Summer Jobs???

Did you have a Summer job when you were in high school?  Perhaps you had a regular job during school?  I did the Summer job thing when I turned sixteen and then found a job that would work with my school schedule and my cheer-leading schedule.  That job followed me all the way through college and thankfully it did. I had great bosses during my school job, they were hard on me but that taught me a lot about working for someone and dealing with people.  I want my kids to learn those same lessons, they cannot learn these things from the hubbs and I tough. 
Sprat, has tried to find a conventional Summer job with no luck. Thankfully he has offered himself up to be a handyman for anyone that needs him.  He has been doing yard work, mowing grass and spreading mulch,  for a couple of ladies in the area and has cleaned out a garage for one lady.  Yesterday he came home and said he had used a jackhammer to take down some bathroom tile.  The last few weeks he has been helping a gentleman gut a house and he has learned to take down dry wall and now to use a jackhammer.  I think that is really cool.   I am thankful for people that will take a chance on a young person and let them help out and do things and maybe even teach them a skill.  Sprat is learning  a lot this Summer. 
Stay tuned as we gear up to start another school year, one a sophomore in college 13+ hours away and one a junior in high school. 

Weekend Update: Garden, College, and Gossip. . .

My little side herb garden/bulkhead is planted.  Yayyyy!!!  My seedlings I was trying to start did not do so well so, I bought some plants to start my herb garden with.  I am  so excited and I cannot wait to clip my first sprigs of Lavender and put them in the bath, awww how relaxing that will be.   Below is the picture after we planted.

I also planted some Dianthus in this bed and some garlic, yes I am going to try my hand at garlic one more time. 

My next adventure is going to be a cutting bed somewhere in the back yard.  I absolutely love fresh cut flowers.  I have some that I cut now when they bloom but I would like a bed devoted for that purpose alone.  I use to have beautiful and very fragrant roses and they died.  I am going to plant some more this year.  

So I got a call from the Dean the other day looking for Sprat, she thought she had called his cell number.  Long story short they believe that Sprat's roommate may be suicidal and wanted to talk to Sprat about the roommates recent behavior.  Well, this just sent me spinning into never never land.  I am a worrier anyway and this was a lot to handle.  I ask that you keep the roommate in your prayers as well as Sprat because I did not know everything he had been dealing with this year.   Being far away from home is hard and add not knowing anyone in this new environment is very difficult.  Sprat was trying to help the roommate cope with some things, I love that my child wants to help everyone, but sometimes our friends need more than just a friend.  Prayers for  them both would be most appreciated.

On to the Gossip train. . .   So my husband went to Atlanta to interview for a job, the job was not in Atlanta the hiring manager was.  At this particular time while he was out of town Big T needed a ride home from lacrosse practice because I was having to work that night too.  I guess when he asked if he could get a ride from one of the players someone else overheard him and only got part of the conversation.  This how rumors and gossip get started, you  only hear half the story and then run with it.  The interview was about two weeks ago and while I was on the phone with Sprat about the roommate he asked if we were moving to Atlanta.  LOL!!!! One of his friends that is in college in another town  texted Sprat in Boston to ask if he was moving to Atlanta.  LOL!!!   All of that because a kid overheard half of a conversation and just went with what he assumed was going on.   Kids can make rash assumptions just like adults and all of a sudden your moving and did not know it.  

That's it for our update.  Stay tuned more college stuff going on and maybe some Lacrosse tournaments and camps for both boys this Summer.  

Work, Family, Love, Kids. . .

Three lacrosse games, work and trying to catch up with one home from college before he has to go back.  It is going to be a busy week for everyone in our house.  Oh, and let us not forget the hubbs interviewing for a new job.  He is still with the old company but I have said many times his industry is very volatile and they do not value employees.  These upper management people tell their employees, "make your numbers or you will be sorry," which is management speak for you will lose your job.  The hubbs and I are older and we were raised very similarly, we were taught a pretty strict work ethic and that has stuck with us.  I just hope our kids will follow in our way of thinking when it comes to work.  My hubby is very smart and the clients he calls on love him and see him as a valuable resource when it comes to his product.  When he was laid off a couple years ago, one of his clients offered to call his company and complain.  My hubby being the kind of person he is, insisted that he not call that it would not do any good.  My hubbs manager, knows he is a valuable employee but the top guys at the company have no clue.  It is funny how CEO's and VP's today do not understand that companies do not run on the backs of CEO's but on the backs and blood of the employees.  I would wager a guess that, with regard to my hubby's company, if you put one of their upper management people in the field to call on the offices that they would fall on their face.  Their product sales would dry up and blow off into the wind if these upper management types had to sell and be responsible in the field, half of them have never been in the field before and have no clue what the average sales representative does or has to do on a daily basis.  I really wish employers would take a step back and see the value in their employees.
I am excited for my hubby and his new job possibilities,  he has had one interview and has another one planned and even another one with a different company soon. 

