Deals... and Time to Figure Out How to Post Pictures!

I love buying Christmas stuff. Even more, I love giving Christmas stuff to other people. I love getting Christmas stuff at the end of the season sales, saving it until next year and not only giving presents to people, but knowing that I got it at a steal price!

Today I had the day off of work. I got my hair cut (thanks Laura!) because I did not have it cut since February 2008. I know, it's awful. Man does it feel nice to have all that hair gone. The guy had to sweep three times during her cutting my hair because more and more just kept coming off.

After the hair cut, I went to ShareStuff, a thrift store in Rockford that all it's proceeds go to ShareFest, which helps clean up and improve the Rockford school buildings. I don't feel guilty buying from them because ShareStuff is ran by Heartland Church, and they throw a prom for "my kids" at the Center. I may not believe that Heartland has the best theology in the world, I can not deny that they are trying to bring Jesus to my city and they do a good job of showing God's love. Ok, I'm getting to the point. While there, I immediatel grabbed this Christmas card display three, for $2!!!!

Last week I went to ShareStuff, and I bought like twenty items of clothing and spent $15. These were Carter's kids clothing and one piece pajamas and sweaters and nice stuff people! (I was buying some clothes for the newest little ones at the Center, I can't stand them not having enough.)


I also bough this bath mat that is like three and a half feet long. One of the kids needs to take bathes, but she doesn't have much upper body strength so we use two bathmats to make sure she doesn't slip. I figured she would appreciate having something to sit on that wasn't nasty dirty. It is supposed to be a mat for a parent to lean on when bathing a baby, but works well for her to lay on. I can't find too many examples of it online, I am too tired to try extremely hard, but I did see on add for $20, I am assuming it sells for between $15-$20 generally. Well, guess how much I paid! 75cents! WoohoOO!

Well, I have now finished the post. I am grateful for my finds at ShareStuff, but am worried I have succomed to a new addiction of thift stores. I have also figured out how to insert pictures. I call this a successful post!

Grateful For...

Working with children with disabilities, I've learned that I have many things to be grateful for.

-I am grateful I have parents that would do anything for me. I have been working with my kids for three years, and have yet to meet a few of the parents.

-I am grateful I can speak (probably not everyone else is thankful I can. =) Many of my children can not speak verbally and I see the frustration in their eyes. It only took one time to see the children come home from school looking exhausted. I thought, what is so difficult for someone that gets to play games and have a simple schedule of activities every day? I then kicked myself, and realized, it i probably exhausting to not be able to speak! How do you make choices? What if you can't communicate you don't like what is for dinner, and are so hungry? My poor babies eat it anyways and there goes simple happiness. I could go on and on.

-I was eating pop corn and licked my fingers. I am grateful I have fingers. Can you imagine what life would be like without thumbs? A little more difficult I would assume!

-We just got two new little boys that are brothers. They are six and eight but barely the size of two and three year olds. Their mom was unable to take proper care of them. I am grateful they are safe. I am grateful I am safe, and have been safe since I was born.

-I am grateful I have friends. Many of my kids will never know what friends are. They don't have social abilities like "most" people. Yes they have people they care about but they won't be able to call friends, go to sleep overs or go to birthday parties.

I am grateful to have experiences in my life that have taught me to be grateful. I am grateful I don't have the newest clothes, that I have un-finished painted rooms in my house, and have to hang my clothes to dry (yes-all of them.)

I pray, I grow more grateful everyday, and that I give to those in need when ever possible.