Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Best Year EVER!

When I was first hired as a restaurant server, they started me out as a hostess and I spent the majority of my work day behind a cash register.  At the end of the night there were a lot of steps to take to close it down.  I had to organize the checks and coupons and add up all the receipts for the credit cards.  There were some frustrating nights where the numbers wouldn't add up perfectly and I had to go through every pile to find my simple two dollar mistake.  When you're tired of work and ready to go home, that two dollar difference can almost bring you to tears if you spend the next hour trying to find the missing numbers while thinking, "I could be home right now in my cozy bed!"
But SOME nights... some nights... it was beautiful.  My paperwork was perfectly filled out, numbers added up precisely, and the piles of visa, master card, am ex, and discover cards were flawlessly placed like cuddly ducks all in a row.  I would watch the clock with a huge grin as the hand ticked... ticked... ticked... closing time.  Without stress, I would click off the open sign, lock the front door, and clock out for the night.  It was one of those delightful feelings.  It's up there with bubble baths and hot chocolate.


God is amazing.  One thing I love about Him is how He allows us to learn through parables.  Sometimes He gives me personal revelation this way.  I'll receive answers to my prayers in little ways that only I can relate to or understand.  
One time, a few years ago, we were having a chit-chat, God and I.  I was discussing with Him  complaining to Him about my life not being exactly where I wanted it to be yet.  I wanted to be a mother at home with a million babies baking cookies and all that cliche, stereotypical Mormon mommy rubbish that everyone makes fun of.  All teasing aside, being home and raising kids in the gospel was a righteous desire that I didn't have and pleaded for with God. 
My answer was pretty interesting and unique to only me.  First, the word patience whispered through my thoughts.  Typical.  This usually happens.  But then my mind was steered to the cash register at my work.  That perfect moment where everything falls into place and you clock out exactly on time.  I had this funny feeling.  Something inside me told me this is what it would feel like for me.  Although the time had not come yet and I needed to endure a bit longer, it would all gracefully come together with all the puzzle pieces fitting at once.


And now looking back, let me tell you, 2015 has been my beautiful "clock-out" year.
It was right after our ultrasound appointment, where we saw our little buddy for the first time.  I remember showing my mother-in-law the strand of wonderful portraits of our little sea monkey when Mitch had to step outside for a phone call.  He came back in with a huge smile on his face.  "I got the job!" he announced.  We were now blessed with an awesome career for Mitchell to support our soon-to-be new family member.  A puzzle piece fell into place.


A few months later we were able to get a second car and begin construction on our future home.  Our new little best friend was born the beginning of October.  The pieces to the puzzle were filing in non-stop!  


And a few weeks ago I was blessed with another beautiful puzzle piece...
During a similar chit-chat with God around the same time as before I had asked him for a distraction.  Some kind of passion to keep my mind off what I didn't have.  He told me to start writing.  So I did.  Every day.  And it worked.  It really helped me feel better.  
I had this idea, and this idea became a character, which soon turned into a story, and eventually bloomed into a full-blown novel.  I wrote a book, you guys!  And a few weeks ago I got the email I have always dreamed of getting.  I'm going to be published!

This is something my sister-in-law sent me right after I found out the great news

What a beautiful cherry on top to this fantastic year!  In life, I know there's always good days and bad days, good years and bad years.  And I'm so glad I will always have this one to look back on.  I can always remember God cared about me.  He loves each of us, and although life can be frustrating, like those two dollar register nights where nothing seems to be going right, sometimes he gives us a break and blesses us with a perfect clock-out.


P.S. Here was my New Year's resolution from the beginning of year.  I guess I never got my puppy, but Heavenly Father's gotta draw the line somewhere.

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