Just One of Life's Little Pleasures

Most every day in life we get little surprises that brighten our day and make us smile. You know, things like kisses from our kids, a sweet text from our spouse, a child who does their chores without being asked (ok, I know I am stretching it a bit here), finding something you need on clearance, finding something you don't need on clearance, but that is too good a deal to pass up, however, I am sure you are getting the picture.

Well, Saturday was one of those life's little pleasures day for me. I was standing on the basket aisle in Goodwill and simply taking my time and thinking pleasant thoughts to myself. The thought began something like this. One day I am going to find a Longaberger, no matter how big or how small, I am going to find one. Some day. I was thinking of how excited I would be when I spotted it. I imagined myself scooping it up and doing a little happy dance. Well, about at that point in my thinking I was interrupted by the reality that I needed to keep moving along. Today wasn't going to be that day, but I was happy to just be "hanging out" with my honey at Goodwill.

Then I spotted a "nice-looking" basket at the other end. I zigzagged over to check it out. As I began to untangle it from the maze, I thought, "no-way", but instantly I knew that yes, this was the day! This was my day to find my basket! I quickly hoisted it up to find those long sought after words on the bottom, Longaberger baskets, Dresden, Ohio!!!!!! Wow!!!! I can only imagine that winning the lottery is something akin to this. I was so excited. I was holding in my hands a medium gathering basket complete with divided protector. What fun for me. One of life's little pleasures. Oh!, the price was right, too! It was $2.99. What a great deal!

Would the quality of my life have been the same if I had never found a Longaberger at Goodwill? The answer is yes! But I did see my little dream fulfilled, was happy to add yet another basket to my already overflowing collection, and finally I can say, "Oh, I got that one at Goodwill."

Read post below along with pictures! Photobucket doesn't allow posting with pictures.

Happy Valentine's Day

This year we had our usual Valentine Party at home, which is easy to do with 5 kids still at home. It was so much fun. I asked each of the kids to make or purchase Valentine gifts for each of their siblings keeping in mind a $2 price limit, but suggesting $1 or under. They came up with some of the most fun ideas. Some of them purchased favorite candies which included an entire pack of Kit Kats for Luke (his favorite), huge Laffy taffy sticks, Kelly's favorite Maui Melon gum in a 2 pack, rolls of bubble gum, and other not necessarily Valentine candy. Other gifts included coupons for helping one another as Kelly gave a free essay typing coupon to Katy. Lisa Dawn gave me coupons for free pedicure so that should be fun.

Katy put each of her gifts in a red lunch sack and wrote a sweet note on the outside to each sibling. Lisa Dawn wrapped hers in pretty ribbon. Mark wrapped his in tissue paper and was so adorable when he attached a Valentine (good for one free Krispy Kreme) to the package as a bow,being sure to roll the tape and put it behind the card so it wouldn't show. I don't know where he learned that and later Luke told me he showed him.

It is so delightful for me as a mom to see the kids taking "pains" to bring smiles to one another. I also had them share a "sweet thought" about each of their brothers and sisters. They came up with some pretty wonderful things and two of them even cried while commenting.

Overall, I was so proud of the job each of them did making it enjoyable for all. Kelly made some super cute Valentines which you will find in the next post which shows a few fun pictures and then each of the Valentines Kels made.