Pack-A-Thon

Toward the beginning of September our church took a group of children to pack meals for hungry children. I was so very excited about this ministry opportunity for my children.

We headed out bright and early on the church bus.

The one thing our children's pastor did not tell us was that we were going to have to wear hair nets. She didn't want to discourage anyone from coming . . . ha!ha!

Hanna isn't too sure about the hair net.

Ashley loves anything that will get her attention. . . hair net or not!

I literally felt like a lunchroom lady!

I learned so many neat things!

For example, did you know that most of the world is vegetarian. Meat is too expensive or not available.

Rice is known as the universal food. Any mother, anywhere in the world can receive rice and know how to cook it.

The room was so full of excitement. This was not a job for slackers. We all had a goal to meet!

Another thing I never realized is how corrupt some governments can be. . . after we finished packing the food we all corporately prayed over it. They said that only 3 shipments of food have ever been returned to their ministry .. . where the government refused to accept it. This is only the power of God that it hasn't been more boxes.

The girl in pink is literally like my 4th or 5th child. I love this girl so.very.much! She and I talked so much about all the places in the world we want to go to share the Gospel. She's really trying to convince me to go to the Ukraine with her next year. . .

The girls had to miss their first soccer game. Miss "Super Star" was quite upset. I used this to teach her life is not about her. When we left she said, "Mom that was so.much.fun. I'm so glad I didn't go to my soccer game."

Me too, sweetie. Me too!

106. For children who are being fed both physically and spiritually.

107. For the opportunity to help feed the poor.

108. For a God-given desire to help those in need.

109. For where God has placed us.

110. For children who served joyfully.

111. For my spiritual children.

112. For a wonderful children's minister.

113. For an organization that is legit.

Proceed to Checkout

About 1-1/2 weeks ago, I went into our online banking and checked our account. We'll we'd gotten through the first part of the month. . . when the mortgage and health insurance squeeze us tightly. Sheewww, big sigh of relief!!! However, the balance said roughly $2000. It looked like we would be fine until the end of this month, but after that . . .

Well, Jon always said there would be none of this 'robbing Peter to pay Paul' stuff. . . it wouldn't be okay, let's pay the electric bill and not the gas bill. . . when the money was gone, it was gone. Now, I have to say Jon's parents have graciously offered to help us financially. Thankfully, we haven't had to go to that. . . YET!

I knew financially relying on Jon's parents would be a burden that would weigh very hard on Jon. He's always told me his Daddy has worked so very hard for everything he has (became an attorney at age of 39 . . . worked full time and went to law school, all the while having 3 small children) and Jon would NEVER EVER want to do anything to cause his parents any financial hardship. I knew if we had to start borrowing money from his parents, this would weigh EXTREMELY hard on him.

Well, as I checked our balance and saw the damage I said to the LORD, "LORD, it's all yours anyway." I felt peace. . . peace amongst a storm.

For those who know us well, they know that us being financially sound is very important to us. . . not necessarily that we can go to Disney World every year . . . but that we can pay our bills on time and stay within a budget and not live above our means. In fact, sometimes I've even call Jon the "Budget Nazi". Jon's has alway said his credit score was his name.

Well, a day or so after I checked our balance, Jon got a call from a company he'd had a phone interview with, then an in-person interview. . . a company that is in Atlanta, so no move would be necessary. One Friday morning, I was on the track walking with my friends Faith and Steve during running club. For some reason Ash had my cell phone and said, "Mama, it's Daddy." Jon told me he gotten a call saying that he was 1 of 5 candidates for the job, and he was this lady's recommended top pick. I started screaming!!! Overjoyed I tell you!!!

We, of course, put out another APB for prayer. We had people praying for us I didn't even know knew our situation, people that I really didn't know very well at all. One Sunday after church several different men came up to Jon (I hadn't shared the interview news with them nor their wives) letting him know they were praying for him. Word travels fast.

Thing is, normally I'd be very anxious about something like this. I wasn't. I was just at peace . . . knowing that either a) we are in this place financially because we are being disciplined. God disciplines those He loves (Proverbs 3:12), b) God has either allowed this to happen or caused it to happen to work it for our good and His glory(Romans 8:28), c) God was carrying this burden along with us (Psalm 68:19). . . so, in essence . . . it's ALL good. If Jon got the job, GOOD!!! If Jon didn't get the job, GOOD!!! Total supernatural peace!

Thursday he had his interview. He felt it went really well. He told me as we were laying down to go to sleep, "You know, if they offer me the job, I really don't want them to call tomorrow. I just want to have time to not think about anything over the weekend." I prayed differently (why??? that's another post in and of itself). I prayed that if we were to do something I felt God calling us to do (more later), that they would call tomorrow (being Friday) if we were to be used as an instrument that I was feeling God was intending.

Friday comes. I was meeting my friend Trish at the pool. Rick was coming later on and so was Jon. I'm at the pool and see another friend, Candis, there. I enjoyed catching up with her. She's a friend from Dayspring that I don't get to talk to as much as I would like. I normally don't have my cell phone out unless one of my kids is not with me. Today, though, I knew Jon would probably be calling to see if Rick came to the pool (otherwise he wouldn't have wanted to come).

Phone rings.

I'm thinking Jon is calling to ask if Rick is coming or not.

