Back 'Up'!

It was a very good weekend.

It started Friday night. I visited for a while with my friend K and her husband, and then K and I spent a few hours working through our Bible study book (the one we've done a chapter at a time for the last 4 years...) and praying together. I listed off several things I wanted to pray about, including the possibility of going to visit FB and finding a place for the honeymoon. I had explained earlier to K and hubby about my rising frustrations with these two items, with flight prices fluctuating between the time I entered a search and when I chose a specific flight, and honeymoon options that were overwhelming me and cost way too much. I also made a point as we prayed of asking the Lord to help me go to Him first, rather than stress and complain about it for several days before thinking of prayer. We had both a good visit and a good time in prayer.

Saturday, I finally received the card that FB sent me close to a month ago. Very mushy, very sweet, and very fun to get. I did almost cry when I opened it, but they were happy tears, plus I had PMS in a big way.

Saturday evening FB and I had a 'date', as I like to refer to our times of chatting online. We discussed his upcoming visa appointment and the fact that the application form asks if he has a fiancee in the US (or spouse or parents or siblings, etc). He wasn't going to mention that fact, since they might think he'll try to stay here with me and therefore deny him. Hmmm. We also discussed my frustrations with finding an affordable flight and honeymoon. I know, this part doesn't sound like it was good, but I'm getting there.

We got started on the conversation about finding a flight when he asked me when I was coming to visit. I don't know how to explain the look on his face when he asked me that, but it was obvious he is really, really looking forward to my visit. And then when I tried to explain how I was getting discouraged with the rising prices and what-not, as he tried to hide his disappointment that there was any doubt about me coming...

I began to realize how very little the price fluctuations mattered, as long as they weren't outrageous. I ran the latest numbers by my dad that night, and all he said was, "So have you booked anything yet?"

I also explained the visa situation to my parents that night, and how FB will have to explain that he is engaged to a US citizen and coming to visit me. I made a comment about how it would really have to be the Lord. My dad made some response about that being a good place to be in, depending on God.

I booked a flight before going to bed that night. It'll be a long day of travel, both ways, and it cost about $100 more than I had thought (although I am splitting it with Dad). I still felt a little unsure as I went to bed, wondering if I'd gotten a good price.

I got up Sunday morning, thinking about some of the things that have been a drain on our finances the last month or 2, including this unplanned flight. I followed that thought up with some of the things we will be needing money for in the coming months. Then I got thinking about the visa situation, and how in my fleshly understanding, it will be a miracle if FB is approved. And then an old song came to mind: Jehovah Jireh, my Provider, His grace is sufficient for me, for me, for me. Jehovah Jireh, my Provider, His grace is sufficient for me. My God shall supply all my needs, according to His riches in glory. He will give His angels charge over me, Jehovah Jireh cares for me.
I choose at that point to start focusing on God's ability to provide for me, and how faithful He has been to do so in the past. Suddenly, I was kind of excited about the visa situation. If it will take miraculous favor of the Lord for FB to get approved, then that takes a lot of pressure off of FB and I to figure out how he can win approval. After that, I went and counted the days until my trip - it is only 32 days away!! :) The cost of the trip suddenly didn't matter at all.

When I walked into church, they were singing a song about the Lord giving freedom. I almost immediately began to tear up. I remained on the verge of tears throughout worship, impressed with the presence of the Lord all around me, and His very real desire to provide freedom in the areas of my heart and mind that I had allowed myself to become a captive. Not to sound redundant, but it was very freeing.

As if the work the Lord did in my heart wasn't enough, as if the fact that I am leaving to see my love in 32 days wasn't already the icing on the cake, as if I could be more excited about the surety of the Lord showing Himself strong at the visa appointment...

I babysat for a family from church Sunday evening. After the kids had gone to bed, I sat down at the computer with my friend M to show her the kind of searching I'd been doing for a honeymoon. She started asking questions about options, and we started playing around with searches. We opened one page that had little to no information on it, and if I'd been alone, I most likely would have just moved on. But she encouraged me to click one of the links, and one thing led to another, and we found this. I think I may have found the perfect honeymoon place again. And at an even more affordable rate than the first place I looked at.

SO, to recap my amazing weekend:
*I exchanged my stress and anxiety for the Lord's peace and joy.
*I started getting pretty excited as I asked people to begin praying for the Lord's favor for the 6/14 visa appointment.
*I got a love letter from the man I love.
*I booked a flight and get to see said man that I love in 32 days (and counting)!
*I found a great honeymoon option, thanks to a great friend!

And we have another date tonight, so I get to share all my fun news!
(I just reread this post - I hope it isn't too rambling...)