I'M HIRED

As I wrote about 3 months ago I was hired on a temporary basis for a oil services company in Marlow which is just north of Duncan.  I was told that I was working on a probationary basis for 3 months then they would decide if they wanted to hire me.  Wednesday that told me I was hired if I still wanted. to work there.  WANTED!! You better believe I wanted to stay and work.  I really enjoy my job.  It's the first one I have enjoyed in about 2 1/2 years.  The owners are awesome to work for!!  For Thanksgiving they gave all their employee's a Murf's ham.  Murf's is a gun store in Duncan that sells the best peppered ham.  I usually buy one each year since I have one son-in-law who does not like turkey.  Was I ever so grateful I did not have to  this year.  At Christmas they gave us a medium size box of Sorrel's nuts, which is a business south of Comanache OK that has pecans, peanuts, etc.  My package had a jar of local honey, peanut brittle, spiced peanuts, yogurt covered pecans, cinnamon peecans and chocolate cover peanuts.  To say the least all that is left is the package are the yogurt covered pecans and spiced nuts.  Then they threw a Christmas party and handed everyone Christmas cards.  Mine had a $200.00 bonus.  I was ever so grateful for that since I was trying to figure out how to buy everything I needed for Christmas.    God is truly good!!!!  My continuing thanks list includes:.

66.  For my Murf's ham, the Sorrell box of goodies and my $200.00 bonus.

67.  For finding some awesome bargains on winter shirts at JCP.

68.  For Jesus being born of Mary and  becoming a man and being willing to die on the cross so He      could deliver us from everything the devil would try to throw or put on us.

69.  I am getting to take Thursday and Friday off before Christmas.

70.  For working for Godly/Christian employers.

IS NOT GOD TRULY  AWESOME AND WONDERFUL??  THANK YOU LORD FOR YOUR GOODNESS AND MERCY TO ME!!  I LOVE YOU!!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year to Give Thanks

Aw, I just love this time of the year.  First Thanksgiving and then the whirl wind of parties, shopping and decorating for Christmas.  Love, love, love this time of the year starting the 1st of October until the end of the year.  I am continuing to count my blessings.

56.  For a friends wonderful birthday party I went to Saturday.  It was Princess Party with all the wonderful "Daughter's of Zion" as the birthday girl called us.  It was fun and I throughly enjoyed all the company.  HAPPY 36th BRANDI!!

57. I'm almost finished decorating.  Just a few more touches and it will be complete. YEA!!

58. I had plenty of work to keep me busy today!!!  No down time!!

59. The many blessings that God has been pouring out on me.  They are small things, but oh how I love them.

60.  Dinner with a friend I haven't spent time with in quite a while.  It was throughly enjoyable.

61.  OU BEAT NEBRASKA!! YEA!!

62.  13 more days  till I see my baby, grandbaby and son-in-law.

63.  For being told the Christmas presents I was having to go to Norman to get for my grand children are actually found here in Duncan.  YEA!!  I don't have to make a trip to Norman.

64.  For the being the only one most of the time in the office which allows me to pray or listen to music or sermons.

65.  For being allowed to choose my schedule daily at work.  I can work a straight 8 hour day and eat lunch as I work or I can take a 1/2  hr lunch or an hour lunch. My choice.  Most of the time I work a straight 8 hour day. 

Blessed to be a Blessing!!  That is who I am!!

Giving Thanks With A Grateful Heart

If it doesn't come from the heart it doesn't mean much! I thank God he has been so good to me and sometimes my heart explodes out into song of thanks to Him.  

46.  I got to see my oldest daughter, her husband and my grandson this weekend. What fun we had together.

47.  For my daughter helping me bring Christmas decorations in from my shed.

48.  For being able to use the new program at church for the songs and scripture! WOW it was quick and easy and no hang ups!!

49.  For being able to find Spiderman 3 for $1.96 at Walmart.

50.  For someone blessing me with my way paid to our church banquet!  YEA!!

51.  For getting a set of saw horses (I'm not sure what the correct word is for them but that's what I've always heard them called) at the awesome price of $13.56 (includes tax).  They hold up to 500 lbs. (when will I ever have something that heavy to put on them). Thank God I held out and didn't buy any before Sears had their black Friday sale. Everywhere else I looked I could only buy one for that price or even for a higher price.  Thank God for black Friday specials!!

