We Have Been Blessed!

By the way, here are our new e-mail addresses. (Yes, you all know how old we are, now)
kentlivingston71@gmail.com
carollivingston78@gmail.com

Well, I suppose I should give an update to my family on the results of a family fast we had on February 1st. Anyone else that's interested can read on, also. As you know we are employment-challenged and in January we were told by FedEx (my only job) that all part-time employees would have to call in each day to see if there was work. The first two weeks were bad. Although I went in each day, my weekly hours were cut by about a third. So I went from less than 30 a week, to less than 20 a week. We had an extended family fast for this and for other reasons as well. I can't speak for the others, but as for us, here is what happened.

Of course, I was hoping for a great new job which would mean the end of the part-time nightlife with FedEx. However, that's not what happened. But the Lord did hear our pleas and he had an almost-immediate answer. The Thursday after our fast (my birthday coincidentally), FedEx announced that all but four full-time workers would be given the option to be laid off or go part-time. That of course, meant more available hours for the part-timers. So I'm thinking this is really good. I could work 6 hours a night (that's the most they will let you do in a night), which was even more than before. However, then they announced that they wanted to keep every one at 25 hours a week, at the most. Better than nothing, but not as much as I hoped. But, nothing is impossible for the Lord. First of all, there are several people who aren't getting any hours. And secondly, I have talked with several guys, and the supervisors are being very strict with them about not going over 25 hours a week. And they all still have to call in before the shift each day, even the guys who were full-timers. My story is different. First, I do not have to call in before the shift. One of the supervisors told me to just come in every night, and there would be work. And as far as the hours go, I have worked 6 hours almost every night, since they made the announcement. No matter what, there always seems to be enough work for me, and the supervisors just never say anything. I don't know if they aren't paying attention, or just turning their heads the other way and pretending they don't notice. Whatever the case, I attribute it to the hand of the Lord. With limited work available and everyone else being strictly kept to the 25-hour rule, there is just no other explanation.

Again, I was hoping for a great new job, but with so many people losing their jobs and so many others getting their hours cut, I cannot complain about my situation. At least we have some employment, and in fact I now get more hours a week than I did before we fasted and before they made the first announcement about cutting hours. So, indeed the Lord does bless and watch over us, and we never will suffer more than is for our good. Elder Quentin L. Cook quoted President Harold B. Lee in his October General Conference talk: “Sometimes the things that are best for us and the things that bring eternal rewards seem at the moment to be the most bitter, and the things forbidden are ofttimes the things which seem to be the more desirable.” That is so true. Well, I just thought I would update everyone on how things are going and let you all know that we are grateful to you for the prayers and concerns. THANKS!