Something Greater!

This past week has been fun and quote a learning experience.  We were given an offer the week before to a large consulting company here in DC.  It is a good company.  It was a good offer.  It would require 100 percent travel.  I know lots of friends who travel 100 percent and it works for their family.  I was not thrilled about it.  On Monday night, I about lost it.  We were awaiting a job offer from a company in North Carolina.  A smaller company.  It would start out with a year of working in North Carolina and then may turn into a travel job.  It felt better to me for some reason.  Drew had said that he felt that if we didn't get an offer from the North Carolina company by Tuesday, then he would accept the offer here with 100 percent travel.  

I worked myself up way too much.  I was quick to tears.  We spent the day with a great friend, Chris Torfin.  It was awesome to see him again.  And to enjoy hanging out with him.  I was able to focus on other things for most of the day.  When I got home that night, I got the largest headache I have ever had.  I thought I was going to explode.  I laid down and cried, until I got it all out.  

Tuesday, we got a contingent offer from the North Carolina job.  They want us, but not for another 5 to 7 weeks.  I thought well, I guess that means we are taking the job here.  That was the understanding I got from Drew.  We hadn't taken the time to really talk about it or pray about it. I made the mistake of letting myself get excited about staying here with friends, keeping the house we have worked so hard to get ready to sale, and no more showings, and a job, finally.  I made the bigger mistake of telling my parents, my brothers, and my close friends.  

Wednesday morning, Drew asked me if I felt good about it.  I looked at him and thought that he had already decided it.  I suggested that we go to the temple that day and pray about it.  He agreed.  All the kids wanted to come and hang out at the visitors center.  We drove up there, and as we were walking into the temple, Drew said maybe this is an Abrahamic test to see if we are willing to give up everything, security, everything, to show the Lord that we will follow Him.  As he said this, tears trickled down and I knew this was true.  Hard, but true.  We did a sealing session rather than a normal session, knowing that our kids were waiting outside.  We spend some time in the celestial room and prayed together.  Drew offered the prayer.  I could tell that he knew the answer.  The Spirit quietly whispered to me, that we could take the job here, and everything would be okay.  But if held out a little longer, something greater would be there for our family.  I am grateful for personal revelation and the opportunity I have to go inside His home and feel His spirit and know His truths. 

Interestingly, when I told those who I am close to.  Most of their responses were something to the effect of, Tami, you sounded resigned to take that job.  You didn't sound like someone who had received an answer to prayer.  But no one shared that with me until after.  It makes more sense now.  Why would the Lord open my heart to North Carolina, a state that I look as as a place to go to the outerbanks.  Not a place to live.  Why would He inspire us both at the same time to put our house on the market?  He is there and He is mindful of our lives.  

I love this quote by Elder Holland, "If for a while the harder you try, the harder it gets, take heart. So it has been with the best people who ever lived."  It is a great reminder that life is hard.  We have to work hard.  We have to pray hard, and we have to walk by faith, which isn't always easy.  I know that as we hold on, something better will be there, just around the corner.  I also know that it may be hard.  I have told my kids that it is good to go through this spiritual growth, because if it is harder when we move, they will know without a doubt that this was the Lord's plan.  We are ready to move forward and do His will.  For we know that it is through His will that all things work out for good in the end.  :-)