TENder Mercies

As many of you know, 2014 has been a bit of a roller-coaster for our family (especially the last few months).  Our recent trials have given us the opportunity to re-evaluate where we are as a family and we have been able to make some much needed changes in our lives.  Our faith in the Lord has been strengthened and we have seen His hand more clearly in our lives.  It is true, what they say about trials bringing you closer to the Lord - they really do, but only if you choose Faith every single day.  I thought it would be appropriate, at the close of this very interesting year, to mention a few of the Tender Mercies extended to our family this year (in no particular order).

1. Tyler lost a job he was REALLY unhappy at and had the opportunity to spend some good quality time with our family this Holiday season.  I will admit that, at first, this didn't really seem like much of a blessing, but it has turned out to be one of the best things that can have happened to us.

2. Tyler has a new job here in town that he is REALLY excited about.  He no longer has to be up before the crack of dawn and be gone for 12 or more hours a day.  For the first time since he left college he is doing actual Engineering work and he is on track to get his PE license in October. 

3.  With Tyler's new schedule, we have time in the morning to exercise together before he leaves for work. I have been struggling with forcing myself to exercise every day (not an activity I look forward to), and Tyler hasn't been able to get regular exercise since he started working out at NRF.  Now we both get some exercise every day, and it is so much more enjoyable having someone to suffer with you!

4.  Also with Tyler's new schedule we are able to have Family Scripture Study in the morning before he leaves for work.  In the past this is something we've had to do at night if we wanted Tyler to be able to participate (which we do), but nights have become so crazy that we were missing half the week.  Now, we don't miss!

5.  We are able to have Family Prayer in the morning with Tyler too!

6.  With our involvement in iFamily, our children have made a lot of new friends.  The kids at our homeschooling group have welcomed our children with open arms and they have found several kindred spirits among them.

7.  Our children have had the opportunity to explore new interests and develop their talents.  Andrew was accepted into the Idaho Falls Youth Symphony this fall and is loving it.  Katherine started learning cake decorating and cosmetology and is eager to learn more.  Lida is doing great in reading and she loved getting to participate in ballet.  Her teacher has been very impressed with her progress.  Alvin - well, what can I say, he's Alvin - full of life and love for his Mama.

8.  Just weeks before Tyler lost his job, we finished paying off our house.  As a result, we are completely debt free, we have food storage, and modest savings that have helped us weather the unemployment storm.  Even more important, by following this wise counsel from the Prophets, we were able to approach the Lord with confidence that we had done all we could to help ourselves and know that things truly were in His hands.

9.   We have felt a great outpouring of love from our friends and family during the trial of our faith.  The Lord has truly poured out His blessings upon us.

10.  We had a white Christmas!  We desperately need moisture to fill our wells and reservoirs and prepare the ground for planting in the Spring and we finally got some on Christmas Eve.  We've have 10-12 inches of snowfall in the last week.  Yay!