10/18 Smiles and a box of blessings

A couple weeks ago two precious women showed up at my door with smiles and a box full of blessings!! Thank you so much for being willing to be Gods hands and feet in coming along side women who are going through a stressful, difficult time. I pray blessings everyday for all who have blessed us over this past year. It been long and hard but we have felt God put us safely in His arms and carry us through. Please let me know how we can contribute to this ministry. We would love to give back when we can!! Sandy

10/15 I want to hug your necks.

:I was going through the stack of mail that has accumulated on my counter a few minutes ago and came across a letter addressed to me. It's always a surprise to get any type of letter amongst the bills and junk mail. However, when I opened this letter, the tears started to flow. You see, this year has been one of the hardest years in my entire life for many reasons but I am SO.VERY.BLESSED! I've cried out to God lately as the days seem long and hard wondering if they will ever get easier. He is listening. He knew I needed this word of encouragement. I'm just thankful. To whoever is apart of this ministry, please know you are a blessing. Thank you for taking the time to bless others! It meant so much! I want to hug your neck! ❤️ Morgan

10/11 You made my day

Last Tuesday on my way to work I found myself with a familiar feeling in my chest. I couldn't breathe. A familiar feeling in my head, it was spinning....racing. A panic attack.

I've been raising two wonderful teenage boys alone for the past 4 years. I left their father and an abusive relationship to show my boys this is not how a woman should be treated. That their mother deserved respect. Their father moved across the country to "start his life over". And he's never looked back. He has no relationship with them, hasn't seen them in almost 4 years. He did it to punish me for leaving him. It's been one struggle after another, but I've made it work until recently.

Everything has started unraveling. My landlord decided to sell the home I live in. I'm in a lease, but I expect to be thrown out any day. Rentals are crazy expensive, I can't find anything out there I can afford. The stress, instability and fear of not being able to provide a home for my children has been killing me. Then there is wisdom teeth that need to be removed, a looming college tuition bill - no help from his dad of course (don't even get me started about the cost of textbooks), another increase in car insurance when my younger one turns 16 in January. Every day my thoughts are what am I going to do. Last Wednesday my youngest son was sick. The doctor diagnosed him with viral bronchitis and a sinus infection. I asked how he knew it was a virus. My doctor has known me for 13 years. He said, do you have a headache?, I did. My nose was running, my eyes puffy, my sinuses burning. He said, you are sharing this virus. You are sick. I can't be sick, I have too much on my plate. Go home he said, drink water and get some rest. My child, still sick with a horrible cough, stays home from school and I go off to work still with the bad headache and puffy eyes and burning sinuses.

I am a really positive person. My oldest son text me the morning after the Las Vegas shootings asking if I had seen the news. That it made him mad. My reply to him: "This violent act makes me mad too. All you can do is be part of the good in the world. Be kind to everyone, treat people with respect and be someone others respect. Go out of your way to help someone who needs your help. Listen to people and offer support. That's what I do, you can too."

My job is to take care of everyone else. I put on a smile and go in to work to do my part to create a wonderful life to those who live where I work. Like giving that kindergartener that gentle nudge into their classroom on the first day of school, I transition retirees into their next phase of live. It's like being the principal of the school. Some kids don't play nice, some need extra encouragement, sometimes a new focus. A pep talk to remind them of what our bodies can do instead of focus on what they used to do. Sometime it's just to listen and comfort. Some people live alone and just need "a person". I'm always happy to be that person.

Lately I've been overwhelmed. I get in my car or in the shower and have a quick cry. Mostly because I don't have time for a long cry. Then, last Thursday morning there was a knock on the clubhouse door where I work. A stranger. She said you don't know me and I'm part of a group of women who heard you are going though a rough time. I said, I am. She said I have a gift for you. She handed me a bag and gave me a hug.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. It was really, really nice that 12 Ordinary Women were thinking about taking care of me. I had forgotten like what it feels like to be taken care of. You ladies, made my day, my week and my month.

Not by chance, the devotion in the book you gave me on that day read this: October 5 - Remember that Joy is not dependent on your circumstances. Some of the world's most miserable people are those whose circumstances seem the most enviable. People who reach the top of the ladder career-wise are often surprised to find emptiness awaiting them. True Joy is a by-product of living in My Presence. Therefore you can experience it in palaces, in prisons...anywhere.

Do not judge a day as devoid of Joy just because it contains difficulties. Instead, concentrate on staying in communication with Me. Many of the problems that clamor for your attention will resolve themselves. Other matters you must deal with, but I will help you with them. If you make problem solving secondary to your goal of living close to Me, you can find Joy even in your most difficult days.

THANK YOU....I need that reminder and the love of strangers. Bless you.

