I have blogged before about this sale and I love it every time I go and this Spring sale was no different. I spent 3 exhausting days selling stuff and pricing it one night, going to the volunteer pre-sale on Thursday. I was there until 10:00, then got up early the next day to make it to the sale at 9:00 a.m. and volunteered from 3-6. I am REALLY tired! It is much harder to sell than I thought it was. I have volunteered before so I know that that can get tiring. But the pre-sale for volunteers and the sale itself is totally worth it. So here are my finds this year. This is all of Emily's stuff:
She didn't need a jacket, but I loved this jean Children's Place one. Its hard to tell just how cute all of it is unless you click on it up close. But there are several Gymboree shirts here and outfits for $4-10.
She didn't NEED this dress, she has 5 Spring/Summer dresses that are really nice. But it was $8 and I LOVE it.
Off to the left is a cute skirt with two matching shirts from Janie and Jack. $6 for all of them and they are SO cute!
These are Lindsey's clothes and her many shoes and Emily's 2 pairs. I did get Emmy some basic white sandals that aren't in the picture too. The red shirt is one of my favorites and I happen to find the matching sandals to go with it.
This was something I have been meaning to get for awhile and found it for an awesome price of $15. The paint is nearly new, the seat is perfect and the back tire either needs air or a new tube and that is it. Emily was SO excited when I gave it to her. I also got Lindsey a double baby doll stroller since her old one broke for $2.50. Oh and I bought a baby monitor for $9 for when we are in the new house and they are in their room while we are down stairs. Anyway, that was it for this year. I got some great stuff and can't wait for the next one in the fall!
I REALLY wanted to attend this tea party. I wanted to be a part of this process and be part of something I believe in. Unfortunately I am also a mother with a 2 year old who decided it was a good idea to get sick and I also live in a state where the weather decides snowing in April is not abnormal. So I didn't make it unfortunately. But I want to say this: I am not an extremist because I believe in smaller government, no taxes without representation, the right to bare arms, etc. I am not extreme. I am American! I believe in what the founding fathers stood for. Just like Samuel Adams said:
"If taxes are laid upon us without our having a legal representation where they are laid, we are reduced from the character of free subjects to the state of tributary slaves."
And I feel a lot like John Adams these days who said: "I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history and naval architecture, navigation, commerce and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain. "
And I am NOT extreme because I agree with Thomas Jefferson when he said: "But with respect to future debt; would it not be wise and just for that nation to declare in the constitution they are forming that neither the legislature, nor the nation itself can validly contract more debt, than they may pay within their own age, or within the term of 19 years. "
I stand for principles and feel just like Jefferson did when he said: "Every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle. We have called by different names brethren of the same principle. "
And I will continue just as Thomas Paine said, in the fight for my country, my principles and my liberties: "I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death." American Tax Tea Party
It is Easter time again and we had a wonderful holiday. We went to church early in the morning and it was such a beautiful day. Easter is such an important time to remember all that the Savior has done for us and on a more personal level, what He has done for me. I believe in my Lord. I trust in Him and I know that because of Him, my burdens are lighter. I am so grateful for this!
So many times I hear people say that the gospel is hard and hard to live. I have not found that to be the case. What is hard is life itself and my own sins. We make it harder than it needs to be. Thankfully the Lord provided us a Savior who takes our sins that we forsake and He takes the burdens and worry. When I am not doing all I can for the Lord, my life is hard, painful and stressful. But I know that He makes up for where I lack. I think the hardest lesson for many people to learn is endure to the end. Which to me is another way of saying 'don't give up'. I don't worry that I will never be perfect, because I know I can't be without Christ. When I falter or mess up, He is there. When I give up completely, He stands at the door and knocks until I open it. Giving up is another way of turning our back on God and telling him that giving into our sins and desires mean more to us than coming to Christ.
But I won't give up and I am not perfect and I fall SO often, but He is always there. Always! Easter is about Christ suffering for our sins, but also our burdens and our sorrows and He has born them for me multiple times. When no one else could give me comfort, He has been there bringing peace to my soul in dark hours. I believe in Jesus Christ, I have faith in Him and I believe in His gospel. And without Him, I am nothing.
The last month has been spent waiting on the house, being sick, cleaning, de-cluttering and finding things to take up my time so I don't go crazy waiting. We did the home inspection as we let you all know and are waiting on the appraisal and in the mean time are also waiting to see if the bank will pay for any of the fixing. We are praying they will at LEAST take care of the roof. Surprisingly, the bathroom is the cheapest part and the one they are least likely to take care of. Fine by me! We have had a few estimates and I would love to make this basement bathroom awesome. Maybe even put in a full bath to up the value.
As you can see, the shower is denting on the right side. Clear sign that ripping out the wall will be in order. Like I said, it will actually be much cheaper than originally thought, especially with great friends offering to help.
This is how Emily spent last week. Poor girl had a horrible fever for 2 days and vomited the day after that. Lindsey then later got the puking part of the illness for a couple days also. Then life returned to normal.
And recently I've made some flower bows for fun and some other bows. Then I realized that Emily's Easter dress is PERFECT with one of the flower bows. I am so happy that she has something to wear that goes so well with her dress. So much fun! Lindsey has a beautiful pink dress for Easter and I have a few pink bows that will work, not as well as this one, but she will still be cute.
Ignore the nasty rental carpet. These were a lot of fun to make and I think my bow making skills are improving. The pink and polka-dot bow will match Lindsey's pink polka-dot silk dress. There you are, that is what has kept us busy.
I realize I haven't written about General Conference yet. It was another wonderful semi-annual Conference. I loved the talks as I always do and took notes on what stood out to me.
