I
heard an awesome talk about tender mercies on Sunday. Brother Dover
talked about how sometimes in life we can look at the little
coincidences or happy comings that occur as either coincidences or
tender mercies from God. I am one who see's them as tender mercies.
I
feel like my whole journey with David has been a tender mercy. From
the very first day our eyes met. I believe that it was a tender mercy
that I met my future husband in the San Diego temple. I always dreamed
that was where I would meet my husband, and while my husband was on his
mission he recieved news from his sister that she was moving to San
Diego, and that he was welcome to come stay with them. Later he
recieved a picture of the San Diego temple and a thought occurred to him
that he may one day meet his future wife there. Coincidence or a
tender mercy from my Savior?
While
dating there are just way too many tender mercies to even mention.
It's like we were being pushed by unknown forces to get to know one
another!
Fast
forward to the year 2006 when I was expecting my beautiful daughter
while in my fourth year of college. We were both working, and going to
school. Neither of us had health insurance but we felt like for some
reason now was the time to try. So with complete blind faith we did.
What I later came to find out is that because I was attending UCSD, a
school that specializes in medicine, my tuition rates also had included
cost for health insurance. I was covered the whole time I attended
college and I didn't even know it. My price to have Ariana was $0.00.
She was delivered by medical students at UCSD's Hospital. Coincidence
or tender mercy?
Then
we find ourselves in 2007, with David being two weeks away from
finishing up his last final in paramedic school, before he began his
field hours. He receives a phone call from his best friend Brandon, to
move up and work for him in his Hearing office that he was opening up.
We prayed and received an answer to move. We dropped everything and
left. We thought our Heavenly Father was making us move because what I
as a "24 year old" thought would be for monetary wealth. What I found
out is that we were about to be tested. We had no money for about two
years. And when I say no money I mean no money. Some days I didn't
know how I was going to put milk on the table. Our faith was tested.
But boy did it grow. When we moved up to Phoenix we promised ourselves
that David would enroll himself in school, no matter how good or bad
business went. We failed to keep that promise when we moved up. Our
second year there David felt prompted that he needed to keep that end of
his promise. He began to enroll himself in a community college there.
Before we knew it we were being offered a job to move up to Sedona were
he would run a hearing office. When we took this job David made it
very clear to the owners that he would be going to school at the same
time. We worried this would deter them from wanting to hire him. They
loved the idea! And were super supportive.
So
we decided to move up promising each other we would not stop the school
thing and he didn't. We wondered why all of the sudden we found an
awesome job, if what our Heavenly Father wanted was for us to do
school. But we just kept going. Once up in Cottonwood, a city 20
minutes from Sedona, we began thinking about how after he finished his
last community college courses maybe he shouldn't apply to ASU's school
but NAU's instead. That thought would have never crossed our minds had
we not moved up to Northern Arizona. When David was looking at what
degree's ASU's extended online campuses offered most were all business
degrees. So that's what he was going to do. But when he looked at
NAU's he found that just as we moved up there they had opened up a new
degree that was offered completely online. It was a Speech and Hearing
degree. Coincidence or tender mercy? He thought this was perfect then
he would be able to able to apply for the Doctorate program for
Audiology after. So he became an official lumberjack. We were there 9
months and we were very happy. Then out of the blue we were contacted
by someone else with a new job offer back down in Surprise AZ.
After
much prayer we felt like we had to take it. They offered a huge
increase in salary and they offered health, and we were having increased
desires to bring another one into this world. So off we went. When we
stepped into our home, David looked at me and said, "Marissa I don't
think we will be here for long. I think we will only be here for a
year." I looked at him like he was crazy. I thought this was a great
job, we had great friends around us, and we were both playing on a
soccer league. Life could not get much better. But true to his words
exactly a year latter he was dismissed by his drunk supervisor. Which I
was bitter about for a long time but now I am grateful for. Looking
back David needed to work for the company down in Surprise, because we
would have never been able to afford the extra science courses he needed
to take through another school called Rio Salado. They were the only
other school that offered Science courses online. And because we were
already receiving financial aid from NAU we could not through Rio. So
not only was Rio Salado ridiculously difficult. But they were very
expensive. But we had the job long enough to be able to afford it. But
once we didn't need anymore expensive science courses we found
ourselves without a job.
A
week before he was dismissed we finally took a vacation down to San
Diego. I don't know why but I felt like I was going to be moving down
soon, and I would be living with my Dad in his three bedroom town home.
My parents had recently divorced a few months prior. And they were
both going through a difficult transition. Not to mention my younger
siblings! So, I decided that when David got dismissed that the timing
was uncanny. And that maybe my family needed me. David had been
looking for a job in Arizona but he wasn't really finding anything. And
then we both prayed and felt like he just needed to stop working and
just go to school full time. So, graciously my father allowed us to
stay with him. David, Ariana, Viggo, Me and baby baking in my belly.
