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Finley’s Baby and House

While in the adoption process, your spending is cut.  But as it turns out, everything is better that way.  Simplicity.  But I also think there is more to it than just simplicity that you feel affecting your life from the outside, bringing with it peace.

Go back a few weeks ago when we were picking up Finley from the church nursery and he was playing with a baby doll.  He actually cried when he left it behind.  “Let’s go to Wal-Mart on the way home and get him one!”  I said with stars in my eyes, thinking about my sweet boy (well, in that moment)  “And maybe a little stroller for it since he loves pushing strollers!”

“I don’t know,” said Andrew.

“Because you don’t want to spend the money, or you don’t want to go to Wal-Mart,” I asked him, smiling.  “Both, but we can just go see,” he said thinking about Finley’s tears.  We were almost excited to go “shopping,” a strange form of entertainment we used to do as newly-weds.

We decided to stop in, just to see.  I became convinced of one thing at first entrance of Wal-Mart, seeing the variety of body art on the patrons, I am convinced that we do need to focus more emphasis on The Arts in our school systems.  Oh my!  (Not that Tweety isn’t real art…)

We got to the pink doll isle.  It was crazy pink.  The toy shelf was mostly bare, and only a couple options peered out of shiny boxes, costing at least $15, with weird adult faces.  Finley and Andrew were both over being there already, and were kicking balls around the aisles.

“I’m over it, let’s just go,” I said.  And we walked out past long, curving lines of people waiting to make their purchases. (Same people from when we walked in)

“YES!” said Andrew.

Fast forward to this weekend.

It was happening.  ONLY TWICE A YEAR!  The best garage sale of all!  My one, true day of shopping for the past year or two.  This was IT!  (In this community, it’s all families, and they are only allowed to have sales 2 times per year, so when you go, EVERYONE is selling great stuff, for cheap)

Mindy and I woke up early, 5:30, and headed out in our truck.  First home we stopped at had a BLUE toy stroller!  BLUE!

“How much?” I asked.

“$2,” they said.  “SOLD!”

At the last house, I bought a doll for Finley, “Little brother,” for $2.  It’s soft and it laughs, and looks like a boy, so it’s perfect for our future big brother. 

He loves him.

“Bee-bee!”

We’re learning how to take care of “bee-bee bro.”

Bee-bees need food.

Bee-bees need kisses and love.

 Finley often tells me that “Bee-bee ha a boo-boo” and gives him a little kiss.

Sometimes you have to multi-task with bee-bees.  Oh son, I know how it feels.

“If that table is $10, I’m going to buy it!” I said.

 And it was.  Perfect for a boy’s snack time!

Finley’s favorite snack recently is dates.  He’s crazy for them.

I also got a double, white dresser for $10, a couple books and my favorite purchase of all?

Finley’s new house!  They grow up so fast.

It’s missing the little front door, but to be honest, I’m happy about that.  No slamming, no leaving others out, etc.

“Oh hi, didn’t see you there, jus’ readin’ my new book from mama, in my house. NBD”

“Home ownership has it’s responsibilities,” -Finley

Home much was this humble abode?

$5!  Yes!  They sold it to me for $5!  Pinch me.

So with all our new fun toys and furniture, we came out under $30!

And we didn’t have to go to Wal-Mart.

Something I was thinking about is the round about ways the adoption has blessed us, which has been too numerous to count.  But I think that these toys and everything, I  had always wanted for Finley.  And if we weren’t adopting, maybe I would just go buy them, without waiting for my twice a year garage sale.  So, it’s not that we would have so much more money if we weren’t adopting, our money would still be gone to all the other things we may be wanting.  And not towards bringing the kids home.  I know the better investment.

Are we missing out?

NO!  Quite the opposite.

I read an article recently about the stress of buyers remorse, and how with modern day selection, it leaves the shopping experience less satisfying and more stressful.  
So, when you’re either not shopping ever, or spending just a couple dollars on something that will be very special and loved, and you already know it’s not perfect, cause that’s how you bought it, I think it eliminates that phenomenon.  Just a random thought I was perusing after our garage sale success.

I would say, if you’ve ever had adoption on your heart, don’t let the cost put you off.  You never know what saving money in some areas, and putting your hard earned cash toward the lives of others can do for your soul.

Plus, this baby is way cuter than the one we would have gotten at Wal-Mart had we not been in an adoption process.  😉

 

 

Matthew 6:33

The Message
30-33 “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
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  • Hannah September 12, 2012, 9:33 am

    You are such a beautiful teacher.
    Your biggest boy is going to be so ready for his new arrival!
    I used to shop regularly… but I hate it now, so many people, so little thought!
    Garage sales in my area are the bees knees!! There’s always some; our kinder is having one next Saturday, so hyped for it!!!
    oxox

  • Chelsea September 12, 2012, 11:43 am

    Finley is ridiculously precious. He seems like he’s such a sweet kid.

  • littlelola September 12, 2012, 1:02 pm

    Score! Those toys will bring hours, days, weeks and years of happiness when they all get to play together!

  • Kate September 12, 2012, 7:39 pm

    Garage Sailing is the best! Can’t wait to see what a great big & little bro Finley is!

  • Kym September 12, 2012, 10:53 pm

    Hooray for garage sales. glad you were able to find exciting stuff! and dates? that is awesome. he’s such a healthy eater!

  • Alicia September 13, 2012, 3:16 am

    Love everything about this post!

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