Confession

Here's what I have been struggling with lately.

Regret.

We should have...and then we could have.... and after that we most likely would have.....

When we bought our first house...a 1928 fixer upper on the outskirts of Hancock Park...more like on the edge of Korea Town....we paid $305 K for it.   We poured our heart and souls into that mission style two story at Olympic & Lucerne.  Painted the entire  outside and the entire inside without professional help.  Hung wall paper.  Planted ground cover and cacti.  Put up a fence with trailing morning glories.   It was our little oasis in the city.

Well...long story short...the LA riots and the 1994 earthquake happened.  Our home went down in value.  Way down.

Our marriage was in trouble around this time.  Relationships were idols and were being stripped away. Careers were idols and were being stripped away. 

We decided to leave L.A. and move to Scottsdale, Arizona.

I am grateful for our time in AZ.  I am grateful that we had the privilege of raising our children in such a beautiful environment.  Having the Sonoran Desert as a backyard playground is not something to take for granted.  Their childhood memories will be touched by enchantment, I am quite sure.

The thing I cherish most about the Lord's sovereignty in having us live in AZ...is the fact that we met people who we never would have had we not lived there.  We lived life amongst cherished loved ones. 

This is what I am struggling with however...

Some of the people we were in community with gave us advice over the years which I now realize came from a fear based place.

It all seemed to make sense at the time.  And maybe it even did...partially.  In the flesh especially.   

There is no denying that some of the huge life decisions made by us had their roots sown in fear.

As soon as that became clear....it was easy for me to break out of that mindset and make adjustments.

Hence our move back to L.A.

It is a move which was based in obedience.  Our living here is an act of obedience. 

As the new year is ushered in...I am owning my struggle.  Was the time in AZ supposed to happen?  Was it correct?  The church we were so deeply involved in is not a place we would ever attend today.  Relationships which we thought were the forever sort  have dissipated like vapor.  The house in the desert...the one we loved a lot for so long has been sold and strangers are living in it.

Our one time little oasis at Olympic & Lucerne has gone up in value.  Way up.  It is now worth 1.2 million.  We couldn't buy it if we wanted to.

Instead, we are living in a 1,100 square ft. rental. (It's quaint & adorable.  I am not complaining.)

Is this how it was supposed to go or is the Lord turning our fear based choices into something good because we love Him?

I don't know.

I haven't a clue.

The enemy is able to have a field day with this if I allow him to.

Instead...I confess this sin  of  regret to you.

Regret in this case has it's angry teeth  gnawing via a serving of  distrust. The sin of Distrust.  I am struggling to trust the ONE who is trustworthy.

And that brings me to pride.  The sin of pride.  I am struggling with the temptation to think I know better.   Better than the ONE who knows all.  

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.  James 5:16


Here is my unsolicited advice to you.

Seek out people who will push you into hard places.  Seek out people who will not give one ounce of consideration to tickling your ears.  Seek out people who are living fearlessly for the Lord.  Consider the choices before you and DO NOT allow fear to interfere with HIS instructions to you.

Excited for all the Lord does in 2016. 

12 Questions About the Syrian Refugee Crisis...the list may grow as I process

 I would love responses. 

1.  What is the role of our government in general and in this crisis?

2. What do you think about the President of our government...the one who has a history of opposing things of a Biblical nature...to pull out the "widows and orphans" slam in regards to unvetted Syrian refugees?

3.  Regarding ^ that btw....Is anyone out there under the assumption that radicalized men are not radicalizing women and children?

4.   What is the role of the Church in this crisis?  Local?  Global?

5.  Is the role of the gvt. and the role of the church different?

6.  Specifically to secular folks/ the "non-religious" ones...what have you done to help a Syrian refugee lately?

7.  Specifically to ....CHRISTIANS...what have YOU done to help a Syrian refugee lately?
 
8.  Specifically to secular folks/the "non-religious" ones....please explain to me how you desperately and passionately wanting to help the Syrian refugees lines up with your belief system?  The survival of the fittest one.  I'm lost.

