Thankful

Our job is really hard. It's hard on our family. It's hard on our marriage. It's hard on my spirituality, my social life. Sometimes our job and the physical location of our house makes me feel lonely and friendless. It's hard on my kids. It's hard that you always have to put the motel first. In the middle of eating dinner each night, during family home evening, reading my kids a story, watching a movie, special husband/wife time (sorry if I'm getting too personal here...). It's hard to be stuck here so much. It's hard going to family gatherings or outings with friends. It's hard to be surrounded by friends and family that are all established in their jobs and careers and houses. People forget that we are still poor college students, married college students, with two kids. We've financially had a really hard time the last few months. If it wasn't for my great husband who listened and acted on a prompting he received back before Nora was born (it was right after we sold his motorcycle) and bought food storage when we could afford it, we wouldn't have had enough to eat. When I realized this, I immediately started crying realizing my blessings. My good sister-in-law asked one day how we were doing and if we needed anything. I asked her if she had some wheat because we had used all of ours and I needed to make bread. She ended up bringing over 3 loaves of bread and some milk. Bless her. Just a couple of weeks ago, I was consolidating some bags and buckets in our storage room, trying to clean up a little and organize some things. When I picked up my wheat bucket, it felt like there was something in it. I took off the lid and found it half full of wheat. I thought maybe Corey had not checked it or something when he told me we were out. I felt bad that Natalie had brought us over some groceries. But I took it upstairs to fill up my little bucket I keep in the kitchen. I took that lid off and found wheat inside. Now, that one I know I emptied. I remember dumping the whole thing into my grinder and thinking to myself, 'Well, this is the last of our wheat. I hope this bread will last until I can buy more." For the life of me I can't think of any logical explanation. I don't know why we would've ever deserved such a blessing.

So, in spite of everything, I really am thankful for my blessings. I truly have been blessed with so much. I have a beautiful family, great kids and an awesome husband. We have a job, and a job, no matter how hard, is better than no job. I'm thankful that I get to stay home with my kids, and do the few little things I can to help out our family. I'm so grateful for promptings of the spirit and to my husband for listening to them. It's such a blessing to have a priesthood holder in our home. I'm so grateful for that influence. I'm grateful for my knowledge and testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ, for his continuing influence and guidance in my life, even when I don't deserve it.