Where were you?

This post is more for my benefit, than anyone else's. I wanted to write down where I was 7 years ago today - what I was thinking and feeling. To remember more than anything. Remember that God was in control back then and He is in control now.

Seven years ago today, I was in my 4th week of college at ECU. I was living in the Pesagi Dorm and since it was a Tuesday and I didn't have class until 11, I was sleeping in. My suite-mate, Chandra came knocking on my door and said your mom just called and wants you to call her. I had a cell phone but I guess it was off or I didn't hear it. I called mom and she said turn on the TV. Something bad has happened in NYC. Chandra and I turned on the TV and we saw it - planes had struck the World Trade Center. We sat glued to the TV wondering what all this meant. Since I had an 11 am class, I left and walked up the hill to campus. As we sat waiting for our professor, you could feel an uneasiness about everyone. Dr. Burke ended up letting us go early and as I was heading back to the dorms, I heard everyone talking about how we needed to go get gas because of a possible shortage or lack of access to it. So I got in my car and headed to fill up. The whole town of Ada must have had the same idea - it took an hour to wait and fill up. As more info came available that day and in the days following, I knew the world as I knew it had changed. Some people blamed God, others said it was America's fault, and then others placed blame with foreign countries and terrorists who did not like America. But above it all, one thing remained true - God was in control. What happened to America and how we weathered this challenge was an opportunity for God to be glorified. There was a surge of patriotism in the days and months following. People proudly waved the America flag and more sidns of "In God we Trust" appeared.

As we think back to that day seven years ago, let's not take for granted the freedoms we have. Freedoms of being an American and freedoms we have in Christ. Both were bought with a price.

God's timing is not ours....

Ok, so if you have been keeping up any with our blog or our lives lately you know Randy has spent this past month in the job seeking process. I say process because that is what it has been. He finished school the first week of August, took his National EMT-Paramedic test (practical and written), took Cedar Hill FD's written and physical test, and then waited to get a call for an interview. Oh and I must interject and say he passed all these tests! On the first time! I have such a smart husband (just don't let it go to your head, honey!). He got a call from Cedar Hill about the first interview so we went out to look for the most "important" tool - the suit. We found the suit, he wowed them in his interview and then just had to wait to see if they called him back. They did call him back, he interviewed with the Chief and Assistant Chief and was told he would hear something in 2 weeks. We waited. All this time we had been praying that if Cedar Hill was where he was supposed to be that God would work out the details and just give us peace. So then last week Randy gets a call to come back for a 3rd interview! By this time, I would have been stressed - 3 interviews! He went in and met with the Chief and Assist. Chief again. Turns out, they weren't going to be able to hire as many as they had planned, but Randy was still in the running for the remaining spots. They were very impressed with him and couldn't believe this was the first department he had applied with. They said he had done great through the whole process and had some tough competition. They told him they would decide by the end of the day Friday. I got home from work and Randy was sitting on the couch with his phone in his lap! Cedar Hill called and he didn't get the position. They said he did very well and if some other details could be worked out, they might be hiring more later. He would be on the top of their consideration list. We were bummed but knew that God had all of it in his control, so we went out to celebrate anyway. If Cedar Hill wasn't meant to be, then there was another opportunity out there somewhere. So today I get a call from Randy. Cedar Hill called him back and asked him to come in tomorrow to sign a conditional offer! Can you believe it? Something happened and they are hiring Randy! I know God's timing is always better than our own, and something about finding out today is exciting. God always provides just what we need exactly when we need it. We just have to trust and wait. Waiting doesn't always mean sitting still either. Sometimes it means doing what we know we should do (like apply for other positions) and letting God have control. Thank you God for this blessing! Congratulations, Randy! I'm so proud of you!