Thrift stores. We all know what they are. Some people love them. Others wonder why on earth you would ever want to shop used clothes.

 I love thrift stores. OK, I may be slightly addicted to thrift store shopping!

It is like a treasure hunt to see what you can get for the cheapest price.

I will just give you an example.



So I have been thrift store shopping for many years. Because of that in our area I know what stores I can find the best deals at and what ones really are not that great of a deal (especially considering sometimes you can get something new on clearance for cheaper then they are asking at the thrift store).

For our local Salvation Army stores every Wednesday is family day. This means that every tag except one is half off the ticket price.

I am currently 38 weeks pregnant and am down to once a week doctors visits. Since there is a Salvation Army one minute away from the doctors office I have made it a point to try to schedule my appointments on Wednesdays as much as possible so I can take advantage of the half off day.


Today I went wanting to get some stuff for Jason but then I ended up getting some amazing stuff for me! Things I can wear now as well as after baby girl makes her appearance. OK, so I got a lot of cardigans! ;)

I am digressing though.

Here is one of the reasons I would still thrift store shop even if I became a billionaire:


This is a New York and Company shirt that still had the tags on-completely brand new. The original price on the tag was $49.95. Salvation army had marked it down to $6.99-which is nothing to sneeze at when it comes to a good deal.

The greatest part came when the cashier was ringing it into the cash register as I was checking out-$6.99 minus 50% all the sudden became $3.50.

$3.50 for a $49.95 shirt. This is adorable.

See why I adore thrift shopping so much?

That was not my only deal from today however!

I love Ann Taylor Loft. Like seriously if I could ever go on a shopping spree unlimited it would be in that store. It is classic yet elegant fashion and I love it!

So when I found these I was so excited:


Not one, not two, not three, not four but FIVE cardigans from Ann Taylor Loft. These average between $40-$50 per sweater on their website.  Today however, that is not the price I paid!

One of the sweaters had the tags on it and was brand new! That was the most expensive one at $1.50 after the 50% discount! The other four were a mere $0.99 cents a piece!

So I got five sweaters for a grand total of $5.50! WHAT!?!?

Talk about a blessing from the Lord!

I love this picture! We were going on a hike in a town near us and I looked up and saw them walking hand in hand and I just knew I needed to capture it. To hold onto and cherish that memory.

That is something that has been coming up a lot in the last few weeks. Maybe it is because Elijah is potty trained fully now.

Maybe it is because Micah will be two years old on December 14th.

Maybe it is because of moments like when I was playing piano on Sunday and I looked up to see Micah smiling at me. In that moment my heart jumped because I realized how he is starting to look more and more like a toddler instead of a baby.

Cherish these moments.

So then today I found this picture on facebook and it absolutely stopped me in my tracks:



 So often in this world it is so easy to get caught up in the busyness of life. I smile as I write that because I know as the years go on and my boys get older it will get even busier!

So why is it so easy for me to not cherish moments? To continue to do whatever on social media instead of reading them a story.

To want to go watch that chick flick because it is their bedtime and I just want a break but wait-they want another story?

It is easier alot of the time to be selfish.

There I said it.

To put my needs before theirs.

The sad thing is that this season will pass and then what happens?


Someday-sooner then I want to admit-my boys will be 17 and 16 instead of three and two. These precious fleeting moments when they need me in that special way that littles need their Mama-this too shall pass.

So what am I doing in the meantime?

And that is when a new resolve was born. When I realized that my boys will not be with me forever.

When I realized that someday I will need to let them go...


Cherish the moments. Treasure this time. Make memories. Remember that even though this season seems to be never ending with the messes and diapers and exhaustion and sleeplessness-it will be over one day.

That day will come sooner then I care to admit.


Perspective. So often it is easy to see a nuisance or the inconvenience of having to slow down when really it should be seen as an opportunity to grow and teach.

A memory can be either good or bad.

Cherished or tossed to the side.


