I have mixed feelings about thrifting. I would go so far as to say that I am very conflicted. In case you aren’t familiar with the term, I found this definition online.
“Thrifting refers to the act of purchasing secondhand goods, such as clothing, from thrift shops or other sources. It’s a fantastic way to save money while also promoting sustainable fashion.”
Thrift stores have long been a valuable tool in managing living expenses, but over the last few years, it has become a popular pastime. Thrifters tend to proudly wear their “finds.” There is absolutely nothing wrong with this. I have enjoyed discovering some finds myself. My favorite find is pieces of vintage Princess House dishes at a Goodwill Store. I was shocked they were priced at only $1.00 per piece. Princess House was very popular in Florida and was sold at home parties like Pampered Chef and Tupperware. I found this example of the plates below on Etsy.
Photo Credit: Etsy MichelesAttic
Thrifting is fun especially when sharing the experience with a friend. The conflict for me comes in thinking that if I am buying out of want, am I depriving someone in need?
Yet, thrift stores have expenses similar to any business: rent, payroll, utilities, etc. By thrifting, one is contributing to the cost of providing inexpensive clothing as well as household goods.
I have recently read comments condemning thrift stores for selling clothing etc that were given to the thrift store. I can’t follow that thinking because as I wrote above, thrift stores have expenses.
A church in my community has a heart for serving our homeless. They accept donations of clothing and provide them free to those in need. To raise money to help fund their ministry, they began selling the excess clothing and household items at a local indoor flea market. At the moment they have so many donations they have had to limit the type of clothing they accept. There is always a need for men’s pants size 28-34. I was shocked to read a scathing comment about the selling of the excess items.
My church has a wonderful clothes closet that is open twice per month. I love watching families come in with young children. The children are so excited to be able to choose whatever they want.
So, regarding the controversy over selling donated clothes versus giving them away, I think one should choose where they donate based on their preference.
There are thrift shops that fund many worthwhile helping organizations. My favorite shop uses the money to run a food bank.
From my experience, these are frequently needed clothing and items.
Men’s clothing-small sizes if donations to homeless
Children and infant clothing
Clean underwear especially for homeless
Personal care products
In winter, coats
Items specific to the organization, ie..pet needs
To thrift or not to thrift, that is the question…that only you can decide. I am still feeling conflicted.
Sometimes I feel I am the only person I know who reads books on a device. Of course, I know that isn’t true.
When the Kindle and Nook readers first came out, almost everyone around me were buying them. I didn’t join the party.
As time moved on, my friends, first excited about the devices, put them on the shelf and went back to reading hard copy books.
So of course, me being me, I decided it was now time for me to join the e-inreader party. However, in my defense, I claim extenuating circumstances.
The first circumstance was my poor eye sight. The second, wholding a hard copy book was at times, too much of an effort. So, I downloaded the Kindle app to my iPad and instantly fell in love. Once I put the app on my phone as well I was delighted to always have access to a book to read.
I confess to having some instant gratification issues. When I finish a book, I want to start a new one almost instantly. With the library Libby app I can do that! When I borrow a library book through Libby, I get the option to read the book on my Kindle. I always say, “yes please”
There is a downside to getting books through the library Libby app. Just like checking out a hard copy book there is a due date. Then one has two choices, return the book unfinished or renew. The big difference is that an overdue digital copy is magically zapped from my app. The first time this happened to me I was aghast. How could they steal the book from me? Of course it wasn’t stealing and I did have an opportunity to renew the loan if no one was waiting for it. Now I don’t ignore the warning texts that a book is due soon.
For the most part, I also read the Bible digitally, either in an app or from a website. Several months ago, a popular Bible site changed the wording in some scriptures. It wasn’t a faith shattering change but it disturbed me. I remembered how my library book had been zapped from my device. With all the anti-christian animosity on social media I can’t help but wonder if it will become socially acceptable to change or even remove Bibles from our devices.
I have a fascination with vintage Bibles. The writing is so small in some of them. I wonder if it was to keep the printing cost down. I collect the vintage ones, finding them in thrift stores and yard sales. Most have been inscribed with a message to the owner. Sometimes it is a gift for a birthday or Christmas.
I wanted to include pictures of my collection but as I am writing this we aren’t home yet.
When I was a small child growing up in Florida of the 50s and 60s, the children were encouraged to memorize scripture with the admonition that one day it might not be possible to own a Bible. I couldn’t imagine such a thing.
I would encourage everyone to have a physical copy of the Bible as well as any book you cherish. And, if you come across a Bible while thrifting consider buying it for yourself or to share.
