Thursday, May 22, 2008

Benefits of Blogging {take 1}

I've titled this blog post "Benefits of Blogging {take 1}" because I'm certain there are more (maybe not quite in this same shape & form) benefits to blogging that I can blog about later but first I'll start with this one.

The Lord continues to remind me of the benefits of sharing myself with "who knows who" and being real, despite hesitations and fears related to not knowing who's reading. Last week at my niece's preschool program I heard someone say, "Darby?" which lead to a fun conversation with a very sweet girl who reads the blog. Ironically, the same afternoon Justin was at the bank when the teller told him that she also enjoys the blog. Thankfully, both of these stalkers are "safe" stalkers. Anyway, the sweet girl I met at the preschool is Alyssa (I hope you don't mind me using your name, I won't give anyone your address I promise). During our conversation I learned that Alyssa has 2 girls and a little boy (just like us we will). Several days after we officially met, Alyssa called me and with slight hesitation informed me that she had some things that we might could use (ie. baby BOY clothes and some girl things too!). Of course, she knew I'd say "yes" to that... and if you've been reading for any length of time you know me and I'd never turn anything away! :)

This morning upon returning from swim lessons she called and said she was on her way and that she'd just leave it on the back step. Can I tell y'all what she brought? No, let me show you what she brought. The two bags were so heavy and chocked full of all kinds of goodies. I didn't get a chance to look through them until I returned home from my OB appointment this afternoon. (Note to self: unless your husband has his "new" black diesel truck stuck in a field, don't take 2 toddlers to the OB with you. When it was time to give a urine specimen the girls had to accompany me. Morgan couldn't understand why they wouldn't allow me to put my tee-tee in the potty. Some things are just too hard to explain to a 3 year old...) Anyway, you really would have thought it was Christmas here. The girls were napping and I was digging and digging and smiling!

So, Alyssa, thanks for being a bold blog-stalker and introducing yourself. But more than that, thank you from the bottom of my heart! What a blessing these very NICE and NAME BRAND clothes (and changing pad w/covers, diapers, blankets, johnny jump-up, etc.) are!




When the little guy has a name I can't wait to put it on this!However, there was one outfit he won't be able to be seen in... :)


The girls just woke up (mid-post) and have had a ball in there. Morgan said this was her favorite...

Paiger went for the pink clogs (& posed with her hands on her hips)... she has a little bit of growing before she can wear them though!

Thanks again, Alyssa! We love all our new loot! I want to treat you to lunch!!

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Darby...I went to High School with Alyssa! Does she have a blog? I would love to say hey to her. Or you can just tell her hello for me :) Jana

Anonymous said...

How wonderful to receive such cute things!! Darby, you are such a blessing to others through this blog! I am glad that you have been blessed too!!

Also, glad you received the pics of my two. We all miss you so much!!
Love,
Alison B

duchess said...

That's what Christian fellowship is all about.
Congrats on the loot.

Have a good Memorial Day weekend!

Beth Goff said...

That's great!!! I'm packing up Anderson's stuff to send to Natalie and Wayne for little baby Tucker. I LOVE hand me downs!!!

Shireen said...

This is awesome, Darby, and how incredibly generous, Alyssa!
Y'all have modeled the love of Christ. God is so good!
I know your family's going to be so blessed through this fun, VERY NICE clothes!
Little man Stickler :) already has clothes to grow into! Yeah!!
Have a wonderful, RESTful, long weekend, Darby and the Stickler family! :)
With love,
Shireen

beki said...

Hand me downs are the BEST! I often question my decision to blog, to put myself and my family out there so much, but honestly, the blessings I have received through blogging outweigh the unknown fear.

mrchrishill said...

You hit the mother load! Literally.

Well done blog community. Now I need to figure out what I need to do to get some hand me downs... or get recognized in public. As I've told you before, you need to run for office with all the great press you get down there.

Lindsey said...

I just love genuinely nice people b/c there aren't too many in this world! And I personally think the baby should wear the Alabama onesie!

The Birds Nest said...

Look at all that good loot!!! You scored the motherload!!

Kim said...

What a wonderful suprise! You racked up :)

Jenny said...

Can I just say that a little boy is going to be so fun (and cute in these new duds) as an addition to your very fun family!

Anonymous said...

Crazy question??? Just like you I received some CUTE CUTE CUTE hand me downs. One problem.....they all have a monogram on them that do not match my little girls initials. So this leads to my crazy question. Do you know how to get a monogram out so that I can re-monogram the outfit for my daughters initials????? I don't mind paying for it I just can't find anyone they knows how to do it. You seem to know A LOT about the sewing/monogram stuff so I thought maybe you would know. When it comes to that stuff I am clueless.
Thanks!

Darby said...

You can use a seam-ripper and from the back of the garmet carefully remove the stitches by ripping them out. Once you're done you'll see lots of little holes which you can spray with water and iron or wash & dry the garmet and they will almost completely disappear. You may still be able to see some of the little holes but if you're going to monogram over where the other one was you won't be able to notice them!

Dena said...

that is what we call lootalicious!

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