Blessings galore.

I'm the financial worry worm of the family. No surprise there, right? So, as we've been getting closer and closer to little peanut's big debut, I've become more and more anxious about just how we will make ends meet. Well, just like Chuck always says, "Everything will work out." Thanks to so many wonderful people, we have truly been blessed financially in the last couple of months.

1. Papa Woods.

When we first found out that we were pregnant, I was just graduating from BYU and consequently losing health insurance ((bad timing, I know). We had applied to a few health insurance companies, but they denied me because I was already pregnant (darn those pre-existing condition clauses). We tried Medicaid, but weren't able to get any response from them before we left for Fiji. So, we were in a bit of a pickle.

Thanks to Obama-care and my dad's efforts, I was able to hop onto my Dad's health insurance at no additional cost. I make it sound like an easy process, but my dad went through a lot of work and even changed his plan so that I could get affordable care in Utah, not just Kentucky. So, thanks Papa for keeping us insured in one of the most important times!

AND as my birthday gift, my dad offered to pay for my flight to Kentucky for Laura's wedding (this weekend!). Pretty generous birthday gift. Thanks, Dad :)

2. Tammy and Greg Adams.

Tam and Greg just had adorable little Grant on January 2, 2010.

Adorable baby Grant :)

Consequently, they have so graciously offered us loads of baby gear. I'm not just talking baby clothes (extremely cute baby clothes that I look through almost every week) and burp clothes, but a swing, her boppy, their stroller...things that they could have sold, but decided to give to us instead. Thanks Tam and Greg for clothing our soon-to-be son and so much more :)

3. HELP International.

Chuck and I had planned a big trip to New Zealand and Australia after our Fiji excursion. Since HELP pays for our direct flights to Fiji, we just purchased the entire trip (LA to Fiji, Fiji to NZ, NZ to Aus, Aus, NZ and NZ back to LA) through HELP. The cost of the extra flights were surprisingly only around $400/person. We told HELP that we would just deduct that amount ($800 total) out of our final paychecks when we got back.

Chuck's sweet grandma, Twilla Hancock, passed away just days before we were to fly to New Zealand. After a lot of prayers and discussion, we both decided to cut off our trip and head straight back home to attend her funeral. Luckily, we were able to change the flights with no additional costs whatsoever-a major blessing that we weren't expecting. We made it back just in time to spend a wonderful week with the Krebs family and to celebrate Grandma Hancock's life.

The Krebs Family with Grandpa Hancock at Grandma Hancock's funeral

When we returned to Provo, we went into the HELP office to return the various items we had used over the course of the summer (laptop, phones, etc.). The directors asked us just how much extra we owed them for our flights. When we told them that it was around $800 dollars, they dismissed it and told us not to worry about it. Yet another incredible blessing.

4. Corinda Krebs.

Corinda, who happens to be about 3 weeks behind me in her own pregnancy, offered to host and plan a baby shower (with the help of Momma Krebs and Momma Woods and a few others) while we will be in Kentucky. How sweet!

5. Momma Woods.

As we've started to look around more seriously at baby gear and ask other women and couples tons of questions about what's worth it and what's not, we were a little overwhelmed. Momma Woods has graciously offered to get our very first crib for us. Not that it will fit into the place we live now, but she said she'll "hold it" until we find a place where little peanut can have his own room. Thanks, mom!

Not only that, but she has offered to let Chuck and I use her "companion certificate" (a reward through Delta Airlines that allows you to purchase one ticket and then a companion ticket on the same flight for only $99) for our flights home for Christmas. Thanks momma for helping us out more than you know.

5. Medicaid.

Just today we found out that if we apply for medicaid as soon as little peanut is born, Medicaid will pay for 100% of the baby's hospital bill plus appointments, etc. up until age 6. Holy cow!

So, as you can see...we're a pretty blessed little family if ya ask me. And just like Chuck always says, "Everything will always work out." In fact, President Hinckley says it a little better, "It isn’t as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don’t worry. I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out. If you do your best, it will all work out. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. … If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers."

Just gotta have a little faith (and some really wonderful family and friends ;) ).