to Him be the glory

Two weeks ago Chip and I (along with some other staff) found out we were not going to get paid this month. Due to many staff being in a deficit the cash flow was just not such that we could all get full paychecks. Some were getting full, some half, some none--based on your support in your account. It was shocking news to say the least. The range of emotions ran wild from scared to hurt to mad and back to scared. The information we were given said that we needed $9000 a month to come in October, November and December to cover our deficit, salary, insurance and taxes in order to get a full paycheck. What came in would go first to pay our insurance, next towards our deficit (which was $9000) and a portion of what was left over would go towards salary. I could do quick math and figure out we needed $27,000 to come in in order to function in a manner to pay bills, mortgage and eat without putting major expenses on a credit card and draining our small savings. That is why my posts kept talking about needing God every hour.

I was never worried about the $27,000 coming in near the end of the year. I knew God could do that. That is why Chip and I were not worried about our $9000 deficit. We usually are low towards the end of the year and then have some big givers in December. Some of our supporters do not give until December. I was, however, worried about it coming in in time and about not getting a paycheck at all. That was terrifying to me, as a human being, in my flesh, as a woman etc. I was trying hard to pray and trust and seek God.

I say all that, not to give anyone a bad taste of our ministry, but to say that today we got paid, our full salary. I am in tears typing because God did it. He used our friends to exceed our October need. As of last night $11,000 had come in. He did not have to do that for us but He did.

We still have to trust for November and December of course but we know God cares for His children and that He will do what is best for us, according to His Holy will, for His glory. So, I wanted to give Him the Glory due Him in this current circumstance in our lives. Thank you to those of you who gave and prayed for us simply because you knew something was wrong, even if you did not know specifics. I love you all.

My Pumpkin

My favorite Ella picture at this point in time. I love that smile and how she is sitting. It is hard to capture a true smile from her on camera so this is priceless.
Thanks Jill for taking it and for taking her with you.

Ella went to the pumpkin patch with some friends last week. I just loved these pictures from their day. I love that her best girl buddies all have curly hair. They will have friends that understand frizz and needing long layers and all the fuss that comes with being blessed with pretty curls. But, even better than that, they also are sweet girls who are being raised to fear and love the Lord. Their parents are our good friends who train and discipline in similar fashions. This makes squabbles so much more pleasant. And yes sometimes 3 is a crowd. And Ella is the youngest of the three by a good bit. But, they are learning that "A friends loves at all times" and that is a good lesson to learn at an early age.

Idea

In the mail this week I got some mail from Samaritan's Purse about their Christmas Shoe Boxes. We participated in this outreach last year. I did not think we would be able to do it this year so I threw the mail away. The next day I got this--Samaritan's Purse Gift Catalog. I started flipping through it and was hooked. There are so many ways to donate much needed items. It tells you what is needed along with the price and how much that will buy. You can donate money towards hot meals, blankets, fruit trees, livestock, fish for a fish pond, evangelistic materials etc. I picked out things to donate towards based on each of my kids likes. Nate will donate Milk, Streed will donate Sports Equipment, and Ella will donate Christmas Treats (candy). Check it out and see if any of it strikes your family's interest. I think we will also as a family donate some evangelistic materials. I am so excited about this.

Confidence Boosters

Story 1:

When I was sick a friend of mine brought me the best spaghetti ever. I text her after a few bites and asked if there was wine in the sauce. She said, red wine...lots. So, a few days later I was grocery shopping and said decided I just had to get some ingredients for spaghetti. I picked up some Merlot and headed for the checkout. Let me add that I was by myself and had been somewhere that morning so I actually was dressed and had make-up on. I get to the checkout and as the young guy scans the wine I hand him my ID. He promptly lets me know that he does not need it. So, I quietly slipped it back in my wallet with hurt pride. I mean, couldn't he have just humored me?

Story 2:

For about a week my husband has been not so subtly telling me I need a haircut. I thought they were not supposed to notice those things. Granted, it has been MONTHS since I had it cut but still. I was trying to convince myself that since it was long I could get away with letting it go. I knew I was due, but the fact that Chip too knew I was due was another story. I kept telling him I was trying not to spend any money. But, he literally made me go. So, for the first time in a while I went to a non-salon. I went to WonderCuts. And I must say I am pleased. My hair is easy...trim the ends and cut long layers. My only complaint was that she did not thin it how I would have liked. But, for $14.95 I cannot complain. I am embarrassed that I even admitted that. I am tempted to hit backspace.

Dinosaur Train

If you have not seen PBS's newest cartoon, Dinosaur Train, I highly recommend it. It is a staple at our house. And thankfully I like it too. It is about a mom, her name was Mrs. Pteranodon, sitting on her nest she heard a scratch. And she said, "Oh boy my eggs are hatching." Out popped baby Pteranodons 1-2-3. She named them Tiny, Shiny and Don. Then Tiny said, "Look mom there's one more egg". Out popped a dinosaur of a different size. He had teeth and a tail and big green eyes. The he said, "what am I doing in a Pteranodon nest?" She named him Buddy and then they headed off to the Pteranodon station to ride the dinosaur train to find out his species, because we're all creatures with different features. Sometimes Streed wants us to play Dinosaur Train. So, I named him Don, Ella is Shiny and I call Nate Tiny Buddy!

