Blessings Abound!

Oh what a wonderful last few weeks we have had in the Phillips' household!!! For the past few years, we have experienced some really tough financial times. Once the housing market crashed about 7 years ago, so did our finances...it began a downward spiral that we couldn't seem to climb out of. No matter what changes we made in our lives to try and get ourselves into a better position financially, we just couldn't seem to get to a point where we were comfortable again. It has been a S-T-R-U-G-G-L-E. I know deep in my heart that God wants me to be a mom first. So, for those that sit back and wonder why I don't go and get a full time job to "help" out, just know that I am doing what I know that God wants me to. I do ALL that I can to help out as far as cleaning, subbing, consigning, selling junk, etc. I want to be with my kids. I want to be their mother. I don't want someone else to raise them or take care of them. If I had wanted that, I probably wouldn't have had children to begin with. With that being said, I have been praying really hard lately for God to do something that would blow us away. I have been begging for Him to please do something beyond our imaginations and beyond anything that we could ever think up ourselves. I honestly never lost hope. Yes, there were dark times. Yes, there were times that I struggled. BUT, I never thought that God had forgotten about us. I just tried my best to learn what He was trying to teach me during that time.
With all of that being said, about 2 weeks ago, we began to be blown away. Long story short...(and I mean, LOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNGGGGGG) God has allowed Dennis to get a pay increase, along with a new, improved bonus structure, while continuing to do the same job that he was already doing! AND, his company has agreed to support Dennis in growing and running the commercial division of their company, which is what he wanted to do anyways! W-O-W!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Never give up hope. Never. God can do FAR beyond ANYTHING we can ask or imagine! My heart has been overflowing with thankfulness. Thank you Lord! On a side note, are we millionaires? Um, no. Did we hit the jackpot? Hardly. BUT, we are finally able to get in a position where we can actually pay our bills and get ourselves out of a hole!!!! And, maybe JUST maybe, we can start saving money again!!!! Oh, the thought!
On an even BETTER note, throughout this past Summer, Sadie began asking a lot of questions about being saved and getting baptized. We spent a lot of time at church this Summer with VBS and church camps, which is I think what mainly sparked her interest. Before allowing her to take the plunge (no pun intended), I wanted to be SURE that she understood to a 6 year old degree, what the decision meant that she was making. So, we contacted our children's pastor and he gave us 2 books to go through with her. Once I felt as though she knew what she was doing, her and I prayed together for her to receive Christ as her Savior. She was so happy!!! She even told me afterwards that she wanted to cry because she was so happy! Next came baptism. She was sooooooooo ready to follow through with this next step! Shortly after we finished her book, our children's pastor said they were doing a special "kids" baptism on Sept. 22nd, which was only a couple of weeks away at the time. We signed her up and got her ready! What a special, special day for our whole family.
She was a little bit nervous beforehand, but it quickly turned into a nervous/excitement/ants in her pants! Dennis was able to baptize her, which made it extra special. I know its a moment that none of us will ever forget. We had lots of friends and family there to celebrate.



She told me that right after she was baptized and she was walking up the stairs of the baptistry, she heard God speak directly to her heart. I asked her what He said?? She said "He told me that all of my sins are now forgiven". So, so precious!!! Thank you Lord for this indescribable gift.
So, in the Phillips household, things are definitely looking up. I am soaking in every single blessing right now. I am experiencing pure, answered prayers and I am so, so thankful.