Could it get any worse?

So last night ended horribly. I went to take a picture of Parker opening some late Christmas presents and as I went to focus the camera the doorbell rang. I sat the camera on the kitchen counter (where my mom was standing) and went to answer the door. When I came back I picked up the camera and turned it on expecting to see my sweet darling child through the screen. Instead of that wonderful picture, I got a screen that looked like someone had thrown a baseball at it. I turned it off and then back on hoping that something was just momentarily wrong with it. Of course I was wrong and my little birthday present that I had saved up to get was broken. No big deal right? I bought it at Wal-Mart less than a month ago and surely they would help me get my memory catcher back to working condition, or at least replace it for one that is the same. WRONG! So this morning we went traipsing off to the store that sells anything you need with high hopes and great expectations. I left the store near tears and full of disappointment. Apparently they ONLY refund or exchange cameras 30 days after you buy them, of course my little jewel had decided to break 1 day too late and I decided to try and get help 2 days too late. After speaking to 5 different managers and having 1 of them tell me that I could exchange it for any camera I wanted as long as it was comparable in style and capabilities to the one I had that was sad and broken I felt much better. I went to the camera department, found the camera that was exactly like mine except for the fact that it was black instead of red and 80.00 more than the one I had purchased (Because I had purchased it while it was on sale). I went back to customer service (And let me tell you they should change the service part to let me just screw you out of any money or whatever you are trying to do, you should just know that all sales are now final) and of course this was only my 4Th time to stand in the long line, I got to the front excited and relieved that everything was indeed going to be OK. The lady rang up the broken and sad camera and rang up the new camera and told me it was going to be 80.00, of course I say, no the manager flagged me down and told me that I could pick one comparable to the one that I have. Then much to my relief the manager walks over just at that time, seemingly to me like she is going to save the day. This is one day I was wrong more times than right in my assumptions. She looks at the 2 cameras (which again I add were the exact same make, just a different model) and then tells me it will be 80.00 dollars. I of course ask her exactly what she said then when she flagged my mom and I down in the middle of the store (this was after of course I was ranting like a lunatic that everyone should buy their electronics at Target, Best Buy or Circuit City and not here), she tells me what she thinks she told me and I tell her that is not what she said. At this point she says "Well then, since you didn't understand me the 1st time let me be clear this time, you can buy this camera or you can take your broken one home". Of course by this time I was seeing red, and it wasn't just because the camera that I held so near and dear was that color. I snatched my camera from her (with my receipt, fat lot of good that piece of paper has done me) and walked off. Of course after telling her that it was fine I was just never going to buy any electronics from Wal-Mart again, what's the point? Now let me add at this juncture that not every Wal-Mart employee is mean and horrible, the 2 ladies that were originally helping me were very nice and kind and you could tell that if there was anything they could have done they would have. The thing that gets me is that Wal-Mart would not even give me my money back because it had been TWO DAYS too late, you see their 90 day return policy does not apply to cameras. I thankfully bought the extended warranty through Samsung and hopefully in the morning will have better news to tell. I am just praying that they help me, because Parker turns 2 in a little more than a month and it would be very sad if I had no camera to document the occasion. Especially if I did not have one because Wal-Mart is not willing to loose 80.00 to do the right thing. (Of course we all know they wouldn't loose a dime in the matter, they would just ship it back to the company) So, the point of this blog is: Buy ALL of your electronics ANYWHERE but Wal-Mart, they will not help you, replace it or exchange it. And if it's 30 days out they will not even refund your money so you could go somewhere decent that cares about their customers happiness. My advice is Best Buy or Target, we've had some problems with products from there and both places were helpful and courteous and it did not take me more than 2 hours to get the run around. Love to all, hope your day was better than mine and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

what could it change? I mean really...

Well, I have already written this story once, but somehow it was deleted off of here, and I hope this one isn't going to be deleted. I will save it on my computer and I will repost this as many times as I have to! Anyway, on the insistence of my friend Heidi (I love you!) I am going to rewrite this. This is a testament to how great God is even when we're not trying to be involved in others lives and even when we're not trying to bless others necessarily. The other day Parker and I were going into a store and it was cold and windy, and all I was thinking was "Where is there a cart" and looking for one that I could hoist my 32 pound son into and my Mary Poppins bag. As we approach the entrance I see and old woman and a little boy probably 3 or 4 sitting on a well worn bench. Thinking nothing of it really I proceed to enter the store (or at least I try). As we near the entrance Parker pulls on my hand so hard we are no longer going towards the entrance but towards the woman and little boy sitting on the bench. As I am trying to get my scattered thoughts around what is happening Parker pulls off his hat and puts his brand new shiny hot wheel into it handing it to the little boy. He is sitting there looking at his grandmother and then to me. All I could think to say was "He has a big head the hat should fit." Now upon a closer examination the little boys hat is see through and the their jackets are clean but well worn. He asks me if he could hug Parker and of course I say "sure". And as he hugs Parker the Grandmother stands up, well worn with time and age and says to me "I have been sitting here praying to God asking how I was to get something even small for my grandson for Christmas this year, my husband has just lost his second job." Her eyes are threatening to spill the tears her eyes are producing and as I stand there with my son that is not even 2 yet, I realized how God takes care of everyone that is His. This woman is a faithful hardworking lover of God and even though they didn't have a lot of earthly possessions you could see the love and concern for others in her eyes. She asks me if she could hug me and of course I say yes, even though I am not a big fan of hugs from people I have not known a long time. I warmly take her hug and am appreciative that she does not see my own eyes rapidly filling up with water as well. All I could think to say as I took Parker's hand once again was "Merry Christmas and God bless you." As we turn I shove my hand into my pocket feeling a couple of dollars (Which is SO weird because I NEVER have any money) I turn back around and I hand her the cash saying "I know this isn't much but maybe you could buy some gloves or something". She says thank you, but more with her eyes than words. As we are heading into the store I see an old beat up van on it's last leg pull up with a cheerful old man driving. He shouts to the woman and little boy "Get in Ma", and his face lights up despite the cold and lack of heat in the van. Parker gives one final wave to the little boy who is now wearing Parker's old hat, and who knew, Parker's big head was the same size as the older boys. God is so amazing, and even when you're busy and bustling through life He seizes every opportunity to help everyone, even if He has to show a little boy not even 2 yet how to bless someone else's life. I can't wait to see how God is going to use my little man's life, it is amazing to me that He already is! After hearing Ed's sermon yesterday at church this story has even more impact on my life now! Love to all, I hope you all have a Merry Christmas! And don't forget, you never know how some "silly" thing you do might be the very thing someone else has been praying for!

