As you may know, we have a grandson who was born to our middle child when she was just 16. The father of our grandson chose to not be a part of the pregnancy, then reappeared just before the birth of Jalen. He was around a few weeks after that, then dropped all contact. Amazingly enough, a couple of months after hearing nothing at all, our daughter was served papers which stated she was being sued for joint custody.
We have never had any situations in the past requiring a lawyer, and had no idea who would be a good lawyer for a case such as this one. My sister had been talking to someone she worked with who had been through a similar situation and recommended her lawyer to us, so I called and got the appointment made. It was for 2 weeks out. On the day of the appointment, just as we were getting ready to leave, we got a call from that lawyer's office saying we could not keep that appointment because the dad of our grandson had already made contact with them and had paid the retainer fee so we would have to find another lawyer.
I remember feeling just overwhelmed with devastation.My sister's friend had said this lawyer was good at getting his clients everything they wanted and that is just what we wanted. I actually started crying on the phone and was telling her this was all new to us and we just didn't know who we needed to find for a lawyer and that this one had been recommended to us, and I was just at a loss as to how to find someone else that would be good. And then, in a whispery voice, the receptionist of that law office said to me, "Mom to mom, call ______ office". I said thank you and hung up and called the office she recommended.
They were able to get us in the very next day and we paid the retainer fee and got the process started. During the next several months, we were stunned at all the good feedback we started hearing about this lawyer. One person told us that the DFS workers all know this lawyer well and know that when he is put on a case the saying from the opposing side is always, "Well, we have lost this case." Then we heard from someone else that he is the most expensive lawyer in our area but he gets the job done.
Slowly, but surely, I started to realize that God had shut the door in our face to the other lawyer for a reason - he had someone better for us - and he used the opposing lawyer's receptionist to point us in the way God wanted us to go. Isn't that just amazing?! And isn't that so like the God we serve?
If we can just learn to trust that God truly is in control and that no matter how bleak the picture may be, He has a plan for us and we just need to rest in that and follow Him.
Next Monday, I will share more of what God has done in this situation and another story that will hopefully build your faith!
Donna
Monday, January 5, 2009
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Already Behind
Well, the new year is here and I am already behind. But that's okay - it will get better.
Just after I published my last post on here, I got the news from my husband that he was losing his job. Somehow that news didn't rock my world as much as I thought it would. Maybe I was in shock, but then I realized that what was holding me steady in the face of such news was my faith.
Many times we wonder, "How much faith do I really have"? My husband has taught that faith is one of those things we measure by what we have been through before. Whatever we go through and come out on the other side of successfully we can say, "I have that much faith".
In the Word we read that faith comes by hearing and I know that my faith has been encouraged many times by the stories I have read of people such as George Mueller and others who have faced great obstacles, but their faith held them steady and God met their needs. As I thought on that, I realized that I too had stories to share of my faith that could possibly encourage others who were struggling with their faith walk and in doing so I could remind myself of all God had seen us through in the past and encourage myself as we face this new challenge of finding Tom another job.
So, starting on Monday, I will begin sharing stories from our lives of situations that looked bleak, but in hindsight we could see God at work, meeting our needs.
And about our current situation, well we are encouraged by our faith and how God has met our needs in the past so for the most part we are at peace as we search for a new job. Tom has been putting in applications with various companies and with much prayer we feel like we are starting to see a direction God may be leading, but we are still waiting on Him to open the door. We know God has a plan and we are excited to see where He will lead us next!
Donna
Just after I published my last post on here, I got the news from my husband that he was losing his job. Somehow that news didn't rock my world as much as I thought it would. Maybe I was in shock, but then I realized that what was holding me steady in the face of such news was my faith.
Many times we wonder, "How much faith do I really have"? My husband has taught that faith is one of those things we measure by what we have been through before. Whatever we go through and come out on the other side of successfully we can say, "I have that much faith".
In the Word we read that faith comes by hearing and I know that my faith has been encouraged many times by the stories I have read of people such as George Mueller and others who have faced great obstacles, but their faith held them steady and God met their needs. As I thought on that, I realized that I too had stories to share of my faith that could possibly encourage others who were struggling with their faith walk and in doing so I could remind myself of all God had seen us through in the past and encourage myself as we face this new challenge of finding Tom another job.
So, starting on Monday, I will begin sharing stories from our lives of situations that looked bleak, but in hindsight we could see God at work, meeting our needs.
And about our current situation, well we are encouraged by our faith and how God has met our needs in the past so for the most part we are at peace as we search for a new job. Tom has been putting in applications with various companies and with much prayer we feel like we are starting to see a direction God may be leading, but we are still waiting on Him to open the door. We know God has a plan and we are excited to see where He will lead us next!
Donna
Friday, December 26, 2008
Almost The End of 2008
Well, amazingly enough, here we are almost at the end of another year. When I was a young girl, my granny always told me that the older you get the faster time flies. Well, at 10 years of age, you can't really comprehend such a statement, but now that I am older, I comprehend it all too well and have to agree that she was definitely right.