So my new goal? To wake up every morning and praise God for those two sweet little faces. And then in the exhaustion and mundane of life to be thankful.

Thankful for my precious boys.

Thankful for life itself.

Thankful to be able to pour into my children.

Thankful for the funny things that come out of their mouths.

Thankful for their love for me.

Thankful for another day to cherish and make memories.

Thankful for another day to be with them.

So what about you? Do you ever have a day where you are just so exhausted there is no end in sight? Motherhood is tough! But it also changes with each new season of life. What are some little things that you can look to cherish in the moment?

It is 7:35 am.

I should be in bed snuggling under my blankets. Am I? Nope.

So far I have rescued my husband, been to jail and got locked out of my car.

Did I mention it is 7:35? AM!?

Lets go back an hour.

6:35 am.

I have gotten Jason's lunch and am on day three of 16 hour shifts and think I may be losing my mind.

Case in point?

I lay down after Jason leaves and all the sudden I am thinking about the bread machine. More specifically the paddle in the bread machine that may or may not be actually attached to the machine.

I think it is. But what if it is not? Then we will get up for amazing bread and there will not be a fresh loaf it will be a nasty mess of dough. Ugh. Must get up.

It was fine.

Just as I go to snuggle back into bed I look at my phone and see two missed calls from Jason. I call him back and he informs me that he left his essential work belt on our dresser and I need to bring it to him asap.

My sister comes to be there when the kiddos wake up and I throw on some clothes and head out the door.

So here is the first explanation.

My husband works at a jail. Which is nice because it is easier on him then construction and he is able to witness to people almost everyday.

So when I went to go and take his essential work stuff to him I got to the big empty parking lot and managed to snag a space closest to where I would have to enter.

Went in and dropped his stuff off. Go to head to the car...

locked.

I cried. You see I just wanted to be in bed.

But no here I am locked out of my car at my husbands workplace and I get to go back in and explain to nice man behind the glass that I am locked out of my car and yes I am pregnant and blonde and teary and it is not even 7:30 am!!!!

In the end the policeman came and popped open the door and I was on my way to drop off books that would be overdue at the library.

It was then I looked in the mirror and saw that my mascara was smudged all under my one eye.

Me. The Mary Kay consultant. Looking like a racoon.

In the middle of the next volley of thoughts that started to race wildly through my brain I realized something had changed about me.



This insanely crazy and very embarrassing morning does not define me.

I would have used to allow it to define me. Beating myself up for being so stupid and what did people think and I am going to quite possibly strangle my husband for doing this to me-oh the list goes on.

But not this time.

Do you ever take a few steps back before you realize how many God has actually brought you forward?

I have been thinking a lot lately about the fact that God knew me before I was born. And not only that-HE formed me!

I am worth dying on that old rugged cross to Him.

So really...why do I let what people think define me when really-He and His definition of me is the only thing that really matters?

So that whole crazy hour of my life?

Instead of letting it ruin my day-it kind of made me day! Why? Well, because I realized how far God has brought me and there is such freedom in that!

SO what about you? Have you ever had one of those days that now you can look back and laugh about?

What has God been teaching you lately about who you are in Him? Do you have a favorite verse about Who you are in Him?

It is hard to believe that it has almost been a year since I last wrote on this blog. Since I opened my computer and the words just seemed to flow.

Have you ever had a season in your life where you just did not have words?

Where you were just treading water and trying to keep your head up?

Where you came face to face with so many inner demons that is seemed to completely overwhelm you?

Where getting up took courage?

Where you tried to escape reality but went to the wrong things?

Where loved ones died and you were left reeling?

Where things happened in your extended family that left you thinking that reality was really not happening because-that stuff only happens in soap operas which you don't watch anyway?

It has just been that kind of year. But you know what? God has been using it to draw me back to Himself.

Because what are you supposed to do when you keep turning to food or media or people and yet you refuse to turn to the One Who could actually help you?

