MY GOD IS BIGGER THAN COINCIDENCE

Short Stories of Everyday Blessings

and Small Miracles

by

Kathy Abranovich

Copyright 2014

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my God who bestows endless seen and unseen blessings on me every day.  Without Him I cannot imagine what my life would be like.

And to my husband, Jack, who gives me unconditional love and support no matter what endeavor I undertake.  Even when things don’t turn out so great, he is my biggest cheerleader.

Introduction

I decided to write this book to share with readers some true stories of the wonderful blessings I have experienced over the years.  The difference between this book and other books written on the same subject is that I have personally been the recipient of these blessings.  They are not stories I have read about or heard about from a friend of a friend.  Some are just small “God moments” and others have been huge.

I do believe in miracles and I do believe that prayers are answered.  They may not always be answered the way we want or on our timeline, but God is good and knows what is best for His children.  He may not be early but He is never late.

The one thing I want to stress is that I don’t believe that God is an always open bank or that you should pray for material possessions.  I believe that God will bless you with these things from time to time and you should thank Him for them.  In the following stories you will read about some material blessings but you will also read about many others that were not, but were just as significant.  I don’t want readers getting the impression that this is book is about how to get “stuff.”

If you are not a Christian I would encourage you to ask Jesus into your life and experience first-hand His amazing mercy and grace.

Table of Contents

THE LAWNMOWER

HOME SWEET HOME

SOMEONE YOU HAVE TO MEET

THE “NEW” OLD CAR

MISSION POSSIBLE

LLAMA MAMA

EARRING AROUND THE TUB

I AM FREE TO RUN

VOICE IN THE RADIO

LYME AID

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

THIS IS FOR THE BIRDS

THE INVISIBLE PURSE

RETIREMENT AND THE “FIXED” INCOME

The Lawnmower

It was a warm, dry day in late May but it had been a particularly rainy month.  My husband worked all day turn and by the time he would get home each day it would be raining and he couldn’t get the grass cut.  I decided while I had the opportunity I would get the task done.

Jeremy was only two so I put him to bed for a nap.  Jennifer was a couple of months short of four and had a little friend over to play for the day.  I set the girls up on our raised patio with a cardboard playhouse and their dolls instructing them not to come into the yard while I was mowing with the riding tractor.

As I was mowing away from the porch, the girls decided they wanted to ride on the mower and approached from behind me.  Ironically, with the grass being so high there was a patch the mower had missed and I made the decision to back up and recut it.  I looked behind me over my left shoulder and by this time the girls were on my right side so I didn’t see them.  Jennifer had dropped her baby doll and when she saw me back up she reached for it through the grass discharge of the mower.  All of a sudden I felt a thump and the mower stalled.  Out of the corner of my eye I caught the sight of a figure standing on my right side.  I looked down and saw two legs sticking out from beneath the mower.  I recognized the shoes as those of my daughter.  I cannot even begin to describe the panic that overtook me.  The tractor blade had caught her arm and pulled her head first under the mower.  I didn’t know if my child was dead or alive and I jumped off the mower screaming for help.

We lived in a rural neighborhood where our neighbors were not very close and no one was around.  I heard Jennifer start to whimper and, with adrenaline flowing, I instantly picked the mower up off her and she was able to slide out from under it.  (This mower was a large, heavy, three blade Bolens which my husband and neighbor tried to lift together and had a hard time even budging.)   Her left arm was practically severed and I knew I had to stop the bleeding.  I scooped her up, carried her into the house and laid her on my bed.  My bathrobe was lying on the bed beside her.  I whipped the belt out of it and tied it around her upper arm for a tourniquet.  I soaked a bath towel in cold water and wrapped her arm in it.  At the same time I was calling the operator (before the days of 911) and pleading for help.  She could hear Jennifer crying in the background and was kind enough to call an ambulance for me.  My mind was whirling but I called my husband at work so he could meet us at the emergency room.

Jennifer was life-flighted to Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh where she underwent immediate surgery.  Both bones in her forearm were broken with severed nerves, tendons and muscle.  Fortunately, the doctors were able to save her arm.  The mower blade had traveled up her arm, around her elbow (without breaking it) and down the side of her back.  The doctors told us that it had narrowly missed her lung.  It is thought that the hard plastic baby doll is what stalled the mower.  Miraculously, there was only a small scrape on her face and a minor cut on the back of her head from the lawn mower deck.  She could have been decapitated or horribly disfigured, but God protected this small child.  She later told me that Jesus was under that lawn mower with her so she was not so scared.  I still get goose bumps every time I think of that.