9.   Specifically to the Christians...until you get off your high horses and take in or habitually visit a Syrian refugee...giving him/her the clothes off your back and feeding him/her from your table et. etc. etc. ...or supporting financially (until it hurts,) physically, emotionally, spiritually etc. etc. etc.  those who are...your self serving and self deceiving platitudes about continuing to bring them unvetted into our towns and cities...are falling on deaf ears.

10.  To everyone...Is there more than one way to help?

11.  Given Current Events...what is the wisest way to help?

12. What will YOU do?

Samaritan's Purse

Public Apology to Eugene Scott

UPDATE: 5-7-19

Well, it's been a while.  The Lord has revealed some things over time.  Nothing surprises me.  Things make a lot more sense.

Take Away:  Trust the Lord's promptings. Act on them. In love. Even if the promptings are not received in love.

_______________________________________________

I met a dear sister for a bite to eat yesterday.  During our time together, she tells me she feels as if I didn't do a good job of loving a fellow believer during a social media back and forth.  He and I have had ongoing differences over the past few years...aired publicly and privately over fb walls and in boxes.  Try as we may, we don't see eye to eye more often than not.  After a recent go around...I asked him if he identified as a Christian.  I had known him to do so in the past and I was trying to figure out if there had been some sort of shift. This hurt him...I hear from my sister...our mutual friend.

After being deleted & blocked over on fb, I was feeling sassy and posted about the incident, not naming names...but we share one or two intelligent friends and truthfully it would not have bothered me if they had put 2 and 2 together. I have no idea if my sassy post was seen by him, because we were no longer "friends" by this time.

So here it is...

The truth is....Eugene Scott and I have trouble. He's created in God's image...abnormally handsome, intelligent, articulate, passionate, charming, fun to be around in person (ADDITION since original posting/ ...and dapper.) I'm not really sure what the core issue is...but I do know how it has been manifesting. On my end...I want to communicate one of two things on his posts.  Either a Biblical worldview or a more Conservative leaning one.  I have failed to do that in a manner in which he has felt loved and that has wounded him.  Eugene Scott, CNN political reporter, I am sorry.  Please forgive me for my failure to love you well. You drive me crazy with your opposing views on matters and methods/style of communicating them and I am certain you feel similar things in regards to me.

That does not mean I don't want you in my vicinity.

Iron sharpens iron.

I am thankful for this one holding me accountable, pushing me deeper, and kicking my sassy butt with her wisdom and discernment.

* Eugene was sent a private message prior to this public apology. 

"The great crisis comes spiritually when a man has to emerge a bit farther on than the creed he has accepted." - Oswald Chambers

Mother's Day

Let me tell you about our kids.

Our first is in Heaven.  How we celebrated this precious life and wept openly over our earthly loss.

Braverijah Sage, our second child and first born son,  is a gentle soul.  He is strong.  He is steady.  Like a rock.  He is wise.  He has understanding. He has taught me how to trust more.   

Our third child is in Heaven.  Such joy.  And such terrible sorrow.

Mcabe Justus, our fourth child and youngest son, lives life boldly.  What you see is what you get.  He is emotional and tender-hearted.  He feels deeply. He is a truth-teller.  And so loving.  And so forgiving. He has taught me how to live a better life.

Our fifth child is in Heaven.  Utter excitement and then heavy heavy grief.

Galilee Polina, our oldest daughter, has challenged me and the Lord has used our relationship to grow me in ways that I never saw coming and never thought possible.  She is raw.  She is curious.  She is a fighter.  She is determined.  She is learning how to rest.  She has taught me much about love and being loved and she has grown my patience.  

Jemima Bakytgul, our middle daughter,  is motivated.  She is disciplined.  She is joy filled. She is discerning and wisdom pours from her lips. She has taught me how to walk in truth and leave the past in the past. 

Our eighth child is in Heaven.  The kids gathered around me to hear the heartbeat.  And the
ever-so-sad technician had to call the doctor into the room because there was none.  Pain.  Enormous & stabbing pain.

