Wow! So many things have changed since the last time I posted. This summer has gotten away from us. In fact, Tuesday is the first day of school. Noah will be attending Elkhart Christian Academy for 7th grade after being home schooled for the last 3 years. I am happy, nervous, worried, overjoyed, pretty much every emotion fits me these days.
The original plan for 7th grade was for Noah to stay home and do Indiana Connections Academy, a virtual public school. We wanted him to be able to go to ECA but couldn't financially work it out. Then in mid June a job was posted with the Autism Society of Indiana. It was for an ally position based out of the home to guide parents on their journey with autism. The main responsibility was to help people find the resources that they needed and also educate society about autism. I wend ahead and applied and low and behold, I got the job. And it paid enough for Noah to go to school. I was praising God for answered prayers. We enrolled Noah at ECA.
Well, I started the job and quickly realized that I was under qualified. I wasn't given any training and I was overwhelmed. I tried my best and I begged the Lord to see me through. I was all consumed by this job and very depressed. After much prayer, Alan and I decided that it wasn't for me and I resigned. Great. Now what do we do? Do we withdraw Noah from school? No, that wasn't the answer. Noah needs to be around other kids. Noah needs to learn how to live in a social environment. We prayed and we decided that I would find another job.
Last Monday, I had an interview with Mishawaka/Penn joint services. They hire program assistants for both school corporations. A program assistant is a teacher's aide and every child with a disability gets one. My interview went well and there were 10 positions available. I felt very confident that I would be hired. On Thursday, I opened my mailbox and there was the letter. The letter that anyone interviewing for a job doesn't was to receive. My heart sank.
"Lord, please tell us what to do." I prayed this over and over. I asked Alan to pray and make a decision and fast. School starts on Tuesday. He decided that Noah would go to school. I was talking to one of my pastors about our situation and he encouraged me with a story from his own life. He said as soon as he and his wife stepped out on faith and had to rely only on God, that's when everything fell into place. For the 1st time in our lives, we are doing just that. Right now, I am unemployed and we don't have the means to send Noah to school. We are doing it anyway and waiting for God to work.
"May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all the nations. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon the earth." Psalm 67:1-4
God blesses for one reason, to bring glory to Himself. And if He decides to bless me with employment or if He doesn't, all praise and glory to Him.
