Overwhelmed and Humbled

I don't know if you listen to modern country music but there is a song that talks about seeing God today. I don't know who its by or the entire song but the gist of it is that God is all around, always watching. I can honestly say that I saw God today, or, at least, the workings of God. In order to explain I have to admit some very SCARY things.

I paid the bills last night and, after everything was taken out, we had $60 left. TOTAL! Never in my life, even in high school and college, did I have only $60 dollars to my name. Needless to say The Man was panicked. I simply told myself that we would just have to stay put until Tuesday when I get my unemployment check, but The Man was concerned about any emergency that would come up between now and then. I try not to be pessimistic about things but he did have a point. An emergency presented itself this morning as I went to feed the dogs. Only a days worth of dog food left! Now, under normal circumstances this would be FAR from an emergency, but when you only have $60 bucks, its down right catastrophic! I tried to put it out of my head and figure out how we would get the girls feed. I knew that something would happen and we would have a tad bit more funds to buy dog food. I figured that I'd search the house for lose change and cash it in. Ummm.... that's a really good idea now that I think of it. We need to do that!! There's probably $100 bucks lying around! Sorry....on with my story. Any who, I went on with my day (childless again thanks to mother) and got some sewing done along with reorganizing/cleaning my sewing closet. All the while the amount in our checking account kept popping into my head.

This afternoon The Man went to the mailbox and found an overwhelming surprise... God, in a sense. Inside was a letter and a check from my brother and sister-in-law. This isn't the first time they have saved us and I'd be willing to bet that it won't be the last. Needless to say I cried my eyes out. Even The Man got a bit misty. I swore then and there that as soon as we pull ourselves out of the crater that we're in, we will do something amazing for these two, just as they have for us. So this blog post is dedicated to them. I'd like to introduce you all to my amazing brother and sister-in-law, Flappy and Whippy. That "bump" is my sweet niece Emily, whom I can't wait to meet.






I know that they visit my blog often so if you're reading this you two, Thank You from the depths of my soul. You have no idea how much you mean to me. Whippy, I have some more stuff for you, not too much, that I'm sure you'll be able to use. I'm also about to start something "pretty" for Miss Emily. I pray that it is finished by the time Labor Day gets here. I wish you guys were able to come as well but I understand why you can't. Please know that you guys are always with me, in my thoughts and prayers, every day. I miss you tremendously and can't wait until we see each other again. If ever you need me, I am always here.

Well, I think I've been emotional enough for one day!! So there are two morals to this story. Moral #1: never doubt that God will take care of you. Moral #2: Family is the second most important thing

Until next time!

Taking a Breather

Mother came and picked up Gabbie earlier so I can take a brake for at least a couple hours. I've been sitting here filling out applications for everything under the sun. If we don't hear anything soon I honestly don't know what we'll do. As soon as I make this post, I'm heading to my sewing closet to get some projects done. I just have to take a break from reality for a while. Hopefully The Man will go fishing in the morning so I really have some quiet time. We will see.

Not much else going on here. The garden is wrapping up. I have about 5lbs of tomatoes to put up tonight and a bit of peas. There are 4 batches of relish in the fridge at the moment. As soon as all of that is done there won't be much after it. The Man and I are getting the garden ready for the next planting. I'm excited about this because we've never planted fall crops. I hope they do well.

I guess I'll finish up with my applications and head to sew. Until next time!

Hanging In There

We have been busy since my last post. We had an amazing time in Ohio with Poppa and Step-Mommie. We will definitely be visiting them again. There is so much to do up there!!! Once Gabbie gets older we will have a great place to vacation to on the cheap ;) Our vacation was short lived though. As soon as we got home it was back to reality. Reality entailed tomatoes, peas, and cucumbers. Prior to our long weekend away, we went through the garden and picked all the cucumbers and all tomatoes with any bit of color to them. When we got in, all the toms were nice and ripe. I put up 18 quart bags of peas, 5 bags of tomatoes, and have 3 batches of sweet pickle relish in a brine. We've been going dawn til dusk. Finally everything was done this morning and The Man and I took the day off. It was hot, 99 degrees, and over cast all day. We were just waiting for the sky to open up, which it finally did this afternoon.

Now that the majority of our garden is slowing down, we are trying to plan for our fall/winter crops and early spring crops. I got online and ordered several seed catalogs to help us out. The man at the Co-op said that their fall seed and plants won't be until the end of the month. Hopefully we can get a plan going by then. We have big dreams, as you know, and we are slowing making them come true, at least as the farm goes.

