Pets and Gas Money

Joel and I left Friend Ships over a week ago and it is pretty crazy.

A lot of old Friend Ships crew gave me advice and said if I needed to cry about leaving Friend Ships that they would be there for me. I actually haven't been very sad about leaving Friend Ships. It is crazy how God works. I am way more emotional, sad, upset, etc about giving up our pets. Yes yes I have been bawling like a baby every other day about giving up our three cats and dog. I thought I would be over the cats by now.

So a few months before we left Friend Ships the Lord really put on my heart that we had to give up our pets. (I cried right then and there) So Joel and I went throught the process of trying to find really really really good homes. Man it was hard but at the last minute of the last day it all worked out. One went to Grady and Ivy's home town to a really good friend of theirs. And Sheba and Patch went to one of my closest friend in Los Angeles. Her husband offered to take them to find good homes but when they got them they said "we might just have to keep them" WHo knows what will happen . . . It is now fully in God's hands not mine.

And my friends husband is allergic. Wow what a blessing it was for him to take them. But when I call my friend she told me he is the one that goes looking for the cats and pets them. And Sheba warmed up to him first. Thank you my God. But I still cry.

I have learned that animal movies are very bad for me. I knew this after the first time seeing an animal movie and bawling like a baby so when my nephew wanted to want alvin and the chipmunks (yeah i know they are a fur-ball cartoon-give me a break) I said no. But I went to get dynamite outside and passed by the TV in the middle of the movie (big mistake Big HUGE) I probably saw less than 5 seconds and it was the part when Theodore wanted to sleep with dave and he indeed up sleeping on dave's shoulder . . . I started weeping. I mean mega weeping.

So following GOd isn't always easy and it isn't always fun.

But He does bless and my favorite scripture right now is "The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD"

But God has been so faithful. I didn't tell any one this except Joel, Kristin, and Rebekah Larson but before we left Friend SHips I was freaking out about getting home. We didn't have enough money for Gas to make it from Los Angeles to Washington state. Shoot I wasn't even worried about eating I thought "I can fast" The problem was gas money. SO I emailed Rebekah and asked her to pray for me. I knew my problem wasn't gas money it was my fear of God not providing. That is a way bigger problem than gas money. And During the months before we left I read in Deuteronomy 28 about "Blessed in the city blessed in the country. Bless when you come and when you go." I was like Lord I give you my finaces but as of now I don't feel blessed with us leaving. But with Rebekah and Joel praying for me I really calmed down and gave it to my God who is my provider. I didn't want to tell any one else because I wanted God to provide and not telling people so they would provide.

SO what happened? We got 100 dollars for gas and Jim and Kristin got us a hotel room for on the way to my parents. I was like thanks Lord. Then in one week I got 14 orders for my handcrafted jewelry. I was like wow that is so awesome we may have enough to make it home. But God was pretty much like Dess I haven't even started yet.

ON the last day we were at the warehouse and I mean the very last day people came to say good bye and each time they did they brought us money or gift cards. The first guy that came and gave us money I felt the Lord say "There's more Dess" THen another guy came and gave us money "THere's more Dess" THen my friend gave us a gift certificate "There's more Dess" Then a really great friend from church had gotten the whole church to get us cards and gift certificates for gas and food stops. That is when the Lord said "That is it, Dess" By the end of the day the Lord had blessed us through people with over 1,000 dollars. I was blown away. On the car ride leaving Los Angeles I started crying asking God to forgive me for doubting that he would take care of me who is His child.

WE truly never have to worry about tomorrow for God our Father who loves us so much and never leaves us nor forsakens us will truly take care of us.

Love ya'll
GOd's Daughter,
Dess