Manna

Its 3 am and I can't sleep. We're starting a new chapter of our lives soon... very soon. On Saturday we'll be closing our doors to the coffee shop as we know it. Tommy will start a new full time job on Monday. It's the manna I've been praying for. When our insurance went up in October we began to really worry about finances. In December when sales reflected the economy we knew it was time to start job hunting and thinking about closing. We had hoped the part time job Tommy found would be the answer... And in many ways it truly was an answer to prayer. It didn't start as early as we thought it would so Tommy didn't have to worry about the time he spent with me while I was in the hospital... As far as meeting our financial needs though... we could tell right away that it wasn't the answer. So Tommy kept searching.

I am thankful for the manna.

A family friend with some connections met with Tommy and said he thought he could get him a nice job... 5 hours away... in a big city. I didn't even have to discuss it with him- he spoke for both of us when he told him how much we wanted to remain close to our family and love the community we're in- relocating would be an absolute last resort.

We kept praying and searching.

I know Tommy was stressed to his max between running the store solo, trying to provide and find another job and worrying about me and the baby... I just couldn't. Just the other night I told him that while yes- I want to know that our financial future will be fine... after burying Levi my perspective about everything has changed. As long as we're ok and this baby is ok- nothing else compares.

Which brings me back to manna.

While stuck at home I've been able to spend some much needed time in prayer and the scriptures. Last week I was reading about the Israelites time in the desert. God met their needs on a daily basis... But they weren't satisfied. They wanted more than just the manna- they wanted meat too. After reading that I looked around my house- I have more than manna- God has blessed us beyond what we deserve- but right now financially we're in a barren desert. I prayed that if God provided us with manna I wouldn't complain for meat.

He answered my prayer yesterday.

Tommy was offered a job. I'll probably have to teach some classes in the fall to help make ends meet... And we still have to figure out how to pay the bills for the store while it isn't bringing anything in and we try to sell or lease it (anyone want a slightly used coffee shop for a great deal?). But I'm not worried about those things either- we've been given manna and for that I praise God!

I've shed a few tears that the store is closing- but I know we had it for the time in our lives we needed it most- and for that I am truly grateful.