Chuck started his...

new job last night. It has been more than four years since Chuck was a captain aboard a tugboat. Four years ago he left tugboats (we needed a break from the time apart), to be the captain of a fishing vessel. The commercial fishing job was very dangerous and required Chuck to be gone Sunday night through Friday night or Saturday. Although the weeks were long, I knew toward the end of the week a break was coming.

We said four years ago "we'll ride the wave for as long as God will allow." The last year and half to two years we've had a tough time making ends meet on what the fishing was producing. I was ready to bail long before Chuck. He really wanted the job to work so he kept at it thinking things would change. I believed God was making it grossly clear by giving us bad weather one week that kept him from earning money, to the boat breaking down the next week and in between...just enough...money to make ends meet. I'm sure we are like most marriages, we arrived at our boiling point at different times. Just because we are ONE doesn't mean we agree on everything at the same time. As a matter of fact, Chuck and I don't agree on most things, we are such opposites. But we rarely argue.

Several weeks ago Chuck made some phone calls and within 24 hours he had offers. One particular company wanted him badly, they shuffled people around to make a spot for him. We embraced this opportunity with a bittersweetness. It meant being away from home, but it also meant paying the bills, and actually saving some money!

(**As a side note, since making the choice to leaving the commercial fishing, we've been told the owners plan to tie up some boats because they aren't making enough money. One employee, who is distant family member of the owners by marriage, was told--get out now before they tie his boat up. When I heard this I said aloud, "Thank you Lord.")

I've been praying from the time we found out he'd be going back to living aboard a tugboat, for God to give me strength. I'm it for two weeks--Cook, mom, chauffeur, tutor, maid, employee, student...you know all mom's do but can't account for. I've prayed very specifically about being the kind of Christian wife and mother that God desires me to be. I want to handle all situations regarding the kids with Godly wisdom. I'm even looking forward to the challenge, but I'm nervous that I may fail. I don't want to slip into the habit of becoming impatient with the boys, or with Chuck because he's gone and I'm having to handle things alone. In years past, the kids wore me down. I was frustrated and didn't handle the opportunity by putting God first.

I'm happy to report that its been a whole 24 hours and it has gone well. There have been situations (as there always are with kids), and God came through. He gave me his wisdom to handle the situations his way. I heeded his wisdom. This is an oh so important point. God may give us wisdom, but if we ignore it then it's an opportunity wasted.

Just this morning one of the boys was ranting about a folder that he's misplaced. He lost is last Thursday. We spent Thursday evening and Friday morning looking for it but couldn't find it. He remembered this morning he needed the folder for school today. I said, "let's pray about it." "Dear Lord, we've tried to find this folder on our own. Please forgive us for not asking for your help first. Would you please help us find this important folder?" When the child came home from school I asked about the folder. He said "It was in so and so's desk." Now why didn't it turn up on Friday at school? I believe it was to teach us that God is in control, and that we need to go to him FIRST, not as an after thought.

Thank you Lord for being faithful and teaching me to rely on you. Thank you Lord that the boys, you've allowed us to have for a time, also received a teachable moment about the power of prayer. You've reminded us we should honor you.

Ah... another lesson right out of James chapter one (thanks Dan and Steve). Go ahead...I challenge you to read James 1. Then come back here and post how you've been blessed by God's words. Just leave a testamony, long or short...don't be shy.