So...the next day...after my test to see if I would trust the Lord... I get a call from the owner of Aspire Design, a subcontractor I worked with at SunCor for the past seven years and the owner of the home we are currently renting at Avimor. He was asking about the prospects of construction starting again at Avimor and explained how he just had to let go of a couple key employees due to personal issues. I half-jokingly suggested that he should hire me to replace them. Then he got serious and asked if I was sincerely interested in working for him. Aspire Design has grown in two years to be the nation's largest home remodeling company and that division of the company only repairs bank-owned homes. They've been growing and were needing people. He said he'd talk it over with a couple key members of his staff and would be back with me.
A few days later he called back and offered me the job of a regional manager over the east coast and asked if I would accompany him on a trip to Baltimore to get a feel for the job. I flew out and met him there the very next day. The job would require constant weekly travel which I knew would be a challenge. When I got back from Baltimore, Jessica and I went to the Boise Temple to make sure we were making decisions under the influence of the Spirit and not out of desperation. We felt good about the job and we accepted the position. Althought we felt good about taking the position, my gut wrenched into knots knowing that I would be away from my family a lot.
I started traveling for 10 days at a time and then coming home for four days. I did this through the first half of December. The appeal of travel quickly wore off and life on the road and nights in hotels had no more luster, plus I was getting fatter. The extra burden on Jessica of being a single mother was heavy. I felt useless in my family and in the Church. The job was not particularly difficult, nor fulfilling. I was also lonely and bored on the road, but I was happy to have a steady income.
I did enjoy visiting random wards in the south and enjoyed fellowshipping with the saints. People in the south are just kindly folks who are so welcoming. I was offered meals and a place to sleep at every turn and was able to visit some old friends in Greenville, SC where we lived right out of BYU. One day in the Roanoke, Virgina 1st Ward, I saw listed on the program the Relief Society President by the name of Victoria Schwendiman. We have a Schwendiman family in our Eagle, Idaho 7th Ward, so I just had to ask if they were related. I asked a very friendly elderly man who was chatting me up (who turned out to be the Stake Patriarch) if he could point out the Schwendiman family to me. He did I and went over and met them. He turned out to be the brother of my Schwendiman's. I love discovering the smallness of the world!
My last trip to the east coast was a tough one. The kids were giving Jessica a particular hard time and I had some contractors making me work extra hard for my money. The move back east was still really tentative as we were waiting for a potential contract to go through in Baltimore which would require us to live near there, or if we should proceed to find a place in the Raleigh, NC area. Not knowing where we would be moving was particularly distressing to Jessica who was trying to coordinate moving plans. I was having a hard and strange day (where three of my contractors almost killed themselves with carbon monoxide poisoning due to using space heaters incorrectly) when I got an email from the head of our repair division asking about getting referrals for a position with the company in Salt Lake. Again half-jokingly due to my rough day, I emailed back that maybe I should apply for the position. Seconds later, he called me on the phone. He knew I was kinda joking, but my email had triggered in his mind that the position would be perfect for a guy with my skill set and charming personality (he didn't really say that last part.) If I was sincerely interested, he would talk to the owner of Aspire and see if they could make it happen. He and the owner called me back a few minutes later. Neither could explain the position very well, but it was an important role in the company as a liason to our main client, one were I would actually office in the office of the client and use their computer systems. After a brief phone call to my shocked wife, we agreed to take the job in Salt Lake, still not really knowing what the job would be like.
Well, I just got back from Salt Lake before Christmas from a week being trained for my new role. Turns out, the job is right up my alley, is exciting and fulfilling, and I work with great people. This job allows me to be at home with my family. Jessica flew down and was able to find a home for us to rent in Bountiful with little difficulty. Things have just really started coming together.
So, to recap, I got a job offer the day after a spiritual test...the job came with one gut wrenching challenge of being away from my family...that challenge has now been removed from out path. We are so deeply grateful and acknowledge the Lord's hand in it. He does open the windows of heaven and pours out blessings. The adversity he allows us to struggle through can increase our faith in Him if we choose to act in faith and trust Him. (I'm glad we studied the Old Testament this year, which has several repeating and related themes)
I have felt that my struggles in 2010 were heavy burdens and challenging. They were faith promoting for me and my family certainly, but the Lord has a way of reminding us that our burdens can't even compare to those of others, especially those of Him who suffered below all things. Recently in our Eagle, Idaho 7th Ward, we have been witness to faith promoting challenges which are heavier to bear than our own. Our home teacher just passed away on the 23rd. He wasn't much older than me. A few months ago he was diagnosed with cancer and began treatment, but his cancer was a vicious one that took over his body quickly. He leaves behind a wife and four children from a 17 year old stud of a righteous young man to a baby of just a few months. We also had a girl in the ward who is a junior or senior in highschool from a wonderful family we just love...she just had surgery to remove a brain tumor on the same day the other brother passed away. It was reported today that the tumor was benign and she should have a full recovery. Many prayers and fasts have been given for both of these beloved families and miracles have indeed happened. We now enter 2011 with increased faith and gratitude. Adversity will be life's constant test and we pray to have the strength to endure it well. May we all be so blessed.
