Last Thursday, I had some unexpected but very, very, welcome news. Brian sent me a text message saying that he was starting first shift on Monday. I was thrilled! It is exactly what I had been praying for (and the Girl Scout leaders, see previous post). He was moving from second shift to first shift and we would be able to spend our evenings together.
This news is pretty big to our household. At Brian's previous job (in KY), Brian had to work 7 years to make it to first shift. It only took 4 months here. It is something I have been praying over since he took the job. I hate second shift. It is the time of day when everything exciting happens. All of the kids extracurricular activities are during the second shift hours. The whole day is just thrown off, really. Before, it seemed like we had less time to spend together as a family since everything had to be rushed into the morning hours. Homeschooling was dragging a bit too since we didn't start our schoolwork until after Brian left for work. Kids are much better at concentrating when they work in the morning hours rather than the afternoon when the neighborhood kids are outside playing and wanting them to join in.
Another answered prayer, of course! First shift was pretty vital to our family's harmony. Several years ago, I worked second shift and Brian worked third shift. The result was a near divorce and tearing apart of the family! Many people survive on odd shifts, but I knew the only way we would was to lean on God. He carried us through this time.
Our schedule is returning to normal. And even though Brian had to drop his classes at college because the news of first shift came too late to add new ones, he will be able to coach football in the fall if a position should become available. I am sure it will. Football and Brian are like attracting magnets. Come fall, I fully plan on being in the stands of some high school football game, cheering on a new team!
Friday, April 15, 2011
Friday, April 8, 2011
The Rug
I love a bargain. And I can usually find them in some unusual places. Since moving to Oakwood, the hip way to acquire a deal is to go estate shopping. I have been going to them for the past month or so. Not all of them are created equal, however, and most of them are full of old lady clothing (we're talking polyester, not vintage) and overpriced antiques. But, if you know what you are looking for, you can find a diamond in the rough.
A local antique dealer, who is rumored to be overpriced, was conducting an estate sale two streets away. I was hesitant to go, thinking to myself that I won't be able to find anything that I would actually want to put my money on. When I entered the house, there were several beautiful lamps, vases, and dishware that I eagerly examined. The prices weren't horrible, but they were still more than I wanted to pay. Part of the love affair I have with my purchases is the price. The better the deal, the more I love them. Sad but true. So, I continued looking around, and overheard a conversation that two antique brokers were having. One man was displeased because he had not been called for the "wholesale" day at that particular sale. The other man sympathized and went on to talk about the same thing happening to him at a different place. Hmm, so all of this stuff, stuff that the bright & cheerful appraiser was promoting, had already been picked over by antique store dealers and interior decorators? Not an encouraging thought. Considering that, I frowned on the prices even more.
Upstairs, a lady negotiated over several mediocre paintings. Another woman was in awe of matching duvet covers. I, however, was giving up on the sale. Or so I thought. I tripped over a very long package wrapped in plastic. I glanced down- a rug. A very inconvenient place to put one, I thought to myself and turned to leave. Back downstairs I glanced about the place one more time. No, nothing was calling my name. I stepped outside. It was snowing again. As I stood there putting on my gloves, something made me step back inside. I can't say that it was a voice whispering to me or that it was even a feeling. It was just...odd. I went back inside, not sure what I was looking for or why I had returned.
It felt good to be back inside where it was warm. The appraiser didn't even bat an eye at my sudden reappearance. Not sure of what I was doing, I once more surveyed the items for sale. Nothing. Why was I still here? I went upstairs for a last glance, though the items upstairs were more dismal than the ones downstairs. My eyes fell on that long roll of plastic. The rug. I leaned closer, peering through the plastic. No way! I thought. This rug matched the one I had in my family room. It was much bigger too. The largest size you can buy in that particular design, in fact. I glanced at the price tag: $65. We paid twice that for the rug we currently had! This rug was new, had never been opened and was a room sized area rug for $65...and it matched what we already had! Wow! This was definitely a bargain! I tried to hide my excitement since an older lady could see that I was very interested in the rug and had come over to investigate the piece herself. I immediately called my husband and asked him if the rug would fit in our living room. He said it would, so I flagged down the nearby sales attendant and told her that I wanted it!
