So apparently I'm not so great at this blogging thing. Marla writes like 3 times a day, and I write 3 times a month. Oh well. So, knowing my family and how we all like getting great deals, I thought I would share a deal. For the next four Sundays you can get a free RedBox rental using these codes:

• Week 2 – 11moms4uA (good Sunday 12/14 only)
• Week 3 – 11moms4uN (good Sunday 12/21 only)
• Week 4 – 11moms4uT (good Sunday 12/28 only)
• Week 5 – 11moms4uA (good Sunday 1/4 only)

Stephanie and I went this past Sunday and rented Hancock, but then returned it late and ended up paying a $1 anyway. Oh well...it's still $4 cheaper than renting it anywhere else. Enjoy!

So most of you know what it's like to not make much money. Stephanie and I have really been experiencing this since we don't make much and have a nice chunk of debt. I have been talking with some of our elders who are "money smart" and getting ideas on how we can get more income. So they gave me a few illegal ideas, and we're moving forward with them. Okay, not really, but they did give some great options that I have as a "man of the cloth". So it looks like we're going to be able to get an extra few hundred dollars each month just by filing taxes differently (which is LEGAL for me since I am in ministry). I had no idea that I had these kind of options. So Stew and Josh...if this sounds new to you, let me know and I'll pass it on. But being seasoned youth pastors you're probably well aware of such savings.

I must admit that at times I wish I had more money so that things would be "easier." But in reality, this is such a cool way to live, because it requires us to rely on God more. For instance... My car wouldn't start Monday morning, so we had to have it towed to the mechanic. My dad had given me a AAA subscription so this is typically free of charge. However my subscription had just expired last week. Bummer! That meant I was going to have to pay $60 for the 4 mile tow to my mechanic. But, because God is awesome, the AAA lady said they would still cover it. 1ST BLESSING. So once the mechanic looked at the car he told me I needed a new starter...$280. Well, we don't have $280 to spend on that. I'm not even sure how we're going to get to Ohio, so I was still a little unsure. As Stephanie drove me into work yesterday I felt the Spirit telling me to just get the car fixed and trust God. We had the money in our account its just that it's to pay other bills. So I get into the office and someone else told me the same thing..."just get it fixed. It will work out." So, I took that as confirmation from God. Called Vance the mechanic and told him to fix it. 6 hours later I go to pick it up. I slide my debit card on the counter and he says, "It's already been paid for." 2ND BLESSING. "What do you mean it's already been paid for?", I asked. And he repeated himself. I found out who it was, and Stephanie and I are very grateful. God does provide for us. We just need to trust Him. This is a blessing that we never would have experienced if we had the money to make things "easier." God is AWESOME. Not just because he met this need. He's awesome when things are tough and crappy too, because He is always God, and the very fact that I am still breathing shows that He cares and meets my needs. Praise God in the smooth and in the rough.

Well I went in yesterday at 9:00 to get all 4 wisdom teeth out. When we got there we found out that I wasn't eligible for insurance to cover it because I hadn't had the insurance long enough, so we got to pay for it out of pocket. Awesome! $1500....and what did I get? Pain and sickness! I was feeling fine at first. I must have been "dancing", because I remember the nurse telling me I was jamming out in the chair.  Stephanie also told me that the first thing I asked her is if she "wanted to make out." The feeling good part didn't last long though. I threw up in the car before we got home. I went on to throw up 7 more times throughout yesterday. I couldn't keep as much as half a glass of water down. Every time I ate or drank something it was followed by throwing up. Which stunk on many levels. I was hungry, I hate throwing up (especially when it's mixed with dry heaves), and because I didn't have anything in my stomach so I couldn't take my pain killers. It was absolutely miserable! Someone told Stephanie they thought I might be allergic to anesthesia since I had complication during my last surgery too. Who knows...I guess we'll see if I ever have to have surgery again. I am feeling better today, but still pretty poopy. The only thing I've eaten since Thursday is an Italian ice cup this morning. I've been able to hold that down so I might branch out and try something else here in a bit. Thanks for praying for me. Please keep it up. I was supposed to take family pictures for some of our friends today and had to postpone until tomorrow. I hope I'm feeling up to it because their family leaves first thing Monday morning. Anyway...I'm getting back to watching the Clemson game. GO TIGERS!!

Stephanie comes home tomorrow!!! Great for me, sad for the fam. Sorry, but you've had her long enough and I am about to go nuts down here by myself. Thanks for taking care of her and for making her so happy. She loves you more than you know.