Here we go...

I am not sure how much I have divuldged at this point about my job situation. My poor boss came in Wednesday like a whooped puppy dog. He was so disappointed that his scheme to give me part of his pay wouldn't work. The Lord had already told me it wouldn't because when Billy leaves Madison County Extension, then I would be being paid the amount that the new agent would need to be making... Anyway, so he told me reluctantly about another job that he knew about working for Center Ranch Veterinary Clinic in Centerville. It is an Office Manager for a Vet Office. Now, that seems pretty busy to me, which is fine. I haven't heard what the pay is, but did go ahead and submit my resume.

Mr. Arnold called this morning and told me they had me at the top of the list for the job at Trans Ova Genetics in Centerville. He said it'll be yet another week before they do interviews... all this is fine because Jesse's braces have to be approved through Medicaid first anyway. Medicaid, once approved will pay whether I get a better job or not! Praise the Lord. The dentist thought we'd have no trouble getting approved.

In the mean time, I was looking for the Center Vet Office position online and came across another job that really excites me. It's the Community Manager for American Cancer Society in Bryan. Now I have to admit that the pay starting at $37,000 is a huge bonus, but the job is organizing events for the ACS. The thing is, I would be organizing them with people that are committed to the cause. I am perfect for that job. With all of my experience in doing large events over the years for various fundraising projects, I should at least get an interview. Who knows but God...? I would actually get to minister in something that I can be passionate about. Of course, I am passionate about people...all people, but this different career path has definately sparked my interest. I hate cancer, and could see myself laying hands on people and praying all over Texas! WOWOWOWOWOW



Wouldn't that be fun? It's exciting anyway, to think I might qualify.


Now listen to my latest adventure... I have athlete's foot. I have fought athlete's foot for a long, long time off and on. I think it's the sugar that I eat, and how my body processes it cause invariably I always manifest some sort of yeast in my body. YUCKKK! Well, I heard an ad the other day for a Clinical Testing Facility doing a study on athlete's foot in Bryan. The test pays $1,100 once completed. It's a month study and requires a lot of blood work. That part isn't fun, but the last time they did the study they cured most of the people from the disease. I'm thinking free medicine plus getting paid, plus an electrocardiagram...etc. It could be good Christmas money, right? When I called they were full of patients and didn't need me. I left it in the Lord's hands and they called the next morning and asked me to come next Wednesday morning at 7:00 am.



Pretty much, I have not run out of money and I continue to declare that. It is true, by God's grace, but I was scraping the bottom of the barrel right before payday last week. I needed gas money and was believing God to provide so I could get to work the next day. I have change in a large vase that I have been saving up, but not wanting to touch. I went out to the pig barn to feed the pigs that I have since sold!! Laying on the feed table, right where I left it two weeks ago, I noticed the $20.00 bill wedged between two pieces of plexiglass. I had left it for Pops ( my neighbor and adopted Daddy) to take and buy some more pig feed. I never called him and told him it was there, and he never said a word about it. I grabbed it and had enough to make it through one more day until payday!!



Now of course, I am having a hard time letting go of the payday money to pay my bills... It's that poverty mentality of where is it going to come from if I let it go? There will be no more. Let me tell you the truth though. There is always more. You may not know where it will come from, but there is always more if you are God's child. He will provide.



Another tidbit that I have to look forward to... my mailbox provided a letter from Teacher's retirement from when I worked at the school. It turns out they didn't pay me all they owed me! I will be getting a $60.00 check sometime unexpectantly. Won't that be at the perfect time? It always is.



I'm learning that God is a better husband than anyone could ask for. He's patient, kind, gentle, and helps pay the bills!! LOL

This last week was more than I could ask or believe for. It was my oldest daughter Rebecca's birthday on Sat. the 10th. I love birthday parties and have always thrown big parties so much so that it is getting hard to top the last one. I don't usually spend a lot of money, but put a lot of thought into how to best bless my kids and their friends. Rebecca turned 16 and her favorite thing to do these days is Civil War Reenactments, especially the reenactment dance. She's made lots of friends through this avenue and it has been something that the whole family enjoys. She found out that there was going to be a reenactment in Grandview, Texas a few weeks ago and asked if we could attend the dance for her birthday. At first I really blew off the idea, but as the Lord spoke to me about it, I decided to go for it. We loaded up several of her friends from Madisonville and met friends that she had grown up with. The friends she grew up with were a big suprise to her and it turned out to be a lot of fun. In the mean time I got to visit with my friends that I hadn't seen in a long time and that was a blast. We had a great time overall and I know Becca's sweet 16 couldn't have been more perfect. On top of that, her friends want to keep going to the dances with us! That will be great fun!
Another tidbit of faithfulness of my Lord, my son Jesse is 13 and he has desperately needed braces for some time now. Jesse knows he needs braces and has asked us for a couple of years now to get him some. Since I left Ron, I qualify for Medicaid...now I didn't really consider this until the other day, but Medicaid pays for braces if you really need them. Ron has full dental insurance, but braces cost $3,000 and his dental pays half of that. Medicaid will pay the remainder of the bill! Now trying to find a orthodontist who will bill Medicaid is another rodeo. I finally located one in Bryan and spoke with the receptionist. She told me that Medicaid patients have to wait 6-9 months before even being considered. I told her that I wanted to be very honest with her. I told her that I was looking to get a better job and may not need Medicaid once I do, but that there would be no way I could afford braces short of this small window of opportunity. She told me she had to call the people on the waiting list and roll them in. I said fine and I told Jesse we would have to pray... she called me back the next morning and said come see them Monday morning, October 19th which is Jesse's Birthday! I feel so incredibly blessed. She also said that once he is accepted by Medicaid for braces, they would pay whether I got the better job or not!

