A Big Blessing and a little thank you

I just want to say Thank you SO much to Janey and Elizabeth for their sweet comments the other day on This post.  It all did work out for the best, we came into a little extra money 

*the military doesn't ALWAYS screw you in the butt I guess* 

and we were able to get something we've been REALLY wanting, something my parents have been really Needing, and had a little thrift store fun at the same time!

*most of my purchases I'm going to keep hidden until Second Hand Sunday don't forget to Link up!*

This is a REALLY crappy picture sorry it was raining outside, we got this table at a thrift store it was PERFECT for what we want which is a potting table in our little shed/project/gardening area and in the summer we can move it onto the porch and eat there! I Love it!

Comfortable and Cute...I'm a happy girl lol

This is my new outfit the husband got for me *he spoiled me realllll good*

Here are the chairs we got my mom that came with the table! 

My mother has not had 4 matching chairs for her kitchen in YEARS.  These are solid wood, and dark which we really like!

And they have this super cute pear design on each one with the blossom on it!

Stephen and An amazing Verse

A big thank you to my loving husband Stephen, the next time you refresh the page you'll probably be reading this. He's been working on making buttons for my blog all night! Well I made them but he's doing all the code crap I fail miserably at LOL! Please feel free to take a 'Home is where the heart I'd button! Or show your love and support For someone with Autism with my loving puzzle piece button!

In a completely unrelated topic please look at the picture below for a beautiful and comforting verse!

...have a beautiful night <3

My Pen Pal...♥

So I am SUPER late with this!  But better late than never right?  Or even Fashionably Late?  Take your pick!  About a month ago I was over at Amira's blog Shades of Gray *which is amazing and adorable and any other complimentary words you can think of!* and she was having a penpal match up!  I love writing, I love making friends, but since I don't have facebook, and live in the middle of nowhere...well a penpal just sounded awesome!

And what do you know...I got an awesome penpal!  Her name is Elizabeth, and she is simply Lovely!  A navy wife with a hilarious blog!  How could I resist?  I am emberassed to admit how bad I've been about writing her but we've both sent at least one thing!  Better than nothing?  I think so, and besides it's quality not quantity.  I just wanted to do my first 'follow up' post and tell Amira what an awesome idea, and tell Elizabeth how glad I am to be her penpal and hope that we can get to know each other a lot better!  So far I've only been able to send letters but am working on a little package for her *Elizabeth if you're reading this forget that you read that* but she is super awesome and creative and giving and just all around thoughtful!  And she sent me this...

Some awesome candy! *not much left my husband has been bogarting it*, two amazingly scented body cleansers, and a sweet letter on the prettiest paper! Even the package she sent all this is was cute...*in case you were wondering I pretty much felt like the worst person ever for only sending a letter and not even on pretty paper!*

So yeah, my penpal is super thoughtful!  And creative, OH... did I already mention that she has an Absolutely Hilarious Blog? or a really great Etsy Shop?

♥...Because she does.  Click either of the above links and see for yourself...♥ 

♥...And of course don't forget to check out Amira's blog for a little everyday piece of Wonderful!...♥

So to sum it all up Elizabeth, Thank you!  And I promise to be a better penpal, I also hope that we can really get to know each other and become better friends I could really use a friend and you seem like such an awesome person!

And Amira thank you for having such a great idea and having such a sweet blog!

 

RIP Conrado Javier

 

At this time of year when we are supposed to be celebrating the birth of our savior, the birth of the man who died on the cross for our sins, is actually when we tend to forget him the most. We forget to thank him every day for what he did for us. And that made me think that we forget to say something so simple like 'thank you' for something so extraordinary! But we remember everything on our Christmas lists?! And then I thought of other things we forget to say thank you for things that we don't even realize, things like another young man's sacrifice that maybe you don't know about, and I know he didn't get the thank you's he deserved but I'm hoping this year his family will not only get those them but also the prayers for strength and peace that I'm sure they need. Today marks the one year anniversary of the death of PFC Conrado Javier

 

 

Javi was killed by an IED near Kandahar Afghanistan last year while serving in operation enduring freedom on this day December 19th. I'm hoping that maybe this year while you're preparing food and gifts, worrying about family celebrations and those last minute details you could take the time to not only thank the Lord for the sacrifice that he made for us but also for the sacrifice that Javier and thousands of other young men like him have made for you and your family, so you can enjoy the things you are now and even so you can experience the holiday stresses you are now. Maybe you could take the time to say a quick prayer for his family, who lost their son, and brother, to all the men like my husband who lost a friend. And for the girl he was going to marry as soon as deployment was over. I cannot imagine what they're going through this year. And I hope you'll join me in praying for them, praying that they are able to remember the good times with Javi and reflect on what an amazing person he was, what a good soldier he was, and I hope someday they are able to understand all the lives he touched in his short 19 years. So just remember all the men and women still serving, and the ones who have made the ultimate sacrifice, and all the families that are touched by their work and their absence. Remember all the people who aren't able to be with their loved ones this year and the ones that unfortunately will never be able to spend it with them ever again. And most importantly remember to say a praise of thanks to God for giving the world his only son. Just remember to say 'Thank you' two very small and simple that are so easy to say and can mean so much.

This started out as a way for me to get a prayer chain going for Javi's family but now I'm hoping you'll read this and maybe you'll remember to thank the Lord for his sacrifice, he died so you could be free from sin.

And No other gift could ever compare to that

"For God So Loved The World That He Gave His Only Begotten Son and Whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have ever lasting life"

- John 3:16

God Bless you and Merry Christmas!

Please ignor the total gangster-ness of the below video...the message really got to me on the day we found out about Javi and it's been a favorite ever since.

...and to end it on a happy note below is a picture of my husband and Javi before deployment...

please keep in mind my husband doesn't usually look quite that creepy...he was super duper drunk (which is why he's wearing the hot wheels shirt I got him hahah!)