Restoration

Let me be honest and real here, for the last few years, we've lived in hell. Sick husband, costly medical procedures, debt we had no control over, and a whole lot of worry. Most of my worries centered around whether or not I'd grow old with my husband, whether he'd walk our daughters down aisle, or if I'd spend the next years of my life as a care taker to an invalid. They consumed me minute by minute, and when I'd have time to sit down and think, the other worries would enter in. How are we ever going to pay off all these bills? What are we going to do if he can't ever go back to work? Finally, "Why us? Why now?" So, when my friend stood in front of me last fall and said "The Lord wants you know know that everything that has been taken is being restored," I figured she was just telling me what she thought I needed to hear. She knew, probably better than most, the hell we were walking through, and I was doubtful it was God she was hearing, but rather her own wishes for us. Friends are funny like that...they don't want their friends to suffer.

 Well, as I shared on my previous blog post, Kevin was miraculously healed. I still wake up and wonder, "how was that even possible?" but it happened. It happened!! The word restoration began to take new meaning for us.  No longer did I think it was just my friend trying to make me feel better, but I truly began to claim it as a promise from God.  

We are still dealing with the financial catastrophe. Things are funny, because we understand better than most that all the money in the world doesn't mean anything unless you have your health. Yes, our credit rating and money are important, but it isn't everything.  We celebrated our second chance at life, and we began chipping away at the bills. I've been given a chance at an internship program to complete my teaching credential. I'd had to put my credential on hold 12 years ago due to a different financial issue. It was a dream I'd let go of over the years. However, the program literally dropped in my lap in the form of a fellow substitute. I couldn't help but feel it was meant to be. So, I went to the informational meeting and turned in paperwork, and I was accepted contingent on getting a job as a teacher.  I'm proud to say this fall, I will be entering the teaching profession, signed contract and all. So, all that pesky debt I've been worrying about? Our income just increased by about 65%. Finally, we just found out today that we'd qualified for additional insurance through covered California in 2014. So, half of that debt? Getting resubmitted to our insurance company and quite probably now eliminated. We still have a long road to go, but we're getting there. I wake up with a renewed sense of purpose and hope. I no longer wake up terrified to see what the day brings, I wake up excited.

 Last week, Kevin was able to attend a third grade field trip to King's Canyon National Park as a chaperon to our twins girls. We hiked over 3 miles, rode in an old rickety school bus for over an hour to and from, and came hope and hit the pool to go swimming. He looked at me and said, "hey, remember when I couldn't even sit in a car for 30 minutes? Remember when I never thought I'd be able to do this again?" I do, I don't think I'll ever forget it. Our life is so full, and I will never take something as simple as chaperoning a field trip for granted again. Websters defines restoration as "the act of returning something that was stolen or taken." Our lives have been given back to us. I am so thankful for the people who have walked this road with us. The people who restored our hope when we felt none. I can only hope that those reading this are encouraged. I know I am.