Village Voice - July, 2006

God Keeps on Providing – Notes from Hailey’s Mom, Part 2

 “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.  I needed clothes and you clothed me.  I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” 

“Then the righteous will answer him ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you or thirsty and give you something to drink?’...  “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine you did for me.’”  (Matthew 25:35-40)

 I feel our immediate family, our friends, and our Village family, are living out Matthew 25:35-40 in my life and Darian and Hailey’s lives and for this I am grateful!  Looking back, the first several months of Hailey’s life were particularly abundant.  My grandmother sent a large check for Christmas, and other loved ones sent checks, presents, and gift cards in celebration of Hailey’s birth and Christmas.  These gifts and part of our savings allowed me to stay home for several months with Hailey, our joyful, blue eyed, baby on the go.  While Darian is working on his PhD, he receives a small stipend. So I dreamed of continuing to stay home with Hailey, but couldn’t see how that would be possible.  Every few months Darian and I would evaluate our finances and pray “Dear God, thank you for our many blessings, for our family and especially for Hailey. Thank you God, that she is happy and healthy. Please watch over us and help us figure out our finances.  If you have a job for me please help me to be open to it and help me to find it.  If not, please help us manage our money in the best way possible. Thank you God, for always providing for us. Amen.”  Village prayed this prayer with us as well. 

Throughout Hailey’s life we have had particular baby needs such as:  a baby monitor, a bath thermometer, footie pajamas, etc.  We continued to pray, thanking God for our blessings and asking for help with our finances.  Literally the week we needed one of those items, a package would arrive in the mail or via someone from church, and inside the package was that item.  We also received money back from our taxes and a student loan from Hailey’s honorary grandparents (Village Baptist members) to help us with other necessities.  To this day family members and friends continue to bless Hailey with clothing, gift cards, toys and even diapers.  God provided for us throughout Hailey’s entire first year of life and I did not have to work.  To quote Leslie Parreco, “That’s a miracle!” 

 A little before Hailey’s first birthday I felt it was time to look for a part-time job.  At first I thought I would teach Spanish at a nursery school.  I had a nursery school all lined up, I created a brochure, and then mysteriously the school’s phone went dead.  Then I thought I would start a business tutoring high school students in Spanish.  I made and distributed flyers, set up an e-mail account and waited.  Nothing happened.  Finally, a friend told me about a writing opportunity for Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.  I would most likely be able to work from home, he said. 

I interviewed at Johns Hopkins that week and I got the job.  I signed a one year contract to create newsletters and other publications to raise awareness about Hib disease, which is the cause of death for approximately 400,000 children under the age of five in the developing world.  I write for the Hib Initiative, which is assisting countries in the developing world with obtaining the Hib vaccine for their infants, to prevent more death and disability.  So here we are, Hailey and I, at home and I have an interesting job writing.  I never imagined this scenario. 

Since the Hib Initiative just needs me to edit the quarterly newsletter now, I have been praying for additional work.  I am blessed to have taken on a job as chef – very fun – cooking for a couple from Village.  Also, this week I am discussing details with a law firm I worked for when I was pregnant, to edit their employee handbook.  I am grateful that God continues to provide for my family and that I have the opportunity to work from home and watch Hailey grow.  Each day is a new adventure; as you have seen, Hailey is walking and talking and she is very excited about it.  Thank you for your prayers, love and support. 

Rebecca Boggs

Return to Village Home Page