Feeling Accomplished. . .

I am feeling accomplished today.  It has been a long week but I feel good about myself, my job, and my family.  There were several days in these last seven weeks or so that I felt completely overwhelmed.   I am a little ashamed to admit that I also felt like giving up a couple of times too.   I felt like; what am I doing trying to go back to work after thirteen years?   I must give huge thanks to my sister, my mom and my very sweet, loving, and supportive husband.  I am very serious when I say if it were not for their support and confidence in me I would have given up on myself.   My sister reminded me that God was working in my life and that I should walk in Godficance (confidence in God) and that is what has gotten me through to this point of thankfulness.   I am also very thankful to my friends that have kept us in their prayers.   I have renewed my relationship with God on this journey and that may have been His ultimate plan.  I have really leaned on Him as well through this tumultuous time in our lives.
The hubbs is back at work with his old job and we will not be as naive as we were the last time.   There is no trust there anymore with job security for either of us.  We are saving for the kids college and paying off our house as fast as we can.  In true Dave Ramsey fashion we are also padding our emergency fund for when this happens again.   Based on our experience, I suggest you shoot for at least a six month emergency fund.   It took my hubby exactly six months to get his job back and it took me three months to find my job.   I talk an awful lot about Dave Ramsey but, we are a prime example of what can happen and that Dave's plan does work.   You do not have to trust me check it out for your self do your own research but, make a plan.  As Dave says, it will rain and you should be prepared for that rainy day.

BIG NEWS!!!!!!

My very dear sweet hubby has his old job back with a generous raise!!  Praise the Good Lord above and a big thank you to every one that was praying for us and who have inquired about how we are doing.  We are very excited!!!  He is slated to start November 1.    I guess he will be hanging up his apron, much to my dismay.   

Stay tuned lots of new adjustments to our family with us both working.  This could be very interesting.  

We are very thankful and feel very blessed.  

Quick Update. . .

I survived the first week.  In this next week I will be on a routine schedule for this group.  They work twelve hour shifts and this is new for me.  I worked third shift in a lab my first job right out of college.   It was not that bad and I met my sweet hubby in that job.  
My adventure began yesterday and boy was I tired.    

Funny thing happened on my first day of work after thirteen years of being a mom, my sweet hubby's old boss called him and asked him if he would come back to work for them.  Ha Ha Ha!!!  If that does not prove that the Lord works in mysterious ways I do not know what will.  God's plan all along may have been for me to get back out in the workforce.  Our plan has always been for me to go back to work once the kids were more self sufficient, I just did not think they were quite self sufficient enough just yet.  I was thinking maybe when they were both in high school.  According to my hubby, I have been pushed out of the nest.  The hubbs job offer is not solid just yet, there are still some things that have to be ironed out but we are hopeful that it will work out.   

The boys seem to be adjusting well to me going back to work, we will have to see as my hours adjust.  I am part-time but, during my training period of several months I will be full-time so that my skills I am learning will stay with me.   There is even hope of working from home if the need arises.   I went to lunch with the new CEO yesterday and I have to say, I like that personal touch.  The CEO took myself and the other new hire out to get to know us.  That says a lot to me about how the company feels about it's staff.   They are really intent on their employees learning their job well before they handle live cases.  

I will be posting more as the days go by so please stay tuned.  I think I have found my new home in the business world.  

Used Cars. . .

We have been looking for an inexpensive used car for me to drive when I start work, since Sprat is driving mine to school.  I have looked on every internet auto list there is, or at least it feels that way.   I found something interesting along my journey to a car.  Did you know that the car rental companies sell their cars for a really good price when they can no longer rent them out?  These are the Enterprise and Hertz rentals places.  On a whim last week I drove by one of their used car lots and walked around.  They have some really great deals and the real plus is that you can be pretty sure that these vehicles have been properly maintained with oil changes and tire rotation and things like that.  This would be the ideal place to look for your kid a vehicle when they get ready to drive.  If we did not already have something for Sprat to drive I would most definitely go here over a dealership.
I am taking the car I am looking at to my mechanic today for a once over and if it passes my guys inspection I will have another car.   I am sticking to Dave Ramsey's plan, we are paying cash for this car, I refuse to go into debt with our job situation and we had to have another car so I have a reliable means to get to  work.
I start work on Monday and I am really excited and really nervous.  I am going to have six weeks or so of training so my schedule will be all over the place.  I do not think this position will ever get monotonous and since I will be part time I will be able to still be around for my kiddos.
A lot of things going on at our house this week.  Stay tuned still waiting for feedback on a couple phone interviews for my dear sweet hubby.  I told him to keep the faith that God's plan may be to keep him home till we have made this transition of me going back to work.   It is all happening in His time not ours.

