Tough Decisions

Jason and I recently had to make a tough decision and it's something I want to remember and share.

While we are certainly grateful for Jason's employment during a time when a lot of people are dealing with unemployment or underemployment, his current job comes with a price.  Anyone who knows us well will understand what I am talking about. It's something we have spent countless hours praying about.  We know that what we want to change about his job is a righteous desire.  Recently Jason was interviewed for a job that would take away this trial we've been dealing with for so long, as well as provide more income for our family and it would be a good move professionally.  We couldn't help but think we would be crazy not to take it, if it was offered to us.  After the initial face-to-face interview Jason was asked if he really wanted the job or not.  We needed to give them an honest answer.  He was in California when he told me this.  A short time later, I talked to my mom on the phone, going over the pros and cons, with the pros being a huge list, while the only con was that we'd have to move.  While talking out loud to my mom about our decision I felt we needed to go for it.  It made perfect sense in my mind. After the conversation with my mom I started on some housework that needed to get done.  While sweeping the floor I had an intense feeling come over me that taking the job was not the right decision.  WHAT?!?  Seriously?!?  I couldn't believe it and actually was in denial for a while.  I said nothing to Jason at first.  A few days later we were talking about the decision we knew we needed to make.  Let me interject here that during all of this I really wanted to be a kid again... making this decision one of the hardest I've made.  Ever.  Anyway, before telling Jason what I felt, I wanted to know what he felt.  Of course I wanted to hear him say that he knew, without a doubt, that taking the job was the right move for our family.  Then I could just decide my feeling was imaginary or maybe it stemmed from the anxiety over moving again.  However, what he said to me was exactly what had gone through my mind, it made complete sense to take the job but didn't feel right.  We couldn't figure out why, it just didn't.  I told him I felt the same way.  We didn't make the decision final even at this point.  We REALLY wanted to take the job, so we were both in denial.  Jason couldn't sleep.  I woke up to him punching the air a few times.  Finally we knew we needed to take a leap of faith and make the decision final.  He needed to let the manager know that we couldn't take the job.  We knelt down and prayed, one last time, to make sure we were doing what the Lord wanted us to do.  I was so sad as we started to pray, so badly wanting for him to take the job.  Maybe an angel will come down at the last second and tell us to take it?  Well, we knew without a doubt that we were doing the right thing in turning down the opportunity laid out in front of us.  We still don't know why, but I am so grateful for personal revelation.  I have no doubt that we are doing what is best for our family and there's no way we would have made this decision on our own.  I found this quote from Robert D. Hales.


"Revelation comes on the Lord’s timetable, which often means we must move forward in faith, even though we haven’t received all the answers we desire." 


I have faith that one day we will have the answer yes to our desire regarding Jason's employment. Now is not that time.  It's amazing how much easier a tough decision is when you know the Lord is on your side.  It makes it not only possible, but even joyful.  How could I not feel happy doing the Lord's will?  And Jason is no longer throwing punches in his sleep :)

Christmas 2011

We had a great Christmas this year.  We continued with some old traditions and started some new that we'll hopefully remember in the years to come.  I missed extended family a lot this year since it's been a few years since we've been able to get together with family for the holidays.  My mom called Christmas Eve night to tell me that she's coming here next year for Christmas.  That felt like a Christmas present in itself, I'm so excited!  Her husband has been wanting to come this way to go skiing with his sons, so Jason will go skiing with them while my mom and I find a fun little town to explore and go shopping.  Can't wait!!!

Here are some highlights and our favorite pictures of Christmas 2011:

For the first time I made my Grandma's Christmas Cake, which is a red and green jello poke cake frosted with whipped cream.  The kids loved it and I'm excited to carry on the tradition.  She passed away on Jan. 1 of this year, so I've been thinking about her a lot.

For the first time I made homemade eggnog.  I'm not an eggnog fan, so I didn't even take a taste, but everyone else loved it.  I'll definitely make it again, it was so simple!

Before the kids go to bed Christmas Eve we give them new pajamas and read stories together.  We always read 'Twas The Night Before Christmas and the scriptural account of Christ's birth.  Once we were finished with reading last night, Jason started asking the kids questions about Christmas.  During our discussion Matt said, "Whenever we talk about these things I feel like there is a bright light above me.  It just feels that way."  Rachel said, "When I pray I know Jesus hears me!"

Mitt Romney

I've read a lot of news articles about Mitt Romney lately.  Some from non Mormons, some from Mormons.  I find it all very interesting, mostly because I am surprised at how narrow-minded some people are about the Mormon faith.  I saw it a lot in high school and honestly didn't expect to see it as much as an adult.

