Way back in my past, when I was a single mom raising two young sons, I had many blessings in many ways, and many challenges in many other ways!  It seemed  I could always have used more money!

The most sizeable bill – the mortgage –   sometimes played “Peter” so “Paul” could get paid!  When Christmas came around, there was no question, I had to go into more debt, and this was around $250.00.   This was a lot of money 45 years ago, and going  in debt for Christmas presents always gave me a bad taste in my mouth!  Luxuries were few and far between…Christmas was the biggest luxury of all.  Every year I took pictures of the tree and all the packages beneath it.  Sort of a record of this colossal indebtedness and how well I pulled it off!

During my  workweek, I’d stroll a department store on my lunch hour.   One day…there it was!!… a bikini –  sailor blue,  not extreme.  It had a double  breasted cover- up with 4 large white buttons.  This was not your typical spandex suit…the material looked and felt like a washable wool.   I wanted this more than a meal!  Price tag:  $80.00!    For me to spend that kind of money for a swimsuit was unheard of…  I spoke to a sales clerk and inquired whether it’d ever go on sale.  She told me to check periodically for price reductions.   I was on a vigil…the  day came… the price was slashed to $16.00!  It was mine!  Owning this suit gave me an inordinate amount of joy for years to come…. such a trivial luxury thrilled me every time I slipped it on.  I had  waited out the bargain with an “if it’s meant to be” attitude, and never forgot how grateful and Blessed I felt to have it.  Obviously, I still treasure this memory.

Another time I was shopping for a shower curtain…and found the most adorable white eyelet, two piece, with a top ruffle… again, a “had-to-have -it-no-matter-what” love!…  $20.00!  This was a “decorator”  shower curtain, not the $4.00 one that resembled a ‘liner’!  I loved it so much I could taste it!   I bought it…never looking back….and nearly 40 (yes, 40!) years later,  it still adorns my bathroom today! I’ve lengthened it to the new style –  I permanently sewed the ruffle to add about 10 inches to the top, and  was lucky enough to find a white eyelet bed skirt (at a thrift store one day) and  I used that ruffle to add another 14 inches at the bottom.

Valuing something…whether it’s a bikini or a shower curtain…is no different than completing a special project.  It’s the combination of affectionate energy force, frugality, creativity, ingenuity, deep personal interest…and it becomes part of me.  It’s a birthing of sorts…an extension of me.  It’s not at all complicated.  It’s simplistic and sweet…..it’s part of my uniqueness…a personal treasure…no one could experience it as I do….

I hope I’ll always recognize and remember the treasures that are presented in my life and the intrinsic and Magical value they represent only unto Me!

You Are So Beautiful To Me