Our daughter was on many prayer chains and I will never discount the power of prayer!  After another surgery several months later to remove the steel plates in her arm, Jennifer regained about 95% of its use.  Her orthopedic surgeon said that in itself was a miracle.

But in my distress I cried out to the LORD; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears.     Psalm 18:6

Home Sweet Home

In May of 2002 I went through a heartbreaking divorce that I didn’t want.  I had to move in with my parents until I could get my finances in order and find a place of my own.  One morning I woke up and felt so discouraged that I dropped to my knees and pleaded with God to direct me and show me where He wanted me to be.  I knew how much I could spend for rent or a house payment and knew that it was not a figure that would get me much, but I was also determined that no matter what my financial condition was, I would continue to tithe.

About 20 minutes later my sister showed up at my mom and dad’s.  They were not at home so she and I began to talk.  She said she had just dropped her son off up the street where he was helping a man remodel a house he was going to sell.  I asked her if we could go see it and off we went.

The minute I walked into the house I knew this was my answered prayer.  I just didn’t see how I could afford it.  I previously had been a real estate agent and knew the ins and outs of buying and financing a home.  I was self-employed working two part-time jobs, which was a strike against me.  I was on my own, strike two, but I did have excellent credit.  When I asked the selling price of the house, I could not believe that it was actually in my price range.   I knew that I could afford $425.00 a month, but it is hard to even find a decent apartment for that price let alone a house.  I figured up the escrow, home owner’s insurance and payment and what do you think they totaled up to?  You guessed it..... $425.00!

Let me tell you a little about this house and then you decide how big of a blessing this was.  It was a two bedroom, 1 ½ bath, living room, dining room and kitchen.  There was a Jacuzzi tub in the totally remodeled bathroom.  It had been completely resided and had new thermopane windows.  The house was gutted inside with a new ceramic tiled kitchen.  The whole house was rewired and had new carpeting.  I could move in without doing absolutely anything.  The corner lot was fenced in and had a one car garage.  Sound unbelievable?  They always say if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.  Not in this case though.  All true!

One small problem....where was I going to get the deposit and down payment?  I borrowed $1000.00 from my mom to give as a deposit.  The seller agreed to give me two weeks to come up with the down payment.  The amazing thing about this is that on that very afternoon they had their first prospective buyer come and look at the house.  She had cash and offered them full price.  What crazy person would turn that down?  But again, God was in my corner.

By the end of the two weeks my husband had signed the papers for the amount of my divorce settlement and I had the money in my hands (even though the divorce was not final for another two months).  I don’t know how many of you have ever gone through the process of buying a house, but it can take a long time.  My mortgage went through without a hitch and I was moved into my home sweet home within six weeks.

When the time came to sell my house, I decided to sell it myself rather than going through a real estate agent.  There were three other houses on my street that had been for sale for months and I was not optimistic that this would be a quick process.  But within two weeks my house did indeed sell and, best of all, for exactly what I was hoping to get for it.

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.  He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire.  He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.  He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God.  Many will see what he has done and be amazed.  They will put their trust in the Lord.   Psalm 40: 1-3

Someone You Have To Meet

I had settled into my new home and my life was progressing rather uneventfully.  I worked at home so about the only place I went was to the grocery store and to church.  I was content but sometimes a little lonely.  I had gone out on a few dates but none had set off any fireworks and a couple had been downright disastrous.   My mother kept telling me that I would meet someone at church but there was no one there that held any interest for me.

One evening I attended a birthday party for an ex-coworker.  A friend sitting next to me asked how my husband was.  She felt simply terrible when she learned of the divorce and expressed her sorrow at the news.  We caught up on old times and at the end of the evening parted ways.

Fast forward about two months.  I am a greeter in  my church and was doing my duty one Sunday morning when a fellow I didn’t know approached me and nervously started telling me how a friend of his was also a friend of mine and told him that we attended the same church and that he needed to look me up.  Because we have two Sunday services and I always went to first service and he always went to second, our paths had never crossed.  He left me his business card after stating that he didn’t want to put me on the spot by asking me to go out.  He told me if I would like to get coffee or dinner to give him a call.

