Guest Post by My Husband, Will Clark

I've never done a guest post before, but I've read a lot of them. So here's my first and perhaps my last. Will originally created this as a status update on his Facebook Page but I loved it so much I had to share it with you.

Yesterday Elaine Clark and I spent some time helping our 8th grade daughter decide what classes she will take in High School! This is one of those days you think is so far away when you're buying diapers and car seats, only to turn around and find that the little girl whose crib you used to lay next to so you could hear the beautiful sound of her breathing as she slept is now taller than her mother and strong enough to lift her 220 lb daddy a foot off the ground. As we sat there strategizing about her high school classes, thinking ahead to college admissions and hopes and dreams, I couldn't help but appreciate how beautiful the moment was, and how beautiful the girl is. Yet there was also a tension in my bones, the subtle unease generated by the heart of a protective father who sees on the other side of this transitional benchmark the inevitable reality of the harsh toils and troubles of this world. This paradoxical experience, the mixture of joy and heartache had by every caring parent, awakens within us the reality that we live our lives for these moments when we can look back at what we've done, observe where we are now, and plan for what we're going to do next. The past teaches us nothing if not that we must plan for the future while adapting to the present. We must be adept at both the planning and the adapting. Fifteen years of working in a manufacturing environment and 13 years of being a father has provided me with a wealth of experience at this kind of thinking. So as we filled out the forms, talked about high school and planned for the future, I gave my little girl four pieces of advice: 1) Faith: You can't neglect your spiritual self without consequence in the physical, mental, and emotional. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind. 2) Friendships: The kind of friends you choose is almost as important as the kind of friend you choose to be. Treat others the way you would want to be treated. Choose your friends wisely. The right people will respect you for doing the right things. 3) Work Ethic: Learn how to work hard, to persevere, to set goals and then achieve them resourcefully. Plan well, adapt brilliantly. 4) Choices: Think about consequences and rewards. Delayed gratification is the "secret" of most successful people. Never dig a hole with a tractor that must be refilled with a shovel. Never make permanent decisions in temporary circumstances.

So there you go...do what you will with this insight. Maybe his advice for our daughter is something you needed as well.

Stitch Fix

 I hate shopping. I don't like trying things on, I hate finding the perfect shoes and accessories. I just don't like it.

That's why I was so excited when I heard about Stitch Fix.
You fill out a "style profile"

You enter your height and weight and get as detailed as to whether your arms, torso, hips, etc. are short, average or long.

Then it shows you samples of particular styles and you tell them if you like some or most or love it. 

Then comes the big day! The day your "Fix" arrives!

Inside you'll find a note that doubles as your invoice from your stylist. Five items that usually includes one accessory are neatly packaged.

I'm on my third fix. You get charged a $20 stylist fee that gets applied to what you keep! What you don't want gets sent back in a postage paid envelope. It's so easy and for those who love to shop but don't have time it's just as exciting. I know because that's my sister and she loves it too!

This is a sample in what came today. 

This is pretty but I just got one in my last fix that's similar...it's dark too but with birds instead of polka dots.

This one surprised me. I love it. I thought the detail would have made it too bulky, but it was perfect. 

Each item also comes with a helpful card with descriptions of the item. It's beautiful.

I absolutely loved the next blouse! It was exactly what I was looking for in this fix. However, the lack of give/stretch in the fabric made it very uncomfortable. So sad!! 

Finally, you get to tell Stith Fix what you're keeping and why and what you're not keeping and why. This is a critical step because they will review this for the next time you request a fix. You can request it at any time or you can have it delivered monthly.

If you decide you would like to try it out, I encourage you to click on the links throughout my post...if you sign up you will likely be put on a waiting list. Once you get your first fix ordered I get a $25 credit. You can get the same thing for anyone who signs up with your link as well. Trust me, I've had plenty of comments and opportunities to share my love for Stitch Fix

God's Plans and Timing

As Christians we all say some pretty basic things about our "walk." We say things like, "God's never late/He's always on time;" "God's timing is perfect." We remind people, in times of difficulty, of Romans 8:28 which says, ^"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

I'd like to share with you how I know these things to be true, specifically, in my life.

About 18 years ago a man named, Bill Clark, feeling led of God, left his hometown and successful business. His wife, Pat, was in a place of management at her job.  Their sons, Mike and Will, were in junior high and high school with friends they'd known their whole life. They moved to a town where they only knew one other family, Bill's sister and her family.

Starting from scratch, they struggled to maintain the business and Pat had much difficulty finding a job. They struggled for a long time, but Bill finally gave up his business and went to work for someone else and Pat found a job with nowhere near the benefits of her previous job.

When Bill and Pat found a church they could call home, it was 20 minutes away.  However, it was the right fit for them and their family. They lead youth and their sons eventually became a part of the worship team.  Will and Mike even found girlfriends through this church.

Fast forward a few years....Bill and Pat are managing at their respective jobs but certainly not without difficulty by way of illness, injury and finance.  Mike has the same girlfriend but Will has moved on. 
It just so happens Mike's girlfriend, Amy, goes to school with someone she thinks might be interested in Will. So it becomes a setup.  Amy has her friend, Elaine, drive her the 20 minutes to Will and Mike's house to meet the family.

Fast forward again...Will and the "setup," Elaine get married followed the next year by Mike and Amy.  Today Will & Elaine and Mike & Amy have given Bill and Pat 1 grandchild in Heaven and 7 here on earth.

Why go through that whole story? To tell you! God's timing is perfect, "He works all things for the good of of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

I'm sure Bill and Pat wondered why God brought them from their, "good" life just to be trapped by the pain and struggle of this path. We may wonder why God's taken us on a particular journey and maybe you question whether you're even walking in His will. But PLEASE consider He may working out his purpose through you and maybe not specifically for you. That's a tough one to swallow, I'm sure. But if Bill and Pat had given up and run back to what was comfortable and safe, I wouldn't have my husband or 5 children, who I love so dearly!