If I Could Write a Book...

I've shared so much of our family ventures over the past couple of years, I wanted to take a moment and update y'all (I have family in GA, I can say that right?

)....Last year saw Mark taking on our HS Youth program as an Interim Director, and then, in August, become full-time at the Church AND become a Certified Youth Minister by the end of October. We were literally 2 months from not being able to pay our mortgage any longer because for him to do this, we agreed to maintain our current Training Clients but not expanding his business. I went looking for a job and found one at Comcast Cable (just call me the Cable Girl

)... the hours are not perfect but it's money and it's FUN!

Well here we are getting ready to close out 2005, we're about 85% caught up on our bills

I just went to the Pharmacy and the Manager looked up a prescription and said "We didn't run this through your new Insurance...and this one, and this one..." I ended up getting 3 prescriptions, toothpaste, toothbrush, a 24 pack of coke and $150 in change

Then I come home to find that his Dental Insurance covered our cleanings at 100%!! NO COPAY!!

Two weeks ago, Mark connected with a Lutheran Pastor in New Orleans about doing their annual concert tour there this coming June with his youth. His heart has really been pulled, wanting to get these kids to see the "real world" instead of only the "silver platter" they have grown up on...it's always a struggle with the parents and church members. He knew he had to handle this carefully. The Pastor emailed immediately, said "check out this website, I know it's geared towarda adults but read it all and call me right away". When Mark called in, the Pastor had taken off to one of the shelters in Baton Rouge, they secretary gave Mark the Pastors cell # with instructions to call him immediately.

Mark gets off the phone with Pastor Dave and calls me in shock. He and the Choir Director are flying to New Orleans on Jan 9th and returning home on January 13th. While there, they will be setting up the structure for a youth service program in New Orleans. The Lutheran Church (both ELCA and Missouri Synod) have received many requests/offers from Youth groups through the Country wanting to go in and help, but none of the Youth Leaders have any experience putting together the logistics of a trip like this so they've had to put them off...well Mark has ALOT of this experience and this group has been touring like this for almost 30 years. Well he's now he's setting it up for the Lutheran Churches! Our Youth Group (if all goes well) will be the FIRST group of 18 and under allowed into the "Hot Zone" in June. The ELCA and Missouri-Synod are working together to sponsor them. The kids will have to pay airfare and for some meals, but they will be hosted overnight and given breakfast and dinner daily by the Churches. Each day, they will be assigned a work activity and at night, they will be leading worships throughout the area.

When I found out about this, and we realized what our calendar and Marks travel schedule looked like, I realized that I had a choice, get a day shift at work, or find a place to work days...there is no way that I can work 2-11 while Mark is gone most of Jan and Feb...so I put in a request knowing that I'd probably be turned down because we bid for shifts 3 times a year. OMG they gave me a 10-7 for Jan and Feb

Not perfect but definitely do-able for us. I've already got babysitters lining up to help

this WILL work!

So...Mark is gone Jan 6-8 for the annual Mens Retreat. 9th - 13th in New Orleans, 27th - 29th in Seattle WA for the Winter Mini-Tour, 1 3-day weekend in February for the HS Winter Retreat, 10 days in Haiti (Feb)....

My insurance kicks in the 2nd week in January, that saves $300 a month on what we are paying to be on the Churches insurance, which means I will have 2 of our 3 credit cards paid off in 2 months time

Mark is seriously considering selling his truck :shock since we've been offered $50,000 AGAIN for it! We can get a new vehicle (yup...he's looking at the new top o' the line Vans with all the bells and whistles) and with my Comcast discount, we can get a new one with Warranty and Service included for like $30,000 WHICH gives us the $$ to pay off everything except for the Mortgage, put $$ back into savings AND still have enough left over to refinish our Kitchen/Dining Room (minus brand new cabinets~which I'm ok with)...

Can I say it again? The Lord is GREAT! There is no way we could have done this without Faith that he is guiding us down the right path. 12 years ago we could not even IMAGINE our life being so fulfilled and enriched! No way! We were living paycheck to paycheck, in an apartment that had a severe mold/mildew problem and no $$ to move to a better place. Drug deals happening all around...OMG it was horrible! The roof leaked terribly, shots being fired and cars stolen weekly in our complex...and NOW...amazing!

I don't know what else to say, we are truly blessed.

*scrapnmyfaith* · 12-27-2005, 07:38 PM

Marissa~

Thank you for sharing your amazing journey. It is so awesome how in the time of everything going on we don't really see his plan. Then after we've gone through it, we realize what he's blessed us with. Truly amazing. I am happy and excited for you all. God blesses those who are obident to him.

Christine

Traci · 12-27-2005, 07:42 PM

God is amazing when we put our faith in him! What a wonderful gift your family has been given.

LanelT · 12-27-2005, 08:04 PM

Isn't it awesome when you get to the end of a struggle look back and can really see God carrying you through and where He got you.

*Melinda* · 12-27-2005, 08:44 PM

That is awesome Marissa!

Marissa · 12-27-2005, 10:49 PM

Thanks and YES it is awesome to look back and realize you were never alone in your struggles!

Here is more info on what we are doing in Haiti on our churches website.

*Maryann* · 12-28-2005, 06:22 AM

Marissa
your story of this year gave me chills.
You are very blessed and best wishes in all of the church endeavors you and your family are involved with.

I think its great to know that a church group is going into New Orleans to help out.

Kim · 12-28-2005, 11:06 AM

Marissa. I loved this testimony of faith and God's power to do what we need and then some!

belindaj · 12-28-2005, 11:11 AM

Sounds awesome Marissa

I'm so happy for you all!

glogoddess · 12-28-2005, 04:57 PM

How awesome Marissa!! What a testimony to God's faithfulness!!

Wendy... · 12-28-2005, 05:07 PM

WOW Marissa.............This truly is the Lord's work in action.......

for sharing your story with me.....It has touched my heart......In more ways than you will ever know.

Wendy