Courage for the New Year. . .

Courage doesn't always roar, sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, I will try again tomorrow.  

By Mary Anne Radmacher.

I have placed this quote in my planner for the start of this year.  I cannot remember where I saw this but it really stuck with me.  

I bought a new book for my hubby earlier from Dave Ramsey, "48 Days to the Work You Love" by Dan Miller.  This was a suggested book from one of groups I am in on Facebook that is a Dave Ramsey group.  I have shared numerous times that my hubby is in a very volatile business, and of course you know he was laid off two years ago and then re hired for the same position 8 months later.  Well, they are looking at downsizing again, his company has already sold off several divisions and laid off several sets of sales representatives.  My dear sweet hubby could be laid off again with no severance package this time.  This is what prompted me to buy this book.  He got several books this year for Christmas so he has not picked this one up yet.  I decided that I would check it out and see what all it had to say.  I have read the first chapter and love it, I think I may be in the work that I love right now.  That first chapter has re affirmed my choice in work and being affirmed in my decision makes my work much more rewarding.  My hope is that my very sweet hubby will find something that will make him happy too.  Starting out in his job he enjoyed it because he was educating people and sharing his knowledge and his passion for his product.   Now there are unrealistic and unattainable quotas that are created by people that have no idea what it means to be a sales person.  This job has sucked the life out of my sweet hubby and I would love for him to find his work that he would love.  Fingers crossed and I will keep you updated, lots of changes coming for our family. . . 

Here is to the New Year. . . . 2019

Year end update on the family, lots of things changing in 2019 for this crew.  Lots of new adventures on the horizon for us all.  It is going to be a little scary but we will attack it like we do everything else, as my sister says with Godcofince ( Confidence in knowing that God is leading us in His path).  That is my new buz phrase for 2019. 
I am very proud of the boys for their school work this year, they both did great and finished with high GPA's and Big T has chosen his pathway.  He had originally thought he would do EMS (emergency medicine) but after going to the college and seeing everything he has changed to a nursing pathway.  I am very proud of him.  Yes, the hubbs and I are both biology/chemistry majors but we have not influenced him other than being role models.  It does make a mama proud when your kids choose to follow in your major.  Not sure if he will do the super senior that is offered at his high school or not but either way he will have a foot hold on his college classes when he graduates. 
Sprat is making his way in Boston and loving every minute of it.  I must admit I was a little scared for him to be that far away, he is easily distracted.  He had a few snafus here and there along the way and it was crazy difficult getting him his mail.  His speech that involved me sending the Cheerwine he got a 92 and he was happy.  He met a lot of interesting people and got to do a lot of cool things and if all else fails, I do believe he could be a tour guide in Boston.  LOL!!  He is looking forward to Spring semester, it is going to be a tough class load but I think he can do it.  Since he has been home we have found out that his debit card was hacked so he is cardless now.   He is going to have to learn that cash is king and much safer. 
I have thoroughly enjoyed having everyone at home and it is amazing the bond that the boys have now since Sprat has been at college.  They are getting a long so much better and enjoy spending time with each other.  To all the moms that are worried about sibling rivalry it will level out, I was very worried about that these last 7 years they just argued all the time and there was NO love there.  It is very different now.  The hubbs and I are bracing for another possible lay off with his company, they are selling off every division and they are now down to pretty much the bare bones. 
On the up swing my job is going well and I have worked a lot in the last two months.  The good news to that is that we are preparing for this inevitable lay off.   We should hear something the first of the year so, prayers are greatly appreciated.  Walking in Godcofince as we embrace changes. . . .

