New Year, new goals

Well, here we are, it is now 2012 and it has been a while since I've blogged on here.  Life tends to get in the way of my love for writing. Busy-ness, family and all that encompasses a quick-paced lifestyle.  I don't like it.  I want to move out to the country and away from the hustle and bustle that is city living.  I've prayed about it and although I know God hears my prayers, I know -- and accept-- full well that it is on His time and not mine that my plans and dreams will come to fruition.  I'm not a very patient person mind you and I made the silly mistake of praying for patience many years ago.  God answered, he sent me a daughter with ADD...if anything will teach you patience, having a child with learning differences will give you a healthy dose of learning opportunity.  LOL!  God does have a sense of humor.

I promise this year, I will be better at keeping this old blog up-to-date.  There are so many things I want to write about it's just not easy to keep up with all the goings on in my life and the things I wish to do on my hard-to-come-by spare time.  I've also been cooking a lot more lately, so I will also be sharing cooking tips and recipes.  Now, if I can only slow down a bit.  It will be okay.  This year will be a greatly blessed year for all.  I am praying a lot too.

This country is in a mess and it needs our prayers, as do our government leaders.  Only God has the answers and if only His people would seek Him and turn from their wicked ways...He will answer and be quick to heal our land, our hearts and our people.  May God continue to bless each and every one of you and may His mercy follow you all the days of your lives.  See you around!

The Blessings Continue to Pour In - Praise the Lord!!

I must give glory to the One responsible for the bountiful blessings I am in the midst of receiving. When it rains, it pours! Ok, get this, friends, readers and lurkers alike. About 3 days ago I got a wild thought in my mind...not unusual. I decided I want a new car. I wanted a new mini van to be exact. Now granted, I don't want to give them any money because it's right before the holidays and I am one that truly enjoys more the act of giving than receiving during this season. On a whim, I went online and applied for a loan on a used mini van, a Quest by Nissan.

Yes, it looks like a vehicle from outer space...like a pod on wheels, an over-sized bug, etc. However, I am not your typical soccer mom...shoot, I'm not even a soccer mom; more like a geek mom. Thus my taste in funny-looking vehicles. Some moms want a big fancy SUV, others want a racy, sleek car. Not me, I'm sensible. I'm odd. I'm a geek mom. A nerd, if you will. My dream car is a Quest. I don't care if people laugh at me or point at me and giggle. I'm not into appearances.

Back to the story at hand, I apply online and yesterday, get this--I hear a knock at my door and I'm thinking it's the mailman. I open the door and standing right there is the salesman from Nissan, on my front step telling me I was approved and since I put in my phone number wrong they could not call me. Nissan is about 5 minutes from where I live. I was floored. I'm thinking they really want to sell me a car. I had to help my new friend get some supplies for her new business -- which by the way made her a profit of $300 yesterday in a couple hours only. Can you say Praise the Lord? Anyway, I tell the man I can't go look at the vehicles as I'm helping my friend out and I also mention to him that my friend's son works at Nissan and I would be dealing with him.

After I get done helping my friend buy the merchandise, we head back and I go to the dealership right afterwards. I'm thinking my credit stinks, there's no way they're giving me a car. Something told me to hang in there. I really didn't care either way because I don't really "need" a car right now. Still, I stayed because my friend's son needs the money on this sale. I didn't get the minivan. I was ticked. He talked me into looking at other new vehicles. I looked at the Versa...which is a tiny little thing, cute but no sale.

He then walked me to the Altima and showed me one in my favorite color - white. I sat in it, test drove it and loved it. I was approved for the Altima 2007 with no money down, just as I'd hoped. Remember, my credit stinks. I don't have a "real" job, so to speak. I'm a stay at home mom. I make jewelry on a whim, sell it every once in a while and if not for the grace of God I would not have the very supportive husband that I was blessed with. I stated I only wanted the title in my name so I can establish my credit. It was a yes all the way around. I walked out of there at 10 pm the humble owner of a brand spanking new car in my favorite color. My salesman even had to drive it home for me as I was in our little Honda and Little Princess can't drive yet.

I'd prayed for a mini van or whatever was God's will. God's will was for me to have an Altima for right now. Once my credit is established I will trade it in for the Quest. If it's God's will. This post was written to show others that God is indeed faithful. I trust Him and His guidance in my life. How could I not? My faith is such that I know no matter what happens in my life God is there for me every step of the way. In the good times and more so than ever in the bad times for like that poem goes...during your times of trial and suffering, it was then that I carried you.

