The Winner has been Announced!

Dawn (BigMommaD) was the winner of our grand prize charity raffle prize! She won $250 to her choice of a housecleaning or a spa day. Would you like to know what she chose? Here is what she had to say about winning this awesome prize:


THANK YOU!

Not only the owners and mods, but all my bijou gals and your congrats and good thoughts!

I am so excited, you cannot even imagine.

I seriously have TIME

The Lord is so incredibly good to me. Just this morning I found myself counting my blessings, and not giving in to the depression that was threatning to take a hold of me because of money. Things are just so tight right now. Don't get me wrong, we have food. We have this beautiful new house. We are all healthy, and my husband has a job. No one is naked (well, the little kids are, but not for lack of clothing ) But there is no extra. None.

I did not sign on for Mothers day because I didnt want to give myself a chance to be jealous while everyone was talking about their great gifts. There was no money for gifts. No money for going out to eat. But it was OK. I kept reminding myself about the post (was that Karen??) that talked about us being greatful to BE moms, and not expect to be pampered. I kept thanking God for the blessing of being a mom.

Part of me feels guilty, because I know that there are other ladies here that struggle every day. Struggle with depression, struggle to take care of their special needs kids, struggle to pay the bills. I want you ALL to know that when I say I am praying for you, I truely am. And I would have been (almost LOL) just as happy for you if you had won. Almost.

The one thing that has been weighing heavily on my mind lately is that chelseas 14th birthday is coming up on Jun 9, and there is just not a lot of extra money. Ive been wracking my brain to try and think of a way to give her an extra special birthday. She has worked very very hard this year at maintaining her belief system in public school. Many of you here have prayed her through her struggles, been angry and outraged with me when she was mistreated, and celebrated her strength of character with me.

This will be her last summer at home with me, and possibly even her last birthday for sometime. This summer she is an incoming freshman, but by next summer, her plans include lots of ministry tours and missions trips that will take her away from me for a good part of the summer.

It is with an incredibly greatful heart that I accept the gift of a spa day so that I can share it with my incredibly lovely daughter for her 14th brithday
(and my 38th which falls on Jun 24th)

Bijou has blessed me in so many ways. I learned to sell on ebay here, which has helped us so much when times have been tough. I've learned about friendship, forgiveness, and acceptance here, and have grown into a better person because of BIJOU. (TIME)

Thank you all so much, for so much more than the prize.

I love U all.....