CANDY!

Gosh, where do I start? First of all, this being Saturday, Martin and I went to a garage sale. I found an incredible set of 15 brass bells, strung upside down, one on top of the other, each about 5 inches tall with a small hole in the bottom,that you hang to catch the rain. As the rain drips from bell to bell, a lovely melodic sound is made. I can't wait for it to rain to see how it sounds! Then, we went to Kroger and bought a chocolate cake for the funeral, that got dropped by Jacob, but survived! We went to the funeral, and it was the most wonderful experience. Yes, I am so sorry that my dear friend died, but I saw many other friends that I hadn't seen in so long, and others who were raised with my own children, grown and having kids of their own. In spite of everyone aging, we all looked the same to each other. I got so many hugs and kisses, I thought my neck would snap, and my ribs would break. It wouldn't have mattered, it was so worth it. The funniest thing was, that each of those who were kids with mine had kids that looked just like they did when they were little. It really touched my heart when I heard so many times, that I meant so much to them, and they always remembered me. We couldn't stay too long as Martin was tiring easily, but oh, how happy I am that I went.

On the way home, Sissy, Martin, Becky, Joe, Little Joe, Cheryl and I went to Lubys for lunch. On Saturday, it is an all you can eat buffet for a great price, and we go when we can. I always order the same thing. Trout Almondine. I always get two pieces, usually some squash, and a fruit salad. I love the waitresses there. Each one of them have gotten to know me and we all talk and visit when I go. Knowing their stories makes me incredibly grateful for the affluence in my own life. Each of them have to work for a living, and work they do. One of the waitresses is 8 months pregnant, another is a single mom with 4 boys and recently lost her baby girl to SIDS. Another supports an ailing husband, and still another is a single mom. They all genuinely smile and are glad to see us. It would be so hard for me to have to be on my feet, scrambling from table to table, bringing drinks and food for people for most part, who don't' appreciate their efforts. I do. I do all I can to express my appreciation to them, and leave as much of a tip as I can.

I finally got home and collapsed. I lay in bed and read for awhile, when the phone rang, and Becky told me she had bought me something at Walmart. She said I was going to be surprised. Well, she said I was going to crap when I saw what she had gotten for me- in my shallow mind I automatically assumed it was a cookie jar. I could barely understand her with the background noise at the store, but I did hear the word-candy. Several times. Oh, maybe she got me a box of chocolate cherries! Alright then! But then, I understood the words huge sale, and hurry up and get here. I told Cheryl, lets go, Walmart, sale. Martin said to have fun and don't forget the ice cream. When we got to Walmart, we met Becky in the Christmas clearance section. She told both Cheryl and I to bring a cart back with us, and when we got there, she said, "Mom, I told you to each bring two carts". Why? As she was explaining to me why, I noticed that the two carts next to her were overflowing, and I do mean overflowing, with a mountain of Christmas candy. A third cart was loaded with Christmas bows, decorations, mugs and lots of other stuff. Becky told me to start loading up my cart because all the Christmas stuff was going for just about nothing. I thought the carts with all the candy were going to the back because they weren't sold- but to my incredible shock and awe, they were for me! I was gaping like a hooked fish when Becky told me she had gotten all the candy for me. I told her that there was no way that I could pay for all of that-hundreds of lollipops, hundreds of candy canes, hundreds of chocolate coins, chocolate "coal" M&M's, and on and on- and she said with joy and glee, "Mother, the manager said I could have all I wanted for a dollar". Well, even at a dollar each, I couldn't afford it, but she said with a touch of impatience, "No Mother, a dollar for all of it!" Are you kidding me? Nope, she got it all for only one dollar. The manager was going to throw it all out, but could sell it for whatever he wanted. So, a dollar it was. My food storage room is stacked floor to ceiling with over two hundred boxes of candy canes, fortunately quite a few boxes are the fruit flavored kind, cases of lollipops, cases of chocolate coins, cases of chocolate "coal" pieces, and other stuff. Mind you, each box of candy canes has 12 canes in it so that is more than 2400 candy canes! The best part is, the outdates on all of it are in the year 2013. What am I going to do with all of this? Share it! Take it to church, take it to the homeless shelter, give it to the neighborhood kids, just share it. Becky had a fabulous idea for the candy canes, hot glue them together and make a heart shape, and use them for Valentines day! I have finally experienced the ultimate fantasy- more candy than I can even count! Without a doubt, Becky is the most thoughtful, the sweetest and the most loving of daughters! She always is thinking of others, and she knew that we could really put this yummy haul to the best of use. Oh, by the way, I made a haul on Christmas candles, (I love the smell of cinnamon, bayberry, and pine all year long),60 lovely large Christmas glasses,45 drinking bottles in all colors, (will use them for Easter) some Christmas bows, Christmas socks, and over 100 cookie boxes to use for next year when I make the Christmas cookies. My cart was full and I spent a whopping 19.00, oh, I forgot the great big teddy bear too! Hallelujah! Now that's what I call a sale! I am happily exhausted, and am extremely grateful that Becky and Joe stacked all the candy neatly for me. I will have to go and look at it all again, it is too neat to believe! Anyone for a treat? I got plenty! I think Heavenly Father has a great sense of humor, giving me this blessing. I mean, he knows me so well. And he knows that I will share the bounty, because I can!