More Life Changes...

Movie Star

A lot has happened since posting less than 2 weeks ago mostly with me and my job situation. You all I know that I was laid off back in September after 9 1/2 years. I knew it was coming, but it was still a shocker and huge disappointment because it really was a great job! After two months and lots and lots of interviews, I landed a job with a marketing research firm not too far from home. The downside from the beginning was the longer hours I had to work. I was use to an 8 hour day with an hour lunch. The new job was a 9 hour day with an hour lunch which meant that I wasn't getting home until after 5:30 each day and not to mention that I left the house at 7:15 in the morning. It was really hard on me and my family. There were some other things I wasn't real happy about either including the isolation I felt in the office I was in which was at the end of a hallway and rarely did anyone come down there to visit me. I'm not sure if it was the location of my office or because I was the Executive Assistant for the President and Managing Partner. I really did feel isolated and because I'm a "people" person, I was feeling a bit depressed about it. There wasn't the flexibility I had with my previous employer either and I really struggled with that too, especially with the addition to our family. I prayed to God really hard about what to do and I started looking again. Dave informed me of a position that was opening up at the school district he works for. I was really torn because it would mean a financial hardship for a little while. I decided to go ahead and at least interview for the position and to just put it in God's hands. I honestly didn't think I would get the job. I interviewed on a Friday and I figured that I most likely wouldn't hear anything for a few days. Anyway, I went to work on Monday and I knew that it would be a little crazy because my boss was returning from a two week trip to Israel. Crazy, huh? Around 9:30 AM I get a call from the other administrative assistant in the office asking me what the meeting was about that our boss requested. I first thought that was weird, because I usually arrange all meetings for her. I didn't know what she was talking about. As the morning went on, I realized there was only a few of us who weren't invited to the meeting. As I was walking through the office while the meeting was in session, I saw tears from a couple of women and the one girl knew that a layoff was about to take place. I tried reassuring her that that was not the case. I knew they couldn't be laying me off after just hiring me two months prior and the fact that they paid a lot of money to an agency for me. Well, all the evidence was compelling and for 45 minutes my mind was going a million miles a minute and I was practically hyperventilating. I honestly thought my heart was going to come out of my chest. When the meeting ended, my boss went to her office and closed her door immediately and within minutes those that weren't invited to the first meeting had a meeting request to meet in the conference room at 11:00 which is when we were informed that 10 of us were being laid off! I couldn't believe it. I thought it was a cruel joke at first. I knew I wasn't happy there, but you ALWAYS want to leave on your own terms, not someone else's. I didn't realize it at first, but it was all a "blessing" in disguise. If I got offered the job at the school district, I wouldn't have to give two weeks notice which I was regretting. I was feeling bad about it all. God definitely works in mysterious ways! God heard my prayers and he answered them. That following Thursday, I was offered the job at the school district and I started this past Monday! It's going well so far. We're home today because of snow!

Our lives have been completely crazy these last 7 months since going to China. If we can get through these last 7 months, we can get through anything! Just a recap of what our lives have been like:

• Got Rachel's referral
• Went to China 2 days after a major earthquake hit!
• Became a family of four
• Returned home at the end of May with a baby
• 4 days after being home from China, I ended up in hospital for 2 nights
• After getting out of hospital, I was called into work where I was informed that I was getting a 30% pay cut
• Returned to work after being home for 12 weeks
• A month after returning to work, I got laid off
• Went on unemployment
• 2 months of job searching
• Started a new job
• Sherry struggling still with some health issues
• Got laid off from new job after 2 months!
• Started a new job again
• Found out yesterday that my car is going to cost $500 to fix the window! Arghhhh!

Even though some of these things are positive and some are negative, they still add stress in one's life! All of these things happening in 7 months is enough to cause a heart attack! LOL! God is getting us through it and we are ever so grateful. Dave and I both have jobs and everyone is healthy. We have so much to be thankful for.

I had a few friends over this past weekend to scrapbook and it was therapeutic and wonderful. My friend, Tina F., came from 2 hours away and it was fun having her here! She's been gone for a few years and when we're together, it feels like she never left. It's great when a friendship feels that way. I got 12 pages done and Tina showed us digital scrapbooking. I loved it and can't wait to give it a try.

