I just
finished putting my baby to bed and it’s about 2 hours until the New Year
starts. As I was holding her I started thinking about all the blessings of this
past year that have happened to our family and me individually. It definitely has been a year full of trial
and stress but I can’t help but see the Lord’s hand in our life and how he
blessed us every step of the way.
It started at
the Beginning of the year and a little at the end of 2016. When we applied for
an apartment (suggested by a friend) that had 6month to a year waiting list. We
got a call 2 weeks later saying they had a bottom floor, 3 bedroom apartment available
since all the other applications didn’t qualify. Which is EXACTLY what I wanted/needed
for my family. The Lord blessed me with the strength I didn’t have to pack up
an apartment while I was 37 weeks pregnant and sent angels from my ward and family
to help me move TWO days before I had my baby.
The next big
blessing came a couple months later while I was visiting my sister. (We were
tight on money since we had 3 kids in diapers and so close to finishing school.)
While I was visiting we were driving around she was telling me how she was
stressed out because she couldn’t find a Daycare that would take all of her
kids so she could keep going to nursing school. The thought came over me and I
said, “Well maybe I can watch them.” She looked at me and said, “You’re joking,
it’s too good to be true! I would even pay you!” I told her “No,” but she
replied “Amy, someone is going to get paid and it’s either going to be you or a
daycare.” She said she was praying for a solution and I was praying for extra
income. The Lord knew both our needs and blessed us both. I knew it wasn’t a
coincidence that I decided to go visit her.
(We were all excited when my husband came to visit while we were gone all summer along with our Christmas in July Party.)
Then after we
came home from a summer of watching kids and celebrating my husbands hard work from graduating college the extra income stopped, but soon after my
husband got promoted to Dairy Manager. The Lord just kept blessing us with one
thing after the other to help our little family to continue to be provided
for.
Then in November
we had interviews for a Job we applied for back in April. Lots of prayers were
going up and fasting that we would get this job. The Interview came and a
couple weeks later we got an email saying we would not proceed to the next
step. Surprisingly a peaceful feeling came over me that it was going to be okay
and we were not supposed to get the job that there is something else. It was
confirmed to me when we went to my in-laws and my Father in law said the same
thing to us He said, “Me and Angela were talking and thought you know they
weren’t supposed to get this job because your needed elsewhere.” It’s been
interesting ever since that point on how things have been adding up with other
opportunities that we are looking at and I’m excited.
It ended with December
and started with decorating my house. My mother has a wonderful talent of decorating
and crafting. She made this beautiful lantern center piece that I really wanted
to duplicate. So I was keeping my eye out for a lantern on sale or hoping to
find one at a Thrift Store. Since brand
new they can cost well over $30. Well one evening I went DI (Deseret
Industries), just to get out of the house while the kids were in bed. I walked
around the store wandering and didn’t find anything so I left. As I was walking
to my car the thought came to me “Come back tomorrow to look for your decorations
for your center piece.” I thought, “okay, I guess I’m coming back tomorrow. My
husband came home from work the next day and I left. I was so excited to find
my lantern and pieces for my center piece. I got there and looked down every
possible isle it could be down at least 3 times. I lifted up all the
decorations and scavenged the holiday décor only to find nothing. I felt I
should look one more time. So I did. I found these beautiful burlap flowers, this
wood circle and all the stuff to put together this woodsy/chic center piece,
but still no lanterns. There was only one more place I could look which was the
wood area. So I go over and I’m looking through everything. Finally, at the end
of the isle right before the lamp shades I say a little prayer. “Dear Heavenly Father
I would really like to find some lanterns for my center piece, in the name of
Jesus Christ, Amen.” I open my eyes, look to my right and on the top shelf by
all the lamps are two big lanterns side by side. I couldn’t believe it. I immediately
thanked my Heavenly Father. Hurried and picked them up and put them in my cart
to find they were only $2/piece!
So many more
blessings came the following couple weeks with presents for my family and so
much more. This year seems it has been blessing after blessing. The Lord is
truly aware of us from the Big things like finances to the little things like a
center piece lantern. They come with friends telling you about a place you
should apply for, or a sister who needs help but ends up blessing you in return.
It comes from promptings of going to a store when you weren’t planning on shopping
or listening to a neighbor. It comes from paying your tithing, reading your
scriptures, or serving your neighbor and visiting teaching your girls. It comes
from you, from us, from the Lord. I’m so grateful for the people and the gospel
in my life. This truly is the tip of the iceberg with the blessings that my family has received and I hope I can stay tuned so that I can
bless others in this next year to come. I also hope that you can look for the blessings in your life and fill your heart with gratitude especially in this year to come.
