A lot has happened since I last "blogged", and I have decided that I want to get it all down in writing, because I KNOW that one day I am going to look back at this point in our lives and remember how the Lord worked a miracle.

Last Friday, Luis came home, sat me down, and told me that he lost his job. I could tell that he was shocked, as he had never been laid off like that before. The company had just had a meeting with the mechanics the week before, and praised Luis for his work, so you can imagine when the lay off came out of the blue, he was like a deer in the headlights. It's not like Luis has never been without work, but this is the first time that it has happened while I am not working. No doubt, he feels the weight of responsibility. Somehow, when it was just the two of us, and we took a step of faith going to Arizona (without set jobs or a place to live), it didn't seem as monumental as this. When you have three little sets of eyes who look to you for everything, the weight of urgency becomes all that much more heavy. So, Friday Luis and I did the only thing we knew to do...the thing that we have learned that makes the difference in every situation...we prayed!! The Lord gave us both such peace in the midst of it all, and we felt like God was moving...how, we weren't exactly sure, but we had a peace. Saturday morning, I woke up, and I totally fleshed out. I think I cried most of the day. I was angry with his former company for the way that they, once again, had "played around" with someone's life. I was angry at the fact that they seem to care so little about people, and so much about the bottom line. I was angry at a company who made promise after promise, but lacked on the follow through every time. Luis had stuck with them, even after his raise that was due never came. He saw people come and go...frequently...disgusted with the way the company treated people. My tears were mostly because I hate seeing injustice...but I have to admit that some were also tears of thinking what we were going to do now. I lost my vision for that day, and became consumed with the here and now...the unknown...the bad report, and I had no peace. Sunday morning, we got up for church, and although we were 20 minutes late, we managed to catch the last half hour of Sunday School. Every word was like honey...as if it was custom made just for us. The sermon was also spot on, and it was so accurate that Luis went up to our Pastor after just to ask him if somehow he found out about our situation, which he had not. God is so awesome, and His word is so powerful! Needless to say, I got my vision back, and Luis and I were once again at peace, knowing that God was "working all things together for good". Monday morning, Josh and I opened his Bible lesson for school, and we looked at the new scripture verse that he needed to memorize for the week...John 14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me (Jesus)." I just laughed, then Josh and I talked about how that applied to our family right now. That night, after Josh's baseball game, we ran to the Bi-Lo for some groceries. On the way back, we passed the West End Baptist Church, who's sign said, "Don't Worry. God has a plan." I laughed again. Thanks God...I needed that! Tuesday, Luis called the Pastor who is the instructor for his Pastor Licensing courses that he has been taking for the last year. He is one test away from his first license, which officially allows him to pastor a church. He called the Pastor to ask him to pray for us, for God's direction for our lives. At the end of the conversation, the Pastor had offered Luis a position as his assistant pastor in his church in Anderson, SC, just south of Greenville. He told the Pastor he would be praying and seeking God's face...as we only want to do exactly what God wants us to do. So, we wait, and pray and listen to hear God's voice. We don't know exactly where God is taking us, but it is exciting to see Him work. I am so thankful for His peace, for without it, I would be a basket case, no doubt. I am also so thankful for a husband that wants nothing less than the will of God for his life and the lives of his family. I am also thankful for children who have adventurous spirits, and are learning first hand how awesome it is to follow the Lord! So, for now, we are plugging along. Luis received his last paycheck yesterday, and he was offered a job yesterday as well. It only pays half of what he was making, which is not nearly enough to cover our bills, but we know God is doing something and we are watching it unfold. We went to the grocery store last night, and I started crying right there in the aisle. My sister walked in, and handed me a bag of diapers that she had just bought for Lily. And I tell you the truth...nearly everything we had on our list was on sale...and not just marked down a little, but either 2 for 1 or else a huge mark down. I cried because even there, in the middle of Bi-Lo, God was working a miracle. We checked out, with our cart overflowing, and the bill was only $88. I can not remember the last time we got out of the store for our weekly groceries and paid less than $100. Anyway, I'll be writing more as the days go on, but suffice it to say that even in the midst of the storm, God is there, and working, and so faithful. Good things are on the way, I just know it!