My Petite Miracle

I have mentioned this before but every last Friday and Sat of the month, Kidz Kaboodle in Tacoma does a 25₵ sale next to their store. Everything that they received that month that is stained, out of season, missing a button, old fashioned, torn, worn or otherwise unsellable is put out on tables in this huge room and it is a free for all.

People line up for hours just to have first pick of the potential treasures. This includes baby equipments, toys, shoes, bedding and of course clothing. Every item is just 25₵ no matter how big or valuable. You can find some real trash but also real treasures. So….on my 35 minute drive there a couple weeks ago, alone, I said a little prayer not asking for a sign but just a little mercy. Since I am carrying my 5^th child and don’t have a huge budget for this baby I asked if He would grant me just a little gift of finding a bassinet. I told Him I would be very grateful. Since that is all I am looking for right now and due to our limited space in the house, small is crucial.

I wait in this typically huge line and as soon as they open the doors, I head straight for the heart of elbow-throwing central. Usually there are a couple of woman that hoard all the large items in the corner and pile-drive anyone that comes close to their loot. It makes it awfully tough to get anything since they are reselling these things for a living (that’s my guess) but I was going to try and plead my case…maybe throw in a sad cough or two. I quickly scanned around and didn’t see anything worth getting my panties in a bunch over so I wormed my way out, sighed an “oh well” and hit the clothing tables for some newborn items.

I spent the next hour like a locust devouring the heaps of clothing with the 50 other hungry moms and crying babies and found a couple of things. A skirt for Olivia, a maternity top for me, some sleepers and onesies for the baby. After that hour I decided my eyes were itching enough so I decided to check out and hit the road. I looked back through my huge basket of clothing, threw out a couple of items that I decided weren’t worth my quarter and then got in line. As I stepped in line, I glanced over in the corner and there was a pink and gray thing that looked similar to a small crib. I went over, checked it out, pulled out the trash that someone had cast off in it and decided it was in deed, exactly what I would want but hadn’t know it. It was clean, has the ability to clip onto the side of your bed and only had a missing pad which I can cut from wood myself and pad with foam. It even came with a side hanging bag for diapers and a vibrator/music player.

For a split second, I wondered if I should get it but then had to smack my forehead when I realized where I was….THE QUARTER SALE RACHEL!!!! It isn’t worth debating over, it is 25₵!!!!!!! I nabbed it and got several comments in line about how they were searching for that very thing. I imagined my guardian angel standing in front of that thing for the hour I was looking through clothes, gently guiding people past MY bassinet with something like the force in Star Wars until I could get there and pick it up.

It’s perfect and I can’t wait to lay my little one in my merciful gift I received on January 27^th, 2012.

(This sale is the same one that I received my trophy of the pink bouncer in my “I Don't Think You Can Handle This Post” post on my blog.)

I am grateful for small, tender mercies.