Does prayer work? (The Story of Us told through 10 Prayers)

I heard on the radio this morning that today is the National Day of Prayer.  It brought back memories of the "See you at the Pole" events that I participated in throughout junior high, high school, and college.  Days like this always make me think about what people who aren't "religious" think when they hear of these events.  Does God really exists?  Does He really listen? Do prayers actually get answered?  I'm not a theologian be any means, but in my life (and the life of Husband) God is #1.  And we believe wholeheartedly that HE had a plan all along to place us here in this city to go to PA school.  Here are the 10 reasons WE KNOW that God is in control.

1.  Prayer: "Lord, I really need a Godly husband/wife."  - paige & Husband

I met Husband in our singles Sunday school class at a really large church.  Even as single adults, we were both seeking God's will for our lives.

2.  Prayer: "Lord, this man is going to change my life, right?"  -paige

The first night I met Husband, he told me he was a home-builder at the time, but always wanted to be a PA (quite a stretch I thought).  We talked about what it would take for him to get into a program and that he would be willing to move to any school that accepted him.  I thought he was nuts. But the seed was planted.

3.  Prayer: "Lord, I have this new baby and I need my mom!"  -paige

When Little Man was 3 months old, Husband got a job offer with another home builder that brought us to my hometown.  We were excited to be close to family.  Six months later, Dec '06, the housing market tanked and Husband got laid off.  We had a 9 month old baby and I wasn't making very much money.  But we were close to family and just knew Husband would find another job.

4.  Prayer:  "Lord, HUSBAND NEEDS A JOB!" -paige

NINE LONG MONTHS of job interviews had still not produced a job offer for Husband.  I watched as his self esteem sank (as did our savings).  Then, I was offered a job with a large mortgage company I will not name (hint: started with C- and ended with -ountrywide).  I was making almost as much as we were together before Husband got laid off.  It was then we decided that if Husband wanted to go back to school that we could afford it.  He started in Sept '07 taking the first of 30 hours he needed in prerequisites just to be able to apply to PA school. This is when our families really thought we had lost our minds.

5. Prayer: "Lord, OK, what now?" -paige & Husband

Well, we all know how the "awesome job with the large mortgage company" ended up. I was there for 6 weeks before I got laid off.  Now, we were without income AT ALL.  Little Man was 20 months old.  I made a desperate call to the school district where I grew up to inquire about substitute teaching while I was looking for a job. That phone call lead to a full time job with the school district that has now lasted for almost 4 years.  The hours are awesome, the people are better, and Little Man gets to go to the day care for school employees kids.  God was totally in that one!

6.  Prayer: "Lord, Husband needs a part-time job."-paige

In the Spring of '08, Husband started substitute teaching at a high school on days when he didn't have class.  It was the BEST part-time job ever!  He could work when they needed him and turn down jobs when he needed to study! God was still providing for us.

7. Prayer: "Lord, I really need this class!" -Husband

One semester, when Husband was still taking prerequisites (which took 2 1/2 years), he needed a certain science class, but was told it was already full when he tried to register.  From his account, he was standing in the hall outside the registrars office praying that God would help him figure this out.  Literally in that moment, a woman asked him if he needed help.  He told her the situation and she said "follow me, I'll get you in that class."  He followed her into an office and she registered him for the class!  God answered that one quick!

8.  Prayer: "Lord, Please show us which school we should go to?"  -paige & Husband
We continued to visit PA schools around Texas to try to get a feel for each one.  The plan was always to apply to every single school in Texas and just hope we got in.  At one of the open houses we attended, we visited with a current student who was married with a child.  He really seemed interested in getting to know us better and invited us to his house to meet his wife and have dinner on the spot!  It was amazing!  We had to pick up Little Man, so we couldn't get together that night.  But over that summer, we did go to their house.  We spent almost 7 hours there!!  Hearing their story, sharing ours.  We were so encouraged by what they had to say.  That night, the students wife told Husband "You will totally get in!"  It was one of the most encouraging nights of our lives!

9. Prayer: "Lord, please give Husband a peace about the interview."-paige

Through those new friends, Husband was able to meet one of the faculty members at the PA school.  She offered to give him a tour of the school.  He jumped on that quick! During his tour, she stopped by the office of another professor.  They sat and visited for a while.  When they left, she turned to Husband and said "That was 'Professor Big Shot' (inserting made up name to protect identity).  He is on the interview committee.  When you interview, you will probably see him."  WOW!  God just provided Husband with a mock interview! 

10."Prayer: "Lord, let us get in to the school where you want us to be."-paige & Husband

Husband applied to every school in Texas.  He got 1 interview.  Thankfully, it was at the school where he'd met an amazing new friend, met the professor, and where God had really showed him he wanted to be.  When Husbands phone rang that fateful day in February, I heard him say "Hi Patrick."  I remember Husband saying that the guy who makes "THE" phone calls was named Patrick.  I was in another room and I walked into the room to see Husband pacing from the kitchen to the living room almost holding his breath.  "Great. That's awesome. Ok. So I'll get something in the mail and I need to sign it and send it back. OK, Patrick. Thanks so much.  Yes, I'm excited. Thanks. Yes, I'll see you soon. Bye."  At that point it all kind of gets blurry.  Partly from the tears, excitement,  but mostly from the 1,000 lbs of stressed that I had been carrying for 2 1/2 years being lifted from my shoulders.  Little Man was a little freaked out that Mom and Dad were both now holding each other and crying/laughing hysterically.  It brings tears to my eyes writing about it.  Ok, get it together Paige.

Now, as we looked back at the craziness of Gods plan we can laugh.  He brought us to Dallas with a job, but then took that job.  Then gave us another job, and then took that one.  Then, let Husband finish his classes, work part time, and provided an amazing place for me to work and Little Man to go to school.  He was showing us that we were right where He wanted us all along.  So does prayer work?  For us, it's the only thing that does.