This week I am in quite a predicament.
Wanting to be the best manager of my home that I can possibly be, I've decided to have a Garage Sale to motivate me to really clean out each room. One of my sons is graduating from College soon, and we want to host an open house for him in a few weeks. Having a "deadline" to get things in order - is usually what I need to get moving. Even with the best of intentions, these things can be over whelming - but when it is all done and you look at a freshly cleaned and sorted house (and you hopefully have alittle money in your pocket from your sales - ) I believe most people look back and say "it was worth it!". But I'm not looking back yet - the sale is next week - so I need motivation to finish this task.
As I've sorted piles upon piles of clothes, dirty closets and corners, I've had some time to really think this week. One of the things I have been remembering is how the Lord has helped me to "use what is in my hand" when I've been down or discouraged about where we are financially. So many times we have these grand plans for what we want to do: We want to accomplish this or that - and yet if we look at our surroundings/talents/circumstances objectively, we will realize that we don't have the resources to truly do that thing.
Just this week, I opened the refrigerator and quickly threw together dinner with what I had on hand. It actually was quite good! I added a little bit of refried beans, some salsa, fresh cilantro -
a bit of corn, and we had a hearty meal. Not long ago, I made "soup" with the leftovers in the frige - and even I was impressed with this chowder concoction! Instead of multiple trips to the grocery store, I learned to look in my freezer and pantry, and be creative with our meals. It has been great seeing a completely organized freezer.
This whole discipline of using "what I have in my hand" has really opened my eyes to new possibilities that I may have otherwise over-looked, and not just in the food arena.
A few summers ago, I was longing to go to the Nursery and purchase some new plants to update our landscaping. There was no money for that - so instead, I cleaned out our paint closet in the basement and found that I had enough stain to spruce up the front porch flooring and railing. I also had many plants that I could "split", so I added lots of new growth around the property that way.
Sending cards is one of my favorite things to do - so I designed home made-cards using some reprints of my old photos and some cardstock. (cost: about .25!) Some of the photo's are funny, and some are just nostalgic so my family and friends enjoy them.
Going through our closets was another adventure. Pairing shirts with different pants and skirts gave me a new look, without spending a dime!
A few years ago, I wanted to encourage some of the young moms at our church - so the Lord gave me the idea of having them to our home for an evening of pampering. I made an inexpensive meal and set a pretty table with my best dishes. The girls and I did a song to sign language for them to enjoy. I set out all my unused home school supplies, games, toys, etc. for them to go through and take home. Then Candy, Danielle, Abby and I gave them manicures and pedicures while they were able to relax and laugh with each other. It was so much fun, and cost so little! I'll never forget that special evening. I learned through this that the Lord will enable you to serve, if you are just willing to use what He has given you! Stop looking around at every one elses talents (wishing you could sing, or teach, or whatever...) and just start using the gifts and talents that He has personally given to you!
I figured out that I could teach a class or two at the Co-Op, and essentially pay for my other kids classes.
A few weeks ago, a close friend of mine was having minor surgery. Wanting to help her, I told her that the girls and I had time to make her a few dinners for her freezer - and then added: "By the way - can I have ten dollars to buy the food to make these meals?" We both laughed. I wanted to use what I had "in my hand" (time..but no extra money this week!)
Most recently, in cleaning our house for the garage sale - I've moved alot of furniture. Several rooms have a new look now! Wanting to spruce up our bedroom (so Dan and I could have a peaceful place to retreat to in the evenings...) we rearranged it, added a bookcase and small table from downstairs, bought a very few accents (candles, a couple new pictures, a pillow and a lamp) and now we have a peaceful, organized and clean "new" room.
I think that learning to use what we have on hand encourages contentment. The Lord has already given us everything that we need! It also brings out some creativity in us, and gives us a sense of accomplishment even if we don't have the means to go out and buy alot of new things.
So....what do you have "in your hand" today?
