Be of Good Courage

 

For over a year now we have been hoping and praying and praying some more that David would be able to find a new job. There were so many things about the newspaper that weren't going well and he was really, really ready to move on. There were so many jobs that David applied for. Several of them looked and sounded perfect, only to have them not work out. At times it definitely felt like we were being tested. Was our faith strong enough? Would we do what The Lord would ask of us? Did we trust Him to direct our path? 

So when David was offered this job with Verizon we felt like it was an answer to our prayers. And for me, I felt like the test and trial of my faith was finally over. However, after recent events I am beginning to think the test is really just beginning. 

Last week was David's first week working at Verizon and my week went something like this:

Monday- we find out that David actually had to be in Denver for training for two weeks, instead of the one we thought if would be. Right before Christmas. Literally. He left yesterday (the 8th) and he doesn't get home until late on the night of the 20th. That leaves me to attend each of the kids various school Christmas programs by myself. And everything else that goes along with getting ready for Christmas...all by myself. Not something I was very excited about. 

Tuesday- I spent all night Monday night and into Tuesday being violently sick. Apparently it was something that was going around and I usually don't catch those kinds of things. But this time I did, lucky me. And there was no way David could call in sick to work on his second day of a brand new job. Again, it was all up to me. Before he left that morning, David have me a beautiful priesthood blessing promising me that my health would be returned to me that day and that I would bd able to care for the children as I needed to. He also promised me that although the decisions we has made were good and right for our family, the way would not be easy. Great. Nevertheless, I am beyond grateful for the healing and comforting power of the priesthood and for a loving Heavy Father who knows me, Lindsey Kay Eyre Mecham, and loves me. 

Wednesday- I am feeling better, just as the blessing had promised. However, we woke up at 5 am to no power and sub zero temperatures. There was a major power outage affecting most of south eastern Idaho. Except for Idaho Falls, that is. So David was off to work by 7:30 and I am home with all four kids (no power=no school) trying to keep warm. The power finally came on about 11:30, thankfully! 

By this point I am starting to dread what the next day is going to bring. 

Thursday- I wake up and nothing seems too out of the ordinary. Just as I begin to go about my day, thinking that our string of bad luck is over, David calls to inform me that he is in Idaho Falls. With both sets of car keys. Ack! I have to drive Hanna to preschool and it is my turn to 

drive the car pool for Emma's choir practice. Actually my turn was Tuesday, but I was feeling a bit under the weather, remember? So the other mom we car pool with graciously offered to switch. We finally decide that David will have to make the 40 minute-one-way drive back to Rexburg on his lunch break so that I can have a car. He was a little late getting back from lunch that day. 

Friday- A reprieve! Friday was actually a fairly quiet day with nothing too significant happening. 

Saturday- knowing that David would not have any time after coming home from training, before Christmas to help with the Christmas shopping we decided to try and get all our shopping started snd finished for the kids in one day. That was actually quite successful and we enjoyed spending the day together. Minus the snowy, icy, freezing weather/roads. 

Yesterday was a sad day as we dropped David off at the airport. But other than that it was a pretty calm, relaxing day. 

Today (Monday) Hanna has a double ear infection that kept her (and me) up most of the night last night. Tonight she is on Tylenol and an antibiotic so I am hopeful that we will sleep better this night. Although just as I finished typing that last sentence, Jase came upstairs to get the throw up bowl. Who needs sleep?? Not me apparently. 

Am I a little afraid of what tomorrow will bring? You betcha! But can I handle it? Absolutely! Because this is my new mantra: "Be of good courage. The Lord will strengthen thy heart." Have the last several days been challenging? Definitely. Are the challenges over? I doubt it. But I have many reasons to "be of good courage" and I have felt The Lord strengthening my heart, my mind and my soul as I turn to Him and rely on my Savior. This change of jobs really is an answer to prayer. I have a loving and supportive partner/best friend/husband who does all he can from wherever he is to strengthen me and lighten my burden. And I have really, really awesome kids.