I surrender...to my laundry

That's it. I have just decided that I must wash a load a day. Why have I been fighting this? It would be so much easier, at the end of each day, to grab 5 peoples dirty towels and clothes and just wash them. Rather than several days a week doing multiple loads and getting behind on folding and putting away. I love being a stay-at-home mom. For some reason though I fight and rebel, both internally and externally, against the duties that come with the benefits of staying home. Starting today, once the next three loads are washed, I am doing ONE A DAY! Any other make-your-life-simpler tips are welcomed.

A new week

It is a new week but the message remains the same...

I need thee every hour in joy or pain
Come quickly and abide or life is vain

All Boy

Although my little Streed is sweet and sensitive, he is all boy. He can be found at many hours of the day swinging a sword, kicking a ball, racing cars,tackling his baby brother etc (all in the house). Just now, Ella's baby was laying on the floor. He said, "Watch Ella's baby do a flip." He then proceeded to kick her across the kitchen. It is so funny how it means nothing to a male but it makes a female cringe to hurt even inanimate objects.

I Need Thee Every Hour

For two weeks before I got sick I was getting up every weekday morning at 5:30am to have some quiet time by myself and with the Lord. It looked different everyday. Some days I would read Valley of Vision, some days work on my 2 Timothy bible study for church, some days read Feminine Appeal and journal, sometimes memorize and mediate on scripture. It varied based on the need of the hour and when my kids decided to grace me with their presence. The first few days it was as if they heard me tiptoe down the carpeted hallway. I think the first day Nate literally woke up right after I sat in my little red chair and said, "Dear Lord". I then proceeded to ask God to make him go back to sleep. He did it!

So, after being sick for a week and then being lazy for another half a week I was really needing to re-enlist in my early morning routine. I was supposed to start yesterday but did not. Today was my opportunity to try again. It was a NEED. Just last night I was journaling about something that I do not feel at liberty to share about yet. All day yesterday I kept thinking I want to talk to (vent to) somebody besides Chip about this but I can't. It got worse as the day went on. I know this is vague but bear with me. As the situation further developed I really knew I could not talk to anyone but Chip AND the Lord. I had to stop and pray and journal my thoughts last night and look at scripture.

So this morning I got up read a Valley of Vision prayer and looked at my 2 Timothy study. I flipped through the previous week's lesson and came across where I wanted to work on self-control and having a gentle and quiet spirit this week. I was encouraged that the Lord was doing that in my life yesterday by causing me to be quiet and exhibit self-control by only talking to Him and Chip.

One of the questions in my study today had me turn to I Peter 1:6-9. It encouraged me greatly as it restated some of the very things I journaled last night. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen Him you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (I Pet 1:6-9 ESV)

All I could do was praise Him and feel His peace after He met with me this morning. And all I could think was the hymn, I need Thee, O I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee! O Bless me now, my Saviour, I come to Thee.

game day

We love living in a city with big time football. Even if you don't have a ticket you can still partake of the festivities and the energy. Chip and the guys set up their tent yesterday (Friday) at 1pm because they have a really good tailgaiting spot. And ESPN's GameDay was going to be set up right near them. The staff was going to spend the night out there last night but it was supposed to rain so they opted to just head out there this morning at 7am!!! I have talked to Chip several times and have the television on here at the house watching it. I am doing laundry and watching the depressing weather. I almost want to throw on a hat and head out to the campus just to be out there. We will see. Who knows how far I would have to park and walk...in the rain. With three kids. Maybe I should refer to my previous post about dumb ideas.

makes me laugh

I got Ella a new $5 phone from Wal-Mart the other night. Streed was spending birthday money and she found it quite unfair that she could not get something too. Frankly I was tired and tired of the whining. I had all the kids at the store with me at about 6:30pm. I think it was obvious I had been cooped up in the house for way too long that I even attempted this outting. A trip with all three kids, to buy only one kid toys. IDIOT! So, Ella and Nate left with one thing a piece too.

Anyway, back to the story. Today I was folding clothes and Ella found her phone on the couch. She said "my phone is a push up phone". I said, "its a slider". She said, "yea, its a slider". "Actually, i call it an iPhone." I just laughed and said oh really.

Disclaimer. She knew this because the nursery worker at church has one, as do a lot of our friends. Still, it is too funny. Last night we took them all up to campus to see the tailgaiting. She was walking across what they call "the parade grounds" pushing buttons on her phone. I asked who she was calling. She said, "I'm not. I'm just texting." This here would be my fault.

follow up appointment

I am healed. Chest x-ray revealed no more pneumonia. All of my rest and relaxation paid off.