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Monday, April 14, 2008
Where do I begin? (My first post - 3/31/08)
I am still a relative moron when it comes to the computer. I constantly need to ask my kids (even Michaela...) "should I check this?" "what does this mean?". But I must admit that it is a pretty cool tool when it comes to writing. Last night at Bible Study, one of the questions posed to us was this:"Based on Paul's testimony in Acts 20, have you ever had something you felt you SHOULD do, what was it? Now, have you ever had something that you have felt COMPELLED to do? Do you realize the difference?"Honestly, there were several things that popped into my head about things I have done that I felt I "should" do. Direct Bible School, dive into a "Purity" seminar for some girls that I know, be part of a Praise and Worship team that went into Nursing homes, etc.But I have only felt compelled to do two things in my life: have faith in allowing the Lord to bless us with a rather large family, and compile my journal of the past 5 years and write a book. The title will be "Living on Daily Bread". It is a testimony to God - for being the faithful, loving and merciful God that He is. He has literally carried me through months of waiting, uncertainty, hurt, and a myriad of other things - to lovingly show me who He is. Instead of wasting my days on things that will not last (like writing 22 limericks! which was fun)I feel compelled to sit down and start writing.
Posted by Debbie at 5:25 AM 0 comments
Posted by Debbie at 5:25 AM 0 comments
Sunday, April 6, 2008
If my life is a book, here are some of the chapter titles.
My mind was full of thoughts at work yesterday - so when I had a few free minutes, I wrote these potential chapter titles down.
1. Depression is so.........depressing
2. Various Trials
3. "I know I deserve my enemies, but I certainly don't deserve my friends"
4. For better, or for worse (Snoopy and Woodstock's story)
5. Secondary Infections
6. The up-side of Insomnia
7. What do I have in my Hand?
8. Gifts come in all forms
9. Lessons about myself - and it isn't pretty
10. Perseverence:
11. Everyday joys - realizing that sorrow and joy run on parallel planes
12. "Everything I needed to know about life I learned in Kindergarten"
13. For such a time as this
14. "Be Thou my Vision"
15. A Tribute to my Dan
16. A Tribute to my Lord
17. If you don't laugh, you'll cry
18. "Suck it up, Creme Puff"
19. Would you like some cheese with that whine?
20 How to live without health insurance, cell phones, and other "necessities" of life
21. When it rains, it pours
22. " Life is a chair of bowlies"
23. My case for kids
24. Learning to "Trust and Obey"
25. When all is said and done......
1. Depression is so.........depressing
2. Various Trials
3. "I know I deserve my enemies, but I certainly don't deserve my friends"
4. For better, or for worse (Snoopy and Woodstock's story)
5. Secondary Infections
6. The up-side of Insomnia
7. What do I have in my Hand?
8. Gifts come in all forms
9. Lessons about myself - and it isn't pretty
10. Perseverence:
11. Everyday joys - realizing that sorrow and joy run on parallel planes
12. "Everything I needed to know about life I learned in Kindergarten"
13. For such a time as this
14. "Be Thou my Vision"
15. A Tribute to my Dan
16. A Tribute to my Lord
17. If you don't laugh, you'll cry
18. "Suck it up, Creme Puff"
19. Would you like some cheese with that whine?
20 How to live without health insurance, cell phones, and other "necessities" of life
21. When it rains, it pours
22. " Life is a chair of bowlies"
23. My case for kids
24. Learning to "Trust and Obey"
25. When all is said and done......
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Why - "Living on Daily Bread?"
In August of 2005, Dan and I had a difficult decision to make.
He was still actively trying to get more work in to pay off our debt...and an interesting potential project came up. Our decision was: do we risk making a trip down to Atlanta to meet the potential client - with little money and a weary car (our 1994 Ford escourt wagon, "Penelope "- was beginning to show her age.) Or...do we let this great opportunity pass?
After praying and considering all of our options - we decided to go for it. Dan made the arrangements for the meeting, we pooled what money that we had available, packed the car, and headed out to hot Atlanta. I was very nervous about whether Penelope would make the trip through the mountains - but we both had peace about our decision to go. I jokingly said we may have to sell her old body in the mountains!
