Last night when I tried to think of something to blog about today, I had nothing. I felt defeated, and my heart was heavy. These past six weeks haven’t been easy. If you follow this blog, you might recall how I recently got in touch with my best friend from childhood (you can read about that divine intervention here). Basically, I got fan mail from a girl named Kerri this summer, which lead me to think about my old bestie named Kerri, and I immediately felt this overwhelming need to find her. After searching, I came across her mom’s obituary from the day before. She died at the age of 57 from MS. This lady was a second mom to me from grades 4-12, and I just pictured her up there tapping God’s shoulder, going “I’m glad I’m home, but can you please send someone to help out my daughter?”
A few weeks later, when she was going to be a homeless single mom with three kids, we took them in. We told her they could stay, all expenses paid, until November 20th, which is when the foreclosure on our home will go through. You might be surprised by this, but between being a teacher and my book sales for 18 Things and 18 Truths, I still don’t have a lot of extra cash (*snort*), but I can say without a doubt this was the right thing to do. That doesn’t mean sharing a 1,700 sq ft home with eight people, five of them kids between the ages of 14 and 9, hasn’t been challenging! Then this past Saturday, our fridge broke and we lost all the food in it. At this point, there’s no reason to replace it, so it was just another challenge.
The hunt to find the right home to rent stepped up. But when you live in a town that’s continually ranked in the top 10 cities for the most foreclosures, it’s a tough market to find a rental in because EVERYONE HAS LOST THEIR HOME 😦
At every turn, something fell through. When I found out this morning the next two houses we were interested in were already off the market, I wasn’t surprised. I sighed, went to my dentist appointment to get my two crowns in (does that make me a princess now?), came home, and decided to take Kerri out to lunch and not worry about it (for once). When we got back to the house, not only did she have a call saying she got hired at an AMAZING restaurant, there was an alert for the PERFECT house from a realtor.
Here’s the thing. If I hadn’t anticipated my dental work not being an all day affair, I would’ve only taken off a half day, but based on past experience, I took a full. Because I took that full, I was able to respond the moment it was listed, go see it, and get an application. As I left, another lady was coming in who also wanted to rent the property. Keep in mind this was THE SAME HOUR THE PROPERTY WAS LISTED! I was racing the other applicant to the office, lol. But Daddy didn’t nickname me Jeff Gordon for nothing 😉
Plus, if the fridge didn’t break on Saturday, I wouldn’t have been looking so diligently because I figured we still had 6 weeks, and I would’ve missed this A*W*E*S*O*M*E deal!!
So yeah, WE GOT THE HOUSE! Thank you, Jesus! I couldn’t have asked for a better house for us, at the exact amount I prayed for, on the water (BONUS! Anyone have a paddle boat for sale?!), and down the canal, a view of my daughter’s high school. Being close to her school was the #1 thing I wanted since she’s involved with a million things and it’s only her Freshmen year (apparently, that’s what you need to do to get into an ivy league college . . . she’s done months hours of research).
When I got home from the realtor, I hugged Kerri and told her the move in date was October 15th because the office has to wait seven days. She looked at me and said, “October 15th would’ve been Mom’s 58th birthday.” Looks like Mom is up there bugging God about both of her children 🙂
Speaking of numbers, it’s also October 8th. Dan and I got married on August 8, 1998 because we like the significance the number 8 holds in the Bible . . . it’s the number of new beginnings.
Life is full of trade-offs. We lost a good woman, but gained an angel. We’re losing a house, but God is blessing us with a better one. It’s a whole new chapter in our lives, and I’m lucky to go forward with such an awesome Father (and angel mama) looking out for us.
Whatever you’re going through, hold onto faith that our God is sufficient to supply all our needs. When we hold onto faith, we gain wealth beyond belief.
Jamie Ayres 
Yay!!! God is awesome.
Amen, sista ❤
Our God is an awesome God! No way that all just happened.
So did I read right that YOUR house was foreclosed, but you were able to rent another one? Will Kerri and her family stay with you a little longer until she has a place?
We worry so much about our jobs and our income, but we forget the truth – they are not our source, God is. And he always provides.
