I have to say that just listening to Sharathon today has burst me into tears several times. It has been amazing how the KSBJ listeners have believed so much in this ministry. Before Sharathon even started on Wednesday, the prepaid pledges totalled $140,000/month. On day 2 at 6:07pm, they met the monthly expense goal of $248,000 a month! All money after went in to the special projects. At 8am this morning (Day 3), they had raised $800,000. They challenged the listeners and by 9:10 am $900,000 was raised, the pledge that put it over the mark was a $10,000 pledge! By 10:20 am, I sat in my car and heard the bells and whistles go off as they crossed the $1,000,000 mark! The goal for special projects, something that will affect Erik drastically as they bring HD radio to KSBJ, was $1,145,000 and they hit that at noon. Instead of stopping there, God kept working. They opened the “above and beyond” fund and as of 9:30pm, with only 2.5 hrs to go, they are less than $50,000 away from $500,000 in that fund and are only $135,000 away from having a $5,000,000 sharathon. The staff at KSBJ was not prepared for this success and can only be explained as a miracle and blessing from God Himself!!! As the theme of this 3 day Sharathon was “How Great is Our God”, I’m sitting here listening with tears streaming down my face saying, “HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD!!!” We’ve had pledges from India and China!! You listen to the radio and hear the phones ringing off the hook! It’s amazing and something I really had no idea would be this huge. The staff is exhausted but they are so full of energy during these last hours. Erik is in the middle of the commotion there but it’s been so intense to hear from this side of things too.
“Our God is an Awesome God, He Reigns from Heaven above with wisdom, power and love, our God is an awesome God!”
9:40p-only $120,000 to go to hit the $5 MILLION dollar mark! A young man with no money just called in and pledged a prayer. One lady just got out of surgery and the first thing she said to her mom was to call KSBJ and pledge $50/month because she forgot to do it before she went into surgery. I’m not making this stuff up people! Houston is filled with people who believe in this ministry and it’s been a blessing to have KSBJ be such an important part of our lives. I wish you could experience this.
9:50p-$110,000 to go. 9 people have rededicated their lives to Christ and 4 have Come to Christ during this 3 day Sharathon.
10p-$90,000 away!!!!
10:15p-$73,000 to go!!
10:24-$60,000 left!
10:26-$58,000
10:27-$56,000
10:27:30-$55,000
10:32-$511,835 on the “above and beyond” fund and we are $46,000 away from the $5,000,000 mark!!!
10:35-$40,000 to go
10:44-$39,000 to go (I called Paul to tell him to get on the computer and listen. If anyone would enjoy this, he would. This is breathtaking to listen to!)
10:45-$28,500
10:49-$25,000 (Susan, the am dj is at a loss for words)
10:50 $20,074
10:55 $11,708
I’m on the edge of my seat! They set a goal of hitting the $5,000,000 by 11:00pm. They are so close. That would leave them 1 hr to dedicate to pledge and praise. They will do it! They will be the first Christian radio station to raise $5,000,000.
11:00- I just had to give another $50 one time, the excitement has taken over! And I heard the cowbell go off after I pushed send.
11:03- $4500 away from $5 million. 10 yr old Marcus just called in and donated all his birthday money: $20. HOW SWEET IS THAT!
11:06-$5,009,071!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THEY DID IT!!! With an hour left!!!
Now it’s time to celebrate and PRAISE GOD!
FINAL TOTALS:
Monthly Operations: $276,162
Special Projects: $1, 146,256
Above and Beyond fund: $585,892
This week is my week to be a single mother. Erik has Sharathon at work and has been leaving at like 5am and not getting home until midnight. This is the only time of year where KBSJ asks for listener support in raising money for yearly expenses and special projects like putting the radio on HD or something big like that. Not like that means anything to me but to Erik I guess that is exciting! Him being gone this much this week has really taken a toll on the kids though, especially Braden. He’s waking up crying because Erik is gone and goes to sleep crying because Erik isn’t home. Since when did he become such a daddy’s boy? I’m trying to understand the long hours but it’s difficult. I just got off a 2 week vacation where I spent the majority of everyday with the kids and Erik was with his friends with no kids. We weren’t connecting at all while we were in Des Moines and I feel like I did when that was going on. Not that he didn’t offer to take the kids when we were in Iowa, but the people I was seeing also had children and wanted to have my kids come play with theirs. So it really was out of his hands.