Truthfully, I just wasn’t interested at that point.  I dropped the card into my purse and forgot about it.  He started attending first service after that and we would speak on Sunday morning, but I made up excuses why I had not called him.  About three weeks after our first meeting, I was sitting at my computer working one morning when out of the blue I felt a prompting to call Jack.  I sat there arguing with myself and refused to give in.  I didn’t even know if I still had his card.  This went on for three days until I was finally said, “Okay God, I get the message.”  I rummaged through my purse and found the card at the bottom.

One reason I hated going out was that a lot of men were looking for more than I was willing to give.  Jack’s candor was one of the qualities that surprised me from the start.  We hadn’t been talking for very long on the first phone call when he said there was something he needed to tell me right up front.  He said because of his Christian beliefs that he would not have intimate relations with me.  WHAT????  HALLELUJA!!!  I couldn’t believe my ears.  No game playing and no expectations.

The next evening we went out for dinner and then saw each other every night for the next 9 months.  We finally came to the conclusion that we could stand to be apart a day here or there and we wouldn’t die.  He had his house and I had mine.  We dated for 18 months and stayed true to our convictions.  We both feel that our marriage has been blessed because of that.  This year we will celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary.

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.   Jeremiah 29:11

The “New” Old Car

It was Spring 2004 and I was driving a 1994 Honda Civic that had 204,000 miles on the odometer.  I was always afraid to venture too far from home and I knew it was time to start looking for a new vehicle.  Every morning I would read my Bible and have my prayer time before starting my day.

One morning I asked the Lord to help me find the right vehicle at a price I could afford.  I thought that I would like another Honda since this one had been so dependable, but I didn’t know that I could afford one with low miles.  That afternoon I was traveling through a small town adjacent to ours and I spotted a used white Honda in the front row of a car dealership.  I pulled in and a salesman came out to help me.  We talked about the Honda which he told me was two years old and, of course, was way beyond my budget.  He did, however, tell me that he had a car he thought would be perfect for me.  It was a 1997 Chrysler Sebring.  If you do the math you will know that the car was 7 years old.  I told him that I was looking for something a little newer than that.  “Just take a look at it.” he said.

Holy cow!  This car was like brand new.  It only had 24,000 original miles on it.  It was a very classy, 2 door coupe with leather interior, bucket seats, a sun roof and fully loaded.  What was even better was the price.  I didn’t even have to take out a car loan.  I drove that vehicle for 9 ½ years until the frame rotted out from under it.  The day I quit driving it, it looked almost as good as the day I bought it.

Though it wasn’t what I was looking for, God knew what I needed and provided it.  So never close your mind to whatever blessings He may have in store for you.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;  do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.   Proverbs 3:5-6

Mission Possible

It was 6:30 A.M. and I was standing in a ticket line at the Pittsburgh Airport waiting to catch a plane to the Dominican Republic with our church mission team.  The man at the counter asked to see my documents.  At that time you did not need a passport, only your birth certificate and one other form of I.D.  He looked at the birth certificate and told me that it was a hospital issued certificate and not a state vital records birth certificate which was required.  He told me I would have to go to vital records in downtown Pittsburgh to get a formal birth certificate.

It was a Saturday which meant the office would not be open until Monday and my flight was leaving in just an hour and a half.  I had already paid for the entire trip which was not refundable.  My daughter was also part of the team and was not happy with the idea of leaving without me.  Our pastor, seeing that there was a problem at the window, walked over and asked what was going on.  As I was explaining it to him, the ticket agent was looking at his computer screen with a very puzzled look on his face.  He then asked me if I had ever been out of the country before and I responded that I had not.  Then he said,  “I have never seen this happen before.  For some reason your name is in my computer and you can get on the plane.”  I was very confused and asked him if there would be problems when I got to the Dominican or on my return trip when I tried to re-enter the U.S.  He informed me in an impatient voice that if he allowed me to leave the country without the proper documentation he could be fined $50,000.  I hate to admit but a had a bit of arrogance in my voice when I informed him that the reason I was in his computer was because God wanted me on that plane.... and then I smiled.

The rest of the trip was flawless.  I was never questioned in the Dominican Republic nor on my return home when I passed through customs in the United States.

