My cup overflows.

"Babe, you know what I need now? If I'm going to write consistently I need a laptop so that I can go sit at a coffee house and eat a cheese danish while I write." I was finishing up the dishes and was peeking through the pass-through at his response. I just giggled because we both knew that it wasn't even worth discussing.

Let me take you back a few years and you'll see why a laptop was so not worth discussing. We were living too large and decided, with Dave Ramsey's help, to eradicate our debt. We were going to "live like no one else, so in time we could live like no one else." We sold two homes that year, the one we were living in (and loved) and the one we still owned in Valdosta. We ate a lot of pancakes and baked potatoes. To change it up some nights I would make waffles...I know, clever you say. Anyway, we decided that we would live without a few bells and whistles for the sake of our financial health. It was quite a process, but together we did it and we vowed to never return again. I should mention that we do carry a mortgage. We don't do "extras." If we want something we save for it, it's that simple. (really not, but in theory)

We have a computer. The monitor is almost 8 years old, it's HUGE and we LIKE IT! It sticks out behind the computer armoire, but it works. There was no need for us to purchase a laptop, even if it sounded glamorous to grab my purse, laptop, give kisses and head out the door for some "quiet time." That's that.

The NEXT day was playgroup. I walked in and where I normally drop all of my "supplies" was a Victoria's Secret bag. She was beaming. "It's not anything that should actually be in the bag, it has nothing to do with Victoria's Secret." That was a relief, because after 3 big babies and 3 c-sections there are a few things that I keep "secret" if you know what I mean. "Should I open it now?" She could barely speak she was so excited. I pulled the tissue paper out and all I could recognize were a lot of wires. Then it dawned on me, it was a LAPTOP!!! I looked up at her, almost crying, and said, "Is it a laptop?" She immediately explained that it was her husband's old one and they didn't know what to do with it, and then when I started the blog, she was one of my biggest fans. I said, "I didn't even think to ask God." A free laptop with wireless capabilities. I'm still humbled because of His great love for me. Thankfully my friend realizes that she was merely a vessel God used for providing for my wants...not my needs. I love that about Him. Psalm 23 says, "The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not be in want." It's a precious thing to me that with all of the strife in the world today, He is still the Good Shepherd. He knows our hearts, He knows our desires. There are things He withholds, absolutely, but always for our good.

A verse that keeps coming to mind is found in James, "Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created." I believe that God has given us gifts that are spiritual (salvation being the first one that comes to mind!) and that He also gives us little treats here on earth. It's sort of like a little shout out from God. I pray that the laptop will be used for His glory and that after reading this some of you consider your life and count the little "extras" as love from your Heavenly Father who desires you to know Him in the most initmate ways.

I could go on and on, but there are certainly things to do. I just didn't want another day to go by without sharing how precious the Father heart of God is...absolutely precious.