Years ago I had an experience with a giraffe and a little girl that has changed my outlook of our Heavenly Father forever.
At the time we were destitute! The market had just crashed, we had 4 houses on the market, and now no job. The constant ring of the phone with angry debt collectors trying to collect something we just didn't have, was unbearable.
It was Christmas time, we had six children whose dreams were not dampered for a second by a repression. Chloe was about 8 and she knew for a fact that the only thing that would bring her joy was a 6 foot tall stuffed Giraffe, now this was easier to accomplish than the year she insisted that Santa could give her a real live fairy, or when she was sure a baby elephant would absolutely positively fit in her room, but a Giraffe that cost $150 was just absolutely impossible! We had been praying for a miracle just to keep the electricity on, a giraffe was just pure nonsense.
I was taught a valuable lesson that winter. Heavenly Father absolutely knows us each individually. He knows our hearts and the things we long for, and His ultimate desire is for us to see Him in our lives, for us to know without a crumb of doubt that He was the one behind the gifts we receive. He loves us deeply, and wants us to KNOW it.
Through the craziest chain of events, I found the exact giraffe Chloe was wanting, in mint condition, 2 hours away, that so happened to be delivered to me, and it was completely free. I wish I had time for the entire story, because there's not a chance in the world you could doubt that Heavenly Father snagged a giraffe out of somebodies home, who it was causing pain and sorrow, the ultimate reminder of a friends betrayal and an unfaithful husband, and placed it in the hands of a bright eyed hope filled 8 year old girl, that couldn't have found joy that Christmas any other way. And for a mom watching it all happen? Well to be honest I was a little bent out of shape, how come she gets her giraffe and we can't even pay for our basic needs? Why does she get her desire? and we don't even get the necessities?
The answer to that? How could we have any greater need than to have the knowledge that our Heavenly Father loves us deeply, and wants us to be happy deep down inside happy.
It's been a lot of years since that Christmas, we have gone through struggles of course, but our power was never turned off, and we have always had food to eat, and miraculously cars to drive (those of you who have known our car struggles, know how miraculous that is). I have watched Heavenly Father's give similar miraculous gifts through the years, weather it has been a changed heart, a mended relationship, a deeper understanding, or weather it has been something tangible.
This year I received my giraffe! It was our trip to Washington D.C. I never thought for a moment we would actually be able to go. I mean, I hopped, and dreamed, but I knew it was impossible. I mean what one income family of 10, that barely makes it by, has the audacity to even think of taking 2 weeks off work, traveling all the way across the nation and back. Ya right, how could we pay for that?
Well it was impossible, absolutely impossible, especially when we only had 4 weeks to try to try to earn our way.
But if Heavenly Father wanted to use this opportunity to show us His love, then there isn't anything that could have stopped it from happening.
My heart is so full of gratitude! There hasn't been a single day since May that I haven't poured out my heart in gratitude for the amazing people I live around who were willing to be tools in Heavenly Father's hands, and giving us another Giraffe.
There are very few pay days that compare to being surrounded by glorious exalting music, your heart so filled with the spirit you wonder if the room is still sitting firmly on the ground, and then realizing in that moment, that your 17 year old daughter, your 16 year old son, are there, and they are experiencing the same things. You can see it in their faces. Out of all the places they could have spent their summer, all the places they could have spent their hard earned money, This is where they have chosen to be. Singing songs of praise, to our Heavenly Father and Savior. How much better can life get? Well it can, because I was joined by an entire little crew of Tobiasson's. None of us that wonderful of singers, none of us that skilled or refined, but this is where we want to be, surrounded by the spirit, encompassed by beautiful sounds, being taught and uplifted, as close to heaven as we could possibly be.
I am so grateful to be able to see the tender and specific love our Heavenly Father, I challenge you, if you are not seeing it, if you are not feeling it in the places you seeking, I challenge you to look in other areas, because He is there, He is in your life, I know He is, and He is begging you to recognize how specifically He gives you what you need and want.
That Christmas, I thought I needed my bills paid, and to stop being hounded by debt collectors. But He knew better, He knew that what I needed was so much more. He gave me something that I could take as a shield through the rest of my life, a complete understanding that our Heavenly Father knows us each individually, He knows the deep, sometimes even secret desires of our hearts. He wants us to know without a doubt that He loves us and is aware of us. Most of the time he will not answer our desires by a $3000 check that shows up mysteriously in your mailbox, but instead by the use of miracles, the use of wonderful people that live next door or 2 hours away, but I guarantee you He can accomplish all things.
I love this gospel, I love what it teaches me and how it opens my heart to the Spirit, I love our Heavenly Father and His son, who opened the doors to return to Him. I will forever be grateful that I have had the influence of the gospel every day of my life. My prayer is that I get to have the joy of sharing it with my husband and children for the remaining days of my life.
Friday, July 29, 2016
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Can we do the Imposible?
Can this be done? Is it really possible? Should I even hope . . . . dream?
Take a family of 10 across the nation, sing in Washington DC, and catch the sights on the way home. . . . .hmmm, how long would that take? How much would it cost? Do I dare even wish?
Research, questions, -- others are doing it, they think it's possible, why not me?
2 weeks, 4 days there, 4 days in DC, and a week to return. $3000, ouch! That is a lot of money! $3000?
Funny how little things decide your path, it rarely is the grand, the extreme, but the thing that is not said, the quiet pause in an unexpected time that you just can't get out of your head.
My plea, mostly convincing myself -- A trip of a lifetime! Next summer will be the last summer my family will all be together, when will an opportunity like this ever come up again? To perform in one of the most beautiful concert halls in our nation, IN our nation's capital, to record a CD, to view our nation. This will be so educational for our children, what a growing experience. That is worthy of going into debt for, isn't it? My children are growing up, their childhood slipping through my fingers, this is important! They need this! We would never be able to go if not, $3000 is impossible to come up with! This is worth it, right?