Zion Evangeline is our ninth child and our youngest girl. She is the most intuitive person I know.  She is loyal.  She is sold out.  Nothing but absolute truth will you get.  She has taught me how to be present...and how to be more ME. 

Our tenth child is in Heaven.  Hope and dreams.... and then tears which turn into sobs.

These are my children.  I am their mother.

Happy Mother's Day to all my dear friends who have been blessed with the gift of motherhood.


Children are a blessing and a gift from the Lord.      Psalm 127:3

To our daughters' birthmothers...thank you for their lives.

To my friends who grieve on this Mother's Day...I grieve alongside you.  

Easter Sunday 2015

On this day...in the 

Psalm 22:28

When your son signs a contract to travel to Europe right now and you are the sort of person who follows CURRENT EVENTS.

Then you remind yourself that He's got the whole world in HIS hands.  And you even say it out loud so that you can hear yourself saying it. 


Psalm 22:28 For the kingdom [is] the LORD'S: and he [is] the governor among the nations.

I would like to document here my overwhelming thankfulness towards and complete trust in the Lord.  

I traveled a lot as a kid...and young adult.  Europe...Asia...Australia...all over America...and it provided me a beautiful education and enriched my life in ways I have a hard time articulating.  Experiencing other cultures is fuel to my soul ...giving me flight and  something which grounds me at the same time.

As home-educators...my prayer early on was that our kids would be blessed with travel opportunities as I truly believe the Lord uses travel to open eyes and hearts.

He has answered that specific prayer for the boys with a "Yes."  

Braverijah is packing.

Halloween

October 31, 2016

It's Halloween again.  Long story short....Brad and I did Halloween growing up.  After salvation....we didn't see Halloween in the same way.   We didn't raise the kids doing Halloween.  When our boys hit their late teens.... they started dressing up with friends and going out to parties.  Our girls have dabbled in Harvest Parties...dressing up...getting candy.  I don't remember a time after Braverijah and Mcabe were 6 and 4 that  any of our kids trick or treated.

Still don't like Halloween.  Still have an opposition in my spirit towards it.

This is the first year since moving to LA that our girls aren't even mentioning dressing up.  (We aren't involved with a church that has an event planned this year.) Our boys went to a costume party Saturday night.  I have no idea what they are doing tonight.

This article came across by FB feed this morning.

-----------------------------------------
Previous Halloween"ish"  posts...

here

here

here

here

here

When you have the spiritual gift of discernment...you have this ability to identify things as either "of the Lord" or "not of the Lord"...and usually...instantaneously.

For me...celebrating Halloween is not of the Lord. 

As a family...we have navigated this conviction in various ways over the years.   Early on ...soon after Brad's and my salvation...we tried the dressing up as Biblical characters route.

Stupid.

We have ignored the yearly event altogether... focusing on Reformation Day instead.  One year we watched Luther as a family.  Just borrowed it from the library...so we'll watch it again sometime this week...I suppose.  
 here

here

here

This is always good.

We have gone to church "Harvest Festivals."

Eh.  Depending on the church.  Depending on the atmosphere.

We have thrown Costume Parties.

Fun.  

(btw....I much prefer when any festivities occur on a day/night other than October 31st.)

Last night we attended a Game Night at a friend's home.  Some people dressed up.  Others did not.  There was a snack table...hot cider on the stove and a prayer time.  We prayed for Hollywood...for the lost in Hollywood.

A fun time.  Also, a somewhat somber time.

All in all...my thoughts about Halloween have not swayed or shifted in any way since becoming a Christian.

I do not think celebrating Halloween is of the Lord. 

It's a dark night.

I am beyond confident that the Lord is victorious over darkness.  Jesus is risen from the dead.  He has conquered death.  The enemy is a dog on a leash.

I simply do not think celebrating Halloween is honoring to the Lord.

We did dress up for this "Game Night" at our Christian friend' home.  Again...I really wish it wasn't on Halloween Night.  Felt sorta yukkkkkky. 

Probably won't do it again.

