Thursday, July 5, 2012

Thought Provoking Thursday...

Any of my visitors who have been popping in to this blog over time KNOW that I am a thrifter...




NOT just because of it's frugal merits.

NOT just because of our despondent economy.

NOT just because it has become a popular "green" mindset to recycle.

NOT just because I don't want to pay the exhorbitant uber-marked-up RETAIL prices...



My grandmother was an AVID yard/garage saler, and she loved flea markets too.

My mother loved to do the same, and also became a fan of Goodwill later in life.

My sister has also made good income out of buying, fixing up and selling/ebaying many finds from thrift shopping.

I have been Thrift shopping for over 20 years, and am married to a man who has no qualms about pulling over to the side of the road for a curbside find or going behind new developments being built and finding AWESOME building materials in large trash dumpsters...

Can we say it Runs In The Family??? :-)

I could write a book titled...THE NEST THAT THRIFT BUILT, and I know many other sisters out there could put their own chapter right into the Table of Contents.

Every once in a while, I will run across an item that ((to me)) seems very very sentimental, and I call it a "thought provoking" purchase.

Why was this item tossed?

Did it not hold special meaning to the one who held it?

Did something happen between the giver and the receiver that it "lost" its precious message of love??


SEE that shell on the tabletop? It was one of those purchases...


It is a nice size conch shell, definitely a natural find...and not a purchased shell, you can tell from it's weathered and sea-worn appearance.

Was it found on a special walk along the coastal shore...on a vacation retreat with family?



A special lady hand-painted a shore scene on this conch...Can you see the gulls and the blue skies, and the sea oats??



Then there are the little tide pools gathering in what seems to be an inlet or cavelike opening ... **(maybe it was meant to represent a private haven, a secret place...to go and dream)



The amazing part to me is that she took her brush and painted another little scene ALL THE WAY back in the inner crevices of the shell...another scene of sand and water and oats...

NOW...YOU MAY BE SAYING...Oh Julie, that is thought provoking!..but wait...this is the part that makes my heart start running...


On the back underside...HOW PRECIOUS...HOW SPECIAL!!!

Somewhere in this world, a grandma loved her little princess granddaughter SO much and wanted to give her a very RICH dose of wisdom...filled with love and hope from her heart. Grandma wanted her little one to know that she BELIEVED in her...

Oh my.... WHERE are my tissues??? I HAVE TO PUT A BOX IN MY NOOK!!! Just posting to share this with my bloggy sisters makes my eyes and nose start running...

Well, this girl found THIS treasure, and the message was NOT lost on her.

Grandmamas are a Special Heritage.

Granddaughters are Cherished People.

Encouragement and Blessing and Hope and LOVE shared within family generations are the GLUE that keep families tight, strong, and together.

Sometimes things happen that we don't have control over...but that's okay. Keep on LOVING!!! USE whatever is necessary...

WORDS...

TALENTS...

SHELLS...

SPEAK from your heart, and HUG with your arms, and GIVE with your Hands...

It works. Maybe you can't see the immediate results...but don't give up.

And as for the story behind this THRIFTING Treasure Find...I hope that the Grandma and the Granddaughter are still very very close, and the shell was just meant to travel on to another one's life...(mine) :-) to remind me that GENERATIONAL LOVE and STRENGTH and RELATIONSHIPS are a WONDERFUL thing...

KEEP the TIDES of LOVE flowing...wherever you are.



I LOVE THRIFTING...Have a Beautiful day, my bloggy sisters. YOU are special. YOU can do or BE whatever you DREAM...NEVER stop dreaming...and By ALL Means...BELIEVE in yourself... :-)
God's richest blessings to you....


WE LOVE YOU JUSTIN!!! GOD BLESS YOU!!! xoxoxo














4 comments:

Sandy said...

This is a sweet and special post today. Sweet memories, for sure. I love sea shells too. This picture of your Justin is also very sweet. See? Just like I said, such a sweet post today!
Hugs~

Theresa said...

I think you SHOULD write a book:) I know I would certainly buy one! I love the note on that shell from that sweet Grandma's heart! I hope that they are still close:) Have a blessed day dear friend, hope it has been a great one! BIG HUGS and mucho prayers!

Tete said...

You know, I have found some of the most interesting things that others have passed on and I have often wondered how could they have let something like this go?
Because its meant to touch another heart, and another one, and another one.
Love your post today and wished I had read it sooner. Can't say I have done anything worthwhile today except watch tv and nap.
Been for 2 walks with Craig but got too hot for me to be out any longer.
ALmost got sick so I am back in.
Thrifting is just a way of life for most of us anymore. When I was first married because I had to, later because it was just too much fun.
Wish I could get out and hit those cool places again. Maybe someday.
Take care and have a great night.
Cooler weather is coming!

Lisa notes... said...

We're a thrift store family too. Jeff's family are all naturals; I'm still learning. :-)

You are a superb advertisement for thrift stores. You have an amazing sense of art and decoration, my hero. Love you!