A Monsterous Month

What a lack of posting, huh? It has really been a crazy month. It started out with my husband going to work only to find out that his restaurant was shutting THAT day. With this economy I was scared to death for our family. He search here in Indy trying to find something that would pay enough to support our family. He could always find a cook position, which doesn't pay much, but he could not find a chef position. So, when his company offered for him to stay with them and relocate he jumped on it.

This triggered 3 weeks of unanswered questions, unknown locations, and dates that were not coming. However, they did pay him to sit at home through these events :)
First, they suggested Boca Raton, Florida. Who could turn down Florida? After this winter here, I was ready for some sand in between my toes. However, being that we have to sell our current home, they would have had to get him an apartment there and they didn't not want that expense. Florida was out the window.
Second, they thought that he could handle a problem at their restaurant in Paramus, New Jersey. Yeaaaa.... NO. This is a city whose average income was over $100,000. Like this country girl could ever fit in there. I was not excited about that. I just turned my focus to God and said "God, really New Jersey, Is there that many crazy people there you need me to reach? If that's the case I'll go"
About 2 days later they called with an offer for Minnesota. Now, I was not excited about the cold, but my husbands entire family was there. He was going to be working in the Mall of America. How cool is that!! Man, I am stressed, I'll just go ride a roller coaster on my break.
I was very excited for him. It was really a place he would love to work. Fancy, I guess. He is not a 'fancy' type, but he makes great fancy food.

So that was it. So, I thought. We know where we are going. Stress over. Not quite. Then I realized, we have to sell this house. So, this means painting, minimizing and packing, fixing, patching, touring...uuugghhh. Its hard to live in a home with kids and animals while it is on the market. I had to get motivated and get it done.

Before my husband left to go begin work he was able to finish the flooring that we should have done forever ago and get our bubble wall(hey the kids liked it) painted in our basement. So that only left me.... everything else. Ugghh again.
Now, I am mostly done. All of my packing and minimizing is done and most of the small projects are done. However, 3 big projects are left. They are things that HAVE to be done before the house sells. Because of ice storms, they have been pushed off. We have a week, actually 6 days to get these completed before the house goes on the market.

You know what, with all of this stress of this work, home schooling, continuing normal housework, and having an extra foster baby, who we believe is autistic, I can admit that I have sat and had a few good cries. Men will never understand that, but my women friends do. Its like all the stress pours out and your ready to go again. Sometimes, when I allow myself to cry, I do feel like the enemy is winning. He got to me. My focus turned off of God and on to my own pity party. That is where the lesson came in. Through the midst of all this, most of the time, I was able to keep focus on God. He was there. I was always able to open His word and find something that was meant just for me. Something that would encourage me, motivate me, and allow me to visually see Him there with me.

This stress is by far over. We have a home to sell, we have a move to make, we have to find a new home, a new church, new friends and new home school groups. BUT I know through it all I have a Father who will guide me. Who will lay the path out before me and who will help me to lift my feet to travel upon it. So, I say "Bring It On"!

The God Box

As a mother, especially a homeschooling mom, I have days even weeks in which I am overwhelmed with worry. I worry over my kids, my husband, the school work we got behind on, about everything that needs to get done, or even what dinner we'll be eating every night this week. A few years ago I realized that if you allow for worries to continue to multiply, you will most likely find yourself in a state where you would rather give up.
You know, we have it easy! Thats right I said it. We have it EASY! Could you imagine if we could see into our future and our childrens future? Can you imagine knowing all of the problems and challenges that you would face? For most of us, we would just give up before we even got started! Unless, of course, you are the blessed one that has a life with absolutley no challenges! :)
But here's what so great: There is one person who knows our future and friends it is not you or I. It is the Lord. He is the only one who can take our cares from us! It is so importanat to have faith in Him. He will always give us the things we need as we need them and in his own time.
Take it one day at a time. One prayer at a time. Dont waste the energy, that could be given to your families, on worry.
Here's a project for you to try over the next few weeks. Create a God box.
Take an old show box, a gift box or even a old tissue box and cut a slit in the top of it. Decoarte it with your family using construction paper, stickers, or markers and finish it off with quotes that encourage "casting your cares on God". Then cut up many pieces of paper and sit them next to the box. Okay, its made, now what? Well, encourage your family to use it!! Use this as a tool, as a physical, visual way to see that you are casting your cares to God. Write your worry on the paper and slip it into the box. Everytime that worry pops back up you can remember that you have already given it to God. You could take this a step further by choosing one day a week to take out all the worries and praying for them yourself or as a family.
I have found this to be a great tool with the kids. The worries they offer are so minimal. For instance we had one last week that started: "I might not get ice cream this week". Could you imagine only worrying about getting ice cream this week. Man, what a relief that would be. But you know what, I would'nt want them worrying about anything else! I have no problem praying to God to let my son have some ice cream this week!