I have to admit that we have had a bit of a push when it comes to The Farm, or at least I have. Before Gabbie was born I was told to read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingslover. I bought it and had just started it when Gabriella made her grand appearance. Needless to say it got pushed to the side for a while. I picked it back up again a couple of weeks ago and have been reading like a fiend! What she and her family have done is what The Man and I want to accomplish as well.



She has become my personal inspiration not only as a "farmer" but as a mother. I was truly touched and influenced by this book. If you want, not only a good read but a lesson on cooking, family, and exactly where your food comes from, read this!! She's an amazing person and a great writer. She writes like you were sitting at her kitchen table chatting away about the garden. I love her!!

With my new found focus and determination came the inevitable equal and opposite reaction, i.e. I heard about the job I've been interviewing for. They decided to got with another applicant. I was crushed; hysterical was more like it. I honestly thought that I had it. I needed that job so bad!!! I get teared up just thinking about it. So now we are back at step 1. The Man hasn't had any leads and I haven't had any more. I'm trying to keep my faith but I can honestly say I'm at bottom now. I know that with the support of my family we can make it through financially but I also know that can't last very long. I applied to a bunch more places today, we both did. There's not much out there that would pay what we need to get paid. I've got all my feelers out to everyone I know. I even have a convent, a whole convent, praying for us (a friend from high school is a nun!)I honestly don't know what else to do. I feel like a failure not only because I didn't get that position but because I put myself in this position.

I guess its normal to feel like this but I can't help but say "what if" and "if only". I'm trying to remain grateful for everything but its very difficult. I feel like a disappointment and I can't stand that feeling. I pray that it passes quickly and I get my old confidence back soon.

Tomorrow is a busy day, playing catch up from today. My aunt and uncle from Illinois are in and Mabel is coming in as well. The weekend will be full of family time which I badly need right now. I am so very grateful for my family. I'd be lost without them. I hope that one day I am able to "pay" them back for everything whether it be monetary or not. Until next time!

Finally a Spare Moment

I haven't had a moment to think let alone make a post. It has been one thing after the other. I don't even know where to start. Ok...well we had a great time in North Carolina. We went to the beach and spent TONS of time with family which was great. I spent quality time with my sister and mother in law and had a great time with them. Here are some shots of the trip.





We were on our way back when I received a call from mother saying that my step-father's mother had passed. So we drove straight over and spent the next several days with family again. Mabel came straight home as well. She took several days off so that we could help Mother and Step-daddy clean out her apartment and get things like that in order. While we were together for a terrible reason, it was good to spend some time with Mabel. I miss her terribly. She also got to spend some quality time with Gabbie.





Mabel left yesterday and my work started. We pulled all the corn and I put all that up. I started shelling peas and made 10 pints of pickle relish today. There are still more cucumbers to be pickled and I know that there are jalapenos that need to be picked and pickled as well. I'm gonna try my best to get them all done tomorrow. Here's a picture of the cows that I promised. They are too cute! Not as cute as Gabbie helping me shell the peas!






I got some good news today. I've been called for yet another interview, which I know is a good thing. I just feel like I'm jumping threw hoops but I guess thats the point right. So I'm getting all dressed up and headed to Nashville tomorrow morning. I pray that they give me the job. It would make things much better and hopefully The Man will hear something soon as well. Our old boss called today and told him that the heads at our old company don't want to risk hiring him back. This was a blow to the both of us but I figured it would happen. I understand where they are coming from. So we are still searching for him but I have faith that something will come up.

We are headed to Ohio this weekend to visit Poppa and Step-Mommie. We have been meaning to visit but life has gotten in the way. Now that things may be changing in the employment department I think we should head up while we still have the freedom to. I'm really looking forward to seeing them.

Well I think I have gotten caught up now. Its getting late and I need to head to bed. Wish me luck!!! I will let you know how it goes!! Until next time!

On The Road

We are currently on our way to North Carolina. Gabbie is pitching a fit, poor thing. I hope she knocks out soon. Enclosed spaces and a child screaming at the top of her lungs are not a conducive blogging environment. Oh, I think she may be out.....she's definitely fighting it. We got a late start this morning. I thought The Man was going to set an alarm and he thought I was.... talk about a lack of communication. Gabbie woke me up around 4:30 am, half an hour after we were supposed to be on the road. So we didn't hit the interstate til 6am. Oh well. Gabbie slept through Atlanta which was a surprise to me. Now hopefully she will sleep the rest of the way. Yea, right, I know. Hey a girl can dream. I'm excited to get there. My sister in law is due in October and I can't wait to see her. I will have someone to talk "baby" with ;) I wish the two of us were closer... I need to work on that. Either way, I'm ready to see her and her husband. He is amazing! We were friends before they were married and she couldn't have picked a better man. I get a smile on my face just thinking about him. He can always make me laugh. These days I need a bit more laughter in my life. I think that in and of itself is worth the 8 hour drive.

