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Lack and Abundance and Marketplace Sofas

November 22, 2020 By Melissa Beene Ford Leave a Comment

I almost bought a couch yesterday.

But I didn’t.

I saw it on Facebook marketplace, which is my favorite source of nearly every furniture item (and, um, everything else) in my home since I became a single mama with a house to furnish.

I mean, I had furniture before, but I’ve made a deliberate effort to not bring anything into this home that was contaminated with some sort of negative memory from the last one.

Which meant nearly all of it had to go.

Which meant I needed to furnish an entire home on a single mom budget. Facebook Marketplace to the rescue.

I’ve found some incredible deals. And it’s either the most bizarre coincidence, ORRR it’s the best example of how God cares about every single detail and desire of our hearts and answers our prayers.

I will think of an item I want, and it will appear on Facebook marketplace.

Like my white IKEA Ektorp sofa. I had decided that in my ideal little cottage living room of my dreams, the white IKEA Ektorp sofa would be just the thing. And voilà, THAT EXACT ONE appeared on the Marketplace for $250, in nearly brand new condition from a sitting room at a now-closed photography studio. It had barely even been sat on, the ad said.

My Facebook marketplace find IKEA Ektorp sofa … with the backward cushion. Oops.

I think of it, it appears, and at a price that works amazingly well with my budget.

Every.

Time.

I have recently rearranged my furniture (shocking, if you know me at all) (not really) in order to squeeze in a second living area, which is a luxury in a small house, but oh, so nice to have so we’re not all wrapped around each other’s ankles 24/7 and so SOME of us can watch Bubble Guppies in ONE room while others of us can sit and read quietly in another without losing our minds.

It was necessary for our mental health, is what I’m trying to say.

Which puts me in need of another sofa.

And so one appeared, but not THE one.

THEEEE one being the Denna Sectional for $3700 from Joybird which seriously makes me drool, though to be honest, I’d be thrilled with ANYTHING from Joybird because those people know what they’re doing, man.

But suffice it to say that a $3700 sectional is not in my budget, no matter how dreamy it is.

Not when I’m still driving a 2001 Toyota with 240,000 miles on it, which may or may not be worth less than that sofa.

But I digress.

So back to this marketplace sofa.

It was beautiful. A really nice higher-end brand. Also barely used, from a master bedroom seating area in a gorgeous home. Also an amazing price. Traditional style, nice neutral color.

It would be a nice, safe, practical choice that would probably make my mama proud.

It wouldn’t be my dream sofa, but it would work. It would be fine. And maybe, I told myself, it’s the right time in life to just be a dang grownup and make the mature, responsible choice and get a sofa that works in a nice, neutral color in a traditional style that will last.

The perfect Facebook Marketplace sofa I didn’t buy

The trouble is that it wouldn’t match well with my fuchsia rug.

And at this stage in life, I’ve decided that the person God created me to be is a person who needs fuchsia rugs over traditional sofas.

Like maybe this FAB vintage one that I actually almost bought this week, also, after I saw it on Instagram and messaged the guy about it. I mean. Tell me, y’all… how perfect would THIS be with my fuchsia rug?! AND HE COULD SHIP IT TO ME, as it turns out. Gasp! Although, for the perfect sofa, driving to Oklahoma City to get it is NOT out of the question.

Fabulous vintage sofa from @mid_binokc on Instagram

It was beyond what I wanted to spend, so I did not. I’ve decided that when the RIGHT ONE appears, it will be BOTH 1) within the budget and 2) it will look amazing with my fuchsia rug.

That’s all there is to it.

I’ve learned that this is an abundance mentality, the belief that there’s enough and that what I need is out there and it will present itself when it’s time.

I don’t have to settle for one that I don’t really love.

And I don’t have to spend too much to get one that I do love.

And feeling like you have to do either of those things comes from a mindset of lack.

  • I have to choose this one because there may not be another one I can afford.
  • I don’t want to spend this much but this is THE ONLY ONE LIKE THIS AND I BETTER GRAB IT WHILE I CAN.

I realized this morning this sofa shopping scenario MAY be a metaphor for choosing the wrong spouse: you can marry the one you don’t love but you think you need because it makes sense, or you can marry the one who appears to be what you want but that’s just because he’s a sleazy con artist who has carefully honed his acting skills and it will cost you a whole lot more than you can afford.

Hypothetically.

No disrespect to the fabulous vintage black and white houndstooth sofa.

If you’re making choices from a mindset of lack, it might be tempting to grab the first thing that comes along.