Jake and Rachel are doing great. Rachel is becoming more and more theatrical. She just loves dancing, I'm sure you could tell from the recent video clip on my blog, and now she is singing. It is so darn cute! I just wish I knew what she was singing. You can tell when she's trying to sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" because it sounds like it and she tries to do the hand motions. Jake just finished his second semester at school and should be getting his report card within the next few days. His teacher sent me a progress report via email and he's doing great! We are so proud of him. He's happily at a friend's house right now enjoying his snow day!

My health has been a little better. I'm really hoping that it is just stress that's been causing the radiating pain and headaches these last 7 months. It wouldn't surprise me if that's what's been going on. The pain in my legs has diminished quite a bit, but I do experience head pain and headaches. I had quite a bit of blood work done and most was okay. My white blood count was elevated which has been the case for over 8 years. Maybe it's been a sign, but who knows. The next step is for me to see a rheumatologist. So please continue to keep me in your prayers as we figure this puzzle out. Again, maybe it's just stress. Stress can do so much damage whether it's good stress or bad stress.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We are already three weeks into the new year and I finally have a few minutes for a post. Honestly, my life has been such a whirlwind and I don't know whether or not I'm coming or going. Time is just flying by me! Christmas is already a blur except for the Christmas decorations still displayed outside my house! We did manage to get the decorations down inside the house but nothing has been put back in their proper places. I would be ashamed if anyone came to my house these days. Let's just say that it's not quite as neat and tidy as I'd like it to be. Our little princess leaves a trail of toys or whatever she gets her hands on throughout the house! Seriously, if you see Rachel playing with something, you will find it on the floor somewhere unless she doesn't throw it away. Yep, the trash can is her biggest fascination. It's the kind with the swinging lid on top and when you hear it close, you have to run to see what was just discarded and most times it's not trash! I can't even think about what has gone into the trash unnoticed. I just pray it's nothing important that we can't find down the road.

We had a great Christmas this year and of course it was extra special as a family of four. When we started our adoption process, we always used Christmas as our timeline for when we would get Rachel. Since starting the process in 2005, we had 3 Christmas' without Rachel. We new we wouldn't have her by Christmas of 2005 which was the year we started our adoption journey, but for sure we thought we would have her for Christmas 2006. Since 2006 wasn't the year, we just knew that we would have Rachel home for Christmas of 2007! Again, that Christmas came and went and now we can finally say that Rachel's first Christmas was in 2008! It was so wonderful to have two kids to take to Christmas Eve service, to see Christmas morning with the excitement about the presents under the tree (although Rachel was completely clueless!), to open presents, to play with new toys, and to share Christmas morning breakfast. Rachel got the idea of opening presents rather quickly and big brother, Jake, was right there to help her when she got tired. Christmas wasn't quite generous this year as in the past since I was laid off for a couple of months. Honestly, no one didn't even seem to notice. Jake was thrilled with his PSP and Rachel was excited about Jake's gifts! LOL! She does love her little American Girl Bitty Baby and her new cradle. She kisses her baby and puts her in the cradle, covers her and turns to us and says "shhhh." So cute!

We celebrated Christmas day pretty much at home and later in the afternoon following Rachel's nap, we headed to Mommom and Poppop's house where it was Christmas all over again. It was a quiet year this year and we truly enjoyed spending time with family and watching Christmas through our children's eyes.

Each year we look forward to New Year's because we plan a big surf & turf dinner, games and a sleepover with another family, the Townsend's. Our friends Andrea and Karl joined us for dinner and games this year too. Dave's parent's came for dinner but headed out shortly after. We laughed so hard that our stomach's hurt. We played a new game this year called "Backseat Drawing" which the kids enjoyed and they kicked the adults butt too! After awhile we send the kids to the family room for movies and the adults enjoy some more mature games like "Battle of the Sexes!" The kids love the fact that we have a sleepover and they look forward to each year. We love this tradition and hope to carry it on year to year.

We have so many blessings to be thankful for and Christmastime is a great year to reflect on those blessings. I hope you all enjoyed your Christmas and our family wishes you a Happy and Healthy 2009!

I had to post the little video clip of Rachel our "Dancing Queen." She absolutely LOVES music and will put on a show for anyone who will watch. She entertains everyone at church each week while the music is playing with her dancing moves. This video clip is from our small group during our Christmas celebration where karaoke was the entertainment and Rachel danced for anyone who sang. She stole the show as you can see!