domingo, diciembre 26, 2010
viernes, diciembre 24, 2010
more Tender Mercies
Back at the end of July I had posted about our then present struggles with employment as well as recounted several of the small little miracles that were happening in our lives. (see that post here)
I would be remiss if I didn't record for posterity the continuation of this saga of adversity, tests, and increased faith and gratitude. (Plus, I was just reading Malachi chapter 3 for the last Sunday school lesson of the year and it brought all these things to my remembrance.)
After that blog post in July, the severity of our financial state worsened. At times we were penniless and about to approach our Bishop for assistance from fast offerings, but miraculously some form of money would present itself just when I thought that all was lost.
My uncle Dave gave me the opportunity to work for him pressure washing grocery stores and commercial hoods in the middle of the night and paid me a generous hourly wage for that type of a job. It was really tough work which gave this white-collar boy a renewed appreciation for hard labor and for those workers in the night that keep our cities and towns so clean. I re-learned that all work that benefits society is noble and good for man, no matter his station.
Emotionally I was struggling through this time feeling the burden of not being able to effectively support my family. While basic family needs were being barely and miraculously met, the simple wants of our kids had to be ignored and they too could sense our despair. I can't even pretend to understand the deep worries and concerns of my bride through all this as she remained strong and supportive of me. I sometimes wanted to break down and cry in a corner. One particular night while pressure washing the dumpsters behind a store, I had to shovel up old rotten and partially liquefied moldy fruit that smelled so wretched I gagged all the way through the chore. I caught myself asking, "How have I come this low in life?!"
Around this time, discussions at Avimor (they master planned community where I live and worked) began with my dad and me about building a home or two for the new owners. These meetings renewed my enthusiasm and it was a relief to have my mind occupied once again. There seemed to be light at the end of the tunnel, but the money for these efforts would still be a ways off. My testing was not over.
One Saturday in September, I had been helping a young man in my ward with his Eagle project of putting up bluebird nest boxes at Avimor. While driving around in the truck, the gas gauge light came on telling me that I had about 20 miles or so to drive before the tank would be empty. Well, I used up those 20 miles and I could feel the truck starting to chug while running on vapors.
That night, the Young Men's President called me and asked if I could attend Ward Council meeting in his place. When I jumped into my truck the next morning I suddenly realized my predicament. I'd have to take the truck so Jessica and the kids could take the minivan and meet me at church. But the truck was out of gas!
Our church building is about seven miles away and it is mostly downhill from our house to there. I figured I could coast all the way to the closest gas station. Sure it was Sunday, "but buying gas doesn't require anybody to work on Sunday's anymore, 'cause you can just slide in your card," I began to justify. I made it down the hills easily enough. The engine was still running on fumes and I was about to pull into the gas station when a powerful impression came into my heart and mind that I should not stop. The spirit whispered in that still small voice, "Robert, don't you trust me?" I attempted a few more justifications in my head, but the prompting carried me and my truck right on past the gas station to the church parking lot where my truck puttered to a stop.
In the Ward Council meeting, Bro. Marchesci started the meeting with a scripture and spiritual thought. He too had been recently struggling with unemployment and his message was certainly deep felt on his part. The timing could not have been more providential to me as he shared Proverbs 3:5-6 which reads "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths". Tears filled my eyes as I knew and felt that the Lord was talking directly to me.
At the conclusion of church my hope was...if the truck would start up... to get the truck to the gas station because I just knew that driving back those seven miles, uphill, would be impossible on my empty tank. Once again, as I approached the gas station, that still small voice came back again "Robert, have you still not learned to trust me?"
My mind went right back into justification and murmuring mode and I thought, "Well, if I run out of gas I will have to walk several miles uphill."
Then the Spirit questioned again, "Wouldn't you be willing to do that for me?"
"Yes, I suppose I would" I said aloud. At this point I was deeply humbled and I determined to accept the Lord's challenge and proceed with faith.
I passed the the gas station and entered the highway. I watched with amazement as the gas gauge indicator began a steady climb to a quarter tank. It was a real modern day miracle! The powerful presense of the Spirit feeled me and the air around me and I heard the audible voice say, "You have passed the test." My heart burned within me and tears streamed down my cheeks. While expressing gratitude in vocal prayer, I drove all the way home. As I parked in front of the house, the gas gauge dropped with a thud back below the "E".
