Trying to tell me something

So, I'm pretty sure God is trying to tell me something. I recently helped out with a class at church on Corporal Works of Mercy- I led the group in Spanish and it was a really great experience. The reading we focused on was about how we need to help other people by feeding, clothing, and spending time with them and how Jesus says, "that which you do to the least of my brothers, you do to me."

Then, I decided to go to mass with my parents on Sunday and admittedly, I haven't really been going regularly. The gospel? The same exact one we worked on a couple weeks ago. Coincidence?

On Saturday, I got a letter in the mail from St. Mike's reminding me to make a commitment for tithing for this coming year. Juan Carlos and I do share our money but tend to do it in big chunks on a personal basis, rather than weekly to church. I thought we had shared a lot this past year- bought stuff his mom needed, gave a couple hundred to someone struggling with cancer, and another several hundred to different families who had lost loved ones (often the providers in their families) here and in Mexico.

Yet, when I saw how much we were supposed to be tithing, well, even 2% of what we could be tithing, I was shocked. This would definitely feel like a sacrifice. Yet, I felt like I needed to go for it, in spite of our current financial situation...

Then, yesterday, I was listening to a podcast on real estate investing- the guy has like 70 and I happened to listen to number 65 or something- kind of random and the one I happened to listen to was about the man's journey into real estate investing and the role of his faith and God in it. He said whenever he hit a downturn, and finally remembered to do a re-evaluation of his life, he would realize his faith life was struggling, either because he was not tithing or he was not praying or something... he also mentioned the importance of generosity and how when he would start to give more of his money and his time, it would always come back to him many times over.

One of the Rich Dad CDs I was listening to mentioned the same thing- that when you want something, give first and then it will come back in buckets.

The idea always reminds me of a time I was in Mexico on my first mission trip. I was 16 years old and feeling left out and lonely. I was looking through the railing on a banister we were repainting and I saw a statue of St. Francis of Assissi and immediately the familiar tune started to play in my head. Make me a channel of your peace.... and the lines, "Oh master grant that I may never seek so much to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love with all my soul." And it occurred to me maybe I should reach out instead of expecting everyone else to reach out to me... I have often forgotten but often remembered this lesson in my life and it has always served me.

So, maybe, just maybe, God is trying to tell me something...sometimes I think He may not be so subtle. I think we need to base our decisions, our meetings, our financial future in His hands and pray a little more... maybe a lot more. I think I am being called to be more generous, not less... As promising as financial freedom sounds, I think I'm being reminded that unless God is at the center of what I'm doing, I'll be lost. Thanks for your persistence, Lord. I think, just maybe, I'm starting to get it.

Lately....

So, classes have been cut ... again and this winter I've been looking at 10 credits as opposed to the 20 I had last year at this time and would prefer to have. Although, I will always be grateful for teaching as a way to get me out of Saint Martin's and give me more time with Danali, the fear I had about it is becoming reality. The last couple months have been consumed with "job hunting" trying to find anything and everything to pick up- from tutoring to selling jewelry to getting my real estate license. Recently, some potential classes came up at Pierce College, where I used to teach, and I thought I was pretty much set. I was bound to get ONE of them, right? and one was 12 credits and one was 17! I couldn't go wrong.

Then, last Thursday, when I was confirming my Friday morning interviews, I got word from both positions within about 5 minutes of each other that they were cancelling the interviews. For one, the class wasn't going due to budget cuts and for the other, the manager hired someone on the spot earlier that day. I didn't even have a chance to interview!

Nonetheless, rather than break down crying, as I would normally have the tendency to do, I felt a sense of peace. Why? I'm not totally sure except that I feel like God is using all this to lead me to something better. I think I've connected so much with the Rich Dad Poor Dad book because he speaks to the lack of security I feel even after pursuing higher education and even having a masters degree. I thought I did everything "right"- studied first, waited to start a family- I should have been set financially, yet, if I decide to stay close to family here in Olympia, my options are seriously limited. Or so it's seemed until now.

Like I mentioned in my last post, my dad and I have been "dabbling" in looking into real estate investing and well, that dabbling has grown and grown. I have now decided to get my real estate license and signed up for a course. I am excited to think there may be a field where my perseverence and patience might pay off, as opposed to teaching where nomatter how good I am at it or how long I wait, there is not really any likelihood it will get any better or go anywhere. I'm at the mercy of government spending for classes and I have to say, that doesn't give me a lot of hope. I'm keeping what I can get of course, for benefits, but I'm also going to try working another field I'm really excited about.

I am also really getting attached to this idea of investing and financial freedom- real freedom- not depending on government handouts or even on a company not deciding to lay you off. I have watched friends and family go through many layoffs and "layoff scares" in the last couple years, leading me to believe that even the "safest and most secure jobs" are hardly that. Another reason to depend on God and try to find financial freedom from another source.

I'm excited about real estate for a variety of reasons, including:
1) the fact that JC and I can work it together
2) there are tons of financial benefits to investing in real estate
3) it is an optimal time for investing in real estate
4) my mom and dad, JC and I are all working on it together as a team and there are many opportunities to collaborate with others
5) it involves constant learning, playing on one of my strengths
6) we get to know successful, motivated people
7) it gives me hope that tomorrow will be better than today

I just keep thinking about what financial freedom could mean for us- I've never wanted money for the sake of money- I'm sure few people do, but there is so much we could do if we had the funds to do it. Some of my ideas are:

1) create a community farm in the suburbs so people can teach their children about animals and where food comes from, even if they want to live close-in to the city
2) Build or buy a house for Amalia where she can fit everything for her daughter, Jasmine, who has cerebral palsey, where she has enough room for her own bed and Jasmine's special bed, a yard for grandkids to play and a nice living room for her family to come visit and a nice big kitchen she can make meals in
3) Pay for a good lawyer and papers for Juan Carlos
4) Donate and support community organizations that we believe are doing great work
5) Financially support friends and family who need it
6) Pay for private school for Danali or be able to stay home and homeschool her
7) Be able to stay home with my kids and not HAVE TO work- have more time with my family
8) Be able to set up a college fund for my kids (and others who need it)
9) Be able to afford a vacation once a year (thus far, JC and I have not gotten away for more than a weekend in 7 years of being together and 4 years of marriage...)

Just some of my dreams so far... hopefully, someday, I can make them reality.