Candid Camera

So now, when I say "smile for the camera"...here is what Noah gives me: (the first two are taken on my phone..a bit grainy - still learning how to use it. But you get the idea)

And just WHERE, do you suppose, he's learned this??????......................

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(smile) My boys are so much fun!!!!!

The Power of the Blood and the Word of My Testimony

I realized that some of you were left in the dark regarding my car stuff back around the holidays. Now that my blog is "private", I think I can talk more freely and openly without fear of providing ammo to the enemy. Forgive me if you already know this stuff, as I'm sure some of the info trickled out here and there over the months, but I just have to make sure I have it documented for my own remembrance, and for the Glory of God.

Back in Nov., my "check engine" light started coming on repeatedly. For those of you who know me, car issues have been the thorn in my side since I started driving. This is one reason I bought a Honda - to no longer have car issues. And it was during a lot of the really icky stuff with Rob, the finances were tight, etc. Just bad timing all the way around. I took it in for a diagnostic and was told it was the ERG valve. Estimated cost: a few hundred. I made a CONSCIOUS effort and decision to NOT PANIC. I figured if God really had me in his hand like I'd been told and was being reminded of constantly, then he'd work this out somehow. The garage made a couple of calls for me and found a technical service bulletin on this very problem. Covered until 80K miles or 8 years. Meaning, if I took the car to a Honda dealer, it would be covered for free. Yippee! Praise the Lord!

I have the car back for about a week and the light comes on again. At the same time, I feel the transmission slip. My heart sinks. I don't know a lot about cars, but I know enough to know that tranny problems = is your car even worth the $$$$$????? I take her into Honda to get the news. Yep, transmission will need to be REPLACED ($3000 est.) AND my catalytic converter has gone out (did you know they were made out of PLATINUM - $2000 est.). Again - a very difficult decision was made to not panic and you will never believe it...BOTH of these problems also had a technical service bulletin out. Covered until 80K or 8 years. Guess how old my car was? 7 years. Guess how many miles? 76K. The mechanic even commented that they usually didn't see the problem with the catalytic converter until closer to 100K miles, so this was unusual. I smiled inside and said "nope - it's God making sure that, like the children of Israel wandering in the desert, my clothes and shoes (and car) lasts longer than normal - on someone elses dime.

So after all that, I ended up with over $5000 in FREE car repairs - they didn't even charge me full price for a rental car. I think I paid a total of $60 bucks when I had a rental for well over a week put together. Isn't God amazing?

Now, couple that with an abundance of blessings to me and my kids for Christmas - from people who knew us and people who didn't, God working it out for me to have $8000 more in salary than I expected, my bills somehow being paid on time even before I had work, my money even now being stretched to it's limits with health care, full time child care, AND legal costs...yet I'm still not behind on any payments or bills, my Eagle, God sending a man to flirt at me on the highway when I needed it (Yes, I do believe that was God even as silly as that sounds), God revealing things Rob is doing that could be a problem, and orchestrating some of the little legal stuff in my favor so far, and a myriad of other smaller but no less significant "coincidences" (wink, wink) like cards in the mail when I needed them, anonymous gift cards or cash, etc., and the tapestry seems to be getting richer and richer with vibrant color. Even today at church - I was complimented out of the blue on my appearance, countenance, and singing by no less than 3 people, given a hug randomly by one of the teens at church, and invited to go out shopping with one friend, and karaoke with another. Why? Because this has been a particularly lonely week for me and I've struggled with feeling left out, lack of purpose, being unattractive, etc. AND GOD CARES. Years ago, I would have taken the stance of "buck up - you aren't the only one with problems and God has a lot more important things to do than deal with your pity party and victim mentality". But you know what? I'm learning God has NOTHING more important to do than me. That is not arrogance or pride talking. That is a saint who is just starting to grasp how deep, high, wide, and long is the love of Christ and just starting to KNOW that love that surpasses understanding. I know I can't dwell in pity - I don't want to. But I also know he understands when I'm there and isn't standing on the side saying "pull yourself together". No, he's getting down in the mud with me, hugging me, crying with me and saying "I understand...now let me help you out of this."