Hallelujah.. I know it's a small victory, but everyone counts at this point. I just feel so continually blessed to have a God that takes care of my needs according to His riches in Glory!

Another adventure waiting to unfold.

I am getting really excited about several things.. isn't excitement the best feeling? You feel like God can do anything and you are anticipating the best, because He loves you! He does love you. He does want the best for you. He wants to stir the excitement in you. Try it...it's a great feeling. What in the world am I so giddy about? Well...first of all, I spoke with my boss and told him of the new career opportunity unfolding. He handled it beautifully and said all the right things. Like, he was gonna tell them I'm a crack head so they won't want me. GRINNING all the while. This morning I really wanted him to tell me what I need to work on, what are my weaknesses, so I'll be prepared when they ask me in the interview I am getting ready for. He said I was pretty close to perfect... now I know he's lying, but it is really nice to be wanted and needed. Anyway.. I hinted that a job might be in the forecast for my future because of finances, and I really believe it is. I spoke with a man at Trans Ova Genetics, which is a company that is stationed in Iowa but has a regional office in Centerville. He is the one who I need to charm into giving me this $30,000 job. He needs me and I need the money...so I think we'll be a good match. He was very nice on the phone and seemed pleased that I was coming to meet him tomorrow with my resume and application. I spoke with my friend Mr. Arnold, who told me of the job and he told me he had been building me up to them. I know I have God's favor and that His plan will unfold in my life. The Lord promised that He would bless me all around Ron. I know He will. Also, my oldest daughter Rebecca has her 16th birthday on Saturday, October 10th. I am so excited because I have arranged for a lot of my old friends to meet us at a Civil War Re-enactment Dance in Grandview, Texas. Rebecca is bringing some of her friends with us, we are going to tent camp and my kids will be dressed to the era. Excitement is in the air. I sooo long to be with my friends even if only briefly. I love what God is doing and can't wait for the picture to unfold. I do pray His perfect will in all of it though. I truly enjoy the job I am in and want the Lord to direct all of my steps.

While I am waiting...

Wow, it seems like time is flying. I just read my last post and am amazed at the process God is taking me through. I will worship while I'm waiting, I will serve Him while I'm waiting... that's my daughter's ring tone on her phone, and one of my theme songs for the season. When I reread the last post I realized that I sounded pitiful. My hope is that my faith will overcome my fear as they collide continually. I can say, God is always more than I can ask or think and has always provided abundantly for me and my children. His arm is not too short, for sure. I get paid in a few days and praise God, I will be able to pay my bills short of the house note, for now. But I am still enjoying my house on 4 acres and the dogs, pigs and chickens are glad that we have not moved to the big city yet. As far as knowing what God is doing, I have never been any good at guessing and just when I think I've got Him figured out, He changes the plan anyway. For instance, a few weeks ago, my boss came in and told me that the man in charge of county jobs told him that I may be able to work a part time job with the county within my own job and get paid for both. That was terribly exciting because that would mean $32,000 a year as opposed to the $21,000 I make now. I was dreaming of all the bills I could pay, the gas I could buy, and the house I would be able to afford if they modified the loan. I just knew that God would do that for me. With more investigation, I realized that my dear friend was actually leaving her job, and that her leaving would give me this opportunity for more money. In talking to her about it, we decided that I could do both jobs fairly easily, and it would work wonderful as long as her boss was game. Two Fridays ago, she called me and said, her boss was leaving and that the new boss would require a full time secretary- so...that job was not mine. BUMMER...I fretted a bit about it, but always try to lean on the Lord, knowing that something better is just around the corner. It turned out that same afternoon I met a friend, who had told me of a job within the company that he works for the year before. He told me that his Office Manager was leaving and that I should put in for the job. Now, I am in the same boat, not wanting to overstep God, only wanting to do what he leads me to, but also getting excited that it could be. The job pays better, has better benefits, and from all the talk has less stress. Would God give me such a position? Of course He would. He will give me the desire of my heart. So...at first I was really opposed to leaving my current position, but know that it will be more stress to work 2 jobs than to find one good paying one. I am warming up to the idea of leaving, even though this job is the best I have ever had. I hate seeing through the glass dimly. I would rather hear exactly what I am supposed to do, but know that God opens the doors in my life he wants opened and shuts those he wants shut. I know that I have favor with all men because of the Lord, and that if He wants me to work in a different place he'll give it to me. After all, he gave me the job I am in. I wasn't looking for it, it found me. Isn't walking with the Lord fun. My dearest friend's mom says, Life's an adventure if you've got the guts to live it. I'm living it, Lord. I hope you see me living it and know that I am wanting to fully give it to you now. It's no longer what Leslie wants, but the plans you have for me.Help me not sway off the path you have designed for me. Help me hear and see exactly where and what the next step is that you've raised before. Hear my heart, oh Lord, I love you and want you, and can't live without you. Help me! Praise you for helping me! Thank you for your provision. Thank you for knowing my heart's desire. THank you for letting me minister to those that have ears to hear your goodness. I love you, Lord! You are soo good to me all the time.