I know, it's not New Year's yet, but I know what next week will be like, so here it goes.
My year was pretty uneventful until summer hit. First, the company I work for finished a major part of the construction project. So, the Project Manager I had been working under for almost a year went back to Washington, and a new person took his place. So I had just gotten used to one management style, and the new Project Manager was the total opposite. Then we moved trailers. Then, slowly, the customer started putting restrictions on who could drive where, who could park where, etc. Things got a lot more tense between my company and the customer.
Then another Project Manager came onsite. Yep, you guessed it. Totally different management style. But, everyone had to juggle both styles at once. Two projects running simultaneously.
In September, I took my baby girl to Portland and left her there to go to college. As you know from past posts, she loves the city, loves college, and finally got a job! And, she is home right now, so all is right with the world. i think it will be easier to send her back in 2 weeks.
In October, I had to go to court about my Child Support order. I ended up losing the case, but it all worked out for good. Sammee and Tori have slowly started a relationship with their dad, stepmother, and brothers. Tori even went to Denver for Thanksgiving. My income went down, but we dealt with it.
In November, our project started completion, so all overtime was stopped. Income went down again. But we dealt with it. I wasn't sure if I could tighten my belt anymore, but I added some holes to the old belt and tightened away.
This month, as you all know, I was temporarily laid off. I have freak out moments, but they are really not that often. Like I keep saying, God will take care of it. He's done it before, and He will do it again.
Next week I get to earn some money. I will clean empty apartments in a student housing complex. Not glamorous work, but it will help pay the bills. What can I say, I like to work.
So that is my year. A little boring, some adventures, lots of trials, smiles, laughter, and tears. So here's to 2012. May it bring prosperity, joy, and success to all of my friends!
So tomorrow starts week 2. I will know within a day or 2 how this whole direct deposit of unemployment insurance works. According to the Department of Labor's website, the funds will be DDed within 3 business days of my weekly claim update. I can do the update anytime after midnight on Sunday. This is totally new territory, and I hope to not utilize it for long.
T'was the week before Christmas and all through the fam, we are happy and chatty and ready for some family time this weekend. For us, however, family time not only consists of going up to Mom and Dad's for dinner and presents, but the Christmas Eve services at church. We don't just attend, we participate. And this year is no exception. Our Worship Pastor, Karl, is trying to get drama back into worship services, and guess who gets to lead it. So that whole "time to step down as treasurer" thing was so I would have time to revamp the Drama Ministry. That is really where my heart is anyway.
So, Saturday night, Sammee, Tori and I will do a skit called "Three Trees." Very powerful skit. Doing it as a Reader's Theatre, so less blocking. And, yes, my girls got wrangled into this, but they love it. I will have someone video it and will post on You Tube next weekend.
I have a couple of job opportunities and will be papering Pocatello with resumes tomorrow. I hope I can find something besides jeans and hoodies in my wardrobe to wear out to drop off resumes. I will dig until I find some khakis and a nice button down blouse.
I will keep y'all posted on these jobs. Who knows, I may end up with 4 10 hour a week jobs. I have a friend who did that for years and loved it!
So Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, and a prosperous 2012 to all!
So week one of unemployment has proved to be the week that I am never home. Trips to Health and Welfare, Unemployment, taking Kat to school, picking her up, running Tori to work, etc., church, bowling, yada, yada, yada. Next week will probably be quieter.
My unemployment was approved, but I am disqualified from Food Stamps until January. Thank God for the FBC Food Pantry. I will actually utilize their generosity and food box of love.
I have applied for a couple of jobs. I am looking for something to get me by until the jobsite reopens in mid February or so. I am not going to just sit around and wait for February. It's not in my nature. I love working and providing for my family regardless of what the wage is. I am a social person, and I make the best of whatever job I happen to have at the time.
In the summer of 2010 I was unemployed for 4 months. During that time, the temp agency kept me in small jobs almost continuously. And I did a number of things. I served at a graduation dinner at the University. I did concessions at the football stadium. I worked for an auction house part time for a few weeks updating the website. I sat outside an all day seminar doing registration, checking to make sure drinks were available, keeping the schedule flowing, etc. I even ran around the area changing out advertisements on top of gas pumps. I have never had someone I have worked for have an issue with attitude or anything. I think I am just so happy to be working that I have fun at whatever I am doing.
