My new person change

I was at a woman's retreat this weekend and everyone was supposed to write down their "testimony" - when they became a Christian. So, to actually write it down someplace, here's mine.

I was a sophomore in college. I had spent my freshman year doing the things that made real friendship a possibility (at least in my own eyes). I went to the parties because in my mind, that was were you could find a group of friends. I did have fun, but didn't find what I was looking for - Love. What I was searching for was love. I was looking for someone to really know me and consider that I was important to them. So, I move into this tiny college dorm room across the hall from a Christian. I went to borrow string one night and her Bible study was doing an ice breaker game. They were in the middle of it with two hands sticking out - really needing one more person and I walk in. I not only helped them out with their game, I stayed for the Bible study and later that night asked Jesus to not only save my soul, but be the one who controlled my life. I found what I was looking for - God. He is the one who loves me completely and knows everything about me. He knows my past, is here in my present, and is planning for my future.

Now, how do I know that God exists and works in my life. Some would call things like the following a coincident, but I really see that God was orchestrating our path so that we would have what we needed when we needed it.

In October of 1998, we moved to Minnesota. We had been living in Texas and it was time to move back to the mid-west. We were pregnant with Praise at the time. B didn't have a job when we moved up here, but found one soon after we arrived. He was working as a grant writer for a non-profit organization that worked with children with special needs. We had good insurance which was something we didn't have in Texas. In April of 1999, Praise was born. He had trouble breathing so was transported to a children's hospital 40 miles away soon after birth. Two weeks later, we discover a hole in his heart, and one month later, devastating diagnoses of a chromosome disorder. Tough to deal with alone, but surprise, surprise, Bis working at a place where they had a wealth of resources specifically for us. Coincidence? I don't think so. I see the hand of God ordering our steps and making it possible for us to thrive with a child we didn't plan for. God knew and God made a way for us to have what we needed to care for Praise.