Tuesday, March 30, 2010

How Great Thou Art

God continually amazes. He blesses me when I deserve no blessing, He blesses me, when I need it the most. When I came home from vacation Chris had caught the stomach flue, shortly after AmberDee had it. I was popping Vitamins like crazy trying to keep away from it! Both Friday and SAturday night I felt a little off, but did not get sick. I"m so thankful for that because Friday, Saturday, and Sunday proved to added up to a wonderful weekend all which helped me to prepare my mindset for the next few days. Monday night I woke up with the stomach flu. So I took it as positively as possible and used the time to get some applications filled out and was able to catch my brother online. I went to sleep dreaming of being able to eat food the next day and feeling better.
The next day, even though I felt like I hadn't slept at all, I was wide awake at 6:30, and I felt miserable, but excited. For some reason I felt like God was right there waiting to hear from me. I can't explain I just felt it, so I propped up my pillow and talked. I was filled with comfort from sharing, and excitement as I thought on the future and all the possibilities God could have in store. I was reminded of old passions and ideas and given new ideas, and I just felt so revitalized even through the nausea. I opened up my daily devotion book and read for the day(thinking it was the 29th) about how God is in control and we need to take one day at a time. THat there is a time for everything, and we need to see what God has in store for us for that day and not worry about the agendas of the future. I was comforted by that throughout the say as I focused on what I was capable of doing, and not the much needed tasks that needed to be done that I had no physical ability to do at the moment. THat first half of the day I assumed I would soon be well, ate a little whole foods, and did a little work on my computer, and enjoyed the sun. I even told the secretary of the school when she called to see if I needed another sub that I was feeling much better and should not need one.
Then I got worse. I threw up everything, lost all energy, and felt a fever coming back on a chills come all over. I called and asked for a sub for the next day. I felt like a dam of doubts were trying to overwhelm me. I was pushing to keep away the thoughts of how little my next paycheck would be with the missed spring break weeks and these new missed days. I was pushing back worries about getting any kind of supper ready, the possibility of getting Grandma sick, when I would be able to get back to work, and even if this would be the kind of work I would have to have next year too. On the couch I lay half in and half out, hungry and dying of thirst. I stumbled into the kitchen to get my water bottle I left there. I glanced at the clock, I don't really remember caring what time it was, but I noticed it said it was the 30th. It dawned on me that all day I had thought it was the 29th, and my thoughts went back to this mornings devotion. So I went to my room and opened it up to read the days.
There it opened with capital letters, "I AM TAKING CARE OF YOU." And continued with, "Trust Me at all times. Trust Me in all circumstances." And continued on trusting when we are weary, how before our day has even begun, it is laid out. THat He is there taking care of us, and we must turn our eyes to Him, and Trust.
What a perfect passage for the perfect time. So once again I am overwhelmed. I am overwhelmed by His care for me, His love for me, and how He uses so many things to speak to us. If we would only look for them. So through it all, I will continue to trust in Him, and know He cares.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

It's March! The month of wonderfulness! Part 1: My Birthday!

March is wonderful for many reasons. The biggest is it's my birthday month, and yes I celebrate the whole month. It is the beginning of Spring, my favorite season. And it is the month of Spring Break. Let me start out by saying I had a wonderful Birthday!! Thanks to wonderful family, friends, coworkers and parents. I have been getting nonstop birthday wishes and every single one has put a smile on my face. About a week before my birthday I went into a low foreseeing a lonely sad and much different birthday I would ever face. That same day God taught me a very important lesson about thanks and joy in all situations and it completely changed my outlook. Ever since that point He has been blessing me continually through everyone I know. He truly is the God who sees, and I feel my name, Jessica - blessed by God, truly describes me.
I was able to get a great ticket price to go home after my birthday, even with the late date. I am taking off a week from work during the Spring Break period, and was easily able to find a sub. Last month I worked extremely hard hours, and was very much feeling it. Those hours were thrown to me, and where not sought out by me at all. I had no idea how much those hours would add up the next month. THe hours added up so much that I doubled my paycheck and was able to not only afford the good price for my ticket but also to pay for all the extra responsibilities that were coming up this month that I was worried about, while giving extra and actually saving some. All of this unplanned by me, but I know foreseen by God. He really works things out for good when you let Him take control.
The Friday before my birthday I was thrown a surprise birthday party by my class. I felt so loved and appreciated when I saw all that the teacher and the children's parents had done for me. I received a very cute Alyssa Milano Gators shirt and multiple gift cards! They made me swear to use them on myself to buy myself some nice clothing and not give them away :-p I felt so blessed and loved by them for what they did.
Before my birthday even arrived I received a package from my brother, Jon, but I waited until Sunday to open it. On Sunday right after church I went to check my email and Jon was on Ichat!!! this is only the 2nd time I have ever been on at the same time as him! So I opened my presents from him with him "there." It was so much fun, and so wonderful to be able to talk to him and share my joy over the awesome movies he bought me. He bought me three Jimmy Stewart movies: Bell, Book and Candle. Rear Window, and Harvey(MY favorite!!!) All three wonderful movies! I'm so excited to get to watch them with Grandma. He is an awesome brother(all mine are of course <3)
My uncle( who is the best uncle in the world) bought me two books, one being Blindside which I am very excited about, a balloon with a ladybug on it(I love ladybugs!) and a yummy berry cake. Grandma was able to get out and go out to eat for the first time since her fall and it was such a wonderful experience to get to do that together again.
I got a phone call from Nicole, from my brother josh, from Jamiie, and my Aunt Trish! It was so nice getting to talk to them all (minus Nicole because I couldn't get a hold of her when I tried calling back :( but it was nice to hear from her!) I truly have a wonderful loving family. <3
At church that night AmberDee was soooo thoughtful and bought cupcakes and then they sang me happy birthday when I came in. :)
And now I am on my way home - Everything is wonderful :)