how great thou art

Stanza 1:

O Lord my God,

When I in awesome wonder

Consider all

The works Thy Hand hath made,

I see the stars,

I hear the mighty thunder,

Thy pow'r throughout

The universe displayed;

Stanza 2:


When through the woods


And forest glades I wander


I hear the birds


Sing sweetly in the trees;


When I look down


From lofty mountain grandeur


And hear the brook


And feel the gentle breeze;

Refrain:

Then sings my soul,

My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art!

How great Thou art!

Then sings my soul,

My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art!

How great Thou art!

Stanza 3:


When Christ shall come,


With shouts of acclamation,


And take me home,


What joy shall fill my heart!


Then I shall bow


In humble adoration


And there proclaim,


"My God, how great Thou art!"

Refrain:

Then sings my soul,
My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art!

How great Thou art!

Then sings my soul,

My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art!

How great Thou art!

my thoughts on resale shops

I have recently come to realize there are two-types of people in this world. The ones that shops at "thrift" stores and the others who shops at "consignment" shops. I thought I would look a bit closer at this whole topic and give my 2¢ on it all.

The thrift store...
I have some people in my life that would never (ever) step one foot into a thrift store. You know the ones: Goodwill, Salvation Army, St. Vincent DePaul. Not to mention all those local thrift stores that almost any town and city has readily available. I once asked an aquaintance of mine why she would never visit one to check it out. Her response was that it was "dirty and smelly" inside. Well, I will give her that! At times some of the thrift shops I have stepped foot in were borderline toxic smelling! But! That didn't seem to stop me from browsing around!!
Just today I went to our local Valueland thrift store. I was looking for some items in specific: '80's clothing for my daughters school play, and a long black skirt for my daughter Girl Scout function. As soon as I walked into the store I was welcomed with a "1/2 Off Everything" sign! Woo hoo!! Things were off to a grand start. I meandered up and down the aisles until I reached the girls clothing. I picked and sorted through almost everything until YES! I found the black skirt for my daughter! It was marked $2.99 and I got 1/2 off that. Next, I searched some more and I found a swell t-shirt, with tons of neon and '80's bling! Price: $1.49 ..plus an extra 1/2 off!! It was great finding the items I needed, and ever greater not having to pay full-price store prices!
Frequently when I visit our local Goodwill I see tons of items that are high-quality, name brand...many still with original price tag on them! Other items are in excellent condition and then there are those that are eh, not so grand. Overall, one can easily shop a thrift store and come out ahead, with bags filled with oodles of goodies, FAR below retail store prices.

Now, the consignment shop...
Basically the difference between the consignment shop and a regular thrift shop is the merchandise. These stores (ahem...shops) tend to cater to a more, how shall I say, unscaled clientele. Some upscale ladies consignment shops only offer designer labeled items. Others carry only children's clothing. Consignment shops are often way more expensive then your usual thrift store, mainly because the individual that brings in the clothing items gets a percentage of the selling price. Items are usually marked up to make it a win-win for both the seller and the store owner. I have shopped consignments in the past. Specifically if I was looking for a fancy dress or specific clothing item in a pinch.

There really is nothing wrong with either; the consignment shop or the thrift shop. It really ultimately comes down to the "perception" one places in their minds! When I come to think of it, upscale or not, doesn't it all come down to in the end that you are ...wearing someone else's clothing?!?

Here is a visual for you! Ok, I have two identical dresses (let's say...a designer Ralph Lauren..for the sake of an example). Exactly the same brand and condition. I go to the consignment shop and "hey, there it is!" It is marked thirty bucks. Now, I brave the smells and sights of my local Goodwill. There is the same dress, it is marked $4.99. Why is the Goodwill RL dress somehow "not as good" as the consignment one? Well, as I was saying before, it is about ones perception on it all.  PLUS, those kind souls that do donate to the Goowills, Salvation Army's, and so-on's are doing so out of the generousity of their hearts! No money gained (other than a nice tax break at the end of the year).

My point? Well, break those barriers people! A worn t-shirt, pair of jeans, or a RL dress is still a worn t-shirt, pair of jeans, or a RL dress! Regardless of where ya buy it!
 Get over it and get thrifting!

walk to God

I found this story in the magazine my kids get called Take Out. It really has a lot of meaning.

                                                                      

 ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

A man came to this teacher and said: "Teacher, when I was a child I felt very close to God. Now that I am older, it seems as if God has left me, or perhaps it is I who have left. In either case, I feel far away from God. I am not sure what to do."