A belated heartfelt thank you. 9/27

This thank you is long overdue. If you knew me before June 19, 2017 you'd have known, I'm punctual. Our whole family is punctual. To us if you aren't at least 5 minutes early, you're late. But my life has taken a turn. A sharp unexpected turn and I'm lost. Being on time has become the least of my concerns. But I share this because, I know that I should have sent this thank you months ago. In the past, I actually loved sitting down to write thank you notes. I loved the process. Its almost like getting the gift all over again. I'd sit there thinking about the gift, the people or person who cared enough to think of me and give me a token of their love. But this is unlike any thank you note, I'd ever written or tried to write. I've lost count as to how many times I sat at my computer with the determination to get this done. But with each attempt came heartbreak, sadness and grief. The tears would start as a trickle and before long I looked and felt like a bag of swollen snot. I'd get mad at myself and feel so foolish until, I just said to myself one day I'd rather wait till I can say thank you properly, then send a thank you in a timely manner. So its been just over 3 months since I found my husband dead on the sofa in our living room. I relive that moment almost everyday. I've rearranged the furniture hoping that would help. It hasn't. But I've learned a lot in these 3 months. The most important being, I'm not alone. I may not have my other half. I may not have the security and love he provided me but I have more than I knew. The day, I got a call from one of the 12 was a day like any other I'd been trying to get through. I was lying in bed looking at the stack of papers on my bed. Sorting into keep, toss, idk, and now. The idk pile seemed to be the largest. The call went something like this. Hi, I'm a part of the group called 12 ordinary women. Your name was given to us and I was wondering if we could stop by and bring you something. We know you're going through a difficult time and we don't want to take up your time and we won't come in. My first thought was how did she get my number and why is she bugging me. But the instant she said she wouldn't come in and just wanted to drop something off, I was relieved to say the least. So I agreed. I tossed on some clothes because for the past few weeks my look was less than presentable. I waited. When I opened the door, I know I probably looked like a mess. I tried to be warm but am sure I was giving the just give me the card and go look. The two women couldn't have been warmer, sweet and beautiful..All the things I wish I had felt and given in return. But they handed me the envelope and I quickly said thanks and goodbye. I tossed the envelope on the kitchen table and went back to bed. I was literally exhausted. It was several days before I remembered the card as mail had been stacked upon it. When I opened it, I was in shock. Tears began to well up and stream down my face. What was this. Why!!! I didn't deserve this. Who was so thoughtful to have passed on my name. I sat down and just began to cry. This was definitely a God moment. God was looking out for me. God had touched someones heart to pass on my name. God was working through this amazing group of women to carry out His work in His name. In that plain envelope was cash in a lovely card with a picture of the backs of the 12 ordinary women. I wish I could give all 12 of you a hug. To personally tell you how grateful I am. How in that moment you reminded me that I'm not alone. That my son and I have extraordinary people in our lives and most importantly we have a loving God. So while the money was useful and needed, it was the gesture that has filled my heart that day and everyday since then. THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR BEING A REMINDER OF GOD"S ENDURING LOVE. love, Melissa and Sam

I had been on my knees for days...9/20

Oh my.....thank you is just not sufficient for what I want to say. Thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus! The package came at the end of a fast where I had been on my knees for days. I felt kissed by our Father through you and comfort surrounded me. What you do is such a blessing beyond what you can even imagine. I am moved back to my knees in awe. May God bless you and all of us who are touched through your ministry. Tears of joy and thankfulness for this storm where Christ came right to my doorstep. I love you....your Sister in Christ Kerri

It’s like being on Touched by an Angel 9/20

Today at work I received a message from the receptionist that there were two women here to see me. I was not expecting anyone, nor could I think of any reason I would have visitors at work. I went to the lobby and met two women whom I've never met before. They shook my hand and told me that I didn't know them, but they from a special group of women called, 12 Ordinary Women, and I had been nominated for being an extraordinary woman. I was completely overwhelmed. I had never heard of this group before. They handed me a card and said it was for me and that the person who nominated me wished to remain anonymous. This amazing group of women, who I don't know, are praying for me and nominated me to receive this generous financial gift of love and support. I was completely overwhelmed... And still am. I have never felt this way before. I had difficulty standing up while reading the card and receiving the money inside. My husband is going through a very difficulty cancer treatment of chemo and radiation to his throat and struggling to make his way through it all. I am so grateful for the financial blessing inside, but even more touched that 12 women I don't even know are praying for me and my family and care enough to extend their hand, prayers, and support to me. I wish I knew who they were. I would be honored to know them. Today I felt like I was part of that old TV show, "Touched By An Angel." My heart feels lighter and my troubles seem lightened. My Love to all of you! Thank you! Love, Greta

Thank you for helping with kids activities fees. 9/14

There are no words!! I had JUST called Eb at work...told him that the kids needed $100 EACH for activity fees at MSAD...AND would soon need alot of money for both of them to do Driver's Ed which made my trip to Illinois to watch Sam in his Football tournament near impossible. I was going to tell Sam the sad news...but now i don't need to!!!!!! I can go because of this gift! When I looked inside...at first I only saw the Herman's coupons and I was so excited about those alone that I was about to run to the computer to say thank you when i noticed the money card.....you made me cry..as Jesus knows...this could not have been more timely. It was the most perfect gift..and I'm soooo happy that you guys are connecting with sweet Iman at the bakery to help him feel more a part of the community. Bless You...Bless you..Bless you...I love you whoever you are...and I want to be a part of this wonderful thing and make someone else feel the way i just felt...Eb too was stunned <3 <3 <3. 

When praises go up...9/12

When the praises go up, the blessings come down! That's how our God works. This wonderful, beautiful, unexpected gift was right on time! Thank you all so very much! 12 Ordinary Women!!! 💞🙌🏾

Bless you, Reggie & Mitzi Moore