Saturday, January 24, 2009

Blessings and Memories

Recently, after what seemed like a semi-stable period financially, another rock has hit the wind shield. It could be much worse, though. My husband does accounting for a marketing/advertising/sends out junk mail company. He's been there--well he just had his two year review. Over the last year, they have merged 2 companies that the owner had in the same building, they have laid off 4 different times, sold off a portion of the company and moved the people in those departments to the company that bought it...and we have bit our nails each time--especially since he's been there the least amount of time of the accounting department and has felt the least busy. He loves his job and the people he works with--has worked very hard to be a necessary part of the company and has tried to communicate his willingness to help in anyway he can. A few weeks ago, they gave him more responsibilities....and we breathed a sigh of relief because that new responsibility puts him in 2 departments and makes him more of an asset.

Thursday, they laid off three more people. Management has been working with a 10% pay cut for almost a year. Thursday they decided to cut salaries of the remaining staff by 12%. While a low paying job is definitely better than no job at all, the news put his heart in the pit of his stomach. Since we are barely making it on M's salary now--and because of J's ADHD and other undiagnosed (yet hopefully soon diagnosed) issues, it is not feasible for me to work, there is definitely an oh crap in there somewhere.

Not to worry though. God came through for us as He always has. My beloved and hardworking husband was due his annual review, and while he did not expect a raise in any way, shape, or form, he was given one none the less. A 10% raise--which technically means he's only losing 2% instead of 12 and we won't actually make any extra money. But ultimately it makes us far more able to survive the transition. He also feels extremely valued--they don't want to lose him...and as long as the company survives, he will have a job. Big sigh of relief.

Unfortunately, because we have plans to go to Disney for the first time in June--though reservations haven't been made yet, we are questioning whether it is a wise choice or not. We want to go in the worst way--we have put it to prayer and will await God's guidance.

God has been extremely good to us. We've been through so many trials and struggles and each time He has made His presence known. I know this entry is more than long enough. But I want to share one of the many miracles He has provided us over the years.

Miracle on Frozen Ground
copyright 2007 Vicky Klindt

My family awoke on a Saturday morning in February of 2004 to discover we were without water. As my husband and his dad tried to thaw the pipes, I was finishing my bible study assignment for the next evening. In reading, I came upon a verse which I now hold as my own. Matthew 21:22, which says "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." I chewed on that all day long.
When the men came up from the basement, they informed me that my husband thought it was the water heater, but it was not. The pipes were frozen, not in the basement but underground, and there was nothing we could do until the ground thawed. Ok, great. Off we went to take showers and to bring some water home from a friend's . We came home, put the kids to bed, and I got online. My husband and I were frustrated! We talked and decided we could get through this calamity. (What choice did we have, really?). It would be a pain to take showers elsewhere, do laundry, have to haul water in to drink and flush, but it wasn’t the end of the world. Of course; I’m not sure either one of us believed that.
Honestly, it felt like it was going to be the straw that broke the camel's back. We’d just had it with so many things hitting us. My husband had lost his job, money was so tight it wasn't funny and we were struggling with our faith and with our family. As I walked in the kitchen,and opened the refrigerator do, I recalled that verse. I prayed with everything I had in me. I prayed that God would thaw the pipes, that we could have water, that it would only be through Him that the pipes could thaw. (Keep in mind, that it’s February and after ten at night; it was only getting colder). I told God that my husband and I were both at a low point and needed Him to fix it for us. I walked back in and sat down at the computer, when all of a sudden I heard water running. All the faucets had been left on from earlier in the day. We had our water back. And it is only through God that we did.


Well, if you made it this far, I thank you.

May God bless you and yours today.

Vicky

1 comment:

  1. God is good. I'll keep your situation in my prayers. As for Disney, we've put our plans on hold in the past and it all works out for the best.

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