Posted in Month of Praises...

     Tuesday, February 20th was the beginning of one of the worst weeks in recent memory for me. I spent a lot of time in tears and while I cannot go into all the details I want to share some of what hapened and how God blessed me through it.  Wednesday morning, after a night of praying and crying and praying some more, I took the kids to the play gym at our local YMCA. I sat in the corner of the room, my thoughts running wild and silently crying out to God. I told God, "I need a hug." I received no immediate answer, no one came running up to me to hug me, no friends called but in the afternoon, on the way home, ds4 said to me "Mom, thanks for this wonderful snack." That night at Awanas someone told me what a gentleman he was. To a mom, praises of her own kids and genuine thanks from their mouths are indeed hugs.

     Thursday and Friday were slightly better, though ds4 did have the stomach flu all day Friday. One of the times he threw up turned to me and said vvery sweetly,  "Thanks for holding the bucket so that I could throw up."

    Then on Saturday we received a nasty letter from one of my husbands clients. He is self-employed and does lawncare and landscaping for several different people. This particular client has decided that she is not going to pay him for the work he did. She owes him around $5000.00 and has about seven houses that he had been caretaking for. She is very wealthy and we had heard that she couldn't be trusted, but she had paid him every other time he billed her, so we didn't think this time would be any different. Boy were we wrong. So where does that leave us? If we try to take her to court it will eat up most of what she owes us in attorney fees.

     I was in bed sick all day. Not sick from the flu, but nervous sick. I was afraid to show the letter to my husband because I was afraid what his reaction might be. He had already been very stressed out all week and I was afraid this would be the "straw that breaks the camels back." He got home later that evening and I gave him the letter immediately just to get it over with. He handled it in such a surprisingly calm manner, that it could only have been God's intervention.

     Then during the following week, God  blessed us in so many ways, that we just knew He was in control, no matter howwhat the world and satan tried to defeat us. First of all, Saturday evening I went to run some errands. I turned the radio on and there was a preacher speaking about the story of Joseph and all the trials he had to go through and how God was with him every step of the way and that the trials were meant to make Joseph into the person God wanted him to be in order to accomplish His plan. I cried some more because I knew God was speaking to me to trust him.  In Jeremiah he tells us "I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you."

     On Sunday, we had a brand new freezer given to us, ours has been acting up a lot lately. On Monday, I got a surprise note in the mail from my secret sister, it said to have a "Cherry on Top" kid of day. On Tuesday we had a wicker livingroom set given to us complete with couch, loveseat and two chairs as well as four tall bar stools that will just fit at the bar my husband built. On Wednesday, meeting another tremendous need, we had a new complete bedroom set given to us. Our two youngest dd7 and ds4 are still sleeping in toddler beds. DD7 is definitely getting too big for it, she has to sleep curled up. The bedroom set included two twin beds with boxsprings and matresses, two dressers, and a nightstand. Finally, today, I was out shovelling out our mailbox, when a kind neighbor drove by and offered to plow out our driveway for free.

    My heart is full of the kindess and love of people and God's precious provision and "hugs" during very difficult times.

Feb 1 ~ encouraging note in the mail from my secret sister,
               25 degrees outside
Feb 2 ~ doll my mom made came clean, I thought it was ruined,
Feb 3 ~ full nights sleep, I didn't wake up once
Feb 4 ~ spontaneous praise from a six year old, a new sunday
               school class schedule that works, a great class
Feb 5 ~ our 23 year old monitor heater was able to be fixed and we
               have heat
Feb 6 ~ able to take warm bath without freezing when getting out
               of the tub
Feb 7 ~ caught dd7 trying to read her Awana verse by herself
               instead of saying she can't read
Feb 8 ~ immediate answered prayer
Feb 9 ~ unexpected call from a long time friend, sacrificial offer
               from another friend, card and tracts from my secret sister,
Feb 10 ~ my elbow didn't hurt all day
Feb 11 ~ came home from church and my hubby who had been up
                all night was washing the dishes for me
Feb 12 ~ time alone in which God was able to speak some wisdom
                to me that I had been seeking
Feb 13 ~ visit with maggieraye, dh had no problems driving my
                brother to Boston and coming back
Feb 14 ~ Wednesday ~ No art class, no Good News Club, No
                Youthlinks, No Awanas, NO RUNNING AROUND!
Feb 15 ~ ds19 called from school to say Hi!
Feb 16 ~ ds4 did not get sick from a lot of salmonella tainted
                peanut butter that he had
Feb 17 ~ had $90 more than I thought to pay bills, ds16 had about
                20 nice shirts given to him, I had some new shoes given to
                me
Feb 18 ~ relaxing afternoon reading books, playing games and
                 watching movies with dd7 and ds4
Feb 19 ~ having lunch alone with ds19 and a great chance to talk
                about his hopes and dreams for the future
Feb 20 ~ several hours of bookkeeping completed in preparation
                for tax season
Feb 21 ~ hugs from God, ds4 saying Thank You Mother for a
                Wonderful Snack,
Feb 22 ~ ds4 got invited to spend the afternoon with Grandma and
                his cousin Anthony, surpirse note from my secret sister
                and some beautiful stickers
Feb 23 ~ ds4 "Thanks mom for holding the bucket so I could throw
                up." How precious is that.
Feb 24 ~ new air conditioner given to us, ds16 got to hang out with
                ds19, very well-timed radio sermons, dh's unexpected
                reaction to a stressful situation
Feb 25 ~ listening ear, some good advice,
Feb 26 ~ many hours of bookkeeping done, taxes more than half
                finished ~yeah!, Another surprise note in the midst of a
                very stressful week
Feb 27 ~ wicker livingroom set given to us
Feb 28 ~ new bedroom set given to us including two twin beds for
                ds4 and dd7

God is there in the midst of your storm. My heart really goes out to you. My husband had the same thing happen last Christmas. It was awful. I think my husband lost fifteen pounds (he is already very skinny). He couldn't sleep nor function. It was such a difficult time. He promised never to do business with that company again. I really understand what you are going through. I am so glad that God is carrying you through it. We serve such a mighty God.