That's IT I AM DONE!!!

With finals that is! The pressure is off, I took the LAST FINAL OF THE YEAR today. It was actually pretty easy...that might be because I have been studying for it for the past week. Amazing that feeling of knowing all of the answers and not having to cram the night before! So now I am sitting here wasting time...because my kiddo is at PDO and I have NOTHING else to do. Well I guess that is a lie, I could be cleaning the house or making desserts for my family Christmas party coming this Saturday. But it feels nice just to sit and waste a whole bunch of time doing nothing important! MAN I never knew how much fun it was to surf the net without guilt gnawing on you because you know you should be doing homework instead :) It's a NICE feeling! Love to all, have a wonderful week!Oh, and this picture has nothing to do with this blog, but I thought it was cute. So stay warm today (Since it is FREEZING HERE!!) But just think, if you're cold remember all of us that had to trudge across Tech campus this morning in the freezing rain, snow mix. Glad I'm home now!

unhappy?

"If you are unhappy with your material possessions it's not their fault, it's yours. It means you need to work on your moral life." This was said by one of my Professors on the last day of class and I thought about it all day yesterday. It's really true. There is no reason in this country to be as unhappy as some people seem to be. I have food, a house, cars, a warm bed at night, people that love me, friends and my puppy. AND I do have MORE material possessions than one person would really need. So if this Christmas you are finding yourself feeling depressed because you didn't get your cool new red pair of skates, ask yourself..."Is it really the skates I am missing or something more?" At least you have a warm home, food and family. Don't forget the beginning of the word Christmas, and the holiday cheer that goes with it. I am so frustrated with people today talking about the new ipod or 1,000 inch tv they got for some great deal. That's NOT what this is about at all!! There are men and women that do not get to be home for Christmas instead they are fighting for our country. (So don't forget to pray for them and their families). I am sad that Gordon is not home every night but I am thankful that he gets to come home on weekends and he's safe in Texas. SO go out there, show some love and be lovable people!! (Myself included haha) So I LOVE YOU ALL!! And am so grateful for all of my fabulous friends new and old! Love to all, just thought I would share this thought have a great week and a wonderful CHRISTmas break!!

the days of being 26

Yup, I am posting 2 blogs in one day. But I couldn't fit all of my cute Abbie pictures in with my other ones so I had to do 2, so sorry! So I am now 26, officially. I have to say that this has been one of the best birthday yet (even though we were sick all throughout the weekend). One of my closest friends (the one that everyone thinks is my sister) took Parker and I to lunch at the Olive Garden, then I had a party on Friday and we had a great time! Then on Saturday we hung out as a family and that evening Gordy took me to the drive in and then Logan's. It was really nice, even though Tech could have won the game for me, but I guess not everything can be perfect. I got some terrific gifts but I think the best thing about it all is how many people showed they care about me. It meant a lot to me that everyone came to my birthday party and then all weekend I kept getting phone calls and e-mails. It made the whole thing well worth it. When I was a kid I wanted a lot of people to come to my birthday parties so I could get a lot of gifts, but now I just want people to come so I can see them (But I must say I did tell everyone not to bring gifts to this party and EVERYONE was so sweet and brought me awesome gifts anyway. You do all love me!). It was especially nice to see everyone since a lot of us are so busy that's about the only time we have. So love to all, I hope you had a wonderful Thanskgiving and I hope you have a great week!

Abbie days

So I got to watch Abbie the other day, and even though she slept most of the day we had a blast! I thought I would share a few of the adorable pictures I got. Of course this was before my new camera so they're not as of good quality as my pictures will be from now on. Parker LOVES her, he is now calling her "my abababy" It sounds like he saying my baby abbie. It makes me laugh. He cried when she left, and when she fell down (because she is not even 8 months old but she wanted to walk around with Parker) he ran to her and held her hand. It was so sweet! Then he held her hand as she held onto the couch and walked around that way. He also tickled her (even though she didn't laugh because she's not very tickilish) and he wanted to help feed her. Of course I only let him watch, I drew the line at him holding the spoon, it just didn't seem like a good idea.