Then comes the quiet pause. . . . no answer, no agreeing, just silence.
Funny how silence is so hard to get out of your head. Silence. Uggg, that blasted silence.
That absence of sound haunted me for for days!
FINE! We won't go into debt for it, but we ARE going! Well, at least I'm going to try to go, and if Heavenly Father wants to bless us with it, we will be there. If not, well at least we tried.
I gathered the troops- Is this something you want to do? "YES!"
Is this something you are willing to sacrifice for? "YES!"
Goals were set, a plan was made and we put it out on good 'ol Facebook.
The response was surprising, confusing to be honest. Are they really helping us? I half expected them to be sitting in their homes mocking us. "Why should we help them go on vacation?" But instead we were met with encouragement, love, compliments, praise to our desire to work hard. I have never felt such an outpouring of love and tenderness from neighbors and friends. My heart melted!
Heavenly messages/lessons were being taught to my heart daily, hourly. I have lived in this neighborhood for over 8 years. 8 Years! and I have never chosen to serve them. Never really chosen to interact in a meaningful way. Nothing more than light conversation and smile and a wave. No wonder I have felt empty. "You love those you serve." Where have a been? Why have I been so selfish?
We had 4 weeks of absolute whirlwind! Trying to manage the chaos and everyday life, plus a week long trip to Arizona for JaRee's wedding in the middle of it took nothing short of a miracle to pull off, but pull off we did.
The very last day before we left we sold a broken car for $275 and surpassed our goal by $1. :) $3001. Amazing how humbling it is when you realized you accomplished the impossible, and it was NOT by our doing. $30000 . . . . earned in 3 weeks, by 6 kids (17-6) Humble gratitude, and the realization that God loves us.
Take a family of 10 across the nation, sing in Washington DC, and catch the sights on the way home. . . . .hmmm, how long would that take? How much would it cost? Do I dare even wish?
Research, questions, -- others are doing it, they think it's possible, why not me?
2 weeks, 4 days there, 4 days in DC, and a week to return. $3000, ouch! That is a lot of money! $3000?
Funny how little things decide your path, it rarely is the grand, the extreme, but the thing that is not said, the quiet pause in an unexpected time that you just can't get out of your head.
My plea, mostly convincing myself -- A trip of a lifetime! Next summer will be the last summer my family will all be together, when will an opportunity like this ever come up again? To perform in one of the most beautiful concert halls in our nation, IN our nation's capital, to record a CD, to view our nation. This will be so educational for our children, what a growing experience. That is worthy of going into debt for, isn't it? My children are growing up, their childhood slipping through my fingers, this is important! They need this! We would never be able to go if not, $3000 is impossible to come up with! This is worth it, right?
Then comes the quiet pause. . . . no answer, no agreeing, just silence.
Funny how silence is so hard to get out of your head. Silence. Uggg, that blasted silence.
That absence of sound haunted me for for days!
FINE! We won't go into debt for it, but we ARE going! Well, at least I'm going to try to go, and if Heavenly Father wants to bless us with it, we will be there. If not, well at least we tried.
I gathered the troops- Is this something you want to do? "YES!"
Is this something you are willing to sacrifice for? "YES!"
Goals were set, a plan was made and we put it out on good 'ol Facebook.
Choir Tour Fund Raising. My children and I are trying to make our way to a performance at the Strathmore in Washington DC in June, as well as a CD recording for Millennial Choirs and Orchestras. We would love to be your helpers if you are needing ANYTHING at all. Things you might be interested in. Or come up with your own. My kids really are good workers.
Aerating - $35 a yard
Lawn mowing - $20-$25 including edging
Pressure wash Garbage Can - $10 - $5 for recycle
Weeding- Babysitting-
Lawn mowing - $20-$25 including edging
Pressure wash Garbage Can - $10 - $5 for recycle
Weeding- Babysitting-
FacePaint Birthday Party $45 hour (usually $65)
Custom Birthday Cake $50
Yummy Caramel and Chocolate Covered Cake $25
Cinnamon Rolls 18x13 $12
Large Home Made Wheat Bread - $3.50
(made w/ fresh ground wheat, honey and Coconut Oil)
House Cleaning- $10/hr
Custom Birthday Cake $50
Yummy Caramel and Chocolate Covered Cake $25
Cinnamon Rolls 18x13 $12
Large Home Made Wheat Bread - $3.50
(made w/ fresh ground wheat, honey and Coconut Oil)
House Cleaning- $10/hr
Thanks so much!
Would you like a fresh clean Garbage can? We will gather it today and bring it back to you smelling lemony fresh. $10 Garbage - $5 recycle. ---- Thank you to all who have been so generous in helping us earn money to record a Cd and perform at the Strathmore in Washington DC. It's a chance of a life time for all 6 of us!
Heavenly messages/lessons were being taught to my heart daily, hourly. I have lived in this neighborhood for over 8 years. 8 Years! and I have never chosen to serve them. Never really chosen to interact in a meaningful way. Nothing more than light conversation and smile and a wave. No wonder I have felt empty. "You love those you serve." Where have a been? Why have I been so selfish?
We had 4 weeks of absolute whirlwind! Trying to manage the chaos and everyday life, plus a week long trip to Arizona for JaRee's wedding in the middle of it took nothing short of a miracle to pull off, but pull off we did.
The very last day before we left we sold a broken car for $275 and surpassed our goal by $1. :) $3001. Amazing how humbling it is when you realized you accomplished the impossible, and it was NOT by our doing. $30000 . . . . earned in 3 weeks, by 6 kids (17-6) Humble gratitude, and the realization that God loves us.
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