Please excuse this break in our normally scheduled Hodgepodge...I can't say anything else before I share this news...
So many of you have been praying our family through these last 18 months, as we separated from the Air Force, leaving behind 14 years of military service, security, and community to start up our own non-profit company in southern California. 4 months ago the company we were partnering with underwent some massive management changes, resulting in the new management cutting our company loose from their (yes, legally binding) contracts. We were left with no income. Zilch. I was the only full time worker, with three kids, making a salary 1/3 of what my husband had been making. What I make in a month doesn't even cover our monthly rent.
The last 4 months have been challenging to say the least. I won't go into the details, but suffice it to say, I've never seen anyone work harder to provide for our family than my husband- applying for every job possible, going to every job fair, networking with everyone we knew, writing a dozen different resumes...doing whatever he could to bring in income. But the writing was on the wall - we didn't have the funds available to make it here long term.
Then, last week a job opportunity presented itself. It was back in the airframe he had flown in the Air Force. A one year contract. A year in which he would be earning a significant salary, enabling us to put back into the investments we pulled from, and to hopefully enable his company to have one more year to get back on its feet.
The only downside is that the job is in St Louis, Missouri.
We live in southern California.
He was offered the job today.
We are staying.
He is going.
We left the military so we wouldn't have to be apart so much... and here we are voluntarily taking a job that puts 1900 miles between us. And if our kids were younger (hence, more portable), we would move too. In a heartbeat. But we've got a junior in high school. A middle schooler. And a 4th grader. The schools are good. Our community is amazing. My job is a blessing. Our church is a family.
So, we sacrifice... for one year... to take this job that God gave to us... another chapter in the story of our lives together...
(And sheesh - I'm so sorry this "side note' is taking so long... I just know that so many of you have journeyed along with us in this, praying us through the ups and downs, the anger and joys, everything...) Suffice it to say - keep those prayers coming - this next month is going to be a doozy!!!
And now, without further ado, lets HODGEPODGE!!!!!
1. When I look at the sky I feel___________________________________.
Peaceful! And I love it when the sun is streaming through the clouds - I tell my kids that's God shining down on us! And now, when they see it, they say "Hey look! HI God!!" Love it...
I also feel very, very small... which is not a bad perspective to have sometimes...
2. If you had to run for political office, which one would you run for? Do you have any real desire to actually do this?
I've been involved in too many petty political jaunts just in the military (and church) to desire any true political office...
3. What scent makes you think of home?
The underside of geranium leaves (my grandma's garden) and gardenias (we had a large bush next to our front door)
4. How often do you take a step back to think about where you're headed in life? Do you need more or less self-reflection?
As I've been writing my book, I've been doing a lot of self reflection, just wondering over the direction life takes you, the ways in which God works... it's pretty amazing.
5. July is National Ice Cream Month...besides a cone, what's your favorite food item to top with ice cream?
Brownies. Please. NOW!
6. What might your autobiography be called?
"A Life Worth Loving"
(fun question, Joyce!)
7. Your least favorite mode of transportation? Why?
Bus. Figuring out schedules, random people of all walks of life, the unpredictability of their schedules. Blech.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
Used up my random thought at the beginning of this Hodgepodge! :-) Love you all, friends!
So many of you have been praying our family through these last 18 months, as we separated from the Air Force, leaving behind 14 years of military service, security, and community to start up our own non-profit company in southern California. 4 months ago the company we were partnering with underwent some massive management changes, resulting in the new management cutting our company loose from their (yes, legally binding) contracts. We were left with no income. Zilch. I was the only full time worker, with three kids, making a salary 1/3 of what my husband had been making. What I make in a month doesn't even cover our monthly rent.
The last 4 months have been challenging to say the least. I won't go into the details, but suffice it to say, I've never seen anyone work harder to provide for our family than my husband- applying for every job possible, going to every job fair, networking with everyone we knew, writing a dozen different resumes...doing whatever he could to bring in income. But the writing was on the wall - we didn't have the funds available to make it here long term.
Then, last week a job opportunity presented itself. It was back in the airframe he had flown in the Air Force. A one year contract. A year in which he would be earning a significant salary, enabling us to put back into the investments we pulled from, and to hopefully enable his company to have one more year to get back on its feet.
The only downside is that the job is in St Louis, Missouri.
We live in southern California.
He was offered the job today.
We are staying.
He is going.
We left the military so we wouldn't have to be apart so much... and here we are voluntarily taking a job that puts 1900 miles between us. And if our kids were younger (hence, more portable), we would move too. In a heartbeat. But we've got a junior in high school. A middle schooler. And a 4th grader. The schools are good. Our community is amazing. My job is a blessing. Our church is a family.
So, we sacrifice... for one year... to take this job that God gave to us... another chapter in the story of our lives together...
(And sheesh - I'm so sorry this "side note' is taking so long... I just know that so many of you have journeyed along with us in this, praying us through the ups and downs, the anger and joys, everything...) Suffice it to say - keep those prayers coming - this next month is going to be a doozy!!!
And now, without further ado, lets HODGEPODGE!!!!!
1. When I look at the sky I feel___________________________________.
Peaceful! And I love it when the sun is streaming through the clouds - I tell my kids that's God shining down on us! And now, when they see it, they say "Hey look! HI God!!" Love it...
I also feel very, very small... which is not a bad perspective to have sometimes...
2. If you had to run for political office, which one would you run for? Do you have any real desire to actually do this?
I've been involved in too many petty political jaunts just in the military (and church) to desire any true political office...
3. What scent makes you think of home?
The underside of geranium leaves (my grandma's garden) and gardenias (we had a large bush next to our front door)
4. How often do you take a step back to think about where you're headed in life? Do you need more or less self-reflection?
As I've been writing my book, I've been doing a lot of self reflection, just wondering over the direction life takes you, the ways in which God works... it's pretty amazing.
5. July is National Ice Cream Month...besides a cone, what's your favorite food item to top with ice cream?
Brownies. Please. NOW!
6. What might your autobiography be called?
"A Life Worth Loving"
(fun question, Joyce!)
7. Your least favorite mode of transportation? Why?
Bus. Figuring out schedules, random people of all walks of life, the unpredictability of their schedules. Blech.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
Used up my random thought at the beginning of this Hodgepodge! :-) Love you all, friends!
