Sunday, July 25, 2010

An update for you

Hello to all my friends. I know, I know, this is the “lazy mans” way of writing letters but I’m too tired to hand write it so here it is. I thought it was time to say hello and update everyone on all the news from our end of the good ol’ USA!!

We do have some hot weather going on down here in FL but then I think it’s hot everywhere these days. We just had a little storm pass by us and thank God it didn’t cause any damage to us. We sure would have liked to had more rain with it but God knows what we need. I’m sure that the southern part of FL and the Caribbean Islands got plenty of rain. One thing about these storms, even if they are below us or above us, we tend to get some great breezes. That makes our evenings fantastic for bike rides and walks.

Summer has been slow here. My work has slowed down considerably and so I have been able to spend a lot of time with my girls. We have been to the beach several times but we haven’t really gone anywhere. It’s nice to just relax and spend time at home for a change. The girls get so hot when they are outside and Katie isn’t out long til she’s right back inside. She is like her mother. We are homebodies and like to be indoors.

Tricia has started piano lessons. She has had 4 now and I’m really impressed at how well she is doing. She hollers she doesn’t want to do it but I have been encouraging her all the way. She can do it and I’m sure she will one day thank me for making her focus and learn to play. She is also doing very well singing and has decided that she wants to do some voice lessons. This thrills me so much. I thank God daily for the opportunities that He is sending our way. I keep telling her how honored God is to see her using her talents for Him.

Katie is growing and getting more “smarty pants” everyday. She will be 4 in December and we are still contemplating putting her in PreK. I’m not wanting to rush her but yet she really wants to go. I guess we will see how mature she is when that time comes. I think it’s the phenomenon of going and not the work that is involved.JJ Katie recently was dog bit on the left side of her face. We were so scared because her eye was scratched. The dog didn’t clamp down on her face; he kind of snapped and raked his teeth down her face. She was swollen and bruised and two places were bleeding. We took her to the ER and they checked her eye good and cleaned the cuts. She is pretty well healed up now and doesn’t look like she will have any scarring. We just thank God for His hand of protection on her. It could have been much worse.

Tom is doing good. He joined a gym in town and is really interested in working out and getting into shape. Since switching jobs he is not nearly as active as he used to be and I think it’s catching up with him. He’s getting a little pudgy around the middle…lol!! He thinks the world is falling apart. I told him I love him pudgy but he won’t hear it.

I’m not sure how I am. I’m wishing I had more work and yet dreading when Fall gets here and I actually do get more work. We have taken on the cleaning job with the school to pay tuition. It will be about 25 hours a week. We wanted to do it because when Katie starts it will be a big chunk of money to send them both. Since this is why we came we have to work hard to make it happen. Tom is going to help in the evenings and I think with all of us we can get it done in half the time. It’s not hard work we just can’t get in there until after school is out.

We still live at 9085 SE Morning Street, Hobe Sound, FL 33455 if you want to drop us a letter or post card. The girls love to get mail. Every once in a while I send them a letter. They get so excited when they see their name on the envelope.

Buddy is still with us. Hair and all!! He is so adorable. The girls love him so much. Katie is not a bit scared of him after her dog bite scare. She still hangs all over Buddy and lays on him. He is so gentle with the girls and they love him a lot. We have taught them that teasing him is bad and they get into trouble if they start to. He is a good dog and really is protective when he is in the yard. It’s so funny how he just runs to everyone like a lumbering elephant and gives them kisses. Everyone backs up a few feet when he comes towards them…lol!! I guess they think because he’s big and black that he’s mean. It’s quite the opposite.

Well, I guess I will close this letter by saying that we still serve a wonderful Savior who has answered so many prayers and worked so many miracles in our lives in just the past few weeks. One of these days I’ll write and list all the prayers He as answered for us. I’m so thankful that I have Him to turn to and I know that He hears and answers prayer!!!

Take care and write to us soon. We love you all!!! God bless and keep you!!!

Love, Tom, Gale, Tricia, Katie and Buddy!!!!

Monday, July 19, 2010

Why does He love me so????

Have you ever wondered why things happen??? Why this door closed and that window opened??? Why we have to get sick or why our loved ones have to leave us??

We have so many why's in our life and it's only natural since we are human. Sometimes the questions in our minds can be so overwhelming and we just feel like we cannot hold on.

Jesus said that if we will hold to his hand he will lead us and guide us. He also promised that one day we would "understand it better by and by." Now we see through a glass that is dark, but one day we would see through that glass clearly.

I don't know when that day will come for me and I am one of those people who have so many questions. I am just trying to hold on to the promises in His Word. There are a lot of things that I don't understand and probably will never understand, but the assurance that He will one day give me the understanding I need is healing to my heart and soul.

We recently had to do a lot of repairs to our vehicle. We don't know why this vehicle had to have all the problems it had all at one time but it did. We had no idea where the money was going to come from to repair it. But God did!!!

Our neighbor friends had a truck that was wrecked under very serious circumstances. They were devastated over the truck but were left with nothing but to try to start over with something else. God gave them a little money and they bought another truck which needed some repairs. To make a long story short, they were able to tare down the wrecked truck using the parts to fix the "new" truck. Now the "new" truck runs well and they aren't out a lot of money to fix it. Do you think God might have been looking out for their future???

Not only was He watching out for them, he was watching out for us as well. Our vehicle as I said above was having a total breakdown. We ended up having to replace not only the head gaskets, but the engine heads as well. Would you know that the engine heads were about $500.00 or more but our neighbors had the engine heads from the wrecked truck that they didn't need and they fit our vehicle perfectly!! We only had to pay a fraction of the cost. Not only did they have the engine heads but there was also a cruise control motor that we needed. Another big expense for about $25.00.

Not too many days after the vehicle was back to running we noticed that it didn't want to start. Oh no!! Another problem with this vehicle. Too much!! But, guess what??? That wrecked truck again saved us a lot of money. The starter from that truck fit our vehicle perfectly again and we fixed the starter in about half an hour. It starts perfectly.

We questioned why this had to happen. We didn't have any money to repair our vehicle. Why would God allow all of this to happen to us and all at one time???? Why couldn't we have had one problem at a time???

Questions needing answers. As humans we want to know right now but as children of God we know that He will answer those questions in His own time. We just need to hold on to His hand and trust and believe that someday we will understand.