82 ~ It Was Great Until It Wasn't

 82 ~ Triumph Through Tragedy By Kay Heitsch

It Was Great, Until It Wasn't!

Remember how I led you on this long journey. Deuteronomy 8:2

I missed working at the schools and even the jewelry rep job, but I was happy to be home. I exercised and stretched daily on the ball. Cindy and I walked the baby in her stroller.

We all enjoyed having a baby around. I'm a detail-oriented person, so I kept track of the baby's schedule and the times they were with us. Usually, a couple of times a week, she also spent the night.

We learned that Mom and Dad were born in another country. They invited us over to eat. It was interesting to try other foods and learn about the culture. We also invited them to eat with us.

Mom and Dad shared a lot about their lives with us. It was nice getting to know them.

Dad shared that he was a US citizen, but Mom wasn't. She asked me if I would write a letter of recommendation for her. I was happy to do it.

Usually, Dad would bring the baby over and pick her up. Mom worked long hours, but they often came together.

It was sweet watching the baby begin to walk, and how she would run to the door, smiling when I told her daddy was coming. I could tell she had a special relationship with her dad.

Everything seemed great! Until it wasn't!

The next few years were among the most stressful periods of my life.

For a fact, I almost lost my faith.

Now, how was God going to bring any good out of this?

* I will not be using any names.

81 ~ Should I leave My Job?

By Kay Heitsch

Remember how I led you on this long journey. Deuteronomy 8:2

Working out on the ball was slowly helping my hands, etc., to heal. Cindy and I were on summer break and continued to walk almost every morning.

When we moved into this home, the builder lived across the street. He was getting a divorce, so he put his house up for sale.

It wasn't long before a young couple moved in. One day, I was outside when they came out with a new baby girl. We all introduced ourselves. I, of course, fussed over the baby.

A few weeks went by, and school was about to start. I was happy to be going back and working with Julie.

However, this young couple came over and asked if I would be their nanny. Mom was a doctor, and Dad owned his own business, and he traveled a lot.

Everything would be provided, and I would take care of the baby in our home.

I loved my job at the school. I really did not want to leave there. But I also wanted to do what God had planned for me to do.

I started to pray. I told the Lord if this was His will, I would ask this couple for 2 things. If they agreed, I would quit my job.

My first request was to receive the same pay as I was earning at school. Second, that all taxes, etc., would be taken out. I wanted this on the up and up. Nothing under the table.

I wasn't surprised when they both agreed.

This arrangement was working out well. I was home when Brandon came home from school. He enjoyed having a baby around.

My hands were given a break. Cindy and I were now walking, pushing a baby carriage.

God knew I needed a break at this time. Plus, I also needed to be home with Brandon, just like I always was with Todd and Shannon.

80 ~ The Ball

By Kay Heitsch

My hands, etc, were not getting any better even though I had given up the jewelry rep job. Now, just trying to hold a book or turning a page hurts. Bill said I was crying in my sleep in pain.

I took some over-the-counter pain pills, but they didn't seem to help. I began praying regularly that God would help me.

One day, I was surprised when a box arrived at our home. It was addressed to me, but I hadn't ordered anything. I asked Bill if he knew anything about it.

Bill said he had ordered it. It was an exercise ball. My enthusiastic response was, "What? Who is going to be using an exercise ball?"

To be honest, I was irritated. First, I had stayed about the same size all our married life. I didn't need to lose weight. I was working and walking with Cindy. What did he think I needed with an exercise ball?

This ball stayed in the box for some time. I kept praying about my hands, wrists, shoulders, and elbows.

One fine day, I decided to open the box. I'm a frugal person, and I didn't want to see money wasted.

There was a device designed to inflate the ball. Plus, a couple of videos. I blew the ball up and put the video in. It was fun.

I started to use the ball regularly. There were stretching exercises. The more I stretch, I can feel a release beginning in my shoulder, then down my arm to my hands. I couldn't believe it.

I continued working out on the ball. After several months, my pain was gone entirely. I called the number on the box and let them know. I was healed! Plus, I went from a size 6 to a 4.

To this very day, I still stretch and exercise on this ball. The pain has never returned.

I never dreamed this exercise ball would be the answer to my prayer, but it certainly was.

Once again, God turned my pain into something good, a complete healing.

79 ~ Aunt Ruth School Service Rep

By Kay Heitsch

Aunt Ruth School & Jewelry Rep Job

Once we got settled, we started attending a church. I met some great people there.

I was still walking outside in our neighborhood. One of the friends at church started walking with me. We walked year-round. Cindy knew the area, so she knew places we could walk inside if needed.

I began working, as needed, in different public schools in town. I enjoyed working with individual students. I always carried candy, etc. The kids loved treats.

Bill's job at the bank went well for a while, but then they decided to go in another direction. Bill could see it coming, so he had another finance job lined up. I saw that God had opened another door.

I heard that a Charter School was looking for full-time help. I went over and applied. I was hired. This job was a wonderful experience!

I was privileged to work with a first-year teacher. Julie taught First Grade. I've worked with many teachers over the years. But I have to say Julie was the best.

I also took another part-time job as a service representative for a jewelry company. I enjoyed this job, but it seriously messed up both hands. I did this job after working at the charter school.

Aunt Ruth had a stroke. She was no longer at home. Now she was in a nursing home close to one of the stores where I worked as a jewelry rep.

So around 9:30 at night, after work, I would stop in to see her. It was a nightmare! Aunt Ruth couldn't talk. She had a feeding tube, which she hated! She would try to talk, cry, point at the feeding tube, and jerk it out.

I was exhausted after working all day and night, and then trying to deal with Aunt Ruth and this sad situation was very difficult.

One night, I felt I couldn't mentally and emotionally handle it anymore.

