God Smiles

*Whoa, I just read what Beth Moore wrote here and how cool! I just love her!

It was a rainy Monday, about 4 weeks ago, we were at the park for Cerys' sports day. It was not a very fun day. I would say it was pouring down rain, but that would be an understatement. It was coming down in buckets!!!


I did not recognize quite a few of the other mum's and had just assumed they were all in the afternoon nursery session since it was a combined sports day. A young couple with three girls (!) came over to us and asked how old our girls were. We chatted, laughed about the weather and learned that our girls are pretty much the same age! They explained that they were just visiting and were going to be moving here from another city (about an hour away) and that their two oldest girls would be going to the same school. They had been on a tour of the school and were told about the sports day so they decided to come down there just to see if they could meet anyone. (God smiles.) As the rain got even worse and we were all about to get out of there, I asked if they had a mobile (cell) phone number in case they needed anything during their move, etc. The husbands exchanged numbers and we said goodbye. I commented to Marc how nice and kind they were and wondered if she wanted to be my friend. Ha. I am not kidding, I had to resist the urge to grab her arm and say, "Sowillyoupleasebemyfriend?"


See, I've been praying for a kindred spirit, and preferably one that is in the same stage of life as me. And to be completely honest, I had stopped praying about it because after two and a half years, it just wasn't happening. I know, real mature! I have been very lonely at times. But that is why I love how God works. He is faithful, even when we are not!


A few days after this encounter at the park I mentioned to the teacher that I had met that nice family and she said they were moving here to work with some church but she could not remember any details. I kind of coughed and cleared my throat and said, "Oh really, how wonderful!" I got home as soon as I could to tell Marc about it. God was up to something!


Over the course of the last few weeks, we have sent texts back and forth and spoken on the phone once.


To make a really long story short- they are about our same age, have three girls about the same ages, are coming to be the pastor of a nearby Baptist church, and will live about 10 minutes from our home. Our oldest girls will be in the same Reception (Kindergarten) class next year, and our middle girls will be in the same morning nursery class. Are you kidding me?


The other really cool part is that God has confirmed in my heart the school choice we made for Cerys. It was with fear and trembling that we chose this particular school. We are in a very diverse "inner city" area and I learned a hard lesson this past year about God's protection and provision for my kids. We have had a lovely teacher this past year and she and I have had many conversations about faith and life. She has been so kind to us and I've just been so thankful for her. Upon hearing that we had met this family she did some rearranging and pulled me aside the last week of school to tell me that she had asked permission of another parent to move their child to afternoon nursery so that this little girl could be in the morning class with Bailey. She also spoke to the Reception teacher and was able to get Cerys and their oldest girl to start school on the same day. At the start of a new school year, they stagger the start days for kids so that not all the kids start on the same day, which makes it easier for them and they don't feel so overwhelmed. So this precious teacher has shown our family favor by working it just so!


They all came over today for lunch. And stayed for 5 hours. All the girls played lovely together and had an absolute blast!


God is in the details. And even when I had lost hope, one unsuspecting, rainy day He plopped this family right in the middle of our path. And I bet He smiled. I'm so grateful and frankly kind of blown away right now.