We did the math and figured that if David went to school "full time"
meaning he would have to take 25 units one semester and 30 the next, he
could finish his degree in one year. And then our minds began to race
again. His sister Cari graduated from a PA program and as she was doing
it, his Dad kept telling David he should look into it. I don't know if
it's because David was a hearing specialist but we just blinded
ourselves to the idea and kept thinking he needed to become and
audiologist. When he lost his job, he became discouraged with the
industry and it forced him to open his ears and eyes. We looked into
the program and realized that with his degree in speech and hearing and
with all his science courses, and because he has had so many hours
logged for experience for being a hearing specialist, and with his
experience in paramedic school he fulfilled all the requirements needed
to qualify for the PA program in Washington. After much prayer we felt
this is what we had to do. So I got to help my family during a
difficult time, and they helped us to be able to finish school more
quickly so we could apply to the PA program more quickly.
It
was not easy!! My whole little family stayed in my sisters room.
David, Ariana, Viggo, Micah and I all stayed in the same room. Did I
mention that around this time my brother Josh moved back in, as well as
my sister Jessica. I don't know how my Dad did it but he seemed
unfazed. Sometimes I wonder if he was just happy to have us all around
to distract him from his sadness. I could hear all the kids at night
breathing at different speeds. I don't know how we did it with a
newborn that woke up several times at night, but Ariana and Viggo never
stirred when Micah would begin to cry. It's as though they were blessed
with a heavy sleep. Coincidence or tender mercy? So there we were all
in one room, and David taking 30 units. Which comprised of four high
level science courses. As difficult as that time was it went by
quickly. And as difficult as it we enjoyed that time as well. Getting
to be with my family again during a difficult time made us a siblings
grow close. How I missed them when we moved out. I missed our
discussions we would have at night. And our nightly t.v round up. David
missed my brother, and I missed seeing David tease my Dad and force him
to smile. And I missed seeing my mom obsess over Micah. Not to
mention being in San Diego allowed us to hang out with Sara and Kevin,
and our little Ella more often. I miss watching David take Ariana to
school, because I was either too sick while pregnant, or too busy with a
newborn. At one point in that time we thought David wasn't going to
make it but he found a way, and here we are today.
Today
we find ourselves in Tucson, AZ. We applied for a great paying job in
Phoenix, but for some reason it didn't work out. We thought we had the
job and everything. But this one in Tucson, AZ did work out. I don't
know why but I am sure around the bend in the future I will find it was
just another tender mercy given to us by my Savior. Today David
officially has is Bachelors in Science in Speech and Hearing. And we
are awaiting on pins and needles to find out if David got into the PA
program up in Washington State. But no matter what happens from here, I
know we will be fine. Whether we receive good news or bad. Because my
Heavenly Father has shown me time after time that everything he has
done is for the good of my family and I. I thank him daily for always
watching carefully the journey that my family and I are taking. We are
grateful to have his guidance and tender mercies in our life. And I am
grateful to have my husband.
(Here is "Your Song")
David
you are the most determined, kind, silly, and most loving person I have
EVER met. My life is better with you. You have the ability to bring
light into our lives when things seem dark. You are the most wonderful
father. Yoy finished your BS having along the way a total of three
kids, and me. I can see in your eyes how sad you get when you can't
afford to do certain things for us. But know that we have never lacked
in anything. And the kids have never ever felt like they are missing
out on anything. They get to have so much love in their lives. And
that is a blessing I do not take lightly. I am so proud of you. I know
you say you are embarrassed that you are getting your BS in what you
say is so "late" in life. But I am so utterly proud of you. You and I
know the difficulties that have been placed in our path. And sometimes
it seemed like some obstacles where going to be impossible to over
come. But every time you did it. I love you so much and the words that
exist in this world just do not adequately express what you mean to me.
You may refuse to go up to Flagstaff to walk across that stage. But
here in my silly little blog I wanted to praise you for all you have
accomplished so far. I love you David Carl Ettinger. And I thank god
every day for the tender mercy he presented to me when we first laid eyes
on each other in the San Diego temple. You don't know this but I laugh
when I hear our wedding song. We didn't date for too long. I think we
dated six-seven months before we were engaged. And lets be honest when
we were around each other we weren't busy listening to music lol. But
as time has gone by this is the song I think of when I think of us.
"Your Song" by Elton John. I don't have much to give you, but I can
give you this.
If I was a sculptor, but then again, no
Or a man who makes potions in a travelling show
I know it's not much but it's the best I can do
My gift is my song and this one's for you
And you can tell everybody this is your song
It may be quite simple but now that it's done
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind that I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you're in the world
( To My Family and I mean all of you!!!!)
You
do not know what you all mean to me. David's family I don't know what I
can say. I truly do love you all. You have all not just supported
David but I and the kids as well. I wish I could go through each and
everyone of you but I think this post would become a novel. But thank
you all for teaching me so much about love. It is that which has
allowed David and I to be able to accomplish so much so far in a short
little journey. I sit here with tears in my eyes thinking about all the
wonderful tender mercies I have experienced at your hands. To my
family thank you for always being there to pick us up when we felt like
we couldn't get back up. You are so readily there whenever we need
you. I love you guys so much. So thank you all!! I just wanted to take
the time to recognize David and you all. Like I said I am just so
proud of him and there isn't much I can do, but I can write it all down.
Love you guys!! And I hope you all have a Merry Christmas!!
Excited to see what's next in store for him! Congratulations David!!!