A House Husband. . .

I got my schedule for my first two weeks of work and oh boy am I going to be doing a lot of studying.  Our life is about to get crazy!  My dear sweet hubby still has not found a job and is still looking but I think, him not having a job will help our family with this crazy transition of me back to work.  It seems like a catch twenty-two, right?  I would not be going back to work if my dear hubby had not been downsized, the Lord has a plan and he does work in mysterious ways.
Sprat is driving to school now and I think he likes his new found freedom.   We are looking for a car so that when I am at work the hubbs is not at home with no wheels.  Hey if my job works out the hubbs may become a house husband.  Ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!  He is all for that.  I am somewhat afraid of that.  He is threatening to clean. . .  This is not good, when my husband cleans he just throws everything away.  He once took a large tin that I had ALL of Sprat's baby things in; his arm band, his baby hat, the mask that my hubby wore during surgery, the Polaroid snap shot of him right after birth, and my arm band.  He dumped all of these things on the kitchen table and threw away the tin that was holding them.  Now I ask you, what is the purpose of him throwing all of that on the table to toss the tin in the trash.  I do not understand what goes through men's minds when they are doing these type of things.  I love my hubby to the moon and back but I cannot let him clean my house.  
Stay tuned for a work update as things begin to shake and shimmy.  

Happy, Happy Friday. . .

Well, I have a job after thirteen years, not that I did not work during these last thirteen years but now I will get paid and I will be helping my family.  Very excited today.  Sprat did get his license yesterday and we are thrilled.   The hubbs had a job offer yesterday and he has another interview today that we believe will end with another offer.  The wheels are moving on this train to employment. 
I am going to be working with our local organ donor center.  Lots of new things going to be happening in our house.  We will be adjusting to new schedules and new responsibilities for the kiddos. 

We will be celebrating birthdays and employment!!!  God is good and we are very thankful!!  

I start work in two weeks and between now and then I will be doing a lot of studying about organ donation.  If you have any questions please post them in the comments section and I will find your answers.  The one thing I did find out that was very interesting is that most religions do not oppose organ transplant and donation.  

A friend and former co-worker of my hubby just donated a kidney so that his wife could receive a kidney from someone else.  It is a program where if your loved one is in need of a transplant and you do not match, you can give your organ to someone else that you match up with and they will find another candidate for your loved one in a similar situation.  They did a big news story on this couple and it really was good.  Awesome to see and hear great stories like this one.  

Hopeful, thankful, and very grateful. . .

An Even Keel. . .

I am going to say this very quietly and please do not repeat it, I think everything is finally starting to fall into place.  Shhhh!  I do not want to jinx this.   The one thing that is looming on the horizon, other than my hubby and I not having jobs, is Sprat will go to get his drivers' license today.  I cannot believe I said that out loud, that may just counter act everything else.   Sprat will also turn seventeen this week, where has that time gone.  I am really starting to feel old.   Lord willing and the creek don't rise, I will have a teen driver in my house by noon.
Since we have only two cars and the hubbs and I both are going different directions these next few weeks, he may not get to drive by himself for awhile.  He will at least have his license so when our lives do settle back down he can drive.  He does not see this logic just yet, so he is pretty bummed that he will not get to drive immediately.
We will be cramming birthday celebration in between lots of Church activities this weekend.  If you see me I will be the one running around with my hair on fire.

Friday Full of Prospects. . .

Feeling a little nervous today, I have a telephone interview this morning.  I have not interviewed for a job in many, many years.  I dare not tell how many because then I would be giving away my age. The hubbs had a phone interview yesterday and we are hopeful one of us will find something soon.  We have lots of folks that have been praying for us and I am very thankful for those prayers.
We still have not told very many people that my dear hubby was displaced and I am not sure why.  I tell myself I do not want anyone to pity us but there may be some pride issues in there too.   Several people have found out about our job situation at our Church and I do appreciate the love and prayers that they have shared with us and the very kind words.  It is very nice to know that our Church family loves us so very much.  
To prepare for my phone interview I went to Google and searched for help.  There are many sites for this type of thing.  I have found through my dear hubby searching and interviewing for jobs that the phone interview is the first stage and sometimes the last too.   It is a way to weed out people before they actually start bringing candidates in for the face to face interview.  I know that in our technology driven world that this is the wave of the future but I am not sure how helpful it is.  I am sure it is helpful to the employer but I believe it is detrimental to some of the prospective employees.  There is not a whole lot you can garner from a phone interview other than the persons voice quality and general biographic information.  This is just my opinion of course and we all know what folks say about opinions.
On another note:  my oldest has his first varsity football game tonight.  Asking for prayers for all.