I also collect old hymnals, but that is a story for another time.
After my retirement, I decided to re-learn the canning and preserving skills I learned from my mother but hadn’t practiced for twenty years. I titled the blog Old Things R New to chronicle my experience. Since then I have been blessed to have six other bloggers join me, DiVoran Lites, Bill Lites, Judy Wills, Louise Gibson, Janet Perez Eckles and Melody Hendrix
In addition to blogging, I’m a general “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books
My 2023 goal is continue to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media.
Early one September morning in 2021 I received a phone call that tore my heart. My cousin was calling to let me know that our 44 year old son was hospitalized with Covid and on a ventilator. Instantly sobs overcame me. Not just because of his grave condition but because two years previously our son and family severed our relationship.
Even though Covid patients couldn’t have visitors, this mama heart wanted to know how he was. We were in Florida and he was in North Carolina. We wanted to be there but we weren’t wanted. Thankfully, our son’s wife was updating the cousin and she was updating us.
He was in a small, rural hospital in the mountains with a “make do” ICU setup in the ER. He needed transfer to a higher level of care quickly, but no beds were available. We reached out to our friends to pray for a bed. God answered and He answered big. Our son was flown to Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina. He was very ill.
During the day I was calm, trusting our son was receiving good care. Night time was a whole different thing. In my work life I spent 23 years working on a medical/surgical hospital unit. I knew that the greater number of deaths occurred in the early morning hours. Statistics show from three-five am. Every night in the early morning hours I would wake up praying over our son. Fighting in my spirit for him, my heart breaking that he was alone. I asked Holy Spirit to pass to our son the love we had for him, As a child he liked to have his hair stroked when he was ill. I asked Holy Spirit to be my hands. Later a friend told me that she was waking around the same time to pray for him.
By coincidence, our Florida pastor was in Durham performing a wedding. He called and offered to go to the hospital to pray over our son, if the hospital would allow it. That meant a lot to us.
I called the hospital and spoke with the department that handles patient relations.. I was shocked that clergy were not allowed to visit the sick. Not even to stand outside their ICU room to pray over them. I cried and pleaded with the hospital to no avail.
This is when Covid almost broke me.
Our son was on the ventilator for many days. During the weaning trials he responded with flailing violence. After several attempts, the day came when a decision was made to administer a sedation along with the extubation. Praise God this attempt was successful.
A few days later he was discharged home. He doesn’t have any memory of leaving his home for the hospital. He was a bit bummed he didn’t remember the helicopter ride to Duke hospital. I am thankful he that even though he was alone, he doesn’t have any memory of his time on the ventilator.
A funny aside, when he woke up he asked the staff where he was. They told him he was in Duke Hospital. His next over mountain town has an affiliation with Duke and he thought that was where he was. They had a hard time convincing him he was 300 miles away from home!
Several months later he reached out to us and our relationship has been restored. This mama heart is thankful.
After my retirement, I decided to re-learn the canning and preserving skills I learned from my mother but hadn’t practiced for twenty years. I titled the blog Old Things R New to chronicle my experience. Since then I have been blessed to have six other bloggers join me, DiVoran Lites, Bill Lites, Judy Wills, Louise Gibson, Janet Perez Eckles and Melody Hendrix
In addition to blogging, I’m a general “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books
My 2023 goal is continue to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media.
In 2007 my husband and I purchased land in the North Carolina mountains with no immediate plans to build. But as we observed the challenges of building there, we decided to go with a prebuilt modular home. In 2008 our son found us a great deal on a model that we fell in love with.
We decided to save money by doing a lot of the interior finish ourselves. Once the home was delivered , we took two weeks off work and headed from Florida to North Carolina.
We were blessed to stay with friends from Florida who spent summers there. Not only did they give us a place to sleep, they made sure we had a nice meal every evening. We were so tired at the end of the day, it was wonderful to enjoy a meal and conversation. They have moved on to Glory now and I miss their sweet friendship.
I wanted the new home to have color, not monochrome walls. I chose soft blues, greens and even some gray. I was very pleased with the colors. Back at work during lunch, I was telling the group about the colors I had chosen. One person commented the colors were very Martha Stewart.
That comment rankled. I hadn’t even thought of Ms Stewart. Weren’t the color choices mine?
They were and they were’nt. The grocery store check out lines are flush with home style magazines. Martha and her successors were in my head. LOL
Those of us who raised children know well how they were influenced by cereal ads on the television.
And don’t get me started about the heavy influence on the children during the Christmas season. The must have toys!