So here I am, positive and happy. And, it's time to go get Tori to take her to work. She won't drive until she gets her wallet from Kirk. She left it in his car in Boise.
I got my Christmas present yesterday. TORI IS HOME!!!!!!!!!!! I did have to drive to Boise and pick her up. For those of you not from Idaho, Boise is about a 3 1/2 to 4 hour drive from Pocatello. I tried to leave so we would arrive in Boise at the same time, but I ended up waiting for an hour. I had a book, so it was okay. Met up with Tori and Kirk, loaded the car, grabbed mom more coffee (too much coffee yesterday), got in the car, went one exit over, met Kirk, got Tori's presents for her family, and hit the road. Ended up getting home around 9:30. Stopped at Fred Meyer to get Tori a phone charger (her's is in Portland), took her to her car, went home and rested my weary tushy. I am still sore, mostly down my left leg, but my left lower back has chronic problems, so it will ping and twinge for a couple of days. I'll be fine.
So I have definitely ruled out long haul truck driver as a possible career change. Because that would be a perfect fit for me (sarcasm, sarcasm). Tomorrow will be a pretty full day for me for not having to work. Health and Welfare to apply for food stamps, Dept of Labor to check on my unemployment claim, gotta shut off the cable, stop off at the school district to sign Kat up for free lunch, take Tori to work, go watch Kat a bowling practice, pick up Tori from work. Gosh, I think I will put in a full day's work tomorrow. Oops, I forgot about taking Kat to school. That would be the first errand. I should probably allow an hour or so for job hunting.
I do have some skills that are marketable in the here and now. So if you're in the Pocatello area and need some help with bookkeeping, payroll, or computer or network help, give me a holler. I have reasonable rates, and I am good at what I do.
So I am now unemployed. Temporarily. The thing is, I am not devastated, I am not stunned. I am okay. I am okay because of a few factors.
First, I work with an amazing group of people. I use the present tense because I will go back there and work with them again. All day I got hugs. As someone would leave for the last time, a hug. As I was getting ready to leave, more hugs. Big, strong, macho construction guys hugging me like an old friend. Not that I'm old.
Second, they take care of me. I have had offers of making sure I have a full tank of gas. One coworker gave me a microwave and a box full of food and kitchen stuff. Also laundry soap and TP. Why? Because. This is the same person who paid for my radiator. Why? Because. One coworker gave me Christmas gifts for me and all 3 girls. I'm sure more will come my way. Why? Because construction workers take care of each other.
Third, I have made an impression on these people. Both here in Pocatello, and at the home office in Longview, WA. The head of payroll said that if they start back up without me, she will have words with the President of the company. Who also likes me, by the way.
So, I have no job for now. I am not sure how the bills will be paid. I hope that my unemployment claim will be approved and I will start receiving it soon. But, I know that God has my back. He won't let me and the girls starve, freeze, or be stranded. I have faith.
On an up note, I get to drive to Boise tomorrow to pick up Tori. She is driving home with her boyfriend, Kirk, for Christmas break. But, Kirk is stopping to visit his mom in Boise for a few days. So Tori needs a ride to Poky. Since I am not worried about gas for Jeepers right now, I will drive the 4 hours to get her and come back home. I'm excited! And I actually don't think that I will have much time to talk on the way home, but the car will be full of chatter.
So, in a nutshell, I am unemployed at Christmas time, Tori is coming home tomorrow, and life is good. And, God is good. The rest are just details.
So this is my last week at work. For now. I will probably go back around February? Maybe? Here's hoping. In the mean time, if I can earn about $200 per week on top of my unemployment, I should be able to cover the bills. And maybe gas and food. But, of course, a full time job would be much better.
Now to share the blessings that have come my way recently. First, as you all know, my Jeep got fixed. Here's the kicker. A co-worker purchased the new radiator and cooling fan. Then, the spouse of a friend did the labor for free. My only expense was $36 for antifreeze (which mom paid). The Jeepers is back! Just in time for snow.
