When I awoke from the dream I was both amazed and disoriented. Everything was so vivid and seemed so real that I could not believe that I was only dreaming. I wondered if it was my imagination or if God was perhaps giving me a glimpse into my future. I saw my husband walking through the front door of a house I had never seen, and I was holding a baby that we had named Jordan Christopher, and we were so happy. I tried to dismiss the thought, but the dream stuck with me for days, and then weeks and eventually years.

One would have to know the circumstances of our marriage at that time to understand my amazement at the dream. Chris and I were wed amidst chaos and disappointment as some of our family members and church family protested our interracial marriage. Without counseling, our marriage struggled, and soon financial worries and job related stress caused our relationship to spiral downward. To be honest, at one point, the only thing that kept me fighting to save my marriage was the fact that I did not want to hear anyone say "I told you so." I knew that people would blame our failed marriage on its interracial root, but race was not a factor in the issues we faced, and I was just too stubborn to let anyone think it could be. When I was diagnosed with a relatively unknown disease called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome soon after our marriage and told that I could not have children without medical assistance, I was not overly concerned. I was 15 when my youngest brothe was born, and my mother worked at night, so I was a primary care giver for him and I had no desire to rush into such responsibility. Considering our marital issues, the last thing we needed was the additional stress of a child, and at least we would not have to worry about a custody battle if we ended up divorced. Being the product of divorced parents, I know the pain that it causes and the lasting impact on one's life, so I had no desire to inflict that pain on a child of my own.

Thus my amazement at the dream becomes more apparent. I could not imagine such happiness, considering the strained relationship we were experiencing at that time, and I knew that medically, having a child would be impossible. "So, why am I dreaming about this now?" I wondered.

However, God's mercy and grace kept us through all of the struggles and trials, and our relationship improved year by year. Our spiritual walks were also strengthened under the leadership of our ew shephered, Pastor Rober tStewart at Pentecostal Tabernacle, which was established in 1996, about seven years into our marriage. Meanwhile, the symptoms from my medical condition worsened and I went from doctor to doctor to try to resolve some of the issues. Although both my husband and I loved children, we decided not to pursue the fertility options that the doctors offered, and only treated the other symptoms of the disease. We decided that if we were going to have children, it would have to be God's choice, not ours. Besides, when I considered all of my failures and weaknesses, I knew that it was God's mercy that I was even alive, and I could not bring myself to be so bold as to ask God for such a blessing. Yet, I still had the memory of the vivid dream from years before, and in my heart I knew that God had a plan, and I trusted it.

When the church was still meeting at the Miami Inn, a young minister from Montgomery, Alabama, was preaching and called Chris out of the congregation. Not knowing us or my medical condition, he prophesied, "God says that you will have a son." As we stood at the altar, I was both excited and embarrassed. Although we had been married for more than seven years, very few people knew of my medical issues and even fewer knew about the marital problems we had faced. I knew that God wasconfirming the dream, but at the same time I was a bit overwhelmed at our circumstances being brought to everyone's attention.

As years passed, people would question when or if we would have children, and we would try to respond with a lighthearted or funny comment to deflect the pain. I knew that many people were praying, and for that I will always be grateful. however, as time passed, the questions became less frequent, and many assumed that we never would have children.

To be honest, I seldom ever thought about it, since my work schedule was so hectic, and Chris and I were traveling and enjoying our many other blessings from God. The only time I ever had any regrets was on Father's Day, which was always the hardest day of the year for me. As I looked around at all of the other proud dads standing in church and being honored, I would hurt so much, bcause I knew that Chris deserved that honor as much or more than anyone. In fact, at one point, I seriously prayed that if I was not going to have a child, that God would take me and allow Chris to remarry, so that he would have the opportunity to be a father. Thankfully, God does not answer all of our prayers.

Just after Chris and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversay and renewed our vos, God sent Pastor Alan Todd from Ontario, Canada, to pray for me. I must admit that I was skeptical when he first called me up to the altar to pray. When he asked if I was "praying to get pregnant," I said "no," because I never had prayed that way and I was offended at the thought that someone might have told thim otherwise.

To be honest, most of the time he was praying, my mind was wandering as I wondered who could have told him so many intimate details about my life, since very few people had specific knowledge about my illness. After he prayed, his wife started talking to me and told me about her own struggle to get pregnant and how God had blessed her with five children, despite the fact that she had been diagnosed with the very same disease that I had.

I knew that there was no way that all of this could be a coincidence, and once I realized that God truly was speaking to me through them, I broke down and cried out to God like never before. I felt the power of God so strongly that I could barely stand, as what seemed like waves of heat and electricity rushed over me. I was overwhelmed by God's love and mercy.

Sveral weeks later, I was visiting my parents for Christmas, and I relayed the story about that special night to my mother. As I was talking, in the back of my mind I started to recall some recent tiredness and illness, and I wondered if I could be pregnant. I purchased a pregnancy test at the drugstore and secretaly tested myself on Christmas Eve. I was amazed as I read the results, which indicated that after 15 years, I truly was pregnant. i went through the day mostly in shock, and could not bring myself to tell anyone about the test results.

Later that evening as my family watched the movie, "The Passion of Christ," the promise that 'by His stripes we are healed,'became very real to me, and I silently wept tears of joy and gratitude throughout most of the night. On Christmas morning I took the test once again, and this time I wrapped it in a box and put it under the Christmas tree with a note, "To Chris and Lia, From Jesus." My hsband was so shocked when he opened the present, that he stared at the test in silence. Of course, when the rest of my family realized what he was holding, there was great rejoicing.

When we went to the doctor a few days later, we were told that "On Sunday you will be eight weeks pregnant," which was exactly eight weeks from the night that the preacher had prayed for me. Not only had God healed me, but He made sure with the timing that no one could even question the possibilty that it was His doing. What an awesome and mighty Saviour we serve! Despite what the doctors may say, nothing is impossible with God, and His timing is absolutely perfect. I am so thankful for the amazing gift He has blessed us with, and Jordan Christopher is living proof that Jesus truly keeps His Promises.