When you Wish upon a Star

Last week, I stayed up late and feverishly crunched numbers for the IRS. Okay, who am I kidding?! I'm an English major; I let Turbo Tax crunch for me, and I hit submit. But anyway, I got all excited to start thinking about all the money I was going to get back.

Oh, the options! I could take the family to Disney World.

I could re-do my kitchen. It's much needed!

I could pay to get the roof redone. It's very prone to leak.

There's this spot in the bathroom floor that's been damaged by water, and really the entire floor must get ripped out.

All of a sudden, it doesn't feel like all that much money. Especially when I put it up against my debt. If I can owe for it, I probably do. We've had a rough few years, and now it's all piled up.

So, there will be no trip. Stay strong Mickey; I will come see you again someday.

There will be no kitchen makeover. Stay strong Candice Olson; I'll call you for your Divine Design as soon as possible.

There will be more roof patching. Stay strong Dad! I need your roofing skills.

The floor will continue in sponginess. Stay strong floor surrounding the spot! PLEASE don't fall through!

The IRS will send me money, and I will pay it forward... to those I owe. Not fun, but obedient. I'm slowly going to buy myself back from slavery. I'm not going to wish on a star; I'm going to pray. I'm not sure my dreams will all come true, but I'm hopeful God will bless this.

"The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender's slave" (Proverbs 22:7)

How Things Go

Today was back to business. School flew by, nothing outlandish happened, and for me that's an accomplishment. I actually was greeted at the door of my room by a friend this morning who inquired about my Thanksgiving by asking, "What? It was good? Nobody hurt, sick, or dying in your house?"

THAT is just how this year has gone. If things are going right, then something must be wrong... we just don't know about it yet.

So, I made it through the day entire day and I was trying to make it out the door before my luck turned when a boy who I don't recognize as one of my students approaches. I'm thinking he's lost, I'll just send him on his way and be gone, but no.

"Hi, Mrs. Kelly. I was wondering if you'd be able to speak at FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) on Thursday?"

Gulp. "Um... This Thursday?"
"Yes."

"And today is Tuesday?"
"Yes."

Wow, that's some kind of notice. And it escapes before rational thought has even been processed, "Sure, I can do that."

See, I was totally caught off guard. For the last three years, I've been asked really at the very end of the school year. I figured, teachers get asked in order of likability, wisdom, athleticism all of which I'm not in the top ten for, so to the end of the list I go. So, being asked before Christmas break almost made me choke on my own spit.

What in the world am I going to speak on?! Last year, funny enough, I spoke on the I Peter passage about trails, detailing some of my own that had happened between December and when I was speaking in late April. Here's the short version.

December 22, 2007 -married (GOOD)
January 22, 2008- bi-lateral pneumonia (Bad! hospital one week, out of work for four weeks)
February 2008- all of us have strep (not good)
- my fairly new tires shred, leaving us stranded a ways from home (stressful)
March 2008- Husband struck in a hit and run accident. Car totaled. (terrible)
April 2008- I sprain my ankle, end up in walking boot (not fun).

And honestly, there were a few more things in that list, but really, you get the point. So, I went through that list to say, not that I'm a martyr, but that bad things do happen to Christians. We live in a fallen world, and were not promised an easy life. Then I did focus on the blessings and the way God had shown himself through all that mess.

I just don't think I should continue on that message. Although, after having hyperemesis, I sure do feel the trial theme continuing. After all, not every pregnant woman looses 25 pounds in the first four months of pregnancy due to excessive up-chucking! Not every woman needs a picc line just to get IV fluids every night or a medicine pump for a constant flow of anti-nausea medicine. I think if I mention any of that, the students will officially rename me Mrs. Job.

So, pray that I can pull something together and pray that there aren't anymore disasters added to this list for 2008. We're good for this year. (NO, I'm not tempting fate!).

P.S.- Leave some comments if you have any ideas! Or condolences for such a rough year.