Home Matters...both of them

Well, today is the official opening day of our second store, Home Matters, in West Plains. It is very exciting! We're so thankful to the Lord for this opportunity to serve Him with another store. It's already been a source of provision for some families and it has been an opportunity for us to be loved on by His church as so many of our friends have helped us in getting the store up and going. 

Home matters...well, this has been the main matter going on in this home. The store, that is. We have had some very trying times these last couple of months, but the huge stress factors have been within the last few weeks. Until you've done it, I don't think you can prepare for what it entails to open a store. I mean, it seems pretty simple, but there's so much paperwork, so many decisions to make, things to take care of, PLUS having to stock the store. So within the Hirsch home, this has pretty much consumed our every waking moment...besides maintaining the store we already have.

So last week we had my sister Tiffany and her boyfriend (how weird is that?!) Daniel here for the week as evacuees from Hurricane Ike. Everyone in Houston was front on our minds in the midst of that. My brother Jonathan stayed in Houston with his girlfriend Christina and her grandmother. I was very concerned about them. Then, a close family friend had quadruple bypass surgery. And we were told that my in-laws divorce was officially in process, with papers being served on Wednesday. It was almost too much in the midst of being very pregnant, caring for 3 children, and home schooling while opening a new store. At one point, I told God-and Gary- if one more person requires anything else of me, I am going to lose it. It was all we could do just to "keep up." Physically and emotionally drained. 

Thankfully, my husband has been protecting his family and we've been careful to plan a late night of work with the next day more low key. And yesterday was a WONDERFUL Sabbath day, full of nothingness. We got to rest, physically, and then worship with our fellowship, and then prepare for the next week and plan out the next month.

Oh yeah, and we're moving to West Plains and having a baby next month. Talk about overload! That's why I haven't even thought about the move yet. How can I? I was getting so tired of everyone asking when we're moving. It makes me want to cry. It's like, I can't even go there yet. I'm just trying to maintain, let alone think about the next thing. But, now we're there. The store is open. We can now move, or at least think about it.  :) So yeah, that's our next couple of weeks- packing up and moving to West Plains. God has provided a great house for us through friends who are in Australia for a year working and needed someone to live in their house while they're gone for the year. So we get to move to West Plains and make life simpler instead of driving back and forth every day. Yeah! Can I tell you how excited I am that I will be able to do my grocery shopping without making a day trip of it?! Praise the Lord!!!

And then we'll have our fourth baby girl. I am so not prepared mentally or practically. This poor child. I'm asking God to get me ready for labor and sleepless nights. Maybe He already has. :)   I so need to get some warm clothes for her. We have most baby necessities, being that she'll be the fourth girl, but this poor child will not be able to wear any of her sister's clothing. They were all born in the warmer months. Dern. We may have to find some cute clothes for her to wear. Shopping therapy?!  Hhhmmm....

Well, so there you have it. The Hirsch family's last few months. If you think of it, say a prayer for us. We so want to glorify God's name in the midst of it all. He's the only reason we're still all in one piece so far!  He is so good to us.