Recovering From A Rough Week With Some Changes

Lee in front of Lake George in November 2024

Hey everyone-

If you know me, I am a positive guy. I work hard to make a difference. I go through things, but I am optimistic. I talk about being positive and being resilient.

This week, it felt like I had come to the end of my rope. As my friend Jimmie T. used to say, God will pull you through if you can stand the squeeze.” He also used to tell me when you are at the end of your rope, “Thank God for the knot.” Jimmie went on to be with the Lord in a motorcycle accident. But he was influential then and is still influential in my life today.

So, when troubles arose this week, I was shocked. Each one, by itself, was not a big deal, but 4. Well, that took my breath away. As I said earlier today, I was shocked, but now I expect the awe.

A few days ago, I took my wife’s car in for a repair. While I was at the shop, I saw water on the ground under my vehicle. I asked them if they would check it out. A half-hour later they told me about the water pump. On my vehicle, 12 hours! Well, I was looking at nearly $3,000 in repairs. (If you change out the water pump, you might as well deal with the timing belt. Who knew the pump is “internal?”)

A trip to the doctor that day left me unsettled. The suggestion of a medication costing $496 per month after insurance was not in my thinking or budget. (“Lee, you are getting older!” Someone said that to me!)

My wife also had a visit to the doctor, and the tests came back “not good.” The recommendations for follow-up testing that could not happen until June 2025 were not plausible. All my wife wanted was to see a pain reduction so that she might be able to walk again. (Only a short while ago, she would walk 2 miles a day.)

A “rough” week. Things were a bit off the mark. So, my response?

Again, you may know a bit about my beliefs if you know me. That belief includes being at peace regardless of the circumstance.

I made the decision to check out. Pull back from social media, appointments, etc. I needed to find that place of peace and restoration. I told our church gathering my plan. I was going to quiet. Take communion. Pray and fast. And find peace. To counteract all the money things, I made the decision to give money to shelters, kitchens, and GoFundMe. When you give, the universe responds. I did see a couple of folks and took a call or two, but in the big picture, I hunkered down to that place of peace.

Why does this hurt? Aside from the obvious? Jacob and I have been hankering for a classic car to do together. We have looked at a lot. (And if you know me, Jacob and I go to many shows. My heart is that we could be participants and do something together. He found one the other day. $5,000, and then everything happened! I was all ready to pull the trigger on a 1950s classic!

He is a great kid. I want to do something special with him. If you saw a recent memorial I did for a friend, you saw Jacob in some pictures.

Lee at the car show in Walpole NH

I spent some time thinking. Reminiscing. I had to remember the times when God was pulling me through. For example, when my internet company took off in 1996, I did not know what to do. The night I got a call that my son “was dead.” He wasn’t, but life has been different for him and our family since then. The year I spent in the hospital with my daughter. The time one of my daughters had breast cancer. The destruction and loss of my home. But, through it all, I sensed the hand of the Lord Jesus. Even when things have been bad, God has been good.

Here I was. Facing traumatic times. And a few days later, I am putting “pen to paper” and feeling on the other side. I need healing. My wife needs healing. And we need finances. You may know that I care for one of my grandchildren. You may know that I never give up. You may know that I go overboard for people. You may not know me at all.

Yesterday, the repair was completed on my car. “Did you know that you have a $559 credit from your last repair?” (This was in my Ford account.) “I thought the cost was X. This is $400 more.” A few minutes later, the error was corrected AND they gave me another $100 off.

This morning, I had another doctor’s appointment. I had not “got better,” but I was stable with my tests from earlier this year.

My wife and I still have medical and financial challenges, but we have the Lord and friends who love us and pray.

Years ago, I used to wear a hat that said “PSC.” It stood for “Please Send Cash.” But this is a different season.

I am going to do a couple of things. Yes, I need money. We all need money. BUT, this is the holiday season, so what I do will help others. This means when I sell something, I am giving away something!

My grandson, Jacob, wants to make money to buy presents for people he loves. He needs a job, but I told him I was going to help him while he works through the school piece.

And if “all you can do is pray,” I will absolutely embrace this!

So, I am going to sell a lot of things. It will include all of my canvases and pictures, offer special rates at Positive News For You, liquidates all the merchandise from Positive News For You, liquidates the remainder of the jewelry business Jacob, and I had, and the last of my books, I have in hard copy, plus sign them all.

Photograph Canvases

Over the years, I have done a number of “picture” canvases. Many of them are from Lake George. This is what I have left. I am selling everything. You can do one of three things.

Photo canvases by Lee Johndrow-Ask about sizes, prices, etc.

You can buy the piece for yourself.
You can buy it, and I can donate it on your behalf to someone or organization.
You can donate to our nonprofit, PN4UINC.
I will donate 20% of all actual sales to our food-insecure community.

Jewelry

Jacob and I have a lot of jewelry, most of it silver, with a small amount of gold, and a few pieces of costume jewelry.

This is going to be a best reasonable offer. You will receive, trays, etc. There is approximately $2,500 in “retail” when purchase 5 years ago. (Before the price of gold and silver went up. I would like to get $1,000 for everything.

Positive News For You Advertising

I am donating 20% of all sales to our local food kitchen.

Special Annual Pricing $100
Special Banner Pricing $500

Positive News Merchandise

I have approximately $5,000 in merchandise. (If someone offers $5,000 in donations, I will give it to the children in the area.) I am donating 20% of all sales to food-insecure folks this season.

Positive News For You Merchandise by Lee Johndrow

Trauma Bears-

I have 200. If someone donates $3,000 I will give them all to area toy charities.

Posi The Bear-We offer these stuffed bears as “trauma” bears, available to first responders for children in accidents, fires, etc.

Giving

Someone suggested that “pride” causes me not to ask for help. I am 69 and from a generation that doesn’t “ask for help” well.

Admittedly, I don’t ask well, but it is less about pride and more about believing others may have “greater” needs.

With that said, I do have the following.

Paypal- servant@vermontel.net

Venmo- @Lee-Johndrow

Cash App- $RobertJohndrow

Regardless of what you do, please know that I am grateful.

This morning I posted this…

Happy Saturday-
For many of us it is the “getting ready” time for what I call the trinity of holidays. Tomorrow is Stir Up Sunday, where folks across the world make that special pudding for the week before Advent. The expectation.
Even as a child not knowing God and things, I could not wait for the advent cards to come out and the expectation of the miraculous.
This is also a time where many will suffer facing the first time with the loss of a friend or family member.
It is easy to get busy in this season, but let us not forget those who may not have that special person in their life, or may be suffering a loss.
Years ago, I wrote a book on my childhood and Christmas and its meaning to me. It still does.
Mourn with those who mourn and rejoice with those who rejoice.

You can give through Paypal, Venmo or Cash App

Powerless Over Cars

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