There is a website Brownie Locks that lists holidays for every day, week and month. Today they have listed as Have Fun at Work day.

So I started thinking of some things I could do to have fun at work and here is my list.......

1. ??????????

Well, so much for that idea. Nothing fun came to mind. I guess that's why they call it work!

Hope you FUN today in whatever you are doing!

Living on the streets of Heaven...

Do you ever stop and really think about what it is going to be like when you get to heaven? Do you imagine the streets of gold? Just close your eyes and imagine what your days will be like when you get to heaven.....

The gates will swing open, not with a grinding slow motion, but in a grand gesture of welcome. The Father and Son will be waiting there with arms wide open, huge smiles on their face and those wonderful words "My child, welcome home". They will embrace you and there will be laughter and hugs and the sweetest joy ever known.

Once you have spent time in their embrace, one of the angels will show you around your new home. Your eyes will take in so much beauty that it will be unbelievable. Once you get adjusted to your new home, you will be able to visit. I can imagine walking the streets of Heaven, visiting with loved ones. You'll be walking along one day with those who have gone on before and someone will say "That's where Moses lives." Or "Look, there goes Abraham, Isaac and Jacob." You'll want to set down and talk with those saints of old.

Then you'll meet up with the angels and sing songs of such grandeur and beauty that it would take your breath away. I can imagine love, laughter, joy, peace, contentment. But I think most of all, no matter what you see or do in Heaven, about every 5 minutes you will be running back to Jesus just to get a quick hug or just to talk with Him. I think you will be like a little kid full of excitement.

It will be a wonderful time of rejoicing. We will never grow old; our ailments will be gone and we will spend eternity in the arms of our Saviour.

Love is in the air.....

With February just around the corner, it's time to tell the ones you love how special they are to you. It doesn't just have to be a significant other. Love abounds in February and we need to share it with the ones who mean a lot too us. Here are some Valentine ideas for the special people in your life.

Purchase a clay flower pot and paint it white. Trim it with some ribbon. Using card stock scrapbook paper, cut hearts to make the petals of your flowers. Insert a sucker through the flowers. Fill the pot with Conversation hearts and stick the flowers in the pots.

Is there someone in your life that holds a special place. You may not be the best of friends, but they care enough about you that you want to show them you care? Scour your local Dollar Tree, Family Dollar or Dollar General. Find a small trinket in a heart shape, such as a little pill box, a pin, a coffee cup. Just something that lets them know their friendship does not go unnoticed.

Do you have someone who means the world to you that loves roses? This is a wonderful thing to do for your mother as she probably doesn't get anyone sending her roses. We all know they are costly at anytime. Buy a heart shaped tin at your local craft store. Purchase some inexpensive picks of roses. Pull the blooms off and fill the box with them. For an extra little something, purchase some rose potpourri and sprinkle it in the box before you place the flowers in it. 

If you know someone who loves whimsical gifts, a cute little bear is a perfect gift. All ages love the Teddy Bear. You can find adorable ones at craft stores and Wal-mart at very affordable prices during Valentine's season. I like to find some that look a little scraggly and in need of love and adorn it with a ribbon torn from pink or red patterned material to give it that old-timey look. This is Ted E. Bear that a friend gave me over 10 years ago when I was feeling blue. He sports a new ribbon or a sweater for every holiday.

Have a small tea party and invite a few of your closest friends. Visit second hand shops and antique stores to pick up assorted tea cups and vintage Valentines. Each guest will get to take their tea cup and their Valentine home with them to remember the special day you put together.

Make some homemade goodies. Everybody has a weakness for cookies or fudge. Buy some cute candy wrapping paper and tie the goodies up with a pretty red ribbon.

One rule of thumb when showing someone you love them on Valentine's Day is that pretty much anything goes. It is true that it is the thought that counts. It doesn't have to be elaborate or expensive. Just something that says "I care.

Thoughts of spring.....

These little guys are just so cute. They make me think that spring is just around the corner. Just looking at them makes me smile.

The Unseen Hand

The Unseen Hand. Full of grace and glory. Scarred from suffering and pain. Abounding with love and full of compassion. One hand. One God. One great love. For years, this has been one of my favorite songs. Many a Sunday at Hash Ridge or Sunrise church I would sing this song. It has such a poignant message and is truly an inspirational song. No matter what trials or tribulations may fall, the Unseen Hand is gently protecting us, prodding us, prayerfully watching over us. I am so very thankful for My God and His Unseen Hand. There are many of moments that His Unseen Hand has brought me through. We see people performing all the time that say "I dedicate this song to my mom, or to my friend, etc." But today, I dedicate this song to MY GOD!

Aprons and stuff...

I have always loved aprons. Simply by tying on an apron you can be back in the kitchen with Mom baking a batch of cookies, with Mamaw frying a skillet of chicken or with Grandma making a pound cake. My mom makes the cutest aprons. I have this shelf in the kitchen that has peg hooks so I decided I will hang my aprons on there. Mom has agreed to make me some more for my collection so I went to Hobby Lobby yesterday and here is all the material I picked out for my new aprons. My kitchen is done in French Country Decor with a lot of grapes, roosters, teapots, fruits, pretty much anything goes. So my apron taste runs along the same lines of anything goes.

Here is the first one, I just love purple and this one will go good with grapes in the kitchen.

Another thing you will find in a French Country kitchen is daisies and sunflowers. Since daisies are my favorite flower and this looked so dainty, I just had to have it.

Some of my aprons are for display but some of them are for using. This is going to be my apron for when I'm in my baking mode.

This will be one for the rare occasion when I cook or when we have company and I help out in the kitchen. My favorite color in the entire world is red. Always has been and always will be, even though I go through spells where I like other colors, I will always be partial to red. And when it is put with black, I love it. So this one just said "take me home."

Since I am currently in my whimsical mode and I have always loved Easter, this one was a no brainer. Love the little chicks. Can't wait until Easter to get to wear this one.

And of course when my granddaughters are over, they will need their own apron. Since one of their special times with Mamaw was the Disney Princesses on Ice and they are both little dainty princesses, I had to have this for their aprons.

All in all, it was a wonderful day at the material department. And the best part...it was all on sale for 30% - 40% off! Saved a little over $15.00. WOO HOO!

I picked up a couple of other cutie's I was happy with. This little basket is the exact color of my flower clock in the bathroom and some of the birdhouses in the shower curtains. I was wanting something for my cotton balls and thought this would be a good fit...especially at 99 cents. Then they rang it up and it was 50% off. So a bargain at 49 cents.

I've been looking for a necklace out of that dull copper material. But when I find one I like they are so expensive that I don't want to pay what they were asking. But yesterday, at Walmart, I found exactly what I wanted. It was on sale for $3.00. It's one of those double chain necklaces. I love it.

It was a day for bargains. I picked up a sweater I've been admiring that finally went on sale. Payless started their BOGO 1/2 off sale. They have some new adorable flip flops in so I, of course, had to have two new pairs. Again, at a savings. It was an awesome day. With all the discounts and coupons I had yesterday, I saved $54.61. A wonderful day for shopping.