Counting My Blessings

Just as an update on our life: Both of us are still looking for jobs. Yes, that's right, I've been laid off for two and a half months and Ammon's been laid off for six weeks now. I've gotten a total of one interview (and one scheduled for this coming Thursday) from the rampant resume-sending-application-filling I've done and Ammon has had a total of two phone interviews. This of course is just a moderate frustration until you consider that we won't be able to get onto AHCCCS or receive food stamps for at least another 30 days (according to the lady at the DES office) and that Ammon still has not received any unemployment benefits (which was cleared up yesterday, so now we only have to wait 3-6 weeks for that money to come our way). However, through all of this paperwork, we did discover that Ammon's social security number is being used by some random woman in Northwest Phoenix and has been working under that social for over a year now. This of course could affect our taxes and our credit (which is on the verge of taking a significant plummet anyway).

I don't bring this up for a 'pity-us' session, but rather to rather to express my DEEP gratitude for all of the wonderful things I still have:

*We have the MOST AMAZING support system between our families offering to buy us dinner or groceries or pants and ward members and friends that have helped me with assistance programs or found some odd jobs for us to make a little money here and there or even take us to the zoo (there may be another post on that).

*We have two sweet 'little' dogs that help us escape from the daily stresses and put a little bit of goofiness back in our lives.

*We still have a comfortable home and vehicles that haven't given us any trouble. And although these are material things that might soon have to go the way of the bill-collector, I'm still very grateful that Ammon and I have our privacy and independence for a little while longer.

*A healthy baby and simple pregnancy. Throughout all the madness that has been going on, I have had a pretty easy pregnancy. I'm tired a lot and I've had some headaches, but overall it's been a sweet experience, especially when I get to hear that little heartbeat!!! It truly is a blessing to know that we have something so wonderful to look forward to.

*We know that there is more to all of this than all of THIS. The blessing the gospel has been to us, knowing there is a God and that he loves me (perhaps more than he wants my happiness), helps me get through each day with hope and a little bit of understanding.

***Plus, I have the most wonderful husband. The last six weeks have been the funnest in our marriage, and I credit that entirely to Ammon. I'm such a worrier, and he has the ability to constantly remind me, "If you can't do anything about it RIGHT NOW, you shouldn't worry about it." A few weeks ago, I was getting a really nasty headache, so he tucked me into the couch under my Honeybear Blanket, got me a glass of water, my pills and an orange and set up the space heater and started a movie for me so that I could fall asleep in the living room. If our roles were reversed I would have told him to stop whining and go to bed, but as I've seen multiple times in our marriage, Ammon is much more compassionate than I am. These hardships have so many chances to drive us apart, but thankfully we have only gotten closer.

I'm sure there are many other things that I could count off, but these are the top six. Right now, they're the six that have helped me appreciate life. Thanks again to all of you for your love and support!!