 

Celebrating...that's what we need to define.  And also....rejecting legalism and walking boldly and confidently and humbly in conviction.

Those the part we are learning to navigate year after year.

LA exploration

 Our friend, Lacy invited us down to the Cooper Design Space...to her showroom to pick out some footwear.  She said,  "Bring large totes." I took that to mean..."Bring.... a....... large tote" ...so I showed up with that orange one below....

She sent us on our way with this  ^ HUGE box of sneakers!

What an enormous surprise and a blessing beyond belief.  Generous people make my life.  I swear...there is nothing like it.  Generosity.

Jemima has been busy busy busy...working on new designs.  Her workroom was in need of fabric...so since we were only a few blocks away from where all the fantastic fabric is found...we went shopping for new fabric.  LOVE LOVE LOVE what she chose...although we have come to the realization that I am way more into patterns...especially anything tribal or ethnic looking...than she is.  

After our fabric shopping expedition we were hungry soooooo.... we headed over to ...

Grand Central Market  which is a pretty cool place.  Basically it's a food court smack in the center of downtown with lots of food options to choose from.

 And lots of interesting things to see and people to meet.   This guy...Kiki stopped me cuz he liked my poncho.  It reminded him of his tribe in New Mexico. 

10 minutes later...I passed Kiki on the street.  He was hanging with his pals drinking.  Sharing a passed around 40 oz bottle.

One thing about LA is that there are homeless people EVERYWHERE.  Literally everywhere.  I'm not sure how I'm feeling about it.  It's sorta like I am numb.  Like paralyzed. 

What the heCk?????

This is not okay.

Being numb is not okay.

It's not apathy that I am feeling.  It's different than that.  It's a numbness.

Not okay at all. 

And my word...the spiritual darkness we encounter at practically every turn.  So so so so dark.   This store literally almost made me ill.

A heightened sensitivity to things not of the Lord lately....I find myself experiencing.

And just across the street....I had no idea this beautiful building was within reach.  What a gorgeous space.  The Bradbury Building. 

Lifestyle of Learning in our Home

Braverijah graduated "early" and with less Math but more community college credits than Mcabe.

Mcabe graduated "earlier" than Braverijah and with some community college credits.

Galilee is graduating "late" cuz she still has stuff to work on.  So far...no community college credits.

Jemima graduated last June..."early"and without community college credits.  This morning...she went through our home library and chose 1/2 dozen History books to read this coming year and is committed to going to go through a Grammar program because she's weak in that area.
 
Zion...she's officially starting 6th Grade...but only because that fits in with what we want to do in regards to Sunday School at church.  She's working at a lower level in some subject areas and is way advanced in others. 

If I had to do it all over again...this home-educating thing...I'd buy less...stress less, and worry less.

















Zion's 2014-2015 Syllabus :

Math / Saxon
Science / Apologia Botany
Latin & Vocab / English From The Roots Up
Grammar / Easy Grammar
Spelling / Spelling Power
Writing / Skype Class incorporating IEW & Any Child Can Write
Literature / Newbery Titles
History / Online Veritas Old Testament & Egypt
Dance / Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Spanish
Art / Misc.
Various Field Trips and Cultural Events
Service / Children's Hunger Fund
Bible / Weekly sermons / various speakers & faith events / Sunday School


Bradley and I will be attending...

..and the girls will be joining us as part of our ongoing education.   We will also be leading a Book Group in our home...Respectable Sins. 

Lifestyle of Learning ...one of the BEST things that ever happened to our family.  My anxious heart calmed.  My convictions were affirmed.  I grabbed a hold of the message and have been walking it out to the best of my ability ever since. 

July 4th

We are quite pleased to have a Hobby Lobby open in Burbank today.

To show our support...I bought a picture frame and some art supplies for Zion and some red, white, & blue party things for a BBQ we are going to tomorrow.

The BIG SMILE on my face is in response to learning that the store is CLOSED on SUNDAYS!!!!!!

I believe strongly in civil discourse.

