Helping others

I sent a lengthy email to everyone I know, including people who may not know me but are in my neighborhood or church directories, about all the new things I am doing now to help replace the income from the work I used to do. The responses I received were very encouraging. They were better than I had asked for. Oh, the joy I receive in hearing how much people care and love to help others is worth more than any money I could ever earn!
1 Corinthians 10:31-32. I have to share some of the ways people are helping others:
Our wonderful babysitter Melissa's mom, Tessa Dailey, and mom of one of Tyler's old soccer players, wrote, "...What an amazing thing to read how you and Tyler met and how much you knew what you wanted and you got it and are living and loving it... Good luck with Avon... I am an Arbonne Independent Consultant and have learned a lot and have met some of the most amazing people while doing it." (Arbonne ID#15780051) Well, I have already met some wonderful people, one I know God set the appointment and she is in my life now for a reason, and I look forward to meeting lots more people!
Jeremy Black, a friend from Portland Christian High School, said "...Glad to hear you're getting to do what you really want to do, helping people... I am currently helping out in the Children's Ministries at Salem Christian Center in Salem. [My wife and] I am also participating in Royal Family Kids Camps and TRAC "(This link is to a TRAC camp in Arizona but is the same as the one he works at in Salem) They are reaching out to foster kids who need love and acceptance through fun-time camps!
Tyler's cousin, Heather Billups, is always willing to help. Her husband, Ben, is owner of Billupsworldwide, a company he started that now has many employees working for him. I think that it would be totally awesome to build up a business that is able to employ people - giving people jobs!
I'd love to hear more stories!
I mentioned in my email how amazing things can happen when you keep your eyes and ears [and heart] wide open. Here is a story about that...Today I returned some pop cans for the 5 cents deposit so we could buy some milk. Oregon Law now states a person can only return 144 per day, a total of $7.20. Fred Meyers is my favorite place to return because they have a machine for cans only; you dump them all in at one time and it counts them quickly. I had to stop it when it went over the 144 limit. I had several cans left and a few bottles so I went to the other machine that takes everything (can, bottle and glass-but it's slow because you have to feed them in one at a time), thinking I could get a separate receipt and cash it later. As I was putting the bottles in, a young man walked up with one can and one bottle. He couldn't put them into the machine that takes only cans so he was waiting for the machine I was now using. I looked at him, then at my cans (about 5 12-packs) then told him if he wanted to finish putting in the rest of my cans he could have them. I walked away with my one receipt and went inside to buy some milk. :-)