The year 2008 has gone by rather quickly and as we near the beginning of 2009, I find myself doing what I always do at this time of the year - reflecting on what the past year has held and making goals for the new one to come.
One of the goals I have for this new year is to become a more active and organized blogger. I know God has filled my heart with a lot of things He wants me to share and I believe blogging is one of those doors through which I can share. It has been quite the challenge to get my blog designed the way I want. I see so many cool blogs when surfing through blog land, and there are so many neat things I want to put on my blog, but I am completely HTML illiterate. Trying to learn the basics over the past few months has been grueling and I honestly just don't have the time to devote to learning how to design one, so I have tweaked it the best I can for now and plan to tweak it more in the new year as funds allow.
My goal is to blog daily and the topics will be varied. Most of what you find on here will pertain to being a wife, mom, homemaker, etc., as that is the kind of clay I am. I hope it will be a place where those who visit will be encouraged and inspired to keep pressing on in their daily walk with the Lord and for those who may not know the Lord, that they will get to know the wonderful Savior I serve and wish to become one of His kids as well.
Thank you Lord for allowing me to be your child and for the opportunity to share with others what you have so wonderfully shared with me.
Donna
The year 2008 has gone by rather quickly and as we near the beginning of 2009, I find myself doing what I always do at this time of the year - reflecting on what the past year has held and making goals for the new one to come.
One of the goals I have for this new year is to become a more active and organized blogger. I know God has filled my heart with a lot of things He wants me to share and I believe blogging is one of those doors through which I can share. It has been quite the challenge to get my blog designed the way I want. I see so many cool blogs when surfing through blog land, and there are so many neat things I want to put on my blog, but I am completely HTML illiterate. Trying to learn the basics over the past few months has been grueling and I honestly just don't have the time to devote to learning how to design one, so I have tweaked it the best I can for now and plan to tweak it more in the new year as funds allow.
My goal is to blog daily and the topics will be varied. Most of what you find on here will pertain to being a wife, mom, homemaker, etc., as that is the kind of clay I am. I hope it will be a place where those who visit will be encouraged and inspired to keep pressing on in their daily walk with the Lord and for those who may not know the Lord, that they will get to know the wonderful Savior I serve and wish to become one of His kids as well.
Thank you Lord for allowing me to be your child and for the opportunity to share with others what you have so wonderfully shared with me.
Donna
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Still Under Construction
Well, this summer has been busy for us and I haven't had the time to work on our new blog as much as I had hoped. I have learned some, but not enough to really make the changes I envision. But please check back often as we are planning on adding new entries whether or not the blog is customized the way we want it or not.
We have been busy with remodeling plans that are set to get underway in August and with all the rain we have been blessed with lately, the yard work is keeping us busy, as well as the garden. We are starting to get green beans, a few tomatoes, a bunch of zucchini, sweet banana peppers, and green peppers now. I need to get some parts for my canner so it will be ready to go before long. Also, my freezer is full to overflowing with beef and chicken, so I am going to have to can most everything this year. But that's okay, I am not complaining...:)
Our grandson is now 6 months old and is rolling over and just about to sit up. He is such a delight to us. The girls are all doing well. Kayla is working hard at 2 jobs this summer, saving up money to pay for her apartment until her school loan money comes in late fall/early winter. Shelby is working more days at Sonic and Lindsay is babysitting and spending time with friends. We plan to start our school year the last of this month. We decided to get a head start so we could take off more time for the holidays.
So, life is marching onward. God is good, ALL the time, despite what circumstances may try to convince us otherwise. I will sign off with a new favorite verse of mine. Lamentations 3:21-23:
We have been busy with remodeling plans that are set to get underway in August and with all the rain we have been blessed with lately, the yard work is keeping us busy, as well as the garden. We are starting to get green beans, a few tomatoes, a bunch of zucchini, sweet banana peppers, and green peppers now. I need to get some parts for my canner so it will be ready to go before long. Also, my freezer is full to overflowing with beef and chicken, so I am going to have to can most everything this year. But that's okay, I am not complaining...:)
Our grandson is now 6 months old and is rolling over and just about to sit up. He is such a delight to us. The girls are all doing well. Kayla is working hard at 2 jobs this summer, saving up money to pay for her apartment until her school loan money comes in late fall/early winter. Shelby is working more days at Sonic and Lindsay is babysitting and spending time with friends. We plan to start our school year the last of this month. We decided to get a head start so we could take off more time for the holidays.
So, life is marching onward. God is good, ALL the time, despite what circumstances may try to convince us otherwise. I will sign off with a new favorite verse of mine. Lamentations 3:21-23:
But this I recall and therefore have I hope and expectation: It is because of the Lord's mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His tender compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great and abundant is Your stability and faithfulness. (Amplified version)
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Changes Coming
As you can tell, I am doing some "remodeling" of my blog. Actually, there is more to come. I am chin deep in reading and watching tutorials on how to customize blogs/design websites, etc. Truthfully, I feel like I am drowning most of the time. However, I shall continue on and if need be, will call out the top guns to help me if I can't get it figured out before too long.
