Week of Miracles - Financial Miracle

Everyday is full of miracles.  It is our responsiblity to recognize and express gratitude for these special blessings in our life.

This week we have had some enormous miracles take place.  It has been a rewarding week.

For the past several years, I have been working at a financial plan to become 100% debt free.  I have worked so hard, and seem to move forward, and backwards at times, when unexpected events take place in our life.  Without going into a lot of detail, may I say that my experience with money and finances has not been an easy experience.  Many times I have been to a point that I have wanted to give up, but of course, because I am a fighter, and determined to win this challenge; I have often fallen to my knees and begged God for direction, support and strength.  This was my experience this week as I became frustrated again with finances, and knowing of the many expenses ahead with sending a missionary out.  So, once again, I asked God for strength and direction in finding a way to expand my earning resources to help cover these expenses and help me reach my financial goals.

So, a couple days ago, a miracle walked through our door, and presented to us a financial plan that would direct us in our efforts to become completely out of debt in the shortest amount of time, and also an income opportunity was also presented to us that would allow me to receive commissions off what I have always dreamed of doing - Life coaching, or helping people to find joy and satisfaction in life, and get out of debt.  What a miracle.  It is so amazing to see what is out there for us.  When we trust in God, he  provides a way, he provides us experience far beyond our mental awareness. I am so amazed and grateful for the power & love of God in my life.

May your lives be  blessed with rich blessings and experiences that will bring much joy into your life.

Marilyn

Week of Miracles - Mission Miracle

This week has been an exciting week for our son Seth.  In our religion, our boys are encouraged to serve a 2 year mission for our church at age 19.  So, our son Seth has been making preparatons, completeing all reading assignmets, getting his dental and doctor visits done, going through the interview process, and finally was able to turn his missionary papers in.  On Wednesday, his long awaited call arrived.  Many of his friends and family came to watch him open his call.  It was an exciting night to find out that he would be serving in the Guatamala Quetzaltenango Mission.

Now, the miracle in this call is that out of the entire world, he was selected to go to Guatamala.  Our other 2 sons were given calls within the United States - which I was very grateful for, but Seth is going to another country.  Not just another country, but Guatamala.  On Seth's paperwork, we were able to list missions that family members had served, so we listed Samoa, Ukraine, Spain, New Jersey, Washington, and Germany--hoping that maybe he might go to a mission that was dear to the hearts of his grandfather, his dad or brothers.  But, no, he gets called to Guatamala!

The miracle of this call is that we have a special and dear friend from Dan's mission,  Aaron, who's entire family is from Guatamala.  Aaron, after being baptized came to Utah to live.  He has been like a son to us.  He has had an interesting childhood suffering from much abuse.  He found so much joy in our church, that he left his difficult life and came to Utah.  While living here, he became involved sexually with a minor, and now is serving time in prison.  His is a heartbraking story, but one with a purpose.  He is a wonderful young man, and we have been honored to be a support to him through these difficult times.  He is the only member in his entire family of our church.  I know God loves him and his family, and I have known that God has a special plan for Aaron.  This prison experience is a refining time for him, for something great.  We joked earlier on the phone with Aaron that maybe Seth would be called to Guatamala - to his people.

What a shock when Seth announced that he was going to Guatamala.  This is truly a miracle to see God's hand in the path and connections in our life.  It  gives me goose bumps to think of being part of something big, huge as important as bringing the light of Christ to not only Aaron's family, but to an entire culture.  As I read in the scriptures of missionary stories, among the Nephites and Lamanites,and to think that my son will walk the same paths as some of these ancient missionaries,and bring joy and happiness to many, including Aarons relatives.  This is incredible,beautiful,and totally miraculous to see God's hand in the life of my family.

A Week of Miracles

Wow.  What a week we have had.  It certainly has been a week of miracles for us.  We have had special experiences that I would like to share.  Each of our miracles have shown God's hand in our life.  We are so grateful!  I will share these experiences in three posts, as the explanation of each might be a little lengthy.  Please enjoy, watch for the daily miracles in your life, and most importantly share your gratitude for the blessing of each day.


Our First Miracle of the Week:

As many of you know our 15 year old son Levi has been through a horrendous experience for the past 8 months, recovering from a bad brake to his arm and elbow, which turned into an infection which would not heal.  Five surgeries later, very strong antibiotics, home hospital school for a semester, bad health through the winter; it just has not been a fun time for him.

Turning back time to July 2011, we were vacationing at Flaming Gorge, UT when Levi had his bike accident which led to all the challenges.  A couple of days before his accident was his birthday (July 1st).  Being that he is our youngest child, and all his siblings have married or moved away for school, he has been quite lonely and has constantly being begging for a dog.  Matter of fact, for his birthday, he told us not to get him anything, except a dog.  We were reluctant to bring another animal/child into our life as we were nearing the end of our family.  Because of his determination, he actually started building a large dog house before his accident.

Needless to say, Levi's accident really deterred the plans for getting a dog.  His surgeries, doctor visits, physical therapy, trying to keep up in school, and Boy Scout Eagle project seemed to consume every ounce of energy and time.  Levi patiently has worked through each of these issues; the dream of a dog has never gone away.