I worked Tuesday and Wednesday. I just have been so tired and busy lately that the dishes have been sitting in the sick and the laundry has been put off until this weekend. Well, my mother in law had to come to our house yesterday (Wed) because I had to leave for work at 6:15 and Erik was already long gone. Little did I know, she did all my dishes and did 9 loads of our laundry! Although that was super nice, I feel so embarrassed at the same time. I was going to eventually get to the laundry but thanks to her, now I can rest and spend some QT with the kids.
Friday I have a doctor’s appt. I’m going to have my thryoid checked. I’ve gained 30 lbs since February and so I think that must be what I’m dealing with. But I also have knives cutting my tonsils (or so it feels) and I need to make sure I don’t have strep or tonsilitis. With how I’ve felt this week, it wouldn’t surprise me. I can’t hardly swallow without grimacing. Nights are unbearable and I’m sleeping well. Anyways, I guess it’s time for a tune up. Oh, and Braden isn’t better from his sickness. He still has the cough and green boogers, which by the way, he likes to pick and wipe on other people. GROSS!
It has finally stopped raining!!! It rained most of last weekend and into Tuesday. As most of you know, south Houston really got hit and flooded the streets. We were lucky to not see any of that. Yeah, we got sheets of heavy rain but no flooding like South Houston saw. Cars were completely covered and in fact there was one car dealership that lost every car in their lot due to the bad flooding. But today it’s sunny and all is trying to dry out a little. It’s pool time!
Here’s a start to some of our family adventures while in the Hawkeye State:
We tried to get all the grandkids to cooperate but as you can see, that was difficult!
(left to right) Derek’s fiance’s children; Aiden (2) Ayanna (3) Grandpa, Vona, Jaelyn (5), Cameron (6), Avery (7), Paul holding Braden (2) since he wouldn’t sit for a photo. Braden is only 2 days older than Aiden.
Derek’s son, Cameron who is 6, and my oldest at Grandpa’s house
Derek, Erik’s cousin, and his fiance Sarah. They will welcome another child this summer. Ava or Aycen (Not sure if I am spelling that correctly or not)
Trevor, Erik’s other cousin, and his girlfriend Paige. Trevor is studying to be a policeman.
Great Grandma Sheldon and the kids
Gracie (3), Jim and Shelly’s grand daughter, who is the daughter of Stephanie and Joel. I graduated with Joel from high school and now he’s my brother in law (well, sort of)
Lily is Joel and Stephanie’s newborn. Yes the Moyle’s have another girl grandchild! My boys are getting outnumbered!
Madison is Heather’s daughter, Shelly’s other daughter. Madison is 4.
Nick and Mary Noble. Erik was the best man at their wedding when we were back. Nick is Erik’s aunt Vickie’s godson and has been like a cousin/brother to Erik for these last many many years. It was such a blessing to share with Nick and Mary this special day. Nick collects firefighter stuff so riding on the firetruck to the reception was a dream come true for the groom!
We left DM yesterday at 6am and drove straight through. It took 16.5 hours only due to 2 traffic jams thanks to Texas interstate construction. But we got home and in bed by midnight after going to Kim’s for the dog. She’s happy to be home as are the kids. It’s gonna be a LONG summer if we don’t get a few rules figured out and a chore chart in place though. They just spend the last 2 weeks with one another 24/7 and it’s been a little stressful on the older two. Braden came home with pink eye and a bad cold (he actually got to take a trip to Methodist ER for croup while we were back too) We are glad to be home and today is all about getting back to normal. I hope this 2 week trip has taught me to stay off the computer more and do more around my home. I’m an addict what can I say. I think next time we come back, which looks like next July for Derek and Sara’s wedding, we are going to pick a park or a hotel and say, “we are here at this time to this time on this day so come see us if you want.” It was alot seeing everyone we wanted to this trip and although we enjoyed seeing everyone we did, it was too much. I took about 500 or more photos on my camera while we were back and when I get to it, I’ll post some. But for the time being, just know we are unpacking and getting back to normal. Thanks for the prayers for safe travels! They worked!
