Saturday Tent Sale

Saturday morning I had two of my children up early and out the door for Huge Tent sale! This was no ordinary tent sale, it was a Nell Hills tent sale. Nell Hills is owned by Mary Carol Garrity and is located in a small quaint town in Atchison Kansas. Her newest store recently opened in Briarcliff Village, an upscale shopping district in Riverside.

I had planned on leaving the house at 8:30 and arriving at the tent sale by 9:00 and waiting in line for an hour. Well with kids I never make it out of the house on time, we arrived at the tent sale at 9:30 and the women first in line arrived at the tent sale when the sun was coming up! That's right 6:00 in the morining! I was so disappointed that I was so far back in line, I was positive that all the wonderful home decor items would be gone by the time I entered the tent.

At 10:00 sharp they cut the tape and let the crazy crack of dawn women enter the tent in a single file line. I stood in line for an hour and watched all the beautiful silver trays, fine fabrics by the bolt, gorgeous furniture pieces and yummy home decor items leave the tent with all these ecstatic women (who were acting as if they won the lottery).

Finally one hour later I entered the tent (with my 9 year old daughter who waited paitently in line with me) and my heart leaped for joy as I found that not all the wonderful things were gone yet. I found fragile glass bottles and lids for less than $3.00, white mugs and lids used for accents in my kitchen and 4 little yellow daises just screaming to come home with me.

Two hours later I walked myself and my sweaty kids back to our steamy hot car with my wonderful items totaling $16.24.

Once I got home I found the perfect place for all my items nicely displayed in my kitchen!

Comparing ourselves

Why is it this time of year I feel the need to buy a new swimsuit? Sure I could use the same suit that I used last year, nobody will remember it. At least I don't think they will remember it? Every year at this time I am in search of the perfect suit that magically makes me look 10 lbs skinnier. I know that I will not look skinnier in a particular suit, but I will feel thinner and more beautiful when I walk around feeling so exposed at the public pool, thinking all eyes are on me!

And let's face it ladies we secretly compare ourselves with the other ladies/mothers at the pool as we watch through our dark shaded sunglasses. Do I look as good as her? What kind of diet is she on? Did she have a boob job since last year? What workouts has she been doing? She really should look in the mirror before she leaves the house? Does she really think she looks good in that bikini?

This year I have my eyes on a vintage style suit from the 50's. So today I am on a mission to find the perfect suit...Wish me luck...and NO, I will not be posting pics of me in my magically slimming suit.

Life's Journey

I am a firm believer of "everything happens for a reason", as I have blogged in the past about our trials and tribulations we have been going through and are currently going through. Just when things seems to go our way...we hit another bump in the road.

I am finally beginning to make peace with what God may or may not have planned for us. Will we stay in our house much longer? Will my Husband find another job? Will we ever have baby #4? Will we get over our financial hump? Should I make the move and work outside the home? Only God knows!!

Lemonade Makin Mama posted about how her life is on a journey of uncharted territory. That is exactly how I am feeling.....I have no idea where this journey God has us on is going but I am along for the ride and I am excited about it. Here is a quote by Francis Chan, that Lemonade Makin Mama has posted on her blog, I thought it was so fitting, I just had to share.

"Lukewarm people do not live by faith; their lives are structured so they never have to. They don't have to trust God if something unexpected happens- they have their savings account. They don't need God to help them- they have their retirement plan in place. They don't genuinely seek out what life God would have them live- they have life figured and mapped out. They don't depend on God on a daily basis- their refrigerators are full and, for the most part, they are in good health. The truth is, their lives wouldn't look much different if they suddenly stopped believing in God."

Preserved History....destroyed

We had some very bad storms here last night and this morning I wake to the news that a local landmark in our small town was destroyed by storms last night. White Waitzmann barn (otherwise known as Zimmerman's barn to the locals for the man that rebuilt it on his farm) is located on a farm where families come from all over to buy pumpkins in the fall, attend Christmas services on Christmas Eve, chilli cook off contest in the summer and not to mention all the weddings that take place in this old historic barn.