We have always enjoyed traveling together. We generally try to visit a wide array of topics that we've been putting off - until we have a few quiet hours together. (A hard commody for us to come by with 8 kids). We were genuinely enjoying the trip - until we entered the eight lane traffic surrounding the Atlanta area. I don't know if you've ever driven in eight lanes of traffic - but I'd rather have a root canal than do that. I don't like alot of traffic when I'm driving. I'm famous for always taking the back roads and avoiding the highways like the plague. As I kept talking myself through the drive - I noticed that the back wind shield was clouding up. Odd - we'd never had that happen before. Before long, Dan had diagnosed the problem - we were losing transmission fluid , and fast. Every exit sign we made it past seemed like a great victory lap! We had appx. 40 miles to go to make it to Dan's first meeting.
By the grace of God and against many odds:
1. I didn't panic and wreck.
2. We made it to our destination!
We LITERALLY coasted (not drove - ) into the parking lot, and then Penelope died.
It was sad. But we were elated!!! Dan had his meeting with a millionaire(again - literally) who had flown there in his own jet. I was priviledged to meet this man too - what a great guy. The meeting went well and we were so thankful to have made it. Our next decision - what do we do with our broken car sitting in the parking lot? I found out that my AAA membership had JUST expired two weeks prior. Oh man!!! I called them anyway - told them our situation - and they informed us they were on the way.
Car towed, back in our hotel room that night - Dan was preparing for perhaps the most important business meeting of his life. It was exhilerating and terrifying at the same time. We spoke on the phone to a good friend of ours - and she offered her undying support and encouragement for the day ahead. The next morning as I looked at him, all dressed up in suit and tie, I couldn't help but think of how the Lord had miracuously brought us to this point. We wanted to have a quick time in the Word before he left, so as he finished getting ready I flipped open my "Light For My Path" topical bible verse book. I opened to the chapter listed under God's Guidance, and the first verse I read was to him was this:
"I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them."
Isaiah 42:16
Since Dan has been legally blind since 1983, we both took great encouragement from the verse and forged ahead into the day, expecting to esperience the Lord in yet a new way.
To make a long story short: Dan's meeting went well, but there was no immediate commitment for the project. We retrieved our beloved Penelope from the radiator shop, and hoped and prayed for a safe trip home. The technition told us to keep fluids on board, and stop often to refill the radiator tank.
We were crusing through Tennessee when we noticed the first signs of car failure. We pulled off and again, coasted into a parking lot! This time the establishment belonged to "Turbo Towing and Rental". The assessment of Penelope wasn't good. It now appeared that we had transmission problems as well. Thankfully, this shop offered us a chance to slow down and sit. We were both weary from the trip, and wanting desperately to get home to the kids. The men at the shop were entertaining and friendly, and Dan commented that the only thing missing from this picture was a three legged dog ! A few hours later, we decided to sell the owner our car for $500 (which he would send to us upon receipt of our title) - try to locate a rental car- and head for home. It's really amazing to be so dependent upon God. Because of our poor credit, we have been unable to use credit cards for years. For most people, this would be a simple solution: charge your credit card with a rental - and head home! But as we've come to experience, life isn't so simple when you are literally struggling financially to make it each week. Thankfully, we have an awesome daughter named Danielle who has consistently allowed us to borrow money from her! After calling her, she transferred some money into our debit account, and we set about finding a rental.
The timing of everything continued to be impeccable! We JUST made the phone call to the rental office before they closed, the finance' of one of the shop workers was able to drive us the 20 miles to pick up our rental, and again - we were on our way home.
(and guess what! As we prepared to say farewell to Penelope, Dan took a picture of me beside her. Who should appear, but a very friendly three-legged dog, tail wagging -ready to escourt us off the property! Also as we pulled out, the owner came up to us, and pulled out $500 cash from his shirt pocket. He said...'You know - you don't need a whole lot of time to figure out whether someones a good person or not. Just send me the title when you get home." I still have this gentleman's address and signature in my collection of beloved things!)
