I'm at home today since Jillian and Jorja are both sick. So I thought I'd do a little catch-up on the ol' blog. But, it won't upload any pictures so I've decided to just write.
Here are a couple funny things my kids have said:
Jorja -- last Sunday she came up to me and asked, "Mom, is today fast Sunday or slow Sunday?" he he he!!
Logan -- at dinner "My brain can't think; it's on a vacation!"
Silly kiddos! Now a needed update:
Our lives have completely changed within the last month or so. Brad applied for, and was offered a position, at National Marketing Resources (NMR), a marketing company here in town and the company I work for part time. He was hired to be an internet coach. This means he will coach people on starting their own internet-based businesses. He started almost two weeks ago and is in training for another week. It has been pretty intense; he even has to pass tests on both technical knowledge and coaching on the that technical stuff.
We feel incredibly blessed with this job and amazed at the coarse our lives are now on. We never dreamed he'd be doing what he's now doing! But to do this all justice, I'll start at about a year ago and explain how this has happened.
Brad was still running his remodeling business, Copestone, LLC and had also started Shelf Discovery, a roll-out shelf business where he installs roll-out shelves in existing cabinets, pantries, etc. His goal was to build up the Shelf Discovery while phasing out Copestone. His back was continually going out and causing him a lot of pain and the shelf business was a lot less labor-intensive.
Finances were tight and I was offered a temporary, part time job so I took it. We also picked up some packaging work at a fulfillment company here in town. We were able to do that at home so that was nice. However, between all four jobs, we were exhausted at the end of every day. But we made it work. We felt it was good for our kids to see hard work in action; with us working so much they had to help us out a little more as well.
I finished up my temp job in July and was able to start my children's choir in September. The fulfillment work phased out about the time I was asked to work again, still part time and temporary. I accepted and life got busy again! Meanwhile Brad was still trying to promote the shelves and doing whatever remodeling jobs he could find. But his back was getting worse and he was almost constantly in pain. It was so frustrating for him.
We discussed different options and even went to the Bishop for advice. Part of his counsel was to attend the temple. He promised us that we would know without a doubt which coarse we should take. The promise was realized and we knew that he was to search for other employment, while still trying to promote the shelf business.
Although this was made clear to us, Brad was still extremely overwhelmed with this task; he had no idea where to look for work and even which field he should go into. He felt like he had to completely redefine who he was. So he went to the Church Employment Center and worked with some of the Elders there. They had him first discover (a very appropriate word) what his skills were and then write up a resume. This was great because Brad was able to see things he had taken for granted about himself as skills that not everybody possessed. He then had to decide on three different professions he thought he would enjoy. He came up with two and was really struggling with the third. Finally, I reminded him that when we were first married he told me that someday he'd like to be a business coach. He didn't think he was qualified to do that but I told him just to put it on the list so he could move on with the tasks the elders had given him.
He next had to interview with a person in each category. Our bishop owns NMR and was able to refer Brad to his coaching manager. (Just a note: other than this referral, the Bishop was not involved in Brad's hiring. He didn't even know that it had happened until I told him.) Brad contacted the coaching manager and they met for an hour. What started as a discussion turned out to be a job interview. However, Brad was told that they weren't hiring for another month at least. So Brad went to job fairs and had interviews with other businesses, but nothing came of them. But Brad felt like the coaching job was the direction he really needed to pursue.
Finally, a job was opened at NMR and Brad applied, along with 50 other hopefuls. He had to do a phone "interview" where he had to teach the manager how to do something. Since it was Brad's choice what to teach, he taught how to patch drywall that has been damaged from a door knob. The manager said it was one of the best he had heard and invited him to be one of four to have a personal interview. He did well in the interview but then we didn't hear from him at the appointed time. We thought for sure he didn't get the job. When we did hear, Brad was told that they were having a hard time deciding and would he please fill out a questionnaire and email it back to the manager asap. Brad did so and two long, suspenseful days later he was offered the position! It turns out they hired two instead of just one and it took a bit of time to get it approved.
Meanwhile, my temporary job finished up in January. Three days later another position was offered to me at the same company, but in the accounting department (I was in the processing department). This job is permanent, but still part time -- perfect for me! I am enjoying it, although I find it incredibly ironic that after I worked so hard at being educated and having experience in an "outdoor" field and then complaining so much about how I hated doing the books on our business that I now have a desk job doing accounting. The Lord does bless us, although in ways that will surprise you!!!
So now we both feel like we have turned a major corner in our lives. Brad is embarking on a new career, but happy that he can still do small remodel and shelf jobs on the side. We are finally a peace with all of this and that is a wonderful feeling!
