Dreams Do Come True!!

So, for about a year now I have been searching for the Strawberry Shortcake Berry Happy Home Dollhouse that I grew up with.  When I was a little girl my mom had to sell my dollhouse at a garage sale to help pay the bills.  I didn't mind so much then but once Kiley was born I started thinking about all the things I grew up with that I wish I could have kept. I decided to start looking for this dollhouse for my children.  Come to find out because it is vintage the house alone now starts bids at about $135 on eBay.  And all of the furniture and dolls are sold separately usually.  To give you an idea the little grandfather clock was at a starting bid of $19.99.  So you are looking at about $400-$500 now for what I use to have.  I was bummed but thought I would keep checking now and then in hopes that maybe one day I would find it at a price I could pay.

Today Kiley was eating lunch, Rowen was crying and in need of a nap and I was doing dishes when I suddenly felt a strong desire to go immediately to our local Goodwill.  At first I thought I was being crazy and impulsive but decided to go anyway.  It is about a 25 minute drive one way.  Rowen began crying and I started thinking "What am I doing to my children.  It's not going to be there.  I mean honestly what are the chances, especially since it is a collectible.  It would have to be a miracle.......But I believe in miracles so we're going."  We kept driving.  And Rowen began to settle down.  Upon arriving we quickly moved to the back of the store where the kids toys are.  At first I saw nothing.  But then...there in the very back of the store inside some kind of baby barrier contraption was the very top of the Strawberry Shortcake house.  I recognized it immediately.  I was so excited when I saw it.  And ecstatic when I saw the price of only $24.  Kiley knew that I had been looking for this and when she saw it she said, "Mommy, it's your house."  Which I replied, "Yes!! Yes, it is."  I didn't grab a cart or anything when we came in because I didn't think I would find anything, but now that I had I didn't want to leave it and I couldn't find anybody to flag down so...Somehow I managed to pick it up and carry it to the front with Rowen in my arms as well. LOL.  I am sure people thought for a moment that I was a horrible mother, but she wasn't crying anymore and didn't mind sharing my arms with such an interesting new toy. =) 

When I got up to the front and began the checkout process two people tried to buy it off of me, but I wasn't going to give this up ever.  This house will be staying in the family as long as I am alive. 
When I got to the car I called Christian.  He couldn't believe it.  I am still in shock and I keep thinking I am dreaming.

When I had picked up the house I had seen that there was a bag inside, but I didn't bother taking it out and looking.  I just wanted to get it home.  Upon arriving home I opened the trash bag to find that it had almost all of the furniture I grew up with, all of the dolls and their clothes in a vintage box and some of their friends and accessories.  The only things missing are some shutters on two of the windows and the bedroom furniture. 

I decided to take advantage of this experience to teach Kiley about sacrifice, and following promptings.  When we got home we said a prayer thanking Heavenly Father for letting us know when and where we needed to go to find this house and bring it back home.  My mom was so happy to hear that although she had to sell it when I was a child that it had made it's way back to me.

Enjoy the pics.  And dreams do come true!!  Heavenly Father blesses us daily and knows of our sacrifices.  I never expected to be blessed this way but I am extremely grateful and will remember this experience always.