Welcome

There are really only two reasons that you would be reading this. One, you know
that God is good and will always provide for those who love Him, or two, you
accidentally hit the button for the next blog. Either way, welcome! As you
have probably guessed, I am in the first category with a love and faith for the
Lord that is a source of hope and strength through this crazy world!! My family
has been blessed in so many ways that sometimes I just want to shout it from the
rooftops. I am kind of afraid of heights so blogging in the next best thing!!

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

The Year of the Dying Car AKA The Year I Learned to Listen to God Part I.

As promised, here is part one of our vehicular "dramady" that we were very much unwillingly cast in.

It all started...
Last year, just before Labor Day, I started noticing something "not quite right" with our car.  I did my wifely duty - you know, the one where you try to imitate the car noise for your husband -and we decided there must be something wrong with the transmission.  Now, we had just finished paying off the car after many months of stressing about  too high payments.

 Then in a matter of days...nothing.  It died at a stoplight while my infant son and I were running errands.  It was just dead.  Flat lined.  No hope of resuscitation.  My first instinct was to freak out, and I did so exceptionally well.  My second instinct was to call my husband at work and yell at him for allowing this to happen.  I did that also, but not until later. 

During all this absurdity, I was pleading with my Lord to keep us safe.  I knew He was.  He had already placed a police officer behind us - complete with flashing lights -  to protect us, a parking lot for us to push the car, a kind mom to stand there and hold my son safely off the road, and He even provided a smoothie shop for us to have a snack and a cool, safe place to wait.  The entire time, though, I was constantly worrying about the hows, whens and how muches.  That's my job isn't it?

I certainly thought it was and took to the worrying with gusto, as if I was the only one who could fix this problem - even though I had absolutely no idea how.  So after strapping the carseat in a tow truck and being dropped off at home I really let loose.  I turned on my husband, God, the finance company who we just finished paying and of course, the car.  Would we ever get a break?  What made this situation all the more worse was that my husband and I had just started talking about trading the car in to get something that would fit our growing family.  Who was going to take a broken down car now?

 As I said before, our car issues have been going on for an entire year.  I think that I could have cut that time down had I just gotten over myself and given it COMPLETELY TO GOD!  That is what He wants.  In fact, there are instructions for times like this right in the Bible.  One of my favorite resources is a book called "The 100 Most Important Bible Verses" from W Publishing Group.  One passage says:

     "When life gets busy or chaotic, it's easy to get distracted.  You wind up focusing on problems instead of the One who holds the answer to your problems in His hands.  When that happens, stop.  Focus on who God is and how much He loves you."

In the New King James Version, you can check out Psalm 46: 1-2, 10
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea...
"Be still, and know that I am God."

I sure felt a chunk of our life crumbling when that car died.  How were we going to go grocery shopping or get to doctor appointments?  My husband rides a motorcycle to work so he at least had transportation, but then my son and I would just be stuck at home.  And make no mistake, I most certainly did not take my own advice and dive into God's Word like I should have.  Rather, I spent a miserable several months praying for a solution, all the while trying to concoct one on my own.  I was still trying to do it my way...

Made in the USA

<a href="http://www.usalovelist.com" target="_blank"><img alt="USA Love List" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/--4iofbRFBb0/UDl--TQbh1I/AAAAAAAABr0/fj_ciMziBNE/s150/USALoveList150Sq.png" /></a>

Monday, August 27, 2012

The Beginning is Here!

Today is Monday. Today is the first day of school for my husband (a high school band director) and all the children in the area. Today is a day full of lunch packing, new friends and clothes, LOTS of papers to sign and return and let's not forget that it is a day where moms might just get to stop for a moment and take a breath. This is also the day I have decided to start telling you the story of how God has pushed us, pulled us, and occasionally given us the "smack upside the head" during our car journey. He has been working in our lives to give us something (patience and mechanics skills maybe) and we have surely gained those things and much, much more. Keep a eye out later this afternoon for part one of the story!

Saturday, August 25, 2012

August 25, 2012

Wow! I am so excited to have some new folks on here! Don't forget, there is just over one day left to get your entries in for the giveaway. The prize is an autographed copy of "Unlikely Praise" by Carla Rossi. Also, stick around for my retelling of our vehiclular "dramady" that has taken place over the last year. God has been watching out for us in some mysterious and sometimes comedic ways!

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

What now?!?!

So...We have had nothing  but car trouble for the last year.   Seriously, the ENTIRE LAST YEAR!  Transmissions going out, an accident, buying a car that we found out had no a/c (after we bought it), being without a vehicle and stuck at home with a toddler when it is 104 outside and we can't even play outside, motorcycles breaking down.............
(This is me taking a mental breath)
Well...We bought a new to us car last night after lots of prayer and deliberation and have such a sense of peace about it because we put it in the Lords hands.  I did not get all nosy and demanding with Him.  I let Him take care of it in HIS TIME and in HIS WAY!  It was not for us to figure out. 
And now...Today, there is no buyers remorse.  There have even been three (yes three) opportunities for us to supplement our income which just gives us an even greater sense of peace!  Amen and Praise the Lord!!!!!

Found this on some friends walls.......

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Why Toothpaste From God?

You are probably wonderig how and why I came up with this name.  It's simple really.  I was out of toothpaste and out of money and when I went to check my mailbox that day there was toothpaste in there!  The toothpaste came to be in my mailbox because I had signed up for a sample (I will be posting some of those here in the very near future) and God orchestrated the timing.  It is just like the time we were once again just about out of money and a complete stranger showed up at our door with a  gift and some giftcards to various stores.  When I say stranger what I really mean is angel! :)

Now don't get the wrong impression here.  Yes, I do believe that God will always provide for those who love Him and yes, sometimes it is in miraculous ways.  Sometimes though, it is in the simple things that we do like sign up for free samples of toothpaste! :)

Please stick around as I will be having some pretty amazing things to share on here including free stuff, book reviews, music and much, much more!

Monday, August 13, 2012

Let's Try This Again, Shall We?

It all started.....
One day, several months ago, I decided to start blogging about how God was so good to my family.  I stayed up late one night thinking about it and made my very first blog post.  And then nothing.  I did not tell anyone I started blogging and I did not advertise in any way.  I was my only fan.  I still am my only fan and that is only because my momma does not know about it!  So, I am about ready to share with the world (or at least my momma) about how good God is!  He will never let us down.

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Made In USA Challenge

<div align="center"><a href="http://madeinusachallenge.com" title="made in usa challenge"><img src="http://madeinusachallenge.com/assets/newbuttonclear.jpg" alt="made in usa challenge" style="border:none;" /></a></div><div align="center"><a href="http://madeinusachallenge.com" title="made in usa challenge"><img src="http://madeinusachallenge.com/assets/newbuttonclear.jpg" alt="made in usa challenge" style="border:none;" /></a></div>