for Carin and her boys. Hopefully, Thomas is out of there soon and doesn't cause any trouble for them.

I am glad that you are on better terms with God. I have never really thought that prayer changed God's big plans, but drew us closer to him and changed our minds to better understand and reflect His will. Even Jesus prayed in Luke 22:42 for God to take the cup of suffering he was about to endure from him, but knowing that God's plan had to be fulfilled, also prayed, yet not my will, but Yours be done. He wasn't looking forward to the suffering but knew that for God's plan to work, it was going to happen, and he also wanted God close to him as he went through it. Prayer keeps God close. Just my thoughts, and maybe not worth much to you.