As I’ve said so many times before, I love stories that are fresh. And this one is just about a little over a week old.

When the fire happened, life became very, very chaotic. Everything needed to be done, from literally the ground up. Add to it that everyone had to deal with the trauma of it and we had to build a new home. We have built homes in the past. We should know how to get this done. But it was all on top of the trauma of the fire and losing everything, so we definitely found that building the house was not so easy. We couldn’t decide on basic things. Each decision seemed absolutely overwhelming.

One of the things was the kitchen and the cupboards. Final decisions were made, but I did not feel very confident in all the things we chose. Anyway, as it turns out we have had to do some revamping to make things work easier and be more efficient.

For example: I have my computer at the end of the counter top, but there is a space between the end of the counter and the fridge, because things just didn’t work out quite like I had planned. So the question became: What to do with that space? I went back to Home Depot and they priced a cabinet. Whoooa. It was like $500. I thought, ‘well maybe the contractor who redid the laundry room could build a little set of shelves’, but even that would be more than what I thought we should spend.

Cause down deep, I just wanted to keep it simple and inexpensive. I really just wanted some shelves to put baskets on so that I could have them nearby the computer, kind of like a little office space right near the computer.

Well I started to pray. I asked the Lord what to do. I prayed some more. I just really felt I wanted to keep it simple and cheap. If we do not spend large amounts of money, then we have more to give away and more for the orphan!

I would ask the Lord almost daily, “Would you please provide something for there? You know what I need more than I even do. I know you have a fun surprise and really Lord, I just don’t want to spend much money!”

Weeks passed. I found myself getting frustrated. I wanted it solved and done and I wanted that area organized. Sometimes I believe that the Lord tests our resolve. Do we really want to wait for Him to provide or will we just cave in and buy something and take care of it ourselves? Will we trust Him or jump ahead and figure it out ourselves?

Weeks turned into months. I vacillated between frustration and excitement: When would He provide and what was it going to cost? Well the other day I was driving home from somewhere alone. That rarely happens. I felt like the Lord told me to stop at the thrift store that I pass on the way home. It was so strong – the urge. So I pulled in and thought I would breeze around and look for some sort of little book shelve that would work there.

I zipped through the store to the back where the furniture was. Nothing that would even remotely work. ugh. I thought, “That’s weird, I really felt like I was supposed to stop.” As I was leaving the store I noticed the sign said that furniture outside was 1/2 off.

So as I left the store I glanced over to where some beat up furniture was sitting. I saw a double stroller. It was actually in really nice shape so I went to try it. I pushed it back and forth. Looking it over. I decided against it and as I turned to go I spotted it.

A little white bookshelfy thingy. I walked over and checked it out. I kind of measured it with my hand. Each direction looked like it would fit. I was getting excited. Was this the sweet surprise I have been waiting for months for – from the Lord?
Looking it over I wondered how much it was. I laughed. $3.00! And then I remembered…furniture outside was 1/2 off!! I carried it inside and the lady charged me $1.50 plus tax. I giggled all the way home. And it fits perfectly.

We are replacing the counter tops – and that is another story for another day {and it is another sweet story of something that the Lord allowed to happen, with better outcome then we first imagined possible!}….but when we do, we will extend the counter over top of my little shelfy thingy…and it will be tucked back {like it is pictured}.

I am thrilled with it. Just think, I could have hurried out and paid several hundred dollars for something to work there, but what I really needed, I found for $1.50!!

He is so faithful. He provides what we need. He gives us the desires of our heart and it was definitely my desire to not spend much money!

What about you? What has the Lord done for you?? Please do share…

Please post your permalink with your Memorial Box Monday story on it…{if you don’t post your permalink, I will be forced to delete it and I would really, really, really hate to do that!}

If you don’t know what a permalink is, it is explained here. If you have no clue what a Memorial Box is, it is explained here.