Faithfulness In Fires

After two weeks of dealing with insurance, toyota and adjustor's we are now proud owners of a new van! It wasn't easy and until monday things we're not looking good. For some reason our insurance was eager to close our case. The bottom line was they weren't giving us enough money to fix our van or enough to buy a new one. I'm so thankful for my husband and all the hours he logged on the phone. On friday he asked toyota to come up with their own list of damages and they came in 4k over our adjustor! That's a lot! We were able to find a few things to bring to our adjustor and he took a look at the list on monday and called back at the end of the day declaring our van a total loss. It was great news and off we went to find a van. We looked at all the obvious places, auto trader and craig's list but our van came to us in an unexpected way.

Monday afternoon we were driving to my chiropractic appointment and lo and behold as we pulled into the parking lot there was this nice brown van and on the back it said "01-low miles" and a phone number. Chris and I looked at each other and went "hmm". As I went in this older senior citizen couple came out and got in the van. Chris inquired and they let him take a look at it. The deal was amazing and so was the car. They are original owners, have records of everything and the car was in immaculate shape. I don't think anyone has ever sat in the back! We took it to our mechanic yesterday who couldn't find a thing wrong with it and told Chris he would buy it if it was him. Last night we took a drive with our money and bought the car! While we were there we found out that since committing to sale us the van three other people had called or come buy wanting the van.

We are again amazed at God's faithfulness. Somehow we ended up with a newer car, one in way better shape, 70,000 less miles AND we still have insurance money leftover. Wow!

What story would be complete without a little drama... I guess none for the Daukas family. I was the privileged one who got to drive our new van home last night. I was with my mom, taylor & trevor and we were driving along on the freeway. We only had the car a few minutes when I run over something big. Accidentally of course. After getting over the initial shock of the noise I continue driving only to have Chris & my dad flashing their brights from behind us. My mom gives them a call and I hear her say "They're are sparks? Now?" Then she turns to me and say "You need to pull over now the tires are sparking!" I'm thinking seriously what is my problem? Have I caught another van on fire? Poor Taylor hears all this and is just freaking out crying. She's apparently had enough of fires and vans. She's screaming, "we have to get out, let me out!" Turns out I ran over a large piece of tire and it was caught to my other tire and was sparking as I drove a long the freeway. Thankfully my dad was able to pull it off and the drama was over... for now :-)

I would love to post pictures of our new ride but our computer has been acting up lately. Add it to the list I guess. So once I get Iphoto to recognize my camera as real files again I'll post some :-)

A Poem- By Taylor

Taylor has been into journaling lately. She'll go out and sit on the driveway and write out what she did that day. Sometimes she'll ask for my help with spelling but lately she's gotten more confident and will try on her own. The other day she sat down and wrote her first poem! She came up with it on her own. Chris and I were so proud of her!

So here is it is... I'm going to write it how she wrote it out in her journal.

A Poem:
The sky is blue the sun is out
flowres have bloomed the plants have sprouts
God creats the most butefullest things in the world
God loves me and God loves you.

By Taylor
April 22secint

Baby Michael 1 Wk

Yesterday I got to see baby Michael again. He is as sweet as can be. Made me miss having a baby! Of course I'm not the one up at night with him :-) Here's a few pictures of the little guy!

Michael Lewis




Tiny Toes



Here's big sister Madi. I was lucky to get this shot. She sat with him for about 20 seconds and then quickly bounced off the couch leaving baby behind!

Top 5 Ways To Not Welcome Your Husband Home

I remember a time when I would use Chris’ out of town trips to do a special project. Life would often slow down while he was gone. There would be no night ministry meetings and once the baby was in bed I would have a whole chunk of time to myself. I would brainstorm things that I could do to bless Chris and it always seemed to make the time that he was gone go by faster. One trip I decided to give our master bedroom closet a makeover. It was in need of some serious help and was one of those tasks that would just get pushed to a “one day” status. I went through our clothes, gave things away, built shelves for shoes etc. I was so proud of myself and he was totally surprised when he got back! As our number of children has increased, as well as the demands on my time while he’s gone, those big projects have faded into the distance. I think the last time he was gone I cleaned out his car and got it washed for him and I was struggling to find time and energy for that small task. Well this trip has been a little different to say the least. No special projects, painting or car washing this week. Actually I feel sorry for what he has to return to. I’ve seen some great posts from ladies who’s husbands are at the same conference this week. I’ve been spurred on by their Godly attitudes and sacrifice while their husbands are gone and I don’t have a thing to add. No instead I thought I’d post a few ways to NOT welcome your hubby home from a trip:

1. “Chair, what chair? Oh that chair… the one you sit on while working tirelessly for your family…yeah your son kind of got loose without a pull up and pooped on your new computer chair. And well after many cleanings I just couldn't get the smell out of the porous fabric and we had a realtor coming... so it’s in the trash.”

