Answered Prayer

It was eight years ago that we moved from Hallsville to Marshall to live behind my parents on 100 beautiful acres. I grew up playing, fishing, riding go-carts and hunting on this land. Even though I only lived here until I was three, it was always home to me. Jason and I started out our marriage here in 1995 but ventured away from Marshall on two different occasions. Somehow, we always end up right back where we started.

We knew when we moved from Hallsville in 2003 that we would have to figure out a way for our kids to go to Hallsville schools. Marshall schools were not an option for us. We had decided that we would either put the boys in private school or home school before we sent them to Marshall. We found out a couple of years later that if one of us worked at Hallsville, our boys could go to school there. So, that is where our search for jobs at HISD began!

Jason and I both worked at Texas Bank & Trust in the Technology department. It was a little crazy working together but we loved it. We decided that Jason would be the one to seek employment at HISD since I had been with the bank for 8 years. He got his CDL and two weeks before Edison started Kindergarten, he got a job as a bus driver! We didn't care at that point because we had just secured Edison a spot at HISD. We were so excited. It wasn't too much longer after that, that I got a job as the high school registrar. Jason was offered a full time position as a Behavior Assistant at the high school within the month of school starting. We both loved it. Life was grand! Broke, but grand! We had cut our salaries in half to go to work for the school but being on the kids schedules and having them at Hallsville was worth it to us.

We have had some changes since then, as most of you know. Financially we had to make some changes so that I could stay at home. Jason became a fireman/paramedic and I quit to stay home with Jamison the year before he started Kindergarten and I had to drive a part time bus route to keep the boys in school. During this time, the bus route became so stressful that I didn't think I would be able to do it any longer. I decided to go back to school to become a nurse and knew that eventually I would no longer be able to drive my route. We prayed almost everyday for God to give us some direction and let us know what to do about our boys' education. This went on for 8 years altogether! There was not a day that went by that we didn't talk about it, pray about it or just get angry about it.

When Jason went through a really rough time at MFD, the school called him and offered him a job as a Behavior Assistant again. He accepted the job and was back at the school. We thought our boys' education was secure again. But, low and behold, our schools financial situation through us for a loop. They could not guarantee Jason a job for the 11-12 school year and I had been accepted to nursing school for the fall. Here we were again...how will we keep the boys in Hallsville?! I was so sick and tired of worrying about it because of where we lived! I didn't want to talk about it or pray about it anymore. I just wanted an answer from God. Where was He? What was taking so long? Isn't 8 years of praying long enough???!

May 19th we got an answer! For the first time in history our school board decided to take out of district transfers! I NEVER THOUGHT IT WOULD HAPPEN! I cried as Jason read me the letter from Paula Rogers. They had decided to take transfers to help the school out financially. WOW! Who would of thought that something good could come out of our school's financial problems. Some of you may not think it is not good but for the Sutton house, we are ecstatic. This was an answer to an 8 year long prayer. I finally have peace and assurance for my boys' education and will never have to worry about it again. I will be able to fulfill a life long dream of becoming a nurse and if my husband's job is terminated because of our school's money woes, our children will not have to be uprooted from all they know.

I write all of this to let you know that God does answer prayers. It is in His time and it is perfect! Don't give up. Don't stop praying. He will give you an answer. It may not be what you wanted or what you thought it would be but He will. He is a loving and faithful God. I am ashamed that I ever doubted Him and hope that my story is an encouragement to you. Whatever the prayer may be....just keep praying! He will answer. Looking back now, eight years seems like nothing. All those days and nights of worrying were wasted because God was in control the whole time!

Ask and you shall receive, so that your joy will be the fullest possible joy. John 16:24