Out of the Blue

I was fired yesterday. This was rather unexpected. Our city is in dire financial trouble and has been taking steps to balance the budget. That is why my hours got cut recently. The management told us that if they were asked to make further cuts, full time people would lose their jobs. Instead, 50 some part time employees were fired yesterday, and not one full time person was let go. So this was unexpected..... I've learned a lesson the hard way about trust. I've been what feels like kicked in the gut three times now, and feel so devalued and disillusioned. I didn't used to feel that way about my job, only since the annexation. They are hoping the budget for next year passes so they can hire us all back, but I don't think I want to do it anymore. So I'm trusting that God has something different in mind for me, something even better. So please pray for me to find a new job and soon. Noah starts school in a week, which is why I emphasize soon! The hardest part will be telling the people I've served for 11 years goodbye. I love them and love the connection I have to them through my work. That is what makes me cry......I have a couple of weeks before I have to go and they are going to be tough ones. Pray for me.

Time Flies

Hello all! It is nearly the end of the month already. I'm thankful for that because the summer reading program is done at the end of the month, and then we take August off from programs to recover. Things should be returning to normal soon-it has been a super busy summer at work. Speaking of work, my hours did get cut 16 hours a month. I have also signed up to go through the process of getting my name on a full time specialist hiring list. I have to take a test and based on the score they will hire. I hate that; it feels like I'm in high school competing for a higher chair in band again. Still this opportunity doesn't come around very often, so I need to take advantage of it. It is just bad timing for me, as you will see below.

We bought a camper! I'm so excited to be moving up from our pop up. After this last trip, and getting practically no sleep, we decided it was time. We searched and searched, until we found a camper with everything we were looking for. Then we got lucky; there was a 3 year old model that said it was in excellent shape available. So we drove an hour away to look at it, and found out someone had purchased it that morning. I was so disappointed. He took my name and number, in case the financing fell through. Well it did, so I rushed down again and gave it a better look over and bought it. We pick it up tomorrow. We have so much to learn-emptying tanks, new type fridge, using a battery, backing up (always an issue). I'll post a picture next time. We should be more comfortable now.

The other big news is we are getting ready to start our bathrooms-next week! I finally made a decision on tile and counter tops. Now I have to find a shower curtain (so I can pick out colors), and pick out fixtures. This weekend we have to start moving everything out of the bathroom, including the washer and dryer. That is going to be the hard part-one finding a place to put them and two going without them during the remodel. I hate going to the laundromat! It will be worth it to wind up with a fresh, updated, fully functional bathroom though! When the dust all settles, I'm hoping to have enough money to update the kitchen also.

In other news, Nate's job isn't working out. For whatever reason, his boss hasn't called his crew to work in a month. He also has Nate's paycheck, and Nate won't ask for it (that's rude). So he's flat broke again. I see in his eyes that he really wants to work, but all his actions say otherwise. So typical Nathan, complicated. He has been doing some chores outside for me and I'm paying him (enough for gas). Still I pray something comes along for him soon. I had an exciting moment yesterday. I stepped on the scale and saw a number I never have seen before, and now I can say I've lost 80 lbs! I love the cooler weather we have been having this summer, it is good for walking! Jim is going to the surgeon that did his original surgery today to get another opinion about his hernia. He is not symptomatic so our family physician said we don't need to do anything, but other things he has read disagree. Keep you updated. Noah is taking a couple of online classes right now. His computer broke right before he started, so I hope it is working out for him to borrow a friends, while his is getting repaired (warranty work we hope). He is having a tough summer and hasn't been real pleasant. At least he is going to church and bible study and seeking a change. I'm very thankful for that!

That's about all for now. I need to go throw some laundry in, while I can!

Summer is here

June flew by, mostly because we were on vacation for half of it! Went back to work today, which was hard after being off for so long.

Our vacation was great. We left straight from work and drove to Galena, IL. We camped right outside of town. Our first morning we had to weather a severe thunderstorm in our pop up! Thankfully it didn't last long (or cause any damage to us). We spent the day exploring shops downtown and took a tour of Linmar Gardens. It rained a little bit, but stopped early enough that we were able to take in a balloon glow that evening. The next day we toured President Grant's home and Belvedere Mansion. We also stopped in to Galena Cellars and did a wine tasting and went to dinner at the DeSoto Hotel (Lincoln, Stephen Douglas, and Grant all spoke from the balcony there). What I liked about Galena was the history and it was a nice size. We were able to park the car downtown and walk anywhere we wanted to go. It was also nice because we would run into people that we knew from previous tours as we wandered around town. There are so many neat things you can do in Galena-maybe next time we will stay in a B&B and have the spa treatment!