Exciting News. . .

I received a text from my very sweet hubby yesterday telling me to pack my bags, we were going on a trip. He won this trip for his sales last year, after being laid off in 2016. This could not have come at a better time.  We will be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary this year and what better way to celebrate than a free trip to an exotic locale.  We celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary in Vegas on "the company" and took the boys to Disney four years later again on "the company."  They did away with that particular award and now they only send the top 14 sales representatives on this trip and with spouses or significant others only.  It is unfortunate that the boys will not be able to go with us but it will be nice to get away with my hubbs by ourselves.  I am so excited and a little nervous.  The company is already talking another re alignment (in code means lay offs).  We are much more prepared for possible lay offs this time than we were in 2016. 
On the lacrosse front, the boys are in a wining season after three games they are 2 and 1.  It is very exciting to watch the boys on the same field working together.   They're game last night was really intense and very exciting.  I was on the edge of my seat, covered in blankets watching last night.  It was a big win and a close game. 
Stay tuned for LAX news, Prom news, exotic trip news, and last but not least college news. . .

Random Thoughts for the Start of 2018. . .

2018 is off to a BIG start at our house.  The hubbs got back safely from Florida after a few delays.    He got his name up in  lights on the jumbotron for being ranked number three in the country in sales.  This is huge since he was laid off  in May of 2016 and then re hired in December of 2016.  You just do not realize the satisfaction I find in this whole ordeal.   It was not his direct manger that laid him off it was the pointy heads at corporate that have no clue what goes on at the sales level. 
Enough of that, because we have been too blessed to be ugly about the pointy heads.  I do believe God moves in mysterious ways.   We have made huge strides in paying our house off and saving for retirement.  I recently read the book by one of Dave Ramseys group called "Retire Inspired" by Chris Hogan.  This was an awesome addition to the Dave Ramsey collection of Financial Peace.  I highly recommend it to anyone that has done the Financial Peace class or who has read the book "Total Money Makeover" by Dave Ramsey.  Full disclosure:  I am not being paid to write this, I write what I feel, love and believe in and I do love and believe in each of these programs.  We are saving and giving like crazy and it feels good!!  Could not have done it without Dave and his program.  I would not have gotten serious about it without knowing the facts behind his plan/program and that is what the class gives.  I dabbled at this plan until I took the class.  If you have the opportunity to take the class I highly recommend it. 
Stay tuned, work is really busy this time of year and I feel very overwhelmed most days.  I use my blog as a means to vent some days and as a means to chronicle what is going on in our family.  You never know what you might read about hear at the Pampered Mom???

Update On Job, School, and College Applications. . .

Big T's first business casual day this semester.  Big T's school will be having visitors from another county school system. They are coming to his school because they want to implement some of the things they are doing in their own school system.  I think that is pretty cool.  They must be doing something right to bring in other counties to check them out.  During this visit the students will be doing presentations for the visitors on what they have been studying.
Sprat is adjusting to his college and high school classes.  He seems to be balancing things well.  I got my first call from his high school English teacher.  Sprat really likes this teacher, he had him last year too.  I have not heard from Big T's teachers yet.  They are getting ready for their first exhibition  in November, I am looking forward to that.
It has been a year since I started my job.  I still cannot believe it has been that long.  This has been a crazy year for my crew, very emotional and a little stressful.  My schedule is still all over the place but, I do feel like I am making a difference, so I can take the up in the air schedule.  My kiddos have had to become a little more independent.
Sprat has applied to three colleges and has been accepted at two.  We are very excited for him.  Now we are on to the scholarship trail.  We make just enough not to qualify for need based help so we are on the trail of merit scholarships.  Stay tuned, Sprat has not nailed down his choice just yet and he may even apply to one more college before it is over.  

Feeling Blessed. . .

Waiting for everything in writing from the hubbs job offer.  Feeling very positive this week.  I am enjoying a couple days off and trying to get over this nasty cold my lovable little infectoids, I mean my wonderful boys brought to me.  
I am loving my new job, I am learning something new everyday and that invigorates me and my brain.  I am in an office setting with a wonderful lady that handles the front office.   So far she has made us (the people in call center) chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin chocolate chip bread, and last week when it was chilly she heated up apple juice for everyone.  I had never had heated apple juice before but it sure was good and it helped my sore throat.  It was kinda like spiced cider minus the spice.  I feel very lucky to have found this position and I am praying it will all work out.  I am in a training/probationary period right now so, only time will tell.  I am enjoying my new adventure.

