Well, so I think most people who read my blog know that Ande was laid off from his full time job back in August. That was such a huge hit to us - not only to Ande's self-esteem, but of course to our budget and pretty much our way of life. Fortunately he has been able to receive unemployment for the last 6 months, and has been able to pick up extra hours occasionally at the homeless shelter where he works on Saturdays and Sundays. Of course, our budget was still very stretched, and it was only because of Ande's parents that we have been able to keep our house payments paid on time and be able to pay our other bills, too. (Thanks Mom & Dad!)
Over the last 6 months, we have not ceased to be amazed by the kindness and generosity of our friends, family, neighbors, as well as virtual strangers. Any time we've had a need arise, it has been provided for, sometimes without that need having ever been spoken aloud. I have written a few posts about such times, but almost feel like I'm bragging because the amount of times that we have been blessed by others is SO many, and the things we have been blessed with, be it money, time, physical work, or items we were in need of, has been so much. And yet here I sit, just bursting with excitement over yet another occasion where God is supplying our needs.
Part of Ande's old job (the one he was laid off from) was to go to places of business that used his company's service to do maintenance and repair work, plus training and in some cases sales. He had a customer that was local to where we live, and since Ande was the only technician who lived in this part of our state, he was the natural choice when it came to "who to send" to this particular customer. This customer, whom I'll call FAA for short, contacted Ande's former employer about something a few weeks ago, and asked for Ande. They were told he didn't work there anymore. Several of the employees from FAA know Ande's uncle though business dealings with him. So one of the employees contacted Ande's uncle to see what the story was. She then asked Ande's uncle to have Ande contact FAA for a possible job opening. Ande went and interviewed last Friday, and got the call today that they would like him to come in tomorrow to fill out some paperwork and then they want him to actually start work on Thursday!
Did I mention that Ande only has 2 weeks of unemployment left?
Yeah, so God's timing is still perfect, and HOW COOL IS IT THAT THIS JOB "FOUND" HIM - HE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO LOOK! Sure, this job won't pay a lot, and it's not going to be a glamorous job - but it's work and it's close to home! Before, Ande was usually driving AT LEAST an hour or more ONE WAY to work EVERY DAY!
The other cool thing is that we received our income tax refund, and I was able to pay several of our bills (house, phone, sewer, electric/gas) ahead a little so that we can relax a little about our finances (and give my in-laws a bit of a break!). Plus, now that I know Ande will have income, I can hopefully continue to pay our bills ahead and have a little "cushion" in case of emergency.
More good news is that Ande has been invited to the New York Amp Show in May. This will be a great opportunity to get Kirby Custom Amplification amps into the public's hands. The NAMM show was pretty cool, but Ande said he really felt like a little fish in a big pond. And since the general public could not attend the show, he didn't really think his amp made the kind of impact it could make at a smaller scale show that IS open to the public. He's still glad he went, and I am, too. Otherwise he may not have received the personal invitation to the amp show. The host of the show actually CALLED OUR HOUSE to invite him!
So...if things are going well at home financially in May, we might get to take a weekend trip to this amp show as a family...but we'll wait and see about that. Right now I'm just looking forward to seeing what God has in store for us next....
Speaking of what God has in store....if you haven't been in a while, check out Nate and Tricia's story. I am still amazed at what God is doing in this family!
Showing posts with label unemployment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label unemployment. Show all posts
Monday, February 18, 2008
Thursday, September 6, 2007
When it rains it pours...
Well, some good news...Ande finally was able to convince the director that he had to have that number to file for unemployment. She gave it to him, and when he called to give the number to the unemployment agency, they discovered they DIDN'T need it afterall. Apparently because it's a non-profit agency, it doesn't count towards unemployment. But they had to have that number before they could find that out. Go figure. Ande, being the good guy he is, called the director after finding that out and explained the situation to her, and thanked her for giving him the number. I love him so much.