From Galena we drove to South Bend, IN. Jim had a conference there. I went to the same conference last year in Charlotte, NC. It was so much better than South Bend. Our first night, we were approached by a hustler in the parking lot and someone broke into our camper. There wasn't much to see or do in downtown South Bend, so I went to the laundry mat and grocery store. My sisters came down and we did spend one day at the Amish flea market in Shipshewana. Haven't done that in years! We were so excited when we arrived and got parking three rows from the front gate. Mom would have been so proud!! We quickly realized why we got such good parking-it was sweltering hot. The temps were in the high 90's with the heat index well into the 100's. For the first time, we didn't make it to all the booths. We actually only did about half the booths. Still, it was good to be together and we did find some bargains.

From South Bend we drove to Silver Lake State Park in Michigan. That is where we had our family camping trip. My mom only had one sister-she had 4 kids, and we had 4 kids. Everyone was there except 4 of our kids that had to work. We occupied 9 campsites and spent our time going from site to site, visiting & eating and laughing. Jim's mom and stepfather were also able to camp with us and his sister's family came to visit for the day. It is so great to be surrounded by family. The weather was very comfortable in MI. We biked, swam, fished, and rode the dunes. Our brother in law, Dom, has a souped up dune machine and took us on some thrilling rides. Some interesting things happened at Silver Lake. Many of us broke out in a case of swimmers itch. Not fun! One evening, it looked like storms were rolling in. I looked behind our camper, and saw a young man setting up his gear in a clearing. I told him to finish up, storms were on the way. He said he was done-which confused me because all I saw was a tarp on the ground. He explained that he had biked in and that was his sleeping gear. I invited him to put his stuff under my camper and come join our family. We were having a big chili feed that night and had WAY MORE than enough to share. His name was Joel and he explained that he was biking from South Bend, IN up to Traverse City, MI and was on his way back to South Bend. Impressive! It didn't rain long, so Kim asked him if he wanted to go on a dune ride. His eyes got so big-did he ever! He came back with a huge smile on his face and couldn't wait to take a picture so he could tell everyone back home. The rain came later that night, and I invited him under my awning and even into the camper (I wouldn't have slept, but I couldn't leave someone out there laying on the ground in a tarp in a storm). He did come sleep under the end of the camper, where he had stashed his bike. Thankfully it didn't rain hard or long and in the morning he was on his way! We were able to stay a few extra days in Silver Lake, but had to move our camper to the site next door. I thought it would be a pain, but it wasn't too bad.

We left Silver Lake and started back towards home. We had hoped to do some more camping, but the weather was quite cool and rain was forecast everyday. Instead, we stopped at Starved Rock State Park in IL and treated ourselves to a night in the lodge. Always wanted to do that! There was a country music talent competition on the patio that night, so we had fun listening while we ate our dinner. Wish we could have stayed longer......

We came home to grass that was as high as the corn, and some mess, but all in all it wasn't too bad. Spent the next day cleaning up the camper mess-and we had to really clean it due to the sap from the trees at Silver Lake. Spent the rest of the weekend getting caught up and enjoying the 4th with both of our boys. Glad we had the time to do those things and get caught up on sleep too!

Now it is back to reality. I have an adult program tomorrow night, which I haven't had enough time to prepare for. The city budget crunch continues to be a source of stress. No good news there. Started the process of looking for tile-overwhelming.....need to get a friend to help. Still the boys are healthy, we are both working, and we are thankful for everything the Lord has seen fit to bless us with. Life is good.

Beautiful June

Hello! We are into June and all week it is supposed to be in the 70's. We have had a few hot days, but mostly cooler weather, which this northern girl really enjoys. I think the temperature in heaven will be in the 70's!

The big news is about work. The summer reading program started this week, so it has been like working at Chuck E Cheese. Loud, chaotic, busy...... It is exhausting. It is also frustrating. I have noticed a shift in parenting. Moms no longer correct their kids or even tell them no. I had a mom bring her toddler to an adult program I did this week. He was not happy to be there and kept voicing that rather loudly. I kept waiting for mom to realize it wasn't going to work and take him out, but she wouldn't. It was obviously bothering the rest of the people in attendance, so I finally had to say something. When the movie was done, I invited her back in for dessert and discussion. She got that child a full piece of very expensive cheesecake, and didn't say a word as he just squished it to oblivion with his hands. It scares me to think about the kind of adults they will become when they are spoiled, indulged, never told no, and nothing is off limits. I recently heard a talk and the woman said withholding creates gratitude. How can a child ever be grateful if all their desires are totally met? It is better to not give them everything, so they learn to be grateful for what they have, and grateful when they receive something they desired and had to wait for. A word of advice for moms-it's ok to tell your child NO, it is ok to correct bad behavior, it is ok if the child cries and even pitches a fit, it is ok if your child says he doesn't like you. You need to be a parent, not their friend. Get it right now, because the teenage years will be here before you know it. Teens are like toddlers on steroids!