52.  For an awesome Thanksgiving with my sister and her family less her youngest daughter, my Mom and my friend Liz.  We really enjoyed all the different foods we all fixed. Not your normal Thanksgiving fare but it was fun and different!

53.  For only working 1/2 day on Friday. Got off at 12:30!!

54.  For my son-in-law figuring out why my Christmas tree would not light up.

55.  For OU beating OSU Saturday night.  An awesome game.  It was a real on the edge of your seat game.

 I SERVE AN AWESOME, GENEROUS, KIND AND LOVING GOD!!  PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME!

A DAY OF THANKS

Thanksgiving is only 3 days away, well 2 if you don't actually count Thursday.  There's so much to be thankful for, but we need to start stating it and not keep it all bottled up inside us.  Let God and people know verbally what you are thankful for.

36.  Monday night prayer meetings and that to night we had an equal amount of men to women!!

37.  How quiet it was at work even though it was a Monday.  Gave me time to write my petition out to God.

38.  I'm almost finished stripping all the paint off a dresser I'm working on.

39.  I got up in time to go to work amd was not late.  Alarm was set on vibrate so I didn't hear it go off.

40.  The taste of a grilled cheese, ham and tomato sandwich

41.  My youngest daughter is such a hoot.  She makes me laugh even when she writes on her blog.

42.  I have all my senses alive and well and that I am healthy!

43.  I am not in jail or in a hospital

44.  Psalms 118: 19-21

45.  1st John 5:14-15

May everyone have a blessed week and a Happy Thanksgiving.

Thankful For

Aw, I should start doing these on Tuesdays since Monday always seems to be so busy, but here's my thanks to God this week!

26.  For the new software program for songs we are getting at church. It's much easier and can do way more things!! And will not cause problems like the last one YEA!!!

27.  For God's Word and how I delight in finding new things in it.  Even those things I have read over and over suddenly (!!!!!) the light comes on!! And I understand what He wants me to see!!

28.  Watching my puppy run around outside and play right after I get home. He's a hoot!

29.  Sitting quietly and listening to instrumental music. It soothes me and relaxes me and draws me closer to God.

30.  The smell of baking brownies. And yum were they good!

32.  Curling up on the couch under two blankets with a good book or the GOOD BOOK!!

33.   Prince at my feet keeping them warm.

34.  God encouraging me to "Don't lose hope and don't give up" thru a guest speaker at church on Sunday.  Only He knew how important and much I needed to hear that!

35. The sound of wind blowing thru a cracked window.  Just enough that it whistles!!

MORE GRATITUDE MONDAY

I missed last Monday due to problems with allergies.  I hate them and thank God they don't bug me that often but when they do I just want to sleep.   So I will do double duty today to make up for last week.

16.  I  thank God that Jesus bore 39 stripes on His back for my healing and that I am free from allergies. (Yes, speak those things as not as though they were. Roman 4:17)

17.  For hot and cold running water

18.  For electricty

19.  For indoor plumbing

20.  For my car

21.  My awesome job that God gave me and that I enjoy it

22.  For my wonderful cocker spaniel Prince

23.  I live in the good ole U.S.A.  and God placed me in Oklahoma

24.  I have awesome neighbors

25.  Someone just blessed me with some makeup brushes, makeup and cleansing creme and mositurizer which I was really needing.


                                                     God is truly good all the time

                                                          Loving My Papa daily

                                                                 Brenda

FALL GRATITUDE

Every day I take the back roads to work.  I only have to drive 13 miles, but there is always something to catch my eye.  About a week ago I decided to start capturing the beauty I saw with my camera.  I pray these pictures capture at least some of what God showed me.  But first I have say I am grateful and so thankful for:

11.  Jesus, that He was willing to die so I could be saved in every area of my life, not just from hell, but every area, when I believe and reach out and receive the gift of salvation from His beautiful hands.