As we recounted the incredible events of the previous two days, we couldn't help but laugh. The Lord had faithfully prepared our way and cared for us as only He can!
Then, just a few hours from home, we witnessed the aftermath of one of the most horrific car accidents I have ever seen. A van was literally ripped in half, and several bodies were in the median with sheets over them. Traffic opposite from us was backed up for hours. As we later learned, a semi truck had entered opposing traffic, and had killed an entire family. Times like these have served to keep Dan and I reminded of what is really important in life. Financial strain is tough, but it is NOTHING compared to what some people endure. We arrived home exhausted, sober, excited to see our kids, but most of all: grateful.
The next afternoon I was telling my friend about some of the events that the Lord had graciously brought us through, and I said..."It's like we're learning to live on "daily bread" from the Lord. My comments used to be that the Lord is getting us through - week by week - but now I realize how dependent we are upon Him, each and every day." She instantly responded: "Well, there is the title for the journal that you've been writing and telling me about!"
"Living on Daily Bread" initially started out as a journal of the ways God provided for us monitarily. But it has emerged into so much more. More importantly in the years to follow, I learned that I couldn't survive a day without God's written and living Word. He literally has "spoken" to me - with words of comfort, reproof, correction and encouragement - and these words have given me the strength to go on.
I'm excited about compiling this journal of mine! May it someday serve to encourage yet another weary soul to press on with God, and forever remain as a written testimony and praise to my precious Lord.
He was still actively trying to get more work in to pay off our debt...and an interesting potential project came up. Our decision was: do we risk making a trip down to Atlanta to meet the potential client - with little money and a weary car (our 1994 Ford escourt wagon, "Penelope "- was beginning to show her age.) Or...do we let this great opportunity pass?
After praying and considering all of our options - we decided to go for it. Dan made the arrangements for the meeting, we pooled what money that we had available, packed the car, and headed out to hot Atlanta. I was very nervous about whether Penelope would make the trip through the mountains - but we both had peace about our decision to go. I jokingly said we may have to sell her old body in the mountains!
We have always enjoyed traveling together. We generally try to visit a wide array of topics that we've been putting off - until we have a few quiet hours together. (A hard commody for us to come by with 8 kids). We were genuinely enjoying the trip - until we entered the eight lane traffic surrounding the Atlanta area. I don't know if you've ever driven in eight lanes of traffic - but I'd rather have a root canal than do that. I don't like alot of traffic when I'm driving. I'm famous for always taking the back roads and avoiding the highways like the plague. As I kept talking myself through the drive - I noticed that the back wind shield was clouding up. Odd - we'd never had that happen before. Before long, Dan had diagnosed the problem - we were losing transmission fluid , and fast. Every exit sign we made it past seemed like a great victory lap! We had appx. 40 miles to go to make it to Dan's first meeting.
By the grace of God and against many odds:
1. I didn't panic and wreck.
2. We made it to our destination!
We LITERALLY coasted (not drove - ) into the parking lot, and then Penelope died.
It was sad. But we were elated!!! Dan had his meeting with a millionaire(again - literally) who had flown there in his own jet. I was priviledged to meet this man too - what a great guy. The meeting went well and we were so thankful to have made it. Our next decision - what do we do with our broken car sitting in the parking lot? I found out that my AAA membership had JUST expired two weeks prior. Oh man!!! I called them anyway - told them our situation - and they informed us they were on the way.
Car towed, back in our hotel room that night - Dan was preparing for perhaps the most important business meeting of his life. It was exhilerating and terrifying at the same time. We spoke on the phone to a good friend of ours - and she offered her undying support and encouragement for the day ahead. The next morning as I looked at him, all dressed up in suit and tie, I couldn't help but think of how the Lord had miracuously brought us to this point. We wanted to have a quick time in the Word before he left, so as he finished getting ready I flipped open my "Light For My Path" topical bible verse book. I opened to the chapter listed under God's Guidance, and the first verse I read was to him was this:
"I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them."
