Yesterday, I was feeling a bit like I had a wasted day. I mean, there I was with all this great stuff to sell and the wrong crowd came by. I needed young people and got old folks, instead. That was *our* opportunity to raise money and I felt we had been let down where we were capable of raising a sizeable chunk of money.
Besides things like garage sales and cutting back on buying and finding ways to save, we are relying on God to provide. Now, to the nonbelieving and even some of the believing crowd - that sounds very irresponsible. But you have to have been on a 'faith ride' to understand how it works. When you get the irresistable urge and feeling of an invisible pull to do something and you are pretty darn certain it is a 'God thing', you can guarantee that God will meet your needs. And it is so exciting to see how it happens.
For instance, when I went to the lawyer two weeks ago and he told me he was providing the notary fees for free, because he thought what we were doing was 'great'. Or when the woman at our agency told me I could pay for the seminar on the 28th of July, rather than mailing a cheque or doing it by mastercard. I was so thankful for the time needed to see how God would provide. Well, our garage sale netted us enough to pay for the convention. I wonder how she will like getting all those loonies, toonies, and quarters! *laugh*
Another example is when we had the vision to move up here. We needed $1000 + to put in our new laminate flooring. One day, Ray came home with a $1000 bonus cheque from a customer. He had never had a bonus over $100 (and even those were rare) before. We knew that was God providing. Where He gives a vision, He makes provision.
Recently when we had the vision to move from the country to town, we put our house on the market. We priced high knowing that if this was God's will our house would sell, regardless of price. We sold very high - $25,000 more than the realtors told us we would get! God is good!
Anyway, back to my disappointment in the garage sale. I don't want only God handouts. I want to do what we can to. So that was why I was disappointed.
But then, as if to perk me up, I got a call from my dad and he told me that he and my mum would be able to take one of our children during the seminar, after all. They had been tied up with surgery dates and now it wasn't going to be a problem. This is great because this little boy is such a happy, chatty soul that he would keep the babysitter hopping and she already has to look after a very busy two year old, as well as two other children!
And after that phone call I got a very sweet email from a good friend showing such joy in what we are doing. It was so wonderful to get such a celebratory email.
I read a blog yesterday about people's responses to adoption announcements and it was so true!! She basicaly said you get a variety of responses from people. They range from the rare response of "absolute unfathomable joy where they are so thrilled for you and want to know everything", to the "oh, wonderful" response, as if you have just said you are buying new lawn furniture and they know they are supposed to be happy for you, but can't quite wrap their mind around the idea of going to Africa or even wanting to add one more child to a family of 8!
The "true joy" one is the most rare, but the most beautiful, and the "lawn chair" response is the most typical. I have not had one single negative comment and I actually haven't even have a problem with people's reactions. It was just neat to read how she put it, cause I think that is exactly how it feels when I tell people.
Besides things like garage sales and cutting back on buying and finding ways to save, we are relying on God to provide. Now, to the nonbelieving and even some of the believing crowd - that sounds very irresponsible. But you have to have been on a 'faith ride' to understand how it works. When you get the irresistable urge and feeling of an invisible pull to do something and you are pretty darn certain it is a 'God thing', you can guarantee that God will meet your needs. And it is so exciting to see how it happens.
For instance, when I went to the lawyer two weeks ago and he told me he was providing the notary fees for free, because he thought what we were doing was 'great'. Or when the woman at our agency told me I could pay for the seminar on the 28th of July, rather than mailing a cheque or doing it by mastercard. I was so thankful for the time needed to see how God would provide. Well, our garage sale netted us enough to pay for the convention. I wonder how she will like getting all those loonies, toonies, and quarters! *laugh*
Another example is when we had the vision to move up here. We needed $1000 + to put in our new laminate flooring. One day, Ray came home with a $1000 bonus cheque from a customer. He had never had a bonus over $100 (and even those were rare) before. We knew that was God providing. Where He gives a vision, He makes provision.
Recently when we had the vision to move from the country to town, we put our house on the market. We priced high knowing that if this was God's will our house would sell, regardless of price. We sold very high - $25,000 more than the realtors told us we would get! God is good!
Anyway, back to my disappointment in the garage sale. I don't want only God handouts. I want to do what we can to. So that was why I was disappointed.
But then, as if to perk me up, I got a call from my dad and he told me that he and my mum would be able to take one of our children during the seminar, after all. They had been tied up with surgery dates and now it wasn't going to be a problem. This is great because this little boy is such a happy, chatty soul that he would keep the babysitter hopping and she already has to look after a very busy two year old, as well as two other children!
And after that phone call I got a very sweet email from a good friend showing such joy in what we are doing. It was so wonderful to get such a celebratory email.
I read a blog yesterday about people's responses to adoption announcements and it was so true!! She basicaly said you get a variety of responses from people. They range from the rare response of "absolute unfathomable joy where they are so thrilled for you and want to know everything", to the "oh, wonderful" response, as if you have just said you are buying new lawn furniture and they know they are supposed to be happy for you, but can't quite wrap their mind around the idea of going to Africa or even wanting to add one more child to a family of 8!
The "true joy" one is the most rare, but the most beautiful, and the "lawn chair" response is the most typical. I have not had one single negative comment and I actually haven't even have a problem with people's reactions. It was just neat to read how she put it, cause I think that is exactly how it feels when I tell people.
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