Brandon got a job offer on Friday from a company in Mesa!! We are so grateful to his sister Amy for telling him about this job opening and we are
so
happy for the job search to be over! Now we can move onto the next step!
These past 5 months....
what can I say about them?...
I can only give my point of view....because Brandon's experience in all this will be different than mine because we are two different people with two different perspectives.....but one thing that is the same for both of us is the confirming knowledge that
no prayer goes unanswered.
I have noticed that if I pay close attention, I can see how the Lord is
preparing me for things to come. He did that with the Mill closing. He
gave me prior trials of my faith....things I could never get through
without relying solely on Him everyday. So, when the closure of the Mill was
announced...my first thought was that "now is the time to put into
practice what I have learned about trusting the Lord with all my
heart." I felt like I had gone through a "trial of your faith" boot
camp...and now was the time for action! I am so grateful to have been
prepared, by the Lord (through trial) for this most recent (and ongoing)
trial. "Faith and fear cannot co-exist".
I have learned that I cannot give into worrying about the future and still trust the Lord. It's just not possible. The worry cancels out the faith.
When we found out that the Paper Mill was going bankrupt, (just a few weeks after moving into our new house).....I remember being worried for just a moment. Brandon is very involved in the finances of the Mill...and he is an optimistic person (an example I try hard to follow) so I felt like no matter what, things would be okay. I have continued to feel that over the past 5 months.
One of our first thoughts after the closure announcement was that we needed to sell our new house. This happened sooner than we thought it would! Our house didn't even make it onto the market! What a blessing it has been to not have to worry about selling a house on top of looking for a job.
I'd be a big fat liar if I said that I have not worried, fretted or shed tears over the past 5 months. I have done some of that...but just as quickly as those feelings come...they have left. I know this is because of constant prayer....scripture study, the prayers of others, fasting (by others...not me, since I am pregnant) and the reviewing of Temple covenants. I love the words of the Initiatory ordinance.
Another thing that I have had to do during the past 5 months is to trust Brandon's ability to receive revelation for our family. Brandon and I are on the same page about a lot of things. But, when the job hunt started, I felt like we should be looking
anywhere within the United States! I felt a very urgent need to not leave out any option. Brandon had the impression that we needed to focus on looking for a job in Arizona first and then branch out from there. (I hope I am not sharing too much personal information Brandon!)...but from this experience, I am learning more about the promise I made to harken unto my husbands counsel as he harkens unto the Father.
I read a quote yesterday that sums up my feelings about this trial...and all others I have been through and will go through. It is this:
"Let us continue, brethren and sisters, to work in the name of the Lord our God, gathering wisdom and intelligence day by day, that every circumstance which transpires may minister to our good."
We are going to move to Mesa (in 12 days) and stay at his mom's place there (and hopefully not drive my brother and sister in law crazy) while we look for a house to buy. I know this wont be easy...all of us in a little house...with a baby on the way...and the girls going to a new school...and Brandon learning a new job...but that's okay! Life can be smooth sailing even in the roughest of seas if we trust the Lord and keep an eternal perspective. That's what I am praying for...
*I love art! I am not sure who painted this picture...Liz Swindle or Greg Olsen or some other amazingly talented artist...but I am sure grateful for the talents of those who are able to make a visual representation of feelings.*
