feeling the love

Just a month before leaving my job to stay home with Morgan, I started a document called "Count Your Blessings." I began to list all of the ways we've unexpectedly been blessed, either financially or with material things that we'd never consider buying ourselves.

Knowing that the road ahead with just one income would be difficult, I wanted to track all the ways that God was really providing for us. Because on paper, living with just Scott's paycheck looked impossible. And yet here we are, almost two years later, living a content, fulfilled life.

I smile when I go back to read a couple of my first entries...

Saturday, September 22, 2007 – Grandma M. gave us her chest freezer from the Lake. This has been an amazing bonus in our basement. I am able to make extra baby food for Morgan, as well as keep meat and other sale items stocked safely!

Friday, November 2, 2007 – Scott received an email at work, thanking him for his volunteer work in September. The email mentioned a special bonus in his next paycheck which turned out to be $400!

Ongoing – Scott’s cousin has been gracious enough to send hand-me-downs for Morgan for every season since she’s been born. What a penny-saver this has been for us.

Since that time, Scott's taken a new job - one that offers lots of growth, stability and security, but it also went hand-in-hand with a huge paycut until after a year of work. On July 7, he celebrated his one-year anniversary and we exhaled, knowing that God's timing was perfect. We'll see the extra moolah in his paycheck just a few weeks before our little guy arrives!

And in just the last month or two, we've noticed generosity from so many other unexpected people in the way of...

Maternity clothes
Baby clothes
Baby bibs
Baby toys
Crockpot
Jacket
Basketball hoop
Pressure cooker for canning

Some of these things are on loan, some are for keeps. But either way, these are items that were lovingly given to us, not because we asked or vocalized any need, but because God wanted to provide these things for our family. I could do without a pressure cooker for Fall canning, and I could make do without a crockpot until it's time for a Christmas list, but yet here they are... small things that might appear trivial, but make a huge impact.

While we truly aren't lacking in anything, we are so grateful for each and every item. And I know that when the time comes, it will feel just as great to return the favors and complete the giving circle.

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19