Did I mention it takes me awhile to learn lessons?

Yeah.

And then when you reach the end of your rope and the Lord gives you this verse:


How beautiful is that?

My life is a busy mess right now. I have these two precious boys that are just 19 months apart and they are mess making machines!

I will clean my house and then in one hour it can be destroyed.

I am not kidding ask any mother of young children.

It can be disheartening.

But I am realizing more recently that it is a beautiful mess and one that will not last forever.

This is a season and it will not last forever it will end.

I will have a clean house-but it will seem empty.

I will have time to myself-but the house will seem so lonely.

I will be able to sleep through the night-but I will not have little arms wrapped around my neck.

This too shall pass-all to soon.

Lately I have been asking myself-what will happen when this crazy, messy, exhausting yet beautiful mess ends?

Then the next question is what am I supposed to do in the meantime?

The truth?

I can't do it as I have done a very good job of proving over the last year.

But I serve a God Who loves to take the seemingly impossible and all the sudden make it possible.

In a very beautiful and gentle way-because that is Who our God is.

"...He gently leads those with young."

That almost makes me tear up. What a wonderful God that we serve. One that loves us right where we are.

One that is willing to accepts us right where we are.

So I am going to start breathing again.

And in the moments where I feel like I can not breath I will be turning to my Savior for help. Because He is willing all I have to do it reach out for help.

And I know that He will help-because He delights in His children. He carries us close to His heart.

He gently leads those with young.

So how about you? How has your last year been? I would love to hear about it!

Do you have a lesson that the Lord has been teaching you lately?

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and as I stand here and think about what I am most thankful it would have to be my precious family! So I thought I would brag on them for a few minutes (bear with me lol).



Jason-my love, my life, my anchor, my best friend. Words can not describe how in awe I am of the wonders that God has done in our marriage since March! We went through a fire and God refined us and continues to work on us. Painful at times but truly beautiful!


Elijah-My two and a half year old. My sweet boy who loves his Mama and is so sensitive and caring (most of the time lol).
My brave boy who loves wrestling with Daddy, playing outside, adventures with his Aunties and life in general! He is obsessed with horses and anything related to horses and just loves his brother.





 He is talking constantly and sometimes the things he says can catch me off guard! I am so grateful to God for my little man :)

Micah-he will be one year old in less then a month! Where has the time gone?! My sweet boy!


 He is so happy most of the time (teething has really wreaked havoc on his poor mouth) and has the sweetest smile!

You know that moment when you are in the middle of something and it seems to be moving along about the same pace as that snail you once saw?

Ah the joys of house renovations!

Ok, so seriously maybe not that slow but is has seemed to be taking forever. However, the end is starting to be closer and we can actually see it which is SUPER exciting!

I showed you some before pictures so I thought I would share some during renovation pictures! :) Please excuse the quality they are courtesy of the old flip phone-ahem. .


Working on my pinterest inspired DIY wainscoting in our formal dining room! Didn't know I had a pinterest? Well, check it out HERE.


We added a pocket door in the kitchen and I helped build the wall! Yes, I am ridiculously proud of that fact and hey super glad that my kitchen does NOT look like that anymore (there was a teaser for you all)!


 Watching his Daddy work! Micah was management and Jason was labor :) Working on the dining room again!


And of course Elijah helped Daddy put some siding on the house because that is what big boy two year olds do! What a fun day that was :)

So what have we been doing BESIDES remodeling? Well, Jason has been doing a lot of juggling and balloon jobs on the weekends. This weekend he has three and one was at the Apple Umpkin in a little village a few minutes away from us. So I grabbed the boys and my sister Jen and we went along as well (it is a family tradition every year).





To top our weekend off we had a relaxing Sunday afternoon and Grammy's house and played outside and ate kettle corn and took naps!



And with that photo catch up I will sign off but stay tuned I have some more posts coming sooner then later :)