Well, husband isn't sold on the daycare idea. He mentioned, for one, that he could work at McDonald's for $6.50 an hour for eight hours, making more than we would make watching two children all day long. And, the entire family wouldn't be impacted--only husband.
Okay, he has a very good point. If I added in the extra hours of nightly housework, and the groceries that the daycare children would consume, we would actually make quite a bit less than the going rate of $3.15/hr, per child.
He also mentioned that Beth, at nineteen months old, still needs one-on-one supervision, which would make running a daycare very difficult.
Plus, while husband was away at computer school for four hours two mornings a week, I wouldn't have his help until 1 pm.
The verdict is that husband wants us to keep praying and keep applying for everything we can, no matter how low the posted pay is.
On a positive note, we applied for five jobs today. Rarely are that many available in one day. Often, not even in one week.
_______________________
We have a second car, not running, in our driveway. It needs a catalytic converter, which is very costly, and a new battery. Apparently, people have noticed that we haven't used it for months. Just today, three different strangers, apparently unrelated, came to the door asking if we wanted to sell it. One offered $275 on the spot, telling us we could keep the new tires we'd put on it.
Later, a friend of the woman across the street came by, asking about the car. Is this a conspiracy, I asked my husband later? Who gets three people in one day asking about a car that doesn't even have a for sale sign on it?
Very strange.
Also very strange was my husband's conversation with the last inquirer. He was a Christian--probably Pentecostal we're guessing--who suggested that maybe the reason God wasn't blessing us was because my husband stopped teaching Sunday School.
Upon hearing that my husband was underemployed, the man went into a long spiritual lecture, of sorts. I guess husband had casually mentioned, in the course of the conversation, that he'd taught Adult Sunday School in the past. He didn't mention the Bible College Degree or the interest in the ministry years ago.
While we have thought much about the possibility that sin in our lives could be keeping this crisis afloat, it never occurred to us that one of the sins might include not teaching Sunday School. I'm not sure why this particular man came to our door--other than to get a good price on the car, which isn't really for sale. I'm pretty sure God doesn't punish you for not teaching Sunday School.
My husband taught a Singles Bible Study for two years in California, starting a year after we got married. About thirty people attended, but after many months several of them got married, and the crowd dwindled. We had a baby and I couldn't stay involved, helping out with the clerical aspects and with event planning. I was also working part-time supervising homeschoolers and teaching three homeschool enrichment classes.
After the initial two years passed, husband thought it was time to pass the singles-group baton. Singles ministry is very hard--specifically when it involves older singles. Our group included people aged 25-55, including some who were widowed and a few who were divorced.
Later, in Ohio in 2006, my husband hired on to a Children's Director position at a Baptist Church about thirty minutes away from us. After a year, the quarter-time position lost funding. The church had a split and the Pastor moved on to another state. My husband's ADHD symptoms made excelling at the Director position difficult. It ended up being a discouragement to him, as it didn't make much use of his teaching gift, and required more organization and multi-tasking than he could manage. I tried to help with the organizational part, but again, I had a new baby to care for. Mary was born a few months after he began the position, when the boys were three and five.
Since that time, he hasn't done much ministry--just volunteering at AWANA and VBS. He is still interested in teaching, but feels like the pace of our home life needs to settle down a bit first.
Back to the sin issue. We have pinpointed possible areas that God wanted tightened, spiritually speaking. We made necessary changes. And we continue to ask God to search our hearts and show us our sin.
Joy, from the Memoria Arts blog, recently made mention of her husband's two-and-a-half year unemployment crisis. I hadn't known that it went on that long. My countenance fell, upon reading it. How does one hang on that long? It has been sixteen months for us, but my husband found part-time work within the first month, so our crisis has been more of an underemployment one.
So. Today was a weird day, to say the least. Not sure what to make of it.
_______________________________
VBS began this week and the children are overly excited. The last one fell asleep at 10:00 p.m., which is not unusual for VBS weeks. It is hard to wait that long for some quiet time around here, but I do love VBS weeks for the growth they encourage!
At closing time tonight, my Paul eagerly raised his hand to answer Pastor's question about why the shepherd forgot about the other ninety-nine sheep and went after just the one. Matthew 18:12-14
"Because he loved him very much!"
