 Back in the summer of 2012 Rick was called in at work for his annual review and was given a raise and he felt really good about how things were going. There are always areas to improve, but he really enjoyed where he worked and felt that he could be there for a long time. Then in September he was called into the office and was told that he was being let go or "fired", however anyone wanted to look at it. It came as a HUGE shock to him. He had been out sick the week before for a few days with pneumonia and had done his best from home and being so sick, but was aware there had been some problems. Sometimes things are completely out of your control like serious illnesses.
0 Comments
 So, today I posted on Facebook "I have always known this, but it has become so strongly obvious to me that in times that appear to be the greatest challenges are truly the greatest blessings. The Lord really does know the BIG picture and the timing of certain things that need to happen in our lives. So grateful for the gospel." I have kept pretty quiet about some of the challenges that our family has gone through over the last few months, but I have decided to share.
Back in September I decided that I was going to focus on getting healthy and decided that since I was 40 it was time to just go in for an annual check up. I went in and decided that whatever the doctor said I needed to do I was going to do. We had insurance and it was time. I had several concerns and was ready to get to the bottom of them. My doctor did several blood tests and said it would be a few days before we got the results. The next day I was in charge of a PTA Council Meeting in the morning and then had other things going on in the afternoon. I got done with my Council Meeting and noticed that my doctor's office had called. That made me nervous that I was getting a call the next day instead of a few days later. I called immediately and talked with my doctor at length. I was on the verge of diabetes, had really high cholesterol, high blood pressure and some other stuff that he was really concerned about. He wanted me to come back in and visit with him. I told him I would call back and schedule a time. About 30 minutes later I was at Lindon Elementary and talking with a few friends when Rick called. I figured I would call him back, but instead I got a text from him. I looked down at the text and saw, "Hope you are having a good day, because I just lost my job." I didn't even know who it was from, because it was scrolling across the top of the screen. I was feeling bad for whoever it was and clicked on the text. That is when I realized it was from Rick. We had been through unemployment before and it was a very hard, stressful time. That day was full of news that shook our world. The company he worked for gave him 2 weeks and then he was gone. Of course, right through the holidays and some of the tougher financial times of the year. There were many things that didn't line up or make sense about Rick losing his job. So many questions and no answers. I was a wreck and decided I needed to go to the temple the next day and figure things out. As I went to the temple I felt so peaceful. I didn't want to leave, because it was the only place I was finding peace through everything. That evening we went to my parent's and received priesthood blessings from my dad. I don't remember a whole lot from the blessings, but one thing that stood out to me in Rick's blessing was that he was told this was the Lord's timing and in His plan for our family. There would be opportunities that would come that would not have come any other time for his future and to provide for his family. There was a job that he was really excited about and we thought for sure this was it. Things were going smoothly and then the job didn't come through. The boat rocked a little bit in our lives, but then things fell right in place. The timing ended up being perfect in our lives. The job he has is PERFECT for him! He is the happiest I have ever seen him. The money is a little tighter than before and we currently don't have any insurance, but I have never seen Rick so happy. Our children are happy because he is more a part of their lives than before because he is working from home. The job fits our lives perfectly. There is flexibility and that is what our family needs with all that we have going on. The holidays were simple and perfect! We were able to enjoy time together as a family, share the gospel with many and the boys were happy with what they received. We are working through catching up from the time of unemployment financially, but we feel that we are on the right road and find peace in where we are at. Rick has been contacted by some of those he worked with over the last few months and he has watched what happened to him happen to others. Then yesterday he saw several posts, twitters, etc. from many that he worked with and knew that major things had happened at this company. Nobody was happy and it was very evident that it was a blessing he wasn't there right now. He got out at the right time. We have found that the grass is greener on the other side and thought it seemed unfair, difficult and things didn't add up we are soooo grateful to be on this side. He is so glad he wasn't in the meeting yesterday where so many lives were turned upside down. I agree that there are many things in life that are in our control and we bring on in our own lives, but I also believe that there are certain things in our lives that the Lord specifically guides to bring us greater happiness if we are willing to follow and trust despite how challenging and hard the road might look.  A friend of mine posted this on Facebook and I thought it was really fun and would share it on my blog today. Have fun with the play on words :).
Need to smile today? Try one of these:) I tried to catch some fog, but I mist. When chemists die, they barium. Jokes about German sausage are the wurst. A soldier who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran. I know a guy who's addicted to brake fluid, but he says he can stop any time. How does Moses make tea? Hebrews it. I stayed up all night to see where the sun went. Then it dawned on me. This girl said she recognized me from the vegetarian club, but I'd never met herbivore. I'm reading a book about anti-gravity, and I can't put it down. I did a theatrical performance about puns; it was a play on words. They told me I had Type-A blood, but it was a Type-O. A dyslexic man walks into a bra. PMS jokes aren't funny, period. Changed my iPod name to Titanic. It's syncing now. The Energizer bunny was arrested and charged with battery. I didn't like my beard at first. Then it grew on me. How do you make holy water? Boil the hell out of it! Did you hear about the cross-eyed teacher who lost her job because she couldn't control her pupils? What does a clock do when it's hungry? It goes back four seconds. What do you call a dinosaur with an extensive vocabulary? A thesaurus. England has no kidney bank, but it does have a Liverpool. I got a job at a bakery because I kneaded dough. Haunted French pancakes give me the crepes. Cartoonist found dead in home. Details are sketchy.  Today I have really thought about how much of an example my children are to me. My son just turned 12 a week and 2 days ago and he has accomplished so many great things in the last week. He received the Priesthood last Sunday, attended Deacons last Sunday for the first time, got his recommend so he could attend the temple, went to a farewell party for him in his 11 year old Scouts, went to his first YM's activity on Wednesday, went to the Temple for his first time without either Rick or I with his older brother and cousin on Thursday morning at 4 a.m., went on his first campout with the Deacons and Teachers on Friday night, snowshoed 1 1/2 miles on that campout for the first time, passed the Sacrament for his first time today, shared his sweet and tender testimony in Sacrament Meeting without any prodding and then went out after church with his dad to do Fast Offerings for his first time. He didn't ever express any fear, concern, nervousness or even sadness about moving onto the next things in his life. Instead he did all of this with total excitement. He has enjoyed every day and cherished each experience. He has felt the spirit and is being such a great example to his brothers and his dad and mom.
Then when we got home from church today my 2 youngest came to me and said they wanted to play a game together. Usually I settle in for a nice Sunday afternoon nap soon after church or start going through my list of things that are Sunday appropriate that can be accomplished, but instead played an hour of games with my 2 youngest. We were laughing and having so much fun. They were such simple games, but there was so much joy found in the games and being together. I am so grateful for all four of my boys that teach me that there is much joy in becoming like a child. My oldest for setting such an amazing example for the other ones and truly choosing the gospel as the center of his daily life. My second one for going at each step of life with such joy and excitement and showing that there is nothing to fear and my two youngest for just enjoying the simple things in life. There is so much happiness found in daily living our lives like children. There was great wisdom from the Savior when he said to become like a child. |
Archives
January 2015
Categories
All
Click to set custom HTML
|
RSS Feed
