Peace in chaos

I haven't posted in a while because life has been a tad bit chaotic. I forgot to pay the electric bill last month, so when I opened this months bill I had a heart attack. I quickly picked up a couple extra shifts to help pay the double bill. While at work, I was talking to the charge nurse about the single mom and kids I've been helping out. The secretary, Pat, overheard me talking and pulled me aside later. She said she was moving out of her apartment and instead of storing items she wanted to give them away to someone who needed them. This set bells off in my head, because that is the kind of thing Jesus would do. She quoted the bible about not storing up treasures on earth, and helping others. How awesome. I wish we all thought like that more.

I went home and talked to Frank. I explained that Pat did not ask to move in, but I really felt God wanted her at our house. He said we could pray on it. The next morning at church the sermon was on not storing up your treasures. Go figure. I called Frank on the way to work and he assured me he was praying about it. when I spoke to him later he told me to invite her to move in. So in the middle of my 12 out of 13 days working(due to the unpaid electric bill) we moved Pat in. The very next night Dominique was found sitting on our door step. David, my other unofficial son, called me at work and asked what he should do. I said "Let him in." So now we have another son. lol God is good. We already had the twin beds in Cody's room, so we just moved him in.

Now I'm on my 2 days off. The 1st day off was fun. Pat and I drove across town and picked up six kids and mom. We played in the pool and bar-b-cued. I had to jump in the pool and save the 3 and 4 year olds(two shirts wet) I can now see how kids drown with adults right there. They fall in so silently and you cant hear them under water. Most everyone had went inside when the little boy fell in. I had my back to the pool and out of no where had this thought to check and see who was outside that couldn't swim. Just as I looked around, I saw him reach for the ball and fall in. Not a peep, barely a splash, and he did not resurface. By the grace of God I saw him and was able to jump right in and grab him. He didn't even cry. It was a blessing to spend the day with this family. The kids are so cute and well behaved.

To think we were going to sell the house to down size and simplify. God had other plans. He has filled our house. We are enjoying our filled house and praising God for it. God has showed us that more can be simpler. We have peace in our chaotic lives. Thank You God! You are awesome.

Walking with Him, Cindy Jo

Life- Still praising God

Well, I had a pretty busy wk. I worked 4 12hr shifts in a row. Then on my day off I bought school supplies for multiple backpacks. (If you do a good job at something, they tend to ask you to do it all the time. So, I am in charge of the back pack drive at work.) I do a great job at it, but I get a little carried away! My entire dinning room is now back pack land. (Pray for Frank- he hates clutter in the dinning room.) I had to get some last min items for the boys mission trip also. Then I had to be up at 0500 to get them to the airport. I complained about 1000 in an earlier post, so you know 0500 was not pretty. Then I had to be at work at 1pm.

If that were my only problem that day I would be soooo happy. My family is now facing a pretty big situation. Please pray for us. I am praising God, because it could be a lot worse. I thank God the problem came to light before it got worse. I have to rely on God to get me through this. I don't have any friends that I talk to daily, so all I have is my hubbie and God. Pray we both listen to what God says.

Then we get a call that Anthonies mom had a massive heart attack, is critical, and may not make it! This is not enough info for an ER nurse, so I had my husband call back and get more details. I was worried we would have to fly Anthony back from his trip to go see his mother(not much stress there!) As it turns out, Patty went through surgery well. She has 3 stents now, but praise God she's alive! I told Frank she could come here to recuperate. He doesn't think she would take us up on the offer, but he does remind me I'm insane! lol What other wife would invite an ex wife to live at their house to recuperate? Not many I guess, but I'm a little on the strange side.

So, pray for me, my husband, my boys, and Patty. We all need it.

Walking with Him, Cindy Jo

Blessed day

Well, I had a blessed day. I made it to the birthday party! Davis is 3(and quite possibly the cutest kid in the world outside of my own.) His brother and sister rank right up there too. I love little kids, but I always have to poke em with needles or force medicine in their throats at work so they don't usually love me! lol

I also made it to our friend's(adoptive father)dinner at the Disabled American Veterans. He was sworn in as Chaplain. I am so proud of all he does for our vets. He and his wife are pretty awesome people(and she makes some killer brownies too).

After the birthday party, I ran out and bought some more clothes. I did not have to buy for the baby boy though, because one of the wonderful moms from my Friday group brought a huge bag of baby boy clothes to the party for me. How awesome! When I was done shopping for clothes, checked out, and at the car, I decided I had to buy some toys too. So back in the store I went and bought a bunch of toys(and a few more clothes). Oops-I couldn't resist.