As I read your post, I knew I had to send you some Hugs, even if they are not the ones you can feel. Even through all the heart aches and trials, the Lord is still there, showing you that He is still in control! What a blessing to read of all the blessings you received over the past month!

Makes me think that maybe my "trials" are not so bad after all, and reminds me to lay them at the Savior's feet! Thank you!

Kim

Hi,
How very encouraging your post was to us! O' how we can share the testamonies of blessings the He has given to us too. He is such a loving GOD! He is full of suprises and you never know what or when He will do something next. But, it's allways the perfect time and place! We should quickly obey Him so we can be a help & blessing to others.
My DC's & I ate a jar of that peanutbutter too. thanks be to GOD for keeping us safe! We like your blog & will include you & family in our prayers.
In Him; Elton

First I'd like to thank-you for taking the time to comment on my blog regulary even though you have been going through so much. You have been a great encourager to me and I know that God will continue to send you blessings and your own encourager. Second, I agree wholeheartedly with what you said. God always uses our trails to make us more well equipped to fulfill our purpose in Him. Continue to stand strong, because great things are coming.

My dh is self employed, too - we can relate. God has never failed to provide our needs! Many times not only our needs but extras too!

Hugs and Blessings!
Sharity

I have posted a few more haikus ;) http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/bookwormbethy5/294296/
I think I am having too much fun with them! LOL

Elizabeth M.

Just dropping in to say hi. It has been a while since I have really been on and reading everyones' blogs. I have tried to stay off the computer and get some things done. I need to get myself organized.
I am so sorry to hear of your tough times. God is so good and faithful and He will see you through. Reading the blessings you have received this month made me so happy for you.
Thank you for updating us on the baby that needed surgery.
The kids paintings are awesome. They look wonderful!
Blessings,
Ruth

:) Yeah.. haikus do get addicting... =P When I had to do them in school, I hated them... probably because I don't like school.. lol, but, it is fun trying to fit what you want to say into those certain sylibles :)

Elizabeth G. M.

He knows when we need what we need and will give it.
Sorry you were having such a bad week. It will get better and God will make everything come to His will.
May you be blessed this week!!
Have a good weekend!!
God Bless and Keep You and Yours!!
Take Care!!
Love
Amanda ~ Siol Enal ~ SUPERANGEL

I just want to double check that you knew I had post my haiku on my blog a few days ago, so please look!
www.homeschoolblogger.com/wildskaterboy

thx a lot!

wildskaterboy

Wonderful post!!!

God is so good and always worthy to be praised!
I know what it is to have it all come down at once and the blessings are so much sweeter in those times! Praying you all are doing well and may you have an uneventful month of March! :-)

Hi, I'm Luthien, HeartnSoul's daughter, and I want to try out for your contest. I'm 11 and my Haiku is called "Watch it Fall". I posted it on my blog.

Luthien

PS: I'm probably in the "kid" catagory.

God never forgets about his Children. You seek him and wait on him.
Looks like he gave you many rewards every day of the month...and at the end you got the real reward... A stronger and deeper relationship with God.
God works in so many ways. I'm so glad God brings us from wherever we are and take us to a whole new level of love and kindness and understanding.
God is good! ;)

by the way, I was wandering what the contest is..I don't understand what a Haiku contest is. What is it? Maybe I'll try it out. ;)
Blessins4eva

MRB

Edited by myrighteousblog on Mar. 4, 2007 at 5:34 PM

I have made a haiku poem, it's called Snowflakes.

It's on the top entry on my blog right below the speech.
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Striker/

I'm a teen.
~Striker

I'm glad to be encouraging! I've seen a few people in these situations where weeks or months just turn out horrible. My heart goes out to those people. I just couldn't help myself but comment.


I may start one of those poems. Tell me, what are the prises for each category? Mine would be child I guess sense I'm twelve.
Thanks!
MRB

Edited by myrighteousblog on Mar. 5, 2007 at 8:43 AM

I was reading your blog and read your peanut butter story. The same thing happened to my aunt and uncle. They heard about it, checked their jar of peanut butter and it was one of the ones that was possible affected. They had eaten part of it, but they threw it away as soon as they found out it had the same code. Thank God they did not get sick! Well, I really like the graphics on your blog. Bye!
Niki

God does amazing things that we never expect, but I am wondering if your "free" gifts if bought by you would equal about $5,000. And I wouldn't be at all surprised if the "customer" finds herself $10,000 in debt either. You just don't mess with God's kids, He has a way of taking care of things.
Glad your hugs came. Because of Jesus, Bobbie

I'm sorry for your rough week. {{{HUGS}}}

I love your blessing list!!

Thanks for stopping by my blog. Stay as long as you like! *grin* I've subbed to yours. :o)

ok I'm starting a Haiku poem now! I'll give you the link when I put it on my blog!

I could only post ditto and thanks to you for the reminder about the hugs we receive each day from our dear Father. I read this post and a smile came up all the way through it--your testimony of trial and then triumph was awesome. Thanks for sharing.