As I was checking out, the sales lady informed me that the rug wasn't original to the current estate sale and that it had been brought just that morning over from a sale that they had the previous week. She helped me to carry it out to the truck and I told her that it matched a rug that we already owned. She seemed surprised. Then she smiled, "Looks like this rug was meant just for you!" I couldn't have agreed more.
I know some would dismiss this as a lucky coincidence or even scoff over the idea that God would provide me with this rug when I went searching for a bargain. But what they fail to realize, is that I had been praying for a way to make my house a home with what little resources we had. Because of the expenses of our move, I did not have much extra money to use in furnishing our new place. Many of our old pieces didn't fit, were broken in the move, or we just didn't have what we needed to furnish all of our rooms. To many, it would seem trivial to pray for those things. I did not ask God to give me a good deal on a rug. I did not ask God for more money to buy home decorations. I simply said a prayer for Him to help me make my house a home...some way. A rug does not make a home, that is for sure, but it was a start. I do not hesitate to give Him the glory for my finding that rug. Or rather, that rug finding me. Even though it may be a little one, it was another answered prayer.
P.S. I looked up how much it would cost to purchase the same rug at retail: $325.
A local antique dealer, who is rumored to be overpriced, was conducting an estate sale two streets away. I was hesitant to go, thinking to myself that I won't be able to find anything that I would actually want to put my money on. When I entered the house, there were several beautiful lamps, vases, and dishware that I eagerly examined. The prices weren't horrible, but they were still more than I wanted to pay. Part of the love affair I have with my purchases is the price. The better the deal, the more I love them. Sad but true. So, I continued looking around, and overheard a conversation that two antique brokers were having. One man was displeased because he had not been called for the "wholesale" day at that particular sale. The other man sympathized and went on to talk about the same thing happening to him at a different place. Hmm, so all of this stuff, stuff that the bright & cheerful appraiser was promoting, had already been picked over by antique store dealers and interior decorators? Not an encouraging thought. Considering that, I frowned on the prices even more.
Upstairs, a lady negotiated over several mediocre paintings. Another woman was in awe of matching duvet covers. I, however, was giving up on the sale. Or so I thought. I tripped over a very long package wrapped in plastic. I glanced down- a rug. A very inconvenient place to put one, I thought to myself and turned to leave. Back downstairs I glanced about the place one more time. No, nothing was calling my name. I stepped outside. It was snowing again. As I stood there putting on my gloves, something made me step back inside. I can't say that it was a voice whispering to me or that it was even a feeling. It was just...odd. I went back inside, not sure what I was looking for or why I had returned.
It felt good to be back inside where it was warm. The appraiser didn't even bat an eye at my sudden reappearance. Not sure of what I was doing, I once more surveyed the items for sale. Nothing. Why was I still here? I went upstairs for a last glance, though the items upstairs were more dismal than the ones downstairs. My eyes fell on that long roll of plastic. The rug. I leaned closer, peering through the plastic. No way! I thought. This rug matched the one I had in my family room. It was much bigger too. The largest size you can buy in that particular design, in fact. I glanced at the price tag: $65. We paid twice that for the rug we currently had! This rug was new, had never been opened and was a room sized area rug for $65...and it matched what we already had! Wow! This was definitely a bargain! I tried to hide my excitement since an older lady could see that I was very interested in the rug and had come over to investigate the piece herself. I immediately called my husband and asked him if the rug would fit in our living room. He said it would, so I flagged down the nearby sales attendant and told her that I wanted it!
As I was checking out, the sales lady informed me that the rug wasn't original to the current estate sale and that it had been brought just that morning over from a sale that they had the previous week. She helped me to carry it out to the truck and I told her that it matched a rug that we already owned. She seemed surprised. Then she smiled, "Looks like this rug was meant just for you!" I couldn't have agreed more.