12.  For the beauty of a foggy morning!

This captured my eye as I was driving to work the taller tree stood out and seemed to tower over the smaller.  To me it was beautiful with the fog in the background.

13:  For the beauty of bales of hay waiting in the field to be used for the winter.

The above reminds me of a caterpillar.  I took both of these on the same day as the trees.

Two rows of round bales with the sun just coming up.

14:  For a beautiful sunrise!  Ignore the antenna and car top had to make a quick stop and take fast so I could get to work!  

15:  For this small surprise right outside my office window.  Just had to go out and take a picture!

The day was overcast when I took this.  Usually the flowers are pointing toward the east and the sun but this day no sun was out.  Still I thought it was interesting that they grew right behind a window some one had leaned up against a shed.

Thank you Jesus for the beauty you have placed all around us.  Help us to STOP and SEE what you the Creator has given to us Your creation.

Love Brenda

GRATITUE MONDAY

Every Monday I am giving praise and thanks to God for all his goodness to me!

6.  For the awesome women at Rivers of Life International church who pray for each other and who have helped me in my times of weakness. This is my best friend Liz. A real prayer warrior and one who I can always count on to pray with me and for me. 



7.  For my wonderful Pastor's whose hearts desire what God wants above all else.

 
8.  A grandson whose heart delights in God even at the age of 11. Chase has a tender heart and cries when the anointing of God is on him.
9.  For a grand daughter whose quiet beauty and smile is a delight to see.  Wish she were closer to her Mamoo and not hundreds of miles away in Tampa FL. :>(

10. For my home God gave me!  Only picture I have is one during the snow storm in Jan.

Gratitude Community

Since September was the start of the Jewish New Year I have been saying "This is the greatest year of my life", so I intend to start making it so by giving God thanks!  I'm going to start being part of the Gratitude Community on my birthday which is today October 11, 2010.

1.  For the beauty of the fog in the trees on my way to work today
2.  For being blessed with so many friends leaving me happy b'day messages on my Facebook wall
3.  For the new job!  God placed me in the best place!  A job doing exactly what I enjoy!
4.  For my Mama who just turned 84 this past Saturday.  She is such a blessing to me.
5.  For my daughters.  I thank God he gave me such wonderful girls.  I'm so proud of them.

This is my start.  Every Monday I want to add more as I allow God to show me things from the smallest to the biggest to be grateful for.

God is good so to me!!

Awesome Coffee Table

Today I happened to stop by a garage sale close to my house and I found this awesome oak coffee table.

This will become a bench at the end of my full size bed in the guest room.  It has some glass stains on the top but I intend to sand this down and paint it a beautiful navy blue.  Ok, you say why paint this and not just stain it.  I could just stain but that will not fit into my bedroom theme.  My American room needs to be consistent with the theme of red, white and blue.  If I ever get a bigger house I will probably use it else where and redo it and give it an oak stain, but till then it will be painted navy.

Kim, here's my vanity after I got it setup in my room.  I'm going to paint it black and buy some square wooden knobs and paint them one of the colors in my bedspread just to give it some pop!!.

See this is much better than the small school desk I was using.  I thank God I had at least that to use, but I am really excited to do something with this.  I had the next several months all planned out on what to do, but I think I'll just take it slow and easy and  not try to feel the rush or pressure to do so much in such a short time.  First and foremost is to get the American room completed!!  Then I'll start on my room.

Just ignore my image in the mirror.  I didn't even think about that when I was taking this picture. 

WREATH FIND

Well, you just got to see what else I found when I picked up the wonderful desk/dresser or whatever you want to call the piece I found on the curb.  VIOLA!!!

I know nothing really to get excited about, but you can't pass up a wreath that is great shape.  All it needs is a little TLC and removal of the flowers and some fall items put on it to make it perfect for my front door. OR maybe beside my front door.  I must have really lousy lighting in my home because everything is coming out with a yellow tint to it.  LOL  Well, as soon as I get both of my little beauties completely redone I will be showing you the after.  Guess I won't be eating much this late at night.  Maybe some popcorn to tide me over till breakfast tomorrow morning!!  Sleep well everyone!

