Feeling grateful...

This year at work has been anything but great/fabulous/a success. It has actually been one nightmare after another. I finally get to the point where I feel like things are beginning to look up and BOOM! Out of nowhere there is this huge nuclear bomb dropped and i'm knocked down again. Needless to say, if all goes as planned, I will not be teaching at West Point again next year... I will be transferring to another school. If you would have told me at this time last year (when I was beginning my job) that I would be where I am today and wishing I was anywhere but where I worked I probably would have told you that you were crazy. I had every intention of being there for a long time...but needless to say, Heavenly Father has a different plan for our family. If you know anything about me, you know that I am a planner. I like to know what is going to happen and when...although planning is great and important, Heavenly Father also likes to remind me frequently (when will I ever learn?) that it is His plan and not mine. There have been many tears, lots of stress, loss of sleep, anxiety, frustration, hopelessness, self-doubt, etc., but today I have been thankful for the good times that I have had this year and have been thankful for the blessings that have been mixed in with the sorrows. Here are some of the things that I am so thankful for in the midst of this trial that has been placed before me:

 1. My little man AKA my little angel. This little man coming in March was not in my life plan...in my life plan he would have come in June so that I could work all year and not have to worry about sub plans, etc. As always, Heavenly Father has proven to me that His plan is always better than mine. This little boy is my angel. Because he will be coming in March, I get a much needed break from the stressful environment at work. I get a chance to be rejuvenated and to focus on the things that matter most in my life. I may not get much sleep on this break, but it is so needed, and I can't wait to meet my baby! We have been so blessed that he has been so healthy and strong despite the stress that I have been under. He is a strong little man and I can't wait to hold him and love him forever! :)

 2. My loving husband Casey. Again, me marrying Casey King probably wasn't in my life plan either... I knew him when we were younger and always thought he was cute, but never would have believed you if you told me that I was going to marry him someday, since we never said a word to each other. I am so blessed to have this man in my life. He is the most selfless, loving, compassionate man out there and he is everything I need and more. He loves me unconditionally and will do anything to make sure that I am happy and taken care of. He is always there to listen and to encourage me and to remind me how beautiful and loved I am. He honors his priesthood and is always willing to give me a blessing whenever I need one. I am so thankful for that because sometimes blessings are the only thing that can get me through. I got a blessing from him today and it gave me the renewed strength and courage to carry on. I love him and have no doubt that he is the man that I was supposed to end up with and spend eternity with. I can't wait to see him as a dad because he already loves our little boy so much. Basically, I am a very blessed girl.

3. My momma. She was a part of my life plan. :) I can't imagine a better mom out there. Anytime I call her she will always answer, and if she can't answer right away she will always call me back. There have been countless times when I have called her this year to cry, vent, be scared, and she is always there to listen and to offer suggestions. She sends me random texts to let me know that she is thinking of me and is always there, no matter what time it is. She also loves her little grandson more than he will probably ever know and he isn't even here yet. She is going to be the best grandma out there! I am so blessed to have such a close relationship with my mom and to know that she will always love and support me no matter what.

Thank goodness for the blessings that can be seen during trials because they really are the only things that can get you through sometimes. Like it has been said on Batman... "The night is always darkest before the dawn."... I am hoping that the dawn is coming soon and that I will come out of this trial on top and stronger than I was before. If nothing else, my little boy is supposed to be here within 5 1/2 weeks, and he will be the biggest ray of sunshine that I could ever imagine. :)