You Got Framed!: May 2011

The part of the story that I didn't include yesterday was that before going to the sale, I prayed. I felt embarrassed even telling my husband yesterday. I prayed that God would teach me something. Even at a silly garage sale? Yes. I know myself well enough that my first reaction is to dive headfirst into the piles, get way too caught up in the treasure hunting, and leave my husband and friend, who are not hard-core thrift fans, bored and unhappy. I think that's probably why I asked God to help. When the whole pin incident happened I told my friend about my silly prayer and she asked, "so what do you think was the lesson?". I had no clue.! It just felt like a sign, but about what exactly, I honestly could not answer.

Then tonight while researching for thrift stores in Montreal, I came upon this article called Jesus in the Thrift Shop. The author writes about her mother who believed that Jesus answered her prayers, even on her thrift-shopping trips! I read it aloud to K and I started tearing reading the last two paragraphs,

"the story that [my mom] so wanted me to tell was that God is everywhere, in everything, and we should acknowledge and be grateful for it. He's in that perfect loaf of bread, or that dollar lying on the sidewalk, or the ray of sunlight that shines through your window. He's in the biggest and the smallest of things. He's with us and in us and around us, and if we believe in Him, we'll find him". Here's the link to the article, Jesus in the Thrift Shop by Deborah Akel.

In the book of Jeremiah, God says: "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart".

I know this whole thing seems a bit silly but the incident has left a deep impression on me.

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Posted by chubby at 8:59 PM |

Today I went to a garage sale, the Glebe Garage Sale to be exact. It's an annual event that spans across 16 city blocks and attracts bargain hunters, some who venture out at 6AM! I was excited because I've never been and wanted to check out what all the fuss was about.

I bought a pin and walked away happily with it on my jacket. At lunch I noticed that my jacket was pin-less. Checked all my pockets and bags and definitely no pin. Man, this sucks! You have to understand that there's a huge amount of stuff at this sale, house after house, street after street, and I don't buy anything unless it's "perfect" so whatever gets picked up it's my little piece of treasure.

Well it was just a pin, I consoled myself. At least I was having a fun day.

As we were about to leave the restaurant, two ladies walked in with their grocery trollies and I see the pin on the front flap of one of the trollies. THE SAME ONE!

In 30 Rock there's an episode where Liz gets flowers on Valentine's and she doesn't know who sent them. When it becomes clear that it was a mistake and it seems like the flowers would be taken away - that part, I felt so sad for her(!) - but the sender actually says something like 'no no you keep the flowers they came to you', that's why I didn't want to ask the lady for the pin back. I didn't want to steal someone's happy moment.

My very sweet husband thought otherwise and asked the lady if there was any chance she had found the pin on the ground. To which she replied: "Yeah! And that's why I put it on the trolley - I was hoping whoever lost it would see it. I'm so glad you asked!"

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is my treasure of the day.

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Posted by chubby at 9:55 PM |

STP ponders: How do we change the world, together this red ball and I?

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Posted by chubby at 10:59 PM |

Is it really that time?

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Posted by chubby at 8:44 PM |

At the Byward today. E returns and buys me these beauties.

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Posted by chubby at 11:22 PM |

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Posted by chubby at 11:57 PM |

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Posted by chubby at 11:15 PM |

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Posted by chubby at 11:54 PM |

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Posted by chubby at 10:37 PM |

Saw this when we were looking for dinner.
It sums up my awesome day thanks to buddies, young and old.

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Posted by chubby at 10:34 PM |

Can you see it?

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Posted by chubby at 10:06 PM |

They died and came back alive the next morning!

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Posted by chubby at 9:44 PM |

I ate way too many of these babies today.

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Posted by chubby at 11:37 PM |

This tree reminds me of the staples - the sharp and rough edges - in my life that need to be taken out, one by one.

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Posted by chubby at 12:00 AM |

Guess which song I'm thinking of.

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Posted by chubby at 11:32 PM |

I'll admit that I'm a pretty big wimp, and being sick and sicker for the past three weeks has really tired me out, especially when I wake up one day feeling better and think that I'm on the road to recovery, only to find out in the evening I was walking backwards on that road. Yesterday I hit a very low point and was in total distress. The coughing was getting more violent and continuous and I was just beside myself not knowing when this would stop. K suggested new meds and I made a breakthrough last night - I could breathe again and I think I'm really getting better! I am so thankful for the care of people who love me and access to medication.