Now, some not so good news...my brother-in-law called tonight from California and told Ande that both he AND his wife got letters from the military calling them back up for duty in Iraq. They're both former Marine MP's, and my BIL already served once in Iraq. His wife suffered a premature birth of their first daughter at 24 weeks and he was allowed 10 days to come home for the baby's funeral. Then he went back, because it was what he knew was the right thing to do. Now they have 2 little girls, one 1 1/2 and one 4 months. Needless to say, they don't want to have to go to Iraq. Fortunately, it's highly unlikely that they will send both of them, but if my BIL pleads his case and they tell him he can stay home, it's VERY likely that his wife will have to go.
My poor MIL is on the verge of a breakdown. Here are her sons, who she loves to a fault, and both of them are going through some really tough stuff. I mean, in my BIL's case, how do you choose? Do you put yourself in harm's way (even though he's technically disabled because of a back injury) to protect your wife? Or do you plead the disability and make it an almost guarantee that your wife will have to go to war? I know my BIL will lay his life down to keep his wife safe. That's not even an issue for him. But I also know it would be incredibly hard for him to leave her again, and now with two small children to care for? My heart goes out to them both.
I am reminded of the 23rd Psalm, which is an awesome reminder of how God is there for us, no matter what trials we have in our lives.
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me besides quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (NIV)
Many times we hear that psalm in relation to someone's death, but it also applies to our lives. I WILL FEAR NO EVIL, FOR YOU ARE WITH ME. That should be a daily affirmation for anyone who believes in Jesus Christ.
The lives of Christians aren't made easier by believing in Christ - sometimes it makes things harder because we have to not get caught up in the world. But we need to remember that Christ is always with us no matter what, and whatever garbage we have to deal with in life will be replaced with the glorious eternity in heaven. I don't know about you, but I'd certainly rather live a sometimes crummy life on earth, knowing I have a mansion I get to spend eternity in. And to think there is NOTHING I've done to deserve it? How awesome is that?
Now, some not so good news...my brother-in-law called tonight from California and told Ande that both he AND his wife got letters from the military calling them back up for duty in Iraq. They're both former Marine MP's, and my BIL already served once in Iraq. His wife suffered a premature birth of their first daughter at 24 weeks and he was allowed 10 days to come home for the baby's funeral. Then he went back, because it was what he knew was the right thing to do. Now they have 2 little girls, one 1 1/2 and one 4 months. Needless to say, they don't want to have to go to Iraq. Fortunately, it's highly unlikely that they will send both of them, but if my BIL pleads his case and they tell him he can stay home, it's VERY likely that his wife will have to go.
My poor MIL is on the verge of a breakdown. Here are her sons, who she loves to a fault, and both of them are going through some really tough stuff. I mean, in my BIL's case, how do you choose? Do you put yourself in harm's way (even though he's technically disabled because of a back injury) to protect your wife? Or do you plead the disability and make it an almost guarantee that your wife will have to go to war? I know my BIL will lay his life down to keep his wife safe. That's not even an issue for him. But I also know it would be incredibly hard for him to leave her again, and now with two small children to care for? My heart goes out to them both.
I am reminded of the 23rd Psalm, which is an awesome reminder of how God is there for us, no matter what trials we have in our lives.
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me besides quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (NIV)
Many times we hear that psalm in relation to someone's death, but it also applies to our lives. I WILL FEAR NO EVIL, FOR YOU ARE WITH ME. That should be a daily affirmation for anyone who believes in Jesus Christ.
The lives of Christians aren't made easier by believing in Christ - sometimes it makes things harder because we have to not get caught up in the world. But we need to remember that Christ is always with us no matter what, and whatever garbage we have to deal with in life will be replaced with the glorious eternity in heaven. I don't know about you, but I'd certainly rather live a sometimes crummy life on earth, knowing I have a mansion I get to spend eternity in. And to think there is NOTHING I've done to deserve it? How awesome is that?
