During this whole entire time, Ryan and I clung to each other, and to the Lord.  We made a pact with each other, before the Lord that we will remain faithful to the God NO MATTER WHAT, and we will remain faithful to each other.  There were times that we received a lot of persecution from even fellow Christians because we would not compromise in our standards, and we would not budge in our calling of Christ on our lives.  There were months in Seattle, that we always had hunger pains because there was no money for food, and what we did have we gave to our kids so they wouldn't be hungry.  There were horribly hurtful comments from people we had gone to for counsel.  After our identity theft, house burglary, and medical bills that we piling up, and the high cost of living out west, we were staring bankruptcy in the face.  We sought the advice from various church leaders and this is the response we received, "Well, I hope you had fun getting into debt, because getting out isn't going to fun at all."  These were such ungodly judgements, and they were coming from men who were multi-millionaires.  If they had listened to us at all, they would have heard how much it was not fun having been stolen from, having a horrible medical condition, etc.  They could have easily helped us, but choose to judge instead.   We were so baffled as to why this was happening to us.  We choose to serve God in ministry, and have been extremely frugal and wise in our spending.  We felt that the best way for us to honor God with our children, was for me to stay at home with them, and not let other people raise them.  So, why wasn't God providing, and why were things so hard? Still, we refused to give up, and refused to be angry with God.  We actually ended up calling a Christian debt management company, and we consolidated our debt.  I am happy to tell you that in 18 months we will be completely debt free!

A couple of years ago, we started praying that God would move us back to the midwest, but realized that it would take a small miracle for us to find a place that could pay us enough to live on, plus still be able to make our payments on our consolidation loan.  We cried out to God, and He answered.  Low and behold, we have a great job, in a great town, and have made the best friends here that we have had in our whole time in ministry.  Plus, our take home pay ended up exactly the same as what we made out west!

The dream of owning your own house is in all of us I think.  Our desire was for our kids to finally have some stability in their lives, and a place to call home.  When we were here for our job interview, we realized that with the housing market the way it is here, we could actually OWN our own house, instead of renting!  So the search began!  I looked at 53 houses in our price range, and it was very frustrating!  They all needed more TLC and repair than we had the time or money to put into it.  Plus, they just didn't seem like places we could live long term that our family could grow in.  Our price range was up to $90,000.  Finally, I drove by a house that I just knew was the one for us.  It was listed at $135,00, so I knew God was going to have to do another miracle!  We offered $90,000, and THEY ACCEPTED!  It was an estate sale, and they just wanted to liquidate it!  The only problem with the house, was that it had no yard.  However, there is an empty lot next door that was for sale.  So, we started to pray that God would give us the cash to pay for the lot.  Back in April of this year, when we filed our taxes we realized that our tax guy out west hadn't filed our taxes correctly for the past 4 years, and that the government actually owed us $5,000.  So, I went to the owner of the vacant lot, and offered him $5,000 in cash, and HE ACCEPTED IT!  (It was originally listed at $9,500)  So, as of last week, we now OWN the lot next door and my kids have a yard to play in!

When I was in my 20's I was told by the Dr. that I might never be able to conceive and carry my own children, because of some medical things.  All I have ever wanted was to be a mother, and I pled with God to bless me with children.  We currently have 3 of our own children, and one on the way in March!  Once again, I am overwhelmed with God's provision and love for me.

This afternoon we are going to go and pick up a new vehicle that we are paying CASH for. I have been driving an old beater for 8 years now, and I can't tell you how many times I have been stranded due to the car breaking down.  I don't have a cell phone either, so that is always fun!  This van we are buying is fairly new, with all of the extra's, and it's been taken care of amazingly well.  I'm not going to know what to do with a van I can roll the windows down in, have a working AC, and it doesn't stall out either!  LOL! 

   We haven't really changed anything we have been doing all along.  We have tried to live within our means, never charge anything, pay for everything with cash, live frugally, tithe, and I still am a stay-at-home mom.  I just think that God was allowing us to grow through our trials, and learn to live on His promises.  Our marriage is stronger because of it, and our adoration of our Saviour and Lord is enormous as a result of Him carrying us through all of this.  I DO expect rough times ahead, but during this time of peace and rejoicing I will rest in Him, and know that I am loved by my Heavenly Father who does care for me as an individual deeply, He knows my heart, and loves me more than I will ever understand.  My heart is so full of thankfulness.  I serve an amazing God!