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!!!

Words

Words carry such great meaning to me.

Words that are meant to hurt, hurt me badly.

Words that are meant to love, love me deeply.

Words that are meant to encourage, do just that.

I just want to share some words that have meant a lot to me lately.

** Jon's mom and dad came by last night. Jon has his 3rd interview with a company in Atlanta today. He is one of five being considered for the job. She said to him, "I no one one there can match you in integrity. Our prayer is that your integrity will show forth."

** A friend of ours was sharing with me some things. He said, "That's why we want _____ (their child) to hang around Alec. Alec is spiritually mature for his age."

**With this pending interview, we've had many people offer words of encouragement . . . words, texts, and emails of prayers being lifted up for our family.

**From Stephanie . . . a text that said, "Your blog is my favorite part of my mornings at work :) I hope you get to feeling 100%.


36. For our church family.

37. For a good run this morning after being sick.

38. For being over the summer crud.

39. For a husband who is true to his word.

40. For joy and peace during uncertain times.

Whirlwind

is probably the best way to describe how our week has gone. I'm a wordy girl, so I'm just cuttin' straight to the chase on this one.

Jon has applied from anywhere to 50-100 jobs in GA. On a whim, he saw a job in Jacksonville, FL (hey Nancy!!!) that peeked his interest. No one in GA has called, but the 1 stinkin' job he applied for in FL. . . you guessed it . . . called!!!

He just had a phone interview, so I was cool with that. After he told me he thought he totally bombed the interview and it was the worst and hardest interview he'd ever had, I felt a little relieved. However, as our conversation continued he told me they wanted him to come to interview in person on Thursday.

Okay, okay, I'm good with that. However, I sent an APB out for prayer like you wouldn't believe. News travels fast in a small town, and I really don't think we've ever had quite so many people praying for us. . . people telling us they'd be heartbroken if we left, that we just can't leave, that this was a tough prayer request for them to pray (joking, of course).

Jon said alot of his decision would be based on his Mom's reaction. After he told her I asked him what her response was. He said, "Nothing. She didn't say anything." What? Is this the same GiGi we're talking about?

Later that afternoon they came over to the house. She said, "I have never been depressed in my life. Today I have been depressed ALL day." Then, Jon's Daddy started crying. I hugged him and told him he was acting like my Mama (who'd started crying when I told her we were going down for an interview) . . . and not to worry, nothing has happened yet. His parents assured us they could help us financially until Jon got a job. I told GiGi I didn't think it was fair that they've worked their whole lives to build what they have. It isn't fair for them to have to help support us. She said something to me I don't think I'll ever forget, "Michele, all of it is no good if we can't share it." We're so blessed!!! Later that night they came back to the house and told us they would never want to stand in the way of a blessing. . . they'd released us and would be praying all day.

Thursday morning we head out for Jacksonville, FL (about 5-6 hours away). I drove b/c Jon had been up early and I knew he needed rest. As we were leaving G-town, it really hit me how really real this is . . . I started to cry.

The whole way down we are getting phone calls and texts from so many people . . . letting them know we are be prayed over. Jon's friend, Doug, is calling telling him he literally has him a job at Chick-fil-A . . . just to carry us over until he finds something more permanent. My friend, Faith, is calling telling me her hubby emailed someone this morning about a job for Jon. . . and she told me about 2 more openings for teacher positions. Jon and I felt so very loved on. . . so you know what I did? Cried. Yep, just the start of the tears for the day.

We get to the company. I see how big this place is and how big the parking lot is. I told Jon, "Babe, I'm nervous for you." We pray as a family. He goes in. I text Doug and tell him I just dropped him off. Doug texts back and says, "I love y'all and I selfishly want y'all here. There will be a big void in my life without you guys here. Ultimately I want the Lord Jesus to be glorified, so I am praying for His will. With that said, I hope my smear campaign worked (earlier he texted Jon and said he'd called every mortgage company in Duvall County and smeared his reputation) and they will send y'all straight home to G-town."

Meanwhile, the kids and I drive to the beach . . . which just happens to be one of my very favorite places on earth EVER!!! Our children's pastor calls me for a phone number she needed. She and I are friends but not the kind of friend you bare your soul to. She asked me one simple question, "Is this a bad time for you?" Oh me, Oh my. . . I just start dumping everything on the poor woman. . . tears and everything.

Here the kids and I are at the beach, fully clothed, and I start bawling like a baby. . . you know, ugly cry. Melissa calls. I just lose it!! Why was I crying so hard? Because I'm very scared. I could actually see us living down there.

I then start throwing a major pity party. "Only God is in G-town, only at our church. There are only good precious friends like ours here where we live. G-town has the best homeschoolers. Who will do my hair (yes I did think that)?" Y'all I was P-I-T-I-F-U-L!!!! Jacksonville is such a big city. . . I'm not used to big cities. I'm a small town, "Sweet Home Alabama", kind of girl. I'll have to drive big highways, and I'm not use to that.

I go get Jon. He has a pep in his step and a hop in his pop. Here I am moping around like Eeyore. He said the interview went well. He felt really good about them offering him a job. We should know something in a week or so. I think it made Jon feel really good to know he still has it. He's still able to walk into a professional and corporate environment and handle himself really well. He said he'd never felt so calm in an interview in all his life (he gets really, really nervous with things like this). We know it was all the people praying.

It is a really GREAT career move. Never has he had this good of an opportunity in the corporate environment since he graduated college!!! I would be able to quit my job. The company is a family-oriented company. He told me if this job was in Atlanta, he would be wanting it BAD!!!

However, with all that said, I feel like as close to perfect as life gets on this earth, we have it here. Our family is here. Jon's Dad is in poor health, and his parents really need us. My parents are 45 minutes away. We have dear, precious, like-minded friends here. Jon has really close Godly men in his life. Those things just don't happen to everyone. We have a precious pastor, who we have the honor of calling friend. Our church is wonderful. Other than our financial situation, life is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!

Unfortunately, you need a job to live . . . and no one here in GA has called in the last year Jon has been searching for a job.

As we were leaving Jacksonville I start crying again!!! We were going to spend the night in St. Simons, but when Jon told me he was fine to drive home. I wanted him to put the pedal to the metal and get me home as quick as possible. I teased him and said, "I don't even want to vacation there." It really is a very nice town (much, much, much nicer than where we live now). I'm just so afraid of change, of moving there, of leaving everything I hold near and dear to my heart . .. here, in G-town.

On the way home, dear, precious friends and family are texting and calling, checking to see how it went. I'm so moved at how very loved we are. Some people live their whole entire lives and never have what we have. . . can we really leave all of that????

Jon shared with me this morning a few weeks back he prayed, "Lord, if we are not supposed to be here, please move us out." Is this a move of God? or a test? I don't know.

Thankfully, I am not the one who is in charge here.. . nor the one who is in control. God is . . and I trust Him no matter if we stay or if we go . . . and I love Him. . . no matter if we stay or if we go . . . and I depend on Him no matter if we stay or if we go. . .

So, here's to hoping . . . I feel so very confident we can't miss God on this one. . . too many people are praying. I'm praying mostly He and He alone will be glorifed in all of this.