Prayers and Puzzles

I am blessed beyond words and more than I deserve. I know it, and I try to remind myself every day.

I think back on some requests I've asked of God, and how I've seen them answered.

Here are just a few of them...

For years we lived in apartments surrounded by people with no yard to play in. I'm not saying it is a bad thing to be surrounded by people. What I'm saying is you can't send your young kids to play outside when there are literally thousands of strangers right outside your door. I prayed for years that God would give us a yard to play in safely, a yard where the kids could play outside while I could do things inside  like dishes or laundry, a  yard where I wouldn't have to keep an eye on them every second.

In 2005, with three kids ages 6, 5 and 1, we moved into my parents basement. They have the best yard! My kids love it! It's big. It's fenced in. It has trees to climb... Watching them play one day I said a prayer of thanks for this blessing, and then I thought "Well, I forgot to pray for the house that went with the yard! Think of what I might have received in answer to that prayer." (giggle) I did get exactly what I asked for.

We stayed with my parents for four years. You can ask any one of us (there were 7 in that house with 1 bathroom), and not one of us would say we regretted it. It could not have gone any better, and we all know that was God's plan for us for that time. We are so grateful for those years that mom and dad allowed us to live with them, and that they still loved us after we moved out. I think it took them a while to forgive us for taking the kids with us when we left.

Another prayer request I had for years (since Jordan was born) was that my kids would be able to go to Christian school. I never knew how it would ever be possible, but I never stopped praying. When it came time to start kindergarten and the only option was home schooling you better believe that prayer became even more fervent!!! We home schooled through 1st grade for Jordan and kindergarten for Taylor. That summer we met with the administrator at our school and found out it was possible! We put them both into 1st grade together (I am no teacher!). Putting them in the same grade just worked best for us. It has proven to be the best decision over the years. I am positive it will only have more and more benefits as they go through middle school and high school. It will always be a sacrifice, a matter of prayer and trust in God to provide for our kids to be able to stay in Christian school. God is faithful! He always provides for His will to be done!

My dreams and prayers of owning our own home came true in 2009. Most of you know that story. Our home is my dream house! It is little, but I love every little brand new inch of it! It meets every need we have. The road to our house was at times a rough one, but when I look back at it the story is beautiful. All the puzzle pieces fit together perfectly. Sometimes I fought to put a few of the pieces in places where they didn't belong, and often tired to fill in the middle of the puzzle before the edges were complete. But through it all, God was always in control even though I tried so hard to be.

Have you heard it too many times or should I tell it? It is one of my favorite stories to tell.

OK. I am not going to tell the whole story. If I told the whole thing  - every step that God choreographed perfectly - this blog would be way too long.

I will just write about one tidbit that makes me laugh. We were waiting for the final meeting to find out if we were selected after 4 months of qualification steps. The meeting was supposed to be on October 9th, or at least I thought it was. Late in the evening on the 8th my cell rang. I answered it. The lady said, "Hello Mrs. Worley, This is.... with habitat... I am calling to tell you that... Your family has been selected for the property you chose. Congratulations!" (This is the part that makes me giggle at myself now when I think back on it.) I said, "Um, the meeting isn't until tomorrow." I was so stunned. We had been praying and praying about the meeting on the 9th. She said, "Mrs Worley, you have been selected." That is the only moment I can recall truly sobbing and laughing at the same time. God answered that prayer a day early!

These are just a few of my answered prayer stories. Wish I was better at documenting these kinds of things. It is really such a blessing to look back on our lives and remember all the gifts from God.


Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17


As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. Ps. 18:30

Beloved

Amy means Beloved, so this is my song. 

The Summer of '11 - Half Gone

What a crazy summer! Didn't it just start?! I guess it's a little more than half over. I don't know where it has gone!



We started our summer vacation with a trip to South Dakota. What fun we had with my sister and her family out there! It is a whole different world. Not just because it makes me realize what a city girl I really am! I joke that when I'm out there I can "literally see the curvature of the world!" Out there in the flat lands you can see for miles. It almost seems like the horizon line is way below me. I don't really know how to put it. I miss the mountains as soon as they are out of sight, but there is no doubt about it, the sky out there is overwhelmingly huge. It is beautiful! At times I feel like the sky can just swallow me up. It makes me marvel - whatever state I'm in God's artwork is amazing!

Included in our trip to SD was a visit to Mount Rushmore.  So awesome! If you haven't been you should go. While you are there don't miss the museum and the video - very interesting! One great point - the cost to see the faces is just $10 per vehicle and no per person charge! I love that! I was there years ago when it was just a nature walk, a viewing area and a gift shop. Everything has changed! You just have to see it for yourself! I love the stark contrast between the rustic mountain scenery and all the new modern architecture. Beautiful! 

A few weeks later we started swimming lessons and then VBS at two churches in the same week! The kids enjoyed a great week of Bible camp which for us meant another trip to SD. Every year we go up there and have a great time, but after the long trip home we think "this might be the last summer at that camp. "There are just too many great things about going to camp at Richmond Lake Bible Camp in Aberdeen, SD. Tops on the list is the chance to see my sister. Whether it's me or my parents or all of us making the trip that IS the one reason we can't pass it up. Add to that the sweet friends my kids have made at camp over the last three summers, the camp directors and speakers are all uncles and cousins (more family to see that we don't get to see very often), Uncle Keith is a counsellor, and the cost of camp is great (Although after gas etc. we don't save any money.). All those pros add up to another trip to SD for Bible camp each summer. Please be in prayer for us as we make decisions about Bible camp next summer.


While the kids were gone at camp and in-between the two trips to take them up there and then to bring them back, my uncle Ned and aunt Marilou were here with aunt Marilou's dad. Uncle Ned is my dad's twin brother. It was so fun to see them! Aunt Marilou's dad, Jim Wright, has written a book about his life. It's not completely finished, but the part he has completed he has put in mp3 form. Dad and I listened to the book all the way up to Aberdeen and then most of the way home. We did finish it right as we got off I-76 and we were almost home. We quite enjoyed it! Although, the conversation was lacking as we were so engrossed in this book. Sorry, dad (coffee dates to resume in a few weeks!). 


Summer soccer at Tri-City Baptist Church started the week we were up at camp, so as soon as we were back we jumped right into practice and game schedules. Jordan is the only one playing this year. We will see if the girls have any interest as they watch him play and maybe sign them up next year.


The 4th of July was a blast as always! We spent it with a few friends in their back yard WITH a perfect view of the city fireworks and WITHOUT all the crowds and traffic. We have the best seats in the city... no, the nation! Hahaha. 


Calvary Baptist Church in Golden celebrated it's 60th anniversary this last Sunday. We attended The services over there. It was a packed out house! The testimonies of what God has done through that ministry over the years were a great blessing! Jordan played a solo trumpet piece for the first time in the afternoon service. He is a beginner, but I think he did a great job! All glory is given to God for every talent and gift we posses. May He be glorified, and may we each use our talents for His will and purpose! And, may we be good stewards of the lessons He allows us to have by practicing diligently!

The two older kids are going to attend basketball camp next week. That will add a bit of busy-ness with the drive back and forth, but they definitely need the activity! - or maybe I need them to have the activity?!?!

Swimming lessons start again after that and a few weeks later - SCHOOL! I know that is a bad word in the middle of July! It IS time to start thinking about the shopping list before all the supplies are picked over however.


I've been hoping and praying for a trip up to Casper before school starts. Don't know how that is going to work out, but God can fit all those pieces together if He wants us to go.


A few unspoken request from here if you don't mind adding me to your prayer list. Thanks so much!