Happy Thanksgiving, y'all!

Happy Thanksgiving, y'all. I thought I would tell you all some things I am thankful for. My husband often teases me for being so chipper and finding the silver lining in horrible situations. Even my blood type is B positive. I actually have a hard time sharing negative things, but in learning to do it because God gets glory in His answering. That wouldn't be so if we never spoke of them or grieved them. There is a season for everything. Grieve when you need to. Have joy in hope always. I have found that thankfulness is directly tied to joy. We really have it good here, everyone. Sure we have financial struggles or relational ones, but in constrast to the world, we are spoiled rotten. We are rich. We have so much and we have Jesus. 

I am thankful for running water, a husband that is kind, three girls I never thought I would have, love within my family where there was a lifetime of pain. I'm thankful for the gift of a car and donations to get another one. I'm grateful for good neighbors and people who share their resources to help us love others. I'm thankful for sweet grace. I have a good church. I have beautiful friends. I am surrounded by people who have that kind of love for Jesus that it radiates from their face. My friends love to pray. My friends love to help and give. I genuinely think it is a rare and beautiful gift. I'm grateful for the people at my church that are passionate about scripture. I'm thankful that I get to sit at a table with my family tomorrow and share love and delicious food. I'm grateful for getting to paint, write, speak, and be hospitable. I often think, amidst the hardship that I am living the dream. What are y'all thankful for?

Have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving! Love y'all. 

Hosea 3:2

 Hey, y'all. It's been a wild week here at casa de Gomer. Our insurance agent found a company willing to cover us for DOUBLE the rate. We are still shopping around. As you might know, we are not wealthy people. That's why this house is such walk of faith for us. Being hospitable isn't just opening our doors, cooking meals, and letting people sleep over. I work a part time job of doing art work so that people can come here. It's often about four hours a day. During the holiday season it's much more. I am often up til one in the morning painting. We crack pecans and prepare pies to sell. Then we are sanding, staining, painting, doing carpentry. This is the lengths we are going to in order to learn God's grace through the spirit of hospitality.

As I am looking at our mortgage situation, I often think it would be a relief to lose our house. I also know it never has belonged to me. It is such a hard walk. There are so many things that I cannot share because they would defame others, but the journey has been far too great for me. It's lonely and it hurts. There is this push within the very core of who I am that wants to fight for her anyway. Even if it is just me, I want to fight. Even if I cry every single day. I want anyone who desires to tuck up in the wing of Jesus to have a place to do that. There is a Gomer who needs to be redeemed and a Hosea that has been wounded by his spouse. I want to leave the light on for them. I want the light on for me.

I shared on our Facebook page that Hosea 3:2 has been my prayer over this house for quite some time. The verse is after all of Gomer's adultery and waywardness. It is when God tells Hosea to take his money and buy her from the slavery auction. That has been my prayer here. That God would redeem our house financially and all who enter it by the Spirit. If you're praying folk, pray with me. May God redeem Gomer in whatever way he sees fit. May He wreck our hearts to a depth of hospitality that we cannot even fathom in our natural mind.

Learning God's grace through the spirit of hospitality.

Give to Gomer's House.

Your World Needs Pie.

My Etsy store has been going crazy and I haven't had a chance to blog. Here I am. I also started cracking pecans for my man. The world needs pie. If you are wondering what is going on over here with us at Gomer's House, here's your update. First, let me tell you how our last month stacked up. We wrecked our car. Our other car died. The company that carries our house insurance has decided to no longer cover us. (A restoration is high risk). The man who we are buying the house from had an option to either continue our loan after a time period or get a balloon payment. He has chosen to not continue our loan. As we try to get another loan we come to understand that half of our income doesn't count because we have only been working at the church for a year. For it to count on our credit, it needs to be two years. Our monthly income needs to increase as well. Pray for favor for Denbigh's income to increase. Basically, we need two cars, an insurance carrier, and a hundred and fifty thousand dollars. 