WONDERFUL CURB FIND

My puppy and I headed for the bank today around 7:00 PM.  Yes, my bank stays open to 8:00, which is really great for me.  Any hoo  I decided to stop by Kwik Serv, a convenience store here in Duncan, to pick up a drink. About a half block up I found this wonderful curb find.

This is not the best picture.  It is 8:30 at night in my bedroom when I took this.  I tried to get a better exposure, but  all I have is a little Sony digital camera.  Actually it could be the one taking the picture who needs to be taught how to use the thing.  Well back to the desk.

I had been wanting something to put in my bedroom to use as a vanity, since the one I have is actually an old school desk. It needs a tad bit of work, but that's o.k.  This was really heavy, and I was unable to fit in my car. My wonderful neighbors pitched in and helped me.  One supplied the truck the other neighbor and his wife took the truck and me to the house to pick it up.  Awesome neighbors!  We help each other out a lot. Until I am able to work on this little baby I intend to clean it up and use it.  I'm think of painting it black, but who knows I might change my mind before then and paint it something else.  Any body have any suggestions on color feel free to leave a comment and let me know.  It will probably be next year since I have a lot of walls to paint in my house before Christmas and my family comes to stay with me.  Well, gotta go eat.  In all the excitement I haven't had time to stop and eat.  Isn't God good? When you least expect it you find something like this little beauty.

PRAISE GOD I HAVE A JOB!!!!

You heard my complaints on a recent post about not having a job.  Well I have one!  Not full time, but 3 days a week, 5 hrs a day.  My brother-in-law, who is a hospice chaplain, called about one of his patients needing help cleaning her home and cooking a meal for her and hubby.   I went over while he was visiting them and talked with a wonderful little lady.  She has COPD and is unable to keep house or cook like she used to.  Her hubby is on Home Care and she is on hospice.  She is a talker!! You don't have to think about saying anything.  I really enjoyed talking with her and will start tomorrow.  I go in at 9:00 and leave at 2:00.  I  told her up front that I am looking for something full time and she had no problem with it.  At least I will be making some money to help pay the big majority of my bills. YEA AND PRAISE GOD HE IS SOO GOOD TO ME!!  Yesterday I had Express Personnel call, and see if I wanted to work temporary for a day.  I took it and worked 6 1/4 hours answering the phone.  I read most of the day between phone calls.  Kinda boring but was thrilled to be making some money!  I decided when I get a job I'm not going to complain about it.  I'm going in with the idea that I want to do my very best and be a light for Jesus to those around me.  I did my best before in every job I had but like most people always found something to complain about.  I don't want to fall into that trap again.  I figure if God gave it to me then He wants me to shine for Him while I am there.  Guess, He has really been working on me while I am off and has helped me change my attitude about some things.   This new job is a way to see if it was a complete change or just a temporary change.  I choose to believe it is a forever change!!!  

 I'm still praying  the one job I interviewed for will call me, but so far no!  They told me "soon" but what their soon is and what mine is are two different things.  I've called them two weeks in a row.  First week they called me back and the second week (last week) they still have not answered me back.  I figure what the hay I'm not calling anymore.  If I don't hear from them in the next week or two I'll just chalk it up to as they've already hired someone.  That was the one job I really, really wanted!!

THANK YOU JESUS FOR MY NEW PART-TIME JOB!!! WHOO HOOOO!!!


ADDENDUM:  When I went to the job cleaning/cooking for the lady I mentioned above--her daughter and I went to get groceries.  WHile there I got a call from Express Personnel about a job in  Marlow at a place called Terraco Environmental.  It's an trucking company who does all types of oilfield work.  They needed someone to do their quick books.  It starts out working through Express Personnel on a 90 day lets see if this works out with me and then turns to permanent if they like my work.  God gave me the perfect place to work.  I'm seeing the flip side of freight billing from the freight companies side vs paying the freight bills I used to do while at Halliburton. AND bonus!! My favorite job at Halliburton was working as the freight resolution clerk until they started switching people to other jobs.  They just told us and we had to go!  Well, I'm really excited to see the opposite side of that!! YEA!!  I'ts a small office of just about 4 people, but generally I only see 2 of them and the others come sliding in sometime during the day very briefly.  When the lady leaves in two weeks I'll probably only be seeing 1 consistently during the day and he comes and goes during the day, so that leaves chunks of time by myself.  That's ok with me! This is the perfect job for me!! YEA  I LOVE IT!  GOD IS SOOOO GOOD  TO ME!!

