Overdue Update

So here is my newest appliance... the world's smallest coffee maker. Mine (the normal-sized one in the background) bit the dust this week for some unknown reason. Just decided to stop brewing at all. So my mom found this miniature one in her garage. It works and that's what counts!

This post will be full, but short. Michael just left for home after creaming me in Sequence (our game of choice that we play numerous times a week) and my throat and ears are hurting. I think I have finally succombed to the cold that Nick started and passed to Michael and then Drew. They're all on the latter ends of their colds and I thought I had escaped unscathed. Guess not. I'm sure stress lowered my immune system.

Tuesday was a very difficult day for me emotionally... just pure stress from legal issues with Matt, and a letter from the bank holding the mortgage indicating some devastating news I had not yet been expecting. I did speak to my attorney on Wednesday and was able to see just how much she had the foresight to put protections for me into our divorce document. What a blessing she is. With her help, I have already been able to get the house back on the market and she is sending me to an attorney who specializes in both family law and bankruptcy. (No, I'm not going bankrupt; however, there are legal issues I won't get into that necessitate me talking with someone in this field in order to put in as many protections for me as possible.) I meet with him next Friday and the two attorneys will work as a team. If all goes as it should, I will not be responsible for any of my attorney or court fees. I will know more on Friday. If you'd like to pray with me, here are my requests:

... that somehow, somewhere in all of this legal mess, my anger toward Matt will turn to forgiveness instead of hatred
... that God will protect my credit
... that God will protect my business and will send me numerous clients
... that God will provide a buyer for the house, and that He will provide the means for me to pay the full mortgage and insurance payments until then

Michael & I are praying big together and believing that God can do immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine. I know that God may choose not to answer those prayers and may instead simply walk with me through the valley. However, I also know that we're supposed to ask and believe in a big God. I'm not used to asking that way and actually trusting that God will choose to do something that big. So for me this is stepping out in faith... and trusting God regardless.

While on the phone with me, my attorney again mentioned that part-time job at her office she talked to me about last fall. Until now, her business hasn't been able to support bringing me on; however, her legal receptionist is going out on maternity leave sometime in the next month and my attorney would like me to step in for her. It's perfect!... it's with a wonderful Christian person and it's part-time so that I can continue with my business. Plus, if it ends up being only temporary, it will look great on my resume... something more current.

I have had a great week with my business.... I received an excellent recommendation/testimonial from my first bride, I became a preferred wedding vendor for The Mansion at the Bayou, I secured some discounts for future clients with local wedding venues, I was interviewed as the subject of a high school senior's Senior Project (on wedding planning), and I was contacted by a junior at George Fox University who wants to offer me her services in my business for free! It would be an internship of sorts because she wants to be a wedding & event planner after graduation and she needs the experience.

I'm going to have to call this quits for tonight and get myself into bed. But if you get a chance, check out my newest posts on "The 'I Do' Rendezvous" blog and pass it along to any brides-to-be that you know!!