I did not see That Coming...

Well it has been a few weeks since I made the momentous feeling decision to pursue doing foster care. In that time A LOT has happened. It has been such a whirlwind that it almost feels like a dream. School is finally out and I have had a bit of time to contemplate all that has happened.

All year long my Bible curriculum in fifth grade has been covering the Old Testament starting with Abraham and God’s covenant with him. I have studied and taught God’s covenant with Abraham and the faith of Abraham many times over the years. But Abraham’s faith really hit me in a different way this time. Abraham did not always trust God. But when he did, he REALLY did! He left his home to go to an unknown place, he trusted that God would give him a son even though he was a really old man, and he even set out to sacrifice his son in obedience and faith. Every time Abraham stepped out in faith, God met him and showed Himself in crazy big ways! But Abraham always had to take that first step. Some of God’s promises would not come true until hundreds of years after his death. But he still, consistently, stepped out in faith.

At the end of the year we studied Gideon. God asked Gideon to shrink his army from thousands all the way down to three hundred. Why? So that HE, God Almighty, would get the glory. The Israelites could in no way take credit for winning the battle against the Midianites. Gideon had to be terrified as he entered that battle. But, he stepped out in faith. Even though he was probably crazy scared, he stepped out in faith.

Well, filling out the paperwork and having my first foster care orientation meeting was me stepping out in faith. I knew that financially the numbers did not add up and giving up the income of a roommate just did not add up. I am also still VERY single, and single mom was never part of MY plan. But the feeling was so strong that this was the direction that God had for me that I had to step out.

Since that time through a series of extraordinary events God has answered prayers in amazing ways. First of all, God closed the door to the job that I have held for two years. Through a series of somewhat painful circumstances it became clear that my time at that school had come to an end. Miraculously, the same day that it became evident that I had come to an end, He opened the door for a new beginning at the school I graduated from twenty years ago! My new job will be just 2 miles from my home and comes with a significant pay increase. It will almost exactly cover what I am losing in income from my roommate. I will be working with a former teammate from public school days and we are SOOOO excited to be in the same school again.

My mind has been blown! I really did not see this coming. I know it should not be. I know that this is a perfect example of how God faithfully provides. I guess my surprise and amazement is just evidence of how much growing I still have to do in the area of faith and trust. But I am so grateful that I serve a God who continues to teach me and continues to strengthen that faith through times like this.

Next steps for foster care- I have to get a window replaced to meet fire code rules. I need to get quotes from a couple contractors and schedule the renovation. Pray that God would lead me to the right people to make this happen. Also, I need to sign up for Saturday trainings. This will take two full Saturdays so I need to find the right time to fit this into my schedule. 

Thanks for all the prayers and support!