And then sometimes He brings Christmas...

It's Monday, August 7th, my three year anniversary with my job. We have been home for 24 hours from a trip that seemed impossible and somehow happened, and this morning Dale got the call we have been waiting for, as of today, for exactly two months. He has an interview in two weeks, the final interview. I am overcome with joy.

We were sitting in a penthouse yesterday that over-looks the lake. We walked in and dropped our jaws and then ran through like children to see everything at once. Everyone was saying, "Look in here!" and "Did you see this?" Three bedrooms, two baths, a deck over the lake *we were on the fourth floor*, an elevator from the parking lot, a huge living room with a fireplace that ignites at the flip of a light switch... a fully stocked kitchen, a loft with a poker table, and I kid you not, a hot tub on the deck. None of the four of us spent a dime to have a it. And not only that, due to circumstances beyond our control, we did not make our annual trip to Lake of the Ozarks with our family. As much as I wanted to blame the disappointment on my children's loss, it was mine, it was a place significant to me and I was sad when I realized we wouldn't drive the strip even one time this year; that's where it was. Sometimes He brings Christmas early.

But it wasn't where we sat, it was with whom. I have prayed for years for a friend; and not just a friend, a couple that was like-minded with us and maintained the same love we have in Christ. Ask me how many tears of joy I have cried since we have met; tears of joy and tears from fits of laughter that literally squeezed them out. A friend for Dale that would share his burden, bare his soul with no holds barred, and dream kingdom dreams with him. A friend for me with the same intense burning desire to learn, but the same limitations of circumstance, someone that inspires me but can completely cut loose when the good times roll. Ask me if He hears my feeble outlandish prayers! I have yet to confess the most precious moments we all shared in the company of Father, but some things are too sacred to break down into details.

My kids were perfectly spoiled by BOTH grandmas- isn't it every kid's dream to spend a weekend with both grandmas? *I always wished for it. Now that I'm an adult I know why it never happened.* My life is blessed. My mom came and sacrificed four precious days with my dad to stay with my little ones. Dale's mom came over and hung out with them, they all sat together at church, and then had lunch together... I have tears in this thought, I can only be thankful in my situation when others live in such war zones... most I should say. So thank You Jesus! Thank You Nana! Thank You Mawmaw! Thank You our friends. And thank you to my precious husband and hero because at the end of everything, he's the last thought in my head before I sleep and the first thought when I wake. Thanks for being mine. You're dreamy.

Pray for us as we near the end of this process of waiting. The moments and events that we have waited so long for are within our reach all the sudden and what can we do but reach. We have worked hard for a long time to be in this position. Pray that we have favor in the path God has chosen for us.