Barter- verb; to trade by exchange of commodities rather than by the use of money.

 Our new windows have been delivered and I am very much  looking forward to having them installed. First of all, for the energy effiency that they will bring (and  that they will look nice. =) But more excited about my home  being warm in the winter than any aesthetic enjoyment they will bring. Also, once the windows are installed we are having the house painted! I'm very excited about this as well because it is one thing that sean doesnt have to do himself!
Now, with regard to that excitement, I would like to tell you that I love bartering . People don't barter so much these days but it is really a great way to get things done with out money coming straight out of your pocket. Of course you have to invest time and labor but even so, you both get what you want without breaking the bank! I'm sure we wouldnt have been able to do half the things we've done in our home without bartering. Atleast it would have taken us twice as long to accomplish it.

I'm going to have to think about this but here is a list of the things we have "bartered" :
Exterior Paint:

in exchange for an 8ft Cap and trim fence. Our estimate for the having the house proffessionally painted was around $2800. Sean had somewhat of a relationship with the owner of the painting company, who happended to need a fence so they worked out deal where both of them would spending $800 out of pocket for materials and trade labor. So all in all it probably works out to a little over $1000 when you figure in labor costs but still way better than $2800 or sean, once again doing the work himself
GE Monogram stainless steel wrap refridgerator :
blood, sweat and tears!Sean Stained and Scored about 600sq ft for a lady we know who owns an appliance store. This was a really difficult one because he was working at best buy and landscaping and then going to this empty house until 3-5am almost everynight for awhile. I would go with him and help some, It was really hard work and I like to be asleep at 2am...hence, the tears :) BUT, it is a beautiful high end fridge that we never would have splurged on and he did get paid for the work and we got the refridgerator for a fraction of what it cost. So all in all, a sweet deal.
Renovations: Exanding the kitchen and laundry room and a creating a beautiful archway:
When sean worked at best buy he earned 3 samsung blu-ray players OR a blu-ray player and surround sound sound system. He had already purchased those items the year before so we traded Jesse Smith (Seans friend) the bluray and surround sound for his expertise and labor. (We obviously came out on top since the system was free to us but Jesse was going to help just for the sake of freindship so the entertainment system just sweetened the deal.) Jesse can do pretty much anything and do it with expertise. I thought sean could do alot of things but jesse is a like bob vila with more skills. So jesse and sean ripped out walls and ceilings and built new walls and ceilings and re-wired the electrical outlets...and alot of other stuff.
Hardwood Floors:
Seans roommate at the time, Brian Bell, helped sean install the floors. I'm really not sure what the arrangement was in this case
Recessed Lighting:
Sean is making concrete countertops, like ours but in onyx, for the Barkers kitchen and Mike .is going to do recessed lighting for us in our kitchen.
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Just some examples of bartering. It's a great way to get things done and help each other out in bad economic times...and good times too.
You don't have to have construction or hard labor skills to barter.
My sister Rebekah and about six of her friends, who are all in dorms or apartments at Mississppi College,
cook for each other several nights a week.
So the way it works out they don't have to eat out so much but instead are able to have home made meals and only have to cook once a week. I thought it was a really smart idea.
I have some more ideas for saving money but I will save those for another time!

A Beautiful Autumn Day

I'm so glad fall is here! I can't believe how fast this year has flown by. I can't believe that this time last year I was going to EVERY craft store in the greater Memphis metropolitan area to find enough off white votive candles to light a small community. yes we cleaned out Hobby Lobby in Colllierville, Garden Ridge and Old Time Pottery among others....Why do do brides do these things?

I'm pretty sure no one will ever remember all the little flickering candles that were so cleverly tucked along the bed of the stream that flowed from the candle covered waterfall.

And Besides all that, someone made the executive decision (without me) to remove the pumpkin spice candles (that we also went all over town to find enough of them) from the edges of the bridge that I walked over in fear that I would catch on fire...but you see, people would remember a bride who caught herself on fire.

This is basically how it would go:
Once I realized what all the gasping was about and why my dad was stomping on my train. I would have frantically jumped off of the bridge and into the pool screaming and then my drenched head would slowly lift from the shallow water and at the moment there would be a look on my face that said "I need to go back into the womb and start my whole life over" ......and then somehow an unauthorized copy of my wedding video would be getting thousands of hits on YouTube :)
Awful, but memorable.
Anyway, the point is I love the fall and I can't believe it has been a year since I was wrapped up in all the wedding planning nonsense! (That being said I loved my wedding is was absolutely perfect and better than I ever dreamed of Thanks to the Lord blessing us beyond reason with wonderful family and friends)
The air is so crisp and cool, every time I walk outside I feel at peace and hopeful.
It's times like this when you simply walk outside and can't help but remember that only an intelligent creator could create seasons so perfectly.
Sometimes when I think about the winter coming I feel rather melancholy because I so dislike the bitter cold and distance from the sun (and therefore all together LACK of sunshine) that winter brings. However, I must remind myself that I wouldn't appreciate the other seasons that I love and celebrate so much, if they were always here.
For instance, if we it was always fall we would never have leaves on our trees and we would get really tired of pumpkins and pecan pies and burnt orange table clothes.
If it were spring all the time I wouldn't get so excited about my tulips blooming because they would always be there and we would have to go to a wedding every weekend of our lives!
All I really wanted to say in this post is this:
What a beautiful time of year! Praise the Lord for seasons!

"Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him
with songs of praise!
For the Lord is a great God, and a king above all gods.
In His hands are the depths of the earth;
the heights of the mountains are His also.
The sea is His for he made it, and his hands formed dry land.
Oh come let us worship and bow down;
let us kneel before the Lord our maker!" PSALM 95:1-6

after all the candles and torches were blown out...still pretty :)