Decisions And Anger

Each decision you make in your life is very important.  Sometimes you don't always realize until later if that decision was right or wrong.  My first major big decision was to quit a good paying job I had in 2008.  I took early retirement from a company I had worked with for 15 years.  Reason: I was wanting out of the department I was in, but was never able to get a job in another dept.  I had people tell me "Brenda, you are too good of a worker and they won't let you go."  I told them if that was the reason I couldn't get out then it was wrong of them to hold me back.  I'm not saying that was the reason I never got out of the dept I'm just stating what some of my co-workers told me.  BUT that was not the major reason I left.  You would think I was old enough not to let my flesh rule but no I let it rule big time and got upset over something trivial.  I wanted to go to Florida to be with my family for Christmas vacation, but they had a rule you could only carry 2 days vacation after the 15th of Dec.  I tried to get them to work with me on the vacation but they wouldn't budge. I found out they were doing it for other people in the dept why not me?  The big majority of the people in the dept had family in the town I live in and did not have to go out of town.  OK I know this was childish but this was the last straw for me.  As stated I let my flesh rule so I gave my retirement notice.  I admit I did have a wonderful time in Florida!  But as a look back over the past two years of my life this was a major mistake.  I should have sucked it up and stayed.  The job I was in was not one I enjoyed. In June of that year I came back from vacation and was called into the bosses office.  I was told they were moving me from where I was, which I really enjoyed, to another one.  What can you say when you're told you are being moved.  I had to move.  There was no if ands or buts about it, so I moved.  I did not enjoy the job at all.  BUT I should have stayed despite how I felt.  Before I left for Florida an acquaitance told me about a receptionist job at a dr's office.  I went and talked to them and they told me they would hold the job until I got back.  That gave me a month to decide whether or not to take it.  When I got back I decided to take it.  It was something new and different and I thought it would be somthing I would enjoy.  I later found out the reason I had so much problem with the dr was because he did not want his wife to hire anyone.  He wanted here to remain as the receptionist, but she wanted out!


Well today marks 3 and 2/3 months since I left that  job.  The first month and half was great not having one but it has gotten to the point I'd much rather be working than staying at home.  I've had my days of despair and depression wondering why is it taking so blasted long to find something.  Could it be my age?? I'll be 57 in Oct. OR could it be that God is not through working on me?  I'm not sure which it is but  guess it could be a little bit of both.  I know I just want to learn quickly what God has for me to learn.  Could it be I need to learn to trust? I believe that is one thing during this time I am learning. 

It hasn't been easy this trust issue.  Maybe it's because all my life I've had a trust issue when it comes to people in authority. This was a big problem I had at the dr's office. I won't go into any detail except to say the man is an excellent dr, but he's lousy to his help.  I was becoming increasingly unhappy with the work atmposhere at the dr's office especially since they had hired a new nurse, but was willing to stick it out until I had paid off some bills.  The only problem was I was getting sick at least one time a week for the entire month of April.  Nausea, throwing up and dizzy which usually lead to me going home.  This did not make the dr nor his wife patricuarly happy.  One Sunday during church service I heard God plainly say it was time to quit. I was excited and really happy about the idea of leaving the place.  I did enjoy the patients, but that wasn't worth staying there. Now me being the person I am I immediately dove in and gave me resignation.  I really should have asked God when to resign but didn't.  I would have saved myself a lot of heartache if I had.  I gave a months notice thinking I was being nice and that it was the right thing to do.  The second day the new girl was there I was told I was no longer needed.  I was unable to get unemployment due to the fact that I had turned in my resignation before they let me go.  SO to say the least it has been a big faith walk these past 3 2/3 months.  God has been good and provided, but I am now at the point I WANT TO WORK!!  I  thank God for everyone who has helped me, but I want to get back to the point where it's like it states in 1st Corinthians 9:8 "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work."  I'm ready to be sufficient in all things with the ability to pay all my own bills and also to bless others who are in need.  Ok, so I'm taking this scripture slightly out of text, but my point is I want to sufficient with the ability to pay my own bills.

