The Ripple That Shook Virginia

When a ripple is, well, just a ripple....

We look for things to happen, don't we? Stories are often exaggerated to seem more appealing, and intriguing. I remember when I was robbed as a teller at the bank, the news reported about it that night. They had the whole staff face-down on the ground with guns hovering over us. Oddly enough, I recall sitting on my stool the whole time. So, why would yesterday's reports of the earthquake be any different? We spent the majority of the day laughing, poking fun at their efforts to make something out of nothing. I can't tell you how many times my show was interrupted by the news last night. My take on it? "This just in...an aftershock was recorded, yet no one felt it. But you should stay tuned because we want to alarm you with the possibilities of what could happen." They even went as far as to bring in a specialist, who basically talked in circles because even he was throwing his hands up in the air. Okay, so there was some damage, especially at the core of the earthquake in Luisa--broken windows, cracks on walls, and a chimney even fell over. Considering the shake was felt all the way up the east coast, I'd say the damage was pretty minimal. They even went as far as to pull eyewitnesses here in my town. Really? I could just picture the interview before it went live, "So mam', what did you see at 1:51 PM?" Her response being pretty lame, "Um, nothing. Oh wait, the ground rumbled for all of 30 seconds... and then nothing." I could just see the reporter whispering with his hand over the microphone, "Um, were going to need more than that. Could you shed a tear, maybe talk about your troubled childhood? Perhaps use big motions with your hands?"

My point? We are all guilty of doing it, exaggerating things in life, for the gain of pity from others. The minor stuff gets stretched, making it into an unnecessary obstacle. We handicap ourselves on a daily basis, without even realizing it. Sure, yesterday could of been worse. But by God's grace, it was not. The fact of the matter is, sometimes a ripple under our feet is just that...a ripple, and nothing more. We focus on what "could be" or "might happen", that we lose focus on what is actually happening at the moment...nothing. I suggest keeping your mind strong for when the big jolts come your way, causing everything around you to actually tumble. In other words, stop sweating the small stuff.

A Greyhound Kind of Day

When life has you on an racetrack, and the prize no longer looks appealing...

Today I feel like a greyhound in the race for life. I'm on this endless racetrack that just keep going in circles, and a treat is dangled out in front of me, causing me to keep moving forward. I've been running toward the treat for weeks now, and I'm getting tired. As soon as I feel like I have it, it slips out from beneath my grip. I've gotten to the point where I don't know what else to do; keeping chasing it or simply quit.

Needless to say, it's been four weeks and only two job responses have trickled in from my husband's job search. We really thought we had this last interview in the bag. It was the ultimate treat and we got a taste of it. Unfortunately, in the eleventh hour, someone more qualified took first place. So, back in the race we go for round two.  I've gotten to the point where I have pleaded with God to rescue us from this race. Oddly enough, I just got done listening to a song called, "Rescue" by a Christian group called Newsong. One line kept grabbing me, "I need you Jesus to come to my rescue, where else can I go? There's no other name by which I am saved, capture me with grace. I will follow you." I needed to hear that.

So now what? In the mist of our struggle, various emotions tend to flood my mind. I am scared, frustrated, and confused. I try to make sense of it all and simply cannot. With each day that passes fear of the unknown captures me. Unanswered questions like-- how will we make our house payment this month, keep the electricity on, or even afford gas to get to the grocery store? Yet in those emotions two words keep coming to the surface--Trust and Follow. So even though I feel drained today, the race must continue, one step at a time. Please Lord, show me now more than ever, my part in your master plan.

"You can never cross the ocean, unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore."

-Author unknown

We Need YOUR Support!

As most of you already know, my husband has been writing a Christian Sci-Fi book, called Defender, for the past two years. After writing 60,000 words and countless hours later, Defender is finished and has been picked up by the Literary Management Group, for representation to the publishers!

Now, we need your support! Publishers look at the writer's social media outlets, prior to signing them on. The more traffic Todd's Website and Official Facebook page gets, the easier it will be for the literary agent to get him publisher face time. Please take a moment to visit his Defender Facebook page at Defender Facebook Page and simply click the "Like" button. I promise we won't pester you once you've done so! Also, stop by his Official Website at http://www.toddvandahm.com/ and feel free to share it with friends and family! Your support means the world to us!

Thanks!

A Change In the Wind

When God calms the storms of life, blessings follow....

Wow, what a week! At one point I was playing host to a multitude of personalities. I was happy one moment, and crying the next. I was thanking God for leading us, and then angry the next day for being too silent. My main prayer these past few weeks has been for God to open a door of opportunity for my husband to find work. We are going on our second week of unemployment, and not one single phone call or lead has been returned. The truth of the matter is that we have one month before we completely run out of funds. I have called out to God several times, pleading that he allow my husband work before that happens. Surely God knows the situation at hand, yet he remains fairly silent. The other night while eating my Top Ramen Noodles at the dinner table, I broke down and entered into a good cry fest. Every girl needs one once in awhile! I actually told God that I was angry and confused. For weeks I have been sick, tired, and stressed. I keep wondering how much more my body could take both mentally and physically. As tears dripped into my dinner bowl (as if my Top Ramen didn't already have enough sodium!), I felt my heart sink with disappointment. Disappointed that things aren't coming together as I wish they would. After finally pulling myself together, I ended my sulking with, "I still trust you God. You are in control."

Although God has not answered our prayer for employment yet, God has open doors in different directions. These doors have led to other blessing. Through the blessing of Social Services and the program assistance they offer, I am now able to feed my family in a healthy manner each day. A big relief, as that is an expense we no longer have to endure with zero income. It took setting all pride aside and accepting the fact that we indeed do need help during this difficult time. If you had asked me a year ago, or even a few months ago if I would ever be on Food Stamps, I would have laughed at you. Now, here I sit grateful and humbled for such a service. We have been blessed through friends and family as well. From simple invites to dinner to assistance with bills, the generosity of few has left us stunned. Thank you!

Another door was just opened for us. Although this door will not deliver immediate results, it was an answer to my husband's dream. Last year, he wrote a Christian Sci-Fi book called "Defender". You can check it out at Defender . Earlier in the year he submitted the manuscript to a few Literary Agencies. After a few declines, he received word from an agency last night. They have signed him on with a contract to represent him to the publishers. This is a huge step, as publishers will only accepting manuscripts through agencies. This has also motivated me to finish my book, "Bouquet" (a Christian Chick Lit novel)! I am about 3/4 the way done with it and have been sitting on it for a few months, debating whether this was the right time to jump in. With my husband's foot now in the door, I feel like this may be the time to push mine to completion as well. To read a brief teaser to my book go to Bouquet .

It amazes me that each time I start to feel defeated and hopeless, God gives just a small enough nudge to keep me going. Just as I don't hand everything in life to my children, God has me working toward things in life as well. He continues to place opportunity in front of us and then steps back for a bit. Even through the silent moments and darker days, it is clear that He is still present in our current hardship, and He is still leading us. With these new doors opened for us, I feel a change in the wind. I reckon' that more is to come soon! In the mean time, we keep on trusting and persevering.