God's Perfect Timing

As I sit here in my chair thinking of all the wonderful things God has done for me lately, I am struck by His awesome power and His amazing love and His faithful provision.  I have been overwhelmed by the goodness of God in the last few months.  There are so many things He has done for me--both little and BIG.  I would love to share a few examples. . .

Here's a little example. . .

I bought a car a couple of years ago, and it had been a rental before I purchased it.  The dealership only had one key for it, and ever since I bought the car, I was a little nervous that I would lose my keys or lock my keys in the car.  My car is a Chrysler, and they have those weird keys that are attached to the unlock remote thingies (usually a little pricey to get a copy made).  It hasn't really been an option yet (financially) to order a second key, so I've just been very careful to pay attention to where my keys are at all times!  

Well, a couple of weeks ago, I decided that it really was time to bite the bullet and find a place that can make a second key for me.  I didn't really want to spend the money, but I figured it would be better than calling road side assistance to get me into my car if I locked my keys in.  And if I lost my keys, I'd just have to get another one made anyway, plus deal with the extra hassle.  My dad told me about a place that makes remote lock keys a little cheaper than other places, so I decided I would check it out.  Literally, the very next day my friend had a flat tire (not so fun for her, but she had a warranty on the tires so she didn't have to pay anything to get it fixed), and she was unable to find her jack.  So I went to meet her so she could use mine (she finally located hers under her driver's seat--driver's seat???), and as I was pulling my jack out of it's little compartment, I saw a little ziplock baggie with a spare key in it.  God's perfect timing!  I know it's not a serious expense, but it's still money I don't have to spend on an extra key!  God is good!

Here are two BIG examples of God's perfect timing. . .

I won't go into detail, but I've been trying to refinance my house for a few months.  We hit a few speed bumps with the appraisal coming in low, and it caused a few hitches in the flow of traffic, so to speak.  The bank and I were able to work together to work out all the wrinkles, but it was absolutely God's timing and provision that ultimately allowed it to work out.  God put a little bug in my mom's ear, and she put a little bug in my dad's ear who then went to talk to a banking acquaintance of his who then gave me some helpful advice on what questions to ask and what info to give to get my loan officer and the loan processor to reopen the file and work out the details.  Once they reopened the file and started looking at all the fees I should/should not be paying vs. the credits I should be getting, they were able to work it out, and the new loan amount was reduced by enough to allow the loan to go through.  One of the credits they were able to work in was from a government program that I qualified for b/c of the area I live in.  According to the bank, they only JUST started this program in my area, and my bank is one of the few providers for it.  I closed on the refinance yesterday.  God is so good!

Back in December of last year I received an unexpected bonus check from my employer.  I was so excited!  I decided that I was going to use that money to install new flooring in parts of my house!  I started looking at different options, and found a flooring that I thought would match my planned decor perfectly.  Unfortunately it was a little higher than I wanted to pay, and I would only be able to do the living room and hall.  No problem, I can do something else in the rest of the house, I decided.  However, a few unexpected expenses came up and I was unable to do it at the time.  I was very disappointed--the carpet in my house severely needs to be removed!  However, I figured that God knew I would need that money to pay for some things.

Then my tax return came.  Great!  NOW I can get my new floors!  Nope, it just didn't work out.  What I had set aside for new flooring ended up being used for the loan application on the refinance.  No matter, I can use the money I'll be getting back from escrow on the old loan or the money I'll be saving from the month I won't have to make a mortgage payment!  When I found out the bank denied my loan, I was, again, sorely disappointed.  But, as I said, God is good, and He worked out the loan!  Viola, I have the option to redo some of my flooring again!

