# 22

Julie's Tender Mercy

Today I finished my Thesis proposal today and I am officially DONE with this semester. AND I only have 1 more semester to go and I will be a college graduate.
My biggest tender mercy today was a interview for academic counseling for work study. I feel like it went well but I don't know. I wish I did, just because I WOULD LOVE it. Everything would work so well. They are moving buildings next fall which is a high possibility that they would be hiring for Academic Advisement. I will already have a foot in the door considering my position. So the interview was a great tender mercy! I hope its in the plan of mine to receive the job. I HOPE I HOPE I HOPE!



Gary's Tender Mercy:
When I was at the Library today. I felt a random prompting to write my brother on his mission. I sat down and started writing and the words just came. It felt really good to testify of Jesus Christ and things I have been learning lately in my life. As I typed the words, the Spirit testified of the truth. Which brings new understanding to the phrase, "testimony is gained in the baring of it."

# 21

Julie's Tender Mercy:

Gary is constantly a tender mercy in my life. Today is one of those days. He has been so sweet, tender, caring, understanding and just all around wonderful these days. I don't know what I've done to deserve this wonderful treatment but I thoroughly enjoy every moment.

First off last night at work I was starving and so I asked Gary to bring me a tuna melt. OF course he was happy to because he is amazing. But he stopped everything he was doing an made it. Gary dropped it off and to my surprise he got a bunch other little snacks for the rest of my shift. It was so nice and cute of him to do that.

THEN today I was so stressed about this take home final that was due at 5:00. I got home at 10 from work and I didn't get finished until 3:30 with minimal breaks. When I got hungry Gary went all out and made me sweet and sour chicken with a side of rice and broccoli. CUTE HUH! I am so madly in love with Gary and can't believe I get to spend eternity with him.

Gary's Tender Mercy:

Today I am grateful for Christmas. I am just thinking about going home and seeing family. I am grateful that now I get to spend all christmas break with family. Even though I got out of my job that could have been good I'm grateful that family means so much to me. I love this season and the happiness it brings.

# 20

Julie's Tender Mercy:

Today is the beginning of finals week. I don't have many Finals to take which is the biggest tender mercy right now.
I am stressed, tired, and am just so done with school for the semester. SO my tender mercy is the great way it all ended for most of my classes. (curse Integrated study classes) I have a HUGE take home final and a thesis proposal to do. I am so grateful for the payoff of working hard at the beginning of the semester for the end of the semester! YAY

Gary's Tender Mercy:

I helped two random individuals today. I was driving back from the college. I saw a guy and a girl carrying a couple broken bikes and a bag of cans. It was raining so I stopped and offered them a ride. I think they were surprised and were very grateful. It felt good to be able to help someone today. The Lord blesses you even when your blessing other people. Even though I'm trying to help someone else I was blessed anyways.

# 19

Julie's Tender Mercy:

A few things that have happened lately that have been great.

First off, this morning I was irritated with certain things going on with Lisa and I was going to email her and confront her about something I did NOT like. As I was getting ready to study the scriptures I asked myself what I should study. I thought of these feelings I had and thought that patients might be a good fit. Well I thought a little harder on if that's best fitting and realized it was more about unconditional love. Christ was spit on, hated, beaten, he had taken much pain from others and so much more and he still loved them. Now I haven't been had even a minuscule amount of that but it can still be hard. I felt like this was an inspired topic and I LOVED studying about it. Second off, WE LOVE hanging out with Christie and Brian for food and games. SO FUN! Its a blessing to have them here and for us to click so well with them.

We LOVE having friends and they are great ones!

Gary's tender mercy:

We have had a lot of hard things going on and it has been hard. It was nice to go to Brian and Christies house and have food and have fun and not worrying about the rest of life and the details of the busy life we lead.

# 18

Julie's Tender Mercy

Lately I have been a little stressed with money and being able be comfortable with what we are making. Gary got a call from an old mission companion about an option for a job. Gary went and interviewed and that day he was hired. Then later this week I had an opportunity and as far as I am concerned I think I too got a new job. I will make $11 an hour and Gary $10.

I am SO happy for this. I am excited that even though we will miss some of the Christmas season we will be able to create an emergency fund and sustain ourselves well enough to have children! I can't even explain the blessings that we have had. So SO many things have just WORKED out in our life. Moving down here. The homes we have purchased. The ability to do all we have with so little. We LOVE our Heavenly Father SOOO much. He continues to bless us so much.

Gary's Tender Mercy... late... forgot... bed...

# 17

Julie's:

Forgot once again yesterday so I am going to do TWO because I have so many things I am seeing in my life!

First My mom came down to see the townhouse and I have a really good feeling about this place! I am hoping all will work out and we will OWN it within 15 days! Can't wait. But the tender mercy came as a simple realization on how far my mom and I have come. From fighting so much I hated even being in the same house as her to laughing, talking, (being able to live with her a whole summer without a huge blow-up), and the great relationship that we have got now. I was constantly told that I need to just accept what relationship I did have with her, that I needed to just be okay with how it was. Sure glad I worked hard, fought for a relationship because now I am very happy that I am close to my mom.

Second, Today was fast Sunday. I am not the best at remembering this day but a great reminder text came in the morning for

someone in need of a little help and to pray for in our fast. I hadn't realized it was fast sunday yet and had already started making pancakes. I put the batter away and prayed solely for the one in need.The reminder was a simple tender mercy.

Then also at church the spirit kept speaking to me... GET UP. It was easy for me to ignore at first as I was entranced by an interpreter that we purposefully sat by so I could watch. It was too strong, I gained the courage and bore my testimony. It felt GREAT! I am surprised that I didn't babble or sway (I do that sometimes when I am nervous) or say a lot of ums and I felt like I spoke with conviction. I haven't borne my testimony in over 2 1/2 years... probably closer to 3-31/2! And I am happy with the results. No one said anything but I didn't care one bit as I felt the spirit testify to me this gospel is true!

Gary's tender mercy: The first time we taught for our calling ( we teach provident living once a month for marriage essentials class) I was nervous and I didn't feel the spirit really strongly when I was teaching. But this Sunday when we taught it seemed to flow better. I felt the Spirit stronger. I wasn't really nervous and more relaxed.

# 16

Julie's tender mercy:

Its been hard to get back on doing this nightly! We left for SLC but now I am back and I am determined to do this more religiously!
I have had so many blessings and tender mercies the past two weeks! so I am going to do a quick many tender mercies.

First, I cam home and found that I had gotten 150 out of 150 on a test! BOO YA! This made it that I didn't have to go to class anymore and just finish my research paper. Second, I went and got another test back from my psychology class and my overall grade was an A- and if we were happy with that grade then we don't have to take the final (and class was done at that point!) Then on top of that all one of my hardest (or most homework class) and because I did a certain assignment the right way I don't have anymore homework in that class! All the way until the final! YAY! and that class is the only final I have that is a real final! SO basically I have only one more thing left!

Second, ITS ALMOST CHRISTMAS BREAK! Which means its ALMOST CHRISTMAS! which is the best time of the year!

Thirdly, I am just so happy! Life is great! I see Gods hand in my life DAILY! I can't be more ecstatic about how blessed I am and how great life is!THirdLy, we have had a few money things come up and we have gotten low which makes me a little scared. BUT then when we worked with my mom for the weekend (we as in mostly Gary and partly me) and we worked so much that we got 400$ which is perfect because we owed her $400 for the down payment for our china trip. YAY! Such a tender mercy!

Garys tender mercy: Mags Morgan called me with a job opportunity which I have been needing.