So Very Blessed

I quit my job a few weeks ago, (as planned) to stay at home with Liam, but I wouldn't have been able to just not work if we were to make ends meet. The problem was that since Freddie lost his job in January and was essentially unemployed for six months the savings we had built up so I could stay home was drained. While my working through the summer helped to start to build it again it wasn't nearly enough. So I have been looking for a job at night for the last few weeks hoping to find something that would allow me to be at home with Liam during his awake hours (though it would have left me with little sleeping hours). At the same time we have been looking for a new, more affordable, centrally located apartment.

A few weeks ago I fell in love with a little cottage in Orem that is located smack between Fred's work and school. He could walk 5 minutes either way to get to class or the studio. It was a small, one bedroom, but so cute with plenty potential. I figured with a few IKEA bookshelves as room dividers we could make it work with Liam. We loved the land lady who was willing to go above and beyond to make the place work for us, and the price wasn't half bad. We were all set to take it, she drew up the contract, but for some reason I just felt like it wasn't right. I couldn't figure out why since everything seemed so perfect. But I couldn't ignore the promptings of the spirit. So we backed out before signing the contract and gave her our most sincere regrets.

Fast forward a few weeks to last Saturday night; Sue (the land lady) called me and said she had been thinking about us and wanted to make us an offer. So we met up with her yesterday and she asked if I would be interested in running her picture framing business and in exchange we would live in the apartment in the house where the business is located (which is directly in front of the little cottage we initially wanted to move into). I couldn't believe it. Of course we said yes.

This is an answer to prayer. We found a place to live and I found a job all at the same time. Not just any job, one that will literally be run out of my home. I won't have to leave Liam at all to work. He will be with me all day. How much better could it get? I'm a stay at home mommy with a job to help provide for my family.

This year has been one of the hardest Fred and I have ever faced together. Freddie lost his job, we had a baby (wonderful but hard), our car died and we had to buy a new one, I quit my job (which I loved, but I needed to be home with Liam) and various other things one after another. But in all the difficult things we have faced I have never once felt alone. Heavenly Father has comforted us and blessed us in ways I can't even begin to describe. So many wonderful things have also happened this year and while it has been the hardest for me the miracles I have personally experienced have far out weighed any of the negatives. I am so thankful for a mindful Heavenly Father. Freddie and I have grown so much from these experiences and I have truly seen what God can do and what he so badly wants to do for all his children.

God lives and he loves us. There is no doubt in my mind about that. He only wants what is best for his children and is simply waiting for us to acknowledge him and love him back.