Transparent Christian Magazine

My husband Zale and I will have been happily married 5 years this March. Almost four and half years ago he began the adventure of Law School. And now he is preparing for the Bar.

When we got married, we were both working and taking care of one child, Anthony, who I have from a previous marriage. Now we have three wonderful children, Anthony is 14, Hannah is 2 ½, and Reagan is 4 months.

So I’m going to back up a bit and you’ll understand why soon. As I mentioned we were both working when we got married. I was in the mortgage business and Zale in insurance. We knew we wanted more children, but thought it would be best to wait until he was finished with law school. That was before one of his law school buddies came over for dinner one night with his wife and their newborn little girl, Ava. After holding this precious baby for 30 seconds I looked at Zale and said “I want one”.

Since I had just started working from home and things were going pretty well financially we decided we could swing it. I expected I would keep working from home, but God had other plans. I found out we were pregnant in November of 2004, by December or January my boss was having trouble keeping the loans coming in, so my job as a loan processor was no longer needed. But he did have a job for me doing mailers. It was less pay, but we were still okay and I figured business would pick up and I’d be back to processing loans in a month or so. In April I was laid off completely. And I was in a panic. I knew deep down that God would take care of us, but my mind hadn’t quite caught up with my heart and I kept trying to figure it all out. But who would hire someone who needed to go on maternity leave in a few months?? I was on unemployment until October and figured some miracle would happen by then.

In the end we decided I wouldn’t go back to work and would stay home with the baby. Money was extremely tight for awhile, but God was always faithful and has always provided. We have more credit card debt than what we ever wanted, but bills have always been paid. And that can only be because of God’s provision. We are one of those success stories of tithing even when it didn’t make sense on paper, but God ALWAYS came through, and still does!

We found out a month or so ago that Zale’s job wasn’t going to give him the time off he needed to prepare for the Bar exam. That put him in the position of having to quit or not take the time he knew he needed to study and pass the exam the first try, which is really important. So we put it all in God’s hands and his last day of work is January 25th. His last paycheck will be February 21st. Going on faith that he passes the Bar the first time, he won’t be licensed until June. So that leaves a few months of no employment. You would think that the prospect of no income would have me or even us panicked. But thanks to God’s peace, that only he can provide, I’m actually excited to see what God’s plan is for us.

The journey God has taken us on hasn’t always been easy, and sometimes no fun at all, but I love that God loves us so much to have a plan for us that is always greater than anything we could think of ourselves. I am always in awe to see God work in our lives! So this is my story of how God is so good!!

A few years ago, or even a couple of years ago I would be a mess and losing sleep worrying over what was going to happen and how in the world we were going to make it financially, but I know without a doubt God is in control and taking care of our EVERY need! And I am so grateful!! God Bless!

Callie Dowlen