Hold on to the hope that is Jesus Christ for His word will not return void. He promised us that. God keeps His promises. I know that. I've lived it. One act of kindness is repaid immeasurably by God's grace and bountiful blessing. I love to help people. My heart sings for joy when I can share my blessings with those that need it most. My new friend, I just found out, has no heat in her house. Her gas was turned off because she cannot afford to pay the bill. I have only known her a little over a week but I must help her. A long time ago I prayed that God will use me and send people my way that need help. He has answered my prayers once again.

Nobody is too rich or too poor or too big or too small too smart or not enough to help out in the work that God has laid before us. We can all help in some small way. You never know when God will use you as a blessing to others. Yes, even geeky moms like me. In God's eyes, we are all equal. I love you friends, those that I know and those friends I've yet to meet. God Bless every single one of you.

God's Grace is never-ending

Today I finally got in contact with a lady who has a shop full of store fixtures/racks that she no longer needs. Her business didn't work out. I found her on a fluke, or so I thought. After meeting this woman today, I realized that in God's plan there are no flukes, no chance happenings, no accidents. His plan is perfect.

I looked over the pieces she had to offer and then she invited me to her home to see yet more equipment along with pricing guns and a state of the art cash register; all items I will need for my own shop. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that all the fixtures I would require for my shop, including some jewelry props, I'd find in a 10x10 foot storage and just a slightly larger garage. She sat me down at her kitchen table and offered me a drink - which I took. We sat and talked about everything under the sun as if we had known each other all our lives.

In that time I learned she is in a very difficult situation, her house payment has not been made in almost 2 months. She has 6 children and is a single mother. She is a Christian and I think I was sent there to give her a boost in confidence and maybe some direction? I don't know but at the end of the conversation she told me to take everything and to pay her whenever I had the money. Of course I won't do that as I want her to have her money immediately. She's asking very little money for the entire lot. She also invited me to her church (I've been praying about a church to go to) and when I asked what church it was she told me and I found out it was a church I had belonged to several years ago and was just recently thinking about returning to. N, remember I told you about that one?

I talked to her about some business options that she had to get her out of the financial bind she is in right now. I offered to go into business with her or to lead the way and let her take the reigns once the business was running smoothly. I told her God was, is and always would be faithful to those that trust in Him and believe His Word. Her face lit up every time I told her God would not allow her to lose her house. I don't know how or when He will do it but I have all the faith in the world that just as He has pulled me out of many a bind, whether it be financial, emotional or otherwise, He would certainly and without a doubt do the same for her.

When I woke up this morning I had no idea God would use me today as He did and in the process bless me beyond belief. The blessings keep pouring in. Just as He promises in His Word...
Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

I stand in awe at the wonder of His grace, the everlasting love that is God and the faithfulness of my Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. When we obey God there is no telling what He will do in our lives.

Those of you that know me personally know that I give freely of myself to anyone that needs it. I never expect anything in return. I don't have to. I have God on my side. May God bless you all ever so bountifully that there shall not be room enough to receive it. All be for the Glory of God Almighty.

It's Raining in the DFW area

And I love it! It makes me want to bake and read while the cookies and the strawberry bread are baking. I'm tired though because I've been coughing at night and haven't had much rest. My ankle is feeling better...enough that I not only went to one but two Dollar Tree stores and then on to Joanns for scrapbooking stuff.

I love it when it rains like this. God is being so good to me! I have so much to be grateful for; healthy kids, good husband, a nice home, good health and lots of playthings like jewelry supplies, soap making supplies and now scrapbooking supplies. I got my Creative Memories kit today so I will be calling the CM upline lady and schedule a time to give her back her stuff.

I'm looking forward to the crop this Friday night but if my cough hasn't let up I won't be going. My head feels so stuffed up and the minute I try to lie down to rest a little bit I start coughing. I love the cooler weather though. I wish it were Fall all year round.

Teenager-type got another computer resuscitating job. This time it is a church that has a computer with a virus. He just fixed the neighbor's computer. She's a friend of the family. He needs to have a rate sheet. He could be making a nice chunk of pocket change if he advertised.