It seemed everywhere we turned over the weekend, there were references to sight, vision or seeing openly and clearly.  It was as though each statement or phrase spoken or sung was shouted at us. We were ready listeners.  Of course the references are to spiritual sight, which is far greater.  How empty our lives would be had we never seen our need for Christ. 

Then the Monday morning appointment came. My poor parson endured all the lights, refraction, and testing all over again.  He read more alphabet signs than a kindergartner at graduation time.  Then the diagnosis came – it was a detached retina. Surgery was scheduled for today at 9am. 

My heart has ached for my parson.  We are one.  We have been for thirty-one years.  What he goes through, I go through. I wish I could take it for him.  He will be wheeled off to deal with this surgery, but not alone.  Because of his spiritual  vision that pushed him to Christ at the age of five, he will have the presence of the Lord with him where I cannot go.  That gives me peace and helps me rest.

As to the plans we’d made earlier – they are really insignificant right now. When going through a trial, priorities change.  The really important and eternal things come into view very clearly.  Some of those things are:

• Our love and dependence on our God. Plans may change, but God never will.
• Our knowledge of His sovereign plan.  He knows what is best for us.
• Our love for one another.  We are pulled closer at times like this.
• Our appreciation for everything God has given (vision, speech, ability to walk, talk, swallow…)
• Our love and gratefulness for our family and friends that have surrounded us.  What we do without this support?

If you’re going through a trial, determine to allow it to run you to God and not away from Him.  Love your family more than ever.  Tell your friends what they mean to you.  You never know what tomorrow may bring.

From the parsonage windows,

   P.S.  Thank you for your prayers for the parson and me!  We need each one.

Did you know you don’t have to shop at the mall for clothes, home goods and gifts (weddings, holidays, graduation, etc)?  You didn’t know that? I feel a song coming on…click here and sing along….

Still not convinced? I know all of you Southern women default to Belk for everything from Easter dresses to housewares to Christmas gifts. There may be some of you who think the thrifty alternative to this is heading to Walmart or the Goodwill. Not so!! Come shopping with me for a minute. As my Nana would say, “Grease your elbows, girls! We’re going in!”

I walked into TJ Maxx on a weekday and headed right to the big red CLEARANCE sign. (TIP #1: always shop the clearance rack first). The first thing I found was this lovely serving platter, made in Portugal. The suggested retail price was $26 (what you’d pay at Belk), but it was marked down to $5! This would be a great wedding shower gift, or even a nice addition to your own serving dish collection!

This is not a clearance deal, just a great regular price deal. A stack of 8 very nice washcloths, tied with a pretty polka dot ribbon. This would be a thoughtful addition to a “back to college” gift bag.

16 drinking glasses for $12.99! If you have small children (or you’re clumsy like me), you probably have a hard time keeping a matching set of glasses. This would also be a nice wedding shower gift.

Wedding gifts from Bed, Bath and Beyond (or heaven forbid you’re shopping for someone registered at Williams and Sonoma!) are very expensive. You can find the same stuff  the bride has registered for at BB&B right here at TJ Maxx. Look at all these cool pots! (TIP #2: Stock up on wedding/baby shower/graduation gifts when you find a great gift on sale. This will save you from making a mad, expensive dash to BB&B the day of the shower)

Let’s move to some really fun deals. Check out these lovely red heels, originally $89, marked down to $20! If these had been in my size, I guarantee I would have walked out of the store with them!

In the above picture, the purple top and gray jacket are from Ann Taylor. The gray skirt is from J. Crew (thanks Alli). The brown belt around the other top was $3! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve worn that scarf, paid $5 for it. These are all things I wear to my office job. Can you image what these things would have cost at the mall? Gracious me.

Where do you do your bargain shopping?

*Disclaimer: TJ Maxx and Plato’s Closet have not paid me for this review. I just like their stores. But if they want to send me gift cards, I’d gladly accept them 🙂 

Birthdays are BIG deals in the parsonage.  Shouldn’t it be?  That family member was brought into the world on that day, and we are glad!  We usually always serve breakfast in bed to the honoree’, serve them whatever they want for supper, and give them their choice of birthday cake.  Well, yesterday was our Alli’s golden birthday, meaning she was 21 on the 21st!  We celebrated by going to Pigeon Forge for a couple nights to rest, shop and just have fun as a family (+Alli’s boyfriend!). 

Alli’s choice of cake was one of our favorites – Triple Chocolate Cake.  We only eat it on special occasions.  Here’s why – it is a Devil’s Food cake with a HUGE whipped cream layer, chocolate butter cream and chocolate ganache over the icing.  Here’s a peek at what it looks like under the butter cream…

Now with the butter cream and ganache and packed on my Tupperware carrier ready for travel…

And now, how about a slice? 

All this needs is a cup of coffee or a tall glass of milk.  Okay, it’s loaded with calories and fat, but you’re only twenty-one once, and after all, a birthday is a special day celebrating a special person!  So, why not?!  Life is too short not to splurge every now and then!  Enjoy!

If you’re interested in the recipe, you can find it on an earlier post here.

From (outside) my parsonage windows,