Now is 2024 we are surrounded by 24/7 media. An evening of television isn’t simple entertainment. It is crafted for influence and has been for years. Product placement in a scene is coveted. We see it without taking it in, but the product is in our subconscious.
I am choosing to take my subconscious back. How you might ask. I plan to be more attentive to why I want something and why I think something. I don’t want to be a part of the chorus or a star. I simply want to be myself, liking what I like, disliking what I don’t. If I see the herd heading one way, I want to stop and ask, is this me or am I being manipulated.
“I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.”By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.”
I awoke this morning feeling unsettled in my spirit. Last evening as I prepared for bed I felt prompted to boot up my computer and write something, but I had no idea what or why, and booting up the computer once I am done for the day is not a pleasant thought, so I didn’t.
Of course, this morning my mind began running through all the scenarios of what might happen today because I chose to ignore the prompting. Let me tell you when it comes to possible negative outcomes, I think my brain could challenge the newest AI bot.
In my life, I have wasted so much brain space and energy thinking about life’s “what ifs.”
My thoughts zipped from, was I supposed to write something, to share something, to read something then on to are my children ok and a lot more. All of this before I made it past the end of my bed.
Then I realized what I was doing and sharply commanded my brain to stop, just stop now. Every fear I felt was created in my mind. “What is going on with me?” I asked myself.
Then I remembered I had forgotten one of my life’s biggest lessons. But God.
I don’t think I would have emotionally survived a serious family conflict without taking every fearful thought and turning it into hope.
“What if they never speak to me again?” And I would in my heart respond, “but God, I trust that if they don’t ever speak to me, you will heal my heart.”
I am not sure why the fearful thoughts captured me this morning but I am so thankful I didn’t have to remain mentally captive.
After my retirement, I decided to re-learn the canning and preserving skills I learned from my mother but hadn’t practiced for twenty years. I titled the blog Old Things R New to chronicle my experience. Since then I have been blessed to have six other bloggers join me, DiVoran Lites, Bill Lites, Judy Wills, Louise Gibson, Janet Perez Eckles and Melody Hendrix
In addition to blogging, I’m a general “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books
My 2024 goal is continue to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media.
This child is our King. He is our wonderful counsellor when we are hurting or perplexed, He is truly our mighty God who fights for us and He is our everlasting, loving Father. He is not only the Prince of Peace, he is our peace. We hope that He is yours as well.
Christmas is in ten days. Nine days if you count Christmas eve. It’s is coming on fast and I am moving slow.
Some years will celebrate Christmas in Florida and other years at our home in the North Carolina mountains. This year we will have a mountain Christmas. To jump start the season, our daughter who was visiting over Thanksgiving, prodded us to set up the Christmas tree and decorate it.
We have boxes of ornaments including the special ones from our children’s growing up years. As our daughter rummaged through the decorations I hesitated. While I would love a tree filled with memories, I didn’t think my energy level would be up to the effort required to later take down the tree. We settled on a one color tree.
Our daughter returned to Florida, and the tree stood lonely in the undecorated house.
When our daughter who decorates for every holiday and season told us she wasn’t going to put up any Christmas decorations this year since she was going to be with us, I knew I needed to get moving on the holiday cheer.
My moving started slow. I like to decorate our guest bathroom with the seasons.. I store seasonal flowers and small ornaments under the sink and a change of seasons is a five minute operation.
Photo Credit: Hobby Lobby
Next, I ventured to the attic and brought down a small,handmade, net Christmas tree and a matching indoor wreath made by the same crafter.They are a fairly recent addition to our Christmas decorations and they make me smile.
More time passed and I I began to feel twitching of Christmas past. I remembered I had tucked some Christmasy items into the drawer of an antique sideboard. It didn’t take much effort to take them out and place them along the sideboard.
The Christmas spirit in me was moving and it began to spread to my husband. We aren’t able to put up Christmas lights these days, but we do put out Christmas lasers. My husband surprised me by setting them up in the yard. Then I put a big red bow on the artificial topiary on the porch.
The stair bannisters leading to the attic began nagging me to dress them for Christmas as well, followed by the front step bannister. Greenery was abounding.
And finally, I dug into the closet where seasonal tablecloths, chargers and place mats are stored. I chose a cloth with a poinsettia pattern. It looks very nice and Christmasy. I think I am finished decorating. It was a slow process, but I think we enjoyed it more that way than rushing through it.
Now it’s on to baking and making Christmas treats. This year I am corralling my husband to help with the candy making. Christmas is coming fast and we are moving slow-but we are still moving!
