Mom Hawley's version of Spencer and Rhonda

The relief I felt caused tears to flow. I had been like June Cleaver the past few months, always “worried about the Beaver”. I hurried in the house at noon, with only five minutes lunch time to spare. I looked upon the white board for any messages, a ritual I did every day, so I can help my homebound husband with errands he may need at the end of my day. The message was literally a God send. One we had been praying for, no pleading might be a better description. The concern for our son and his family has been tumultuous. He lost his job in Oct. 2009. He and his wife and two small children packed up and moved from Ogden, Utah, to Idaho Falls, Idaho. They had had enough of Utah and being alone without family near. They had moved many times trying to better their circumstances. School loans left them in almost unmanageable debt. Poor health during two pregnancies, emergencies to the ER for the babies brought more debt. They were desperate to be near family but not quite ready to succumb to moving home with mom and dad. They chose Idaho Falls to be near his sister, and her aunt, and their families. They found an affordable apartment close to down town, and started looking for work-NOTHING. Months went by including Thanksgiving and Christmas. Financial bankruptcy was staring them in the face. Unemployment helped but even that was cut off when he turned down a very low paying job. I was trying to help out by paying for the loan I had co-signed with him to go to Stevens Henagar computer school. I sent money to help out when I could. They were floundering. There was one night we received a frantic call. The “Beave” was beside himself. They had had a rough evening and to top it off, their baby daughter was miraculously missed by a C D stand that had fallen over. They were on the verge of throwing in the towel and calling it quits, when their bishop showed up at their door. Acting on inspiration, he said he felt impressed to make a visit to them. He counseled them, gave them both blessings and encouragement. He reaffirmed how worthy they were to seek help, because the first thing my son said when he opened the door to the bishop was, (with a big smile) “Bishop, how can we help you?” They were both returned missionaries and were endeavoring to do the will of the Lord. They just needed patience and trust in the Lord. They received callings the next Sunday, and were asked to speak in church. They felt a new sense of peace and assurance that this was all for their benefit. They had new hope, new friends, and new purpose, but they still needed a new job. Because of that one discerning bishop, they had decided to hold on a little longer. She got a call the next week to work as a CNA on a night shift so he could watch the kids. He was notified he was reinstated for his unemployment. Things were starting to look up. The next week he got a call from his last hope for a computer job. He was to come back for a second interview. At that point, the other interviewees had turned down the job. They were impressed with his background in computers and other skills. He didn’t know about telecommunications, but they would consider him, and the other multi-numbered applicants and get back to him. More intense prayers and fasting were made for another week by us all.
I came home that following Monday, Jan. 25, 2010, at high noon. Looking up at the message on the white board, I read “he got the job.”
“Ward, I’m not quite as worried about the Beaver now”, now I said with tears brimming, then spilling over. Now there’s his brothers and sisters' to stew about. Life with children is a great blessing, and sometimes the concerns can be overwhelming. We will never quit worrying. They will always be our children. I think I have a slight understanding of the love our Father in Heaven must have for us, His own children. How blessed we are to have such a heritage.