He tells me they offered him the JOB!!! At the salary he needed!!!! However, they didn't want an answer then. . . they wanted him to take the weekend and think about it!!!

Talk about a screaming fit!!!!!!!!

Fits of laughter!!!

Fits of gratefulness!!!!

Fits of excitement!!!!

Fits of rejoicing in God's faithfulness!!!

When Rick and Trish got to the pool, I couldn't wait to share our excitement. The way I summed up my feelings to them. . .

You know when you shop online and you add things to your cart? That's been me for awhile now. . . adding things to my cart. . . yet never going beyond that point.

Now, but now, I'm so excited that I get to . . .

PROCEED TO CHECKOUT!!!

Today, after being at home for almost 3 years running our business. . . Jon has headed to midtown to his swank office building, dressed in slacks and a tie. . . ready to take on his new career.

Funny thing is, this is the BEST career opportunity he's had since college. I say funny thing. . . but not really. . . we serve a MIGHTY BIG GOD!!! Jon was really willing to settle for SO MUCH LESS!!! I guess in my mind I thought since he was willing to settle for less, then that's what we would end up with. What foolish thinking that is!!!!

This job is going to force Jon out of his comfort zone, as he will have to do some public speaking (really, really scary for him). He's told me all along in this one-year journey of trying to find a job. "I really believe the LORD is going to force me to take a job I'd otherwise never take." Jon was right. The job description clearly said public speaking . . . he applied anyway. . . desperate times call for desperate measures.

As far as our business it will still be running . . . just like we did when he worked full time before. . . .

I can't wait for his lunch break. I'll probably be on pins and needles all morning until I find out how his day is going. . .

For all who have prayed for our family, I thank you . . . from the bottom of my heart. . . I thank you.

57. For God's provision.

58. For Jon having a job.

59. For Monday through Friday, a flexible schedule, and good time off.

60. For the power of prayer.

61. For "back to work" shopping for clothes.

62. For the overwhelming amount of support from family and friends. . . all have truly, deeply and sincerely rejoiced with us!!!

63. For Mr. John and his sweet prayer over Jon last night.

64. For the excitement people have shared in us NOT having to move!!!!

65. For feeling so very loved on. . . I don't know if we would have ever felt this loved on if it wasn't for this difficult time in our life.

66. For the $60 my mom INSIST that I take in case times got much tougher. . .

67. For me being able to return her $60 to her!!!

It's All About Perspective

Jon is always telling me that. I even find myself saying that to myself and to others quite often. Really, though, life is truly about perspective. Jon and I have been dealing with much lately. . . in the way of relationships . . . more so in the area of finances.

No job. One month's salary in the bank. A ton of bills. It can weigh you down. Last week Jon and I, along with family and friends, were praying over a job Jon had been offered. He actually only applied for the job because it said, "No high pressure sales. Excellent costumer service." This fits my introverted husband. Wanna know what it was? A car salesman. However, the add was very misleading and just basically lied.

He was told to show up Friday for training and literally did not make the decision until the very last minute. We truly believe it was the right one. No one we've talked to since making this decision has made us believe this was the wrong decision. That was our biggest fear. . . making the wrong decision.

Thankfully God has provided for our family in other ways. We will be okay financially for a little while. . . but no free spending. . . I mean I literally had to cancel a girls' day out with some of my best friends to have an $8 pedicure. That is how tight this ship is right now. That's okay though.

I've been camping out in James 1. Little did I know I would have to use these very words to encourage my little sister last Thursday.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
9The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 10But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower." James 1:2-9

In a family full of sisters this is the way it works. When something is seriously going on with one of us we are calling one another like crazy (mama too). Then if not one answers their phones, we're calling the husbands (poor things, I know it drives them crazy). Although at times I literally want to scream when my home phone rings, then the cell, then repeat 4 times. . . I really wouldn't have it any other way.

Last Thursday my little sister (the preggo one) was diagnosed with preeclampsia. She was sentenced to bed rest for the remainder of her pregnancy (she's 30 weeks) and told they would probably have to take little Emory (or Emmy poo as Aunt 'Chele has been calling her). We were certainly all alarmed and didn't take this lightly. I teased her though and told her where God had me in my Bible study in James 1. . . that we should all be full of joy b/c of all our trials. Kris said, "Yeah, let's have a joy b/c of our trials party". I told her I'd bring the Gwantley (sp???) hotdogs b/c we were broke.

Today we found out Kristen has a virus called CMV. It is typically contracted from the elderly and small children (she's an occupational therapist who works at a nursing home and a part-time children's minister assistant). The thing with this virus is more than likely it will be transmitted to Emory. Although Kristen refuses and told her hubby NOT TO DARE look on the internet . . . her big sister did. Kinda scared me...made our finacial problems not so very important anymore.

When I talked with Kris today she was in pretty good spirits considering the circumstance. Of course, Mom is worried. Quite honestly, I think we all are.

We serve a mighty big God. This has not taken him by surprise and we will praise Him NO MATTER WHAT THE OUTCOME IS!!!! God is still on His throne. His fingerprints are all over our lives, and, yes, He has knit Emory together whether she be blind, deaf, with cerebral palsy or mental retardation. And we will praise Him because all of His works are wonderful. He has seen her unformed body and ALL of her days are written before one of them comes to be. (Psalm 139:13-16).

Our family would certainly appreciate any and all prayers.