2. Look really fat and bloated because the prednisone you took all week for your illness made you gain 6-8 pds of fluid

3. Do I even mention the car…and how I actually did us a disservice for putting the fire out. I learned yesterday insurance only covers fire damage and apparently there’s only a couple hundred dollars worth of actual fire damage and that doesn’t even meet our deductible. I asked the guy, “So let me get this straight, if I would’ve let my car burn longer or say burn up, the insurance would by me a new car?!”… good to know for next time! Verdict is still out on what caused the electrical malfunction or what we are going to do. Just in time for his return!

4. I lost our i-pod. Yeah seriously, can’t find it anywhere. Maybe I can say it was in the car and is now apart of “actual” fire damage.

And the final way to not greet your husband when he returns home from a trip….

5. Wake him up early in the morning with… I know your tired after a along trip and got home a midnight last night but GET UP a realtor is coming!! (this is a future event that will happen tomorrow morning as I just got a call for a second showing)


Thankfully there will be many more trips in our future where I can work on my welcome home efforts :-) As this week comes to an end I really do want to say how thankful I am for the church and friends. I have received so much grace and help from my parents who probably would've thought I'd have leaved and cleaved a long time ago and the days of calling tow trucks and mechanics were over. They also sacrificed their clean house to my children so we'd have a place to stay with another rush of realtors in tow this week. Ruth for staying with me and just being my friend! Thanks to Lory for giving up her new van for me to use for the week so I wouldn't be without a car, Janelle for the popsicles and encouraging card and many others who called and encouraged me this week. I am truly blessed by wonderful friends & family!

The Lord is my portion

I read this devotional this morning from Grace Gems.

The Lord is my portion, says my soul; therefore I will hope in Him." Lam. 3:24

And oh, what a Portion is God! All that He is and all that He has is ours! Every attribute of His being is over us, every perfection of His nature encircles us, every pulse of His heart beats for us, every glance of His eye smiles upon us. We dwell in God, and God dwells in us. It is not the world which is our portion, but HE who made, upholds and governs the world. It is not the creature who is our portion, but the Lord of angels and the Creator of men. Infinite portion! illimitable power! immeasurable grace! boundless love! all-satisfying good! all, all is ours!

And what a Portion, O my soul, is Christ! A divine Christ, a redeeming Christ, a full Christ, a sympathizing, ever-present, ever-precious, ever-loving Christ.

Believer in Jesus! make the most of your portion. It is all-sufficient for all your need...Hope in the Lord, hope in adversity, hope in trial, hope against hope, for God in Christ is your present and eternal Portion. "The Lord is my Portion, says my soul; therefore I will HOPE in Him.
Winslow"

I love the line "Hope against Hope- for God in Christ is your present and eternal portion. What a freeing thing it is to live for the Lord and dwell on all that I am in Christ. In him I have a portion that is eternal!

Strep throat, car fire... that's just day one

My husband left for T4G today. Leading up to the trip Taylor & I were diagnosed with strep throat. I Saturday and Taylor on Sunday. Although I had a couple days of antibiotic's in me I woke up still feeling a little under the weather when he left this morning. Add in a couple of realtor showings this afternoon and I was ready to call it a day. That is until I loaded the kids in the car to go over to the Ross' with my parents for dinner and a special announcement from Ryan & Danae. It was then I heard Taylor say from the back seat, ""Mom there's smoke back here!" I looked back and sure enough there was a small trail of smoke right by her seat. Thankfully, and I do mean thankfully, I was at my parents. My dad came out and helped me get all the kids and their car seats out and away from the car, which at this point began smoking even more. We called over Matt Ross who was a block away and knows cars in and out. He ripped off the side paneling on Taylor's side and sure enough there was a small fire. Unable to find an extinguisher my dad call for the fire department. They came lights & all... the kids loved it and we sure made the best of a not so great situation.







Well we finally made it to the Ross' for Ryan & Danae's big announcement. They informed us all of what the gender of their baby was. It was very exciting and a nice distraction from knowing my car was destroyed and my husband's gone :-) I of course can't tell you their news but feel free to check out Danae's blog... I'm sure it'll be there in no time!

As the fire truck drove away, my car a mess and water and film all over my car and parents driveway I looked at my mom and we just laughed. It was a great moment.

I am eager to see how God will make his faithfulness known through this unexpected trial... I do know he will be faithful and am trusting him in the unknown! I'm not sure what this means in general. How much money are we out? Is it even remotely possibly for us to fix/buy a new car & buy a house? One thing I do know- none of those things really matter to me in the end. I am truly humbled and grateful at how he protected Taylor who sat next to the fire for a short time.

We would appreciate your prayers :-)

A New Baby is Born!

Just hours ago my cousin gave birth to her first son named Michael. I didn't get a middle name, not because I didn't ask. This whole name thing has taken them a long time. But Michael is a very sweet name for their little boy. He's adorable and looks just like his big sister! He was 5 lbs 12 oz and 18 1/2 inches long.

Here are some pictures of the little guy!