That girl ^ above...although quite beautiful...had no idea what she was talking about.  And she was angry.

The guy...the one hiding up there ^ ...he was loud.  Nothing he shouted made any sense at all.  Illogical at best.  His sign obviously took a lot of work.  I could at least appreciate that.  

Understanding the Biblical concept of not casting pearls before swine...I looked for an open door...cuz...I've found without fail during this walk I'm on with the Lord...that where He guides...He provides.

I might have found one in Medley...

In spite of the noise around us and the rude interruptions ...we spent about a half an hour together.  We had a mutual respect.  We shared ideas.  We made eye contact.  I don't think our voices got too raised.  If they did it was only cuz the enemy did not want us connecting and threw every loud mouthed fool in between us at every opportunity.

The bottom line for me.  When with child...the body inside a woman's body is not her body.  Any drug that is intended to kill a defenseless human body is demonic in nature and conceived in the pit of hell.  Abortion is not health care.  And one person's health care needs does not automatically trump another's religious freedom. 

I tried to explain to Medley that what she is wishing for leads to a very dangerous place & places us all on a slippery slope.

She became emotional and removed herself from the discussion.  I would not let her go though...without a hug.  And well wishes for her desire to have a baby.  She's actually currently trying to become pregnant.

I honestly do not have much of an idea of what was taking place around me while this discussion with Medley was happening.  I'm told...people were filming.  Hopefully something I said...will be planted in a heart somewhere or maybe something I said will be used to water a seed that has already been planted?  Who knows?????

Only the Lord does.

The results of our obedience are never ours to take ownership of or cling to.

Hope.  That's what I have.

A reporter from The Burbank Leader approached as I was headed back to my car.  She asked me a few questions.  Was very polite.  Seemed fair & balanced...level headed.

When I got home...I in boxed her publication.

Here's what ^ that fuzzy part of the message says...

 The publication's response...

 ...I sent them that smiley face with the BIG SMILE in return.

Then I went and got my art piece and framed it with the frame that I bought at Hobby Lobby on July 4th. 

Los Angeles Living

The Getty

I have no idea why we haven't done this yet...but one day I'm gonna pack a picnic and we are gonna hang at the Getty allllllllllll daaaaaaaaaaaaay loooooooooong.  The grounds are beautiful.  I cannot think of a more pleasing spot to do lessons.

The Gabba Gallery

Upper right shot...Zion looked at me and rolled her eyes..."marijuana."

It was sorta obvious.

Whatever.

I love this space.  And the people who run it.  So family friendly.  So generous.  Talkative...not snooty.  Friendly people. 

Cafe Gratitude

Super New Agey.  But delish!  I talked with this guy for a bit while Brad was in the restroom.  Very sweet.  Very helpful. Nice smile.

Cashier:  Are you guys Christians?

Brad:  Yeah...wait, How did you know?????  (then)  Oh my tattoo.  (then)  Do you go to Reality?

Cashier:  No.  Mosaic.

Brad:  What's your name?

Cashier:  Conner.

Brad:  I'm Brad.  This is Dawn...Zion and Galilee.

(then)

Me:  I love that there is a believer working here!  Can I take a photo?  I need to document that there is a believer working at Cafe Gratitude.

Cashier:  Sure.  

I LOVE THAT THERE IS A BELIEVER WORKING AT CAFE GRATITUDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Go say "hi" to Conner.

Jehovah Jireh

UPDATE:  I've fixed a few things in the post...after a gentle rebuke and an exhortation from a friend :)

Okay so this will be a longish post...but I MUST get it out...for memories sake.

This blog is sorta like my journal.  I guess it is my journal.

Sometimes...I go back and look at posts from a long time ago.  And it brings all sorts of emotions to the surface.  Joy...sorrow...laughter...tears...awe & wonder...peace.  Cuz I get to see the mighty hand of the Lord weaving the tapestry of our lives.

So....we came to LA thinking Bradley was gonna be acting.  Not right away...but some time soonish.