I still laugh at how that poor ticket agent was double teamed by God and me.  The next year I made sure I had a passport and the correct documents.

Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.  I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely. Psalm 3:7-8

Llama Mama

I have taken two mission trips to the Dominican Republic with my church.  The first one you read about in the previous chapter.  These trips are paid for by the participant and are quite expensive.  It is a significant commitment, not only financially but you also sacrifice any vacation time you have from your employment.  Being self-employed I was without pay for that time.

Prior to my divorce I had owned llamas, which I missed terribly, and dreamed of the day I would once again be able to have them.  I had saved a small amount of money with the intent of buying a couple when I had enough.  However, I felt a prodding that I should use this money to go on the mission trip instead.  I prayed about it and felt a conviction to use the money for the trip.

About two weeks after returning home I had a call from a lady who owned a llama herd and knew that I had wanted some.  She said she had a three week old female llama which she just didn’t have time to work with.  If I would come and spend time training her, she would sell her to me for practically nothing when it was time for her to be weaned from her mother.  Because llamas are a herd animal, they require a companion animal.  A friend of mine from the llama community GAVE me a buddy for my little Molly Llama.  A neighbor gave us wire and fencing material.  Jack built me a small shed and within six months I had llamas again.  I still tear up when I tell this story.

I know that I was blessed for my obedience in listening to that small, still voice and what I had lost during one of the unhappiest times of my life was restored to me.

May he grant your heart’s desires and make all your plans succeed.   Psalm 20:4

Earring Around The Tub

The Christmas before my husband and I were married he bought me a pair of diamond stud earrings for a gift.  They were beautiful and once I put them in my ears I never took them out.  I know now that was not a wise thing to do.  One day as I was toweling off after my shower I discovered one of the earrings was missing.

I shook the towel and searched the carpet on my hands and knees.  No luck.  Then I scoured the bath tub.  I shook my washcloth and removed the rubber bath mat from the tub.  No luck.  I was sick!  I was convinced that it must have gone down the drain while I was still in the shower.  Even though the earrings were not large, they were plenty visible on any surface.  I valued them not for their worth but because of the sentiment behind them.

Two days went by.  I showered again and my husband showered.  The third day after the disappearance I went into the bathroom and prepared to shower again.  As I was adjusting the water temperature, I looked down and lying on the rubber bath mat in the tub in plain sight was the lost earring!  To this day I have not figured out how it came to be there.  It certainly was not there when I looked before.  Even if I had overlooked it, two showers were taken and someone surely would have stepped on it or it would have washed down the drain.  Hallelujah!

Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act.   Psalm 37:7

I Am Free To Run

As a fitness enthusiast, I was reading an article on prayer walking and thought it sounded like a great concept for getting in a good workout and spending some quality time in prayer.  I was really enjoying my time each afternoon on my two mile walk while I lifted up each neighbor that I passed and felt that I was finally not scrimping on my time with the Lord.

I had been walking probably four or five days when I developed a severe pain in the arch of my right foot when I would start to walk.  The plantar fasciitis became so bad I had to give up my daily walks.  I really felt this was an attack from the devil to keep me from praying so effectively.

It was fall and the weather was turning colder so I turned to my treadmill.  Again, each time I started my workout, the pain would begin and become more intense when I would start to pray.  Finally, I had had enough.  I rebuked the pain in my foot, told Satan to hit the road and leave my body because he was not going to win this battle.  Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4) As I continued my workout the pain started to subside.  I had my IPod playing my Christian music in my ears.  My walking became running and I finished my workout without another bit of pain.

That was six years ago and the plantar fasciitis has not resurfaced.  Usually, this is a condition that will continue to plague people and I have never heard of it vanishing as quickly as it started.  I still continue to pray during my workout while keeping time to music on my favorite radio station, positive, encouraging K-Love.

Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!   Psalm 116:2

The Voice In The Radio

I was having some medical issues and my doctor was completely booked at the main office.  She wanted to see me as soon as possible so they scheduled an appointment for me at a little satellite office where they only saw patients one day a week for a couple of hours.  I tried calling the main office for directions but got a recording.  This small office was not listed in the phone book or on the internet.

I knew how to get to the little town where they were located, but had no idea where to go when I got there.  I decided to leave my house early figuring that I could just keep asking around when I got there.

