I have not blogged about our life lately...the deep, real, nitty-gritty of our life. Pictures and fluff have filled the blog.
Today I cannot do one more thing without getting all these things in print, so my heart and mind will never forget them.
Tyson lost his job about a month and a half ago. Yes, the job we loaded up and moved all the way back here for. Ugh. It has not been fun.
Decisions have been pounding in our brains for weeks...
How long do we look for a job before moving back to Mom and Dad's?
How many months of savings do we use before enough is enough?
How will this affect the kids, their school, church, friends, life?
What on earth will we do?
I know everyone says everyone has been here before. Maybe this does happen to everyone. I don't know. I do know that blessings have been poured out upon my family during this time.
We have so much support and help and love from those around us that so many families out there struggling do not. I see hurt and poverty and oppression everywhere. Why on earth does my family need anything extra? We do have resources others do not that have found themselves in our same situation. Why us?
What do you do when you become that family?? You get a passion in your heart to be others-centered, and to help those who need it. We have learned many lessons through these blessings, and want to honor those who have shared with us.
It has been unbelievable.
Here is a glimpse:
Rent and groceries for December taken care of.
Christmas pictures bought for us.
Gift card from a sweet friend from college stuck in their Christmas card to us.
Huge bag of gifts for each kid from their pediatrician and nursing staff.
Gifts from one of my old students...and a movie night out for me.
Money sent in a card from a teacher at Mom's school.
Gift card...huge...from Monterey High School Orchestra and their stellar conductor.
All of these things are completely undeserved. There are so many who need it so much more. How do you even accept these things? High school kids raising money for months, knowing they would help some Angel Tree kids, and then having so much they gave all the rest to us?? Money that came in the day we had to take Makenna to her last play therapy session for nearly a month that I knew we could not pay for. Groceries covered by a gift card for the next month? My kids' doctor blessing them with some fun gifts, crying as they brought the bags into the exam room, because they love us? Unreal.
I cannot express enough our gratitude to these people. Each one has said that God told them to do this...why do we not think God does love us that much? My Almighty Father whispered in so many different ways...and people responded.
May I always do the same.
May I always respond, Lord Jesus.
May I always be available to use.
May I always listen to your promtings.
May I always find someone else to bless.
May these faithful friends realize what they've done for us.
May I do the same.
He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."
Luke 11:28