Some of the changes in addition to the cosmetic outlook of my blog will be that I will be sharing my blog with my husband. He teaches one of the adult Sunday School classes at our church and is a very gifted teacher. He is also an excellent writer and he has been feeling the call to start writing recently and so I am going to be publishing his writings on what will become "our" blog. At some point in the future, we may move into an actual website, but for now this blog will be more than adequate.
I am very excited about these changes and we will have a variety of categories that we will be posting in so hopefully there will be something of interest for everyone who stops by to read.
Some of the changes in addition to the cosmetic outlook of my blog will be that I will be sharing my blog with my husband. He teaches one of the adult Sunday School classes at our church and is a very gifted teacher. He is also an excellent writer and he has been feeling the call to start writing recently and so I am going to be publishing his writings on what will become "our" blog. At some point in the future, we may move into an actual website, but for now this blog will be more than adequate.
I am very excited about these changes and we will have a variety of categories that we will be posting in so hopefully there will be something of interest for everyone who stops by to read.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Tuesday's Thoughts
Well, the Lord has certainly been good to me over the past few weeks. I am continuing on the path to personal revival and changes that are occurring inside my heart are starting to show up in my actions. Not that I am trying to toot my own horn there or anything, but too many times in my life I have gone through a time when I would get all excited about something, only to find that it was fleeting and didn't produce any lasting results. I just feel so different about all that the Lord is teaching me right now. I almost feel like a sponge in that everywhere I turn, there is another "something" to absorb. It is a great feeling and I know it is just preparation for what is to come.
Of course, all this has not come without a price. Satan is never happy when a lukewarm christian decides to get "hot", and will do whatever he can to intercept that. But strangely enough, I have met each derailment effort with a quiet calm and determination and an absence of fear. That has to be the best thing to come of this so far - the lack of fear. I have heard sermons by the boat load on fear, but I am finding out that for me at least, the deeper my relationship is with Christ, the less fear I encounter.
Lastly, a small update on the farm life here: We butchered a few meat chickens a couple of weeks ago, but they were a little smaller than what I wanted, so we are in the process of fattening them up some more before nabbing a few more. We have discovered though that there is a varmint of some sort under the chicken house (most probably a skunk) and it has killed one of our chickens so far. We are trying to figure out just how to fix that problem right now.
The garden is growing well. My dad brought over a large load of sawdust we are putting between the rows to help cut down on the weeds and add some nutrients into the ground. I am really getting excited about canning season...:)
We have several home projects we are going to be working on this summer. Instead of taking a small vacation we are going to put the money in the house. Though we do plan to do some camping and we will use our season passes to Silver Dollar City several times throughout the summer. One of the projects was finished today - a small one - a new shelf for my scrapbooking things. I am looking forward to getting more of my things organized and my table cleared off so I can actually have work space to craft again.
I guess that is all for now. Happy summer to all my blogging friends!
Of course, all this has not come without a price. Satan is never happy when a lukewarm christian decides to get "hot", and will do whatever he can to intercept that. But strangely enough, I have met each derailment effort with a quiet calm and determination and an absence of fear. That has to be the best thing to come of this so far - the lack of fear. I have heard sermons by the boat load on fear, but I am finding out that for me at least, the deeper my relationship is with Christ, the less fear I encounter.
Lastly, a small update on the farm life here: We butchered a few meat chickens a couple of weeks ago, but they were a little smaller than what I wanted, so we are in the process of fattening them up some more before nabbing a few more. We have discovered though that there is a varmint of some sort under the chicken house (most probably a skunk) and it has killed one of our chickens so far. We are trying to figure out just how to fix that problem right now.
The garden is growing well. My dad brought over a large load of sawdust we are putting between the rows to help cut down on the weeds and add some nutrients into the ground. I am really getting excited about canning season...:)
We have several home projects we are going to be working on this summer. Instead of taking a small vacation we are going to put the money in the house. Though we do plan to do some camping and we will use our season passes to Silver Dollar City several times throughout the summer. One of the projects was finished today - a small one - a new shelf for my scrapbooking things. I am looking forward to getting more of my things organized and my table cleared off so I can actually have work space to craft again.
I guess that is all for now. Happy summer to all my blogging friends!
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Thursday Ponderings
Over the last couple of weeks I have just been more and more challenged, broken, etc., by my loving Heavenly Father. I hope to at some point be able to break down all that God has been doing in my heart and mind and share it with others in hopes of encouraging them in their walk with the Lord. I grew up in church, and have done a lot of "right" things, but never realized just how inconsistent my walk with Him was until these past few weeks as God has stirred my heart and mind.
As all this has been going on, I came across a snippet that got my attention and caused me to look for a more complete version and I found it on You Tube. I hope as you listen to it, that it will amaze and awe you and remind you of how special you are to our Heavenly Father as it did me. Just click on the arrow to play and be blessed!
As all this has been going on, I came across a snippet that got my attention and caused me to look for a more complete version and I found it on You Tube. I hope as you listen to it, that it will amaze and awe you and remind you of how special you are to our Heavenly Father as it did me. Just click on the arrow to play and be blessed!
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