Real Story I think sometimes we get so caught up in passing things around the email circuit that we forget to tell the real things. This story really happened and it happened to me and my family a couple of years ago. Its one of those 'God is real' stories and it can go along with the open/closed doors emails but for me its just everyday living and paying attention to what you've asked God for and if its something you really need, how to look for Him in action. He doesn't give me everything I ask for and I'm glad but for the important things, hes always there. We had planned a trip to Hawaii. I love the ocean and we go somewhere by the ocean every year but I'm afraid of the water because, really, theres SHARKS in 'dem waters. Anyway, I thought well, what else do you do in Hawaii but enjoy the water. So, I planned a kayak trip, several snorkeling trips, a submarine trip and a trip to another island to snorkel and play in the ocean all day. I also asked God to stop me from harming my family with any of the trips I'd planned because we were taking my nephew and I knew if he got eaten by a shark, I couldn't go home. Everything was paid for and scheduled. I had all the tickets for each adventure, all the times were set and we were ready to go. You also have a small window to cancel these trips if you can't be there or you lose your money. Well, you know what its like to get to the airport and be ready to hit the road but its hard to do when the plane doesn't show up. Thats what happened to us. My brother and sister-in-law took us to the airport in Little Rock early that morning, we said goodbye and were ready for an early start that didn't happen. Two hours later we are still sitting in Little Rock and the desk finally got tired of putting us off and said IF you do leave today, you won't make any of your connecting flights because they were all on time and have come and gone. So, we were looking at maybe making it to Dallas but having to stay the night and take a flight to Hawaii the next morning. Sometimes you just know not to worry and I guess this was one of those times. I told Ed I had asked God to take care of everything on this trip and if we couldn't take off, then there was a reason and if was for our safety and it would be okay. I dug out the number to our first adventure, made a phone call and cancelled it. The woman asked if I wanted to schedule for something else but I told her no, it looked like we wouldn't be there until the following day. Okay, now I'm at the end of the story (aren't you glad). No kidding, not 2 minutes after I cancelled that trip, the desk announced our plane had landed and we would be boarding. I told Ed God had wanted me to cancel that trip because thats where the SHARK was, but whats even better is when we got to Dallas, we actually caught the plane they said we wouldn't catch and caught every other flight we were scheduled to catch. We never had to change our tickets and we arrived ontime in Hawaii. Its nice to know my Father can control the airlines and do a better job at flight schedules than the airlines themselves. I don't know what He protected us from or from who, but I know I had asked for His blessing on everything we planned to do and got it. Theres a different feel when you know the Creator is watching over little details in your life like a silly vacation. He really does care about us and really does care about every step we take. It may not always be dramatic, but I think if you'll look around you'll see He has been there even when you just thought that was a coincidence. Usually I don't do this but maybe it was because one of you needed a pep talk. Whatever, I hope you are all blessed and have a great day. Pat Ashcraft