Isaiah 42:16
Since Dan has been legally blind since 1983, we both took great encouragement from the verse and forged ahead into the day, expecting to esperience the Lord in yet a new way.
To make a long story short: Dan's meeting went well, but there was no immediate commitment for the project. We retrieved our beloved Penelope from the radiator shop, and hoped and prayed for a safe trip home. The technition told us to keep fluids on board, and stop often to refill the radiator tank.
We were crusing through Tennessee when we noticed the first signs of car failure. We pulled off and again, coasted into a parking lot! This time the establishment belonged to "Turbo Towing and Rental". The assessment of Penelope wasn't good. It now appeared that we had transmission problems as well. Thankfully, this shop offered us a chance to slow down and sit. We were both weary from the trip, and wanting desperately to get home to the kids. The men at the shop were entertaining and friendly, and Dan commented that the only thing missing from this picture was a three legged dog ! A few hours later, we decided to sell the owner our car for $500 (which he would send to us upon receipt of our title) - try to locate a rental car- and head for home. It's really amazing to be so dependent upon God. Because of our poor credit, we have been unable to use credit cards for years. For most people, this would be a simple solution: charge your credit card with a rental - and head home! But as we've come to experience, life isn't so simple when you are literally struggling financially to make it each week. Thankfully, we have an awesome daughter named Danielle who has consistently allowed us to borrow money from her! After calling her, she transferred some money into our debit account, and we set about finding a rental.
The timing of everything continued to be impeccable! We JUST made the phone call to the rental office before they closed, the finance' of one of the shop workers was able to drive us the 20 miles to pick up our rental, and again - we were on our way home.
(and guess what! As we prepared to say farewell to Penelope, Dan took a picture of me beside her. Who should appear, but a very friendly three-legged dog, tail wagging -ready to escourt us off the property! Also as we pulled out, the owner came up to us, and pulled out $500 cash from his shirt pocket. He said...'You know - you don't need a whole lot of time to figure out whether someones a good person or not. Just send me the title when you get home." I still have this gentleman's address and signature in my collection of beloved things!)
As we recounted the incredible events of the previous two days, we couldn't help but laugh. The Lord had faithfully prepared our way and cared for us as only He can!
Then, just a few hours from home, we witnessed the aftermath of one of the most horrific car accidents I have ever seen. A van was literally ripped in half, and several bodies were in the median with sheets over them. Traffic opposite from us was backed up for hours. As we later learned, a semi truck had entered opposing traffic, and had killed an entire family. Times like these have served to keep Dan and I reminded of what is really important in life. Financial strain is tough, but it is NOTHING compared to what some people endure. We arrived home exhausted, sober, excited to see our kids, but most of all: grateful.
The next afternoon I was telling my friend about some of the events that the Lord had graciously brought us through, and I said..."It's like we're learning to live on "daily bread" from the Lord. My comments used to be that the Lord is getting us through - week by week - but now I realize how dependent we are upon Him, each and every day." She instantly responded: "Well, there is the title for the journal that you've been writing and telling me about!"
"Living on Daily Bread" initially started out as a journal of the ways God provided for us monitarily. But it has emerged into so much more. More importantly in the years to follow, I learned that I couldn't survive a day without God's written and living Word. He literally has "spoken" to me - with words of comfort, reproof, correction and encouragement - and these words have given me the strength to go on.
I'm excited about compiling this journal of mine! May it someday serve to encourage yet another weary soul to press on with God, and forever remain as a written testimony and praise to my precious Lord.
The Top Ten Things about being Poor...
After my last post - I started seeing the humor in some of all this, so...here for your consideration are the top ten things (I've found) about being poor:
In random order:
1. You can mess with the bill collectors on the phone.
(Not too much of course, but alittle. They technically are not supposed to hang up on you, so you can keep them on the line by asking them some crazy questions: "So - if you were to have a yard sale - would you use bright green or orange poster board to advertise?")
