Matthew 11:28 (NIV)
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. "
I went to him, because I was and am weary and need some rest...I have tried to be positive and upbeat on ALL of my posts and everything I have written IS from my heart...Today I am tired, and this is from my heart as well...I had a busy week, basketball ended last Saturday (awesome season, thank you Creekside) and soccer season started Tuesday, let the craziness begin!! Practices on T/W/TH/F and games start Saturday!
Wednesday, I went all over creation to "grocery shop" for my in laws. Matt and I and his brother Al, are now responsible for the grocery shopping. Remember, his mom has Alzheimer's and his step dad had a stroke and they have 24/7 care in their home (THANK YOU LORD FOR THIS BLESSING!!) Since gasoline is on the rise, I try to only go out one day a week because we live 20-30 minutes from major shopping. I screeched in the driveway with 5 minutes to spare before the boys got home from school. I am hoping that I have a good system in place for them so next time it won't take as long.
Wednesday evening I went to a meeting at the school board for the ESOL program. We don't have many students in our county in the program, and the ones that are, are mostly Hispanic. Our teachers are ESOL certified, but that doesn't mean they speak MANDARIN (or Spanish)! MSX will be in the program until he passes an ESOL test and also scores 3 or higher on the FCAT (which is the RIDICULOUS standardized test in Florida that TOTALLY stresses out the students!!) They are changing some things but making things a little more difficult (in my opinion and in others) and adding end of year state tests starting in 7th grade Civics that if you don't pass, you don't graduate. (Also to be included are US history, Algebra and Geometry, plus the FCAT equivalent.) YIKES, I am so glad to be passed ALL grades!!) The new standards will be starting in 2 years, so MSX will have 3 years to gear up for it! Many prayers over his acquiring the English language (as well as keeping his Mandarin) and his ability to learn!!! I want him to be able to graduate high school and go to college one day!! He will receive a Rosetta Stone program, and I have already received many learning tools for math. Thanks to the school board and also the DOE!!One of the bright spots of this week...Mason had to give a speech in his 5th grade class on Thursday. He chose to do it on Adoption and Dwarfism. (lots to tell in 3 minutes!!) He did a great job and we are so proud of him. I love that he wants to educate others about his brothers and our journey. He suggested to everyone in the class to adopt a child!! Too precious for words, really! He is embracing ALL of this and is so excited about his new brother. I also had a wonderful field trip with him on Friday...I love that he is not embarrassed by me at this point in our lives!!
Maddox had a Dr. Seuss project, book report and diorama...He chose, "Oh, the places you'll go!!" How appropriate for this time in our lives, we are going SOME PLACES!Friday afternoon I received devastating financial news...Our downstairs AC unit has sadly passed away. I knew in December that it wasn't working but delayed since we didn't need the A/C. The last 3 years we have sunk quite a bit of money into both units. I didn't mean to, but I shed a few tears (not a bucket load like I wanted to) to the A/C rep and explained to him that at any other time, this would make things tight, but not like now, and told him what was happening. He was very nice and empathetic. Maybe he will call me tomorrow and tell me that the company wants to donate a new A/C unit! The company could write it off as a gift, right?? So, why not?? Stranger things have happened?? Okay, so maybe that is a pipe dream, but wouldn't that be awesome??!! My answer is "YES, THAT WOULD BE AWESOME!!!"
Yes, we know, this was our choice, to say yes to God! I am so thankful we did!!! Lots of people, maybe even most people would look at their finances and say, NO WAY!! Well, actually my husband did say that initially, remember, he is now 50, almost 51, and would like to have the "opportunity" to retire one day! Then one day, he came to me and said, his reasons for saying no, were selfish and self-centered, and he knew this was not about me, or about him, and it was all about God! When we were younger we I didn't make the best financial decisions (nothing too costly, just immaturity, I was only 20), but I am so thankful my husband is the head of our house, under God! Both of our cars are 6 years old and we pray they can last us another 6 years. (the jury is out on his, but we are babying it.)They get us where we need to go and are in pretty good shape inside and out. We do not finance things, we are striving for Financial Peace (we do a have a mortgage, and a small second which will be paid off in 2 years or less). Most people that know us, know that we are not big spenders and don’t do many “extra things.” We try to keep our priorities straight. We are big into God, our family, our church family, and friends and LPA (Little People of America). The boys play sports every season, soccer, basketball, soccer again and swimming, that is our "entertainment." Occasionally (once or twice a year) we see a movie on the big screen, on a Sunday afternoon when it is $5 per ticket, no popcorn or drinks, just the movie. I think (and pray and hope) our boys have a better appreciation for things, since it is a treat, not an "entitlement." I know it is a challenge at times to live where we live for each one of us in different ways, since it "seems" as if everyone has it together and they have "more" than they know what to do with...where some of their friends have the latest and greatest of "whatever" and my boys get some a lot of their clothes handed down from their Godmother's son, or their cousins, or they are purchased from Goodwill or the consignment store. I am thankful that I learned quite a while ago, that "the clothes don't make the person" and neither does their "stuff." I think (and pray and hope) that my boys know this too...
We are TRUSTING that God will provide, we KNOW He will, even if it is in the last hour or (maybe sooner!!). He knows that we are not close to having the $$$ for everything before us, which is making me NUTTY. He also knows that it makes me lean even harder into my faith in Him, and I know that HE is ALL about that!!
In that, I will be grateful for the $26 we made yesterday, more garage sales and bake sales to follow as well as selling our old 80s & 90s gold collection!!
By the way, 2 weeks ago a woman I do not know, donated her PAYCHECK, her actual paycheck to our journey...that story is for another day. God is good, all the time!
