PART II

August 2007: The day before I was going to quit First Magnus, I took the day for the family. I took a few of my personal things that day as well. That day was exactly one year from the day we left Carmike Cinemas. Ironic, huh? The next day was where I know God had intervened. I got to work and found a guy, who was usually dressed in a suit and tie, dressed in sweat pants and a t-shirt. He said to me, “We’re closed, go home.” I asked, “What was that?” and he said the same thing. I finally got the word from another co-worker who dumbed it down for me. “First Magnus went bankrupt, we’re unemployed.” Some of you might wonder how a loving God could allow a company to fold and destitute so many people. I have two reasons for this in my case: to humble His children to trust in Him, and to point me in the right direction. Seriously, God never instructed His people to live beyond their means and I do feel bad for people like Rich, who had it really rough from the get-go. On the other side of the spectrum was a guy named John. He had been putting a lot of his money into investments. He was working because he wanted to, not because he had to or he’d be living in a cardboard box. If you really want God’s instruction on how to use money, look in the parable of the talents found in Matthew chapter 25:14-30.

Pro’s: Laid off rather than being fired or quitting. Unemployment checks and benefits. (i.e. State paying for education.) Also Tristan was born and I had nothing better to do than be by Arienne’s side the whole time.

Con’s: No job. Unemployment doesn’t pay that much. Nothing to do. Trying to find a job again.

August 18^th 2007: Every week in Priesthood opening exercises in church, we would recite the “Purposes of the Aaronic Priesthood.” Every week I would feel guilty about leaving school and being down in Tucson, when I should be “getting as much education as possible.” So that morning, in the shower, I had the unmistakable feeling of clarity. I thought to myself, Maybe I should go back to BYU-Idaho and finish my degree. At that moment I felt so peaceful. My soul felt like it had finally aligned with what I was supposed to be doing, much like that way you feel when you put the right puzzle piece into place or after being lost in a crowded place and you finally find something that looks familiar enough to let you know you are on the right path. Just multiply that feeling to your whole soul and you’ll know how it feels. Ask anyone who finally realized what they wanted to study in college, or the woman that accepts the calling of motherhood. I knew I needed to get back to Rexburg. The big question was how was I going to get there?