Temptation of Normalcy

It's been a week and a half since the great flood of 2016 here in southern Louisiana. Houses have been cleaned out, supplies handed out, school has restarted, and employees have gone back to work. Thus the temptation of normalcy arises.

If we weren't affected, we tend to lull our way back into the routine of life. We remember those that were affected, but forget that the work has just begun for them. They can't go back to normal yet. Some are still displaced. Some haven't even begun to tear out the damaged floors and walls. Some still have water in their homes. Some have lost everything and have to think about building a new home.

We do have to do normal things. We have to work. Kids have to go to school. We have to take care of our family and do normal things. In doing so, we have to remember that others are still suffering. The temptation is to forget. The temptation is to stop helping.

Please don't fall into that temptation. Please remember those that are still struggling for some semblance of normal because their houses have been destroyed. Please continue to help in any way you can! The work has just begun. Even if people have gotten all the damage out of their home, they still have to rebuild. They still have to replenish what was lost.

I am grateful for our congregation here at Riverside. People have been volunteering non-stop over the past week and a half. We have had trucks come in full of supplies and people have swarmed in. Our members have helped unload every truck and get supplies to those who needed it. We have had teams go out and gut houses. We have had people make and deliver meals to those that needed it. We have had people open their homes to neighbors who needed a place to stay.

If you are unable to help in any of these ways, please consider donating money. Riverside Church of Christ is collecting funds to help those affected by the floods. Especially those who don't have flood insurance. To make it easier, we set up a gofundme page. We are so grateful for the funds raised so far and the generosity of so many people. We are also grateful for those that have traveled here or plan to travel here to help clean out houses and start repairs.

Thank you for your help in whatever way you were able to help. Most of all, thank you for your prayers. God is awesome and He always provides.

What. A. Day.

Today is probably one of the best days of my life. When I woke up this morning, I had no idea what was going to happen.I do know that God orchestrated it all. Let me tell you how my morning went:

Tanner woke up before me as usual, but crawled back in bed after his shower and cuddled with me until after I should have gotten up. When you have a warm bed and a snugly husband, it's hard to get up! :P So the morning was off to a good start despite the part where I left 30 minutes after I should have. I didn't have any breakfast or lunch planned so I thought about running to Rouse's on my way since it was on my to work. I almost didn't go.

I got into my routine mindset and past up the first entrance like any other day. I thought about just coming back later. As I pulled up to intersection, however, I decided I would just go to the store and get it over with. Inside the store, I found some of the things I wanted, but was starting to get antsy because I was taking WAY too long. I checked out quickly and headed out to my car.

I was almost to my door when someone called out to me. I turned expecting it to be someone looking for money or something. Boy was I shocked when I saw a woman and two men, one with a camera, headed towards me. She introduced herself as Julie from KLFY (local news station here), one of the men was Mr. Giles, owner of Giles automotive (and Riverside's neighbor), and her camera man. Then she said the best part. They were the Pay It Forward crew. Mr. Giles wanted to give back to the community that had given so much to him. They asked if I knew someone who could use $500. I told them I did know people who could as I worked at a church, but I didn't know "which one". In reality, I was having a hard time thinking of a name. Not two seconds later and I thought of our outreach minister, Danny Hebert.

They told me they would follow me over to Riverside since I thought that was probably where he was. He wasn't there though. I texted him, but before he could get it, he pulled in. We let him go inside and then we started walking up. He ended up coming back outside.

She told him who she was and that we had something to give to him. Mr. Giles handed him the envelope and as soon as Danny opened it and saw the $500, he went speechless. It was an awesome moment.

But it didn't end there. They went inside and filmed Danny doing his thing. After a while, they called me in to do the thank you and such. Mr. Giles noticed I had a spare on my car and asked if I had a flat. I told him I had gotten a flat about a week ago and was waiting on the tire to come in. To which he responded, "Bring it over when the tire comes in and I'll put it on for free." I was shocked and thanked him and told him how much I appreciated it. Danny then told me he appreciated me recommending him and that he appreciated it.

Then, he held out his hand and shook mine, giving me the money that was in his hand. I thought it was some of what he had been given and was shocked and wanted to give it back, but I knew he would insist I keep it. Julie had no idea what was happening so Danny told her.

Apparently, while they were in the kitchen, Mr. Giles had asked what all he might do with the money. Danny had told him he was probably doing to give some to me since he thought I needed it too. Mr. Giles then told him to keep his portion. He gave Danny $500 to give to me.

I was stunned. I didn't even know what to do. I was so happy. Tears started falling and Julie asked if I was okay and hugged me. I told her I was awesome and I was just so grateful. $500 would really help. She then asked what was going on in my life and I told her about Tanner being a machinist and that a lot of his work comes from the oil field (which we had talked about the decline of that and how it had affected the people and the church) and that Tanner just went back to school as well. When asked what I might do with it, I told them God gets his cut first and then the rest would probably go towards paying off debt.

I am blown away. I have no words other than God is AWESOME.

The best part is, Julie told me that they pray for God to lead them to the right person before they go out every time. Knowing that, I have great confidence is saying that God planned this out and made it all work perfectly. I am still floored.

TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY!

(P.S. this will be on TV in about two weeks! AHH!)

The Joys of House Searching...

As some of you already know, my husband and I are searching for a house. We are already paying 700 a month, so why not get a place we could call our own? Plus, then we would have our parking and we wouldn't be able to hear through the walls. (Ugh.) Thus, the search began. Unfortunately, it has become increasingly difficult. We don't have a very large budget and the houses here are way overpriced. So, finding what we want in the price range we are comfortable with is difficult in of itself.

We found a couple houses that we liked, but both of them recently went pending, meaning someone is in the process of buying it. We were going to look at houses yesterday, but our realtor texted me because she got rear-ended! It was terrible! I felt so bad for her and I'm praying that she is okay!

So, here I am today, feeling like perhaps I've hit a wall. I've been asking myself, "Is this a sign that we aren't supposed to move right now? Should I just stop looking?"

It doesn't help that we were tight on money there for a week and I'm still feeling the weight of that. It's that feeling of not being able to buy anything because we can't afford it. I look at the people around us and wonder how they got to where they are and when we will get there! I'm trying to do everything that I can, but sometimes it feels like no matter what we do, it's not enough.

I know that I need to just lean heavily on God and give everything to Him. He knows what is best and when I have completely relied on Him, things turn out for the better. Perhaps I have just been lacking in that area recently. It's a lot easier to say "Give it all to God" than it is to do. Maybe that's my problem. I know I should, but maybe I'm just not doing it.

I need to stop worrying about money and the house search and everything that has to do with my "new business". (I became an Independent Scentsy Consultant back on the 18th! Which I am super excited about!) Perhaps if I just let everything go and have complete faith that God will take care of everything, things will start falling into place. I'm 100% sure I'll feel better.

It's just so hard to stop worrying...

God is in control. He has a plan. I have got to rely upon Him. God is good all the time.

Keep on keeping on. <3

Wake to the Call

Dead. Zombiefied.

So gone you can't be recognized,

Can no longer be reconciled

In this battle of the vile

And pain

And shame.

We've become nothing,

Not waking

To the noise.

But there's a voice

Filled with power.

It's our maker,

Our creator,

Calling us to remember,

To wake from the void,

From the blackness that's employed.

He calls us to join Him

In this place He calls heaven.

He says we're forgiven

Because of the blood he has given.

He breaths into us life

So we can avoid the knife

Of eternal damnation

In a place where evil stations.

He tells us to wake up

To see what He has done.