Ali ~ Authentic & Ameliorating

Well in one week a lot of things can happen ~ some great, some not good at all, some okay but in all things knowing that God is in charge! I kept reminding myself of this during this past week. But through it all, I held onto my faith and kept trusting Poppa God even on the hardest of days.

October is usually a hard month for me ~ too many sad anniversaries and not many good ones.

• My dad passed away on October 23, 2001 ~ that led to changing where we attended church due to lots of hurt feelings though we are thankful for our Northwood Alliance Church family, now called Northwood Chapel, who welcomed us with open arms and have loved us through so many of life’s challenges and successes! The below picture is the last time I saw my Dad in Fall of. 2000. This picture makes me smile as I remember he always liked to stick his tongue out because he hated having his picture taken.

• My grandpa died on Halloween in 1982 ~ I have not liked Halloween since. Even though it has been 41 years, I still am not a fan of Halloween. But that is okay, because life goes on when you lose a special person and I’m so thankful for all my happy memories

The following pictures are from the only time my Grandpa got to see both boys.

1. Jamie & Brandon Summer 1980

2. Grandpa and Aunt Joan, Summer 1980 ~ I am so thankful that they made the trip from California to Washington state where we were stationed.

3. Alice, Brandon, Grandpa & Aunt Joan ~ again I am so thankful for the time with them.

• Halloween of 2005 my mom passed away – it’s hard to think she has been gone for 18 years!
• this is the last picture of me with my mom (center) and my Aunt Joan – 2004.
• October has other hard memories ~ October 1986 I had the first of five times of being hospitalized due to dealing with mental health issues. October 1987 Ron had taken the boys hunting and were missing for about six hours. I was never so relieved to get a phone call from a deputy sheriff that they had been found!!

And the end of October 2023 seemed to be hard in so many ways as well ~ I found myself spiraling down hill due to a very stupid mistake I made in our check books ~ forgetting to post some big auto withdrawals (nothing new as I can’t count how many times I have done this) which led to me making myself physically sick leading to blood sugars skyrocketing and then dropping, a multiple of times in three days.

I did struggle BUT GOD and lots of prayers, time in the Word, lots and lots of tears, more time in the Word and more prayers the veil of depression began to lift. I am so thankful for the gals in my Bible study groups who continued to lift me up in prayer, for a hubby who just encourages and loves on me daily and for the way God brings sunshine into my life, for besties from afar who also lift me up in prayer each time I call! And through it all God smiles on us.

This is from the front of our site, looking towards the back where this bush has finally bloomed…it is huge! It is between us and our backyard neighbors.

For the last month we have really been trusting the Lord with our finances and each time I begin to worry I stop, breathe, remind Poppa God that he promises to provide for us and with my big screw up it was hard to see how things would work…but we just kept trusting in God and believing in His Timing!

Financially things are still hard BUT GOD has answered a big prayer of ours ~

I got the Office Assistant position with Pasco County School Board! After the fingerprinting and background check goes through I can start. My tentative start date is 11/6/23!!!

Ron and I have cried tears of joy and relief, knowing that over the next month our finances will get back in line and that God continues to provide for us ~ we may not know how but He always does!!!

We are so excited to start the month of November with new opportunities and continued thankfulness for the many blessings in life that God showers on us. It doesn’t mean that every day is stress free but every day Poppa God is with us!!! Please give prayers of thanksgiving along with us as we continue this journey of life…currently in Land O Lakes, Florida!