I was about ½ mile from home and was listening to the Christian radio station that I listen to every day.  A commercial came on for my doctor’s group.  It listed the different offices and then gave complete directions to the Bridgewater office right down to the landmarks on the street.  Wow!

I had never heard that commercial before and to this day I have never heard it again.  Here’s the clincher......I later asked my doctor if they had ever advertised on the radio.  She said they had sponsored pages in some high school sports programs but there had been no radio or news ads.

After telling this story to my church small group, it was suggested that it’s possible that my radio was the only one this was heard on!

The Lord is my strength and shield.  I trust him with all my heart.  He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.  I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.   Psalm 28:7

Lyme Aid

In September 2008 I launched my campground ministry which was presenting a Christian chalk art program after dark, free of charge, to any camper who wanted to attend.  For anyone who has never seen a chalk artist, I use a big easel and draw a picture with regular, florescent and black light chalk.  There is a large light box that hangs above the painting, which is done to regular incandescent light.  Upon completion you turn off all lighting and with a control box you begin turning on colored lighting and black lighting.  The effects on the painting are stunning and gives the impression of different times of day such as dusk, dawn, twilight and night time.  You can also paint invisible objects into your painting that only show up under the black light.  These paintings are accompanied with Christian music that is appropriate to the subject.  I have a variety of paintings including the Resurrection, Jesus Walking on Water, Moses Parting the Red Sea, the Woman at the Well, the Lost Lamb, the Garden of Gethsemane, Foot Prints in the Sand, the Lion of Judah and the Lamb of God, along with others.

The day of the first presentation I passed out flyers around the campground inviting people to come.  That night at dark I went out to get started and when I turned on the lights my board was covered (I mean covered) with insects such as mosquitos and gnats.  They were buzzing my head but I was determined that this wouldn’t stop me.  There were only a few children that had showed up for the program.

I began the music and turned my back to the kids and began to paint.  Within two minutes all of the bugs disappeared.  Everything was eerily quiet except for the music.  Upon completion of the painting, this huge applause erupted from behind me and when I turned around there were people overflowing our campsite.  Wow! What a great beginning!

But if Satan could not stop me with bugs on the painting he would try and stop me another way.  On that camping weekend I was bitten by a tick and contracted Lyme disease.  By Christmas time I could hardly walk and had to resort to using crutches.  I couldn’t even get up from the couch without assistance.  But God is good and with a lot of prayer, antibiotics and herbal treatments I eventually recovered and was back to drawing by the following camping season.

Lyme disease is not curable but for over five years it has been controlled.  I know this is only by the hand of the Great Physician.  Hopefully, I will have many years of ministry ahead of me.  My mission is to spread The Word in an unlikely setting and to reach as many people for Christ as I can.

O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you restored my health.   Psalm 30:2

Happy Birthday

My husband and I are avid campers.  After Christmas when winter is dragging on the RV shows start.  It gets you in the mood for the warm weather and camping season to begin.  We always try to make it to the big Pittsburgh show where there are dozens of new RVs that you can look through and purchase if you find that “right” one.

Over the years we had worked our way up from sleeping in the back of horse trailers, tents and pop-ups to slide in truck campers, small pull trailers and finally to a nice size pull trailer with a slide out.  We went to the show only to look with no intention to buy (although everyone that goes always says that).  My desire has always been a fifth wheel which is a trailer with a hitch that sits in the bed of your truck instead of pulling it on the bumper of your truck.  These units are usually roomier and very nice inside but are usually significantly more expensive and much heavier to tow.

It’s always fun to look at the fifth wheel trailers and dream.  We had just turned down a row when Jack spotted one that had a slide out made up of windows from floor to ceiling.  He wanted to look inside and when we did we were hooked.  We looked at the weight of the unit and, surprisingly, it was light enough for our truck to pull.  Next was the question of cost.  Again, much to our surprise the unit was very reasonable compared to most of the other fifth wheels and the quality was superb.  We took a brochure but didn’t seriously consider buying the trailer.