When things took longer than anticipated...he took a day job.  He was doing well...moving along nicely...trained...promised things....opportunities....promotions......advancements...etc...

...then suddenly the job went away.

Completely unexpected.  Out of the blue.

Like one day it was there and the next day it was not.

All because one guy...the guy with decision making power lied and manipulated.  His reasons?  No clue.  Not worth pursuing.  

Rather than freaking out...we sorta clearly knew the Lord was in it.  There was no way Brad was gonna be acting again if he progressed within this company.

Since then...he's done everything he possibly can to try to find acting work.

And other work....like casting work...production work...so many resumes have been sent out...so many phone calls.

Silence.

That brings us to yesterday.....

We had an appointment to get to in Costa Mesa.  Like an hour away...with a financial planner.

The girls were settled with things to do at home...we hopped in the car and we took off.  The road was clear...it was after 10:00 so there was no traffic.  All good.  We had our questions in mind.  The big bullet points things we wanted to hit upon.  We had already met with our banking institution as we've been thinking quite deeply... for a while now... about responsible things ...like Do we sell the house or not sell the house?????  It brings in income...and the market is improving...so the value of it is rising...but could we do better in the stock market?  

Whomever this financial planning group was...we knew the recommend came from our banking institution and them....we trust.  Long time relationship.  Multi-generational relationship etc. 

We are driving along at peace with the out of work season we are in and holding our future with open hands...excited to see how the Lord will work this all out...all the while...wanting to be good stewards of what we do have...so knowing we must take steps to be faithful and diligent. 

The car starts feeling weird.  It's slowing down. On the freeway.

Brad says..."Oh NO!  We're out of gas????!!????"

I had known we were on empty...meant to fill it up after my trip to the $0.99 Store the day before ...but never did.  He was so distracted with gathering paperwork and directions to Costa Mesa...he never even looked at the gas gauge.

Here we were in Downey...running out of gas.  Brad managed to pull off the freeway and make a right hand turn on fumes.  That move landed us directly in front of a large church.

OH mY GoD!  You are so good to us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WE ARE STUPID PEOPLE, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.  BUT YOU ARE FAITHFUL TO US, LORD!!!!!!

WE RUN OUT OF GAS AND YOU HAVE IT HAPPEN RIGHT IN FRONT OF A LARGE CHURCH!!!!!!!!!!!!  WHERE THERE ARE LOTS OF RESOURCES SO THEY WILL FOR SURE HAVE A WAY TO HELP US!!!!!!!

Brad leaves me in the car with the hazards blinking and he heads for the church office. 

Not 5 minutes later...I see him walking towards the car empty handed.  Then he does a double take and stops to talk to some guy who just pulled into the parking lot in a mini van...and returns to me with a huge smile and a gas can.  A gas can filled with gasoline!

The pastor was of no help.  BUT...Junior...(AN AUTO PARTS SUPPLY COMPANY EMPLOYEE wearing his grease stained work shirt!!!!!!)... a guy picking up his daughter from pre-school was.

Junior not only had a gas can filled with gasoline but when the engine wouldn't turn over...he knew how to get the air out of our tank so that the car would start again.

Junior got down on the ground and under our car to make it happen.

Brad kept apologizing for not having any cash...but only a debit card on him.  Junior just smiled and said..."Don't worry about it.  It's no problem."

He pointed us to the nearest gas station and not 15 minutes after our unexpected detour...we drove away.  I was blowing him kisses until he disappeared from view.

After filling the tank...I googled the church and called the office as Brad navigated us back onto the freeway.

Secretary:  Hello...(UPDATED: BLAH BLAH BLAH)  Church.

Me:  Hi. My name is Dawn.  My husband, Bradley was just in your office asking for help from your POD.  Can I please speak to him?

Secretary:  Ummmmm..... sure.

(wait wait wait)

POD:  Hello.

Me:  Hi.  My name is Dawn.  My husband, Bradley was just in your office asking for help after our car ran out of gas in front of your church.  Are you the gentleman he spoke with?

POD:  Yes.