A couple of weeks ago, his older brother Seth returned home for the weekend, and helped Levi finish his dog house, and repair our fence that was damaged in a wind storm.  How motivating this was to Levi to make steps towards his dream.  So, with summer around the corner, and job possiblities needing to be considered,we sat down with Levi to look at his goals for the next 4 or 5 years; looked at his upcoming expenses, wrote them all down, and divided the costs by the time available.  Then looked at possible ways to be able to earn enough to pay for his expenses and savings.  A decision was made to purchase a dog for breeding to help meet his financial goals.  When we discussed the costs, he was reluctant, and didn't want to dip into his savings to pay for a dog, but willing to work his paper route, doing projets around home,and filling in a job chart for compensation.

Lately, I have been praying for Levi, to know what his passion in life is.  To help us discover that which would motivate him, as he has seemed almost depressed, and just slow to do much.  Our financial sesson seemed to be so motivating to him.  Almost instantly he had a new drive for life.  His bedroom was kept clean (oh this is truly another miracle), he would jump out of bed, look for ways to help, mark his job chart, and watch ksl for a dog. 

I think it was just a couple nights after our planning session, after evening school homework, and preparing to close things up for the night; Levi glanced at some online classifieds and discovered that someone had just posted an add for a "Free" 5 year old Golden Retriever - Papered.  It was as if this dog was saved for the perfect moment for Levi to be prepared and to be able to view this add before others.

Long story, shortened just a bit.  The next morning, we were able to go pick up Levi's dream dog for free.  What a miracle.  What a blessing.  What a perfect dog for Levi.  His name is Duke.  He is absolutely  beautiful, mild mannered, playful.  Levi is so happy to be living his dream, and so happy to recognize God's hand in fullfilling a way, far beyond his own imagination of finding the perfect dog.

Confidence, Peace, Joy and Love through Spiritual Experiences

Today as I have been reading in Helaman Chapter 5 & 6 of the Book of Mormon, I have been impressed and have journaled some of my thoughts.  In these chapters the Lamanites who previously have been very wicked, have become a righteous people.  These chapters talk about peace and prosperity that is experienced between the Lamanites and Nephites. Both peoples were blessed immensely through out this time.  Not only were they blessed with spiritual blessings, joy and peace; they were blessed with gold and sliver and many precious metals.  Their land was full and their flocks were abundant.  They truly were living the good life.  But then after a period of time, they became selfish and prideful, and began to set their hearts upon their riches.  They began to get gain so that they would look better than their neighbors.  There pride was their door to wickedness again.

Also, in these chapters, a story of Nephi and Lehi is shared where they are taken to prison.  They were encircled by fire and could not be harmed.  When the Lamanites came to see them, they could see them looking to heaven conversing with angels, and the angels ministered to them.  They asked a spiritual leader Aminidab what was happening, and he told them they needed to repent and believe in God.  As they did this, a dark cloud that was hovering over them was lifted, and the circle of fire was around the Lamanites as well.  They were filled with unspeakable joy, and full of glory.  The Holy Ghost had entered into their hearts--they were filled as if with fire, and they could speak marvelous words.  Then a pleasant voice spoke to them saying:  Peace be unto you, because of your Faith in my Well Beloved.

They went forth and shared their experience with others, they cared and supported one another, and they did rejoice and they had great joy.

My thoughts as I read this were, that Jesus Christ is a God of peace, love and joy.  He has given us the gift of the Holy Ghost.  When we live our lives in a manner that will allow him to be with us, we will experience unspeakable joy, a joy not found through material experience.  But a joy felt by the spirit within us.  This joy brings confidence, hope, peace and power to move forward in an unwavering manner in righteous paths.  The strength and power that we received through God will bless our lives.  It is so important for us to share our gratitude each day for these blessings, and in turn share what we have with others to lift, bless and comfort those around us.

It is when we become so worried about our appearance and our possessions, trying to appear confident and better than others, that we should repent, and pray that God will instill upon us his Christlike love, that we might develop this trait which will in turn, keep us humble, charitable and always building and sharing love with others.

I hope these thoughts might touch your life as they have mine.  Enjoy your week.

Marilyn

A Light in the Darkness

"By simple small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise." (Alma 37:6)

"There are no accidents in life.  People are placed in our path for a reason and we must be constantly aware of those whose life we were sent here to bless." (Rena Peterson, "Walking With the Savior" pg 154)

"Your influence for good is incalculable and indescribable.  .....You can do something for another person that no one else ever born can do" (James E. Faust, "Instruments in the Hands of God," Liahona, Nov 2005, 114-17).

"When we embrace the truth of his words, we will experience the far reaching effects and  begin to see just how much we really need each other.  There are many living in darkness.  Some are walking a lonely path from wrong choices resulting in sin, a serious illness of a loved one, the lonliness from an untimely death of a close family member, the frustration of struggling with a stubborn weakness, the pain of trying to help a wayward child who does not want to come back, depressions from the rigors of  being a full-time caregiver, the anguish of addiciton, the heartache because of an unfaithful spouse, or a devastating financial crisis.  It could be our friendly next door neighbor who masks his pain with a ready smile, our co-worker who always seems to be grumpy, or the mother of our child's playmante who isolates from others.  We are needed for the sacred work of uplifting those who are living in darkness - they need our light.  If we pray for awareness and sincerely look, we will find daily opportunities all around to reach out to the lonely and the brokenhearted."  (Rena Peterson, "Walking With the Savior" pg 154)