Update

The last 6 and 1/2 months have been hard on our family. Brian was laid off from his job of almost 2 years, but was kept on as a consultant. But, that meant no insurance and couldn't really depend on a pay check. Some months he worked a lot and some months he worked maybe a day and a half of it. Luckily, Brian received a severance package that helped us put off from filing for unemployment.

When Brian told me about him being laid off, I can't tell you that I was nice to him about it. I was very angry. I certainly did not have the "everything will work out" attitude. Let's face it, the economy was only getting worse at that time. I screamed and cried with my sisters and did the whole "why me" pity party. We were a couple days from getting our approval on a FHA home loan and I finally felt that things were working out for our family. I definitely had what you would call a test of my faith. I didn't understand why I didn't have the huge home, new car, huge savings account, and so forth that I thought I would have at this age/time in my life. Do you notice, that I say I. It was all selfish.

I am reading a book by Sheri Dew, "God Wants a Powerful People" and a quote in her book that really put things in perspective for me during this time and basically told me to GET OVER IT was,

"EVERYTHING that's important- you can take with you"

She said that life can give you whiplash. How can you be obedient, have faith, have a testimony of Jesus Christ if you are not tested on these things! I definitely have been tested on my faith and prayer.

A couple hours after Brian called and told me about his job, I got a call from a staffing agency asking if I needed a job. At this point in time I was doing about a Saturday a month doing flu vaccines for a company out of AZ. This staffing agency was having me do H1N1 vaccines with the Health Dept. I was able to work more hours and make more money. Which was a answer to our prayers!

Brian was laid off Oct. 19th and I got a full time job at a long term acute care facility on Nov. 9th. Again, full time, more money but BENEFITED! Brian, if you aren't aware, has a seizure disorder and his medications are 200 dollars a month for 1 of the prescriptions, and that is generic. We needed insurance. I am grateful that I have an education that allows me to easily get a good paying job. Unfortunately, it was night shift. I have never worked nights before, but was willing to do whatever it took for us to survive as a family. Luckily, I love my job. I am not going to say their wasn't complaint, because there was much wailing, growling and nashing of teeth...and that was just on my part:) I hated working nights. I hated not being available to my kids. I am glad that Brian was able to be at home with them during the days and nights, but lets get real...dad's just aren't cut out to be a full time stay at home daddy! or at least our daddy!

I hated leaving them, I hated not being the one to comfort them, or tuck them in to be at night. I was the story time, playground, type of mom and now my kids were television watchers because Brian just didn't know what to do with them at times. We both learned to really appreciate what the other did to contribute to the family before. Avery would get to the point where she would just tell me to go to bed or go to work so she could keep watching her tv shows or do something that she knew mommy wouldn't always allow, but dad would. Ugh, that killed me to hear my 3 yr old talk to me that way!

I wish I could of been one of those moms who could have it and do it all. But, I quickly realized that something always was being sacrificed. Time with my girls, my husband, friends, my family, the laundry, my church calling, and the list goes on. I don't know how moms who work full time do it! It was rough!

I know we were not forgotten though. I know the Lord knew the "bigger" picture. We didn't have to worry about our bills being paid, we were able to pay off a lot of debts and provide for our needs. Brian was able to develop a strong bond with his daughters that he wouldn't of been able to do otherwise.

But, here is the good news! After, tons and tons of applications and job interviews, Brian got a JOB! Yippeee! Bad news, we have to move. I never thought I would live in Utah, but I have really grown to love it here and am going to miss many wonderful people that I have met. Even though I hated working nights, I really am going to miss my job and the wonderful people I worked with. Brian starts work tomorrow, so I will be a single mom during the week and then he will come home on the weekends. We are moving 3 hrs away to a small town in Idaho. He will look for a place and hopefully be up there by the beginning of June!

A lot of changes for our family. Now that I am not working, I will hopefully have more time to update our blog. Thank you for all of your prayers on our behalf. I know that we have been blessed and our prayers have been answered. I am not going to lie and say it was easy, because it wasn't, but we are alive. As, my wise baby sister said, this was just our "season" of trial and testing.