Something to make you Smile :)

It seems there are things lately that I could use as stumbling blocks. Even today came more crazy bad news, but I always can find something to smile about. I pulled out my son’s artwork out of his folder today as I got his backpack ready for school. This lovely drawing was a few pieces into the stack, and immediately warmed my heart when I saw it. I’m posting it today for all of you. If you’re having a rough day, I hope I can give you something to smile about.

What do you need to make you smile today? A smile from someone else? A kind word? A unexpected gift like this drawing?
Better yet, what can you do to make someone else smile? Even on your worst days, it feels good to make someone else’s day. I think I’m going to see what I can do for someone else today and give thanks to God that I’m exactly where He has me…totally relying on His grace to pull us through a lot of ‘stuff’.

What a difference a year makes…

When my son turned 5 in March, overnight I saw him change into a more mature child. He became this big boy who no longer showed signs of being a baby anymore. He lost the rest of his baby cheeks, although they’ll always be kissable even without that extra roundness to them. He became a little wiser. He just grew up and into being 5 in an instant.

I saw changes in the way he interacted with his peers. The boys and girls are definitely on different teams now. Instead of having a play date with his girlfriend, where they play nice, he’s knocking them down on the playground. His dad’s already had that talk about being gentler with girls.

He puts things together a lot faster too. He’s always been an extremely bright and intuitive kid, but now he’s just a little more excellerated. It’s even apparent in sports. What a difference a year makes…

Last year this time, he was more interested in pulling grass on the soccer field or chasing butterflies, and now he’s aggressively chasing the ball and scoring goals. I’m amazed at how my little boy has turned into an aggressive team sport player. He’s in it to win it man.

He lost his first game today and he’s ticked off. All his team mates were too. In fact one of his best buddies stuck his chin out and started, I only can assume, talking smack to the other team mates. It was right after they scored a goal. Although it was funny, we’ve got to be careful to teach our kids good sportsmanship.

Last year, he wouldn’t have even have known if his team lost. This year his nickname is ‘team accountant’ because he runs to the side lines to announce the score every time a goal is made. He’s such a funny kid and I love who he is growing into being.

Fridays are full of Blessings

This week I had so many wonderful things take place.  Just to name a few:

*My neighbor mowed and edged my yard for me.  Yay!

*My mom is cooking my husband and I dinner tonight.

*My new boss and I had a great conversation that left me feeling valued.

*I got a payroll contract this week.  It’s a small one, but money all the same, and we need all the extra revenue we can get.

*My husband had his second interview with an amazing company, where they’ve asked him to work on a couple of projects so that they can see what abilities and strengths are.  He’s to get with them again next week.

*A friend of mine, knowing our situation, called me to take pictures of her son’s graduation party.  She probably didn’t need a photographer, but hired me just the same.  I am blessed to have friends that come to my aid in our time of need.

*My friends and loved ones have been so supportive, including you out there in bloggie land.  Thank you all for being a huge blessing to me.

Blessings Through Chaos

Tuesday I posted about my husband’s job loss, from this Monday, but I decided to take it down.  I figure I’d had enough venting on this blog to last a while.

I think I need to stick to uplifting posts right now. Uplifting others is the reason I started this blog, and I feel I’ve strayed from that slightly as of late.

So…here’s some excellent news for the week. I had been job hunting on the behalf of my husband in the last few weeks….applying for jobs over the internet without my husband even knowing. I knew he didn’t have the time. He was at the office from 8 in the am to sometimes 10 to 11 at night without time for personal time to spend with family, let alone search for new employment.

I felt led last Wednesday to search a local media job site for my hubbie. I applied for 4 or 5 positions for him when I saw a familiar name and company listed. It was a posting of a company that I had worked with through various media accounts. I had worked with the owner and his son, and respected their ethics and philosophies. So instead of emailing the man, who owned this company, with just a cover letter/resume for my husband…I emailed him and asked him to call me.

The next day we chatted about his company’s position and my husband’s abilities. He gave me his cell phone and told me to have my husband call him day or night to set something up. A few days later, over the weekend, the generous man called me and wanted to pass on a message to my husband.

He said he’d been thinking about it and knew confidentiality was a concern for us…so to tell my husband he’d be willing to meet with him over a weekend or any evening the next week.

Wow, what a great gesture. Come Monday, my husband and he finally had a conversation and set up an interview time for 7 that same evening. Not even 3 hours later my husband was fired due to internal politics neatly wrapped up and tied with a bow. Talk about timing.

My husband had such peace about the whole day because he knew God would provide for all our needs. No matter our health insurance will soon be gone. No matter that our financial stability has been tossed to the wind. No matter what WE KNOW God’s hand is upon us.

We could sit and sulk and cry WHY GOD?

Or we could thank Him for closing a door on an impossible situation, where my husband was constantly walking on eggshells for a person, that called himself boss and who didn’t appreciate or take care of him.

My husband has his second interview tomorrow at noon with this company to meet the staff. The owner is incredibly impressed with my husband as he should. I am completely faithful that my husband is walking toward the door our Lord has especially held open for him. I am faithful that God is holding our future gently and securely. I am faithful that our family will be provided for without interruption in pay or medical benefits.

Praise God for all He does…great and small…even in the midst of chaos….especially in the midst of chaos.

Please pray for my husband tomorrow. I am thankful that now he has the time to be a husband and father, as that’s what is most important to him. As it should be.