I knew I would most likely loose my job, infact I was sure I would. But I knew I had to do the right thing and stand up for what I believed in. I thought about bending but I just felt I couldn’t, I really know that the Lord was convicting my heart and thoughts.

Well last Monday my Boss came back from training out of state. She called me in her office and told me that they were going to let me go because they were elimnating my position. Now keep one thing in mind this hit me hard even though I knew it was comming, thoughts ran through my head what am I going to do, i have a wife and five kids, I just looked away from her for a minute and said in may head, to the Lord help me handle this Lord.

Now the Friday before this happen I had met with a friend of mine and told herI would be looking for a new job. She then went over to another furniture company to drop off and chair she had recovered or repaired. She over heard the owners of this company talking about the problems they where having in the Warehouse and with their employee’s. She then told them about me and gave them my phone number. She also called me and told me about it, I then called them and set up a time to go in to talk with them. I was there for 1 ½ hrs. (this was on Friday)

Well back to Monday, After she finished getting my keys and I got all my belongings out of my office I left and went down the street to meet my wife for lunch, when I walked in to the restaurant, there was a pay phone so I thought to my self I will call and see if that other company has came to a decision yet. When he came on the phone he said “ I was just getting ready to call you, we would love to have you join our company” PRASIE THE LORD !!!! is what went through my head and it still is.

It is very hard at times to be a Christian, but by standing firm in the Lord and for what is right, the reward is great . Not only here on earth but one day also when we get to meet our Lord face to face.

==================================================================== I really don't know where to start, God has blessed us so much!!!!

As you know my 8 yr old (now 9) son, James was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor last June. But a few weeks before while I was on vacation God spoke to me and said that James was going to be in a hospital bed fighting for his life. God let me know that it was going to be a long road but that everything was going to be fine in the end. I did not tell anyone about this because I was afraid they would think I was crazy. And also I was hoping that God really didn't tell me that. But anyway, from the beginning, Thank God, I was assured James would be fine.

Then came the bad news, But I had a peacefulness that I cannot explain. I wanted to believe that the doctor would be able to remove all of it and James would go home just like he was before. But I knew in my heart that they wouldn't and that it would be cancer. My husband also was assured by God that James would be fine. So this served as confirmation to me.

After we were told about the tumor we were sent to meet with the neuro surgeon. We felt very comfortable with him and wanted him to do the surgery but found out he was not covered by our insurance. Well, God took over and after a few phone calls the insurance company gave us a special approval. So we were sent home to get things ready. Over the weekend we found out that this surgeon was ranked one of the top 4 in the nation. So God is truly blessing here!!!!

After surgery, James could not walk, talk or see clear. The doctors told us he would improve and there was a good chance he would recover most of his old abilities. But God let me know that James would recover 100%. At times it was hard to actually believe this but I knew in my heart what God had said.

One night in the hospital James was really getting down and thought he was never going to be the boy he was before. As we prepared for bed that night and started to say our prayers together James rolled over and refused to pray. This just broke my heart. I told God I can take just about anything but not this Lord PLEASE. I tried to comfort James and reassure him that everything would be fine but he wouldn't pray. I could see his anger and fear and couldn't do a thing. The very next morning James started therapy and God sent us encouragement and hope. As we were leaving therapy in a wheel chair a lady stopped us and said "Hey, you had a brain tumor didn't you?" She told us to look at her son, who was running around with a flexible belt attached to him with the therapist trying to pull him back. The boy was to strong for the therapist to hold on to. She told us that her son had a brain tumor three months before. After surgery he couldn't walk at all, He couldn't go to the bathroom by himself or talk. But as of that day he was on a soccer team. She told James to take a good look at her son because James would be doing some of the same things if not more real soon. We learned that the same Doctor did his surgery. I could not hold back my tears. God had answered my prayer and oh what a mighty way to do it! James left with a smile on his face and even laughed. And has been saying his prayers ever since.