Over the next couple of months we talked and dreamed about this camper.  WE DID NOT PRAY THAT GOD WOULD GIVE IT TO US.  The brochure became worn and tattered from looking at it every day.  Neither of us wanted to go into debt to buy it.  Jack came up with a plan for how we could possibly swing the deal.  He owned a classic Bronco that he had restored several years before and it very seldom left the garage.  He said he had had his fun with it but was ready to sell it if we could find a buyer.  He advertised it on Craig’s List and in several local auto magazines with no luck.  His last hope was eBay.  The ad ran for one week and there were no bidders.  The very last day of the listing was my birthday and we were contacted by email that an interested party would like to talk to him about it.  He went back and forth all day answering questions and sending information.  The listing was due to expire at 11:00 P.M. and had not met the reserve price for the sale at 10:45 P.M.  He told me that if the truck sold, that would be my birthday present and we could contact the RV people about the fifth wheel.  There were a couple of parties bidding on the truck and at 10:59 P.M. the reserve was finally met and the vehicle sold.  We couldn’t believe it!

But that’s only half the story.  We called a dealer about 20 miles from our home and were told they could order us the unit equipped the way we wanted it but it would take 9 weeks which would put us into the middle of summer.  We called a dealer about 3 hours away and they said they did not have that unit on their lot but they had one ordered and they would check to see how it was equipped and call us back.  When the sales lady called these were her words, “You aren’t going to believe this but the trailer you want is on its way from the factory to our dealership and it is equipped with EVERY option you want including the correct color of interior upholstery.”  The odds of this were phenomenal!  I started to cry because I knew that this trailer was intended for and had been built specifically for us.  They also beat the price of the local dealer and we could get it right away.  Later that week we picked up our new fifth wheel and didn’t need to take out a loan to buy it.  Coincidence?  I don’t thinks so!!!

“You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead?  Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”   Matthew 7:9-11

This Is For The Birds

Over the years I have had an intense love for nature including all wild critters and birds.  After Jack and I were married he used to joke and say they knew I was here and he would spot animals around our house that he had never seen before.  There have been pet squirrels, birds, raccoons, groundhogs and skunks.  I’ve been called Mother Nature and the Crazy Bird Lady.  I’ve raised several wild birds and released them after they’ve fledged.

One afternoon Jack’s daughter, Shelbey, was visiting us.  We were sitting in the living room chatting when suddenly there was a bang on the picture window.  I jumped up and ran out onto the porch where I discovered a female Baltimore Oriole lying beneath the window.  She was still alive so I picked her up and cradled her to my chest.  I spoke softly to her and just kept gently stroking her.  Out of nowhere came her mate and landed on the window sill beside me.  I was shocked that he would get that close, but you can imagine my astonishment when he hopped onto my shoulder.  He sat there unafraid and watched with concern as I held the female.  As she started to stir, he flew to a nearby pine tree where I took and laid her on a branch to continue her recovery.  We left them alone and about ½ hour later I went out to check and they were both gone.

I have read about people feeding wild birds from their hands but I have never seen or heard of anything like this bird coming to the aid of his mate.  To make contact with a human is amazing.  It was like he knew I was there to help her and he had nothing to fear.  Jack and Shelbey both said they would not have believed it if they had not seen it with their own eyes.

I LOVE my critters including Lily, my wild raccoon, which has been coming to our house every spring for the last 5 years.  She has climbed into my lap and allows me to pet her.  As soon as her litter is weaned she usually brings them a couple of times and then I don’t see her again until the next spring.  Every year I hold my breath until she shows up on the porch in mid to late May, because I know that one day she will come no more.

So the Lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man  to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one.   Genesis 2:19

The Invisible Purse

One day I went to Wal-Mart for groceries and was carrying my black wallet purse which contained all my identification, credit/debit cards and cash.  After purchasing everything I needed I found my car in the parking lot and proceeded to load my groceries into the trunk.  I set my purse in the shopping cart where you sit a child.  The plastic flap was up so nothing would fall through the leg holes.  When I finished loading the groceries I wheeled the cart over to the buggy return, got into my car and started home.  As I pulled into my garage I reached for my .............OH NO!!!!I had left my wallet in the shopping cart!

Wal-Mart was a 15 minute drive from my house which means 30 minutes would have elapsed by the time I made it back to the store.  All the way back I prayed as I drove.  “Please God just make my purse invisible.”  I had the sickest feeling in the pit of my stomach.

I pulled into the parking lot and went immediately to the buggy return where I had left my cart.  This is a very busy Wal-Mart and, amazingly, there had been no other buggies parked behind mine.  At first I didn’t see the wallet and my heart sank.  Wait a minute.....the little plastic shield had fallen forward and was covering the wallet so nobody else had seen it either and everything was intact.  Another prayer answered or coincidence?  I say there are no coincidences just God moments.

