Italian Leather Dreams

For the passed few months, I've been casually shopping around for a new couch. It was more dreaming than anything else. Inflation has really affected everything, so I wasn't serious about making a new purchase. I am a huge thrifter as well; purchasing second hand can be even better than brand new. I love getting things with a past. Well the trouble with buying bigger items second hand, is you often have to have a way to transport it, which we do not have. So again, it's more dreaming than anything else...til it wasn't!

Early in the week, on Facebook market place, I spotted my actual dream couch. A sectional in burnt orange Italian leather. If I had drawn my dream couch, it would have been exactly what was listed. It was listed hours ago. I stared at my screen, and sighed thinking wistfully how lucky the person would be to buy this. The price under a grand. Italian leather for under a grand!? Gasp!! HE IS WILLING TO DELIVER!? I shut my screen off and pushed my phone away. Temptation was too strong. 

The next morning I opened my phone and went to the listing, sure it was going to be marked as sold. It was not. I opened messenger to send the seller a message. I asked him if he was looking to trade, and offered my sofa and loveseat. I knew it was a long shot, but the worst he could say is no. He did say no, of course, but very very kindly. 

I screenshotted the listing to my husband, saying how gorgeous this couch was. He agreed, yep sure is nice. I nudged a little more. He challenged me, that if I could get half the money together myself, we could get it. 

So I messaged the seller, and he said he would be in my corner cheering for me. He even said he would tell me if he got other offers to make sure I got the first chance to buy it. 

Now...if you're anything like my parents, I'm sure some of you are thinking, "Alyssa, why didn't you make an offer for a lower price?". Well, I am not stranger to selling things. I've picked up quite a knack for it actually! I pride myself on being reasonable and giving people a good deal. And one thing that irks the heck out of me is when I have something listed for a VERY reasonable price, and someone offers me less. I'm talking, I've listed books for sale for $1 each, and someone asking if I would take 50 cents instead...So this couch was listed at an unbelievable price, well below what it's worth. This man deserves the price he is asking. 

Continuing on, I accepted the challenge. I started listing things left and right. Some sacrifices were made, things I would have loved to have kept but we didn't truly need were sold. I prayed for favor over this. As silly as that may sound. I talk to God like a friend; I tell Him everything. Including all the sweet deals I find >_<

Well friends, to make a long story short, I not only sold enough for half...I sold enough to have the full amount. We sold our couch last minute as well because I was a little concerned with trying to cram the new couch in here while the old couch was still here. But nope. God took care of every last detail. And now I have my dream couch, and it is even better than I imagined. God cares about our desires. Even the ones as superficial as getting an Italian leather couch. 

Forever Hopeful

Friendship has always been a sore subject for me. Kind of unusual, I know. I'll explain by briefly taking you through my history of friendship. 

Early childhood, my best friend of many years "BB" moved away. Time took its course, and the sweet blossom of our friendship withered. 

Late childhood into teenager years, my best friend "E" moved. But we actually weathered the storm of distance and maintained our best friend status until the recent years.

Sophomore year of high school, my kindred spirit friend "H"  whom I had known since 4 years of age decided literally over night she no longer wanted anything to do with me. Her reason when I begged her to know why was that I had changed, although she refused to elaborate on that.

My most recent happenings are thanks to the military. Sweet friends have been distanced thanks to cross country moves or PCS'ing. History does indeed repeat itself. 

I know this seems like a giant pity party, and maybe it is...I was scrolling on Instagram, and I came across a video montage that one girl had made of her best friend. I watched their silly moments in flashes, many years of closeness squished into a minute long video. But the message was clear: they treasure each other. My heart just ached a little. While I have been SO blessed by the friendships I've gotten to experience...I am forever praying for a God given sisterhood that lasts the tests of the world and doesn't have distance and time zones. I've been praying for that for as long as I can remember. I will never stop hoping.