Or, you can WAIT for the one that God has for you, trusting that when the time is right, the God of the universe will provide the perfect sofa for your new sitting area. Andddd the new/used vehicle to replace your beloved old Toyota… when the time comes.

I don’t have to settle or be anxious about it or in a hurry to get it.

And I can’t wait to see what it’s gonna be.

Follow me on Instagram for pics of fuchsia rugs and marketplace sofas at The Blue House Blog!

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Hi, I'm Melissa! Texas Girl. Single Mom. Old house fanatic. Welcome to my corner of the internet! I hope to bring you all my deep thoughts about life, Jesus, health and happiness, and decorating my little home without breaking the bank. I will try my best to make you laugh. Or cry... but only for a minute or two. We'll see how it goes. Anyhoo, thanks for being here!! Follow me on Instagram (link below) to keep up with my daily stories. And be sure to subscribe so you don't miss a post.

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I love Saturday. 💕 Saturday’s my favorite. 😁 Projects going down today, starting with three gallons of white paint from @sherwinwilliams. What in the world should I paint first? 🤔 What’s happening at YOUR house today?
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Without hope without light
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To a virgin came the Word
From a throne of endless glory
To a cradle in the dirt

Praise the Father
Praise the Son
Praise the Spirit three in one
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Praise forever to the King of Kings

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For even in Your suffering
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Till that stone was moved for good
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And the dead rose from their tombs
And the angels stood in awe
For the souls of all who’d come
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Then the Spirit lit the flame
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I love Saturday. 💕 Saturday’s my favorite. 😁 Projects going down today, starting with three gallons of white paint from @sherwinwilliams. What in the world should I paint first? 🤔 What’s happening at YOUR house today?
Snow in East Texas. It’s a big deal. ❄️ Snow in East Texas. It’s a big deal. ❄️
It’s a beautiful day if you’re solar powered ☀️ like me. It’s also a beautiful day for napping in the sun ☀️ if you’re like @sophiejunethedoodle. 🤷🏼‍♀️ I feel SO fortunate to get to work from home where I can sit by a window and even open it when the weather is right 👌🏻 even tho I can hear #goldendoodle snores from my home office... 🤔 Working from home has been on my #visionboard for years and it finally happened. 👏🏻What’s on YOUR vision board for 2021? 👉🏻Answer my poll in my stories! 👈🏻 #theresnoplacelikehome #workfromhomelife #iloveworkingfromhome
The whole Christmas 🎄 story, in these lyrics ri The whole Christmas 🎄 story, in these lyrics right here. I believe every word is true. After church this morning I decided these words needed to be added to my chalk wall. 👉🏻 In the darkness we were waiting
Without hope without light
Till from heaven You came running
There was mercy in Your eyes
To fulfil the law and prophets

To a virgin came the Word
From a throne of endless glory
To a cradle in the dirt

Praise the Father
Praise the Son
Praise the Spirit three in one
God of glory
Majesty
Praise forever to the King of Kings

To reveal the kingdom coming
And to reconcile the lost
To redeem the whole creation
You did not despise the cross

For even in Your suffering
You saw to the other side
Knowing this was our salvation
Jesus for our sake You died

And the morning that You rose
All of heaven held its breath
Till that stone was moved for good
For the Lamb had conquered death

And the dead rose from their tombs
And the angels stood in awe
For the souls of all who’d come
To the Father are restored

And the Church of Christ was born
Then the Spirit lit the flame
Now this gospel truth of old
Shall not kneel shall not faint

By His blood and in His Name
In His freedom I am free
For the love of Jesus Christ
Who has resurrected me
HaPPy NeW YeaR! 🎉 Is today the day we throw out HaPPy NeW YeaR! 🎉 Is today the day we throw out the cat houses made of all the Christmas boxes and blue tape, or do we have to wait for epiphany? 🤔 Wishing you ALL the blessings of a brand new year! 👏🏻 May the Lord crown the year with bounty so that even the wagon tracks overflow with abundance. Psalm 65:11 🌱
Instagram post 17875671470084040 Instagram post 17875671470084040
My top nine pics of 2020. 🤷🏼‍♀️ These My top nine pics of 2020. 🤷🏼‍♀️ These all make me happy to look at ~ I do love this little home we have ~ but none of these represent my top moments of 2020, which would be memories I made with the people I love the most. 💕 It’s been a year of the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, but still, the person I am at the end of 2020 is better than who I was back in January in so many ways. Lots of lessons learned. Lots of figuring out what I want and what I don’t and who I wanna be and who I need around me. Can’t wait to see what 2021 holds but I know for sure there will be love and grace and mercy and peace. #topnine #topnine2020 #theyearinreview
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