Blessing #2: Yesterday when I got home from work, I had a package. Well, it's Christmas. Didn't recognize where it was from, but shook gently, and heard jingle bells. Inside were 4 very cute snowman ornaments, a tin of fudge (all mine), a tin of peanut brittle (probably also mine), a book, a card, and a special surprise. I won't tell details, but man, it was timely, needed, and very much appreciated. If you want to know more go to www.christmasjars.com. You can get more information there. Awesome thing, and who knows what I may do next year about this time.
And, the big news of the week.....Tori comes home this weekend!!!!!!!! Geez, I have missed that little bundle of energy! And, she is coming home with A's in her classes and a job! At least one, with possibly another one in the works. I am so proud of her for being brave in being alone in a strange place, being persistent in her job hunt, and being an inspiration to everyone who knows her. She also bravely flew on a plane for the first time ever and survived! She had flown twice before, but both times with Sammee. So excited to see her, squeeze the stuffing out of her, and go to Co Ho for coffee and stories!
Lastly, I am blessed to have 3 amazing daughters who lean on me and let me lean on them when necessary. I am blessed with awesome parents who have my back at all times. I am blessed with wonderful friends and co-workers. And my church family is the biggest blessing a person could ask for.
So, even with the financial trials I have experienced over the past 2 months, my life is totally blessed, and guess who gets all the credit? Yep, you guessed it, God.
So, hug your family and be grateful for your job. I will be back soon.
Karen, I hope this was exciting enough. DMA, here is your post.
So, I get this question a lot, so I thought I would do a quick post about why I am still single after almost 16 years.
For some reason, people just can't understand how I can be content to be alone and not even date. But I am. It started out to be "out of obligation," but became comfortable, and now it's just who I am.
When I got divorced, I suddenly had 3 little girls who I had to raise on my own. No help, no breaks. Well, Mom and Dad, but you know what I mean. I made a vow to those little girls that anytime I was not at work, I would be home with them. Not that they had a clue. They were 5, 3, and a newborn. Hence, why I chose to put the girls first.
My friend and Pastor, Bill, told me that I would get married again. I laughed in his face. In love. Don't want to get on the Pastor's bad side. I asked him if he had ever taken inventory of the single men my age in this town. They all had more baggage than I did. Criminal records, mama's boys, deadbeats who couldn't hold a job, addicts of some sort. I totally didn't have the energy or patience to have another "child" around. So I waited. I actually made friends with some of the single dads at church, but that was it. We had too close of a connection with our issues raising our kids, and were just good friends. And, since they would come to me for advice about women, it seemed a little inappropriate to even think about dating any of them.
Fast forward. The girls were getting older, and spending more time with their friends. I remember the first Friday night I was alone in the house. Sammee was at a play with friends, Tori and Kat were both spending the night at a friend's house. I sat on the couch all alone and cried. I felt so lonely. But that didn't last long. The quiet in the house turned from a heavy reminder of their absence to a sanctuary. Not that I don't love my kids. Far from it. But, the rare occasions that I had no children in the house turned into precious mommy time. I relaxed, watched movies that I knew the girls would hate, and basically revelled in the quiet. But nothing beats the sounds of a house full of girls. Whether they are dancing and singing together or fighting, those are the best sounds in the world.
Fast forward again. Sammee and Tori are grown. Kat is almost grown. I have all the time in the world. So why don't I give it a go and try dating? 2 words. Too old. Okay, 2 more words. Set in my ways. Oops, that was 4 words. 4 more words. I can't remember how. I'm fine being single. I wasn't at first. My Aunt was single my whole life. She seemed angry and bitter. When I first got divorced, I was scared that I would be just like her. Old, angry, and bitter. Didn't happen. Probably because I made a conscience choice, and made it with thought, not just "oh, well, I guess I'm stuck with these kids." Not that my aunt did that.
So that's my story. One more thing. In the Bible, it is stated that certain people shouldn't marry so they can do God's work. The Apostle Paul never married. He wrote almost the entire New Testament. Maybe God kept me single to raise these amazing girls, and to keep me free to do the ministries I have done at First Baptist. And, just so you all know, the Drama Ministry will be kicking up again after a llllloooooonnnnggggg hiatus (like 6 years or something), and guess who's leading it? Yep.
