I am having an awesome day. I would like to share some GOOD NEWS!

1) We have a man in our church who has a burden for those with addictions. He wanted to offer a series of classes to the community that would focus on GOD being the answer for those with addictions. He advertised in the newspaper. Now, we are small-town America all the way. To be honest, we did not expect much to come of this because we've tried things like this in the past with no obvious substantial results. However, we felt that we needed to give this guy a chance because of his burden. His first class was last night. A few cm's came for support, including the SP and my dh, the pastor. God is so amazing! Only ONE couple came... BUT... they listened... they are older, the man is an alcoholic and said that he has tried everything to get help. After the class, my dad, the SP, asked this man if they could pray for him. He readily agreed. As they prayed for him, he began to cry. He was noticeably touched by the Holy Ghost! He and his wife have both promised to be at our service in the morning and attend the potluck afterwards! My dh came in and the first thing he said is "There IS a God!" Our faith is soaring over how God is working behind the scenes. Can't wait to see what HE is going to do tomorrow!

2) My 17 year old son FINALLY got a job!!! Another miracle~he has looked since he was 15 and could find nothing. He was at Bob Evan's Restaurant with my mom the other day and my mom mentioned to the manager that Jonathan was still looking for a job. He had already turned his application in there several months ago. The boss - a really nice guy - said - Well, I am hiring! He took Jonathan in for an interview right then, he had his 2nd interview last night and he has the job! Hallelujah!

3) Last, but not least, Misty (our 13 yr old newest daughter) is court ordered to have counseling because of her dysfunctional family. I have been to two couselors, but have felt no peace. Yesterday, I took her to counselor #3 and praise the Lord! I knew it was the right person for Misty to see. She is a Christian, talked to Misty about the Lord, is very flexible, sweet spirit... I'm so thrilled at how God works!

So, there you have it ... I'm amazed at how awesome our God is. I have really been struggling... my mom told me that God is getting ready to do something! She was right! Thanks for listening. I'm glad I can share my "good news" with you pw's and not just the discouragement. God IS faithful!

I know that in our house, about this time of the year, we are sick of school.  Easter break rolls around and we are ready to be done already.  So, how does your family deal with the End of the Year Blues?  I would be interested to learn how you maybe do things differently to keep yourself and your students on task.  I think we lose out on alot of time because we slack so much during this time.  And yet, it's inevitable and we just don't care anymore.  I keep cracking the whip, but it's a half-hearted crack, and my kids know it.  So, how do you deal with it?

I added some new posts last night and today, they won't show up on my computer unless I actually log in.  I have deleted all of temporary internet files, cookies, etc., but it's still not working right!  So, I thought I'd post this and see what happens and also see if anyone can help me out! Thanks! :)

Okay, thanks to support (thanks guys!), I got the problem solved!  I guess this is a no-brainer to others, but I had my profile sent on only "registered users" can view my blog instead of "everyone."  That meant that unless I was logged in, I couldn't see my own new posts! Duh.... hope this might help someone else!  Have a blessed day!

Hubby and I have gone through some rough years lately of real fire... the purifying stuff that really proves what you are and what you are not. It's not been fun. It's been painful and at times, we've had to count to ten and press forward.

We have discussed how that when we were younger, God's will seemed so obvious. We just coasted along and He lead. We went through some trials, but God's will was so apparent that we just knew everything was going to be okay.

About ten years ago, that cruise-control ride stopped. I know that God was still in control, but where was He? People in our church were not being kind and life was getting difficult. I personally was miserable. I hated it here. I hated everything.

So, we moved. We moved two states away. We took a church. We felt that it was God's will, but we also still felt alone. To make a very long story very short, our six month stint in Chicagoland was a disaster. More disappointment, more frustration, more heartache. We left and came back to Ohio, broken and our health greatly suffering.

We felt stupid returning home. People were to sure to ask what was wrong? Why did we leave our church? We were telling ourselves what failures we were. We came back as changed people - realizing that yes, things can really be worse somewhere else... believe it or not. Some people from our church didn't want us back... they had filled in the gap in our absence and we were a threat to them. We knew it; but we had to return. It was one of the hardest things we've ever done.

My health was so poor that the doctors told me I had everything - Meniere's disease, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Adrenal Fatigue, Balance problems, Immune problems, allergies... you name it... I had it. I searched for a good doctor to help me and tried some crazy things. Some worked, some didn't.

I tried to teach at a Christian school and that didn't work. I tried to go back to college and that wasn't right either. I finally decided to just stay home and take care of my kids...homeschool them... and just be a good wife and mom.

And an amazing thing has happened - I can feel His hand again. He has allowed Himself to become clear to me again. My health is improving. Our finances are getting under control. Our children are blooming. The church is growing. We feel peace again. We feel HIM again.

Our problems are not gone, but we can see HIM working like we used to feel it. Did we get out of His will? I don't know; we didn't do anything differently. We still prayed; read our Bible; went to church; lived holy lives; sought after Him; did all we knew to do.

Job 23:8-14 was our life:

"Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him."

My reason for sharing this is not only to share, but to let someone out there know that even though everything is dark and you can't find your way, He is there. Life is a crazy, mixed-up thing that just can't be explained away. However, I'm so thankful that He has a reason for everything that He does. And I'm just so grateful that He has protected us and watched over us as we have floundered about like a couple of ducks out of water. Great is His faithfulness!