Friday, April 24, 2009

Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without!


I set a goal at the first "use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without". My friend Moneta passed away on my birthday this year and this was one of the last conversations I had with her. I also was so-o-o motivated by Christina fixing her washing machine (a friend's daughter) ....well at least until my first test came! My couch is almost 10 years old, and was sagging (I actually felt like I was sitting on the floor). It's my favorite color green leather, which still looks great. It's the only new couch (meaning it actually came from a furniture store, and not someone else's living room) I've had in the 40 years we've been married. I had a lot of "conversations" with myself, and decided I deserved a new one! A couple of friends went with me to Las Cruces (which is about 3 hours one way from here) to look for the perfectly comfortable couch I knew was out there waiting for me....I looked in Roswell, and Alamogordo, and finally online. I found one on line for $3,800....scary to buy something that expensive without sitting on it first, not to mention that I've Never spent that much money for furniture! What was I thinking when I bought leather????? I will never be able to justify spending money on a new one when there is no sign of wear (other than the sagging of course). So, I started trying to "make it do". I took the stuffing out of the cushions on the back of the couch, and put it in the cushions we sit on. Then I bought 30" pillows to use as the back cushions. All of you know how eclectic I am anyway, so needless to say....I love it! David loves it too, he thinks I'm awesome for saving so much money. But the best part for me, was when listening to the conference talks on provident living and staying out of debt, I felt no guilt!!!!!

Monday, April 20, 2009

From a Grateful Heart

Easter didn't seem much like a holiday to me this year....no colored Easter eggs, no peanut butter or marshmallow Easter eggs with my name on them, no hidden Easter baskets or children running around the house looking for plastic eggs either. I felt pretty sad. After church I moped around and sat on the couch, and then fixed hot dogs for lunch...where was the ham, the potato salad, the desserts? MY FAMILY? And then I remembered what one of the Sisters at church had said when I asked her how she got Easter done, and enjoyed what the Easter bunny had brought before she needed to be in the library @ 8:30 am....she just looked at me and said "oh, the Easter Bunny always visits our house on Saturday. Sunday is the Lord's day". I am ashamed to say that in missing my family so much....I missed the celebration of His Resurrection too.

The picture above is of the beautiful sunrise David and I shared on Easter morning. With each beautiful sunrise, I want to remember that my Savior lives. He died and was resurrected for me. Jesus Christ our elder brother came to earth and did what he promised to do. He suffered for my sins, and still loves me....even if I pouted about missing my family and chocolate eggs!

Just Us Forever!


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