Deals and Steals

     I'm a bargain hunter.  I'm always on the prowl for a good deal.  I hate to pay full price for anything, but, I do find myself sometimes succumbing to that price tag on an item!  It seems as we prepare to leave the "deals" to be had are quite hard to find.  So, when I do find something I'm giddy as a school girl on the playground with her girlfriends!

     My recent "steal" was at the Habitat For Humanity store.  The store can be a bit overwhelming...looking at all the old junky sinks, mismatched tile, and thirty year old cabinets can make one yearn for the bright lights of Lowes.  But, I know if you look hard enough and go often you can find hidden treasures there.  My break came last Monday when I went in and found two white fiberglass shower stalls, BRAND NEW!  The price was amazing!  I also found a corner soaker fiberglass tub (barely used) in excellent condition...it didn't look anything like the other one sitting by it that could have been in my great grandmothers bathroom!

     The fun part of the story is when a friend went to pick them up this past Saturday.  I guess, whoever quoted me the price on these items quoted each shower about $250.00 less than what the actual price was!  Did I mention I got a "steal"?  Anyways, the manager became "unglued", but, because my friend had the  receipt and my name was on the shower stalls...they had to give them to me!  What a blessing!  I saved over $500.00 and even more if you count that I didn't buy them at the home store!
 

Do I need this book? Nope!
Dad, Wes, and his brothers are all awesome at this!

You may be wondering why in the world I'm buying showers and sinks--Well, my best friend said he made the decision to build us a home!  A HOME!!  I told him I was going to be happy in the 460 sq. ft place on Brad's property, but he said he wanted something more comfortable for us.  I'm thrilled to pieces!  So, Grandpa Wells has been putting together designs and he is cutting wood on his sawmill this week for the house!  My job is to find some of the major expensive items here in the states and get them ready to be loaded onto the ocean container to be shipped.  If we find used items we will not be charged duty.  We are going to build the house as we "go"...meaning, when we have the funds to complete a section at a time.

     Now, I find myself addicted to Craigslist (yes, I'm on the hunt!), at least that is what my computer thinks...since it's always pre-guessing where I want to go!

The kindness of a child

     I am thankful for the children at our home church (Treasure Valley Baptist Church).  Last night my little kids received small gifts from Brooklyn who choose my kids for one of her missionary projects! I gave the boys their presents when we got home and they were jumping off the wall with excitement that someone would give them something.  Cameron asked, "why did she do this?" and I said, "because you are going to the mission field with mom and dad and you are going to be like a missionary kid and she wanted to do something kind for you".  Cameron (my oldest) responded with wide eyes and started jumping and exclaiming, "I have always wanted to be a missionary kid!"  My mommy's heart just swelled in awe at that instant.  I am thankful that Cam has such a tender heart towards missions.  His prayer is that he will one day be a missionary in Papua New Guinea when he grows up.  Wouldn't that be awesome if the Wells family name could go on for generations (if the Lord tarries) in the work of our Lord?

Departure Date

        We have our tickets in hand and plan on leaving May 23.  We found the best deals for this date while avoiding the price hike for the start of summer.  We are going to treat the kids to Disneyland in LA and then we head out of country May 27th.  We have an 8 day layover in Fiji, then we will arrive in PNG on June 5, spend the night in Port Moresby and then arrive in Mt. Hagen June 6.  Which will be June 5 for my friends in the States.  We are looking forward to a family vacation after spending (by that time) so long apart!

      Wes will be flying home a week or two prior to this to help pack up the ocean container.  I'm thankful for that!!  My job is to get everything packed, labeled, given a value and get it all lodged onto a customs form for PNG to have a look...mostly so we can be charged duty.  Bummer on that part.  Wes will then get everything packed into crates (because crates stack and you get them packed tight) so we get the most out of the space on the container.  Then, we will gather all the help we can get and get it all loaded onto the truck/container!

     Packing is really a one man job I have found.  Every item needs to be put into a category: Bring, Storage, Sell, or Donate.  If I was moving across state I would definitely get all my girlfriends together and we would just start stuffing boxes, no big deal.  But, to have to decide on every pen, pencil and paper...yikes!  

Prayer Requests:

Please pray for us as we continue forward.

Please also pray for my kids as I pack up their things.  The two littlest don't really understand why we are doing this again (its only been 18 months since we did this last!)

Please pray for my sanity!  Which, thankfully is still intact.  

Dreams Do Come True

     It has been 27 days since Wes left for PNG.  I remember the last time we spent 6 month apart...  Wes was finishing up flight school in California and I was packing up our sold home in Kuna,Idaho, working full time as a nurse (to support him and hold down the fort), and had a two year old.  Now, I am laughing because it feels like I am reliving that experience...but, now I am a full time mommy to three boys, home schooling the middle one, packing, and working out rental details of the farm house.  But, the major difference this time is I feel less stressed from years ago!  Wes bought me my first very own computer for Christmas.  He immediately installed Skype so we could keep in better communication while he is gone.  I LOVE SKYPE!!!  This is amazing technology.  I have been privileged to talk with Wes at least a couple times of day since its also loaded onto his phone as well.  I love being able to see his handsome face and hear his soothing voice!  We discuss all the details together, which makes making the decision process and the stress seem more bearable if not adventurous.

I came across this poem I had written for Wes on his completion from flight school some years back while packing up recently and I thought I would share it with all my friends.  My husbands dreams have come true!

Dreams Do Come True

Twenty months ago we started this journey

With the thought that we might hurry.

In our haste to complete the race

God decided to change the pace.

If we had known what trials lay ahead

We may have remained doing construction instead.

But every situation happened for a reason

And God lead you away from freeze-n.

There in California you excelled with your skills

While you diligently pedaled up the hills.

You dared to make your dream come true

And as your wife, I am so proud of you!

Now, when you take your helicopter into the sky

Please remember the days gone by.

Our adventure of flying has really just begun

And sometimes I wonder what will come.

Yesterday, today, tomorrow,

Happiness, joy, or sorrow,

When God is in it

The sky is the limit! 

~Tammy Wells -2005~