The other news about work is that I am probably getting my hours cut. I'm really not happy about that. First of all, I have a child in college and need all the hours I can get. Secondly, the way I was told was insensitive. It popped into my bosses head as I was on my way out the door and she just blurted it out and then gave me the look that says "I know I can count on you to understand and not give me a hard time about this". Third, it isn't fair. She is cutting my hours and one other part time person because we are the part timers that make the most money. I understand it has the least impact on the staffing if she cuts us. So two people have to bear the brunt of a bad economy and others bad decisions, while 8 people carry on normally. I've also been given new "job expectations". These were extra things I was expected to do that will affect my performance evaluation. I barely have time to get my regular work done, and now I'm expected to do extra with less time. It just isn't sitting very well with me still.

More about work-Nathan has a job!! He is working for a seeding company. It pays decent and they work him hard. The only disadvantage is he doesn't have a regular schedule. He got his first paycheck the other day-YEAH!

Jim went to work on his boat three weeks ago and something broke in the motor. He is taking it in this week for repairs. Still, he could be putting that seat back together and cleaning the boat up in that time so it would be ready for use when the motor gets fixed! We cleaned a bunch of stuff up and tried to have a garage sale last week. Unfortunately, my schedule was wacky and I needed too much help to man it, so we cancelled. Took most of the stuff to Goodwill this week instead. Played my clarinet at the opening of the summer reading program. It was a two hour event and they scheduled us to play the first 15 minutes and the last 15 minutes! At least it was a nice day. We are playing again at a library event next week. This is all volunteer ya know! Had someone come and refinish my decks. They look better! Had some more contractors come and look at stuff to finish up bids. I have a leak from my laundry, I think, so I need to get a plumber out next week sometime. It is always something. I went to the doctor and he said my thyroid level was low and had to up my dose. I also had him look at my joints and run some blood work. He said my joints looked good and the blood work came back fine, so he thinks the pain is more from the connective tissue, which is again probably fibromyalgia. I'm starting to accept that is what the problem is. He gave me an anti-inflamatory and a low level antidepressant which acts like a muscle relaxant. I do feel much more comfortable, but it makes me so tired. I am surprised with as low as the level is that I can be so exhausted. I also remember this was the problem with antidepressants in the past and it was so debilitating, that I just wound up going off them. I'll give it more time before I decide.

Well I'd better go and hop in the shower. See you all soon!

It Has Been Awhile

Hello All!

Nearly a month has passed since I last updated you. It has been very busy preparing for graduation, and time has gone by more quickly than I realized.

First of all, I did paint Noah's room. It turned out to be a bigger job than I had planned on. I wasn't going to paint the ceiling, but just touch up some bad spots. I used this ceiling spray that was fine on my other ceiling, but it was very yellow on Noah's ceiling.....so I bought a power sprayer and painted it. Then I decided to just prime all the walls because there was so much patchwork and grubbiness. I had heard about tinted primer that you could get the same color as your paint. It acts as the first coat, thus saving time and effort. When I went to purchase the blue, they said I needed a grey primer due to the dark color of the paint. I don't know much about these things, so I went with that. When I went back to get the golden color, I was told I could get a lighter primer or grey. I asked for more information, since I was obviously misinformed about tinted primer, and again got a hazy explanation about the deep color. Since I had plenty of grey, I just used that. Neither the blue or gold covered the first time, so I actually wound up painting the walls 3 times! I am pretty happy with the results though. The gold is a little on the orange side, but it goes well with the furniture and compliments the bedspread. Had just enough time to clean up the room before my mother-in-law and her husband came to stay for graduation.

Graduation-yes there was a graduation! Nate pushed it to the last day before we found out. English was the problem. He had a 68%. He got an 85% on his final exam which brought his grade up to 71%. One percentage point to spare! We were told he would not be allowed to go through the ceremony unless he passed, which made us nervous with Grandma & Grandpa coming all the way from MI just for that. The ceremony was good. Tip to all you with future grads-go early, take a blanket, and lay it on the bleachers to save your spot. It fills up fast. We had a nice family celebration afterwards-smoked turkey, pasta salad, cake.....Nate got a kick out of his card that said "What Fun......You're Done" and played the Hallelujah Chorus when opened up. He was a little crabby-felt like a giant tomato in his gown, and the hat was too small (which prompted him to say "I'm about 10 shades of pissed off right now" to me during the part of the ceremony where they give their parents a rose-memories......). Noah was even more crabby-don't know why, but was glad when he headed back home!