I don't know why He has chosen to allow me a glimpse into the betrayal and abandonment he must have felt coming into this Holy week. As I reflect on today, Palm Sunday, I realize the very people who were triumphantly heralding him into the city are the very same ones who by Friday will be screaming "give us Barabbas and crucify Him!". Think about that. A friend wrote to me in an e-mail recently...they asked for a known murderer and thief to be released back among them, and demanded that mercy, grace and love be put to death. The man who had healed many of them without asking for a thing in return. The man who had forgiven sins and shown them a more excellent way. The man who had loved the unlovable and reached out to those who were outcasts. Instead, they preferred the man who had killed, stolen from, and generally mistreated his fellow man.

What is wrong with the human heart that it can choose like that? That it can turn so drastically so quickly - from praise to persecute in less than a week? "The human heart is deceitful above all things...who can know it?"

Saul and David

I have had a difficult time these last 9 months grasping the fact that my will alone was not enough to fix my family. To recognize that Rob’s removal from my life was actually a blessing rather than a curse – a move by God Himself to protect me and my children from the sin and curse of their father. My boys will grow to understand the concept of spiritual adoption – our being grafted into the vine of Israel through the sacrifice of Jesus. Our being chosen by our perfect Heavenly Father by the price paid by our Brother, Christ. A biological father is not nearly as important as a spiritual one. And now, God keeps comforting me with the story of Saul and David in my heart. Saul was God’s chosen for Israel. No doubt about it. But then Saul chose wrong. So God removed Him…not to punish Israel with second best. Once Saul chose disobedience, he was no longer God’s best for Israel. So God anointed David, who became His best, His champion. Even with his faults, God knew his heart was one that longed for God – and Saul’s had fallen away. Rob was my Saul. I now wait for my David. And I wait not with the eyes of a naïve, young girl, but with those of a hopeful, optimistic woman of God who is no longer looking for her prince charming, but for a partner and brother in Christ to share life and love with. I loved Rob purely, that I know. And I will love that purely again, for it is the only way to love. The pain is simply confirmation that I loved right. Israel loved Saul, but they loved David even more. Until then, “His grace is sufficient for me” and I have made my choice. Me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

God never promised us a life free from trouble, did He? The way I figure it, as long as I continue to seek the face of my savior, He will make something beautiful out of these ashes. This is refining fire. As long as I come out looking more like Jesus, then I say “behold the handmaiden of the Lord. May it be unto me according to your will.” And he will eventually send someone else into my life and my children’s life that will see and appreciate the beauty and strength He has bestowed upon us in His grace. I have never understood the “His strength is made perfect in my weakness” verse until now. Christ is beautiful. Simply put – and I am nothing, NOTHING apart from Him. I am experiencing more and more surrender…and it’s liberating to say the least.

The Boob Tube

I try to only have one or 2 shows that I watch regularly - 'course now that I have nothing really to do once the kids are in bed, TV is becoming more of a nightly staple. It sucks. I'd rather be cuddling or talking or playing games with my husband than staring at the boob tube. (Actually I plan to start using the time to exercise to some video tapes to continue with the weight loss and to tone the flab from the first 50 lbs) But since Fox has decided to deny me my Jack Bauer for the season, I'm catching up on two shows that intrigued me, but my commitment to 24 prevented my watching them: Heroes and Lost.

Blockbuster has both of these in stock and I must say I am enjoying them both. Still in season one of both of them, but catching up. For Lost, I'm especially enjoying the character background and can't wait to find out another back story. For Heroes, I'm enjoying the plot and find myself in nail biting anticipation to see what happens next. Been a while since I've been completely engrossed in a new show. 24 has been the only one for a couple of years now. Before that, I have to go all the way back to X Files.

I managed to find someone who has FireFly on DVD that I'm going to borrow next. I've heard lots of good things about it and can't wait until I can check it out.

Even though I'm enjoying the shows and I'm even starting to appreciate and perhaps enjoy the time to myself, I really miss being married and having that other person to relate to instead of passively sitting and watching TV. It feels kind of lame sometimes - like I don't have a life. I know it's just a phase right now and hopefully once I'm in a position to have more regular babysitters (my family in Ohio), I can actually start going out with adult friends more often and even perhaps dating (gasp). That prospect is a bit unnerving, but not so much to keep me from jumping in. I just hope it's not like high school - the flirting may be fun but the head games suck. I didn't like them then, and I'm sure I won't like them as a 37 year old mother of two - I don't have time for that.