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.  

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.

Youth Is Not All It's Cracked Up to Be. . .

Exhausted after my interview yesterday.  I have not interviewed for a job in twenty some years so I was very nervous.  I must have been extremely tense too, my neck and shoulders ached last night.  I have always held my stress in my neck and shoulders.
I thought I had a good interview but then at the end as I was leaving, I was not that sure at all.  It felt weird and I cannot explain it.  I am my own worst critic so, I am always questioning should I have said something different.  I have gone over my interview a thousand times and I am just not sure anymore how well it went.  I will not know anything for a few weeks because they are interviewing other candidates.  I liked the manager and I liked the facility, I think I would fit in there but who knows how they perceived me.  I am older than most of the other employees there, at least the ones that I met, and that may not go over well.  They may see me as a liability, who knows.
Staying focused and trying to stay positive in this uphill battle to find our path once more.   My dear hubby is beginning to show signs of wear and tear from this battle.  I am very worried about him, he thinks he is letting our family down because he does not have a job.  As a wife and friend I am trying to keep his spirits up and to encourage him but I know that this is weighing heavily on his heart.  He is blaming himself and I can assure you just based on his work ethic alone he is not responsible.
It would be nice if employers still valued loyalty in their employees and actually appreciated those that had stuck with the same company for a number of years.  These days employers see their employees as mere expendable commodities and to me that is sad.   I think if employers would show just a modicum of appreciation for service and loyalty they would get so much more productivity from their employees.   My husband felt loyalty to his employer unfortunately for him they did not feel the same.  
Stay tuned, the hubbs has more interviews to come and of course the kids are knee deep in their sports.

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.

Friday and Finances. . .

Since it is Friday and I try to talk about finances on Friday I am going to talk a little about them today.  You all know how much I like Dave Ramsey and I will start by saying if you have not read his book or at least looked at his website, Dave Ramsey, I highly recommend it.  You may not agree with everything he has to say but he does make a lot of sense about money matters.  I do not agree with everything, but there are areas that he really helped my family.
I would suggest you also check out his "Tools" section on his home page.  He has what he calls "ELP's"  this is an endorsed local provider.  This is a real estate agent, insurance provider, or financial adviser that follows the Dave Ramsey plan but is located in your area.  The hubbs and I looked up an ELP to help us move our kids 529 plan that we had set up years earlier and just to talk to someone else that followed Dave Ramsey.  They have helped us for the past ten years and they were one of the first folks I called when my very sweet hubby was displaced.  We knew we were going to have to move his 401K and possibly his pension and a few other benefits.  We had no clue how to proceed, thankfully these guys knew exactly what we needed to do and they made this part of our displacement very easy.  
One other thing I will point out that was a big benefit to us is Dave's debt snowball.  This helped us get out of debt except for our house and helped us get our emergency fund in place.  That emergency fund is really important because, should the worst case scenario play out, that will pay our bills.  The funny thing is, since they stopped contributions on his 401K and his HSA his severance pay is actually more than when he was actually working.  This has allowed us to add to our emergency fund and to add extra on our house.  I am also still using my envelopes just as I did before our displacement.  The envelope system is great and I encourage you to check it out too.  The envelope system helps you stay with your budget and helps you save for specific items like:  vacation, a car, college tuition, or the braces your kids might need.  I have an envelope for each one of those myself.  I put my college on hold when my dear hubby was displaced but we used my tuition money I had already saved to buy him a new laptop and a printer.  That money did not upset our regular budget because I had already saved it in my envelope.  If you are going to use a particular envelope's money for something other than what it was intended it is very important that you and your partner are in agreement on that move.  A budget and the envelope system only work when both parties are in agreement and work together.
The most important thing to remember is that a budget is a living organism, it grows and changes with each month or even week depending on your life style and where you are in life.   You must look at it each month to make sure you have everything covered.
Have a good weekend!

