His time is always BETTER!

        Our family started a whole new life yesterday!  Paul went off to work as a FULL TIME FIRE FIGHTER!  If you have followed along with our testimony at all you know this is huge for us!  It has been so strange that I haven't even known how to write about it.  Even as I type now I can't put into words what I want to!

Had to take Paul his sunglasses so we got to
see him on his first day at the Station! 

Union Fire Department

     As my heart settles into our new reality I keep thinking one thing, "God's timing is Better."  Paul said the other day that he is so thankful that God didn't give him any of the other fire jobs he applied for because it would have been easier to say, "I got it because of all my hard work." There is no confusion in our hearts that this happening was the Lord at work in our lives.

     Back in February when we were with out a home to live in Paul felt he needed to turn in his gear. He think it was appropriate for a him to run if he was homeless.  This was one of the hardest things we have gone through.  He gave up his dream and what he truly felt called to do because the immediate need was provide for the family and that would require working ALL the time.  That is what he did.  He found us a beautiful new home and work his butt off at a factory job with out know if he would ever get to pick up that gear again and do what he loves.  We were in our new home with his new job.  Sad about the loss of fire fighting but so very thankful for the provision of needs.  As God provided and things got steadier with our living situation Paul prayed about continuing to volunteer.  He felt he had the go ahead from the Lord.  He had hardly begun to get back in the swing of running and a friend told him that a station just up the road from our new house (Union) was hiring.  He applied, took the test, got an interview and got the job all with in 2 weeks.  It was just God's time.  The time He knew He would say yes almost 3 years ago when we first began this endeavor.
      We had so many disappointments along the way.  God walk through all of them with us.  He was the one that held our marriage together under such stress, He was the one who gave Paul the physical strength to press on, He was the one that gave me the emotional strength to keep going.  We did not do this last season in our live perfectly by any means.  There was plenty of asking God why and frustration and even anger with our Lord.  He was gracious and continued to draw us in just like a parent does with a child who doesn't understand a boundary or a training lesson.  In this last season I learned what it looks like (to some degree I know I will learn more) to Trust in the Lord with all my heart to forsake my own understanding.  I learned to obey and even enjoy obeying God's word when he says to honor and respect your husband.  God never told me this is what I want Paul to do.  He told Paul that early on but He told me, "Support him weather you know he is doing the right thing or not." EEK!
     So here we go.  We launch into a season of different.  Hopefully this is a start of a career that Paul will have for 25 years!  I would ask for prayer for our family.  Though this is all wonderful there are some major changes taking place and that will all ways require more grace.  Paul is going from working 6-7 days a week to 3!  He is now full time working a job were he runs in as everyone else runs out.  Our budget isn't changing much which is fine as it was never about the money.  But Paul will be able to work side jobs as he has such an open schedule.  Thank you to those of you who encouraged and prayed through this last season!  We are so shocked and blessed to be in this new one.
     We know that suffering and trials don't end here but I tell you what we also KNOW that God will walk with us through what ever He allows next for our refinement.