What a way to cheer me up!

I've been kind of bummed today. Ok, so the furnace will be fixed pretty inexpensively, as long as there is only one problem. And we did get one vehicle working. We still have my van and my car out of commission. The washer and dryer are done for, I have a smaller washer to get me through, thankfully. The freezer was not freezing, but now the whole thing went. No more fridge either. And we were going to get another car last night, but our brother in law is psycho and decided AFTER we left to go pick it up that we can't come get it because he's afraid that he will be liable if we get in an accident on the way home, even though we'd have paid him, taken possession of the vehicle AND had insurance on it. Nothing we said could convince him otherwise. I checked with insurance and they said that is a purchase agreement and it would absolutely be our liability even thought the title would still be in his name for a few days.

Now I had the appliance repairman out and he said the fridge is dead. Great. He didn't seem to even want to fix the dryer and washer, which I just don't understand. The dryer needs a motor, $60, way cheaper than a new large capacity dryer, helloooo. And the washer only needs a belt! But he is so completely pessimistic about those, too. (he called back and sounds much more optimistic!)

So, I'm pretty much in tears. However, I checked my junk mail today, which I always do, and I found these two emails:

1. You have won a $25 Best Buy Gift Card for participating in the contest athttp://www.iwantmysamples.com I think you may have won twice LOL. I know you won one of them but my daughter also pulled out momsblogging.com and from the looks of it you posted that one too. Let me know if I'm wrong.
2. Congratulations! You are the winner in my Learning Tower contest. Looking at your blog, it seems like you could use one for your little ones! I hope you enjoy it! I really want one, too! Naomi http://superdumbsupervillain.blogspot.com/
I am completely blown away. I've kind of been on a role at these contests again. I won a nursing necklace, a HUGE scrapbook package, a t-shirt, some baby clothing, a pendant (which I can't wait to get!), and some other things, too. I know, crazy!
I was so amazed when I got the Best Buy win because we ALWAYS buy Christmas presents and gift certificates from them. And we always get them, too, since Donnie's brother works there, lol.
But the Learning Tower win blows me away. I wouldn't have even checked back to see if I won that one, because I never even dared actually HOPE I'd win it.

I'm off to get ready for my stamp club meeting! That will be relaxing and fun, just what I need.

Thursday Thirteen~ Silver Linings

13 Silver Linings

1. I have the best friends.
2. I have the best job!
3. My church is filled with fantastic believers that bless my socks off.
4. My in-laws live near us now- this IS a good thing, for our kids, us and them.
5. Our furnace may have died when the power was "accidentally" cut off, but it didn't happen during the cold season and it is CHEAP to fix, praise God!
6. We are getting a foreign exchange student for 2 weeks, it will motivate us to do some deep cleaning and make for a great hospitality opportunity.
7. Our freezer may be going wacko, but we have a deep freeze to fall back on.
8. Our transportation may be trying to die on us, which keeps us from being able to work on our ministry opportunities, but God has provided ways for us to get around, or even have meetings in our home.
9. My washer and dryer died, and I had to do a TON of laundry at the laundromat, but I met a woman there who I was able to encourage a great deal, she called me an angel sent by God.
10. And I can use my laundry as an excuse to go see my friends, girl time!!!
11. My working has been a great opportunity for me to bring in some extra money at just the right time, but also I believe there is a bigger purpose, and it is a blessing to me.
12. Someone is going through a really rough time right now, for years, actually, but through that sacrifice some children are getting a good life they wouldn't have been able to have. Love and stability and normalcy.
13. I have a great husband and terrific kids! The biggest blessing of all!

Check out my give-away for a terrific book on journaling for your children!

My Mom and the maze that is my home

When Samuel was born my mom came to stay with me for a week to help out, since we knew I would have a c-section. She was the biggest help! She got more laundry done in a week than I'd seen done the whole time I had morning sickness, lol. Of course she PAID my kids to let her do thier laundry! Yep! She paid them $20 to bring their laundry down for her to wash. How could it get any better, I ask you?

But the best part of the week was watching my mom get lost in my house 4-5 times a day! We have a circular path on the main floor. You can walk from living room to dining room to the tiny hall outside the nursery to the kitchen to the hall with the bathroom to the living room again. So, she'd be heading for the bathroom and end up in the nursery. Or she'd be trying for the bedroom/nursery and end up in the hall to the bathroom. Every single day. Without fail! The funniest was when she was in the hallway to the bathroom and asked one of the kids where the bathroom was!

I told her we'd never know she was lost if she'd just keep going, since its a big circle, but then it wouldn't have been nearly as funny, either!

Hi, mom! You knew this had to come out one day! You know, not even Trinity got lost the first day we moved in, and she was only a year old. This is really funny!

But, if you all want to laugh really, REALLY hard, head over to It Coulda Been Worse and read her post on The perfect gift. Seriously pee your pants funny! I was laughing so hard that I could barely read it to my husband, who was trying to figure out what I was in hysterics about. My 17yo ds was wiping tears away, too, lol. It has to be THE best post I've ever read! EVER!