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.

This and That. . . .Random Thoughts. . .

The sweet B is going to the Vet today for her check up.  She loves going but she hates being probed.  She absolutely goes to pieces when we walk in the door, she is all wiggles and squeals.  When the Doctor gets in the floor to see her, she backs up into him and licks him under his chin.   She is the most loving and sweet dog I think we have ever had.  Our sweet Frito loved the hubbs and I, and she tolerated the boys but that was about it.  Cainie and Jake our labs, I guess they loved everyone too but they did not go completely to pieces like the B.  I miss all three of those babies, it seems like they took a piece of each of us when they left.
Nothing ever seems to go as I try to plan.  This Summer has certainly followed suit this year.  I have tried to plan a beach trip and another trip no where near the beach and neither one has worked out.  It has just not been in cards for us this year.  I do not necessarily have to go anywhere away from our house but, I want to try and do something fun with us all together.  I want my kids to have great memories to share with their own kids someday.  I am still trying to pull something together and we still may get to the beach, it just might be a Fall trip.   This does not include the college tours that we need to do this year.
I do have one more thing up my sleeve and I hope it will work out.  
The hubbs has a face to face interview the first of next week and he had two phone interviews this week already.   We are very hopeful for these two but, I know that it is in God's hands and it is his plan.  Keep the prayers coming, things are starting to come together.
Stay tuned. . . .

Next. . .

One down and three to go. . .  The hubbs received his first, thank you for applying but we have gone a different direction email yesterday.  He has three other jobs that he is in second and third interviews with so we are hopeful one of those will be the one.  He was not terribly upset over not getting this one because it would have required us to move to a different state.   The fact that he did not live in the center of the territory was the reason he did not get that job.  Personally, I think that is a dumb reason not to give someone a job.  If this person is the perfect candidate for the job and is willing to move if it works out why not put the best person for the job, in the job.  Instead they hire a less than qualified candidate just because they live in the optimal area.   That makes absolutely no sense what so ever to me, but what do I know I am just a mom/wife.
We still have three possibilities and who knows what tomorrow may bring.  We are hopeful that the job that is a perfect fit for him is still out there.  I have told him this is God's way of telling him to slow down and enjoy his family while he still has time.  While Sprat and I did the College tour the hubbs and Big T went fishing again.  They did catch some fish this time, Big T caught three and the hubbs caught one.   The hubbs said they had fun even though it was hot as blue blazes.  He has another fishing trip scheduled for tomorrow with his brother.
Today Sprat goes for his interview with our insurance agent.  Our insurance agent requires an interview with the student and the parents before he will sign off on an insurance policy for the student.  I do not think all agents do this but ours does.  He believes if he is going to give insurance to someone he should know them.  He knows the hubbs and I very well because he is a family friend and has been taking care of our insurance since we got married.  I actually think it is not a bad idea for the interview, this will help prepare Sprat for possible College interviews and certainly job interviews.

By Monday it Will be Semi-Normal. . .

We pick Sprat up at camp tomorrow, I really have missed that bugger.  I hope that he has had fun at camp and did not get any migraines.  Big T's dream of being an only child will end and things will start to get back to normal at my house.  We do have a college tour planned for Monday so we will be busy then and I may not get to post so please stay tuned for college updates on Tuesday.
My hubby turned down his first job offer today.  It was sort of odd because they contacted him out of the blue and totally out of his field.  I think he felt pretty good being able to say, no thank you.
This is why if you are in the market for a new job you need to get it together and set up a Linked In profile.  The hubbs has had more interest from his Linked In profile than any where else.  The days of looking at the want ads in the newspaper are over, you have to be on the internet and networking to find that dream job.  It is all about who you know and who they know.  If you have been out of the job hunt game as long as my hubby has you will also likely need help setting up your resume and Linked In profile.   We did seek professional help to organize the hubbs resume, he had almost twenty-four years of statistics and accomplishments he had to get into a professional resume.  He has had many compliments from his former co-workers about how great his resume and profile look.  The majority of his contacts about jobs have come from recruiters and head hunters that have seen his resume on Linked In.  There are many professional companies that offer these services, I recommend you check them out if you are in need.  There is no shame in seeking help to get that resume together.

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.