I know some would dismiss this as a lucky coincidence or even scoff over the idea that God would provide me with this rug when I went searching for a bargain. But what they fail to realize, is that I had been praying for a way to make my house a home with what little resources we had. Because of the expenses of our move, I did not have much extra money to use in furnishing our new place. Many of our old pieces didn't fit, were broken in the move, or we just didn't have what we needed to furnish all of our rooms. To many, it would seem trivial to pray for those things. I did not ask God to give me a good deal on a rug. I did not ask God for more money to buy home decorations. I simply said a prayer for Him to help me make my house a home...some way. A rug does not make a home, that is for sure, but it was a start. I do not hesitate to give Him the glory for my finding that rug. Or rather, that rug finding me. Even though it may be a little one, it was another answered prayer.
P.S. I looked up how much it would cost to purchase the same rug at retail: $325.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Girl Scouts (in Ohio)
One of the first things I did when moving to Ohio was to find a new Girl Scout troop for my oldest daughter. Our troop in Kentucky was very active and since I was the leader, I think that it was well-organized....not perfect, but pretty good. I started the troop when my daughter was a Daisy and kept it going into Brownies up until this past month when we had our last "she-bang." During that time period, our troop worked on over 30 Try-Its and attended twice as many events. My daughter's sash has overlapping badges and patches (much like mine when I was a Brownie.) Girl Scouts has been a big part of our lives in this family and something that we enjoy.
So, the troop here in Ohio, come to find out, is a new troop. They just started up this year, and only one other girl in the troop had any previous Girl Scout experience (and that was only 1 year.) The leaders do not pre-plan meetings. In fact, if they do not have anything planned they just talk to the girls or let them run around and play. The leader, who is very nice, could not answer any of the questions I had about the future bridging up to Juniors. In fact, she had never heard of "bridging." This scared me.
The disorganization and lack of communication of this troop totally baffles me. I understand that the parents who are the leader and co-leader had not planned on being in those positions and rather found themselves thrust into. But where is the training for them? I find it hard to believe that they are not better prepared! I rounded up some of the left-over supplies I had and offered them to the group. I offered to make them a troop songbook (still haven't heard back on that one) but the leader did applaud my idea of actually singing songs! Really! They had not sang any songs- not even the Brownie Smile song! Gasp!
After one meeting, my daughter told me that they did the Girl Scout sign like the Boy Scouts, using only two fingers. ??????Huh????? Everything in me is freaking out. I am sad to say that because my husband works 2nd shift, there is little I can do to help. Though, let me assure you, that I have tried to offer what assistance I can and most of it has gone unused. I did send a craft to do this past week for the troop meeting (they only meet every 2 weeks) and my daughter said that the girls loved it! They had never done a craft!!!
Needless to say, the current leader and co-leader have already asked me (begged me, really) to be the leader next year. I told them that depends on my husband getting on a different shift. They said that they would be praying for it.
So, the troop here in Ohio, come to find out, is a new troop. They just started up this year, and only one other girl in the troop had any previous Girl Scout experience (and that was only 1 year.) The leaders do not pre-plan meetings. In fact, if they do not have anything planned they just talk to the girls or let them run around and play. The leader, who is very nice, could not answer any of the questions I had about the future bridging up to Juniors. In fact, she had never heard of "bridging." This scared me.
The disorganization and lack of communication of this troop totally baffles me. I understand that the parents who are the leader and co-leader had not planned on being in those positions and rather found themselves thrust into. But where is the training for them? I find it hard to believe that they are not better prepared! I rounded up some of the left-over supplies I had and offered them to the group. I offered to make them a troop songbook (still haven't heard back on that one) but the leader did applaud my idea of actually singing songs! Really! They had not sang any songs- not even the Brownie Smile song! Gasp!
After one meeting, my daughter told me that they did the Girl Scout sign like the Boy Scouts, using only two fingers. ??????Huh????? Everything in me is freaking out. I am sad to say that because my husband works 2nd shift, there is little I can do to help. Though, let me assure you, that I have tried to offer what assistance I can and most of it has gone unused. I did send a craft to do this past week for the troop meeting (they only meet every 2 weeks) and my daughter said that the girls loved it! They had never done a craft!!!
Needless to say, the current leader and co-leader have already asked me (begged me, really) to be the leader next year. I told them that depends on my husband getting on a different shift. They said that they would be praying for it.
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