i'll continue to say it until i'm blue in the face...

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS COINCIDENCE!

I met an old college roommate for lunch last Wednesday, our first visit since her mother passed away a year ago. There had been a long battle with cancer and my friend "Kay" shared the difficulties and pain that came along with it. She recalled a particular night when the grim reality of her mom's situation was almost too much to bear. My friend felt overwhelmed and needed to know God was there. While driving in the rain, she'd asked Him to give her a sign - a cross. She asked to see a cross in the back window. She looked in the rearview mirror and there was no cross. Kay said she wasn't surprised.

The next day after she woke, my friend pulled open the shades on her window and to her amazement, saw a large white cross in her yard. Kay knew in her heart it was from God. She told me she showed the rest of her family, took pictures, and went to investigate. It was made out of some white man-made material that "somehow" found it's way into her yard, smack dab in front of her window, the morning after she'd asked God to reveal His presence to her with a cross.

We talked about remembering God Moments, recalling those times when God made Himself so clearly seen, hanging onto those moments during dark times, and asking God to continue to reveal Himself. I said to Kay, "He is still here."

My friend was very much on my mind as I made my way home from our lunch date. Once home, I was surprised to find a message from someone trying to book a senior session (I thought I'd had my last some time back). I returned the call and explained that my calendar was pretty tight; I wasn't sure if I could swing it. After hemming and hawing into the evening, I called her back and agreed to take it. We scheduled a session for the following day.

Nick and his mom arrived the next day. Mom filled out some paperwork, gave me a check, and eventually made her way back to work. I learned that Nick attended my former high school and also thought that his street name sounded very familiar (let's say, "Harrington Drive"). Interestingly enough, my friend Kay grew up on Harrington... but I couldn't remember whether it was Drive or Street or Lane. Nick said the family name didn't ring a bell. I finished up the session and we parted ways.

While working on edits that same night, the address came to my mind again. I decided to search for Kay's former address using her mom's name because truly, it was her parents' home growing up. I knew her folks had retired and sold their home but I figured I'd be able to find the old address using my mad people-finding skills ;) I ran the search and instantly an address popped up.

I couldn't believe my eyes.

It was THE EXACT SAME ADDRESS. Kay's family home was the very same house Nick lives in! (Did I happen to mention God is big into details?) I shared the story with my friend Kay and again reminded her of God's presence in the midst of this storm.

What are the odds? A woman I've never met heard about my photography business at a hair salon. We don't live in the same city and I've never photographed a senior from that particular high school. I could have said NO to the session - after all, my schedule is pretty tight. It was on the heels of a very specific conversation about God revealing Himself to us when we call out to Him.

It was hope for a friend.

You will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help,

and he will say: Here am I.

- Isaiah 58:9