Jehovah Jireh - God our Provider

So, as I mentioned in my last Home Brewed Smittle post, I've had a growing list of things we needed for Eli before he was born. Due to several weeks of holidays/bad weather/re-scheduled surgeries we'd had some harsh financial struggles. When I posted last Saturday I realized I had a real fear that the baby would be born before we were able to catch up enough to be able to get the expensive items on the list that you just don't want to live without(mostly diapers and a car seat). Honestly, I know Manly would have figured out a way to make it work because he knows it's obviously very important and he'd do whatever he had to do to provide for us, BUT, in the moment I was worried and afraid.
I decided what needed to happen was that I needed to give that fear(and needs) over to the Lord. I know that He cares about me and what I'm feeling. Once I started to pray my heart was at peace about things, and I decided that one way or another we'd be fine. I had NO idea what was ahead...
Sunday morning we left the house early for church. When we got home and got settled in for our Sunday afternoon rest I checked my email and found this sent to me and another expectant mom in our Sunday School class:

Hey Ladies,

Spoke with (our SS teacher's wife) this morning and wanted to touch base with you both on when a good time would be to honor both of you on the upcoming arrival of your sweet little one.

I was thinking a Sunday afternoon would be great if convenient for both of you. Why don't y'all both give me about three dates you feel you could make and we will plan the rest! Oh yeah, Barb mentioned a diaper shower but we are certainly up to anything you feel you need, just let me know.  Thanks so much,

(a sweet friend from our SS and Bible Study class)

 

I was immediately blessed, and obviously awed that the Lord had answered my prayers so quickly. But that's not all...

 

Fast forward a few days, and we are having the ribbon cutting/open house for Manly's new counseling office. Towards the end, someone slipped an envelope into my hand. I stuck it into my purse, and afterwards took a look at what was inside. It was cash. The EXACT amount I had said I'd need to get some things for Elias at Rhea Lana's. This was a FREE GIFT. Oh, but that's not all...

 

Tuesday I had entered a Rhea Lana's "like" contest to help them reach 17,000 likes. I found out Tuesday evening I was one of the winners for a $35 gift certificate. Seriously?! Oh, but that's NOT all...

 

Today I get this email from Scotty's mom:

Hey Guys,

I believe at one point you had a carseat picked out. Do you still?

 

I sent her an email back with the link for the one we had picked out. Then I got this one...

it is on the way to my newest grandson!

 

I couldn't believe it! In just 5 days the Lord had not only used friends and family to bless me personally, but had used them to supply our needs. It's been a rough couple of weeks, and the Lord knew just how to bless me and revive my heart. I'm so overwhelmed with gratitude and praise. Thank you Lord!

Plans to PROSPER?

So, today was supposed to be a day that would change our life forever. One of the biggest days of our life as a family. Today we were supposed to sell our van and get rid of a nice chunk of debt and buy a van WITH CASH and be on our way to financial freedom. Today was supposed to be one of the best days of our life.
This morning we got up early, got ready, ate Sonic(because it was a special day, of course), and were on our way to pick up our "new" van. A 2001 Chevy Venture, it's not the "hottest" mini van, but it's actually a lot nicer than the one we are making monthly payments on. ANYWAY, after going by the bank and getting the cash we needed we went to pick up the van. This was the first time I'd actually seen it and I was, to say the least, impressed. It has lots of extras that my van doesn't have and it also has a LOT more room. It was a fantastic purchase that my husband managed to snag a sweet deal on. We were so so excited! We hurried home to be there in time for the arrival of the van buyers.
As soon as we got home I hurried to get the girls out of the van and get their seats out. After that not so easy task was completed, I started working on getting the window chalk off the windows. I wanted my little Kia to look so nice for the little lady that was coming to pick it up. Right after I'd finished the first window she showed. A little early, but what do I care? This is the best day of my life! I know. You just want the facts. SO, the first thing she does is say, "Well, I have some bad news." (This is the exact time of the day that our good day began to spiral out of control.)
She goes on to give me the GOOD NEWS that she has HALF of the money and that she can give us THAT money, THEN in THREE WEEKS come back and give us the other half. Of course we did not agree to this as we are a little smarter than THAT. ANYWAY, we ended up deciding that she would go try to get the rest of the money and that we would talk again at the end of the day. I was OUT OF CONTROL! Seriously. I was OUT OF CONTROL. I'm being honest and real here, but HONESTLY I just about lost it.
I was angry at God. Angry at myself. Angry at the lady. Angry that we now had TWO mini vans in our driveway. Angry that we weren't going to spend the next half of the day at the DMV getting the tags on my new sweet ride. I was A-N-G-R-Y. So, now what? I have no clue!? We talked with her at about 6PM and she had collected $500 more, but that's not enough and we are only asking payoff, so we SHOULDN'T have an issue trying to sell it, but we've already placed two ads AND it's been for sale for a few months.
SO, I'm having a hard time. I'm questioning God. I'm asking for forgiveness for being such a terrible wife and mother in my furry today. I'm just down right in the dumps. SO, if you read this and want to, PRAY. Pray that we'll be able to bless someone with our van. Pray that it will sell QUICKLY. Pray that I'll be OK. Pray that we WILL see financial freedom. I sit here now trying to type through tear filled eyes. I just don't know what else to do. BUT, I know that God has said, "I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."