Amen, my little Paul. Amen!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
putting our talents to use
Contemplating a daycare business today, run with my husband's help. We both have teaching gifts and we have a yard and teaching materials, a multitude of books, some good traditional toys, and a house conducive to this type business.
While my husband has trouble being patient with my ADHD son, he is plenty patient with our other children, and was very patient when we ran a daycare in 2006, and in parts of 2007. Babies aren't his forte, true, but they are certainly mine.
At most, we had two children at a time: a fourteen-month-old baby girl, and a three-year-old preschooler girl. They were very happy here. Unfortunately, I had to say goodbye to them when I suffered severe morning sickness with Mary's unexpected pregnancy. The parents were upset with me, as it is a hardship to find new childcare--both for the parents and for their children, who need stability while Mom and Dad are away. I felt terrible, but saw no other option. I was really struggling to care for my own children. Husband worked second shift and helped me until 2:30 p.m., but that wasn't enough.
During the time I babysat, I spent three to four hours a night cleaning my house. I had no free time! It was perhaps the hardest I'd ever worked in my life. I don't relish the return of that pace of life, but in order to save the house, I don't see another option.
Our children enjoyed having the other children here. It will be hard for my Beth at first to have less of Mommy. God will have to provide the grace we'll need, just as he would if I had more biological children. I've learned a lot from blogs on running large families. We would essentially be adding to our family, and would have to treat each child the same.
There is no financial stability in the daycare business, and no health benefits, so it isn't ideal. But, it puts our God-given talents to good use. I know how to be a blessing to children, and I can be a non-judgmental support to parents, whatever their lifestyle.
It all starts with an ad in the newspaper. So long as I can keep up with the cost of the ad, I will give this a go. And see how God provides.
While my husband has trouble being patient with my ADHD son, he is plenty patient with our other children, and was very patient when we ran a daycare in 2006, and in parts of 2007. Babies aren't his forte, true, but they are certainly mine.
At most, we had two children at a time: a fourteen-month-old baby girl, and a three-year-old preschooler girl. They were very happy here. Unfortunately, I had to say goodbye to them when I suffered severe morning sickness with Mary's unexpected pregnancy. The parents were upset with me, as it is a hardship to find new childcare--both for the parents and for their children, who need stability while Mom and Dad are away. I felt terrible, but saw no other option. I was really struggling to care for my own children. Husband worked second shift and helped me until 2:30 p.m., but that wasn't enough.
During the time I babysat, I spent three to four hours a night cleaning my house. I had no free time! It was perhaps the hardest I'd ever worked in my life. I don't relish the return of that pace of life, but in order to save the house, I don't see another option.
Our children enjoyed having the other children here. It will be hard for my Beth at first to have less of Mommy. God will have to provide the grace we'll need, just as he would if I had more biological children. I've learned a lot from blogs on running large families. We would essentially be adding to our family, and would have to treat each child the same.
There is no financial stability in the daycare business, and no health benefits, so it isn't ideal. But, it puts our God-given talents to good use. I know how to be a blessing to children, and I can be a non-judgmental support to parents, whatever their lifestyle.
It all starts with an ad in the newspaper. So long as I can keep up with the cost of the ad, I will give this a go. And see how God provides.
mindset
We read this Psalm at lunch. Dwelling on it tonight:
Psalm 145:8,9
The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
Psalm 145:17-19
The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.
That time of no hope is upon me again. So predictable now. Why do you suppose the Lord gives women this time of month? This time of tears, downtrodden face, doomsday musings? Do we need a time to call out to him desperately, with abandon? Does it keep our pride...our independence, in check? Perhaps it's just part of Eve's sin curse--lumped with the "pain in childbirth" thing? I've not dealt with this rhythm regularly since the year 2000. Rediscovering the uncanny nature of it, I suppose.
The trash man came today.
I studied his face, as he picked up rain-sogged trash bags, one by one. It was not a happy face.
Is he well paid? Have benefits? Does he have a family?
Does he wonder why some people get to go to their cushy desk jobs, while he has to deal with our filth?
My husband cleans for a living. Same as the trash man--other people's filth.
No, he doesn't like it either.
Some have talents. Some have sharp minds. Some have both. Some only have their bodies. For whatever reason, their minds don't bring home a paycheck. A learning disability? A poor education? A disorder that limits? No ambition? A checkered past?