It sounds like we will be heading to the beach!! So excited for Gabbie to see the ocean for the first time. It will definitely be a memorial trip. Also looking forward to my mother in laws good cooking. While I know that I am a great cook (yes I will toot my own horn on that one), she is so much better. I know The Man is looking forward to it as well.

In Farm News we now have 9 heifers on our property, those are female cows that haven't had babies for those not down with the farm lingo. One of them is ours though we haven't picked her out yet. The farmers that hay our fields are giving us one for letting them use our back pasture. Awesome deal! So I guess its offical, we are farmers! I took pictures and will post them when I can get to my computer. They are too cute. 7 are nine months old and 2 are six months old. Now alls I need is a chicken coop and some good laying hens! Good God when did I get so damn country? Now that's a funny thing, I will have to blog about how I got where I am one day, although I will have to contemplate it a bit more because even now I'm not 100% sure. All I know is that our dreams of being farmers and living off our land are starting to take root. I just wish we could make a living on it but once again, that's another blog post.

Well my fingers are starting to hurt for typing this post on my phone. I will be back soon. Until next time!

PS I almost forgot to tell you that my interview went really well. If I don't hear back from them I will be surprised. Thanks so much for all the support and prayers. Keep them coming. Oh and Lisa if you are reading this, I am going to find a way to get you some jelly, even if I have to over night it!!

Update

The Man heard from our old boss at the lab this morning. He's been talking to the President and Vice of our former place of employment about getting The Man back into the lab. He's talking with HR to get The Man into the next round of interviews. Boss man said he's not promising anything because the heads don't like to re-hire, which I can't blame them, but since The Man was an OUTSTANDING employee they may let him back in. SO.... our plans to travel to NC our put on hold until we hear from HR, which will hopefully be soon. Ironically, if hired, The Man will be working my old job in the mercury lab!!! HAHAHAHAHA! He's not to happy about that because he'll actually have to work instead of sitting in front of instrumentation all night long. Yes, I said night. The second ironic thing is that it is our old shift, Tuesday - Saturday second shift. At this point beggars can't be choosers but The Man did ask when the earliest transfer to his old job would be, even though it would be the same days and shift, he's really not to keen on being in the Hg Lab.

I still haven't heard anything concerning myself. I plan on calling a different lab that I applied to at the end of the week, again. From what I've heard they are hiring for a bunch of positions but I guess they aren't in dire need. I'll let them know again that I'm available for interviews. Honestly I really don't know exactly where I've applied, I guess I should have payed more attention. Oh well, you live and learn.

So now our plans are halted. I'm probably going to make some more jelly then and I've started working on our master bedroom which, according to my WONDERFUL husband "looks like a prison cell". Talk about a motivator. Luckily we have TONS of pictures and general "stuff" that I can use to do a FREE makeover in the room. I just wish I had some turquoise paint but then again that would mean creating an even bigger mess and I don't know if that would be smart considering our plans at the moment. I'll also be sewing those purses which I pray I have done by the time we head east but who knows.

I guess I'll stop here and start getting some things done. Until next time!

Sunday

It was great seeing Mabel. I just wish that I could have had a couple more days with her. I can't wait for the day that I can see her whenever I want, if that day ever comes. Gabbie enjoyed having her Auntie here. It never fails to amaze me how much I miss her. We haven't spent a significant amount of time (more than 2 weeks) together since my senior year of high school. You'd think I'd be used to it by now, but its just the opposite. It gets harder and harder every time she leaves.

Here are the photos of some of the things I've been working on. The Man talked to his family last night and it sounds like we will be making a trip to North Carolina this week. That means that I have to finish a couple more things before we go. I've promised my sister in law and cousin some purses and I need to get those done.



We didn't do much today; cleaned up the house a bit. I've been battling a migraine all day so I didn't do as much as I hoped to. I pray that it passes or it'll be a long night. I know its short but I'm beat. I think I'll go take some tylenol and go to sleep. Until next time!