This has been our home for almost 3 years. Even though at times it feels like we are all on top of each other, it feels like home. It is where we want to be. But the landlord gave it back to the bank so we had to move. We have been searching for another place to rent for several months. It has been a huge challenge. Either no one wants to do a month to month lease or they almost have a panic attack when we tell them we have 6 children. Then about 3 weeks ago we found this place.
It did need some fix-up before we could even move in, but Jared offered to do it in exchange for a month to month lease without the extra fee. They agreed. Tender Mercies!
During this whole process little Ammon started to have an issue, blood in his stools. Our worst fear is that it would be intussusception like Jacob had. His pediatrician though it was probably a food intolerance to something I was eating. I went off dairy (usually the biggest culprit), but it was still happening. He wanted me to take him to a Pediatric GI. Well I took him to a Dr in Murray, and he has the same opinion. He also came up with a bunch of other things he 'thought' could be wrong and wanted me to give him medication, but Ammon doesn't have the symptoms of those so I don't completely agree with him on that. At least at this point it is not intussusception! Tender Mercies!
On the way to Murray I started having car trouble. All the electronics in the van completely shut down and the van lost all power. I pulled over to the side of the freeway and said a quick, pleading prayer that I would at least make it to my appointment. I shut off the radio and the heater and didn't have anymore trouble that day. Tender Mercies!
We took about a week and a half to two weeks to move. Partly because we did most of it ourselves. Don't get me wrong, we had plenty of good people offer to help, we just weren't able to say OK this is when we are moving come then. This house is about half the size and we had to stack everything to get it too fit. We also had to pack boxes and totes, bring them to the new house, unpack them, take them to the old house and pack them back up. We clearly didn't have enough boxes. The person that offered to get us boxes couldn't find them. There was another family in our ward moving at the exact same time. They finished up a few hours before us and had a few boxes left over. They brought them to us and it was just enough to finish up with! We finished
Our first night sleeping here we realized the thermostat wasn't working. The house wouldn't get any warmer than 62*. Jared went to replace it and the new one broke in his hands. I needed to get milk as it was Saturday night and I don't shop on Sunday so we left to get what we needed. Well, we got as far as the high school and the van started loosing power again. We made it to the parking lot of the school before the van died. It wouldn't start, or even turn over. The alternator had gone bad and killed the battery. It was a cold and windy night, and I couldn't get a hold of my mom and Jared's parents couldn't come help either. We didn't know where any of our phone books were so we called Morgyn and told her to start calling people she knew in the ward to see if someone could come and give us a jump start. She called a couple of people but couldn't get anyone. I thought call the Standings (former home teacher and current visiting teacher)! Their number was in the caller ID. He rushed right over and helped us out, and even followed us home to make sure we made it. (They aren't always the first ones we call, but every time we call them they are able to help!) We then took the truck and were able to get the things we needed. Tender Mercies!
We tried to finish up moving on Sunday. I know, not a good idea, but we didn't have much of a choice, we needed to be out on Monday the 15th. The Allred's from up the street came and helped as well as Brother Deppe, and Jared's brother Jeremy and his daughter Kayla, and his aunt Lorna. Jared's mom stayed with the 3 youngest kids. Morgyn and I were carrying a box that weighed about 75lbs and I missed a step up behind me and fell. I was lucky! The box fell to the ground, and I went down like a tree! TIMBER! I kept thinking "just don't hit your head". I didn't, I only got a scrape on my elbow (as well as a little embarrassed). Tender Mercies!
Jared and his brother moved the camper and had trouble with it. The jack bent and it nearly fell over. But it didn't! And no one got hurt! Tender Mercies!
We also charged the battery on the van for about 24hrs so we could drive it to the shop. Jared checked and it was going to be over $300 for a new alternator, and he would have to find the time to fix it. His dad called his mechanic and he would only charge around $200 for the alternator and labor to install it. We got the van there and after checking it out the problem was a corroded connection. He cleaned it up and sent us on our way NO CHARGE! TENDER MERCIES INDEED!
My only hope now is that a miracle will happen and we will be able to buy our house and move back HOME!
We all have Tender Mercies in our life! We just have to open our eyes and look for them. God loves us all and only wants the best for us. Our trials are easier to bear if we try to learn what we can from them and look for the positive. We have trials to strengthen us and help us grow! I know God loves us. I know if it is meant to be, to buy our home, it will happen as long as we do our best to make it happen!
Thanks for reading!
