. . . like a thief . . . in broad day-light

 Tuesday started out to be quite an interesting day!  I got to school in the morning to find SWARMS of ants in my classroom and for the rest of the day I had to instruct my students to keep their book bags OUT of my classroom. . . . come on, the day after Halloween without candy in their backpacks?  Then, I get a text from my husband letting me know that his car just "died" and it is going to be $2000 to fix.  Frustrated, the kids and I finally make it home . . . and our garage door is gaping open!  I called Shannon and he said that it was closed when he left.  The door from the garage to our house was still locked, and anything worth any value in the garage was still there, so I wasn't too concerned.  We all went into the house, and everything looked to be fine, there were a few things that I noticed out of the corner my eye, but I did not think too much of it, until I went to put the cheap trinkets around my neck and in my ears away.  All my precious gems were missing!  The earrings my mother-in-law gave me the day I married her son, the earrings my husband gave me after the birth of our first son, the first "fun" pieces of jewelry my husband gave me and everything that was genuine, GONE!  I was a little dumfounded, but the more I scrutinized the situation, the more I realized MORE was missing!  Yes, we had been robbed, over $16,000 worth of belongings; they walked away with them in broad day-light.  


You know what is funny, I did not feel violated, I did not feel like a victim, I did not feel           .  I think that I was just disappointed.  The part that upset me the most is that the thieves took MY CAMERA!  I took that thing everywhere and to replace it would be around $5000!  In fact, the lens that was attached was brand spanking new, I have not even paid the bill on it yet.  Ugh, I have to continue to pay for something that I do not even get to enjoy.  More importantly, photography is more to me than just a hobby.  Throughout my photography journey, I have asked The Lord to use it for HIS glory, not mine.  Why would He allow them to have found that, and take it?  What will cost us $5000 to replace, the criminals will get no more than $1000 for at a pawn shop.  Truly, it disgusts me.  


I think it hit me the hardest today when one of my customers wrote me that she teared up looking at the pictures I recently took of her and her family.  I started crying because I no longer have a camera to be able to take pictures for other people. . . . not that I am just a FABULOUS photographer. I am realistic, I know I give people pictures that are good enough to hang and at a reasonable price . . . but THAT is why I love it so much. I was so mad today (and my husband felt the repercussions, he is too good to me) that I have lost so many things I love in such a sort amount of time: my friends and life in TN, my father, moving AGAIN within a year, staying at home and just being a "mom", and now my camera. I'm not trying to have a pity party, just so unbelievably frustrated.   The Lord reminds me that in this life we will have troubles of MANY kinds, but the testing of our faith develops perseverance, perseverance hope, and hope does NOT disappoint!  As disappointed as I might be, I know that in the long run, HE will not disappoint me.  There is a purpose and a reason for anything that He allows to penetrate our life and heart.  


As a family, we have prayed for the repentants of the robbers who stole the belongings from our house.  We truly believe that everything we have is The Lords, it is His to do with as he pleases and so we pray that He will use this for the glory of Him and His kingdom.  And, we know for a fact that The Lord despises robbery and, "The robbery  of the wicked  shall destroy  them."  I hold fast to The Lord's words.  


This just might be my first post without a picture . . . but as I have no camera with which to take a picture, I'm confident you will grant me a little grace ; )


God is good all the time!  All the time, God is GOOD!