Much to be thankful for

As most of you know, Richard and I have really fallen on hard times this year. Richard has been our family's sole provider for the last few years working as a skilled carpenter. Last spring, he and his partner (I have a few other names for him that aren't suitable for family blogging) lost their business building custom staircases due to lack of work. He was then employed by the brother of his partner, building custom staircases as well for a large Northwestern based company. He was laid off a few short months following. Not knowing what to do to make fast money, Richard decided to get his CDL to become a long-haul truck driver. Neither one of us were crazy about the idea but we really didn't have any options considering his skills were all in the construction business. We aren't just talking about random skills here either. My husband is brilliant when it comes to hard working, labor-intensive, building, constructing, work with your hands jobs. He has really busted his butt for years to provide for our family and lost a few limbs (2 fingers) to prove it.

Anyway, I could brag about my husband for days so back to the story.

So Richard joined a local trucking company to earn his CDL in a few short weeks and get on the road. We knew at that time that trucking wasn't going to make ends meet for us so I immediately began searching for work. I can tell you all that the past 4 months has been more excruciating than I could have imagined. I have applied for every job known to man. Most of the jobs I was over-qualified for but I still wasn't even getting calls for interviews. Even when I went for interviews, I wasn't getting the job. I have never had such a hard time finding work. In the meantime, I have reluctanctly become a single Mom since Richard only comes home once a month for a few short days. My poor husband is stuck out their driving a stupid truck, alone and depressed. He doesn't get to play with his son or watch his little girl grow up. I have made a full-time job at home by talking with creditors and searching for jobs only I'm not getting paid for it. I have been so discouraged and have tapped out all resources in order for us to keep our home. I have been been stretched thin emotionally, physically and financially...until TODAY! I received the phone call from an angel today that granted me a JOB! Out of the 300 jobs I am sure I applied for, I got the job that was the best pay. When I heard the magic words over the phone I immediately got a huge lump in my throat and tried to hold back the tears.

I will be joining the workforce once again next Monday and it is so bittersweet. We will be able to keep our home and put food on the table but I will be leaving my 18 month old in the care of someone else. I will lose precious time with my son and my husband will still not be home. The past four months have been hard and there are more hard times to come but I still have what matters to me most and that is the love and support of my family. I have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving but what I am most thankful for is the loved ones that surround me.

I wish all of you and your families the best of health and happiness in our nations time of crisis. Hold on to your jobs, hold on to your money and hold on to your loved ones because your life can change at any moment and leave you breathless. Love to you all and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

The Kids Have Disco Fever

When I saw Tricia's blog with the JibJab of her kids I couldn't stop laughing so I just HAD to make one of Seth and Sami. If you need a reason to laugh, here it is. FYI, don't forget to pause the music on my site before playing the video to get the full effect.

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Sethers Turns 7

I can't believe my boy has turned 7 years old! Where has the time gone? My Sethers - I can't even describe in words what a wonderful tender-heart he is and how lucky I feel to be his Mom. He is no longer physically a baby anymore but he will always be MY baby boy in my heart.

He was such a sick baby having 2 surgeries by the time he was a year and a half old. From the time he was born, Seth was NOT a sleeper. He didn't sleep in his own bed until he was three and up until that time he became a professional snuggler. Seth is a great snuggle-bug to this day and every morning he jumps at any opportunity to come and snuggle in bed with me just to talk, rub his cold feet on me and tell me how much he loves me. Lately I have clenched my teeth wondering if at his age if it is inappropriate for him to be snuggling with ANY adult but I am so afraid it will stunt his loving and warm personality.

It makes my chin quiver to look back at his short life so far and realize that there are so many more wonderful memories and birthdays to come. Soon enough my sweet boy won't run to me anymore for hugs and kisses, leaving me to beg for the once affectionate, innocence of the past. Happy Birthday Sethers! I love you for eternity!

A Devilish, Wizardry Night

What a fantastic Halloween! It seemed like everything was just right. Richard was home off the road, Seth didn't have school so we didn't have to rush, the weather was the warmest I can ever remember it being and the kids fantastically dressed for the occasion.

Seth was a great wizard! Years ago my Mom had confiscated these great orange sheets from my grandparents home when they moved. She thought for sure that some day one of us kids would use them for a great Halloween costume. This year was the time. Thank goodness for my Mom and her sewing capabilities. I can't imagine actually putting these satin orange sheets on any kind of bed and be content but I can asure you that they made a perfect wizard costume for Sethers. Richard just happened to have a stick in the garage that he painted white to resemble a wizard staff. Seth of course thought he was magical and we all agreed.

Sami was a sweet devil! Although it's an oxymoron she truly was a SWEET DEVIL! Seth's hand-me-down devil costume I made for him his first trick-or-treating year.
She was so happy too! Although she wasn't particularly in the Halloween spirit until she went to the first door, holding her brothers hand and got that treat put in her pumpkin. I don't think she had any clue that it was actually candy being dumped in there, I think she just loved the whole process of walking to the houses clutching her pumpkin and having people put stuff in it.

I thought maybe we would get one house, if that, out of Sami for her first year but I was pleasantly surprised when she went to every single one. She toddled her way from door to door looking like the spitting image of E.T.
It was a great Halloween night with the cousins and my parents to join us. We came home with two delighted children with smiles on their faces and parents basking in their joyful spirits.