This Week's Update

There is no better picture than this to adequately portray the amount of stress I was under this week. In fact, I would not be surprised if I resembled this cat a time or two in the past few days.

There were four main stressors... the normal, last-minute details that were going into pulling together the wedding for this Sunday; meeting with my clients and vendors to pull together big details for the wedding in June; knowing my taxes had to be pulled together and completed by Tuesday; and then having a big legal/financial crisis pop up in my life.

On that one, I won't say much on this blog in the way of details; however, as of yesterday my house is no longer on the market due to breaches of the divorce contract that are out of my hands. It will most likely take legal action on my part to get the house back on the market. In the meantime, my realtor is leaving the sign in the yard as a favor to me. In addition to that news, I received other related news that has the potential to put both my good credit and my financial standing at great risk.... I may very soon find the entirety of the monthly mortgage payment and the house insurance laid in my lap. It has been difficult for me to pay just my half of those obligations every month; having to pay both of those obligations alone is flat out an impossibility on my part. It could cause me to lose everything.... my credit and my home.

Thinking about the ripple effect of that has caused me an enormous amount of stress. One morning, very early, I found myself wide awake and I realized that I cannot allow myself to operate every day under these high levels of stress. Next week I will take what little steps I can to do what I can do legally and the rest I have to place in God's hands and ask Him to do a miracle. And to give me peace in the meantime.

This week in the car Drew asked me why God hadn't yet answered his prayer for me to get 100 clients. He wondered if maybe his letter hadn't yet reached God, or if God was just still reading it. I took a deep breath (as I whispered to God: "I hope You're listening because I'm putting You on the spot") and I asked Drew if he remembered the stories in the Bible where God parted the Red Sea and turned water into wine and raised people from the dead. He said yes. I told Him that our God is still the same and that He has the power to send me clients. I told him that when God does answer his prayer, we're going to make sure everyone knows it was all because of God and not because of anything Mommy did.

I believe that my prayer for God to provide for me and my boys, and to protect my credit, and to sell the house before I lose it, is so small in comparison to what He is capable of. I know the solution is so incredibly easy for Him. And yet I don't know what else He has for me to learn between now and then. Every day -- maybe several times a day -- I'm going to have to accept His peace and just trust Him.

Amazingly (although why I should be so amazed, I don't know) He took care of the other 3 stressors...

... tonight we had a "rehearsal for the rehearsal" for Sunday's wedding and it all went so incredibly good

... my meetings with my June clients went great and I forged some great relationships with new vendors

... and my friend Kelly (who works for a CPA) insisted that I drop off all my tax info/receipts to her this afternoon so that she could do my taxes for me. Kelly, my debt of gratitude to you is immense. And I'm still not sure why you took that on when you are so incredibly overwhelmed doing the taxes of your paying clients!

As icing on the cake, I was contacted out of the blue by a local wedding venue that had stopped doing weddings and now is starting back up again. They are doing a marketing blitz of sorts (including an interview on Portland's most popular radio station) and they want to meet with me about being their preferred wedding planner. Can you believe it?? It would entail a lot of free advertising for me (and hopefully some great business!). I'm so excited I can hardly stand it -- we meet on the 25th. They also invited me to add to the gift basket they have to take to the radio station staff... they asked me to be sure to include my business card and brochure.

They, as well as one other wedding venue I have a good relationship with, have already asked to be featured on my new wedding blog.

Today God blessed us with beautiful spring weather. I didn't get a chance to enjoy being outside; however, tomorrow is going to be even warmer and I am definitely taking advantage.

Before I close, maybe I should ask you to pray for Michael.... he was already going to have my boys most of the day on Sunday while I coordinate this wedding; however, he got real brave and asked if he could just take them Saturday evening (while I'm at rehearsal) and keep them overnight as well. Wow! I'll get to go help tuck them in when I'm done, but I will be traveling home alone that night to sleep in while Michael gets to experience "parenting" for another 24 hours. He might need a prayer or two!! He's got lots of fun things planned for the boys and they are so excited. I've said it before... he's amazing! :)

Speaking of Michael, his aunt sent me a long, handwritten letter this week. It was so sweet! Pam, I know you're reading this and I just want to say thank you!! I can't even remember the last time I got a hand-written letter. It really made my day. I hope to return the favor....