Blessings!

I guess I should update you guys on what's going on here...

I started my new job at Excelsior Youth Center. I'm a relief youth counselor for young men, ages 10-18, who have behavior issues, as well as drug and alcohol addictions. Let me just say this...I have been going to school for this, and applying what I have learned from the text to real-life situations is AMAZING!! It really pulls on the heart strings, though. That's for sure! Even still, I really am enjoying it.

That's what I do for 10 hours each week. Yup, part-time.

Then, I'm working 32 hours each week at... Franklin Hills!!! Yes, you're right. The same nursing home I was at before I was promoted to Cd'A to a sister facility. I can't even begin to tell you how much I love being back with my residents and co-workers!!! As my luck would have it, one of the social workers took another job at another nursing home, so her position became vacant. I got word of it from some friends at Franklin, so I e-mailed my resume and cover letter (formality, really, since they all know me already), then went in to talk to the administrator. He and the social services director interviewed me on the spot, took about 2 minutes to discuss me while I waited in the lobby, then offered me the job. I could hardly believe it! Another job in my degree field! And in a facility that I have grown to love. I don't think I need to say it, but I really love working there as a social worker. Again, when you can actually apply what you've learned in school, it's just amazing how it all fits together.

I have to say that in the 1 1/2 months when I wasn't working, George and I were constantly stressing over how we would make our bills. We, in the end, opted to cancel our gym membership and our cell phones (fortunately the contracts were already up), so that gave us a little tiny bit of wiggle room. Yes, I miss my cell phone, but I love being able to stay out of debt too. :) So, anyway, through it all we remained strong together and worked out our budget, and above all, we payed our tithing first. I know we were blessed for our diligence in paying our tithing, regardless of what bill that money might have been able to pay. We were blessed with the ability to be able to pay our bills, and our money stretched farther than we could have imagined.

As our luck would have it, Excelsior has a corporate club membership with Oz Fitness (the gym we were going to), so we will be able to re-join the gym without having to pay all of the fees, PLUS our monthly rate will be 1/2 of what it was previously. WOW!! We have been incredibly blessed in more ways than we can count. Our prayers were answered. Not in the ways I would have liked at the time, but definitely in the way that I like and appreciate now. I firmly believe Heavenly Father was teaching me a lesson in patience, which can never be taught enough to me! I know that our blessings are all due to Him and His love for us.

Don't forget! Stake temple day is Saturday, January 31!! Get on over there and do some good! :)