Tender Mercies

Chris and I went to the Temple last Tuesday. We have been 12 times this year! Pretty cool that we can go on a Tuesday or Thursday now after getting the kids on the bus. I was struggling that day, feeling the weight of trying to pick up enough shifts to provide for my family (which I have been blessed to do so in the last 6 months to the point where we have saved money!). Even though I was struggling, I was still able to see 3 tender mercies within a short time before and after going to the Temple.

The first one came as we were waiting to go into the temple. Doug's aunt was there. I asked about her kids as one of them lives in our stake. I was trying to remember which kid it was that we know and asked if he was the one that rented the motorhome right before we did during the summer of 2024 (it belongs to Doug's brother) and she said it was not him, and that if her son and his wife had the money, they would pay for another family to go on a vacation. Such a random comment but it was just what I needed to hear. I have been surrounded by people going on vacation after vacation and, for some reason, it has made me feel like THAT must be happiness. But, that is NOT true happiness and this family from Pincher Creek seems to get it. Vacations are great but it is the little moments in life that make us and are worth living for. I was later able to tell her how our brief conversation had touched me and she probably thought I was weird getting emotional about it. 

The second tender mercy came after the session in the change room. I saw a high school friend's mom and she started talking to me about how my friend's husband is a teacher and has been going from job to job for 11 years. I kind of felt panicky when she said it but at the same realized it was a tender mercy to know that Chris and I are not the only ones going through job uncertainty. 

The third tender mercy came the next day. I received a text message to call my neighbor. She has been bugging me for years to work in Vulcan home care saying they need people like me who want to stay in the area. I never felt good about it before but when she mentioned it this time, it just clicked in my brain that this would be a good thing. I went the next day (as I was with Nathan for his doctor's appointment and Selman had a walk in appointment for an allergic reaction he had to amoxicillin) to talk to the home care manager. She said it was a 0.74 position 8:00 to 4:15 and one weekend out of 4. It sounds perfect and would give me more stable hours (more than my 0.42 position now). I have applied and now we will see if anything comes of it. If I don't get the job, at least I will know a little more of how Chris feels lately. It will help me gain some more empathy. Like my neighbor said, it is a no brainer to apply. 

Well, I hope I can continue to look for and see God in the little details and tender mercies of life.