Count Your Many Blessings

As some of you may already know, Tanner wants to go back to school to become an Architect. Right now he is working at a job that he loves, as an architectural technologist, but, Tanner wants to be an architect. This means that Tanner needs to go back to university to finish an undergrad in Environmental Design (or something like it), which would be two years, and then complete a two year Masters program.

This past year, Tanner has put in countless hours and emotional/mental energy into his application packages to four different universities: University of Manitoba (Winnipeg), Carleton (Ottawa), Dalhousie (Halifax), and Cooper Union (NYC). We have been super pumped about everything. Tanner is WAY qualified for each program, and his portfolio this year is absolutely amazing. We thought for certain that he would be accepted to at least one of the programs he applied to, if not most of them. We were even getting giddy and excited about the prospects of living in Nova Scotia; checking out places to rent, what chapel we would attend for church, the temple, etc. I guess, looking back, we really set ourselves up for getting a big kick in the pants.

As of today, Tanner has received letters/emails from three of the four universities, all with the words "We regret to inform you..." No more New York. No more Ottawa. No more Halifax. We are very sad.

But, there is still Manitoba to hear back from.

Tanner and I both know that all we can do right now is keep the commandments and pray. I know that if Tanner and I strive to do what is good and right, our family will be blessed. Perhaps not in the way we expect, but the Lord knows us and what we need.

I am truly grateful for my husband. He sacrifices so much to bless our family. I am thankful that he did so well at NAIT, that he was able to get a great job at a prestigious architectural firm, right after graduating. (From what Tanner knows, only a handful of people in his graduating class were able to find employment within the field). We are very blessed.

I will admit, I fall into envy traps (.....often, I should add). There are many things that I see around me that I wish we could afford. But talk like this really annoys Tanner, and he reminds me of all of our MANY blessings, snapping me back to reality. He is so good for me.

The reality is, that I have a husband who loves me and loves being a father. I have a daughter who is beautiful and loves me unconditionally. I love being a mother. We have a beautiful home, in a wonderful community and ward that we love. We are able to afford all the necessities, with even a little left over for the fun stuff. We have parents to look up to as great examples of love and service. We have the gospel in our lives, that gives us hope and purpose.

Tanner and I may not have all the glitz and glam, but we do have what is important, an eternal family. I love my family. It is while looking into their faces (or rubbing my baby belly) that I am reminded of this eternity.



"Count your many blessings, name them one by one."

Jenny