We must go back to April... Aussie, my dog, had a litter of 11 puppies. Her largest litter and the first litter that I've sold every puppy for my asking price. With the money, I was able to pay off my credit cards and put some away. Amanda's car broke down and she needed to get another one. I was able to loan her the money for a down deposit.
Amanda & William announced that they wanted to get married. I was able to help them get the engagement ring & wedding bands that they wanted. Within 3 days of me telling my friends & family that there was going to be a wedding in 2 months, my boss, Susan, volunteered for the meat & beans. My best friend: Joann, opened up her house to us for the wedding & reception. Friends Gerard & Michael supplied the champagne. My brother-in-law Tim, supplied the veggies & fruit, and Terry got to cut it all up. My brother, Todd hauled the tables & chairs. Robert & MaryJo did the photography & video. When I went to Walmart to pick up the cakes & rolls, the bakery manager told me that she had problems with the ovens and that some of the rolls weren't "pretty". She gave me all 204 rolls at NO charge.
The day of the wedding was beautiful. Around 3:30-4p, the storms started to develop and move in. It rained for about 10-15 minutes. Some asked about moving the wedding in on the porch & in the house, but I totally believed that the Lord would not have everything fall totally in to place over the past 2 months to allow the rain to ruin Amanda & William's wedding day. I stood firm in my faith and said NO, everything stays as planned, the Lord will see us through! All around us were severe thunderstorms while the Lord kept the sun shining on us! Every once in a while, a dark cloud would hover over us, but I knew the Lord was with us and He wouldn't let the rain fall upon us during the ceremony & reception. The dark clouds just went right by us. Not a drop of rain fell that evening on any of us.
I was able to purchase all the flowers, supplies, cakes, etc, and Amanda's dress/veil on my paid off credit cards. I was even able to send them to Orlando for 5 nights with 3 day park passes for their honeymoon, plus a few extra wedding presents!! With the credit card bills now coming in, I am able to pay them off again because the Lord has provided me with extra income through bird sitting in my home, plus an extra job of house sitting for a lady that I met a couple years ago, when Amanda rear-ended her in an auto accident.
I firmly believe that Amanda & William's marriage is from the Lord. The Lord does not see the outside as some do, He sees the heart, and He knows that their hearts are true to each other and to Him! Everything that has happened these past few months is NOT luck nor has it been coincidence. I don't believe in luck, I believe in blessings!!!! Things just don't fall into place and happen the way things did without the Lord's hand in it! The Lord has blessed me greatly these past few months, with great family & friends that volunteered their time and talents to us. I could not have done what I did, without their help. Thanks to all of them! But my biggest THANKS goes to the Lord for all that He has done in my life. He has given me a wonderful daughter, Amanda, and now a wonderful son-in-law, William!
May the Lord bless you as wonderfully as He's blessed me!
In His name & love,
Jodi