When man lived off the land, it was a given that talents were passed down from generation to generation. Now, labor is specialized.
Can't fix your clogged sink? Call the plumber.
Can't churn your own butter? You need the grocery store.
Can't build your own house, or fence? Call a carpenter.
Progress has made us all more helpless, in a way. When you lose your job, you're in a fix for a while. Changing fields is never simple or quick, no matter how many mouths there are to feed.
I read some economic news today. Depression. They're throwing that word around again. Are we headed for it? How many families will wish they had multiple talents? How many will wish they could trade food for their labor?
Back to the trash man and my husband.
God gave out talents and differing levels of intelligence. And he gave out disabilities.
Some disabilities can be overcome. Compensated for, rather. Some can be medicated.
Others must be endured.
I thought about the trash man, and my husband, when I read this today.
The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.
He does not value the trash man less. He who cleaned up our filth, with his blood.
We put value on men. We say, "How can he stand that?! Who would want to do it?"
Lord, I don't know what to say tonight. Your ways are mysterious. Bless the man whose face I studied today. Bless my husband. Encourage their hearts. Help them to have a kingdom mindset. Your mindset. Disengage them emotionally from society's hierarchy. May they be the best they can be, and give the glory to You. May they know, deep within, the truth of these words:
The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love......The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.
In your name, Amen.
Psalm 145:8,9
The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
Psalm 145:17-19
The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.
That time of no hope is upon me again. So predictable now. Why do you suppose the Lord gives women this time of month? This time of tears, downtrodden face, doomsday musings? Do we need a time to call out to him desperately, with abandon? Does it keep our pride...our independence, in check? Perhaps it's just part of Eve's sin curse--lumped with the "pain in childbirth" thing? I've not dealt with this rhythm regularly since the year 2000. Rediscovering the uncanny nature of it, I suppose.
The trash man came today.
I studied his face, as he picked up rain-sogged trash bags, one by one. It was not a happy face.
Is he well paid? Have benefits? Does he have a family?
Does he wonder why some people get to go to their cushy desk jobs, while he has to deal with our filth?
My husband cleans for a living. Same as the trash man--other people's filth.
No, he doesn't like it either.
Some have talents. Some have sharp minds. Some have both. Some only have their bodies. For whatever reason, their minds don't bring home a paycheck. A learning disability? A poor education? A disorder that limits? No ambition? A checkered past?
When man lived off the land, it was a given that talents were passed down from generation to generation. Now, labor is specialized.
Can't fix your clogged sink? Call the plumber.
Can't churn your own butter? You need the grocery store.
Can't build your own house, or fence? Call a carpenter.
Progress has made us all more helpless, in a way. When you lose your job, you're in a fix for a while. Changing fields is never simple or quick, no matter how many mouths there are to feed.
I read some economic news today. Depression. They're throwing that word around again. Are we headed for it? How many families will wish they had multiple talents? How many will wish they could trade food for their labor?
Back to the trash man and my husband.
God gave out talents and differing levels of intelligence. And he gave out disabilities.
Some disabilities can be overcome. Compensated for, rather. Some can be medicated.
Others must be endured.
I thought about the trash man, and my husband, when I read this today.
The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.
He does not value the trash man less. He who cleaned up our filth, with his blood.
We put value on men. We say, "How can he stand that?! Who would want to do it?"
Lord, I don't know what to say tonight. Your ways are mysterious. Bless the man whose face I studied today. Bless my husband. Encourage their hearts. Help them to have a kingdom mindset. Your mindset. Disengage them emotionally from society's hierarchy. May they be the best they can be, and give the glory to You. May they know, deep within, the truth of these words:
The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love......The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.
In your name, Amen.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
backyard blessings
Gotta love summer fun--kid style! Thank the Lord for abundant shade after 2 p.m.!
Not a summer day goes by that I don't give thanks for the blessing of a backyard.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
with God today, among the beauty of his hand
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth...God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.
Genesis 1:1,31
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.
Psalm 19: 1-4
For you make me glad by your deeds, O Lord; I sing for joy at the works of your hands. How great are your works O Lord, How profound your thoughts.
Psalm 92:4-5
Ever since the creation of the world his eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made.
Romans 1:20
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