The teacher answered him: "When you teach a child to walk, at first you stand very close. The child can only take one step, and then you must catch him. But, as he grows, you move farther and farther away, so that he can walk to you. God has not abandoned you. Like a good parent, God has moved farther away, but is still close by, waiting for you. Now you must learn to walk to God."

how do I love thee...

Love doesn't make the world go round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.
Franklin P. Jones

It is February 14, Valentine's Day. For some people the day is all about roses and candy. But, for others, it is just another "Hallmark" holiday..one that card companies just gobble up. My thoughts on the day fall somewhere between in a subtle mix of the two. I have heard that the oldest recorded greeting card is from the 1400's... a paper Valentine. Still to this day, 2011, it is a favorite for me in this household!

Just this morning my eleven year old son came up to me in the kitchen. He threw a colored heart folded in half on the counter where I was standing. He quickly started to walk away. No words spoken. I immediately opened the heart to find a beautifully decorated Valentine! Inside in neatly handwritten letters read, "Happy Valentine's Day. Have a great day. Love, Andriejus" I made a huge fuss: ran up to him and gave him a giant hug and kiss. I gushed about how beautiful it was, as he gave me a half-worked smile, knowing he felt pleased and appreciated. That handmade card was a special thing for me. They always have been and they always will!

My youngest two daughters had already given me their Valentines. We were recently at a restaurant eating when a nice, older lady approached our table. She invited the girls up to a table she had set up with all sorts of papers, stickers, and other various crafty do-dads. She told the girls they can each make their mother a special Valentine. They, of course, jumped at this! In a few minutes time I was presented, table-side, with two very beautiful crafted Valentines. Similar, yet very different with each girls own personal style. The Valentine's featured colorful papers, doilies, and a center-piece made from gluing down a foil-wrapped chocolate heart. Both girls were so proud as they presented me with their masterpieces! I got a bit teary-eyed as I saw the love that was poured onto those paper hearts. I began to think ahead to those days when my kids will no longer be kids. The paper Valentine's will come fewer and farther between. I relish in these years while I can. They are special times and I will always treasure these little handmade love notes, forever.

The Road Not Taken

by Robert Frost

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,



And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

alaska bound

To the lover of wilderness, Alaska is one of the most wonderful countries in the world. ~John Muir
Have you ever had a dream as a young child? One that you may have even wrote down in a journal, complete with hand-scrawled pictures drawn with pencil? Well, I have and it is only finger-tips away from becoming reality!

You see, when I was younger, for some reason, I had wanted to go to Alaska. Why? I have NO idea! My parents never talked of going there. I have never known anyone who had gone there. I just, for some reason, loved the idea of the vast land, brilliant nature, and plentiful wildlife, that inhibits our great 49th state..or the "last frontier" of Alaska.
Throughout the years I have been reminded time and time again of how my longing to visit this state has not dimmed down by any means. It was not until a couple of years ago that my family and I were on the Mackinac bridge, somewhere between the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan, that the feeling of "wanting to visit Alaska" came rushing back! We spotted a rather large RV, emblazoned with all sorts of hand-written signs all over it. It appeared to be a family from Alaska that was traveling around the country. They even had a website made, just for this family's traveling adventures. I tried looking up that website not too long ago and it no longer is around. Just the sight, though, of that Alaska license plate stirred up my longing-to-visit feeling all over.
Well, this year my "Alaska dream" is becoming a reality! My sister-in-law just so happens to work for Alaska Airlines and we are getting a chance of a lifetime to visit this coming summer. Upon doing research, though, this state is bigger and mightier than I once suspected. The travel guides and vast internet information is completely overwhelming! The possibilities are truly endless as far as the"what's" and "where's" are concerned.
The first order of business was trying to figure out when we are going. Late August was decided. Next, where and what we wanted to do. I asked each family member "what" they would like to see and do once we get there. Things range from: gold mining, dog mushing, kayaking, whale watching. We know we are flying into and out of Anchorage. As far as all the "in betweens", it is completely up in the air! Musts are: Denali and Mt. McKinley (the highest peak in North America), Fairbanks, the North Pole (yes, really!), Palmer (for the Alaska State Fair), Seward (whale watching).
We have also decided that renting a small RV is the route we want to take. After adding up the cost of a rental car, hotel/motels, 3-meals-a-day at restaurants, it was a more economical choice. Neither of us have ever drove a RV before, so this should be interesting! The plan now is to secure reservations for various activities: bus ride through Denali, date to dog mush, etc. Since I am not a real "planner", this task is the hardest part of me. Since we will be in Alaska in "high tourist season" I have read that this is a "must".
So with much to still do, I look forward to a week of "living the dream!" Until then I guess I have to come back down to reality.