I was telling Jason recently about my experiences in high school when people found out I was a Mormon.  I had some Catholic friends who knew and they didn't really care.  Then I had some protestant friends.  They cared.  A lot.  They often informed me of what I "actually believed", as if I knew nothing of my own beliefs.  I'm not angry about it, I'm really not.  Believe it or not, I wasn't then either.  I was hurt more than anything else, but those in my high school who were real friends got over it and we decided not to talk religion.  On the other hand, my Catholic friends sometimes felt bad for the rude comments that occasionally came my way.  I remember they actually invited me to their bible study group so I could meet one of their youth leaders, because he knew what it felt like to be harrassed for one's beliefs. They just wanted to let me know I wasn't alone.

Seeing how it's been over 11 years since I graduated, I had honestly forgotten about all this until all of the headlines starting popping up all over the place about Mormons and Mitt Romney.  It brought it all back.  Tonight I stumbled upon this video of Joel Osteen.  He definitely makes it clear that he doesn't agree with everything Mormon's believe, but he points out that there are disagreements between all Christian faiths and he does consider Mormons to be Christians.  I really appreciated what he had to say.  It isn't narrow-minded or vicious.  It's his open, honest opinion.  As someone who has heard it all about the evils of Mormonism, it's something I just had to share!

Here's a link to the video...
Joel Osteen 

Haircut

All the boys in the family needed haircuts this week, so Rachel decided she "needed" one too.  I asked if she wanted just a little trim and she insisted I cut it short.  Very short.  She pointed to a spot above her ears which I flat out refused.  I knew that if I didn't cut her hair she'd take matters into her own hands, so we compromised.  It actually turned out pretty cute.  And this is the first time it's been even in months, since the last time she decided to cut it herself (after watching Tangled).

A Bethlehem Dinner

On Pinterest I found an excellent blog about having a more Christ centered Christmas.  I love the ideas, especially the Bethlehem dinner.  I kept it really simple. Some of the things we had on our menu were dried meat, sfeeha, spinach pies, grape juice and baklava.  Here's a link to the blog:   http://christcenteredtraditions.blogspot.com/
My kids love things like this and I'm really looking forward to starting some new Christmas traditions focused on the Savior. 

Chillin' with Hot Cocoa

Jason's boss sent him a giftcard for Christmas and he wanted to use it to buy something for the entire family.  We  agreed on the Cocoa Grande, an automatic hot cocoa maker.  Some friends of ours had a similar product and we have been searching for one for a few months without any success.  Luckily, we found it at our local Sam's Club.

Now the kids are sipping some cocoa and watching Elf.  What an awesome Christmas gift!

Matt turns 7!

Yesterday was Matt's birthday.  I love celebrating my kid's birthdays, possibly more than they do!  I really enjoy making their day fun and exciting for them.  A few years ago we started a birthday tradition that has become a favorite with the kids.  It goes like this:  We all sit in a circle with the birthday boy/girl in the middle. Then we all take turns telling that person what we love about them.  The birthday boy/girl lights up whenever they get compliments and usually the kids get silly, which leads to lots of giggles.  With the busyness of the holidays I had completely forgotten about this tradition until we were eating pizza and Matt said, "Don't forget to tell me what you love about me!"  So right then and there, sitting around the dinner table, we all shared the things we love about Matt.

Here's what I remember:
He tells great jokes.
He has a contagious smile.
He's good at helping around the house.
He's a fun brother.
He's sweet.
He treats people nicely.
He's silly.
He has a cute giggle.
He's handsome.

  

Matt is a very energetic 7 year-old with a big heart!  He makes us laugh constantly and has the same contagious smile I remember from when he was just a baby.  He's in 1st grade this year and I have absolutely loved watching him learn and grow.  I feel so blessed to have Matt in our family!

A New Start

I've tried blogging before and after a while I just didn't enjoy it.  I ended up just deleting it.  I regret that decision now, because last week we lost most of our family pictures.  Births, vacations, birthdays...everything!  I was so sad...I still am.  I never thought it would happen to us.  We actually had a backup to protect our pictures, but in the end it was the backup that crashed.  Most of our pictures were only on the backup.  I wish I could go back and do it all over again, putting more pictures online and keeping more stored on our computer's hard drive, but what's done is done.

I realize now that keeping an online journal is another way to "insure" some of our pictures and experiences for us to look at later.  It's a new day and I'm starting this blog with the goal to keep up with it this time.  I have to admit it's a good way to keep our memories and pictures organized and I can always use more of that!