Counting my blessings

It is now October 2009. Back in January, Paul petitioned the court for "a modification of maintenance" because of a "substantial change in circumstances." In other words, he doesn't think he should pay alimony because he lost the income from his second job.
I finally got the court orders today, "Now, Therefore, it is ordered that petitioner's motion is denied."
Becuase this is the decision of the de Novo hearing, meaning this is the second time we have been before the judge about this, it is final, end of story until I graduate/get a job. Graduation will hopefully be next May. (I won't really be finished until the public schools are finished in June because I will be student teaching.)
Paul's income from his primary job has increased since the divorce, and he is supporting one less child now than at the time of the divorce. When we were getting divorced I was not happy that the income from his second job nor any overtime from his primary job was "not relied upon when determining support and maintenance." Well, the judge used this information to determine that his circumstances haven't changed that much. "At the time of the divorce, the parties cosidered only the petitioner's D.o.J. income in calculating support and that continued to be the basis for revised support since. Paul's financial disclosure statement does not include income from his second job, only income from D.o.J. The settlement agreement which adopted the support and maintenance proposals were Paul's suggestions."
At the time of the final hearing I was not employed and was a full time student. This is still the case. Although Paul argues that I have time to work, the judge agrees with me that I am unavailable to work next semester because I will be student teaching. Paul also argued that I could rent the apartment for more money and not have Patrick living there for free. The judge didn't agree. "The rental income...is reasonable...it is reasonable that the ...parties' son...reside there rent free under the circumstances."
Paul also argued that I could start drawing money out of the retirement fund as of his 50th birthday-today, if I felt I needed money. "No information is provided to the court as to advantages /disadvantages in making withdrawls." Nothing definitive has been provided to the court to show tht the respondent is eligible to receive such benefits at this time and exactly in what amount. The judge believes Paul is speculating.
So, even though I felt it was not right that his overtime and second income was not included in the determination of support, and I had many sleepless nights, and cried many tears over this, it has proven to be a blessing. Thank you Heavenly Father.
Sometime our prayers are not answered in the way we want or at the time we want.