Oh, happy day.

The last month has been hard. Very, very hard. Erik was working this sales job, and we were doing pretty well. We weren't worried about money at all. Then he was told his last day would be March 1st. They decided to close their entire sales department, which i guess isn't all that uncommon with small businesses. But imagine, if you will: Ingrid is almost 2 months old, our hospital bills are chilling on the counter, our rent is due, our bills are due, the diapers run out... We had a little in savings, but most of it was depleted when the engine blew in our Cobalt right before Christmas.

So, we started talking about subletting for the rest of our lease and living with family. Which I hate. I love my family. I love Erik's family. I don't need to live with them. Two weeks ago, it got to the point where we had to make a decision and set a date to act out that decision. If Erik didn't have a job that could sustain our bills, if our tax refund hadn't come through, if we couldn't handle it.... We would move out.

The day we chose is today.

You need to understand something: Moving in with parents was something I decided I wouldn't do when I moved out of my parents house in 2009. We had to live with parents this summer, and I hated it. I LOVE my family. But I need the space for my own family. So, the decision to live with parents is hard, emotional and almost devastating to me.

Erik started his second new job last week (the first one would require him to potentially bankrupt every person he called. We didn't feel comfortable with him doing it, despite the huge paychecks he could get), and it's going so well! He has the potential to make as much as he did before (commission jobs suck in my book), and he had an awesome first week.

And I just checked the status of our refund. It will be in our account on the 10th!

So, pretty good paycheck and refund in our account this week means we're going to be okay. We're going to be able to buy diapers, food, pay Ingrid's bills, pay our bills, buy gas. We can stay in our apartment for now. We can stay in our awesome ward and continue working with our wonderful bishop. It's going to be okay.

Tithing works, people. This is the first time I've ever had that saving grace at the right moment. I'm so grateful for this. For Erik's job, for the punctual nature of the refund system, for my husband being so strong through this month while I've been a mess. I'm grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who has been listening. And I am so grateful for our little apartment.

I'm hoping our welcome mat and my wreath gets to stay up all summer.

Thank you, Ben, for the addition:
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. (Malachi 3:10)