Surreal and In Awe of God's Goodness

I wrote this post in January right after we discovered I was pregnant! About a month later, I wrote this post explaining our decision to NOT take our longed for family or couples trip. I was so sad. I longed for a trip to take and just relax and be and unwind- like everyone else, but I KNEW our decision was the right one.

Once we had made that decision to forgo our trips, I began to pray that God would send us on a paid for trip. I was never specific and just told God how awesome it would be. A month later, our local Christian radio station announced they would be giving away a trip on the Music Boat cruise. I eagerly listened to the rules and what I had to do to enter the contest. Last Friday I mailed in our entry form and eagerly waited for the day the Morning Show would announce the winners- which was March 12th.

Yesterday was a busy day. Hubbie was working late for some mandatory over time on a project and the kids and I were in and out of the car all morning doing errands and a trip to the park, so I really hadn't listened to the radio the whole day. That afternoon, when talking to my mom about the developments on getting our floor fixed, she said- out of the blue- I've been praying for you to win that trip. We really hadn't even talked about it, so I was kinda like- "Ok, wow! It might just happen if we're both praying!" but after that, I really didn't think anything about it. When Hubbie got home, we did our usual- put the kids to bed, worked on a few of our "to-do" lists things and then fell into bed. We knew that Hubbie didn't have to be into work until later, so neither one of us were planning on getting out of bed until the kids woke up.

This morning when I turned over and realized that it was morning, my foot had fallen asleep, so I stood up and tried to get the sensations to go away. I decided that since it was almost 7, I could get up, shower and do my devotional before the rest of the family woke up. Then....I heard it.....the doorbell started ringing like crazy and there was pounding at our door! Hubbie and I were like "What in the world?!" My first thought was that my Mom needed to give me something and they were already out and about. I thought for a second, "Why is Mom here?" So I quickly got my robe on and started to look around for signs of who this could be. I walked to the front door and listened. I heard this man's voice say "Come on!, Come on!" and some music. Then I thought, "Who has paid for a musical men's group to sing to me? And who ever it is, is dead!" So, I started to unlock the door and heard the same man's voice say "Ok, here they come!" When I opened the door, I saw 3 men all dressed in Hawaiian shirts on and one with a ucayali. I died! I knew it....we had won! I looked horrible and had morning breathe and they wanted me to talk on the radio! I was so embarrassed! The radio men finished their spill and I invited them in. By this point, Hubbie had gotten himself dressed and had made his appearance. He was as SHOCKED as I was! I then told the radio guys the story of paying off debt and us deciding to not take a trip this year and how this was an ANSWER TO PRAYER!

This trip to the Bahamas is an answer to prayer 100%. I am still in shock. Not because God actually answered it, but because He heard MY silly request for a vacation for my husband and I. I prayed specifically for a PAID for trip and its ALL paid for. We have to drive ourselves to the port and pay parking and THAT IS IT. God has answered a lot of our prayers since we began paying off debt and refocusing on lives on Him. He never ceases to amaze me with His power and love for me and my family. I truly could not say enough about the power of prayer. I've seen God's power- time and time again. These kinds of things just show me that there is a God and He cares so much for me that He would send me and my husband on a trip.

Once the radio men left, my phone has NOT stopped ringing. So many of our friends, family and church friends listen to the same radio station and everyone heard me when I was in UTTER shock! I am really just speechless and can't wait for May to get here. After our playdate this morning, Hubbie and I ran to the post office and filled out our passport applications. It felt more real after doing that. We have been contacted my the company organizing the cruise and we've already got our room no., confirmation of payment and we are set!

I think it'll take a few weeks for it to REALLY set in and I am so excited!