The next day yet another miracle would occur.
To be continued...
I would be remiss if I didn't record for posterity the continuation of this saga of adversity, tests, and increased faith and gratitude. (Plus, I was just reading Malachi chapter 3 for the last Sunday school lesson of the year and it brought all these things to my remembrance.)
After that blog post in July, the severity of our financial state worsened. At times we were penniless and about to approach our Bishop for assistance from fast offerings, but miraculously some form of money would present itself just when I thought that all was lost.
My uncle Dave gave me the opportunity to work for him pressure washing grocery stores and commercial hoods in the middle of the night and paid me a generous hourly wage for that type of a job. It was really tough work which gave this white-collar boy a renewed appreciation for hard labor and for those workers in the night that keep our cities and towns so clean. I re-learned that all work that benefits society is noble and good for man, no matter his station.
Emotionally I was struggling through this time feeling the burden of not being able to effectively support my family. While basic family needs were being barely and miraculously met, the simple wants of our kids had to be ignored and they too could sense our despair. I can't even pretend to understand the deep worries and concerns of my bride through all this as she remained strong and supportive of me. I sometimes wanted to break down and cry in a corner. One particular night while pressure washing the dumpsters behind a store, I had to shovel up old rotten and partially liquefied moldy fruit that smelled so wretched I gagged all the way through the chore. I caught myself asking, "How have I come this low in life?!"
Around this time, discussions at Avimor (they master planned community where I live and worked) began with my dad and me about building a home or two for the new owners. These meetings renewed my enthusiasm and it was a relief to have my mind occupied once again. There seemed to be light at the end of the tunnel, but the money for these efforts would still be a ways off. My testing was not over.
One Saturday in September, I had been helping a young man in my ward with his Eagle project of putting up bluebird nest boxes at Avimor. While driving around in the truck, the gas gauge light came on telling me that I had about 20 miles or so to drive before the tank would be empty. Well, I used up those 20 miles and I could feel the truck starting to chug while running on vapors.
That night, the Young Men's President called me and asked if I could attend Ward Council meeting in his place. When I jumped into my truck the next morning I suddenly realized my predicament. I'd have to take the truck so Jessica and the kids could take the minivan and meet me at church. But the truck was out of gas!
Our church building is about seven miles away and it is mostly downhill from our house to there. I figured I could coast all the way to the closest gas station. Sure it was Sunday, "but buying gas doesn't require anybody to work on Sunday's anymore, 'cause you can just slide in your card," I began to justify. I made it down the hills easily enough. The engine was still running on fumes and I was about to pull into the gas station when a powerful impression came into my heart and mind that I should not stop. The spirit whispered in that still small voice, "Robert, don't you trust me?" I attempted a few more justifications in my head, but the prompting carried me and my truck right on past the gas station to the church parking lot where my truck puttered to a stop.
In the Ward Council meeting, Bro. Marchesci started the meeting with a scripture and spiritual thought. He too had been recently struggling with unemployment and his message was certainly deep felt on his part. The timing could not have been more providential to me as he shared Proverbs 3:5-6 which reads "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths". Tears filled my eyes as I knew and felt that the Lord was talking directly to me.
At the conclusion of church my hope was...if the truck would start up... to get the truck to the gas station because I just knew that driving back those seven miles, uphill, would be impossible on my empty tank. Once again, as I approached the gas station, that still small voice came back again "Robert, have you still not learned to trust me?"
My mind went right back into justification and murmuring mode and I thought, "Well, if I run out of gas I will have to walk several miles uphill."
Then the Spirit questioned again, "Wouldn't you be willing to do that for me?"
"Yes, I suppose I would" I said aloud. At this point I was deeply humbled and I determined to accept the Lord's challenge and proceed with faith.
I passed the the gas station and entered the highway. I watched with amazement as the gas gauge indicator began a steady climb to a quarter tank. It was a real modern day miracle! The powerful presense of the Spirit feeled me and the air around me and I heard the audible voice say, "You have passed the test." My heart burned within me and tears streamed down my cheeks. While expressing gratitude in vocal prayer, I drove all the way home. As I parked in front of the house, the gas gauge dropped with a thud back below the "E".
The next day yet another miracle would occur.
To be continued...
lunes, diciembre 13, 2010
German Father Castrates Teen Daughter's Old Man Boyfriend
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/8197617/German-man-castrates-teenage-daughters-57-year-old-boyfriend.html
Don't we all "think" about doing this in similar scenarios? But this irate father actually did! Now he faces an attempted murder charge. Darn...the down side of a just punishment carried out, but outside the law.
Don't we all "think" about doing this in similar scenarios? But this irate father actually did! Now he faces an attempted murder charge. Darn...the down side of a just punishment carried out, but outside the law.
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