Blessings Come in Strange Packages

Almost six years ago my family and I started, what we we now call, our East Coast Tour.  We hit some very difficult financial times because of jobs (or lack of) for my husband.  My husband and I were both born and raised in Ohio and I had finally given birth to our first child (after 10 years of marriage).  Both of us couldn’t be more excited about me staying home to raise our first of hopefully many littles running around.

We knew our finances would be tighter for us, losing my income, but we were okay with that – our precious new baby deserved to be home with her Mommy.  Little did we know just how difficult it would get.

We loved living near the beach but things were not what they seemed with the company my husband had been working for.  So that our little family had health insurance I started working at Starbucks during the week.  I would get up at 3:00am to work the open shift and be home by 9:00am so my hubby could head out to work.  It made for very long days for me, with such an active toddler at home.  But was totally worth it – I was still a stay at home mom!Not long after Roo’s first birthday my husband needed to find a new job.  He searched and searched but did not find many options available in his field.  So we ended up needing to take a job that would move us from Ohio to Virginia Beach.

A year and a half later the company, my husband worked at, closed and went bankrupt with out any notice to the employees (and owing them a lot of money).  What were we going to do?  Why was this happening to us?

We then needed to move to Knoxville, TN for another new job for my husband.  This then led to a move to Middletown, NY (added a sweet little addition to our family), Chicago, IL and now Florence, KY.  Yes – all those states in less than 6 years!

With each move I found myself getting more and more bitter.  Wondering why God would allow my family to be uprooted so many times.  Then finally it struck me –

Am I really giving God my everything?  

Am I allowing God to really bless my life?  

How can I expect God to bless my life if I haven’t truly given it to HIM?

These questions just kept nagging at me.  So I finally said “Okay Lord, it’s all YOURS!  My life, my family – even all our moves.  Show me what you want for me.”

I began online Bibles Studies, reading and studying the Bible with my daughter for homeschool, and praying with my husband at night.  We made it a priority that a new church was found within the first month of our move.  God is first in our lives – which is right where He should be!

I have never pretended that I wasn’t a VERY bull headed person – I totally am!  But God had to take me through all of this to show me –

I can not do it all on my own!  

I shouldn’t do it all on my own!  

God wants to be my strength – my muscle – for my life!

 

All the moving and financial difficulties have been a major strain in our lives (to say the least).  Each one has been more difficult than the last.  But, with God, instead of turning away from each other we have turned towards God – which has brought us even closer together (my husband and I and our family).Bible Verses like John 1:2-5 helped remind me that our God is a generous God and that He wants nothing more than to strengthen us.  All we need to do is ask Him!

Who know that living in 6 states in 6 years could be counted as a blessing?  Well…God did!

Love Life, Love God and Live For HIM!