Today was a rough day.  Anger set in! I was angry at God because I knew He was able to do something about my situation.  Crazy uh?  Why do we always expect Him to jump quickly for us?  Why do we treat Him as if He was Santa Claus and He should give us what we want?  I know I've been guilty of doing that and today was one of those times.  I had to do a lot of repenting to him for my thoughts, words and anger.  I've come to the decision no matter what God is still God!  His time is not my time and His thoughts or not my thoughts.  My part is to put Him first in my life each day and to stand on His Word no matter what it looks like.  I know the enemy wants us to think God is a liar, but HE IS NOT!!  Just as Solomon said in Ecclesiaties "To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven."   If I lose everything, which I believe will not happen, I am still going to trust in the Lord God Jehovah!! The God that is more than enough.  I want to lick this trust issue and come out as pure gold for His glory and His honor.  In my new job I want to be a light that shines for Him! 

I have been waiting about two weeks for an answer on the job I really wanted.  It took them almost a month to start interviewing.  By the time they had called me I had given up and figured they had already interviewed and hired someone.  I know the lady told me they would let me know "soon" about the job, but I figured it would be within a week at least or  a day or two after Labor Day.  Now all I can do is pray and believe they will call me before this weekend and tell me they are offering me the job.  If not I'll call them on Monday.  

God bless!

Candelabra 9/3/10

My little Mama came by yesterday and gave me a wonderful surprise.  I had mentioned that I was wanting a candelabra to put on my kitchen table.  She had gone for her weekly Good Will Hunting spree and brought me this wonderful little candelabra which was perfect for my table.

I took my steel wool and rubbed it all over to smooth out any bumps and to get any rust off.  I then took my trusty can of black spray paint and gave it a good layer of black.  I let it dry overnight and then took my can of metallic bronze and gave it a light spray over.   Well, except for the middle holder where I got a little heavy on spraying.  I'm thinking about spraying some black over that portion so it won't stand out so much.  Will have to do that tomorrow after church.

 I'll give you the after photo when I am done.  Naw, I'll just leave it this way since I am putting some greenery around it. 

Iron Twin Bed Bench

When I was moving into my home I happened to see a iron twin bed placed on the curb.  I stopped and asked if they were getting rid of it.  They were and I grabbed it.   A friend helped me haul it home.  She gripped and grumbled about having to pick it up. Why? We were finishing the last load late at night and were both very tired and grumpy. She couldn't figure out why I would want this "piece of junk".  I had to take it to the Vo-Tech to have them cut and weld it together.  When I got it back she thought it turned out really great.  Sarah is an artist who can draw anything people, animals, scenery but she had a hard time visualizing something out of the "piece of junk" we had picked up.  This is not the best picture of the bench, but I thought it turned out rather well.

Even though I did not "make" this myself I was at least able to pass my vision of the twin bed on to someone who could implement it for me!  Thank God for the Vo-Tech!!

Wonderful Trash Day Finds

I usually don't go through my neighbor's garbage but she had something I thought I might use, but sad to say no I couldn't use it.  I did, however find these little baskets. Nothing wrong with them except they need a good cleaning. Which I intend to do tomorrow. They'll be used in my garage to hold stuff and make it a little bit more organized.

I also found this door.  I was on my way to Mom's to wash--washer broke and can't fix until I get a job :>( -- when I happened to notice this door sitting in a dumpster.  I stopped and asked the lady if it was ok for me to get it. Of course she had no problem and I was excited because I wanted it to make a potting bench.