We were given 6 new tires for our old Explorer and trailer that we use for camp. Ol' moon walkin' Astronaut Charlie Duke gave us his extra car.(Bless the Lord!) Our church and Denbigh's BSF class took up an offering to help with our car situation as well. Now, we just need more monthly income and a loan for $150,000. Oh, insurance. Waiting on Jesus here. Does anyone have any advice?

On Monday, my dear friend Joanie ran a booth for my art in Brownwood and sold almost everything she had. The owner of the local art gallery stopped by and said he wants me to come do shows. I'm at $21,000 raised for Gomer. 

We have had a great week leading worship at Carolina Creek for Lutheran South. It's always a joy to be with them. The lake and the trees are especially beautiful this time of year.

Y'all ready for pie? You can buy pecan pie from the pecans in our yard. I have been cracking them for days. Every dollar made goes to support Gomer's House. You can also make a donation online for your pie at UCP. We will be selling them through Christmas Eve. 

Pecan Pies

Homemade Pecan Pie $15.00 USD Salted Caramel Pecan Pie $20.00 USD Deep Mocha Pecan Pie $25.00 USD

We're the Supporting Roles.

It's been a week of dear people and attempting to fix a van in the parking lot of Hobby Lobby. It's still there as of this writing. I have in the past never wanted to share the things that are going on in my life that are painful. I have said before that exposing your hurt to people is much more painful than the pain itself. You have no control as to how people react to you. I also don't like people feeling sorry for me because I don't. When God started nudging me to share, I conceded to His wisdom because I knew he wanted people to see him in it. We are all just supporting characters to God's great tale of grace. My ups and downs are only a way for me to be shaped into the image of Christ and for God to be seen. It's not a story where the redeemed are lauded and heralded. It's a beautiful tale of a Redeemer.

I worked a few days on my dental moulding downstairs this week, but when I got cold down there, I took a break. Remember, there is no heat downstairs. It was good timing however because I had about 30 pieces of art work to finish up by tomorrow and then head out in the delivery wagon. I am really amazed at how God has orchestrated Gomer's restoration through my acrylic. Only God could do that. Truly. 

Next week we shall commence our annual Pie Sale. Prepare your hearts and minds for the glory of the Lord in a pie. Well, at least we think they're good. 

PS We were allowed to borrow a car from Charlie Duke, one of the astronauts that has walked on the moon. So, that's fun. Here's a toast to still enjoying life even in trials!

love y'all.

Talk to me, Abba.

In September, I was wounded by someone I love. My mom became ill. I had a miscarriage and am still dealing with the physical fallout of that. In October, we totaled out our car by hitting a feral hog and I have been having horrible neck and back pain. Our finances are crazy up in the air. Then, on our way to lead Bible study today, my van died. As Denbigh went to get a borrowed car, I just cried. I am not worried about God's provision. I'm not worried about our cars or anything else, I just cried a few tired tears. I spoke to Jesus asking him for some encouragement as he sorts this all out. Then I came in to the house and saw a custom order I have in progress. He hears us when we call. 

Blessed be his name.

It's Almost a Room.

Guess what I have been up to. I'm still restoring a hundred year old house. I have been scrubbing away at that dental moulding. I am about a third of the way through. I need to get some drywall on the ceiling so you can see it better. I get burned out remodeling about once a week. Then I regroup and ask Jesus for some encouragement. 

One of the things that encourages us is when people come volunteer here. This past weekend, a small group from the Sam Houston BSM came and stayed with us. On Saturday they hauled off all of the tree (except the big part I am keeping) to the burn pile. We had quite a few ecosystems growing under those piles in the yard.  They also helped Denbigh put up breadboard on the ceiling of the dining room. It is almost finished. Look at the picture of Denbigh with his feet on two different ladders. Does he need a safety lecture? 

Say a little prayer for us. Our central heat isn't working and the heater we had borrowed for several years had to be returned. Here's to praying for a mild winter. 

I have found myself a little bit frustrated of late so I am camping here:

"Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:31-32

Grab your tent and join me.

Love y'all.