I just want to thank God for those who were able to give towards Kyle's goal yesterday, I haven't heard an official total yet, but we know that God is going to supply all he needs and we know that what did come in yesterday was awesome, each one of you have a vested interest in our son and he is who is today because of you and so many others who have invested their time and support, as you are also doing for his brothers and sister, we hear all the time about what a great job we have done, but we can't take all the credit, that goes to our Father who has blessed us with so many friends and family who have been there to speak life into our children, to help guide them and encourage them and us as well.
This season we are going through, of course seems like the hardest one to date (don't they all?) because we are in the middle of trying to make our dream come true for our business "Sweetrees: It's all about BUILDING PEOPLE" which God NUDGED us into when Paula lost her full time, very secure (so we thought) salaried position of 10 years, last October. This didn't scare us, even though the world tried to tell us that we should be, it actually excited us and challenged us, even though we went from a one secured salary household, just barley making ends meet, to a NO "guaranteed" salary household…fun! But we have put our trust in Him and with the help of some past investments that God set up back when, so they would be ready today and a very small weekly (or is that weakly?) support check, and our book sales business, which God is continuing to grow, we have managed to keep our heads above the water…well, most of our head anyway, sometimes the waves get a little high and the pressure in our chest does get a little tight, we are making it…then add on top of that the fact that our oldest son graduated from high school and is now headed out on his own, not to the safe secure world of collage...ok, not always safe and secure, but we could have at last felt like we were apart of his life choices a little bit longer as everyone knows the college student jumps out of the nest as soon as possible but then quickly jumps back when the going gets rough asking mom & dad for help…allowing us to feel, well needed and important…but instead Kyle is entering a very adult world where he will be walking in places that we have never had the strength or confidence to walk, making us proud but also feeling a little bit of a loss all the while preparing ourselves for the arrival of our 6th child due in October…and no he is not Kyle's replacement as some have "jokingly" asked. God has blessed us and commissioned us with the responsibility to raise six awesome children and He continues to guide us and bless us everyday. We recently lost that small weekly check, we misunderstood the details of this insurance, but the day we got the official word of this loss, God was already opening the next door, Paula rec'd a call from a past contact wanting to hire her with a Federal grant, a blessing for our business that more then makes up for the weekly loss…God is good all the time and all the time God is good. With all of this going on in our current season, we have every reason to panic or at least feel a little stressed and I'll admit, sometimes we do…but that's why God sends us His word just when we need it the most. Yesterday Mike Holt preached a message at our church, from the book of Ruth. He reminded us that God wants us to remember that 1) If you're in a season of doubt, don't change your name. 2) Remember all the times God has delivered you before. 3) Let God cover you. And 4) Make sure you choose a BIG JESUS. SO hold on Chapter 4 is coming!!!!
SO, I am NOT changing my name, even though I am really tempted to do so...I am Remembering ALL (and it's a real long list) of the times He has provided...I am letting God cover me without shame or embarrassment and I am choosing a BIG JESUS...come on chapter four!!!