After my retirement, I decided to re-learn the canning and preserving skills I learned from my mother but hadn’t practiced for twenty years. I titled the blog Old Things R New to chronicle my experience. Since then I have been blessed to have six other bloggers join me, DiVoran Lites, Bill Lites, Judy Wills, Louise Gibson, Janet Perez Eckles and Melody Hendrix
In addition to blogging, I’m a general “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books
My 2023 goal is continue to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media.
Do you still send out Christmas cards? I don’t send as many as I did in the past but I do enjoy sending them. As my mom grew older, she turned over to me the addressing of the cards. All of her family lived in another state so of course, it wasn’t just addressing, each card included a personal note. I treasure those memories.
My aunt Barbara was a faithful card sender and as she aged, her son took over writing them. Sadly her son passed way too young due to a brain tumor. I wondered if she would continue the cards. She did. She bought an ink stamp with her name on it. It made me chuckle each year when the card arrived and also touched my heart.
I enjoy receiving cards as well. It is like receiving a love hug in my mailbox. I especially treasure the photo cards. You know the ones the young families send with a picture of the family. I know these can be expensive and I feel honored. I keep them on display all year to enjo. When the newest one arrives, I look at the children and marvel at how quickly they are growing. Then the nests become empty but not for long and the photo cards have smiling babies. Memories are precious.
I’m trying to get my cards sent a little earlier this year. I don’t send a great number but I didn’t have enough stamps on hand, and since it was a cold but gorgeous day, I decided to go to the post office. Now the post office is not my favorite place but I figured they would have a self service machine and I could scoot in and out. They did have a machine, but for the life of me, I couldn’t figure it out. Sigh.
I went inside the lobby and joined the line. It wasn’t nearly as bad as I expected. When my turn came, I walked to the service window and asked to purchase one book of twenty postage stamps. I declined the Christmas one, even though the stamps are pretty, The clerk said that will be $13.20. But since I didn’t have my hearing aid in, I wasn’t sure I had heard her correctly. Bummer, stamps have gone up again, I thought. I pulled out my card and glanced down at the processing terminal to verify what I thought she said.
Shock!! The terminal flashed $1,320.00. I pulled my card back and calmly informed the clerk the computer was charging me $1,320.00. She smiled at me like I was senile then looked at her computer. Now she looked shocked. Shaking her head, she swiped the book of stamps again with the same result.
“I know I didn’t swipe it more than once, she mumbled. I would have had to swipe it 100 times.”
“That’s computers for you,” I replied.
She finally was able to convince the computer I was only buying one book of stamps. And suddenly, $13.20 cents didn’t seem as bad.
This is one time I was happy that I didn’t hear correctly. Otherwise I might have mindlessly inserted my card and paid $1,320.00 for 20 stamps with no idea until the card bill arrived. And that would be a nightmare trying to convince the postal service they made a mistake.
A week has passed since we celebrated Thanksgiving. I hope that it was a special day for each one of you. Our celebration has changed with the years, beloved parents passed on, children are grown and even the grands are grown. No great-grands as of yet to add excitement to the gathering. Still, it was a good day, we have almost finished off the leftover casseroles and dessert is long gone. The turkey was repurposed into a lemon-turkey soup. Very tasty.
I’ve been thinking about two words of late, maybe and hopefully and how best to use them. Maybe seems to carry a positive and negative vibe, whereas hopefully seems all positive.
For example. since we have health challenges, we could say maybe tomorrow will be better. But that indicates a 50-50 chance of being better, leaving room for doubt. When I say hopefully tomorrow will be better, I see tomorrow in a positive light.
Of course maybe can mean simply maybe. As in, maybe I will go the store today. No emotion involved.
My obsession with the two words may seem well, obsessive, but I think word choices matter. They matter whether they are voiced or thought. For me being hopeful makes life sweeter.
Each year I choose a focus verse for my digital prayer journal. I like to create a headline graphic so that it captures my attention as soon as I open the journal. This year focused on hope. Maybe that accounts for my obsession with the two words, maybe and hope.
I love this song. Family get togethers almost always involved guitars and singing. Precious memories.
After my retirement, I decided to re-learn the canning and preserving skills I learned from my mother but hadn’t practiced for twenty years. I titled the blog Old Things R New to chronicle my experience. Since then I have been blessed to have six other bloggers join me, DiVoran Lites, Bill Lites, Judy Wills, Louise Gibson( Now in Glory), Janet Perez Eckles and Melody Hendrix
My 2023 goal is continue to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media.
(C) Copyright 2012-2024 Old Things R New All rights reserved. This website is an Amazon affiliate and the income from sales helps to defray the cost of running the site.
Old Things R New 