During all this I was faced with the decision of quitting my job. Our finances where in such bad shape due to credit cards that we could not make it with just my husbands income. But I had no doubt that my kid came first. I no longer cared about the money. We could loose everything and I would not care at this point. I had a choice of going out on family leave act and getting my job back later on or quitting and get my 401k money. I put off making the decision until my boss called a week later and said nicely that she had to tell the big boss something. So I quit. Once I said that, I felt a big joy of relief. I didn't really know why until 3 months later. Someone reminded me that the company paid into a retirement plan and if I didn't have over 5,000.00 in it that I could get the money. Guess how much was in it? $4,996.00. If I had of worked another day........I wouldn't have gotten the money. God made me quit on the last day. So my 401k money was enough to pay off our house. And the retirement money was enough to pay down a loan that we almost have paid off now. Another Blessing!!! And there are some more areas concerning the company I worked for being sold two years before that enabled me to be 100% vested in this retirement fund. God took care of things way before I knew anything was going to happen.

My Mom and step Dad send us money every month and that pays my car payment. Our church family has given us love offerings, even our youth classes. This has been a humbling experience but a Blessing still the same.

Last November I started to get concerned about the bills coming up the next year, insurance, taxes and God answered another prayer. As of Jan. 1st. My husband got a great raise!! I'm talking about 400.00 a month raise!!! He hasn't gotten a raise in over 12 years but I see now that we didn't really need it until NOW. God is seldom early but he is never late. We also received some profit sharing money through his company. So the loan that I was concerned about will be paid off by April 1st. Oh and I almost forgot to mention that I figured our income tax and we are getting a really nice refund. We haven't gotten a refund in a long time. We usually have to pay. And this was the first Christmas in over 5 years that we did not charge any of it on credit cards. Still had the same nice Christmas! I can't explain how we were able to buy it all but let me just say God provided. Because on paper things just don't add up.

During James treatments he has had very few problems. Most have been minor and none have caused permanent damage. He has continued to make straight A's in homebound school. He is still taking piano lessons and is walking, talking and sees clearly. No damage and after he looses some weight he has gained due to steroids he will be the same ole kid.

Now for the greatest news of all.......you ready???? On December 8th we got the news that the TUMOR IS GONE!!!!!!!! God has healed James!!!!!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!!! We got this news at a very good time because James had some bad effects from his treatments that month and we had great news to hold on to during the bad times. And it made a wonderful Christmas present to us all.

And of course during all of this James has been so positive. So many people have told us how much they have been touched by James. God has used James illness to reach out to many people and has saved souls that we have been praying for for years. He has put us in a hospital full of hurting people in order to share God's love with them. God has strengthened us in every way. My faith is much more stronger today than it was 7 months ago.

Sometimes we don't understand why we are going through bad times until years later. A few years ago we went through a very rough time with our then teenage daughter. She ran away from home, got involved with the wrong crowd, ended up on drugs. God took care of her and has restored her life and ended up saving my now Son in law and blessed us with a granddaughter. God has also saved some of there old friends since then. If I had not gone through that situation I don't believe my faith would have been strong enough to endure James illness.

My other two children questioned why James. James never gets into trouble. I believe it is because God knows that my other two children could not handle it and James can. The Lord said he would not put more on us than we can bear. And bad things don't always happen to those that are not living for the Lord. Most often than not it happens to the so called good people. We are all the same in God's eyes. No one is more important than the other. He loves us all. God know us better than we know ourselves, so we should trust him more when he is speaking to us.

Well, I could go on and on telling you what all God has done for us. There have been songs released that have ministered to us. People that God has sent to encourage us. New friendships made not only locally but on the Internet. God sent me to this area of ministry at the right time in my life. I have enjoyed sharing and praying with you all. I have grown spiritually. I truly have a close relationship with the Lord now. He is my closest most trusted friend. He is my rock and my salvation!!!!

Thanks for taking the time to read this. I wanted to share what God has done in our lives. May God Bless You Today, Carrie