I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.

I will be filled with joy because of you.  I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.   Psalm 9:1-2

Retirement and the “Fixed” Income

I was self-employed running a very busy medical transcription business for 14 years.  The last year had been particularly hectic and required me to hire a couple of part-time helpers.  Even with the additional hands, I was still working 12 to 14 hour days six days a week.  Several years ago I had decided that working on Sunday was no longer an option.

My husband is also self-employed as an auto differential and chassis specialist.  That’s the formal way of saying he works on and builds automobile rear-ends.  He also does a lot of race car work which can be very seasonal.

When I was almost 62, I was faced with the decision of whether I would retire or continue the rat race.  We do a lot of camping in the summer and over the past couple of years I had to take my work with me.  By the time I packed up all my equipment and spent my days away working, it really didn’t seem worth going.

One Sunday our pastor preached a sermon on stepping out in faith and believing the promises that God makes.  As tithers we had experienced time and time again the faithful provisions of God.  Self-employment can be very inconsistent but we never had to worry about where our next meal was coming from or how we were going to pay our bills.  However, when you talk about slicing your income in half that can be a pretty scary thing, especially since my income was the more consistent of the two.  We talked about it and we prayed about it and finally came to the decision that I would quit working and go on Social Security.

The first bump in the road happened when my first Social Security check was delayed by one month.  Jack was extra busy and we never missed the income.  The second came two months after I quit when Jack discovered that frame under our 16 year old car had eroded beyond the point of repair.  We knew we couldn’t afford a new vehicle and started shopping for something used.  I still laugh every time I tell this story.  We used to kid each other about getting a Lincoln and never in our wildest dreams did we think we would ever have one.  We went to look at a used Ford Escape and sitting in the front row of the dealership was a used Lincoln MKZ.  I went over and looked at it just for the heck of it.   Both vehicles had the same mileage and were the same year.  However, the Escape had much more wear and tear on it, was not a 4 wheel drive and had far less options and equipment on it.  The Lincoln was clean as a whistle, all leather, loaded with a sun roof.  We knew how much we could spend without having to take a loan.  The Lincoln was $700 more than the Escape but right at the figure we had saved.  I still don’t understand how you can go from two incomes to one and buy a Lincoln MKZ and not have a car payment.  We didn’t even have the other car to trade in on it!

It has been almost one year since my retirement and there has not been one month that we have worried about our income.  At times when Jack’s business has been a little slow he seems to get one big job that will carry us through.

As far as being on a “fixed” income now, that’s exactly what it is.  God fixes it every month!!!

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?  Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing,  yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.  And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”  Matthew 6:25-33

Thanks for picking up my book.  I hope you enjoyed reading about just a few of the many blessings I have experienced in a wonderful, God given life!

Kathy

About the Author

Born and raised in New Castle, Pennsylvania, Kathy lives with her husband, Jack, and feline fur kids, Bodie and Skeeter.  Gabriel stands guard outside the house.  She is the proud mom of a grown daughter and son, Jennifer and Jeremy.  She is the adoring grandmother of Olivia Grace, a 19 month old, endless ball of energy.  “And though she be but little, she is fierce!” (William Shakespeare)

After retiring from her 14 year medical transcription business, Kathy finished writing and illustrating her first children’s book, Mupster Pupster, which she had started almost 30 years before.  When not writing, she enjoys camping, painting, photography and biking.  Animals (domestic and wild) have been a love throughout her life.  She specializes in digital, pastel, animal portraiture having painted for clients across the United States.

Several years ago, Kathy began a Christian chalk art ministry to spread the Word at campgrounds they visit.  She enjoys sharing her testimony and introducing people to Christ who might not hear the Message anywhere else.

You can contact her at kabranovich@hotmail.com with any feedback on her book or just to drop her a line and say “Hi!”

Table of Contents

Dedication

Introduction

The Lawnmower

Home Sweet Home

Someone You Have To Meet

The “New” Old Car

Mission Possible

Llama Mama

Earring Around The Tub

I Am Free To Run

The Voice In The Radio

Lyme Aid

Happy Birthday

This Is For The Birds

The Invisible Purse

Retirement and the “Fixed” Income

About the Author