Count Your Blessings

Our little family is going to be hit with some rough times a little later this year. Job hunting for Jason and me has been a complete disappointment. Jason applied to be a summer school teacher (a position that was about 99% guaranteed once his application was in), however someone at the school district office dropped the ball and didn't submit his application to the next higher-up. So he's out a summer job, and, subsequently, much needed fundage. I have been putting in job applications since October of LAST YEAR for both full- and part-time jobs to no avail. Apparently a Bachelor's degree and previous work experience doesn't count for much anymore. (Seriously...I'm not qualified to be an admin assistant?!) Also, with all the state's education budget cuts, Jason's district is having teachers take five or six furlough days. This is a difference of about $100 on each paycheck--which is a lot for us. Dental insurance is also being cut for family members; they've nixed a committee that Jason sits on for a stipend; the conference he normally attends in the summer for a stipend is booked full.

Our financial woes seem endless right now and it looks like our belts will be pulled even tighter come September. It's amazing how these financial problems are coming and not once have I felt panicky. I'm worried, of course; it would be stupid of me to not be. It's on my mind every waking moment of the day about how we're going to pay to get the brakes replaced or make sure Troy has dental coverage, etc, etc, etc... We're commanded by God in the Bible (Malachi chapter 3 to be exact) to pay tithes and offerings to His church. If we do so God will "open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." We see the blessings of faithfully paying our tithing often--several times a year in fact. I know for an absolute fact that we may have hard times but the Lord will ALWAYS provide.

For example, I have been to several job interviews within the past month and none have worked out. I was sitting in bed fuming about a week ago because I was promised that I would hear back about a position the day before and hadn't. It was a job I was fairly certain I would get and I was upset that I didn't have any contact information for the interviewer and that they hadn't called in a timely manner. I still haven't heard anything. Anyway, I'm sitting in bed furious to the point of tears and Jason gets a phone call. A good friend at work needs a nanny for her two youngest sons when school starts in August and does Liz want to do it? She pays well and it would allow me to stay at home with Troy. My tears of fury quickly turned to tears of gratitude for a Heavenly Father who knows the desires of our hearts. It makes me physically ill to think of sending Troy to daycare and that's what needs to be done if I'm to work outside the home full-time. There's a reason none of these jobs have worked out--there would be an even better opportunity for me to stay home and make a little extra to help make ends meet.

I am so grateful that the Lord has provided for us. We won't be rich, but we'll be able to get the bills paid.