I got home and called to make sure the family was home. They were on their way home from the baby getting his shots. So off the boys and I go to good ole Winn Dixie. We bought a bunch of essentials for kids(pb&j, hot dogs, bologna, cereal, bread....) and headed across town to deliver it all. The kids were awesome. They came out to meet us at the car, and I quickly put them all to work carrying bags in. They were all smiling and very polite. I heard thank you 500+ times. Guess what the biggest hit was. You got it, the guitar. It, and a lot of other toys were opened before we left, All the trash was put in bags, and the 2 yr old boy was wheeling around on his toy tractor. It was a pretty awesome experience for me and the boys(4th boy Stetson included). Stetson and Cody were laying on the floor playing with the kids. It was a sight to make any momma proud.

I prayed with mom. I also asked her to make a needs list. I told her we might not be able to get everything she asks for, but I know some pretty awesome people that will be willing to help. She was so grateful. The joy in her eyes watching her kids have Christmas in July was priceless. Thank You Lord for blessing me with this experience. Thank You for my awesome husband(who doesn't even want to know what I spent! lol) And Thank You for blessing me so that I can be a blessing to others. Let Your light shine through me and my family.

Walking with Him, Cindy Jo

The Guitar-God is great!

O.K., do you remember the guitar from yesterday. I had no idea what possessed me to buy that thing! Granted it was a bargain and all, but it was still $16 and I put it back 3 times because of that. Then the guitar won out, and off it came to my home. It is still in my dinning room leaning on a wall, and my husband hates things left in the dinning room. He is pretty crippled right now and must have been praying for God to get that(and all the other things I bought) out of the dinning room. And I was a little upset that I had practically filled my luggage for my trip to Haiti in Dec. already! That means I have no logical reason to buy bargain clothes and toys any more.

Then my gorgeous hubbie came home tonight from his mens bible study with both of our prayers answered. A pastor he knows told the mens group about a lady who has no furniture, food, clothes, toys, she has nothing. And she just came to know Jesus 2 days ago. Frank said the pastor rounded up some furniture and needed some guys with trucks to deliver it. A bunch of the awesome guys at his prayer group volunteered. So, you are probably wondering how a guitar can be used as a chair or table. Well it can't silly, that's where the answered prayer comes in. I asked Frank if she had kids(you know, the kids I love to shop for), and he said he thought so. I told him this was not an acceptable answer and needed to know how many, if they are boys or girls, and what size they wear! AND, I needed to know now! So Frankie poo made a quick couple of phone calls at 9:40 pm and got me a phone number and an assurance that it was O.K. to call at this hour.

That is all I needed. I spoke to the mother and she has 6 kids! Yes, I said 6! Ages 12 to 5 months. 5 boys and 1 girl. My guitar, and all the other stuff cluttering up my hubbies dinning room, has a home. And, I get to go shopping again tomorrow! What a great God I serve.

I do however have a busy day tomorrow though. A special young man is celebrating his 3rd birthday tomorrow, so I(yes I) have to be up before 10 am to go to his party. This is unheard of for me on a day off, but I know if I over sleep my boys will wake me up. They actually want to go to a 3 yr old birthday party. Davis won their hearts when he came to the house a couple wks ago. They asked if we were going to the party and even invited the neighbor kid(my 4th son-Stetson), and he is going too. What awesome boys I have.
Walking with Him, Cindy Jo

I want to out give Jesus

Where should I start? I have recently started giving again after a several month hiatus. I had really forgotten(or blocked from my mind) just how awesome God is when you help His children. He reminded me when my boys mission trips were paid in full. So, I decided to use that money(and a little more I think) to bless others! I went shopping yesterday and bought 2 big bags of clothes, a birthday present, and some other toys for $120. I managed to cram some in the Costa Rica baggage, I filled 2 shoe boxes to send to Haiti, and I have leftovers to start packing for my Haiti trip. Oh, and I also have a learn to play guitar that was orig. $100 that I paid $16 for. I don't quite know what I'm gonna do with that yet. lol

Then, I started reading Brandi's blog. She is the one who runs my Friday small group. She recently came over to do a lemonade stand for Liberia. I started looking up Malaria and prevention of Malaria yest. to find out about the mosquito nets she was raising money for. Thats when I ran across the need for wells in many 3rd world countries. That struck me as something I would like to help with, so I started reading web sites. And whose name and blog spot do I run across? You got it- Brandi's! lol Isn't God awesome! So, I spent several hours last night reading Brandi's blogs( I started at the well entry- not the beginning or I would still be reading) Then I started reading about Haiti, (God is placing Haiti on my heart) I have a sponsored child there and it"s closer to home. I started watching videos about mud cookies and kept watching 'related' videos. How I got to these videos is beyond me, because they no longer had anything to do with Haiti or malnourished children. They were obscene! And I couldn't figure out how to stop a video so I finally clicked one to play over the obscene one. That will teach me to read the title before clicking on a video! EVERYTHING is on the internet now!