2. No one looks at you to pick up the tab if you occasionally eat out.
3. When you pull into the church parking lot and your old van is smoking, no one even notices it any more.
4. You have the opportunity to respond to ridiculous questions like:
"Have you thought of having a yard sale to clear your debt?" I kid you not - one of my friends in a situation similar to ours was asked that question.
5. When a stranger says she had a HUGE disaster that day (her dog put muddy paw prints on her kitchen floor)...you can smile ever so emphatically and say - Wow - I know what you mean.
6. You get to open lots of extra mail, as the bills pour in....and then the shut off notices, the threatened court cases, etc. You never knew you were so popular!!!
7. Forget getting the jitters about going to the Dentist! You don't have the money - so you don't go! It's simplier that way.
8. On a similar note: no worries about health issues! You don't have the money to go to the doctor - so kind of...ignorance is bliss!
9. Since the grocery budget has been slashed - you can finally indulge in all that "cheap" food that you secretly love.....pasta, ramen noodles, and more pasta. (When you gain 30 lbs. - you have a really good excuse.)
10. This one is serious:
You get to know God in a very personal way! He provides you with comfort customized just for YOU as He displays His miracles to you in every day circumstances. He lovingly sends friends to you, provides for your daily needs (not always wants), and NEVER leaves or forsakes you. This is THE best part of being poor! And for this one - I will always be grateful.
In random order:
1. You can mess with the bill collectors on the phone.
(Not too much of course, but alittle. They technically are not supposed to hang up on you, so you can keep them on the line by asking them some crazy questions: "So - if you were to have a yard sale - would you use bright green or orange poster board to advertise?")
2. No one looks at you to pick up the tab if you occasionally eat out.
3. When you pull into the church parking lot and your old van is smoking, no one even notices it any more.
4. You have the opportunity to respond to ridiculous questions like:
"Have you thought of having a yard sale to clear your debt?" I kid you not - one of my friends in a situation similar to ours was asked that question.
5. When a stranger says she had a HUGE disaster that day (her dog put muddy paw prints on her kitchen floor)...you can smile ever so emphatically and say - Wow - I know what you mean.
6. You get to open lots of extra mail, as the bills pour in....and then the shut off notices, the threatened court cases, etc. You never knew you were so popular!!!
7. Forget getting the jitters about going to the Dentist! You don't have the money - so you don't go! It's simplier that way.
8. On a similar note: no worries about health issues! You don't have the money to go to the doctor - so kind of...ignorance is bliss!
9. Since the grocery budget has been slashed - you can finally indulge in all that "cheap" food that you secretly love.....pasta, ramen noodles, and more pasta. (When you gain 30 lbs. - you have a really good excuse.)
10. This one is serious:
You get to know God in a very personal way! He provides you with comfort customized just for YOU as He displays His miracles to you in every day circumstances. He lovingly sends friends to you, provides for your daily needs (not always wants), and NEVER leaves or forsakes you. This is THE best part of being poor! And for this one - I will always be grateful.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Monday and Reminders
Contrary to most people, I love Monday's. For the past nine months, I have worked primarily Fridays and Saturdays (and one Sunday a month...) so to me, Monday is like my Friday. Tuesday through Thursday is busy with house upkeep, home schooling, Co-Op, errands, etc. and then it's back to work on Friday morning by 7 a.m.
It's just such a nice day. Especially if its alittle rainy, I feel justified in keeping my lounge pants and slippers on. I like to take it easy in the morning - drink an extra cup of coffee, do some reading, catch up on my mail, etc.
A few months ago, I had the bright idea that I would sleep in on Monday. Bad idea. I had no more turned over to go back to sleep, than the phone rang. Was it a friend? An emergency? No, it was the never ending barage of a bill collector. Once awake from the ring, I couldn't go back to sleep again. As I came downstairs and sat on the couch, trying to awake my mind to get going for the day, I realized how much my heart hurt.
An occasional phone call from a bill collector is a common occurance for most people...you know...you misplaced the bill, forgot to mail it, etc. But for our family, that common occurance turned completely around a few months after 9/11.
