We got the call

Yesterday afternoon Gerald called. “I have bad news.” then silence .  After the silence stretched into forever I prodded well what’s the news ? The only words I heard were ,sorry, lost ,and job.  Fat tears slowly rolled down my face.  I kept sweeping the floor the dust mixing with my tears as he told me the details. There was no notice ,today would be his last day, there would be no severance there was no more money ,all three employees would be leaving.  I hung up the phone .Shock I was in shock. The store had been ok ,it seemed we had been surviving this economic storm. There had not been ,up until this phone call any mention that the store might not make it.

  Natalie was trailing me asking me what was wrong I told her she began crying,”but Daddy luvs selling punos (pianos).”  I told her and myself at the same time it would be ok. I handed her the mop ,she loves to mop . The mopping refocused her. Then I had to break the news to Cole he started crying….once again I told him and myself it is going to be ok.  Gabe..oh my little Gabe his response a huge grin, and excitement  Daddy will get to spend all of spring break with us !

Sit ,all I could do was sit in the living room and feel numb, Natalie had crawled up in my lap I rubbed her head thinking ,we sat like that for an hour her curled up in my lap me stroking her hair .  The ticker tap started running through my head ….this just in Gerald loses job, Gardiner’s bound to be homeless and hungry, they will lose everything…..Natalie’s desire for food broke me out of my thoughts. Dinner I could make dinner.

 After much reflecting and a glass of  wine with my neighbor.  The ticker tape running in my head began to read differently. This just in Lisa realizing that God has always taken care of her and her family even when she wasn’t a beliver , Gerald loves her almost as much he loves God. This job loss was an opportunity us once again to see God working in our life. This trial would give us the chance to grow in our faith and become closer to each other and our savior.  I found my self smiling sitting on the porch with a lovely friend under beautiful stars  feeling loved and blessed by where we are and what God has chosen  us to do once again ,trust him, just trust him ,don’t worry. God reminded me gently ,have I not always been here ?  When something you have perceived as being bad, I took  and made good.  That I can take hopelessness and turn it into hope, pain into relief and ,trials into thank you’s ?  He will provide he always has . Had he not already moved mountains for us ? Rescued us from the dark lost and found box, and cleaned us off for such a time as this.

Giving, a day at Matthew Walker Clinic

Matthew Walker Clinic was a part of serving Saturday with Crosspoint. We were so blessed with God’s presence and some wonderful fun volunteer’s. Not only were we able to transform this clinic in less than 4 hours !  From very sterile and not so fun to a very whimsical and happy place.  Fellow Crosspointer’s made some new friends ,and we got to spend time in community together. Whenever I am asked to do these projects I get so so excited, because I know will get to see God that day in the faces and hands of others and he always sends us a little hello somewhere on the project to let us know he is there .This time the hello came in the coolest way ! Children had been turning in artwork up until the day of the project so when I showed up Saturday morning  I couldn’t tell you how many pieces of art or frames I had to work with . So when I went back to check on the volunteers putting the artwork with the frames my heart sung when they told me  they had a frame for each piece of art ,and art for each frame ,God had all the details worked out. I want to say thanks again to all the volunteers who showed up and became Jesus in skin !