A new chapter has begun within the Saafi Family, and it is indeed one to be grateful for. Though we have been faced with lots of things, some trials big and small, it has been both a blessing and learning experience for Havea and myself. We truly could not be more grateful for the opportunity and fact that we are together, as a family, and that we have a place to sleep, food to eat and a roof over our heads to shelter us from the storms.
Tonight as I write a summary of our life within the past three weeks, I can't help but hear the melody of the hymn in my head, "More Holiness Give Me..." The words are as follows:
1st verse
More holiness give me
More strivings within,
More patience and suff'ring
More sorrow for sin,
More faith in my Savior,
More sense of His care
More joy in His service,
More purpose in prayer
2nd verse
More gratitude give me,
More trust in the Lord
More pride in His glory,
More hope in His word
More tears for His sorrows,
More pain at His grief
More meekness in trial
More praise for relief
3rd verse
More purity give me
More strength to o'ercome
More freedom from earth-stains
More longing for home
More fit for the kingdom
More used would I be
More blessed and holy,
More, Savior, like thee.
I don't know why, but this song came to my mind and I couldn't help but record the beautiful words and sing while I write; I thought it appropriate to start journaling, and more importantly write dowm my feelings of deep gratitude to my Heavenly Father and His everlasting care upon my family and I. It has been a blessed experience, and I have come to have a much stronger testimony of Prayer and this Gospel, of Jesus Christ.
About two months ago (early August of 2013) Havea and I were very desperate for change and an opportunity to grow. I had quit my job at the end of July 2012 to be a stay-at-home mom, and really desired to fulfill my role as a mother. Not knowing how difficult that would be, I started to feel doubt when Havea lost his job at the end of March 2013. Frustrated with our finances and how we would survive, we were in deep gratitude to our parents for allowing us to stay and be with them; because we were given that opportunity, we were able to catch up on some of our medical bills, and pay off a couple of things, and it was nice to do so :) By the end of April, my grandfather "Grandpa Rowe" passed away; with this event - although very sad, yet very much expected, we started to think about what we were going to do, as a family, and where would we go? where would/did the Lord want us to be?
In early May, Havea and I made the decision to further our education, and we knew that it would be the right thing for both of us. We were excited as we started to get everything ready, and being that we had a little one, would be tough, but we were up for the challenge. Being that I was still trying to figure out how we would do this... Havea and I really started job hunting. I applied for the company that I worked for previously, and many other companies, Havea, the same, yet no luck, no call backs, no NOTHING! It felt discouraging. With lots of prayer, and lots of hard walls, we thought about looking for employment out of state. (Luckily with the school program that we were doing, we could basically do ANYWHERE cause it was online - The BYU-Idaho Pathway Program). With this, we were indeed grateful. So... as time passed, the middle of August, I saw an opening at the University of Utah in the Accounts Payable Department, the same exact department that I worked for a little over 5 years ago. It was for the same position, yet the salary was a little bit more than what I made there last time. Excited, I thought what the heck? and I applied. I told Havea that I had applied, and he was happy that I did so. By this time we have been feeling discouraged, so we felt that if we prayed and continually prayed, asking where Heavenly Father might like us to be, He would surely guide us and make opportunities happen for us.
Two weeks later, the University of Utah called me saying that I had been chosen among other candidates to move through to the next round. I was excited! I hadn't gotten that far yet, and so it was exciting. Within a week, they arranged for a phone interview, as they knew I was in California, and within 4 days, they offered me a job. It literally felt surreal, as they sent me an email with my offer and compensation and start date, I couldn't believe what I was seeing, and I couldn't believe that such an opportunity was given, especially so quickly. At first, Havea was a little hesitant, and thought we should wait, he thought it would be a better idea to stay back and move with the family. I for one, saw it as an answer from Heavenly Father, and I tried to help him feel comfortable with the idea, and he later felt a lot better about the situation after we prayed about it. That next week, we sold stuff, packed stuff, and packed all we could in our avalanche truck.
But, backing up to selling stuff. One of the things that we had, and really needed to sell so we could make this move, was Havea's F-150 truck. We had been trying to sell it for two weeks, ever since I learned of my job offer. We really didn't know how we would make it if we didn't sell the truck, so we prayed, and we asked Heavenly Father that if it be His will, and if it be that we are supposed to be in Utah, that we would be able to have the monies and finances to move. Although MANY were interested in it for purchase, not anyone called back/text back or inquired again. Then I had a feeling to text people/contacts I had in my phone and literally the night before, we left, we sold the truck. It was both a blessing and an added testimony that the Lord will do His part, as long as we do ours.
With our finances set, and our truck packed, we made the trek to Utah. It was a fun road trip and Zoee was soooooo good! She was such a trooper, I really don't know how our little two-year-old did it, but she did! She was excited, tired, hungry, but rarely cranky, and it was so nice to have her calm :) It took us 17 hours to get to Utah, and unfortunately it took us that long, because we were getting so tired, we made lots of stops along the way to insure our belongings would not fall, and we pulled over a couple times to check things. But WE MADE IT! :)
SO grateful we were to have a place to stay, my Aunty Lani and Uncle Stan offered their home for us to stay and have a resting place and transition place as we look for a place to live. It has strengthened me and my testimony so much on this principle of gratitude. I am so grateful to them for allowing us to stay in their home, and I'm even more grateful for the bonds and relationships that have been strengthened between my Aunty and Uncle, my cousins and nieces and nephews. It has been most enjoyable being here.
While Havea and I continue to look for a place to live, I am working at the U, Havea is in the Pathway Program and loving it, while being a stay-at-home dad and looking for part time work, and we are happy as can be.
I am so grateful for the gospel, and I am even more grateful to my Heavenly Father and His plan, His plan for me, my family and each and every one of us. I feel blessed to know what I know about Heavenly Father, and to know that I can continually come back to Him. He has blessed my family and I, especially on the start of this new chapter in our lives, and I'm eternally and forever grateful.
More to write... another day :)