Lots of Possibilities this Week. . .

Positive things happening this week at our house.  The hubbs is on his second face to face interview with a company he thinks will be a great fit.   I get to be a mock juror this week for a local law firm.  I am so excited!!  If you do not know what a mock jury is, here is what I learned in my criminal justice classes last semester.  When a law firm has a big case and is not sure how a jury might perceive their client they will enlist the help of a mock jury to run their defense strategy by and see how they react.  This is going to be very exciting, I am like a little kid the night before Christmas.  I also applied for a couple jobs myself other than the mock juror position.  Now I have not been in the workforce since Big T was born and he is thirteen.  I got my first, I am sorry you do not fit with our company the other day.  I must say, I was a little hurt.  I sort of thought the "I don't fit" was a little odd, are they trying to stuff me into a container.  I know that God has a plan for us and in His plan I may not be working so, I am going with the flow.
I have been searching indeed jobs for what I think I would like to do, I have also looked on monster jobs.  These are two very good sites to check out when looking for employment.  If you are looking for more professional positions I would highly recommend Linked In.  This is where the hubbs has found all of his contacts and prospects for jobs.  He has also connected with some of his old college buddies and past colleagues.  A friend asked me the other day if anyone goes to the employment office anymore.  I told her I was not sure but, I think indeed and monster would be more help than the employment office these days.  I guess if you are filing for unemployment reimbursement then you would have to go to the employment office periodically.
Looking forward to a wild and crazy week.  Praying for the hubbs and that God's hand will be in what ever offer he receives.  I know He holds us in His hands and for that I am truly grateful.
Stay tuned for tells of our adventure we took last night. . .

Recipe of the Day. . .

I love a good devotion and throw in a good recipe with it and that is like having your cake and eating it too.  No pun intended.  One of the hubbs nieces gave me this book for Christmas, I know that I have posted on it before but I thought I would share one of the recipes.  This is Hotcakes and Hallelujahs by Stacey Roberts.  I was reading a devotion from it this morning about giving thanks in all situations and how true that is.  The hubbs was downsized in May and he still does not have a job but we are not destitute just yet.   Because they let him go they had to true up all of his bonus for his quota attainment which was a lot.  We were able to add to our emergency fund for the emergency his company created.  I keep telling my very sweet hubby that God wanted him out of that situation and that God has a plan for our family.  We are not privy to his plan in advance we must trust him and have faith.  We are trusting Him and I am trying to get my hubby to take advantage of  this time off and enjoy his family.
Here is my recipe for today, these are Sabbath Day Spice Muffins

1/3 cup shortening
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 cup milk

Topping
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup butter, melted

Preheat oven 325.  In a large mixing bowl cream shortening, sugar, and egg.  In medium bowl combine flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg.   Add the medium bowl to the shortening mixture slowly along with milk.
Grease muffin tin and fill with batter bake for 20-25 minutes until golden.  Let cool for a few minutes
Topping:  combine sugar and cinnamon.  Roll warm muffins in melted butter and then in the sugar mixture.  
This recipe says it makes 8-10 muffins.

I am going to try this one today.

Times Have Changed. . .

Big day today, Sprat is off at camp, Big T gets to be an only child for a week, and the hubbs is off to his first face to face interview in 24 years.   He has had several phone interviews over these last several weeks some proved positive others proved he has too much experience for what ever these folks were looking for.  This is quite the daunting task for anyone on the job hunt after 24 years.  Many things have changed in the way you find jobs since my dear sweet hubby and I last looked for jobs.   You only get face to face with a possible employer if you have jumped through the many hoops of electronic submissions and phone interviews.  This makes your resume the most important piece of your job hunt tool box, it is one of the first things a prospective employer will see and evaluate before they decide to make contact.
My hubby was in sales so they want to see and know that he can sell.  They want to see proof of success in his field.  The hubbs went to a professional group to help him set up his resume, he had twenty-three years of success to put into one resume and make it stand out.  There is no shame in seeking help, anyone in a professional position should seek a professional to set up their resume and guide them through these murky waters.
This has been a very interesting experience, the job game has really changed since I was last in the job market.  This will certainly help us to help our kids when they start their application process for their first jobs and even their application process for college.  Many thanks for all those that are praying for us and the kind words.