Here's where God's perfect timing comes in!  I went to the store that carries the flooring I had picked out, and I found out that it has been discontinued.  The store I went to has no more of it, but another store a few miles further does still have 700 square feet of it.  He said he would give me a "good deal" on it if I would by the whole amount.  Well, I only need about 400 square feet to do the main floors (the bedrooms could wait), and the price discount wasn't enough to make it worth it to me to buy the whole 700sf.  I had a budget I did not want to exceed, and the deal wasn't quite good enough.  So, I went home to think about it and consider which rooms I really wanted to do.  The next day, I called the other store location to see if they really had the flooring in stock, and the gentleman confirmed that, yes, they did have it in stock, and since this particular flooring has been discontinued, they were selling it at half the original price!  A-MEN!!!  Now THAT was a deal!  I swooped that one up!  That discount lowered the price to less than it would have cost me to do the 400 sf at the price the other location quoted me.  In fact, when I went to pick up the flooring, the final price was $120 less than my budgeted amount, and I am able to replace ALL of the carpet in my house.  God is good!

If I had bought the flooring back in December or January, there's no way I would have gotten that kind of discount.  Now, b/c of God's perfect timing, I will be able remove all of the carpet in my house, and replace it with the flooring I chose along with some very beautiful porcelain tile that my parents are giving me left over from a job they had.  They have just enough tile to do one of the bedrooms and, possibly, both bathrooms (eventually).

Amazing.

Coolest Clock E-VER!

So, one of my besties had a birthday back at the beginning of December.  We both love making stuff, so I thought to myself, "Self, why not give her something we can make together.  Hmmm. . ."  I had to think of something we could make.  Ok, her bedroom is black, white, and pink.  (Love that color scheme!)  Her favorite things in the world are her four animals.  She could use a great big clock b/c she's always late.  (Heh. . . heh!  Don't hit me, Sam!  It hurts!)  And the idea was born. . .

I designed the clock, and bought all the necessary parts.  Except for the most important piece: the wood.  My favorite daddy in the whole wide world gave me a piece.  And cut it for me.  Twice.  But we won't go there right now.  Here it is all finished.  What do you think?

(Honestly, I don't care what you think.  I love it!)  ;)

I decided to make each corner of the clock a corner for each of the animals.  I put their names and a whole bunch of words describing each pet into Microsoft word, and played around with the fonts and text sizes.  It only took 4 days!  The girls are in opposite corners on two different pink papers, and the boys are in the other two corners on black and white papers.  I printed the boys' names and descriptive words on pink card stock so it would stand out against the black and white paper.  The girls' names and descriptive words were printed on white card stock.  (I thought the pink would get lost on the pink paper.  I would have liked to have done white font on black paper, but I wasn't sure how to do that.)

Here goes:

First, I asked my dad oh-so-sweetly to cut a piece of wood for me.  He has a stash of 3/4 in. plywood that worked quite nicely for our purposes.  He also drilled a hole for me.  He's the best.  He did it twice for me.  I won't say why b/c it was my fault.

We primed the wooden letters (that we found at Hobby Lobby quite by accident), the board, and four wooden cabinet knobs that we used as feet on the back b/c the clock mechanism stands away from the board.  We spray painted all the wooden parts a glossy black.

We spray painted the clock hands the Raspberry color.  I'm not sure they stand out enough, so we might have to repaint them a glossy black, too.

Then we modpodged the four papers to the board.  We used wood glue to glue the wooden letters in their places so we could get the words placed correctly around them.  We modpodged the words after that.

 Glue is still wet.

Just trying to get an idea for the placement.  These words go on the top squares.

We sealed all the words with a final coat of modpodge.  After that was all done, all that was left was the feather boa and the clock hands and mechanism.  We used Fabritac to adhere the feather boa around the clock. Lemme tell ya!  Gluing a feather boa to something ain't easy!  Sheesh.  I hope I never have to do that again!  We also used a staple gun on in.  The clock hands and mechanism were easy.  We used wood glue for the cabinet knobs/feet thingies (of which I do not have a picture).

It's pretty big.  The board is 18" x 18", and the boa adds a few inches to either side.  I think it's adorable, though!

I'm going to make myself one using the first board my dad cut for me.  But much different.  And without the boa.

You have given life to me. . .

I will serve thee
Because I love thee
You have given life to me
I was nothing
Until you found me
You have given life to me

Heartaches, broken pieces
Ruined lives are why you died on Calvary
Your touch, was what I longed for
You have given life to me

I will serve thee
Because I love thee
You have given life to me
I was nothing
Until you found me
You have given life to me