August 1: In an attempt to babysit for one of our elders (or ‘pastors’ if you prefer), a car smashes into us as I attempt a 3 point turn. No one is hurt and no one is issued a ticket (hence, my three point turn was not an illegal street violation).
August 2: Lexie and I wait expectantly (though feeling rather unprepared) to begin the new Sunday school class we’ve been assigned, but no children show up. My parents get lost trying to find our little downtown church and show up 40 min. after the service has started.
August 3: I apply with the school to work the switchboard since I knew Lexie would be leaving soon and I apply for a new position in the housing department on campus with the “grounds crew.”
August 4: Lexie and I forget for the first time in our marriage to celebrate this day together (for it is the day of the month that we were married on).
August 5: I am interviewed for a job working at the Boys and Girls club and I find out that Young’s Gymnastics (where I used to work) is still not hiring.
August 6: We’re told that our car may or may not be totaled. I apply for a 3rd shift position at Raleigh’s State Employee Credit Union Call Center.
August 7: I get interviewed for a job doing landscaping on campus (very exciting since we now don’t have a car).
August 8: I am thoroughly ignored by the guy who hires for the switchboard and am told later (and not by him) that all the positions are now filled.
August 9: Sunday school went better, moving from zero children to 4. The kids seemed excited about learning the major Hebrew names for God and what they meant. A part of the lesson was sharing with the kids what their names meant. Unfortunately, not all the names meant good things.
August 10: I apply for a janitorial position at a close nursing home, but am told not to expect anything. In response, I sang “He’s Got High Hopes” as I walked out of the door and was happy to hear that a few cool old people joined in before I was all the way out.
August 11: State Farm reports that our car is not totaled and will be fixed.
August 12: The repair shop hasn’t called since they told us the car might be totaled, so I call them and they report that the car is totaled and can’t be fixed. State Farm wouldn’t answer the phone.
August 13: State Farm answers the phone, but claims that the car shouldn’t be totaled. I call Chick-Fill-A to see if any positions have become available since July 23rd when they told me to check back in a month. They tell me: “check back with us in a month.” State Farm calls me back and reports that the car actually is totaled and that’s what they meant when they said that it wasn’t. Nevertheless, we get $13,382. Having already planned out what we were going to do if that happened (get a cheap car and put the money toward debt), I call Lexie’s dad and tell him. He declines to acquiesce to my request.
August 14: Plans are made for Lexie’s dad and sister to come up and spend the night with us on Saturday. We go and play Dance Dance Revolution with the Petersons and the Hilliards. That night my throat gets sore.
August 15: I wake up feeling terribly sick and can’t help our church’s outreach to the incoming freshman of NC State Univ. Don and Liz show up and they take us out to Mellow Mushroom (yummy). There, Don outlines the kind of car he wants us to get with the $13,382. I feel very upset, but yield because I sense its selfishness. Lexie takes Don and Liz out and shows Liz the Wake Forest delights while I rest in bed for the evening.
August 16: Don and Liz have breakfast with us and get on the road early. Lexie teaches Sunday school (we have 3 kids show up) and does a marvelous job!
August 17: The Boys and Girls club turns down my application due to Fall staff cut backs. I try to get in touch with the “grounds crew” boss, but he won’t answer the phone. I apply for a position in the school’s library because Lexie gets an even better job at the Seminary in the Communications/Marketing department.
August 18: I find an amazing 2007 Honda Civic (22k miles) for $9,600, but it has a salvaged title.
Don says “no way” and the search continues. The upset feeling mixes with frustration and I share this with Lexie and she helped me to let go and keep searching. I get through to the “grounds crew” boss, and after beating around the bush for five minutes, I finally get him to tell me that I wasn’t one of the four picked for the position.
August 19: I find a 2005 Mazda 3 with 74k miles for $10,000,
but Don was wary about it because of all the miles. The search continued. I was no longer feeling upset and frustrated. I was feeling confused. It seemed like I was being told what to do with money that seemed to belong to me and Lexie. I began think that I might not be able to do as Don had instructed. Driving home, a guy called me about a 2007 Honda Civic with 40k miles for $12,900. I set up a time to see him, but felt terrible at the thought of spending that much money. Reluctantly, I shared this car with Don and he approved of it. I just felt sick.
August 20: I woke up and had to write out my thoughts. At the end of this I had a letter addressed to Don and Janda wherein I refused to spend the money as they had wished for it to be spent. The day dragged on. That night, Don called and went over my letter point for point, patiently sharing with me the error in my thinking and the reasons behind his instructions. At the end, a compromise was made that put out all the fires and distress inside me. The compromise was that Lexie and I would buy the best car we could with the money (which implied using all of it), but, if we didn’t have all our debt paid off by the time we left for the mission field, we could sell the car and use the money to pay for whatever was left of our debt!
August 21: Lexie and I buy the silver 2007 Honda Civic Sedan (with 40k miles) for $12,900 and not only have peace about it, but feel great about it.
August 22: I work all day on putting all my assignments together in a planner and budgeting out all my reading into a doable amount for each day.
August 23: I teach Sunday school and although we only had one kid show up, it was a great lesson (because Lexie made cupcakes as part of it for the illustration, lol). After church, Lexie and I have to stay behind for a music/media ministry meeting. Lunch was provided, so, after enjoying a wonderful lunch, my back seizes up (like a Charlie horse in your calf, but this was in my back) to an extent that makes it impossible for me to breathe. Unable to say more than “my back hurts,” Lexie watches me, unsure why I have my eyes closed and seem to be focusing so hard. After suffocating for five minutes, I finally pass out and pitch forward. My face hits the carpet hard, leaving a nice rug burn on my cheek bone and forehead, but I don’t feel a thing. I’m in my happy place. According to Lexie, I’m out for 15-20 sec. and then awake with a huge gulp of air. I don’t know where I am, how I got there, or why I’m there. All I know is that I feel like I’ve got a very restful 8 hour sleep. My back is very sore, but I can breathe. I lay down on some chairs and everyone prays over me. I’m taken to the hospital and told to get some x-rays and an MRI. I’m also told that all tests will probably turn out negative and we would most likely be better saving that 5k. Thus, we leave after being charged a $100 deposit for using the wheel chair.
August 24: Classes are in full swing and I begin my reading schedule and start on my book digest for Church History.
August 25: I go to Greek 1, taught by Dr. Black, and am thoroughly inspired to attempt (once again) to master the original language of the New Testament. Lexie starts her new job with the Communications/Marketing department and is very thrilled with her responsibilities.
August 26: I receive a call back for the State Employee Credit Union Call Center and set up an interview for Sept. 2nd at 3:00pm. Unfortunately, if I do get this job, I will have to drop all my classes for this semester. Later, Lexie and I enjoy an amazing night of prayer, fellowship and fighting sin at small group, plus, there were 5 new people! It was very exciting!
August 27: Lexie enjoyed her second day in her new position as well as her last day in her old (library) position. She’s about to walk in the door and then we’re going to watch The Two Towers and cuddle. I’m very excited.
All that to say, despite the ups and downs we all experience month to month, God will be faithful to get us through it all…or take us home. Yes, it’s a win-win situation. It’s good to be God’s (because God is good).
=D
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