My Inspiration

President Henry B. Eyring (2nd Counselor in the First Presidency) addressed us October 7, 2007 in the Sunday Morning Session of conference in a talk entitled, "O Remember, Remember". Now, I'm not sure if I watched it or listened when it was first given, but today I crept out of bed early hoping to have a spiritual experience for myself and after a prayer, I opened my Ensign right to this message.

"I'm not giving you these experiences for yourself. Write them down."

After receiving this prompting, President Eyring began writing, everyday, about how he had seen the hand of the Lord bless his family. I feel a great need to have such a book for myself and my family.
So today I will begin. I feel compelled to first, share our situation in the world. Right now, we are struggling greatly financially. But finances aren't everything. We are happy and we have great love. Our house in Burlington is on the market (since March). We are renting a house at in Waterloo, until we can purchase it. The owner is starting to worry that we won't sell our home and make the purchase. Maybe I should explain why we're in this situation of paying for two homes.
My husband Carl left his job as a Manager at Furniture Row in Burlington back in December. The hours were terrible and the atmosphere was tense. He was unemployed until February when Carl decided to pursue a career in banking. We lived apart until June. Carl stayed with his brother Josh in Cedar Falls, since his new job is in Waterloo. I stayed in Burlington so Billy could finish preschool and I could get the house ready to sell. Plus, I was working at Target part-time for awhile.
Despite the trouble we've had this past year our family has been blessed abundantly. That is what I need to record here. The hand of God is visible daily in our lives. I feel compelled to journal this for the strength of my family. This last year we've started having Hartson Family Counsel weekly and we've been better at holding Family Home Evening. We have also been diligent in building and using our Food Storage. The Spirit is in our home more prevalently now. Our trials, though difficult, have brought great blessings.