Yes, in an area flooded with foreclosures, they don’t hold them against you or they’d Never get rid of their rentals. Kerri is staying in this house until November 20th, and then getting a place of her own . . . and with her new fabulous job and child support FINALLY coming in, it shouldn’t be a problem 🙂 Win, win!!
Amen to that! God provides for his children. And our faith that He will can keep us from so many worries.
Big congrats on the house!! That’s awesome news!! So happy for you! 😀
He provides better than anyone else I know 🙂
God is awesome and I’m so glad things have worked out for you. I’m crying tears of joy for you and Kerri.
Thanks, Jenny . . . how’s your new job going?
Not too bad. I’m just glad I have food on the table, you know? i love the people i’m working with and i’m learning tons. it’s all good.
Hugs! I’ve read your posts, but I suppose I still had no idea. Everything happens for a reason 🙂 good luck and keeping you in our prayers!
Thanks, Michelle!!!
I wish I could remember where I saw this- “When you’re someone’s answer to prayer we find ours.”
Exactly . . . it doesn’t make sense to most of the world, but when we give all we have, we receive more than we could ever imagine 🙂
I love this! Your positive attitude and faith just shine, Jamie, and I’m so glad to hear that things are working out well for you. 🙂
Looking forward to no more headaches this week!
And as if on cue, God just keeps providing what we need, when we need it it most. While I had seen a couple posts about your full house and an upcoming move, I didn’t realize all the struggles you had going on. I am elated for you that everything is falling neatly into place. And even more so, to know that you are all feeling the hand of Kerri’s Mom in the good things that are happening. What a wonderful comfort! Tonight, I was dealing with some of my own struggles and while I didn’t even know it, I needed a dose of your steadfast faith. So, thank you for sharing! I have tears of joy for you. And a freshened perspective.
And now you made me tear up again, lol 🙂
Out of all that devastation, wonderful things have happened. Your angel mom is taking care of you and your family! I’m happy the new house worked out for you!
Me, too, Suzanne!!
What a wonderful story. Just as soon as you “let go and let God,” BOOM! it all happened just perfectly. I’m happy for you.
Exactly!
Congrats. Looks like a trip to CC is in order! But not until you see our tree house. Lol.
Yes, and we would love that!!!
I love reading your posts, always an inspiration. It’s so easy to forget that God is in control and won’t let us down, especially when everything looks awful and impossible to us. But He pulls through every time. I’m always amazed how He does it. Now, if we can just figure out how to trust it and not always fall into that silly, unnecessary doubt all of the time. 😉
I think He is probably chuckling at us most of the time, going “REALLY?” The thing is, we only see what’s in front of us, but He sees the big picture.
Jamie, when I stop bawling, I might be able to formulate something that makes sense … sigh …
Okay. Once upon a time there was a record breaking blizzard … it is in the record books as the number one on the east coast for inches, deaths and duration. In the middle of that blizzard, with a four year old and a seven year old in tow … I managed to beat the Marshall. I figured that not even the City Marshall would go through with my eviction in the middle of a blizzard. I lost everything but my books, my records and one dresser … Yeah and my old Underwood manual typewriter. The kids were clueless and so I made it a game, an adventure and in the end it was a grand adventure that brought me to a place where we would remain for almost 20 years.
I have gone through many trials with the kids … a single mother … lost two businesses … went bankrupt and then in a moment of inspiration I moved 1200 miles to find a dream … my little cottage in the Sunshine State.
We get these moments in life … as we all know … our sadness is in equal measure to our joy.
I will think of you and your friend, of your kids and your determination to forge ahead with your angels on each shoulder. Oh, Yes … there are angels watching over us and some of them are mortal … you can find the mortal one by looking in the mirror 🙂
Florence, you’ve lived an incredible life, my friend! Thanks for always sharing your wisdom and kind words with me ❤
Great post. Thanks for sharing your positive outlook.
My pleasure!
That is so amazing and inspirational… congrats on everything starting to come together:)
Sooo excited!!
Yay for your new place! Your friend is super lucky to have you in her life.
What a wonderful outcome. After trying times, I’ve had some things come together for me. I’m sorry about the foreclosures. I also see a lot of them in Florida.