This morning I am overwhelmed by thankfulness.  I was sitting in my chair drinking my coffee, writing in my journal and doing the usual morning routine, when it hit me.  Last year on this day, July 25, I was frantically looking for a job.  I had looked in three states, attended numerous interviews and applied to over 500 jobs!  As the summer waned, I got more and more frustrated.   At one point I thought I'd be moving to Chicago, Perrysburg, Benton Harbor and St. Johns among others. God had other plans. 

 

I am so thankful to have a job in the increasingly hard education economy.  Teachers talk of lay offs, pink slips and years off of work.  But, God placed (which at times felt like He dumped) me at Erving Elementary, right where I was needed.

 

I am so thankful to have found a wonderful church.  The pastor speaks truth (even when it's hard to hear) and does so in love.  I have a small group, young adult group and a sweet group of friends to fellowship with.

 

I am so thankful to be engaged and planning a wedding!  Recently we got the bridesmaid dresses, did our gift registry and have ordered the save-the-date cards.  Things are moving along smoothly. 

 

With all that said, I'm so thankful to God.  He is so patient with me when I mess up.  He extends unusual amounts of grace and peace even when I don't deserve it.  He is so faithful.  I am so thankful.

Tents

On Saturday, Josh and I went with our young adult church group to serve at a homeless shelter.  This is one of our monthly service projects.  This week was much different.  I started talking to a lady name Patty.  She was concerned because apparently she had her belongs in a safety deposit box at the bank and she owed so much on the box that she thought the bank may have drilled a hole in the box and disposed of her things.  I assumed that she must have some very important things in the box, which to her were!  She had things like sunglasses and such, which to me seem minuscule, but since she only owns what she carries on her back, they are significant. 

We asked her about her life and her living situation.  This shelter is only for meals in the day time.  At night she lives in a tent camp out in the woods.  When I asked her about shelters, she said that they all close for the summer months.  Therefore, camping is her only option.  She explained that she lives with a few other couples in the woods and they all share food.  After asking her a few things, Josh and I discovered that they were in need of some other things.  The biggest problem is mosquitoes.  She said they eat them alive out there!

We'd heard about other "camps" like these that the police break up by slashing the homeless' bike tires and cutting up their tents.  Problem is, there is no where else for these people to go!  She wouldn't tell us the location of the camp because she was probably afraid we would call the police.

Josh, Josh's dad and I went to the store to buy her the things she needed such as, rope, water, bug spray, propane for a little grill, and deodorant.  As we walked out of Meijer to stuff a backpack for her, a man rolled down the window of his car and said, "God bless you guys!"  He continued to look at us out the window, smiling real big!  How did he even know what we were doing?  Why would he chose us to say it to?  I know I might sound crazy, but I think he might have been an angel in disguise, encouraging us to help the poor....Strange thought!

We gave Patty the supplies and she hugged me, thanking us in amazement.  He took us to the corner of the parking lot, where her path to the camp began.    In a narrow opening in the woods, we set down her things.  Hopefully she slept well that night without mosquitoes buzzing around her!  It truly is more blessed to give than receive!