One Man's JuNk - Another Person's TrEaSuRe! (part 3)

I have another Craig's List find for you!  Do you remember the 2 previous posts I made quite a while ago now?  You can look at them here and here. Well, I am finally getting around to continuing them and even show you a couple more deals that I have gotten since those posts.

Guess how much I paid for this sofa?  It is vinyl, not leather and still seats firmly.

Also, I found this wonderful Buffet which is on my list of painting projects.

I'm Thankful For...

I can't believe it is Thanksgiving already!  Time sure flies when you're busy with house projects and working full time, juggling being a house wife on top of it all!
I promise to post some updates of all our house projects soon... it just takes longer than one thinks, to get them all done!  Oh well.

Well, I just wanted to post ten things that I am very thankful for:

1. I am thankful to God for all the things that have happened this past year and that he has brought us all safely through it.

2. I am thankful for my wonderful husband who, despite the challenges of being a husband - trying to do everything 'perfectly' or to my satisfaction, still loves me, is ever faithful, and I can't stop loving him! :)

3. I am thankful for the house we have to live in and all the projects we have been able to work on.

4. I am thankful for God's hand in Andrew's immigration process, that everything has been moving quickly - in comparison to what it could have been - and we pray that he last appointment next Monday will go smoothly as well.

5. I am thankful for my Moerdyk and Bergsma families and the support they have shown to us throughout this past year, with our dating, engagement, and marriage relationships.

6. I am thankful for my job at Verhey Carpets!  We have been able to remain in business and I have been able to maintain a full time position there, even though other companies around us have closed their doors.

7. I am thankful for the loving friendships of other couples and friends around us.

8. I am thankful for being spared this past spring from a car accident.

9. I am thankful that both our vehicles have remained in good condition and so we save up to afford a better one for me next year!

10. I am thankful for God's gift of womanhood, the opportunity to be a Godly wife, the motherly instincts he gives us ladies, and the joys of being a homemaker.

October Update

First of all, I want to say congratulations to my friends Nichole and Mike on their wedding this past Friday night!  Nichole and I have been friends for years.  She was in my wedding here and I had the privilege of being in her wedding and sharing her special day with her as well.  I look forward to now being able to share another new step in our lives together as married women learning to be the wife that God intends for us to be and to support each other along the way.  Congrats!  So happy for you and may God bless you in this new stage in life.

Today was an absolutely beautiful fall day! Andrew and I were both home all day (for once) and had lots of time to do all kinds of chores around the house!  I organized the pile of wedding supplies that were sitting in the corner of our garage staring me in the face every day, waiting for me to have a day off!  Andrew on the other hand, worked outside cleaning up the multitude of fallen leaves and pine needles that we have accumulated on our roof top, gutters, and driveway.  He bought himself a new toy (a blower / vacuum-mulcher) to help with this process and was excitedly showing me how it worked!  So, I thought I would share his excitement with the rest of you all! :) 

Honeymooning in Cali!

Gorgeous weather and lots and lots of sunshine!  Couldn't have asked for anything better.  We both LOVED it and would love to go back for another visit someday and may take time to travel around and see more of the state.

We left the night of our wedding and flew into LAX around midnight California time (which was 3AM Grand Rapids time).  So, as you can imagine, we were exhausted.  We booked a hotel room in LA for the night, just down the street from the airport, and then traveled the next day to our destination in Palm Springs, a 2 1/2 hour drive.  Along the way, the scenery was beautiful, as we drove through the mountains to our resort.  We also drove through Windy Valley where they have hundreds of wind turbines lined up in rows and on the mountain sides.  It was interesting to see.

 Downtown LA

 Driving to Palm Springs

Windy Valley

 
Sunday was a relaxing day, while we wanted to make sure we still observed it as the Lord's Day, we listened to a couple sermons off from Sermon Audio.  What did they do back when Sermon Audio wasn't around?  I don't know, but it was nice to have it.  Monday and Tuesday were relaxing days spent at the poolside, enjoying the sunshine.  In the evenings we walked around the resort checking things out.

 That's me in the chair, reading a book. :)

Wednesday we went on an adventuresome trail hike up a mountain.  We packed a backpack with goodies - water bottles and granola bars, purchased a couple sun protecting hats, and made sure we were ready for this strenuous trek.  It was only a 5 mile hike, can't be that bad, right?  We have both climbed mountains before so we can do this!  2.5 hours later of beating down sun, we were running low on water, legs and feet were hurting, hitting every shaded spot possible, and we were STILL not to the top!  We both had enough!  It was time to turn around and head back down.  We had no idea how much longer it would take for us to reach the top, or even how close we were to the top!  The path snaked up the mountain side so bad that we couldn't see one end from the other and get a feel for distance!  So, back down we went and 45 min later we were at our car.  Amazing how much faster you go when you are heading down hill and knowing you are heading back to the car!  It was quite the experience, but we both still enjoyed the opportunity we had to do it.

The winding road we drove to the lookout before stopping to hike

 Sawmill Trail!

 Taking a breather in the shade!

 The road we drove in on, in the distance

 Another breather...

Thursday and Friday ended up being additional relaxing days by the pool, as we didn't have the energy to do anything else, after what we did not Wednesday.  Friday night, we headed back into LA and to the airport, as we were flying out later that night back to Grand Rapids.

 

 

 Beautiful Sunset!