Blessings

This Friday and Saturday our church is hosting a garage/rummage sale. All the memebers have been bringing down stuff to sell and all of the proceedes will go to our building fund. It is all being set up in our "Bethlehem" structure. Well as things are being set up a lot of us are buying things from one another. Jay and I had said we were not allowed to look! We were only allowed to give things to sell (and boy did we purge!) Well how much could looking hurt ? I have been wanting a pretty sofa table. You know the kind that goes behind your couch and we have been in desperate need of a new bed for Jay and I. Our mattress is about 13 years old and it's time to be retired. Well we got both this weekend for a song. We also finally got an entertainment center for the tv and movies up in the playroom.

Jay was getting calls the last two days to help pick things up from people to bring down to the sale. One couple had a king size mattress, box springs and frame all in great condition, barely used. So that just saved us a bunch of money. Then I saw the sofa table and was very excited. We got it home and I was getting ready to put some candle holders and pretty things on it when my kids decided it was perfect to hold some sports figures that someone gave to them.

Okay so I had to take a picture but then I explained to them that this was my table to decorate and they need to pick a different place for their figures! Gotta love 'em.

Count Your Blessings, Name Them One By One

I wanted to share a blessing that happened this week.  I want to have record of it so when I sometimes forget how God blesses us even in the little ways I can be reminded.  Jay and I have been wanting to get bunkbeds for the girls since before we moved to this new house last March.  Cost and getting exactly what I want have been the two inhibitors.  I want wooden bunkbeds that have a twin on top, full on bottom with drawers underneath.  This way it will fit all three girls and eliminate other dressers in their room.  We have found several we like from Craigs list and Jay can even make them (which would be awesome).  The added expense comes in with the mattresses they add $150-$300 to the cost.  So we have been praying, saving and holding off.  Let me go back also, in the mean time we got rid of Savannah's toddler bed when we moved and the two girls have been sleeping on a blow up mattress or on the hide a bed in the playroom (they actually love sleeping there).

A few weeks ago a friend from church asked us if we wanted a twin mattress in good condition that they no longer needed.  Awesome score one!  Then just yesterday Jay was getting ready to leave for band practice and one of the guys he picks up told him to make sure the surburban was cleared out and all seats down because he and his mom had an early Christmas gift for us.  Well we had no idea what it could be.  I waited patiently impatiently and finally called Jay.  He told me they gave him a queen size mattress.  (Jay never mentioned to them about us needing a bed for the girls) I have to be honest here my first reaction was "a queen size mattress what are we going to do with this?  It would be a bed for the girls but God, you know we are wanting bunkbeds and need a full size mattress".  I immediately repented and started thanking God for this provision and said even though I don't understand I will be thankful and I truly was and thanked God through out the day.  Jay finally got home around 7:30pm and unloaded the bed (mattress, box springs and frame) as he brought it in I thought it looked rather small for being a queen and told Jay.  He said they said it was a queen.  So we set it up and I got out some queen size sheets and they were too big!  What???  I got some full size sheets and they fit perfectly.  Jay and I were so excited.  We now have the two mattresses we need for the bunk beds.  Now Jay can either make them or we will continue to save to get them.  The girls were excited to sleep on the bed!  Thank you Lord!!!  It is all in His perfect timing we just need to continue to pray and have faith and know that God provides everytime.

I hope this encourages you all to continue to wait on the Lord and His timing and to accept gifts from the Lord even when it might not be what we think we need or want.  It was an excellent reminder for me!

Unexpected Blessings

Wednesday night at church Anastasia was playing and fell and hurt her foot really bad. (Bad enough Jay wanted to take her for X-rays). I had stayed home with Tasha so Jay brought the other kids home to me and then headed to the ER here in Casa Grande. He didn't get there till almost 10:00pm. Well they were so inundated with people looking like they had the flu that Jay was not about to sit there and wait 2 hrs. for an X ray. So he decided to take her to the Gilbert hospital ER which we really like and have been there before. They guranatee door to dr. in 31 minutes. It took them about 45 minutes to get there so by this time it was close to midnight. They did X-rays and nothing was broken but she has some damage to her growth plate and has to be in a walking boot for minimum of 3 weeks. We are praying it is only 3 weeks the kids are so ready to go swimming!!

The really cool blessing in this is the nurse that was helping them the whole time actually lives in our exact neighborhood and she has a daughter just a year older than Anastasia. Her birthday is on Christmas Day (Anastasia's is Christmas eve). What are the chances of that!!! Anastasia has been praying to meet some girls in our neighborhood around her age and her she goes to an ER almost 45 minutes away and her prayers were answered! God is so awesome.

Now Anastasia is really anxious for her foot to heal so she can go ride scooters and play with her new friend!

God Answers Prayers...Our Fridge

Let me just start by saying I LOVE Craigslist.  If you have never checked it out you should (just use safety and common sense when doing so.)  Moving to our new house we need a new fridge and washer and dryer.  So I headed to Craigslist and started searching and searching.  I had a hard time finding a black fridge.  I was getting frustrated.  Jay needed to use his computer.  So I got off, I said a quick prayer about needing a black fridge.  I turned on the laptop and went back to Craigslist and a new post came up for a black fridge.  I was so excited.  I took the number down and called the next morning.  To make a long story short it worked out great.  We got a one year old fridge nothing wrong with it the owner was just switching to stainless steel.  We got a $1200 fridge for $500!  God is all about the details and can even answer prayers through Craigslist.  Thank you Lord!

DECEMBER 21st

December 21st has become an important day for our family. Five years ago on this special day we had Joshua's baby dedication, Anastasia went forward to accept Christ and it was Jay's mom's last Sunday in church. Fastforward five years and this year December 21st fell on a Sunday again and as it all works out this is Jay's first official Sunday as a worship pastor. We spent this Sunday with our now old church and pastor. He recognized Jay in church and let our congregation know where we were going.

What a journey this has been. Jay was called into the ministry long ago but ran. Now for the past 2 years he has been seeking this calling again and waiting on God's timing (which is usually not our own but oh so much better) Jay thought for sure we would be called out of state but instead we are going to Casa Grand. The way God works out the details is amazing to watch. Jay and Pastor Don are a great fit and with God leading they will do great things together to minister to others. I am so excited for my husband and to watch the spark of passion come back as he is using his gifts and talents for the Lord. We will definetly enjoy the journey God is about to take our family on.

PS: We found out also that it was on December 21st five years ago that Pastor Don led his first service at the church in Casa Grand where we are going. Isn't God amazing?!

Christmas Blessings

We have been so blessed already this Christmas!  About a week or so ago we received a Christmas card from our "secret friend" and inside it was a gift card to Wal-Mart.  I was so shocked, I called Jay at work right away and he didn't know who it could be from.  I know we aren't supposed to know but we are very curious!!!  So incase you are that person or family "Thank you very much we were truly blessed by your gift"