Thursday, September 24, 2009

Tired But Not Beaten

Once, I swam out in the ocean on the back of a giant sea turtle. It seemed like just a few minutes before he dove deep and I let him go, but when I looked back to the shore where my friends were waiting they were just tiny dots on the top of the cliff overlooking the beach. I am a confident swimmer but the distance to the beach worried me. The receding tide worried me more than that. I didn't have any trouble swimming back the the beach area but the undertow was so strong that I could not get past it to land. The beach was of black volcanic rock and as I repeatedly tried to reach the shore my skin got more and more scraped and sore. I went under and was tumbled around underwater several times. It was scary. I was scared. My friends just stood on the cliff and watched me struggle. There really wasn't anything they could do to help me. I thought I would drown or be eaten by a shark. Finally, the smallest person in our group swam out and after a few hard tumbles each, we began look for a different plan for getting back to the shore. We rested in the calm water past the shallows and scanned the cay for another route. On the side of the cliff we saw a cave that had been worn into the rock by the water. It was past the rough part of the water and so we easily swam to it. We climbed up on the rock and walked into the cave toward the beach. There was a beautiful worn pattern on the rock and the cave was narrow but open to the beach on the other side. I was really worn out and pretty beaten up but I was safe and sound on the shore.

Today, as I was discouraged about the status of our home mortgage modification and foreclosure situation, I thought of that occasion when the path I chose beat me up and when I relied on other than my own knowledge I was quickly and softly landed on the shore. Just when I thought I didn't want to fight and struggle another minute to save this house, our home, something bigger than me happened along and took the entire situation in a direction I had begun to think was impossible.

We are going to be able to save our home from foreclosure. We have done it with lots of prayer and humility, and a lot of love and support from our families, friends, and most importantly from above.

Lest I be premature - this isn't a done deal legally, but it's very close and quite certain to happen and be closed by early next week. AND, I know we will still struggle and have to scrape all we have to get the payments made, but we can do it!

I will continue to covet your prayers!

Monday, August 17, 2009

Joe Huber, a Movie, a Celebration, and a Job


On Saturday, we all went to Joe Huber's and had a blast during Walter's Fastline Company Picnic.

On Sunday evening Walter took me to see Julie & Julia [for my birthday]. I LOVED the movie! As a cook and as a blogger it was very satisfying and I had fun relating with the characters. Although the reviews were mixed and not great for this movie, I really liked it a lot - there was one portion that was a tiny bit slow for me, but it was short and still relevant to the story line. If you cook or if you blog, or especially if you do both, go see this movie!

Today is my birthday! I am feeling the love from all my friends and family. My friends Renae & Todd kept the boys yesterday while we went to the movie and then made an awesome impromptu dinner for us. It was special and I don't mean "short bus" style. My Facebook friends are posting all kinds of greetings and salutations on my profile, I got a bunch of cards [one was WAY sick&wrong, and totally hilarious- from my MIL] in the mail [some with money!], and some of my girls from church brought me lunch and we ate while we had a great talk. I got several great emails and some super phone calls. One of those calls was from MY NEW EMPLOYER!!! Yes, I got a job on my birthday! WOO HOO!

Special Note: Today Ben told me, "I hate you Mom." What a way to celebrate my birthday, right?. [I'm pretty sure he didn't mean it.]

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Time Flies

This morning as I walked away from the Elementary school where my two big boys attend, I looked up to see a flock of geese flying overhead. It was beautiful! It further sent home the fact that time is flying by! I have two children in school and only one at home!

In a few years this day will seem like ages ago and minutes ago at the same time, I know. Hug your children - they will be grown up in no time at all!!!

Here are my boys:

Monday, August 03, 2009

Church Picnic

Friday, July 31, 2009

Read All About It

I have an Etsy shop that you may or may not know about:
ElizaUnder.Etsy.com.

What is Etsy? Etsy is an online community of handmade item sellers founded in 2005. Recently I have added a bunch of new cards there. I am running a special through August 17th on all of the cards in the shop:
@---->----BUY 3 Get 1 Free!!----<----@

I hope you will drop by and browse at least! If you are local to the La Grange area, I will be happy to deliver the items you purchase for free (no postage). Also, if you prefer, you are welcome to schedule a private showing of my products in my home or yours!

This is a blatant attempt at self-promotion!

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Walkin' the Walk

So, Walter and I have joined up and become the assistant youth ministers at our church. We will sit in tonight for the 1st time and then in two weeks Walter will teach the lesson. I will teach it the following week. We are starting a series August 5th on Faith [Mark 5:21-34]. It's going to be cool! I am excited!!!

Pray with us and for us and The Halls as we go into this work together. The last time we began this discussion, I got pneumonia and went into the hospital for weeks. (That ole devil doesn't like it when God's children do his work!!!)

The other day we had our first house showing and it went very well. The buyers liked our house and have it on their "list" but have not made a decision yet. That's exciting and scary for me! I want to sell the house [or be able to afford it again], but in the meantime I would like to have some idea of where we will live if it does sell!!!

Well, the boys are too quiet - I better go see what they are doing [and get back to the HUGE pile of laundry I need to finish today].

Monday, July 27, 2009

Good Words

"But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, forlove will cover a multitude of sins.” Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."

1 Peter 4:7-10 (NKJV)