Thankfully, God helped me calm her down enough to communicate with her. We came to an agreement that I would remind her of our good times together. Aunt Ruth was happier, and so was I. Aunt Ruth and I were able to laugh, remembering fun times.

It wasn't much longer, and Aunt Ruth died at the nursing home. My hands, wrists, and elbows were so painful that I quit the jewelry rep job soon after she died.

I was happy I could spend time with Aunt Ruth and bring her some happiness. The jewelry rep job allowed me to work close enough to visit.

God once again proved faithful to bring good out of each situation we were going through.

78 ~ Being Close To The Cemetery

By Kay Heitsch

Our move went well. Roger expressed to the man working at the dock that he wanted our move to be one of the best.

It was nice being back in Michigan. It had been many years since we had lived here.

Bill's dad and stepmother lived in Michigan. This was the reason we buried Todd's body here. We felt they weren't going to be moving like we always did.

Now we were back, and our home was about 20 minutes from the cemetery. This gave me a chance to visit Todd's grave.

Bill's dad and his Grandma Z. also lived near the cemetery, so now I could stop in and visit them, too.

My mom had one sister who was still alive. Aunt Ruth lived in the area. I was able to visit and help her with a few chores.

Moving around from state to state, we never lived around family. I was enjoying visiting Aunt Ruth in her home and Grandma Z in the nursing home.

I was also happy to be able to visit the cemetery and check on Todd's grave. I spent time there fussing around with the flowers and just reflecting.

Grandma Z asked me to plant flowers on Grandpa Z's grave, too. Interesting that his grave was very close to Todd's. I didn't realize this when we bought the plots.

Well, we know God knew all of this beforehand. He knew where we needed to be and why.

Life was going to test my faith like never before. I was thankful I had experience to look back on.

I knew God would be with me through the tough times and bring good out of them.

77 ~ Another Wow Moment

By Kay Heitsch

There wasn't much time to find a home in Michigan. We actually looked at homes on Memorial Day weekend and bought one.

I was sad to leave the home I had picked out in Ohio, which I loved. However, now we were close to where Todd was buried.

I was still walking in our neighborhood in Ohio. One thing I didn't have was wardrobe boxes.

On my walk one morning, I saw several wardrobe boxes lined up on the curb. I knocked on the door of the house and asked if I could have them. Yay, they were happy for me to take them.

The movers came and packed the breakable items. I noticed they had a few leftover boxes when they were about to leave.

I asked if they would mind me giving them to Sue. One of the guys laughed and answered, "Roger gave them away once; he won't mind giving them away again."

I called Sue, and she came down and took the remaining boxes. We couldn't take the frozen food or anything else from the refrigerator, so I gave her everything.

It wasn't very long after we were in Michigan that I heard from Sue. Sue let me know that her house had sold and she had the "exact" amount of boxes she needed for her move.

Another wow moment from God!

Does God care about the details in our lives? He sure does.

God showed His love and care in so many details with this move. Not only for us, but also for Sue and everyone involved.

When life happens, God will bring good out of it.

Who Are You?

By Kay Heitsch

The clock was ticking. The date for our move was getting closer. I was happy Sue now had her boxes, but I still didn't have any.

If I learned anything from Todd's death, I realized how meaningful relationships are.

When Bill called, curious about how things were going, I told him I was going back to our previous home and see everyone before our move.

When I came home from seeing friends, it started raining. It poured rain for several days. I talked to a new friend about boxes, and she suggested looking behind stores.

This didn't appeal to me getting soggy boxes, but what else was I going to do? The clock was ticking.

I kept praying and believing God would provide my boxes, just as I had told Sue.

One morning, before I started to hunt behind stores in the rain for boxes, I called the moving company again.

Lo and behold, a man answered the phone, instead of the woman. I asked about used boxes, and praise the Lord, he said they had some available.

I called Brandon to come with me, and we drove right down to the moving company. I was feeling very relieved and happy.

However, my relief and happiness ended when I walked into the office and told the office assistants why I was there.

The girl explained that she didn't know who answered the phone, but they didn't have any used boxes. Another girl suggested I go and talk to someone in another office in the building.

I decided to do that, and guess who was in the office? Roger! I was surprised to see him. He asked why I was there, and I explained what was going on.

Roger asked me to meet him around the back of the warehouse. I drove there, and a man walked out on the dock. He asked if I was the person who called about the used boxes. I told him I was.

He began telling me how sorry he was, but they didn't have any boxes. My heart sank.

Just as this dock worker was giving me the sad news, Roger walked up.

Overhearing the conversation, Roger said, "Oh, yes, we do! I want you to give Kay all the new moving boxes for her move on us!" I couldn't believe it! I was stunned!

Tears filled my eyes, and I ran over and gave Roger a big hug.

Roger explained that the day he gave me the estimate on our move, he had just returned from a trip with his wife. Roger said his wife had been diagnosed with cancer.

He continued by thanking me for giving him the "Have a Great Day - Everyday" book by Dr. Peale with my letter in it.

Roger explained that his wife loved Dr. Peale, and this book had been significant to her.

Then, Roger turned around and walked away.

The dock employee was shocked!. He asked, Who are you? How do you know Roger? I told him Roger had come to our home and given me an estimate on our move.

Much to my surprise, this guy responded, "Roger does not go out and give estimates. He owns this whole company." All I could reply was, "Well, he came out to our house."

Now the dock worker looked up our move online and began loading new boxes into the van. Now, I could start packing.

Roger had no idea why we were moving. But God did. He brought Roger to our home, and now Roger was providing the boxes I had mentioned to Sue.

Reliving this story brings tears to my eyes just remembering God's love and care.

Moving again was not something I wanted to do. But God was bringing good out of it.