Me:  Well..I must tell you something.  We are distracted today...on our way to a meeting...and when we ran out of gas...stupid thing to do, I know...BUT when we did....we were so excited that the Lord had provided help for us by having you...a church... be RIGHT THERE that we laughed out loud at His provision.  Sadly though...you were of no help whatsoever.  When Bradley explained our situation...you remained unhelpful.  When he asked you if you had a gas can on campus.  You said "No."  A one word answer.  When he asked you if there was a maintenance department...maybe someone there who could be of help...you said..."no."  Another one word answer.  When he said "Well, who blows the leaves off your grounds?  Maybe they have some gas???"  You said, "The gardeners."  When he asked if maybe someone could give him a quick ride to the nearest gas station you said, "No."

(no response)

Me:  All this to say...Sir...today you were a really crappy witness.  We are believers but what if we had not been?  You failed miserably in this...but there is good news.  There is a man in your parking lot...named Junior.  His kid goes to school here.  He is amazing!  We are so thankful for him. You should really meet him.

(long pause)

POD:  Well, thank you for your input.

Me:  You are welcome.  Have a great day.

(click)

(UPDATE:  This guy was having none of us.  Not outwardly anyway.  He appeared to be hard-hearted with Brad.  He appeared to be hard-hearted with me.)

Brad and I are amazed by the Lord's provision.  It did not come from an expected source.  But it came.

We pull up to the office building in Costa Mesa and pray before entering.  We pray for wisdom.  We pray for discernment.  We pray for our finances.  For our future.

We know nothing about this company.  Nothing.

Well, Brad knows a little.  Cuz he did some research.  I know nothing.

Then...just before we enter...Brad tells me that two of the guys in the office received their educations at Masters.

AT MASTERS!

k... might not mean much...but MASTERS!  It might mean something.  Like the Lord has gone before us...in this whole financial planning/provision thing.

We spent two hours discussing matters with the guy assigned to us.  He was great.  Knowledgeable...helpful...etc. etc. etc.

Towards the end of the meeting...as we were sort of wrapping up...I asked him which of the 2 guys in the office were Masters guys.  He named them and said, "Of course" ...when I asked if it was a possibility that we meet them.

One guy was just down the hall so he called him in.

The things I am interested in when discussing $/investments...as a follower of Christ...that's what I wanted to mention to this Masters guy.  Things like...Are you guys okay with us not investing in let's say a pharmaceutical company which would be building up an industry which I am attempting to tear down here on earth?  Or...let's say there's a company out there hat has an obvious liberal agenda...would you guys be fine with us saying THAT company is a NO GO for us  as they are supporting the very things that make us want to puke? 

This Masters guy was AWESOME!  I don't know how many opportunities he gets to discuss his faith publicly in this office...but he went for it.  With a gusto.  Not ashamed in any way of the gospel and his calling to the professional world of finance.

Our guy ...the guy we had just spent two hours with...sat politely and listened to us as we went on and on about the Lord.  I have no idea where he is at with the Lord...but after us telling the Masters guy the whole running out of gas story..he had a better idea of who we are and where we are at with the Lord.  And who his colleague is...and where he is at with the Lord. 

On the way out to our car...after being validated...in the elevator...Brad gets a text message from his agent.

All this to say...

As far as provision goes...

The Lord has gone before Bradley and I.

He has a plan for us.  It is for our good and His glory.

We have no idea how the Lord used us in the (UPDATED: BLAH BLAH BLAH)  Church of Downey today... (UPDATE:  We all fall short and error daily and usually hourly) or in that financial office...but He is at work.

 And He has it all under control.

BEST part of that text from Brad's loyal fan.  It was sent from Kazakhstan.  Kazakhstan!  Who the heCk has fans in Kazakhstan????????  idk...the out of work actor who cannot get arrested in Hollywood who has a kid from Kazakhstan and made a documentary film about his Kazakh adoption story maybe??????

It's a weaving.  We are living in a tapestry.

There is a WEAVER.

Jehovah Jireh.

Woke up to this from Ozzie today...