We had a good weekend with Darlene and Gary. Sat on the deck and had cheese, wine, and dessert while trying to enjoy a fire in our fire pit. It was a little windy and the fire a little smokey. We took several walks, Jim's mom and I went to see Wicked, and we tried Warren Buffett's favorite steak house (I was not impressed). I learned some things about my mother-in-law that I didn't know before, and it caused my respect for her to increase all the more. I'm so lucky to have her in my life.

In other news, I had to have a couple of mammograms and an ultrasound this month. I was getting nervous when we moved to the ultrasound, but I'm thankful to report that it is just a cyst. I did have the contractors come and look at the bathrooms. They are getting back to me with the ideas/bids and then we'll get that started. Noah is staying at college this summer, working at the bank and trying to take a couple of online classes from the local community college. He is behind since he decided to switch his major to business. He is living with a bunch of girls right now-but some are coming and going and he is also lonely. Nathan is still looking for work. Jim is enjoying his new recliner and cable tv. At least it keeps him out of my hair.

Well, that is all I can think to tell you right now. Please stay in touch-I'm lonely too!

A Few More Things

I forgot to update you on my band experience. Rehearsals went well. Most people are not as rusty as I am, so it challenged me beyond my limits just to keep up. The good thing about that is you see improvement quickly. We are playing at library staff day this week. My only problem is (well beside needing more group rehearsals) that he really won't pin down which songs we will be playing, and I find myself constantly sight reading. I'm practicing other songs he said to have prepared! Oh well, it is what it is (my frequent saying lately). Nate helped me move the tv and stand to the basement today and hook everything up again. We are getting cable later this week (he is so geeked). Then Jim and I went shopping and bought two rocker/recliners for the basement. Brought them home and assembled them. Waiting for Nate to get home from small group to help me maneuver them into place. Hopefully I can talk him into helping me move the furniture in Noah's room as well, so I can really get started tomorrow. I called several repair/remodel contractors to come out this week and give me bids too. Nate got a lift today when he was asked to be part of a landscape crew. He thinks it went well and he'll be asked again. Unfortunately, it isn't something regular, the foreman will call when he needs help. It helps that the foreman is his friend though. So that is about all I know for now. I need to go and plan a casserole for TBH tomorrow night. Keep in touch.

Beautiful

Hello family and friends. The beautiful spring weather is FINALLY here! Now if I could just get out more and enjoy it. Today I am stuck inside cleaning out Noah's room. I hope to prep and paint next week, as I have been given three days off work (unpaid of course). They are also going to paint the library. Noah isn't going to come home this summer, so I think it is time for him to take some more of his stuff. That will open up room for me to store some of my stuff in his room! I hope to have a big garage sale in May, and clear out even more stuff. How did we get so much stuff??

Noah is trying to work some things out in his personal life, which is hard for his momma to sit by and watch. He did switch his major to business and that puts him a year (or more) behind. He is sweet on a girl and texted over his limit by $130 (again) trying to establish something more with her (at least I'm pretty sure that is what is going on-he doesn't talk about these things ya know. If he did I'd tell him to TALK to her, that is what she wants!). He's not real happy with how he's been living his life right now, but by choosing to stay in that environment, he's having a hard time making changes. Nate isn't doing great either. I talked with his doctor about some of my concerns, and he is going to be furious when he finds out next week. He just wants to go in and get out as quickly as possible. He is still trying to get a part time job. He has decided not to go to college, so he really needs a full time job with benefits! Jim is another one that is having trouble making some changes. I am very concerned about his health. He has no energy, is very overweight, and was having a tight chest when we tried to walk the other night. He continues to sneak food (maybe it isn't sneaking if I know about it), and eat things he shouldn't, and snack all night. I hate sitting around just waiting for something bad to happen to him, because I've done all I can do right now. So that's the news about the men in my life.

We have one more night of TBH next week. I finished my bible study last night, so that should free up my schedule for the summer. I met my new neighbors, two women from New Jersey. Need to start planning for graduation. Nate hasn't even taken a picture......maybe I'll try again. Jim picked up the boat-boy does he have a lot of work to do after last summer's fiasco. He put the plug in and forgot to take it out, so it sat and collected water all summer. It is moldy, a battery is ruined, and I'm not sure if he ruined some wiring??? Plus he still needs to put the bench seat back together (which is why we haven't used it the past two years!). I've threatened to sell it this year if he doesn't get it done. It is ridiculous to own something you don't maintain or use because it isn't maintained. I want him to build me a new raised bed for my garden, but I'm not sure if I can get him moving on that either.

Well I've taken a long enough break and need to get back to clearing stuff out. Stay in touch!