Feeling Blessed : )

I've been putting this off for a long time now, but I keep having the feeling that I need to share some of the details and experiences of the roller coaster we've been on for the last year and a half.
We loved living in New York, but knew we didn't want to live there forever.  It was expensive and not made for families.  John's job teaching ROTC was demanding.  He'd work 12-14 hour days and often Saturday.  Sunday became the only day we could depend on being together as a family.  As amazing as living in that part of the country was John's job was hard on our family.  Sometime during the winter of 2013-2014 we learned that a RIF (reduction in force) was coming and we were on the list of potential candidates.  This was worrisome, if we lost our job we did not want to continue living in New York.  We decided that if that happened we'd sell our house, move home to Utah, and hopefully find a job there.
Well, the RIF was postponed and we received a new assignment in Oklahoma.  We were blessed in finding someone to rent our house in New York and we hit the road for Oklahoma.  We rented a house in Oklahoma and John started work at his new assignment.  A couple of months later the RIF was back on the table and sure enough we were picked.  Living in Oklahoma and about to be unemployed was a very different experience than it was in New York.  John's boss essentially turned around and hired him back as a civilian.  He sits in the same desk and does the same job, he just has to pick out his clothes every morning now : )  It's so strange having him not wear a uniform to work everyday!  Oh and he has normal hours again!
Once we knew we had a job for sure we started looking for a house to buy.  John and I wanted lots of land and the kids wanted a neighborhood with friends.  We found a house that is the perfect compromise of our needs/wants.  We have an acre of land and are located in a quiet neighborhood with lots of kids.
It's been an amazing experience to see how things have turned out.  We never would have chosen this path for our family.  However, without a doubt we know this is where we are meant to be.  We feel so blessed to have been comforted by the spirit through this entire ordeal.  We've never questioned why us? Why are we loosing our job.  We knew why and we knew it was right for our family.  I've dreamt of living in New York since I was a little girl and never in a thousand years did I once even want to live in Oklahoma.  However, after living in New York I can love and appreciate Oklahoma and how good it will be to raise our kids here.  I don't think I would feel that way about Oklahoma without having experienced it's exact opposite : )  After purchasing our home we learned the family that lived here before us was also Mormon.  The parents had recently divorced and needed to sell the home quick.  Not only was finding this house an answer to our prayers, but I'm sure it was an answer to the seller's prayers as well.
Time and time again we have seen that God is the director of our lives.  We just have to have faith and listen to the promptings of the spirit.  We knew things would work out, but we never imagined God would be so good to us.  I look out my window and see my happy healthy kids playing in the street with the neighborhood kids and it just makes my heart happy.  We have an awesome yard to run and play in, we have room to garden, build fires, raise chickens, build ponds, or whatever other crazy things we want to do.  God's planted us here for a reason and he's made us happy here for a reason.  People have asked if we want to leave because of the weather or to be nearer to family, but we don't.  We know we are where we are meant to be and we are grateful for it.
And don't get me wrong, things are not always sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows around here.  But despite our trials we feel so blessed and I knew I needed to express my gratitude for our blessings.
In short, I know God is real.  He knows us and knows what is best for us.  And I am so grateful for all He has blessed us with!