mysterious blessings

This year, as I finally get to my taxes, I am reminded of what a difficult year this has been. As the housing market took such a crash, the construction industry also did. My husband runs heavy equipment for a living and jobs have been few and far between. Joe has never had trouble finding work, but this year was the first time that there was truly nothing happening and time and time again he was sent out on a job that lasted a week or two and then ended. We have struggled to get through the year barely scraping by.

Somehow we did manage to survive our financial hardship and as I reflect I am amazed to realize the blessing that God gave us during the year. Joe spent so much time at home while he was unemployed. He really had a chance to spend quality time with his kids and really enjoy them. He and I had so much time to talk and work on things that have needed mending for a long time. We are closer than we have ever been during our 7 year marriage. I don't know many dads that get to spend the kind of time with their kids that Joe got to spend this year. It truly was a blessing to have him home so much. It's funny the way that God works things out sometimes. Prayers are answered in mysterious and unexpected ways. Sometimes, you don't realize that God has given you this amazing blessing until after the fact, but when you do, you are humbled and awed.