 

I got the idea from looking at http://myrepurposedlife.blogspot.com/ which in turn sent me to http://confessionsofacurbshopaholic.blogspot.com/. (I love to read these two blogs.  They are so creative and give me some wonderful ideas.  They make me want to go out and buy the equipment to repurpose items I find or buy. HMMM what a thought I just might put that into my budget when I get a job.  First a sander then a--aw well back to what I was saying.) Rose at Confessions had made a potting bench, which I fell in love with.  Since I don't have all the equipment to make my own bench I will take the door and the wood needed to make the bench to our wood working shop at the Vo-Tech. They will make it for free since I am supplying all of the material.  Even though it might cost a little more to make then to buy one--I haven't researched to see the cost to buy a bench --I thought at least mine would be  "different and unique" which is what I'm going for anyway.  I really would like to learn how to make stuff and save me the time of hauling it to the Vo-Tech and then having to pick it up. 

Thanks to the Repurposed and Confessions blogs for giving me this great idea!!

Fun With My Family!

Just love my picture I added to my blog header! I had my week with my grandchildren right before July 4th. The Thursday before the 4th my youngest daughter flew in from Florida to pick up my wonderful granddaughter Abby and to spend some time with her Mom.  I also have a wonderful grandson who lives a heck of a lot closer than Florida! YEA!!  Just wish I could convince my daughter's husband to move back to Oklahoma, but no can do. That's o.k. Florida is a great place to visit.  Anyhoo when my daughter was here we had a day and half before her sister and brother-in-law were to come in, so we decided to have a little trip.  This picture came from that trip.  Everytime we go to the mountains, yes I know they aren't mountains to someone who lives in the Rockies or Appalacians but come on for Oklahoma they are mountains to us and we love them, the grandkids have to go to the top of Mt Scott.  Then with their nimble little feet they love to climb down and around all the rocks.  As you can see my daughter joined in with them.  Me I'm too busy taking pictures!  Love taking the pictures, but wouldn't you know it started raining while we were there.  Just loved it.  Oklahoma sure needed the rain so I was not complaining.  Suffice it to say this trip was a lot of fun. Right before the rain started coming down hard someone hollered out they had found a tarantula.  I just had to go over and check it out and took this picture.

We went to Meers and ate buffalo burgers. YUM they were sure good! And onion rings! YUM YUM they were awesome.

We were going to Medicine Park and swim in the river, but alas the rain did not allow for that.  Here's a picture of the river and my grandkids enjoying their swim.

I know it doesn't look like a river, but this is the shallow part made by rocks.  Here's the river.

You don't swim below the waterfall since there are snakes there. Yip I saw one swimming to it's hole and it was not a pretty sight.  I hate snakes!!

My family had agreed to hold off taking the kids to one of their favorite places. Why? Well, we decided as a family we all wanted to go there.  We were concerned about the rain, but decided to go anyway despite it raining. It's about an hours drive east of where I live. We all piled into the car with the picnic and swimming stuff and took off.

You know kids are funny!  If you were to look at my scrap book of my week each year with my grandkids you would see pictures of the same old places, but if we don't go to them they aren't happy.  They seem to enjoy going to the same places even though they've been there lots of time.  This next year I'm adding someplace new to our week.  Anyway back to out driving east trip.  There is a state park where I discovered a place called Little Niagara.  It's a swimming hole on a spring fed creek.

The area at the top of the falls is the shallow portion and the water is COLD!! Folks I mean freeze your butt cold even in the heat of summer, but your body adjusts and you enjoy it.  The water below the water fall is deep, so I don't allow my grandkids there. Here's my son-in-law jumping off the water fall into the deep.

Here's our picnic lunch we all had!  Aren't we a lovely group?  It's nice to be taking the picture so I don't have to be in it!!

Let's just end on this note.  Despite an overcast day and a little soft rain we all had a great time. 

So I shall end here before my kids say anything to me about the pictures I posted. Hehe! They just gotta love their Mom!

The Last of My Wonderful Buys From Neighbors Garage Sale

Well, I finally got pictures of the last stuff I bought and got free from my neighbor! 

All these purses cost me $2.75 and all were new! Why so many you say?  Well, I really enjoy purses and when you can get them for such a cheap price then why not.  Besides I have two girls who just might want one of them.  SO girls if you want one better lay claim now.  They just might end up wrapped as your Christmas present. Hehe!! But be forewarned the elephant purse and the cream purse are mine!

