There really is "no place like home".

It's been such a crazy last few weeks, but it is finally slowing down here at the Etchells!
Thank goodness too. I think one more week would have possibly cracked me completly.
Although I think I have been saying that for a few months now. So, I guess I did ok.
We are oficially staying here in Olathe Kansas. Rob was layed off from his job (like thousands and thousands of others) in May. Right when the kids were getting out of school for the summer. We had no clue where we would end up for the next school year. I thought for sure we would be moving. We looked on the bright side and thought, well if we have to move maybe it well take us west closer to our family. That would really be great. We have been away from family for 7 years now, and it's pretty sad when you only get to see them about once a year. The other thing was Our very close friends the Speyer's up and left us and moved to Utah!!!! How dare they :)!! But seriously the thought of being here without them was sad to think.
We had some really good connections as far as jobs go so we thought it probably would'nt take to long to get another job..... ya right. It doesn't matter how good a connection you have in this economy.... if there's no job's, there's no jobs. Robert is so amazing though, he was so positive through all of this. The kids were great too. Ya, they went through sll the ups and down's of moving and not moving. They would miss their friends here, but they were excited for the potential of meeting new friends. I think they just needed to know for sure one way or the other.
This whole process took 4 months! I know people have to wait alot longer than that, and that just makes me so sad to think.
rob got a few phone calls from YRC, a great transportation company based here in Kansas. They were really excited to try to get him on board with them. Rob was really excited too, because it's a company he has really been looking at. The whole process took quite a while before he actually signed on the dotted line, but it finally happened. Robert's first day of work was the Kids first day of school too. I would be such a fool if I did not recognize that as a beautiful Tender Mercy from our Heavenly Father. I knew that he was watching over us the whole time.
So, we are here in Kansas for our 8th year... and we are going to make it the best.
Thankyou to everyone for loving us, and helping us through it all. It sure would have been tough to do without you. And Speyer's We miss you And wish that you were only on vacation.

Charity

We had a wonderful lesson in relief society today on Charity. I am sure alot of you had the very same lesson. We talked about Joseph Smith and how happy and optomistic he always was. He was so enthusastic about life and the growth of the church. People always surrounded themelves around him because he was so loving and joyful. We obviously know that one of the reasons he was like that was because he was filled with the spirit of the Holy Ghost, he just beamed with light even in his darkest hour.
This is how the people of the church of Jesus Christ generally are ( If they are filled with the light o Christ). The people that I surround my life around certaintly are. They are so willing to serve, and to help people in their time of need. If someone they love ae huring... they are too. if someone is happy...so are they.
I try to surround myself around those that are not envious of others or that get jealous of the things others have that they don't.
And if their are those that are like that I think you just have to try to love them more.
When Christpher was born we were surrounded by and loved by these kind of people.
I had friends preparing me for the dreaded c-section I would have. We had family fly in to be with us ( our parents, and my beautiful sister Julie). people came and surrounded me with so much love when my son and husband went to Children's Mercy for Christopher's surgeries. I was never alone, friends came and just took care of me and my family.
The reason I share this is because when I finally went in for my 6 week check-up my Doctor said so many Nurse's and Hospital staff and Doctor's have been asking about us. They said they felt such peace and love when ever they came into our room. It makes me cry every time I think of this. It's because Heavenly Father took care of me and my family. The spirit of the Holy Ghost was in my room. Because Heavenly Father Just sent me such an amazing gift, and I knew it. I was happy even when things were so tough. It's hard not too when you are surrounded by so much love. I love that the Church of Jesus Christ Of latter Day Saints teaches us to love and have charity in our hearts and to serve all that we can. I only hope that I can do for others as they have done for me.