Below is a quick picture of Sprat as we were dropping him off at camp yesterday.

Updates on the Job Front. . .

Updates on a few things.  Things are moving on the job front.  Lots of interviews and we hope to see some offers soon.   My hubby has worked very hard to get up and running on the job front after 24 years.  If you are facing this same thing my prayers are with you.  It is a slap in the face to be a loyal and high performer for almost 24 years and then be told they do not have a territory for you.  Please remember there is no loyalty with employers anymore and you must be prepared to be looking for another job.  I have learned through my very sweet hubby's situation that there are lots of resources out there if you are in need of resume or interview help.  We took advantage of the resume help and the Linkedin help.  My sweet hubby now has a Linkedin profile that is very professional and we have learned through this experience that networking is the key to finding a job.  The hubbs has made connections with recruiters and possible jobs through the Linkedin website.
We are feeling very hopeful that God is working and opening doors for my hubby.   My sister has pointed me to an online devotion site that I love, d365 devotions.   Check it out.
Stay tuned for more updates on the garden and the job front.  If you are a professional check out the Linkedin website, you never know when you might be looking for a job.

Be Prepared for the Storm. . .Life Lessons. . .

I have debated and debated on whether to write about something going on in our lives.   You may or may not know that we are a single income family, I have written numerous times about how much I love Dave Ramsey and how his plan helped us get out of debt.  I have also written about my faith in God and how he works in our lives.   We are by no means a perfect family but, I know that God loves us and that he is constantly at work in our lives. I am writing this today to inspire and encourage others that may be facing similar circumstances.
My husband was a pharmaceutical sales representative with the same company for 23 years, I say was because he was just recently downsized.   Now we are a no income family of four.  We have not shared this with anyone but our family thus far.  We are a prime example of why you should use Dave Ramsey's plan to get out of debt.   To use Dave Ramsey's words, you never know when it is going to rain so, you better be prepared.   I always talk about how God works through our lives and this is a huge example.  I was able to take the Dave Ramsey class in 2012 and we had just bought a new car. Before taking his class I had dabbled in the envelope system but only got serious after taking the class.  Dave's class showed me that we had to get out of debt and how debt is bad.  In 2012 we started following a budget and using the envelope system to curb our spending and save for special things that we wanted to do.  I know that it was God that pointed us in that direction because he knew his plan for us.    I was able to pay our car off and get out of debt, except for the house, in two years.  Since our only debt is the house we have been working like crazy to get it paid off too.
I said earlier I do not want anyone to pity us because I know this is God's plan and because he got us on the Dave Ramsey road to financial peace, we are at peace financially.  If you have not checked Dave Ramsey out I encourage you to do so.  Dave Ramsey has a plan that anyone can work if they want, you have to want to get out of debt though and you have to be serious about it.  I am not being compensated in any way for this post.  This is just something that I am very passionate about and a plan that I believe in and that is working for my family.
This is a shining example of why everyone, even those professionals that think it could never happen to me, need to be preparing for the rain.   I am so thankful that God pointed us in the direction of Dave Ramsey because otherwise we would not have been prepared for this storm.   Not that anyone can be prepared for something like this but I feel we are better prepared than we were five years ago.  We had our six months worth of expenses emergency fund in place and no debt other than the house and our house payment is manageable.  As our storm rages there are so many emotions; there is anger, frustration, sadness, shame, and yes guilt.
This is why you have been seeing so many garden and recipe posts from me.  I have not really known how to talk about this but I feel like I need to talk about it because it is happening all over the country these days.  I have put my classes on hold for the time being, the hubbs did get a severance package and that is a huge blessing and we used my tuition money to buy him a new laptop.  His laptop was company property so it went back to the company.
I know this is God's plan and I do feel blessed that he is working in our lives.  He has blessed us with a bountiful garden this year and I am truly thankful.  The hubbs and I could live out of our garden and have been these last few months but the kiddos want meat and well, I cannot bring myself to raise anything to butcher just yet.
Stay tuned this and the garden will by my focus these next few months.

"There is hope in your future."  Jeremiah 31:17