Here is a little history on the historic barn.......The unique 1880 timber-framed barn was originally built on the White farm in rural Johnson County, now owned by Ernest Waitzmann. Daryl Zimmerman and a group of volunteers dismantled and moved the barn to Kill Creek Farm, about 7 miles away. The farm, owned by Zimmerman, is dedicated to "Maintaining the Rural Heritage of Johnson County" and plays host to more than 6,000 visitors annually.

If you go here you can see a picture of the barn as it was. I will miss driving down the road and seeing the Big Red Barn sitting in the open field so inviting to guests all year round, not the mention the traditional Kansas windmill spinning gently in the humid summer breeze.

My heart goes out to Mr. Zimmerman this barn was his lively hood, he worked so hard to bring the community together with the use of his barn. No matter what the occasion Mr. Zimmerman was always present at his barn, living in such a small town visitors would come far and wide to attend the pumpkin patch and our summer farmers market at the barn. I know that our small community will undoubtedly pull together and help Mr. Zimmerman, DeSoto just won't be the same without "Zimmerman's Barn".





The beautiful windmill now lies on the ground...

Local citizens were at the barn trying to rummage through the mess.

My Mom

I hope all you Mother's out there had a wonderful Mother's Day! I was showered with gifts/homemade and store bought, flowers and lots of love.


I rarely have my picture taken with my Mom so I recruited my 9 year old daughter (who loves photography and is very good at it) to take our picture.

Ever since I was a little girl I always heard "you look just like your Mom" just what every girl wants to hear right? I never minded hearing that because I always looked up to mom, in my eyes she was the best Mom a girl could have.

To go back 30 years.....my Mom and Dad divorced when I was 3 years old. My mom came home to a empty house after work one day and my Dad became an absent Dad or a deadbeat Dad you could say. My mom worked very hard to get me the things I needed and wanted in life. She never complained about doing anything for me and she always had a smile on her face. I will admit I was a spoiled "only child" and I got what I wanted, I was too young or naive I should say to think about how my Mom could pay for the foolish things I asked for. She rarely said "No" and did all she could for me. I suppose thinking back now she was trying to make up for the missing link in my life...my Dad. He always lived close by but was always too busy to make time to see me. There were no birthday presents or cards for that matter, no Christmases spent with him and no switching off weekends. So in a way my Mom overcompensated for my Dad not being around.

It was my Mom and I my entire life...and I loved it! I can still remember sitting on the stairs in our house and crying (like I did so often) with my Mom sitting by my side. I would crawl up on her lap and she would hug me until my cries softened and she would talk me through the tough issues girls go often through. She was always there for me at every sporting/school event, and she never complained about going. I still hear to this day "you look just like your Mom" and I still love to hear it. So even though I had a missing Dad in my life....there really wasn't anything else missing in my life. Thanks to my Mom. I love you and I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day.

Sleeping the day away

Yesterday's weather brought us cold temps and hard rainy weather all day long. Even though the picture of my son below was not taken yesterday this is what he did alllllll dayyyyyyy loooooong. From the time he woke up at 7:15 am to 10:00 pm he slept most of the day. He no sooner woke up and fell back asleep on the couch. At 11:30 we went to our favorite Mexican place thinking he would enjoy a taco, he fell asleep again while sitting in the booth. When we got home at 1:30 he slept on my lap until 7:00. I left to go grocery shopping only to find out he was still sleeping when I got home. I started to worry and wondered if I should call the Dr.? Sam woke up for an hour or so before bedtime and said "Mommy I just so tired". When he woke this morning our little Sambo was back! Running around and eating like crazy, thank goodness I sure did miss him yesterday. One thing I did love....holding him in my arms like I did when he was a little baby.

Where did the time go?

I have been so busy lately....but I have made a commitment to update my blog and redecorate it a little.

It is so funny how life gets away from you and keeps you oh so busy! Two of my children have recently turned a year older and I spent the days wondering "where did the time go"? Do I spend enough time with them? Do I show them enough love everyday? My answer is "Yes". My children are happy and loved so much. When I look into their eyes and watch them everyday I know I am the best Mom I can be.

Like I mentioned above my son and daughter celebrated a birthday recently. Here are some pics from my 9yr old's Hollywood Birthday Bash. It was a lot of fun but, boy was I glad to see all the screaming 8 & 9 year old girls leave.