It's a long story, but the Readers Digest version is this: Before this time, we had impeccable credit. We worked long and hard to build our home, completely out of debt. We made alot of sacrifices, learned to be patient and waited for our dream to unfold. We even lived for a total of almost 4 years in a little house on Dan's parents property - with no indoor plumbing, running water or conventional heat! Many people helped us in a variety of ways - because Dan had to deal with being legally blind as of 1984. He has an amazingly resilient spirit! He learned to deal with it, and keep working. But it was so worth the wait. We finished our home slowly as we had the money available.
Since we had great credit, we loaned a business money - with our home as collateral. Little did we know what a huge lack of judgement this was on our part. The business subsequently declared bankrupcy a few years later, and we were written off for thousands of dollars in court. That was bad enough - but there were interpersonal relationships involved, and life was all of a sudden constantly strained.
The dream had unraveled - but God was there in the midst of it all.
Almost instantly, we began having upwards of 40-50 phone calls a day - mostly from bill collectors. I kid you not. I even have witnesses. One time my Dad came down for a visit, and as we were sitting at the table trying to visit - we heard the phone ring almost constantly. We were evening receiving phone calls late into the evenings, and sometimes early on Sunday mornings. It was relentless. There were days I was in tears, frustrated beyond words, as I tried to keep our home life together, keep my part time work up, keep home schooling, keep the meals on the table. Because Dan was often at work, away from the phone - it became almost a breaking point for me. Often he would return their calls after he arrived home, doing the best he could to give every bill collector alittle piece of the financial pie coming in. One of the best gifts he ever bought me was an answering machine, with caller ID - so I could gain some assemlance of order in our day again. This was, I was still available if there was an emergency with one of our parents, or the kids - and we could still receive messages from friends and family. But now we were able to return the phone calls when we were more prepared - with the specific bill folder in front of me - ready to make some type of offer or consideration.
Few people truly understand the stress that is put upon a marriage when financial disaster hits. It's so easy for tempers to flare and blame to fly everywhere. But I want to offer one word of encouragement to those that find themselves in a situation such as ours - persevere! I of all people, understand what it is like to go from being an upstanding good citizen, paying your bills on time, to the scum of the earth - often overnight.
Last time I looked, the year is now 2008, which means that we've been dealing with this financial pressure for about 7 years now. Even this week, I had two interesting things happen. Monday morning - again!!! I had a sales person call wanting to renew our subscription to a publication. When I told him that money was tight, plus the fact that my husband was legally blind, and often unable to keep up with the publications anyway - he resonded: "Well, can't you read it to him?" Read it to him? Is he nuts? I had to laugh as I wished him a great day. Just two paragraphs ago, the U.P.S. truck stopped, and I was handed a large "URGENT" envelope. Another creditor - needing to hear from us - now! now! now!!!
I have no idea if anyone will ever read this blog. I write, just to write. To clear my head. To journal, to hopefully, some day - compile these testimonies as an offering to my Lord. He has been so real to me in the midst of all this! But if you're reading this, amazed that someone else out there - perhaps someone you've never met somehow can understand what you're going through, then I say please, hang in there friend. I still have no idea how this is all going to pan out for our family. We could still lose our home. We may never recover from this loss. But in the meantime, I take a great deal of comfort in the Apostle Paul's words:
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfot we ourselves have received from God." II Cor. 1:3-5
This passage has become my life's purpose! So please receive the comfort that can only come from God. He, thankfully, doesn't try to reach you by phone on early Sunday mornings. He is always there, only a prayer away...and His Word is living and powerful, and can meet you exactly where you are today.
It's just such a nice day. Especially if its alittle rainy, I feel justified in keeping my lounge pants and slippers on. I like to take it easy in the morning - drink an extra cup of coffee, do some reading, catch up on my mail, etc.
