His Unexpected Answer

Long Lake as seen from the dock at the Shamrock
Owls Head Mountain to the left in background

I never expected an answer to prayer this quickly....

or in this manner.

Have you ever whispered to your soul a deep desire, wish, dream... not really expecting to get an answer or not expecting the answer to be yes?

Yeah, I know God Almighty answers our prayers.  Sometimes He says Yes, sometimes No and sometimes Wait.  And like my senior pastor likes to joke, sometimes he says "are you kidding Me?"

But honestly, sometimes I go through this journey of life with so many whispered wishes and prayers and don't even think about them again.  I hurry a hushed voice to the heavens and then kind of forget about it.

It was this way with the upcoming summer.

I was dreaming....not even really praying...about what I could do on my 2 weeks off between June 25-July 8, and then again August 17-September 4 (the new school year)....hoping for good weather, time to hike, someone to hike with, time for the mountains, lakes, woods, and yet wanting my husband to enjoy them too without worrying about his job.  I couldn't even begin to hope for time away with our oldest as she just started a brand new full time job so has no vacation time yet.  I didn't think our youngest daughter would want to do anything because most 19 year olds want to do their own thing and her own summer job begins July 9.

So...I just kind of whispered words of longing to my Lord "I really just want to get to my fave lake in the Adirondacks.  And rent a cabin. that's all I really want".  I whispered these words sometime the beginning of May.

Claire the 19 year old came home from UNH and said something about how she wished we could rent a cabin at this place.  (We'd been there as a family for one week in 2013 and then she and I went for 4 days in 2016 and everyone knows it's my absolute fave place to stay in the Central ADKS). I told her because of the car accident and me not getting reimbursed yet from the insurance company of the driver who hit me, that we probably couldn't afford it. Plus I didn't think Dad would want to go.  She actually told me she was hoping we could get there because she loves it there. I had no idea how much the place means to her! Of course the mom heart in me wanted to make this happen but I wasn't optimistic.  Cabin rentals are high and gas is high and my paycheck has to help her tuition bill that the scholarship doesn't cover.  We live off Dave's pay and his job is still so "up in the air".

I got busy with stuff that week and didn't think more about this conversation.  I did tell Claire we could do some day trips before her summer job began.

 Strangely, one evening, Dave came home and mentioned something about going on vacation up to Long Lake.  I was stunned. I honestly didn't think he'd want to do this. Given a choice, he would normally choose Cape Cod or Boston (which I love too but the cost!!) or he would just wanna sit and home and write.  I don't even remember how this conversation began other than he knows it's my happy place and he said he likes to make me happy. He did say he'd want to sit on the porch or dock and do some creative writing but he also said he'd hike with me!  I was NOT expecting this answer.

  Also, "coincidentally" but come on...you KNOW this is the Lord's Hand....our tax refunds just happened to be deposited this past month into our checking account.  I had totally forgotten about this! Did I mention that I also got a significant raise because NYS now recognizes certified teachers if they take an assistant position so now my salary reflects my MS degree AND my permanent certification?? The agency I work for follows the regulations of NYS for every little thing.  A plus this time......and  God's Hand again.......

So, after some discussion, I reminded Dave and Claire that it is now the week before Memorial Day.  There's no way Beate and Tim will have openings in their cabins.  I called anyways after barely whispering yet another prayer.

Guess what??  My fave cabin was booked BUT the next fave cabin was open for the week we wanted!  She quoted me the price and it was perfect...she remembered us and said she couldn't wait to have us on the grounds again and also she had just had brand new mattresses delivered to the cabin and we will be the first ones to sleep on them!  Apparently she has no other bookings for June for that particular cabin!

See, God sometimes does surprise us.  Not every prayer whispered and pleaded for is a "yes" of course.  I really wanted to go the end of August.  But my youngest gal is only with us for a few more summers before she too will need to be working full time.  How funny that God opened up this door for us to vacation together.  Our oldest is thinking of driving up for Independence Day if she doesn't go somewhere with friends.  Although it's not my first choice of dates, it IS my first choice of a vacation spot with a price we can afford. The day I mailed in the deposit on the cabin, Dave came home and said there had been some positive results of some work meetings which means he at least has a job through July AND he was approved for a week vacation!

God cares about the details.  I didn't spend hours in prayer over this nor did I make a prayer request about it with any friends or small group members.

I only whispered words from deep within my heart and soul......from that place that longs to be in my beloved mountains surrounded by one of the best fresh water lakes in the Northeast and with the people I love.  Our marriage needs this respite, we need this time with our "baby ballerina" and our bodies and souls need this time to rest.

Oh and did I mention the first day of the vacation is our anniversary?

It's just perfect for us.

God knows what we need when we need it.

I'm so thankful for His unexpected answer.