A Direct Line

It was a week of miracles and a week of frustrations.  
Miracles first:
This sounds petty, like, "I went to the mall on a busy Saturday and prayed for a parking spot...," but I really do believe it was an answered prayer.
V and I left the house at 8:50 for a 9AM Women's Bible Study at the church.  I knew I wouldn't get there until right at 9 and that all the parking spots close to the church would be taken already, and we'd have to park across the street.  When we stepped outside the house, there was a chilly breeze blowing, so I prayed quickly, as I stuffed her into the car, that there would be a parking spot for us near the church, so she wouldn't be cold.  We got the church and what do you know?  There was a spot available for us right in front of church.  However, it was one of my "pet peeve" spots.  You know, the ones where an SUV driver has done a sloppy job and one of her wheels is on the line, leaving someone else to squeeze into the remainder of the adjoining spot.  Sigh.  Leave it to God to multitask.  He got me to get over my seriously petty issues in that moment, comprehend the spot as grace and take the grace.  JUST TAKE THE GRACE!  ...All the while taking care of my little girl's needs.  

The other miracle that happened involved V too, actually.  We have safety gates at top and bottom of our staircase at home.  Because of all the children who have come over and hung on those gates (all children we love, btw!), they no longer automatically swing to a locked position once you get through them.  You have to pull on the door to make sure it latches after you've passed through.  Well, I thought I was taking V upstairs for a nap one day, so I didn't do the double check of the gate.  She wasn't tired, however, so we started playing.  She went off into her loft/play area to do something, and I was in her room cleaning up some books.  I said something to her and when I didn't hear a response, I went out into the loft to look for her.  She wasn't there!  The next thing I know, she pokes her head out from behind the open gate as she is standing on the staircase landing!  She smiles and calmly walks back into the loft area.  I've read that toddlers, in child development studies, make their own safety assessments and listen to their parents' warnings only 50% of the time...and that they're not all that bad at assessing danger.  However, she's only 15 months old!  Either way, I'm grateful to the Lord that He kept Vera from falling down the stairs and/or He gave her good sense at an early age.  
In fact, I pretty much marvel everyday at the positions in which she falls as she toddles around.  Her head mostly seems to land in just such a way as to miss a door jamb or a protrusion of some toy.  Once, she fell and hit her head on our glass coffee table, but she landed on her chubby cheek!   That is not to say that we don't babyproof and don't run ourselves ragged chasing after her (we obviously do).  The sheer quantity and force of grace that He pours into each of our lives is utterly amazing - it reminds me that all things work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (romans 8:28).

Then there were the frustrations...  
Through some administrative glitch, my health coverage was terminated.  I asked to be reinstated and was told it was being "reviewed"...for two months.  Well, anyone who has ever worked in an office knows that when things are being "reviewed," it means they are being "forgotten."  So the past few weeks have been spent sending reminder emails, calls, writing a letter pointing out the administrative inconsistency etc...all without reply.  There was that; then there was the floor issue.  A transition strip in our hardwood flooring downstairs had popped up because the glue holding it in place didn't bond correctly during installation.  The installers, who are a different company from the distributors, wanted me to call the distributors to work out the issue.  I called the distributors, who called the installers, who (true to their name), stalled.  I would not hear back from either of them, so again went the cycle.  I called the distributors, who called the installers, and no one would call me.  Thankfully, after an incredible amount of busy work, both of these issues have been resolved.  Last but not least, there was a the mortgage company.  I had a simple question about where to send our property tax invoice and was forced to wrestle the automated system to the ground before being transferred to a customer service rep.  We've all had those days...especially if you're a chief home economist, like I am :) ...the phone company, the credit card customer service line, the airline.  Funny thing was that at the end of the week, I had gratitude in my heart.  I am thankful that I have one direct line: God's.  He always personally takes my calls, at any time of day, whether I'm able to speak or not.  When He "reviews" things, I can be darn sure something amazing is brewing.  In Christ, I have access to His Throne, and not only that, but I am told to approach with confidence and boldness as a child would her own father.  Boldly, not because of my own riches and capabilities, but because of the immeasurable grace of God.  Hallelujah!