In 2009, our family began an adventure of a lifetime. On New Year's Day, Don packed his bags and boarded an airplane for Salt Lake City. He was off to find a job and then a home for us while I stayed back in New York with our 6 kids to sell our house. Did I mention I was also expecting our 7th child? What an adventure that year was! But, what held me through was a blessing I had received that I would be given "a break" when we were finally settled. I wouldn't be sitting alone with my children in church forever.
Our family moved to Utah over Memorial Day weekend. We moved into our home in Eagle Mountain in June of 2009 and our baby girl was born on July 3. All seemed fairly good, until a phone call from the Stake Executive secretary in November. Don was being called as a counselor in the Bishopric. Thus began another adventure. I was really ok with it and excited for the opportunity Don would have to serve. Everything was fine ... until that day in Sacrament Meeting when the Stake President said, "Give your wife a kiss goodbye because she's not going to see you for the next 4-5 years." Suddenly, I felt angry. I felt angry and forgotten. What about my promised blessing? What about my "break?" I rationalized that at least sitting several feet away from Don was better than 2000 miles away, but still at times in my heart I felt forgotten and overlooked.
It wasn't until recently that I realized that the blessing I was given so many months ago when I was alone in New York had been and still is being fulfilled. I learned last Sunday that Don would be released from the Bishopric today. I cried. For a brief moment, they were tears of joy, and then they become tears of sorrow. I was thrilled to think that Don would be able to sit with me in Sacrament Meeting and help with the kids. But then I began to see and recognize all of the blessings that had been given to us as he served others.
Heavenly Father hadn't forgotten that promise - He had only blessed me with "rest" in a different way than I had been looking for a break. Over the past 3 1/2 years, I have been blessed with good health and strength to care for our children - and even gave birth to an 8th child. Two of my children made the choice to be baptized. Two of my sons have been ordained to the priesthood. Both serve diligently in their priesthood duties and respect the honor it is to hold the priesthood. One of my sons is an Eagle Scout. My two oldest daughters have earned their Young Womanhood Recognitions and the oldest has graduated from high school and is preparing to serve a mission.
I cannot take the credit for these wonderful experiences that my children are having. I have merely been trying to keep things together and keep up with everyone. While Don was serving in the Bishopric, the Spirit that has been in our home has filled in the gaps when my own faith or temper fell short. My blessing of a "break" was not meant to be a time of easy service. It was meant to be a time of supported service - being held up when my knees felt too weak to go on.
I am so thankful to my Heavenly Father for all my blessings. I am especially thankful that He is patient with me when I am selfish and prideful and lack the humility to see the blessings that I have been given. I am so thankful for my dear sweet husband and for the wonderful example of service and love that he is for me and for our children.
