I'm A Craigslist Junkie

When we first moved into our house, there was so much we needed to buy. I found myself addicted to Craigslist on the constant search for a variety of things. After searching long and hard I found an EXCELLENT 7 piece rattan furniture set for our 3 Season porch:

Motivated by this purchase, I looked long and hard for bedroom furniture. The search paid off, because I got a STEAL on this lovely set:

 Then I thought a mirror would be a nice addition to the bedroom:

After much success, I started looking for ways to help organize all of the "stuff" that had accumulated over the past several years and found these 4 shelving units for a great price:

Needless to say, after HOURS of searching for a variety of things on Craigslist, I found myself pleasantly surprised. Now, with it being Winter Break, and having a long list of things to do, I find myself wishing for something to look for on Craigslist. The odd thing about this is that today the sun is actually shining. This should be instant motivation for me to get rockin' on all sorts of house projects. But instead, I'm sitting on the sofa after eating an egg, mushroom, onion, tomato, & cheese sandwich, trying to think of something to search for. This would be a lot easier if I had some extra money to spend, but I don't. So, we'll see how long I waste in my day-dreaming state before I actually get productive. I give myself another 45 minutes before I guilt myself into getting off the couch and accomplishing something that I know I'll feel good about doing.

Happy Thursday!

If I Were A Rich Man...

I'd create a public school where the teachers were allowed to share their faith and spread the love of Jesus to anyone who wanted their child to attend.

I'd buy a huge chunk of land a create as natural of an environment as I could for big animals. Then, anytime "seasoned" animals or neglected animals are going to be put down, they could retire in peace and luxury.

I'd buy another huge chunk of land and start buying out big animal/slaughtering farms and change the requirements to create natural living environments for these animals to live out their lives with the opportunity to roam, play, and enjoy the sunshine, as well as humane ways to put them down since I can't imagine being able to terminate the meat industry (which isn't necessarily what I want either).

I'd travel to all the countries that my Compassion children live in: Haiti, Peru, El Salvador, Philippines, and India to finally meet them face to face.

I'd build my dream house. Complete with a wrap around porch, secret room, and soundproof bathrooms.

I'd foster more animals than just baby raccoons.

I'd hire a great lawyer to get a friend out of prison. Accidents happen and it is unfortunate how an accident can make someone spend more time in prison than a planned crime.

I'd try to change the world. One good deed at a time. Multi-Millionaires and Billionaires, where are you? And why aren't more of you making a difference?

"I really do NOT feel sorry for you."

Yes. I do, indeed, say these words to my students on an almost weekly basis. Okay, not weekly, maybe monthly. How many times can you direct a child to do right, and still, they will do wrong? Some examples from my teaching career:

"Child, you need to keep your arms and legs untucked from your oversized T-Shirt... your arms and legs are there to help protect you if you lose your balance and fall." (After correcting this behavior several times a day over the course of a week): Child goes to music class and proceeds to squat on his chair, tuck his knees into his shirt, and then pull his arms into his shirt, looking like a rock waiting to be pushed off a hill. Well, child loses his balance, and goes head first off the chair and onto the hard floor. Hello goose-egg bump and a need for stitches. "I told you that you needed your arms and legs. I really do NOT feel sorry for you."

I am helping students with their writing assignment at a back table. An excited student asks for more lined paper for the creative story they're writing. I go get more paper. I return to a table with a boy crying because he cut himself. "How did you cut yourself while you were writing?" fully knowing that he had to have been fooling around to get cut. Well, he and his friend thought it would be fun to break their pencils while I was helping the other student. Unfortunately the pencil breaking didn't go as smoothly as planned and it cut him across the palm of his hand. "Pencils are a tool for writing, not a toy for breaking. I really do NOT feel sorry for you."

The YEARLY accident that happens no matter what grade or group of children you have: Students sit in their chairs tipping them so they are balancing all their weight on the front two legs or the back two legs. "Remember, all four legs on the ground." It doesn't matter how many reminders you give. At least four times a year, you hear a loud THUD and then crying. "Yes, when you don't sit on the chair the right way, you CAN fall. I really do NOT feel sorry for you."

"You cut yourself while playing with scissors?"
"You took out a chunk of your face from falling into a bookshelf while playing chase during library time?"
"You hit someone and they hit you back?"
"You tripped while running down the hall?"
"You stepped on a tack while you had your shoes off in school?"
"You pinched your skin in the binder rings after purposely opening and closing them to annoy your neighbor?
"You don't feel that good after eating chalk dust?"
"You stepped in cow poop while fooling around during the tour?" (At Dairy Expo)
"You feel bad because someone responded to the "Yo Momma" joke you said to them with a different "Yo Momma joke? You can dish it but you can't take it?"
"She's looking at you again?"
"She said you have brown hair? You DO have brown hair. What's the problem?"

I REALLY DO NOT FEEL SORRY FOR YOU!
BTW, I am writing all of this with a smile on my face. It's always funnier looking back.
Happy Tuesday! =)

3 Monkeys Mustard

Feeling a little strapped this year, and agreeing with the family to go light on the Christmas gifts, I've been taking time to notice the simple luxuries in life that would make GREAT gifts for people on your "I don't know what to get them" list:

3 Monkeys Mustard: Sweet & Spicy. This knocks your socks off in an awesome way. At $8.25 a jar, it's a great gift that goes a long way. It complements pretzels and makes a great addition to a chicken marinade, among other things.

Craft Store gift cards. Archiver's carries an amazing collection of paper (among other things) and Michael's carries just about anything you would need for crafts (except fabric) and has 40% off coupons pretty much every week. Make the crafty person in your life smile!

Traveling Coffee Mug. Make sure it's one that you can fit your hand into so it can get cleaned well- or, if it's for a guy, who cares how big it is? He'll just throw the whole "Not Dishwasher Safe" item into the dishwasher. Everyone could use another fun traveling coffee mug. When I say nice, I'm thinking those $15 ones at Target that have with random designs on them.

Fun Flannel Sheets. If you don't put on flannel sheets when the cold nights come, you'll never experience the true joy of crawling into your bed at night, and the pain of having to get out of bed in the morning. Seriously, most people don't pamper themselves with fun flannel sheets... why don't you give someone a smile for these cold winter months? =)

Bird Seed. Yes. A gift to feed the birds. Seed can get expensive, so why not gift your "hard to shop for person" a bird feeder and seed? Who knows what birds will come and visit during these cold winter months! Entertainment for hours- or at least a few minutes while they try and figure out what bird was just at their feeder!

And finally, give the gift of creativity. If you have an amazing way with painting, drawing, or any media (JSA), or can take pieces of wood and craft an amazing birdhouse, bird feeder, or piece of home decor, DO IT! Nothing beats a gift crafted from the heart.

If you want to make a difference out of our country, check out: http://www.samaritanspurse.org/ if you'd like to send your money to a world wise cause. Or check out: http://www.compassion.com/ if you'd like to begin sponsoring a child from another country. My 6 kiddos and I all share the same birth date. It's the one thing we have in common (other than lovin' Jesus!) and getting letters from them is truly amazing. One of my current Compassion Children from El Salvador, wants me to explain what a Raccoon is! I sent her pictures of my raccoon rehabbing adventures. Seriously, we CAN make a difference!

Happy Almost Holidays my friends, and remember, simple is better!