At that point I went to bed. 0230 must not be a good time for me. So now I'm back to brainstorming ways to raise money every month for mosquito nets, wells, and other needs. Don't worry, Brandi says she can e-mail a button I can put on my site so anyone reading can help.(whatever that entails- I have no clue, but my hubbie can do it for me!) I also spoke with Frank about having a spaghetti dinner here at the house once a month or so. We can charge for the meal, give the people a nice meal out, the boys can play with any kids so the adults can have some fellowship time, and all the money can go to the monthly project. I can't wait to see how it goes. If you have any other ideas, let me know.
Walking with Him, Cindy Jo

Praise report

Yahoo! my husband gets to sleep in a soft collar now. His neck is-healing normally! The doc didn't expect that. He asked Frank if he quit smoking and he told him he cut back a lot. The doctor looked at him funny and Frank said, I'm not drinking. Doc said, well that effects your liver not your neck. So I shot in, well he ain't smoking crack either. Doctor laughed. This doctor does not laugh. He is pretty straight forward. Quick and to the point. And we had him laughing. He musta really been surprised at Franks progress. So we are one step closer to total recovery. If you have ever been in a hard collar 24/7, you know what a blessing it is to be able to remove it at night.

I saw the xray today. There is a metal plate screwed in to 3 separate vertebrae. One of the middle screws is missing.( So now when I tell my husband he has a screw loose I can claim it's not a negative comment, it's the truth!) But the reason why it's missing is because the bone there would not hold a screw.

Then, as I was driving home from work yest., my husband told me someone paid the balance off my boys missions trips! Is that awesome or what. I was planing on paying it off this Sunday, but God beat me to it! Now I get to think of ways to bless people with the money I saved. I already bought some more clothes to send with the boys. I have a couple other plans too. I'm so excited. What a wonderful way to start week 4 in the collar. (that's how we time things now-lol) The whole week hasn't been as awsome though. Frank and I had a major argument over 3 dollars. I accelerated quickly out of the restaurant parking lot and caused Frank to hit his head, he got out of the car, I drove off. I eventually picked him up, but not happily. Then , after not responding appropriately, i felt bad and went to bed. The next day the church sign read that God can overcome your shortcomings.(or something along that line) That was there for me! Just to remind me. And the next day He paid the missions trip, and the next day He got Frank out of the Hard collar some of the time. So He can overcome my shortcomings!

Lord, Help Frank to continue to heal. Keep my eyes on You God. And keep overcoming my shortcomings.
Walking with Him, Cindy Jo

helping others and being helped

I have always helped others. Even when I was drinking or doing drugs I shared. Everyone liked to party with me because I shared! Thank God all that has changed and I now help people in positive aspects in life. But the point is, I enjoy helping people. I am a nurse, so I get to help people all day at work. My husband used to complain that I would pay someone's light bill but not take a toll road because it cost $2.00. Toll roads in my mind are a waste of money. Helping others is an investment. I can't say that everyone I have helped has used the help wisely or even been grateful for it, but it blesses me to do it. Actually, the people I have helped most in life have treated me the worst. If I don't keep my eyes on God I would probably be bitter and angry at some. God generally places things on my heart, and I have to do them.

Frank says God places everyone on my heart, but I don't think thats true. But if I really feel God is telling me to help someone, I try to do it. On the other hand, I am usually not on the receiving end of help. Yes, I have been through some pretty tough trials in life and friends and pastors have been there with me. I have had a lot of people praying for me over the years also. And if anyone wanted to give me a large sum of money to pay off some debt- I would take it. lol Hint, Hint. But recently with Frank's surgery I have been on the receiving end.

The women in my friday morning bible study have made a list of who is bringing food when. This is such a blessing to me. Anyone that knows our family knows that Frank does all the cooking here. I have to work a certain amount of hours to get the bills paid. It's hard to work a bunch of hours and worry what the family will eat when I'm working. I have taken up cooking when I'm off, but it's still hard. Now I can go to work and not worry.

So, when people ask me, "Aren't you sick of helping people and never getting anything back, or any appreciation?" I can honestly say, "No, I'm not. God has my back. He puts people in my path when they are needed." My bills have always gotten paid, and my family has always had food and extras. I have seen God's hand in it on many occasions. That's why I will continue to help others and pay my tithes. I would hate to see what my life would look like now if I didn't help others or pay my tithes. Maybe I wouldn't see God's hand as much.

Walking with Him, Cindy Jo