After one of the hardest pregnancies I've seen in awhile, along with labor, we were praising God tonight that he added a healthy beautiful boy to our family! Congratulations Matt & Michelle and Madi you are going to be a wonderful big sister :-)

Waiting

I knew that we were asking a lot by praying our house would sale within a matter of weeks. But I also knew that if God could raise Jesus from the dead, selling our house quickly wouldn't be a problem. We continue to have a steady stream of realtor's coming. Averaging at least one showing a day. This weekend I was exhausted, my back hurt beyond medication and I wasn't sure if I could do it anymore. Then while making dinner I got a call that someone was in my neighborhood and wanted to show my home. "Right now?" I asked. "Now" I was told. They came in and we ended up talking to the realtor and this lady for awhile. The next day we got a contract from her. It was exciting but unfortunately we couldn't accept it as is so we countered. In God's providence our neighbor down the street, who's had there house up for sale for over 100 days, dropped their price by 20k, a price we couldn't beat, and our buyer was gone. Chris and I thanked the Lord because we knew he was doing something bigger than what we could see. It was no coincidence that this man picked the ONE DAY we were negotiating a contract out of the hundreds he had, to drop his price. So we go into another weekend waiting and praying for the Lords will to be done. It is true that I desire to move into the house that Chris and I are in the process of buying but even more true is that I want to be where the Lord wants us to be.

Here a few Spurgeon quotes that have encouraged my soul recently.

The Lord, when he has given great faith, has been known to test it by long delays... If it pleases Him to test our patience shall he not do as he wishes with His children? Unanswered petitions are not unheard. By and by your case shall prevail. Can you not be content to wait a little? Will the Lords time not be better than yours? Spurgeon M&E

Hold loosely to all worldly things, but grip firmly the unseen God. Fussing, worrying & hurrying will do no good. Be calm and quiet; all will be well if you are the Lord's child. Beside Still Waters

We are poor fools when we begin to deal with the future. It is a sea that we are not called to navigate. Beside Still Waters

If your back is breaking (appropriate you think?), if your eyes are failing through weary watching and waiting, come to the Savior just as you are. He will be your rest. Beside Still Waters

I am constantly witnessing the most unmistakable examples of answers to prayer. My entire life is made up of them. They are so common that they no longer surprise me... It is true that I have had to wait because my time was ill-judged and God's time was far better. But delays are not denials. Beside Still Waters

Superstar

Taylor had her first tv appearance today. My friend Becky, who taught Taylor how to swim, asked Taylor to be apart of a promotional segment her school was doing for the AZ midday show. Taylor was so excited to be on TV. She's talked about it all week long! The time finally came and we were off. I was a little nervous driving to downtown PHX. I'm not all that familiar with the area and whenever I'm down there it seems I get lost. Taylor picked up on this and the whole drive down there she kept saying "I hope you don't get lost mom" or "Mom your not lost are you?". Thankfully I found it with no problem AND with 15 minutes to spare. When we were almost there Taylor said "Mom my tummy is doing funny things. You know the thing it does every time I go on TV". I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. She was truly nervous and it was so sweet. However the "every time I'm on TV" comment made me laugh. I reminded her that actually she'd never been on TV before. I'm sure that helped her tummy! No we stopped and prayed and I told her just have lots of fun.

Here's a few pictures:




Becky & I joked that Taylor's mic pack weighed as much as she did:



The end result-She did great! She had one main question and Becky and I scripted it out for her at the last minute. When she was asked the question she totally remembered the answer, but it kind of came off like it was scripted :-) But she didn't freeze or cry! I was a proud stage mom!

The whole thing was kind of crazy. It was live TV. So they pull us out of the green room and brought Becky & Taylor out to the garage made into studio set. They meet the interview lady for the first time and with one minute to go they're getting a chair for Taylor to sit so she wouldn't be hidden. It was a fun adventure topped off with an ice cream date just Taylor & I. Thanks Becky for the memories and you were awesome today on TV!!

Realtor Craze

I hinted around on Easter that our house was back on the market. It's true and that would explain my blogging absence. I'll continue to save the details until we know more (it really is an amazing story) but let's just say we need to sale our house, like yesterday. In effort to quickly sale our house we dropped our price by 20k. Apparently that was a smart move because we've had 11 showings in 6 days straight! There have been multiple days when I've had to pack and leave for the day because the calls went something like this "I'm coming between 9-11" next call, "I'll be there from 12-2" and the final call, " I will be showing your house between 2-5". My parents have been gracious to let us crash their house so I'm not homeless with three kids all day! The feedback we've gotten has been positive, we are on the top of a few people's list and others said it was beautiful but they're looking for a different floor plan. We are also praying about an offer we got to lease to own our house. So, if you would join us in praying for our house to sale quickly and wisdom as we make decisions!

S-P-E-L-L

Taylor has entered this new phase recently where she will spell things instead of just saying them. It's cute and great practice for her. You mom's know how this works. Your in the middle of something and then you'll heard you're child. "M-O-M, M-O-M, I want a s-n-a-c-k, please" Or "M-O-M, D-A-D, can I p-l-a-y outside?" This takes a different level of thinking for me to get what she's saying but I try to play along. However I do have a limit. Saturday Taylor said, slowly, "M-O-M what are we going to do this w-e-e-k-e-n-d?" It too awhile to get that last word out and she didn't exactly have my undivided attention. I just looked at her and said was there a "K" in that word? I told her I have a four letter limit than my brain just shuts down :-)