Celebration!*

This day will always be remembered as a very special day, and it's not because of anything I have done or anything that I have created for myself...it's all because of HIM and HIS divine provision in my life. I want to remember it exactly lest I forget how to be patient in his timing. Warning: it's long and it's detailed yet it's everything I want to remember about this fun day.

Shortly before we found out we were expecting Baylor, I enrolled in graduate school to become what I had always revered as my "dream"- a librarian. While I was earning my degree and teaching and having three babies, the right position never seemed to come open. I never lost sight of it, even long after completing my degree and framing that piece of paper from the state that said "Lissa Oliver: School Librarian" , but as the years went on and no openings became available (coupled with the horrendous state of education finance and job cuts and all that) I kind of came to the conclusion that this may never happen. A few months ago I remember prayer journaling, "I'm OK with not being a librarian. I just want to be fully YOURS."

Yesterday I was on the phone with a dear friend planning something for church. As we talked about our plans, I'm pretty sure the words, "I can't wait to see what God does..." were coming out of my mouth when I saw the Oak Woods phone number beep in. I screamed, "I gotta call you back! That's about THE job!" It was the school's secretary asking me for an interview. Casey's started beeping in (calling to see if I had any news about the open position) so when I ended the convo with the secretary I beeped over and SCREAMED into the phone "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" only to hear the secretary hanging up. It wasn't Casey's ear I had just screamed in! I didn't care, I laughed it off!! God does have a sense of humor, you know!

Today, the morning of my interview, I was pumped as can be. During quiet time, God kept leading me to verse after verse about strength and courage and his unfailing love. Then there was the enemy, too. My kids were whining. MJ wouldn't let me put her down. I was scared my plans for a babysitter fell through. Larin peed her pants and it went everywhere on the floor and her clothes. Mailey James threw up all over herself (luckily missed my clothes. But that didn't matter because I spilled my make up on me in the car. Yeah, it was one of those kind of mornings. But I didn't care...I didn't care if I was getting this job or not...I was being granted the opportunity to interview, and that is all that mattered!

Walking into the school immediately felt like home to me (and not just because I attended grades 4-6 there). The principal was so easy to talk to, and I just felt at such peace. An hour and a half later I walked out of there with the library's keys in my hands and tears of joy streaming down my face! The rest of the day was filled with flat out praising the God who had answered my prayer. How awesome is it that the creator of this universe actual cares where I work? And I mean, why would he? It wouldn't be for my comfort or my pleasure! It has to be because of his plan and his purpose!

Why am I writing all this down? I realize this whole story is a very boring account of something that happens to people every day. It's a job. It's not your life. I realize that. Do I think your dream job really matters in life? Not at all. In fact, ironically, a radio station I follow on Facebook posted this question this morning: Would you give up your job to take a stand for Christ? Of course I would! In a sense, I kind of did. When I decided to recommit my life to Christ I decided to fully surrender. Die to myself. Does that mean my dreams go away? That I don't want certain things or set goals? Absolutely not. The difference is that I want him to be my giver of all things...my provider in all circumstances...my savior. I wouldn't want this job unless it came from him and was going to be for him! And after what has happened on this journey, I whole heartedly believe this was just his timing.

I want my girls to hear what I am saying loud and clear...someday they may find themselves in a situation where they've wanted something, worked for something, knew they had a God-given passion for something (which was my case with a library), prayed on end for something but didn't have an open door in front of them. Let go of it. Fully surrender. You can't control it, nor would you want to control it. You want it to come from him on his time and for his purpose.

I'm so glad he made me wait nearly five years for this. The sheer joy of this day. It was so well worth the wait!

*And in case I forget why I titled this post "Celebration"...the girls are obsessed with gum. We had to try to kick that habit, so we stopped it cold turkey. No more gum. Every day they still ask, "Can we have gum?" and every day we say, "NO! NO MORE GUM!" When the girls asked last night I finally said "YES!" (It was one of those moments when I'm sure they looked at me and thought I was the coolest mom ever!) "YES we can all have gum as a celebration tomorrow! A celebration if I get the library!" So, this afternoon they enjoyed their long awaited piece of gum with a huge smile. Larin shouted throughout the house, "It's a CELEBRATION!"