Friday, August 31, 2007
A tough road ahead
Today started out nice - the Jib slept until about 6:30am, Puckey until after 8:00am. (So I got a decent night's sleep) Ande got out the door on time to make his monthly drive to the main office for his employer, which is about 2 hours from here. So at about 9:30am he calls me and says, "Well, I'm on my way home..." (Which means he might have spent, oh, 10 minutes at the office) So I asked, "What happened?" and he told me that when he got to the office, the owner of the company asked him to come into the conference room. When he went in, the owner and the two co-owners were in there. The owner told him he was being laid off indefinitely, effective immediately, and that he wasn't going to give him an explanation. (Nice form, right?)
Needless to say, I burst into tears. Ande was very calm and said that he figures it must be God pushing him to move. (Ande has not been happy with his job recently, and we have been looking for other opportunities for our family) After I got off the phone with Ande, I was still crying, and my sweet little Puckey looked up at me with her dark chocolate eyes and said, "It's okay, Mamma. Don't cry." That, of course, made me cry even harder. Babies are so sweet, and right there was proof that they can sense when you're hurting.
To top things off, Ande talked to his ex today, and she is moving about an hour and a half away with his daughter. Poor Nans cries for her mom just about everytime she's here (I think because she doesn't really feel like this is "home" because she's only here 4 days a month), so what's going to happen when she comes to visit now and her mom is an hour and a half away?? We don't know when it's going to happen, but I would imagine soon. Her husband already took a job there. Ugh.
So now I sit here thinking of what God wants me to do with this situation. I know I need to trust in Him, and I am really trying hard to do that. I've never been in a position like this before, and it's freaking me out. I am thankful that my best girlfriend in the world told me that she would be happy to help financially if we need it, and my MIL said she would, too. I am just praying that it won't come to that. It's good to know that we have some support out there, though. I know our church would help out if needed as well (which is so awesome, especially since we have a REALLY small church).
Ande looks at it like it's a blessing, because he has been wanting to find something else for a while, and this is going to force him to move on that. He's got a lot of talent for doing just about anything he sets his mind to, and I know that will really work to our benefit in this situation.
For anyone reading this who prays, please include us in your prayers. It's going to be a challenge for us, but we will get through it. Thanks a lot. I hope I have good news to post here soon.
Needless to say, I burst into tears. Ande was very calm and said that he figures it must be God pushing him to move. (Ande has not been happy with his job recently, and we have been looking for other opportunities for our family) After I got off the phone with Ande, I was still crying, and my sweet little Puckey looked up at me with her dark chocolate eyes and said, "It's okay, Mamma. Don't cry." That, of course, made me cry even harder. Babies are so sweet, and right there was proof that they can sense when you're hurting.
To top things off, Ande talked to his ex today, and she is moving about an hour and a half away with his daughter. Poor Nans cries for her mom just about everytime she's here (I think because she doesn't really feel like this is "home" because she's only here 4 days a month), so what's going to happen when she comes to visit now and her mom is an hour and a half away?? We don't know when it's going to happen, but I would imagine soon. Her husband already took a job there. Ugh.
So now I sit here thinking of what God wants me to do with this situation. I know I need to trust in Him, and I am really trying hard to do that. I've never been in a position like this before, and it's freaking me out. I am thankful that my best girlfriend in the world told me that she would be happy to help financially if we need it, and my MIL said she would, too. I am just praying that it won't come to that. It's good to know that we have some support out there, though. I know our church would help out if needed as well (which is so awesome, especially since we have a REALLY small church).
Ande looks at it like it's a blessing, because he has been wanting to find something else for a while, and this is going to force him to move on that. He's got a lot of talent for doing just about anything he sets his mind to, and I know that will really work to our benefit in this situation.
For anyone reading this who prays, please include us in your prayers. It's going to be a challenge for us, but we will get through it. Thanks a lot. I hope I have good news to post here soon.
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