Elder Robert D. Hales: He spoke about provident living in the economic turmoil, avoiding unnecessary debt. Also how our children will learn to do without just as our grandparents did and it will be the better for us to learn those lessons and we will be blessed. As Christ said "Wherefore do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy."
Elder M. Russel Ballard: He spoke on the importance of finding our testimony, by the same means of prayer as it has always been. Not through google or text messaging. "It doesn't take living a sinful life know it is better to live a righteous one. We don't have to let our lands become Sodom and Gumorrah to know it is no place to raise a family."
Elder Quentin L. Cook: Talked about how the church never teaches that a majority of the Lord's children will go to hell. There is hope for those of other faiths and we do not teach criticism of other faiths.
Elder Richard G. Scott: I loved his talk. He spoke about hard and tragic things that have happened to him. Loosing two children and his wife, but he said he didn't complain against the Lord because he knows He knows best. "We should never complain, if we are living worthily, about the things that happen in our lives".
Pres. Deider F Uchtdorf: He spoke about Palm Sunday and how the apostles must have thought that the ushering in of Jesus Christ with Palm leaves was a turning point, but it was temporary. Daily we need to apply and reapply the teachings of the gospel. "We cannot receive the full blessings if we neglect the tree and do not nourish it. It is not enough to surround ourselves with symbols of our religion."
Elder Jeffery R. Holland: To those who feel alone. He spoke of the Savior's solitary task of bearing our sins. How the Father was never fully gone, but that Christ had to be left alone so that he would know how the rest of mankind had felt in sin. Because Jesus walked a long and lonely road, we do not have to.
Elder Dallin H. Oaks: He spoke about unselfish service. Lose ourselves in the service of others. Latter day saints are linked to the laws of sacrifice. We do not serve our Savior well if we fear the world more than God. C.S. Lewis wrote that Satan gave the lie that man can be like God and do things without Him and try to find things other than God to make us happy. Entitlement is selfish, taking much and giving little. Instead of focusing on me, we should focus on what we can become. We should go to church for and not what we can get "out" of it.
Elder David A. Bednar: The eternal importance of temple attendance. We do not take His name upon us at baptism, only our 'wilingness' to take His name upon us. Something else must happen first and that happens in the temple. The Savior's name is upon the temple. Therefore everything we do should point towards the temple. There is a difference between church going, tithing paying members and those who regularly worship in the temple. Attending the temple offers a certain protection, protection from our enemies and from Lucifer. We will go through hard times, but God will never us forsake.
I love General Conference. I always feel the Spirit in listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I always hear something I need to hear. I don't feel stressed or pressured by the gospel of Christ, I only stress at my own sins and weaknesses. We all fall short without the grace and atonement of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful to be able to listen to those who have such spirit and strength. President Monson spoke such great words of being better people and I love listening to the Prophet and Apostles. I can't wait to read their words in the Ensign. I am grateful to know that my children know where to turn for peace. We took them to the Draper temple open house last month. Emily was so reverent and when I asked her what she thought of it she told me "Mommy, that made me feel good in my heart." I know just what she means.
This is one of my most favorite songs sung by the tabernacle choir and it was sung this Conference as well.
Okay, so home inspections are curses and blessings I think. Without them I would never know all the disgusting things about the houses I keep trying to buy. This house has a 25 year old roof going on 30 years. A rotted out basement shower that has also rotted the wall AND a furnace that doesn't work. A deck that is falling off the house and a leak in the wall that so far that we can see hasn't majorly damaged anything, just caused mold. Nice. The investor put new carpet in, painted and even painted the rotting wall in the bathroom. This place is bank owned and probably good thing because whoever this investor was tried to hide the problems. There are small issues like tub fixures that need to be replaced or wiring and that isn't a huge deal. The worst part for me is the previous tenants had a love of all things disgusting and had a mice infestation at one point. Which means the attic was so nicely laid out for the culprits and so is the food storage room and under the stairs. The mice are gone, but there remains are here and now we have to take steps to ensure that they don't come back- if we take the house. We are asking the bank to pay for the roof, the bathroom and the furnace. Which would be so nice because we have had a few roofing estimates and the roof would be pretty cool and we would get to have a nice bathroom and decide on our own awesome tile.
The neighbor lady told us that the previous owners were beyond gross with their pets and mess and were quite trashy. Why do we always end up with houses like this? What is with our luck? Honestly. We are also doing another meth test what with the new law putting the responsibility on the owner. We don't want to be left holding THAT bag. So now we continue to wait. I still think the house has potential. Get rid of the yuck and fix the problems and it is a great house with room and potential. At this point though I am half and half. If things don't work out, there are other things out there, but we will have to rent for awhile since we don't have any more extension time here. If we get the house and they pay for it, I can really make it work- I just have to clean up mouse poo. What ever happens, happens.
She didn't need a jacket, but I loved this jean Children's Place one. Its hard to tell just how cute all of it is unless you click on it up close. But there are several Gymboree shirts here and outfits for $4-10.
She didn't NEED this dress, she has 5 Spring/Summer dresses that are really nice. But it was $8 and I LOVE it.
Off to the left is a cute skirt with two matching shirts from Janie and Jack. $6 for all of them and they are SO cute!
These are Lindsey's clothes and her many shoes and Emily's 2 pairs. I did get Emmy some basic white sandals that aren't in the picture too. The red shirt is one of my favorites and I happen to find the matching sandals to go with it.
This was something I have been meaning to get for awhile and found it for an awesome price of $15. The paint is nearly new, the seat is perfect and the back tire either needs air or a new tube and that is it. Emily was SO excited when I gave it to her. I also got Lindsey a double baby doll stroller since her old one broke for $2.50. Oh and I bought a baby monitor for $9 for when we are in the new house and they are in their room while we are down stairs. Anyway, that was it for this year. I got some great stuff and can't wait for the next one in the fall!
