About 2 weeks ago, C-man and I traveled to Auburn for a visit. While we were in town, I hit up the local consignment sale -
Kid's Clothes Connection.
Ms. Debby runs it and is a family friend. I love supporting her and her wonderful family, and I cannot rave about this consignment sale enough! It is organized, clean, well-structured, and has some stinkin' AWESOME good deals! For real, if you are EVER in Auburn during her sale dates - GO! Among all of the amazing deals I snagged, some of the ones that stood out were: a smocked outfit for Baby Brother for $1 - that's right $1, four pair of "like new" shoes for around $6 each (brands like Stride Rite, Crocks, Sun San Sandals, etc..), and Grandmama found a Radio Flyer Wagon to give C-man for his birthday for $45 (regularly $125)!
I've gotten to where I am very organized with consignment sales. I start making my list a few weeks ahead of time. I try to think of everything C-man (and baby) will NEED from now until the next sale (one is in March, the other in September), and I write it down - IN DETAIL (why not? it could be there!). Next I think of any gifting opportunities in that time period (from us to Carter - I don't feel right buying used toys for other people's kids :-) For example, this time I was looking for a gift from Baby to Carter for the hospital and C's Birthday - I wanted to get some matchbox cars and a carrying case for the hospital and a wagon for his birthday. Then I think of any big other things we may want/need like a bike trailer, high chair, booster seat, etc... Then I budget throughout the year to let my money build up (you'd be surprise of what cheap + cheap + cheap =), hit the road,
dump my child on allow Grandmama to babysit, and happily shop :-)
I think I'm a junky - it's hard for me to sleep before these sales because I get so excited - ha! The fact is though that I only shop for my kid(s) twice a year, and it's fun to see what the Lord provides! At this sale, it was a little crazy. It was almost like God was peaking over my shoulder as I made my list, and making sure those things were at the sale in good condition @ rock bottom prices! This may sound crazy, but I truly found myself thanking and praising the Lord when I would find some of the things on my list because he totally doesn't have to provide for us in that way, but he does!!! For some reason, it's almost as if he cared that I had my eye on a certain brand of navy blue sandals for Carter this year. New they would have cost our family around $40, but I found them for around $6 in almost perfect condition! He knew that Kevin and I thought it would be fun to have a bike trailer for our growing family, and there was one sitting their with "hair" still on the tires for $30 (and it would have been over $100 new)!!! He was totally aware of the fact that we wanted to get a wagon for Carter, so he allowed somebody to give up their name brand wagon for $45. Praise the Lord that he cares so much for us that he provides for us down to the very last detail. It's actually one of his promises!
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you - you of little faith?" Matthew 6:28-30
Disclaimer: This promise is more talking about having nothing to wear and the Lord providing something, but I think it has meaning for my more "Americanized" situation as well. Also, there were, in fact, some things on my list that I didn't find at the sale, and yes, I do realize that it's not necessary to have nice or name brand stuff... I just think it's fun to see the Lord's blessings in these little (admittedly eternally insignificant) things!
Enough about that...
C-man got to spend some quality time with both sets of Grandparents during this time, and here are some of the fun things they did!
Played matchbox cars...
...read books...
...played dress up...
...played in the sand...
...ate chocolate pudding...
...fed Pepper crackers...
...swang swung swinged rode on the swing...
...went on walks...
...threw rocks in the pond...
...splashed in the creek...
...picked and shook cat-tails...
And so much more!
I'm so thankful to our parents for the love and fun they show Carter during every visit. I know that their homes will be just as special to him as they were to us growing up!!!
