The Miracle

It really was supposed to publish the other day...
I hit publish, and when the "story" came up on my blog, the only thing left was the title.
I didn't mean to leave you all dangling...
but I did.

So here is the rest of the story.

The past 9 months, our finances have been incredibly tight.
Thanks to Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover, we have learned to work within our budget and (although there was considerable complaining on my part) even save a tiny bit on Pat's salary.
It was to the point that I was babysitting and doing other things I didn't necessarily WANT to do, simply because that extra $10, was necessary for groceries or gas or the like.
We had prayed about me substituting, or even (gasp), going back to teaching full-time.
I had been submitting writing pieces to contests and publishers in hopes of "making money", but ultimately, we were just barely making it every month.

We have felt compelled by the spirit that I am to be in our home, and not to seek more profitable employment elsewhere, but it is hard to do that (happily) when you see no real way to move forward out of debt, and the options are much more lucrative elsewhere.

So our prayers of late have been specific in asking the Lord to help us accept His will as our own... and we have been diligent in our budgeting and very careful in what we choose to spend.

Wednesday, Pat got a call from his boss, asking to meet with him.
Since Pat's job is in environmental compliance, and a mistake can mean fines or jail time, he was a little nervous to be called into his bosses' office out of the blue.
Then came the "official looking document" out onto the desk, and his boss cleared his throat.
Pat was seriously concerned at this point, and racking his brain for any issues or concerns could have warranted a personal reprimand.

His boss began...
"In order to maintain a competitive salary in today's market, and based on your education, experience and performance, we are happy to inform you that you are receiving a raise..."
He went on to explain that this will not affect the yearly raises given out in March, so we'll get another increase in just a few months.

Pat was speechless...and knew immediately that this was a miracle.
Completely, and totally unexpected... but a honest to goodness miracle that makes our path to debt freedom shorter and more realistic.
A miracle that allows me to spend time with my children, and in my home, instead of worrying about where our grocery "extras" are going to come from .
A miracle that we did not ask for, but in being obedient to the promptings of the Holy Ghost, my husband was granted after 3 long, hard years at a job that has had its share of difficulties.

Some might say that it was coming, that my husband deserved it, and that God had no hand in this.

He and I both know better.
It is a day still of miracles.
We know, because one happened to us.