Blessings are coming from having a missionary

I have often heard about the "blessings that come" from having a son or daughter serve a mission.  People have been telling me...You will be so blessed!  Well I decided to start keeping track of the blessings that we receive over the next 5 years while we have a full time missionary out in the mission field.  Weston will serve until 2012, mike will serve until 2013, Zac will serve until aprox  2015.  I know that our lives will be blessed, but sometimes we (I) am not aware of each blessing.  Having a major appliance, or car not break down, is a blessing.  Going to and from work in safety is a blessing.  Good health is also a blessing, but I want to focus on how I have felt or seen the lords hand blessing my life in unique, small and simple ways.

First of all, Tim lost his job the beginning of September.  What a major stress!  How are we ever going to pay for our bills, plus help support Weston on his mission?  We have had to charge everything on a credit card this past month, which I hate doing, because I hate going into debt, especially when we are already in bondage to debt!  Tim Decided to become self employed painting/ Touching up local car dealerships cars, since he has been doing that for the past 15 years.  All the start up costs of becoming self employed have almost reached 10 grand.  We have not had any extra money at all.  Weston started receiving cards in  the mail, wishing him good luck on his mission.  There was $10's, $20's, up to  $100 in those cards.  That money was such a answer to our prayers.  Every bit of it helped!  There were still lots of odds and ends to purchase before he left, and that money helped to get him on his mission!  My employer paid for Weston's first month in the MTC.  Which was a huge worry off our shoulders of coming up with that first payment.  Weston was only able to save for 1/2 of his mission, and will depend on donations and Tim and I to help with the other 1/2.  We had some very dear friends offer to help with some of his mission.  What a huge blessing!

Another blessing...Tim have been very busy with his new business, and has had work every day!  That is a huge blessing, because work = money!  It will take us several months to get on our feet, and the way the dealerships pay is usually a month behind, so that is a bummer, and we need to pay off the start up costs, but what a blessing to be able to work!

Another blessing...While putting away Aubrie's laundry a few weeks ago, I noticed that she only had 1pair of good Levi's and the rest were shorts and carpi pants.  With winter coming up she needs more pants.  I sent out a email to some of my friends asking if they had any pants that would fit her, and they sent it out to their friends, and wouldn't you know we got 2 people who had Levi's.  Each of the pairs we were given fit her perfectly!  Coincidence? I think not!

On the day Weston left, it was very hard for me.  Some of my special friends brought me flowers.  Several people called to see how I was.  That really helped me.  And showed that there really are angels among us.

I work at a Dr's office, and I have been able to get to know several patients who are from Mexico city, or served their missions there.  That is great to have that kind of support group also. It is great to have those kinds of contacts.  I also joined the "Missionary Moms" email group.  This group includes all the missionaries moms that have sons or daughters in the mexico city missions.  It has been a great support group for me also.

I am sure there are so many other blessings that we are not even aware of.   I acknowledge the Lord's hand in my families life, and know that I have been strengthened at this time, and that the Lord is aware of my needs.