A few months ago, I had the bright idea that I would sleep in on Monday. Bad idea. I had no more turned over to go back to sleep, than the phone rang. Was it a friend? An emergency? No, it was the never ending barage of a bill collector. Once awake from the ring, I couldn't go back to sleep again. As I came downstairs and sat on the couch, trying to awake my mind to get going for the day, I realized how much my heart hurt.
An occasional phone call from a bill collector is a common occurance for most people...you know...you misplaced the bill, forgot to mail it, etc. But for our family, that common occurance turned completely around a few months after 9/11.
It's a long story, but the Readers Digest version is this: Before this time, we had impeccable credit. We worked long and hard to build our home, completely out of debt. We made alot of sacrifices, learned to be patient and waited for our dream to unfold. We even lived for a total of almost 4 years in a little house on Dan's parents property - with no indoor plumbing, running water or conventional heat! Many people helped us in a variety of ways - because Dan had to deal with being legally blind as of 1984. He has an amazingly resilient spirit! He learned to deal with it, and keep working. But it was so worth the wait. We finished our home slowly as we had the money available.
Since we had great credit, we loaned a business money - with our home as collateral. Little did we know what a huge lack of judgement this was on our part. The business subsequently declared bankrupcy a few years later, and we were written off for thousands of dollars in court. That was bad enough - but there were interpersonal relationships involved, and life was all of a sudden constantly strained.
The dream had unraveled - but God was there in the midst of it all.
Almost instantly, we began having upwards of 40-50 phone calls a day - mostly from bill collectors. I kid you not. I even have witnesses. One time my Dad came down for a visit, and as we were sitting at the table trying to visit - we heard the phone ring almost constantly. We were evening receiving phone calls late into the evenings, and sometimes early on Sunday mornings. It was relentless. There were days I was in tears, frustrated beyond words, as I tried to keep our home life together, keep my part time work up, keep home schooling, keep the meals on the table. Because Dan was often at work, away from the phone - it became almost a breaking point for me. Often he would return their calls after he arrived home, doing the best he could to give every bill collector alittle piece of the financial pie coming in. One of the best gifts he ever bought me was an answering machine, with caller ID - so I could gain some assemlance of order in our day again. This was, I was still available if there was an emergency with one of our parents, or the kids - and we could still receive messages from friends and family. But now we were able to return the phone calls when we were more prepared - with the specific bill folder in front of me - ready to make some type of offer or consideration.
Few people truly understand the stress that is put upon a marriage when financial disaster hits. It's so easy for tempers to flare and blame to fly everywhere. But I want to offer one word of encouragement to those that find themselves in a situation such as ours - persevere! I of all people, understand what it is like to go from being an upstanding good citizen, paying your bills on time, to the scum of the earth - often overnight.
Last time I looked, the year is now 2008, which means that we've been dealing with this financial pressure for about 7 years now. Even this week, I had two interesting things happen. Monday morning - again!!! I had a sales person call wanting to renew our subscription to a publication. When I told him that money was tight, plus the fact that my husband was legally blind, and often unable to keep up with the publications anyway - he resonded: "Well, can't you read it to him?" Read it to him? Is he nuts? I had to laugh as I wished him a great day. Just two paragraphs ago, the U.P.S. truck stopped, and I was handed a large "URGENT" envelope. Another creditor - needing to hear from us - now! now! now!!!
I have no idea if anyone will ever read this blog. I write, just to write. To clear my head. To journal, to hopefully, some day - compile these testimonies as an offering to my Lord. He has been so real to me in the midst of all this! But if you're reading this, amazed that someone else out there - perhaps someone you've never met somehow can understand what you're going through, then I say please, hang in there friend. I still have no idea how this is all going to pan out for our family. We could still lose our home. We may never recover from this loss. But in the meantime, I take a great deal of comfort in the Apostle Paul's words:
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfot we ourselves have received from God." II Cor. 1:3-5
This passage has become my life's purpose! So please receive the comfort that can only come from God. He, thankfully, doesn't try to reach you by phone on early Sunday mornings. He is always there, only a prayer away...and His Word is living and powerful, and can meet you exactly where you are today.
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