Then I got these lovelies also!

This was for my Mom since she has a little scenery of a pond and people fishing. Cost $.25

This is an old fashioned rolling pin.  The kind where you put cold water in it and start rolling out your pie crusts, etc.  If somebody knows it's something else let me know.  Cost $.10

Remember I said I enjoy anything green?  Well, I got this aladdin lamp for $.25.

I thought these were really neat bookends.  I call them my "Spirit filled, devil busting, warrior praying, Bible believing priests" Cost $.50

Plug for a book you might like! Check out "The Begotten A novel of the gifted" by Lisa Bergren. It's a series of 3 books. Check one out and read it you might find them interesting and enjoyable.  I did.

This was a makeup case I thought would make a neat jewelry case. Well at least until I get a real one!  Cost:  FREE!!

Plus I bought 5 new short sleeved shirts for only $1.00 each.

What a haul!!!

More Goodies From Neighbors Garage Sale

My Mom happened to stop by to see if I wanted one of Burger Kings $1.00 burgers. Aw what an awesome Mom I have.  Anyhoo we both went to the neighbors sale across the street.  This is what my awesome Mom bought me.

I thought this was just too cute.  It will make a great fruit holder on my cabinet!

I loved this! It's a microwaveabe four cup measuring bowl. Each blue line is a cup.Goes up to four cups! Great for when I make brownies or a cake or whatever I'm baking at the time. Cost $.50.

Mom didn't buy me this!! I did!  I had a whole $.65 and got this for a dime.  I'm thinking this will be great for orange juice.  I also got an under bed holder for $.50.

This neat little lamp was only $1.00 .  There had been a set but by the time Mom and I got over there someone had bought one of them.  That's o.k.  all I really needed was one.  Think I'm putting this in my bedroom and taking the one I have and putting it into my guest/study room on an endtable/nightstand my neighbor gave me.

There were 12 candles in the box! Cost $.25! You can never have too many candles.  Hopefully I can find a candlabra (need spell check to see if this is correctly spelled LOL) to use some of these in.

And last but not least these beautiful glass coasters.  You can't really tell from the photo but there are 4 little fleur-de-lis surrounding the center design. These I will set next to the plates when I invite people over to eat.  They were $.10 each or $.50 for the set of five.

Aw what a haul!  I just love bargains!

Awesome Garage Sale Finds! 8/18/2010

My neighbor across the street from me was setting up for her garage sale tomorrow.  A friend of theirs moved to Arizona so they gave them a bunch of stuff they could sale.  My other neighbor Carol who was helping Courtney setup came over and borrowed three tables I had.  They also used my handy dandy rack I had gotten at Goody's when they were going out of business for $5.00. Nearly everything in her sale was $1.00 or less. She did have quite a few over but the big majority was 1.00 and under. Plus we swapped my garage sale signs for some of her goodies she was putting out for the sale. 

Isn't this a beautiful little dish.  It's now sitting in my living room waiting to have candy put in it.  Green is my favorite color so when I saw this beauty I just had to have it!

This was also in the exchange.  When I first saw it I thought it would be a great planter, but I am holding off on it to see if I can think of some other use for it.

This was also in the exchange.  I needed it to finish out under my kitchen sink. I had some white liner but run out so was really excited when I got this. Sure it won't match, but who cares!  It's a place 99.9999% of the people who come to my house won't see and for those who do it will be no big deal to them!! OR ME!!

These were freebies!! One of my favorite things.  She gave me two bottles of the lotion and a pump for it!  As for the billfolds the one on bottom I got three of them. She thought my girls might want one of the bottom billfolds so that's why I have three!!

But then when I went to my Mom's to wash one day (awe it's terrible when your washer is broke and you have to leave home to wash especially when it feels like you're in hell when you go outside--awwww Oklahoma summers!) we went to a garage sale close to her house. I got these two awesome items.

I love the green jars.  They were only $2.00 for the set and the silverware holder, well that's what I made it into, was only $.50. 

Now wouldn't you say these were awesome deals!  Love when I find good deals like these.